EPILOGUE
I stepped onto the balcony and flung the windows open wide, something that had become my ritual every visit.
The scent of grapes and lilacs from the garden wafted in the breeze.
The city stood before me in all its glory, ancient and alive.
Truly, there was nothing like Florence in spring.
It was a place for renaissance, passion, and rebirths that had worked its magic on me.
I’d arrived as a woman on the edge, bracing for an arranged marriage to a man I had just met.
Back then, I was full of anger and fear, yet I remained steadfast in our family values: respect, honor, and, above all, obedience.
But everything shifted the moment Rocco Marini entered my life.
I lingered before my portrait, Santiago’s brushstrokes capturing me where Luca once hung Aurora’s likeness.
From a motel room and a broken spirit, I had risen to become a book illustrator and wife of the Marini family’s patriarch, Rocco Marini.
The journey was never simple, but with resilience and hope, I endured.
Better still, I fell in love and now have my own family.
Checking the time, I quickly checked on baby Tessa.
She was still fast asleep in her pram. I gave her head a gentle kiss, then left the room to greet Cass, who was due to arrive any moment.
At the bottom of the stairs, I already caught her laughter echoing through the foyer.
My heart lifted at the sight of her. She shone as a rising starlet, yet remained my mischievous bestie.
She stood beside my grandmother, playing with the toy bear’s hands she held out to her.
Cass turned, and she ran over to my open arms. We spun in a whirl of laughter, arms wrapped tight. “How are you, gorgeous?”
“Fantastic, gorgeous,” I replied, and I meant it. Life had only gotten better over the years, and with Rocco by my side, it was bound to get even better.
I touched her Vulcan ears and laughed.
She grinned. “I kept them to show Luca.”
Luca, at four, was already obsessed with books.
His small voice often echoed through the house with questions, like “Do bears really sleep all winter?” or “If I fly could I touch a star?” His curiosity was boundless, fascinating us all.
However, if anyone could pull his attention away, it would be Cass or Grandmother.
She had a bear in her hand, but I also noticed she had a book about bears.
“He wants to learn about bears, and I told him we’ll read up on it, and I’ll take him to see one.
” Her adoration for Luca was true, and it was clear that coming to the house that almost was hers and having to hear Luca’s name, knowing all he’d done to her, couldn’t have been easy.
However, Grandmother never showed a sign of annoyance.
I hugged her, and she hugged me back. “Glad you are here. Luca’s going to be so overjoyed to see you.”
“Where’s Tessa?” she asked.
“Fast asleep.”
“On her side or back?” Grandmother couldn’t help, but fuss.
“You’re welcome to go and check,” I said grinning.
She squeezed my arm and left to do just that.
“Luca Reginald Emannuele,” my grandfather declared, walking in with two more bags of toys, delighting in every syllable.
He believed I named our son after him, and it was partially true, though Reginald was also the name of my grandmother’s great-grandfather.
I’d wanted to honor the Belfiores’ and Longfellows’ legacy.
He’d also mellowed. The sharp suits were gone, or at least the blazer was.
He kissed my cheeks, a gesture that still surprised me but now filled me with happiness.
“How are you, Rocco and the kids?” he asked.
I beamed at him. “Great. We’re all doing well.
” Everyone had a habit of checking in after what my father had done.
A piece of what they believed was his body washed up on the shore many miles away from Italy before Luca was born.
His wife wasn’t pregnant, but came out to say he abused her and that was why she fled to Rome.
There was no investigation into his death and his disappearance was closed by the police. No one cared.
“Good. Congratulations. I love the cover of The Becoming series. Do you know when the new book is coming out?” He cocked a brow, a playful glint in his eyes.
I shook my head and laughed. “You know I don’t. But I’m glad you like the covers.”
Miles Crane burst into the room and made a beeline for Grandfather. “Can we play chess again? I bet I can beat you this time.” He rubbed his hands together with mock villainy, making Cass and me laugh.
“You won’t beat me, but I’ll let you try,” Grandfather said to him with snark.
Grandmother walked up tutting. “Oh, Reg.”
“He’ll learn. Right, Miles?”
“That’s right. I’m not afraid,” Miles said and ran off down the hallway.
“Now, where’s Luca?” Grandfather said with a twinkle in his eyes.
