Epilogue
ISABELLA
One year later…
Today was the day Arturo and I had been waiting for…
our wedding day. We’d decided to wait until Valencia had turned one and we could enjoy the day with her toddling around.
We never knew having a child would be like it was, the joy and happiness she brought to everyone was something I couldn't describe. There wasn’t a single person who met her that didn’t fall in love with her.
And it was safe to say that Theo had taken Arturo’s words on the day we arrived home pretty seriously, protecting her with all he had. It was pretty damn adorable.
Arturo was the most incredible father, from the moment Valencia could crawl she followed him everywhere.
No matter how much he denied it, in my eyes he was the perfect dad.
He’d taught himself how to style her hair, helped her take her first steps, helped soothe her during teething, the list was endless.
I stood by the window dressed head to toe in white, looking down on our family garden.
It wouldn’t be everyone’s choice and I knew most guests were expecting a fancier venue, but this is the way Arturo and I wanted to say our vows and officially become one another’s.
I caught a glimpse of him, laughing and joking with Josh and Jay.
He looked so relaxed, so calm and at ease surrounded by endless lilac and white flowers.
The past year had been a hard one for him.
He never visited his mother, he couldn’t bring himself to.
He couldn’t stand there and pretend everything would be okay, hoping that she’d remember him and the way they once were, because he wasn’t sure she ever would.
He put all his energy into standing beside me, and being the best man he could be for me and our daughter.
I glanced down at my stomach, my hand splayed gently across it.I felt the butterflies kicking in as giddy excitement filled me.
What do you say little one, is today the day we tell your daddy about you?
“Bella, are you ready?” My mother asked from outside the door.
“Yeah, come on in.” The door opened to reveal my parents. My father stood with a proud smile while my mother had tears streaming down her face. “Ma, your makeup.”
“Oh, fuck the makeup.” she managed between hitched breaths. “Lorenzo, look at our baby.”
“You look stunning, Bells.” My father smiled, holding his arm out to me.
“Let’s go and get you married.” My mother dabbed at her eyes before handing me my bouquet.
With the help of my father we made our descent down the stairs. My mother was met by Luca who looked so damn handsome in his three-piece suit. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen him that smart.
“You took your time. Theo’s out there trying to calm poor Arturo down.” Luca laughed, receiving an eye roll from me. From what I saw prior to this conversation, if Arturo was any more relaxed he’d have been laying down.
Alongside Josh and Jay, Arturo had asked Theo to be one of his best men, and Theo was taking his role very seriously, much to the guys’ amusement.
“Geez. Theo’s a bossy little thing, I’ll tell you that much.” Andre joined the four of us with Valencia in his arms.
“There’s my little princess,” I smiled, seeing Valencia’s eyes light up the second she saw me.
“Mama,” she said, gripping onto her uncle's neck.
“We’re all ready for you, Bella.” Andre said, turning his attention to me. “You look beautiful, Bells.”
“Sure you want to do this?” I knew my father was kidding but his jokes weren’t warranted today.
“I’m sure,” I breathed, smoothing down my dress. “I’m ready to become his wife.”
“Alright, but I’ve got a car in the garage and a full tank of gas. Just say the word.” He jibbed, knocking his shoulder softly into mine. “Just kidding.”
The music drifted into the foyer as I took my father’s arm tightly, not wanting to fall on my way down the aisle.
We entered the garden through the double doors, and it was at that moment I spotted Arturo as he turned to face me.
The second our eyes met everyone else faded away, and it was just me and him.
It felt as if we’d been waiting forever for this moment and now it was finally here.
I would finally become Mrs Isabella Carmella Ramos, and I didn’t feel nervous.
I didn’t feel anything other than pure excitement.
“Bells…? I take back everything I said before.” I looked at my father, a small frown marring my forehead.
“Take back what, Papa?”
“Arturo’s a good one…” his lip turned up into a soft smile, making my heart soar with delight.
“Wow, Pa, that sounded like a compliment,” I teased, a soft giggle leaving my lips.
“Maybe just a little one.” He pressed a kiss to my temple, a tear falling down his cheek. “I’m proud of you, Bella, and the woman you’ve become.”
“I love you, Pa.” I murmured against his suit jacket.
“I love you, too, my little diamond.”
My mother and brothers took their seats with Valencia as I began my walk down the aisle towards the love of my life.
ARTURO
As Isabella stepped through the doors out into the garden my heart stopped.
She looked absolutely stunning, dressed head to toe in white lace.
It was everything I could have imagined her in and more.
I already knew she was an angel, but today cemented that for me.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Today I would get to call her my wife.
Mrs Isabella Ramos… It was about damn time.
The past year with my girls had been a complete whirlwind, not knowing what I’d get from one day to the next, but there was no way I’d change it.
