Epilogue
The past five years flew by in the blink of an eye, but many things remained the same.
Mine and Ana’s love for one another was stronger than ever.
Isabella had grown into a sassy five-year-old.
She always had something to say just like Ana did.
She inherited her eyes, two wide sapphires always sparkling with happiness.
She might have looked cute and dainty, but she could throw one hell of a punch.
Although, Luca knew about that more than we did.
The older Luca got, the more he looked like me. One thing was for sure, he was a character, always finding ways to make the household laugh. But above all else, he was always there for his sister. He enjoyed spending most of his time with her. Their bond was unlike anything else.
“So, what do you think?” Red asked as he tried to capture my attention. All I heard was the familiar sound of heels coming down the stairs. “Lorenzo, will you fucking listen to me?!” Red waved in my face. He hadn’t realised that my five-year-old daughter had heard his beautiful vocabulary.
“Oh, Uncle Red said a swear!” She giggled. “Wait till I tell Mama,” she teased. She wouldn’t, but it was funny to see Red sweat a little.
“You don’t need to do that, Bells. I’ll add a dollar to the swear jar.” Red rummaged in his pocket to pull out a dollar.
“How about you just give me the money, and I won’t tell Mama at all? If you put it in the swear jar, she’ll know someone swore.” She smiled sweetly, as if butter wouldn’t melt.
Oh, she was good.
“Fine, come and get it.” He held out the money to Bella, who wobbled all the way over to him wearing her mama’s shoes.
“Like taking candy from a baby.” She laughed, and it was the cutest sound I’d ever heard. No wonder everyone was wrapped around her finger.
“You’re just like your father,” Red huffed.
“Mhm.” She turned to me as Red walked towards the kitchen.
“You’re lucky I love you, Bells,” he called, causing Bella to clap her hands before she shoved the dollar in my pocket for safe keeping.
She was a beautiful little girl. Freckles decorated her nose and cheeks, and her ash blonde hair was like Ana’s. She wore a crisp white dress that had layers upon layers of tulle.
“Well, good evening, Princess Bella.” I smiled.
“Papa, I need a prince, and Luca doesn’t want to be the prince. He said he wants to be the monster,” she huffed, folding her arms across her chest.
“Well, how many times have I told you? You don’t need a prince.” I laughed as I dropped to my knees before her. I took her hand in mine as I kissed her knuckles like a prince would do to a princess. “I’ll protect you for the rest of my life.”
“But I want a prince to kiss.” And there it was, the words every father dreaded.
“Kisses are overrated,” I huffed, knowing I shouldn’t lie, but for things like this, I didn’t have a choice.
“Make sure Mama doesn’t hear that,” she giggled, wobbling a little.
“Make sure Mama doesn't hear what?” As if on cue, Ana swanned out of the kitchen with a grubby Luca in her arms. His hair was a mess, and his clothes were covered in dirt. That was the day in the life of Luca. He spent most of it outside and then proceeded to track mud throughout the house.
“I think these two need a bath so we can decorate the Christmas tree. What do you think, Lorenzo?” Ana asked.
“Mama, can you bathe me, and Papa can bathe Luca?” Bella smiled sweetly as Ana handed over a mud-ridden Luca, which now meant I was covered as well.
“Of course, then we can put your Christmas pyjamas on, decorate the tree, and enjoy a hot chocolate before bed.” I tapped Luca’s nose with my finger as he wriggled in my arms.
Within seconds, he was chasing his sister up the stairs—obviously to wipe his muddy hands all over her dress. She kicked off Ana’s wedding shoes that were, of course, too big and sprinted towards her bathroom.
“Do you think they’ll ever get easier?” I sighed.
“No, Lorenzo, I don’t.” Ana laughed.
She kissed me quickly before darting up the stairs to split the kids up. Halfway up, she called over her shoulder, “Sorry, I forgot, kissing is overrated.” She giggled, having no idea I planned on showing her later just how overrated they could be.
With the guys at the bar, we had the house to ourselves to decorate the tree with the kids. The twins wore matching pyjamas, I opted for sweats, and Ana pulled on a oversized sweater dress.
“I’ll do this side with Papa because he can lift me high, high up!
” Bella beamed as she rushed to my side.
Luca sat on Ana’s lap as they admired the decorations we had acquired over the years.
Decorating the tree had become a family tradition since the kids were old enough to help.
They loved getting new pyjamas and drinking hot chocolate, too.
