Chapter 74
Alex
The ceremony has started.
I'm glad Marco and Paola, my adoptive parents, arrived last night. It's always nice to have them around - they're wonderful people I'm genuinely attached to.
I was thrilled to introduce Rosie as my girlfriend. I felt exactly like a son presenting his girlfriend to the family, and having Chris and Rory beside me when I did it helped me feel less nervous and more at ease.
I've always been grateful, and always will be, for this second chance I've been given.
Rosie likes them, and they obviously like her - no need to say how much this makes me happy.
They would have come earlier, but they also manage a ranch and have been busy. Their ranch is smaller and fortunately hasn't been in as much trouble as ours lately, but they've been quite occupied with the births of new foals.
Everything went smoothly... and I can't wait to see them. I'm always excited about new foals - seems I've developed quite the paternal instinct.
Marco is officiating with a charisma and elegance I'm familiar with. His warm voice fills the air, telling the story of how he brought Robert to Italy and how, thanks to him, Robert and Maria met. His words are touching, full of emotion and meaning.
But as moving as Marco's speech is, I can't fully concentrate on it. My eyes keep returning to Rosie. She's simply breathtaking. The golden dress suits her incredibly, making her red hair and fair skin glow. But it's not just her external beauty that captivates me. It's her smile, the way her eyes shine with happiness for her father. It's the grace of her movements, the sweetness of her gaze. It's everything about her.
While Marco speaks of the love that united Robert and Maria, of how they found each other despite distance and cultural differences, I can't help but think about me and Rosie. How much I would want such a happy ending for us. How much I would love to stand here, in front of everyone, promising my eternal love to Rosie.
But I know it's too early. We've known each other for just over three months, though it feels like a lifetime. Rosie has already made enormous changes for me: she left her country, her job, everything she knew. I can't ask her to take another such significant step now. I need to give her time to settle in, to be sure of her feelings, to be happy here.
Yet, watching Rosie wipe away a joyful tear as her father and Maria exchange vows, I can't help but imagine a future where we are the ones standing there, promising eternal love to each other. It seems I was born just for her, as if every moment of my life had led me to this, to her.
I know Rosie is too good for me. She's so intelligent, so strong, so wonderful. Sometimes I wonder how I got so lucky to have her in my life. And precisely because of this, I don't want to risk ruining everything with a premature proposal. I would never want her to wake up one day thinking she made a mistake by marrying me.
Marco is concluding the ceremony, his words full of hope for Robert and Maria's future. I look at Rosie once more, and my heart fills with love and hope. Perhaps I can't ask her to marry me now, but I can promise myself to love her every day, to make her happy, to be the man she deserves.
As applause erupts for the newlyweds, I take Rosie's hand in mine. She turns towards me, her smile as bright as the sun. And I fully realize that no matter how long it takes, I will wait. I'll wait until she's ready, until she's sure. Because I know Rosie is my future, and I'm not in a hurry to get there. I want to enjoy every single moment of our journey together.