They were the light of my life, my lifelines, my whole fucking world.
I had no idea what I had done to get so lucky.
The woman walking towards me had seen all my demons, all my mistakes and regrets up close and still she’d not run.
Where others would have judged and turned their back on me, she looked at me like I was the only thing that existed, even after everything Maria had done to her.
Before I knew it, Lorenzo was placing Bella’s hand in my own, but not before a few threatening words. He just couldn’t help himself…
“Look after her, Ramos.” he warned. “Hurt her, and I’ll have buried in a headstoneless grave.”
“Mhm, with my life, Ricci.” I winked, pulling Bella into my side. “You ready to become mine?”
“I always have been,” she smiled, giving me the look I adored.
We turned to face the registrar as he spoke, but honestly? I couldn’t hear a damn word he was saying, I was too busy admiring Bella and she knew it as she blushed under my gaze.
“Arturo, please recite your vows,” the registrar prompted.
“My love, I could stand here all day listin’ every reason why I love you and still not get tired of doin’ so.
” I smiled, as did she. “I thought love wasn't for me. I thought it wasn’t worth it but that all changed the night I met you. You proved me wrong, you’re the only one who’s ever been able to show me the lightness in the dark that I’d chased for so long.
You’re the only one who’s stood by me no matter what and tackled my battles with me head on,” I breathed.
“Not many would have done it, and even if they had, they would never have succeeded.” I brought her knuckles to my lips, making our family and friends swoon.
“You’re an amazin’ mother, and Valencia and I are so lucky to have you in our corner and in our life.
Gracias por ayudarme a respirar de nuevo, te amo. ”
I lifted my thumb to carefully wipe away the tears she’d allowed to fall as she tried to compose herself.
“Isabella, please now recite your vows,” the registrar smiled.
“Arturo, I can’t deny that I tried so incredibly hard to hate you in the beginning.
” The guests let out a bout of laughter as I grinned.
“But no matter how hard we tried to push one another away, we kept finding our way back to where we belonged. You were the other half of me I never knew was missing. The one my heart craved and yearned for.” I cupped her face, still wiping away the falling tears.
“Arturo Ramos, you brought me to life. You showed me what it’s like to love and to be loved.
And I promise to love and cherish you until I’m no longer able to. ”
“Do you, Arturo Ramos, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live together in matrimony, to love her, comfort her, honour and keep her, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?” The words were music to my ears.
“Too bloody right I do.” I beamed, as did Bella. A chuckle from my soon-to-be father-in-law made me grin even harder.
“Do you, Isabella Ricci, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live together in matrimony, to love him, comfort him, honour and keep him, in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?” The registrar repeated.
“Of course, I do.”
We exchanged rings, hers a delicate diamond band while mine was heavy and made of thick white gold.
“By the authority vested in me by the state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Arturo, you may kiss your bride.”
About damn time.
I claimed her lips, our tongues clashing gently with one another as we forgot about the guests that erupted behind us.
She was officially mine just as I was hers.
With the first dance and cutting of the cake complete, Bella led me through to the house. I had no idea what she had planned or where we were going, but one thing I did know was how incredibly fucking hot her arse looked in the jumpsuit she’d changed into.
“My love, what’s goin’ on?” I asked, arching my brow.
“Close your eyes,” she demanded, her hands covering them before I’d even got the chance to do as I was told. She ushered me out of what I guessed was the front door, her perfume invading my senses as we stepped onto the gravel.
“Bella, can I look now?”
She reached up and whispered in my ear.“Remember I told you when we were at the cabin that I knew what I would give you as a wedding gift?”
“I do.”
“Well, open your eyes,” she ripped her hands away, leaving my eyes to adjust to the late afternoon sun.
Wait… was that?
No fucking way. She couldn’t have managed that.
“Bella, please tell me that’s not what I think it is?” I uttered in complete shock.
“I don’t know,” she teased. “What do you think it is?”
“My dad’s bike.” I managed, my voice breathless.
“Ta-da.” she beamed, raising her arms, letting me wander over to the bike I thought was long gone.
“But how? It was written off, it was?—”
“It was, yes. But I have my ways… that and a lot of help from Emmet.” She trailed her fingers across the handle bars. “But that’s not all…”
“Bella, this is more than enough. What else could you possibly have done?”
She gnawed at her lower lip, handing me a set of keys and a plan from inside my helmet. It took me a moment to notice what the plans were for until I saw Ramos Rides written at the top.
This woman was unbelievable.
“Shop’s all yours. All you have to do is bring those designs you had to life, I thought maybe we could do it together.”
“I couldn’t imagine doin’ it with anyone else.” I kicked my leg over the bike I never thought I’d sit on again, and shuddered with happiness, and it was all because of my wife.
“Ready to go for a ride, Mrs Ramos?”
“Always.”