I lifted Bella for her to hang decorations as her delicate hand held onto my neck.
“Relax, my little diamond. I won’t drop you,” I reminded her.
“I know.” She smiled as she hung the angel wings on the tree, the decoration Ana had purchased to represent her grandparents. It was the one item the kids took turns hanging. “Those wings are my favourite.”
“Mama?” Luca spoke from the other side of the tree.
“Yes, my angel?” Ana responded, turning to look at him.
“I love you lots, like infinity.” I could hear the smile in his voice as Bella whispered, “Aww,” in my ear.
“And I love you. More than you’ll ever know.
” One thing about Ana, she might have been an incredible wife, but she was something else completely as a mother.
These children were her world, just as they were mine, but there was something about watching Ana with them every day that warmed me to the core.
She doted on them endlessly.“Me and Luca will go and make the hot chocolates. We’re trusting you with the tree.
” Ana narrowed her eyes at me playfully.
“You got it, Mama!” Bella called as they left. Once they were out of earshot, Bella whispered, “Papa?”
“Yes, Bella?” I answered.
“Will I meet a boy who is nice to me like you are to Mama?” she questioned, her fingers twisting in my hair.
“You will when you’re old enough.” I smiled, but what my daughter didn’t know was there’d be no boys until she was at least thirty. At least.
“Did you love Mama when you saw her for the first time?” she continued to ask. This girl and her questions would easily send me to an early grave.
“You know, it was different when we met.” I paused. “But I wouldn’t change a thing. She’s the love of my life and always will be.” I touched the tip of her nose with my index finger as she did the same to me.
“Papa, you’re lucky to have Mama,” she giggled.
“And why would that be?” I asked, eager to hear her answer.
“She’s pretty and cooks really good food!”
“You’re right, I am, but then again, I’m lucky to have all three of you.” I smiled, and I really meant every single word. I truly was blessed.
“Papa!” Luca shouted. “I did it!” He bounded into the living room and jumped into my free arm.
“Did what, mio ragazzo ?” I asked as his sister and I awaited his response.
“I put the cream and marshmallows on the hot chocolate. Mama let me!” He looked so proud as Bella leaned down and high-fived him.
“Did you put extra in ours?” she asked with a devilish grin.
“I put triple!” His eyes twinkled with mischief.
After completing the tree, we all stood back and admired our handiwork.
“I think Santa will love this tree!” Luca clapped as he wore hot chocolate for a moustache.
“Me too. It’s the best one we’ve done,” Bella agreed. She had the same messy face as her brother, except she also had dried whipped cream on the tip of her nose.
“Right, you two, let’s go and wash these faces and get to bed. Otherwise, we can’t go to Pop-Pop’s house tomorrow.” They squealed with delight and darted out of the living room. Ana wasted no time chasing them up the stairs.
The kids referred to Artem as Pop-Pop, and he deserved that title.
He had been great with my mother, Ana, and our children.
He helped me, if needed, as well, which he didn’t need to do, but it was more than appreciated.
Victor never came around. None of Ana’s family did.
She shrugged it off, but I knew deep down it probably hurt her.
We had the support of my mother and Artem, and she claimed that was enough for her.
After a good twenty minutes of alone time, I felt her presence before I saw her. “Are they in bed?” I asked, looking up from the sofa to meet her gaze.
“They’re in bed. Not sure how long it’ll take for them to get to sleep since they’re using those walkie-talkies Red got for them.” She relaxed back on the sofa, snuggling into my embrace. “Do you miss it?”
“Miss what?” I questioned, wondering where she was going with that.
“The newborn stage?” She smiled as she wrapped her arms around me.
“You know what, honestly, I do.” It was true. I missed when they couldn’t sass me and ask about boyfriends and love. But more than that, I genuinely missed the late nights in the nursery with Ana, supporting her through everything.
“Okay…” She breathed. “So, what would you say if I told you we’re about to go through it all again?” She blushed, toying with the hem of her sweater dress.
Wait a minute…
“Ana, are you…?”
“Yes, I’m pregnant!” She gushed as if it was our first child all over again. The swelling I felt in my chest was second to none. “Merry Christmas,” she whispered, cupping my face.
“I couldn’t ask for a better present.” I smiled, pulling her into me to claim her lips. This woman continued to surprise me every single day, and today was no different.
She was mine, and I was hers.
We were one.
Now and forever.