Epilogue
Clara
Fourteen months later
I never thought I would get to this moment. After everything we’ve been through together, all of the chaos and the bloodshed, being able to officially call Marco De Luca my husband makes this moment even sweeter.
The gardens of the Westchester estate are in full bloom, with soft pink roses twisting along the trellises up the side of the house and strings of warm fairy lights hanging from the tree branches overhead. The sun is beginning to set, casting a soft amber glow over the garden.
I stand barefoot in the grass, the hem of the light silk dress I made myself brushing my ankles as I sway gently side to side.
My arms are full as I hold my son Arlo against my chest, his little head resting on my shoulder, and his eyes flutter closed as he fights sleep.
He’s just turned six months old and already, he is the spitting image of Marco, with his head of thick dark hair and eyes to match.
I catch the sound of laughter from across the lawn, and I glance up to see Zoe spinning in circles with Holly and Rosa.
My daughter squeals, her own dark curls bouncing with every turn.
At almost two years old, she’s becoming more and more grown up with each day that passes. She might look like a mini-Marco, but her personality is all me.
She loves coming into my sewing room and dressing up in my designs, telling anyone who will listen that her mama made her dresses.
It warms my heart, and I know she’ll be proud of the route I’ve taken.
Juggling school with two kids is by no means easy, but Marco stayed true to his word and is working more from home to help me.
I’ve still got a long way to go, but I’m also loving every step of the journey.
Zoe calls out for Rosa to spin her around, and her aunt obliges without complaint. Rosa, for all her fire and teenage dramatics, has a heart of gold and has become the best little sister to me and aunt to my children that I could have asked for.
She’s nearly nineteen now and looks every bit the grown woman in her champagne-colored bridesmaid dress that she helped to design.
She looks over and catches my eye, flashing me a wink before taking Zoe and Holly by the hand and dragging them over to the dance floor.
As I watch them, I can barely remember a time when my family consisted of only me and Zoe. She was my whole world, and I couldn’t imagine having room for anyone else.
But now as I look around the patio, I see nothing but family, and my heart is fit to bursting.
My gaze shifts to where Lila sits at a table tucking into a piece of wedding cake with a swaddled bundle in her lap—the other new addition to the De Luca family.
Their daughter, Maria, was born two weeks before Arlo, and is just as spirited and stubborn as her big sister.
Andre leans over Lila’s shoulder and kisses the top of her head, his arm sliding around her waist as he gazes at his wife.
They’re whispering to each other in a language only they seem to understand, and I catch a glimpse of Lila’s soft smile, the kind she reserves just for him.
Andre’s free hand reaches over to stroke Maria’s cheek, and Lila looks up at her husband with such love and adoration in her eyes that it makes my throat tighten.
This is what we fought so hard for, what Andre nearly died for.
A future where all of us are together.
Marco appears beside me a second later, wrapping an arm around my waist and kissing my temple.
My body relaxes at his touch.
“Is he asleep?” Marco’s breath tickles my ear as he leans over to take a look at our son.
I grin. “Finally. He fought it every step of the way.”
“He must get that from you. You never want to sleep either.”
I laugh under my breath. “Only when I’m sleeping next to you.”
Marco leans in, his nose brushing my cheek.
“Careful, Mrs. De Luca. I’ll take that as an invitation.”
I elbow him lightly, careful not to jostle the baby. “You’re insatiable.”
Marco grins before leaning in and nipping at my ear. “I don’t hear you complaining.”
“You realize we’re officially outnumbered by children now?” I look over at Zoe and Holly on the dance floor.
“That depends on what team we count Rosa on.” He chuckles, lifting his head to look down at the lawn where Holly is now attempting to do cartwheels.
“You know she would choose those babies over us any day.”
“Traitor.” Marco scowls, but his face soon breaks out into a huge smile as he watches his little sister play with our daughter. “It’s a good problem to have.”
“Do you think we’re done?” I’m only half-joking, and Marco glances down at me, his brown eyes crinkling.
“Are you trying to get me into bed?”
“Not right now.”
Marco’s eyes turn molten, and I know it won’t be long until I’m completely at his mercy, especially considering how incredible he looks in his suit.
Even after two kids and a rocky start, I still can’t seem to get enough of this man. So, I guess it’s a good thing I married him.
Zoe crashes into us a moment later, interrupting us before I can palm Arlo off to Lila and drag my husband upstairs.
“Mama! Can I show Arlo the butterfly bush?” Her brown eyes are wide and her cheeks flushed red.
I crouch down slightly, adjusting Arlo in my arms, so I can talk to her.
“He’s asleep, baby girl. Later, okay?”
She pouts before glancing up at Marco. “Daddy?”
I can’t help but laugh.
This girl has Marco wrapped around her little finger, and I have a feeling it’s only going to get worse the older she gets. I swear, every time I tell her no, she goes running off to Marco because she knows he’ll give in.
Marco scoops Zoe into his arms and presses a kiss to her flushed cheek.
“We’ll take him later, princess. Right now, you’ve got to help me pick out the best cupcakes before Rosa eats all the frosting.”
Zoe squeals and wiggles, kicking her legs as Marco carries her off toward the dessert table.
While Zoe is occupied, I sneak inside to put Arlo down in the travel crib set up in Maria’s room and take a moment to breathe.
This day has been everything I’ve dreamed of. Not because of the dress that I spent hours making, or the flowers that Lila so beautifully put together, but because of the people I got to spend it with.
Finding Marco was a blessing, but being a part of his family is nothing short of a gift, one I will treasure for the rest of my life.
I quickly give Arlo one last kiss before creeping out of the room and heading back downstairs to join the party once more.
It doesn’t take long for Marco to find me. The moment he catches my eye, and I grin at him from across the dance floor, he immediately abandons his conversation with Andre and walks toward me slowly.
With his white shirt unbuttoned and that sinful smirk playing on his lips, my blood instantly rushes to my cheeks as I think of all the things I plan on doing to him tonight.
I can see in his eyes that he’s thinking the same thing.
His eyes roam over my body, as if he’s taking me in for the first time.
“You’re staring,” I tease as he approaches me.
“Can you blame me?” He pulls me into his arms and presses a kiss onto my neck.
“No.” I melt into him. “But I’m yours now. You don’t have to keep looking.”
“I’m never going to stop looking at you.”
He kisses me slow and deep, taking his time to explore my mouth.
“Good.”
As Marco kisses me right there in the middle of the dance floor, for the first time in my life, I don’t feel like I’m surviving.
I’m finally living.
When we finally break apart, Marco leans in close to my ear.
“Welcome to the first day of our forever, love.”