Epilogue
Being away from Emma and my son all this time has been incredibly hard, even though we talk every day. We video chat, and Matteo is getting cuter and smarter by the day, but I'm missing so many milestones in his life. So I've decided to change that.
I've made a decision, and I'm putting everything in place to make it happen.
I know my mia ragazza is bothered that we don't have a real commitment, so I'm going to fix that.
But first, I need to decide whether I'm going to New York or bringing her to Italy.
When I talked to Carter, he told me he was thinking about opening an office here.
Emma's projects have been very well received, and some clients are reaching out to hire her. After a lot of thought and many conversations with Sam and Carter, I decided to help him become a partner, but put my woman's name in place of mine.
That's one of the surprises I'm preparing—the other I'm still planning. Of course, Samantha is helping me, and if everything goes well, within a week—when Emma comes for a meeting with one of the clients—I'll ask her to marry me.
I had the entire garden at the back of my house decorated—the one facing the canal, her favorite spot. Her family and friends came on a separate flight. Nicola lent me his jet so I could bring everyone.
Everything is ready. Now Sam and I need to make sure it all goes smoothly. I left Emma and Matteo at my mother's house, along with Samantha, who came to help her with work, and went to my house to wait for her.
I told her I was going to prepare a welcome dinner and sent over a dress for her to wear, along with some jewelry and shoes. I admit I'm a little nervous about everything, afraid something might go wrong, but I've done everything right—every detail carefully thought out.
At eight o'clock, I send my driver to pick her up from my mother's house, and the trip seems to take an eternity—they take forever to arrive. I've created a path lined with lights leading to the garden in the back.
I'm standing under an arch of flowers—poppies and lilies, her favorites—with a red rose in one hand and a small box in the other.
That's when I see her. She walks toward me through the lights illuminating the ground that night.
When she sees me and flashes that beautiful smile that only she has, she keeps coming closer, then looks to the side and sees our family and friends there.
I kneel down, mia ragazza freezes in place, and I begin to speak.
“Emma, mi amore.” I take a deep breath. “I planned this the whole time you were away from me.
I wanted every detail to be perfect, because that's what you deserve.
I know that when I came into your life two months ago, I didn't define our relationship.
I just wanted to live one day at a time, especially after the whirlwind of emotions we'd been through.
So I wanted this moment, when it came, to be more than perfect.
I admit it was difficult, but so rewarding to do all this for you, for us, for our family.
It took me a while to realize I was in love, and I had to be apart from you for that to happen, but today I know how sincere my love for you is—the purest I've ever felt in my entire life.
I have to thank you for showing me what this feeling is like, and for sharing it with me and with our son.
I also have to say that I'm the happiest man in the world because of the best gift you've given me—Matteo.” I open the small box, revealing a huge red diamond, and ask the question everyone's been waiting for. “Will you marry me, mio amore?”
I look at her and wait for an answer, but it doesn't come. With her eyes welling up, trying to hold back tears, she says:
“When you turned your back on me and didn't listen, I promised myself I would never suffer again, and that meant not being in a relationship anymore.
I had my son, and he filled all the love I had to give.
But when we saw each other here, after so many months, I knew I couldn't keep that promise—this was always stronger than me.
And as soon as you broke down that door and got us out of that house, I had no more doubts.
My love for you is also sincere and pure, and I don't want to lose it. I want it to last forever, and for us to share it with our children. And yes, I will marry you, my love.”
I slip the ring on her finger, stand up, and all I want is to kiss her. I've missed our touch, our kiss. I hold her face and finally press my lips to hers, timidly, affectionately—and that's when we remember we aren't alone.
We got engaged that day. We were all happy, our entire family there, celebrating.
It was a memorable day, and we took lots of photos to remember it by.
As for the wedding, we still haven't decided on the date.
Emma wanted to get organized first, but I still hadn't told her about the office—and I planned to do that today.
“Love, can you come with me to the office, please?”
“Is something wrong?”
“Just come, please. Have a seat.”
“You're being very professional, Mattia. Come on, tell me what you want.”
I take the envelope from the drawer and hand it to her.
“An early wedding gift.”
“What is this? I didn't prepare anything for you, and we haven't even gotten married yet.”
“We can do that tomorrow, if you want.”
She opens the folder and starts to read. Suddenly she stops and reads it again, then closes the folder, sets it on the desk, and says:
“I can't accept this. I don't think it's fair.”
“You don't have to accept anything—it's already in your name. All you have to do is go renovate and decorate it your way.”
“But, Mattia…”
“Just accept it. I want you to be comfortable here, and if you want to work, there you go.”
She gets up from the chair, walks around the desk, and settles onto my lap. She hugs me, kisses me, and says,
“Thank you for everything—for all the love you give me and Matteo, for being such a wonderful fiancé and father.”
“Now we need to get married, and we’re not going to discuss this anymore. Your work problem is solved.” She smiles and agrees.
Two months later, we’re in the same place where I proposed to her, but now she’s beautiful, dressed as a bride, with a priest in front of us performing our wedding ceremony—the moment I’ve been waiting for more than anything.
Our son, who’s already walking everywhere, is carrying our rings, and our entire family is there, sharing in this moment.
I couldn’t be happier than I am today. Finally, our family is complete, the right way, as it should be.
We love each other and give our all to our marriage.
She’s happy with her company, and I’m happy to see her like this.
Our love was born one autumn, and through life’s trials, we let each other go, only to finally reunite and live it in the most beautiful and sincere way we could.