“He’s in the bedroom, but don’t stay too long. The announcement and dinner are starting soon.”
We heard the piano start and knew Paul was playing while Nadia sang the old song, “Love Will Keep Us Together.”
I walked into the room, picked up the tambourine, and Cass did the shimmy around me, then we bumped hips to the rhythm.
“Partying without me? How rude,” Xander called from the edge of the living room with Wyatt right behind him. We waved and cheered as Xander struck a dramatic disco finger pose. Wyatt feigned embarrassment but then pulled him in for a kiss.
Naturally, Cassidy took it up a notch, launching into the funky chicken dance and sending the room into fits of laughter. I couldn’t resist and danced the chicken with her.
“Not you too, Lina,” Xander said.
“Bella,” Rocco called from behind me.
He came up, took my hand, and twirled me in a circle while everyone cheered.
As we moved, he leaned closer, whispering, “Keep some energy, Bella. You’ll need it.
” A sensual promise meant only for me, turning a simple dance into something more.
We’d kept up our dance lessons and started doing the hustle, yet every step felt like a vow, strengthening the bond we shared.
Mama and Gavin came dancing up, doing the hand jive, shooting and swinging their arms like they were lassoing.
That got Paul to change the song. Still, Mama kept staring at Gunnar and his date, Deb, who were busy talking with their heads together.
They weren’t doing anything sexy, but still I called over. “Hey, there are kids present.”
Mama got out of her thirst haze and finally shifted her attention to Gavin. But then Gunnar went over to Mama, and they switched to Dirty Dancing. Mama smiled bigger than I’d seen all evening. To my surprise, their dates just watched. They were on again off and again so much it was hard to keep up.
I looked at Rocco. “Are they too stunned to react?”
He shrugged. “Your Mama’s not happy without drama.”
I swiped his arm and laughed. “Gunnar’s no better.”
Paul started Dusty Springfield’s “Son of a Preacher Man.” Nadia ran her hands across Paul’s shoulder, and the look he gave her made Cassidy fan herself. “Jesus.”
Olivia and Nico came in, dancing with Luca wearing one of the Promises Saved rompers I had created as part of the annual fundraiser.
The list of families getting their promises and help had been well beyond what I ever dreamed.
If that wasn’t already great news, Olivia’s cancer was still in remission, and she had a new enthusiasm for life.
Nico and Olivia started dancing like they were extras on Saturday Night Fever.
However, Luca showed them. His shaking butt had gotten more claps and cheers.
“My God, he has your smile,” I said to Rocco. He had his dark hair and blue eyes. He would grow to be a beauty just like his father.
Rocco picked him up, spun him around laughing as Luca flapped his arms like a bird, and then set him down to dance again.
“He got some moves,” I said to Rocco.
“Just like his Mama.” He winked.
However, Luca spotted Grandmother and went to her and threw his arms around her waist Her expression filled with absolute joy, her eyes shimmering. It never got old—seeing the absolute joy on her face when she saw her great-grandchildren.
We heard Jacob’s wheelchair behind us as he came in with Cindy. I looked over at him. I signed. “Hey, big brother.”
Jacob signed. “Is it time, or are the Oscars boring for everyone?”
Rocco was unstoppable. After The Age of Sin triumphed at the Oscars, every project he touched glittered with success.
His films drew critical praise, and his latest, a time-travel psychological thriller called The Beginning of the Affair, was up for another award.
Skeptics questioned his decision to open a studio in Florence, but he silenced them with an outstanding catalog of profitable productions.
He found success sooner than he ever dreamed, and now the Marini Enterprises board was eager for his return.
I kissed him, and we all sat down on the couch as the screen lowered.
The nominees for Best Picture were announced.
We almost missed it. “The Beginning of the Affair. Debra Klein, director. Rocco Marini, producer. Paul Crane, producer. Marini Studios.”
“And the winner is…The Beginning of the Affair.”
We all screamed and clapped. I cheered the loudest. “Yay!”
Rocco pulled me back and kissed my face until everyone groaned at us. Suffer.
“You’re so lovely, Bella,” he said, his voice a gentle caress.
“I love you,” I said back.
Looking around at the faces of my family and friends. The Marinis and Belfiores now shared a home that once sparked a brutal rivalry.
Even Luca could not have scripted a more perfect ending for us.
A pact with destiny, a love of a lifetime.