Chapter 57
Chapter Fifty-Seven
When Alex brought Aria back home that night, he knew what he needed to do. Pulling up Corinna’s information on his phone, he hoped that she would help him with his request.
“Hey, Alex,” she said when she answered.
He could hear her pause the program she’d been watching.
“Hey, Corinna. I wanted to see if you could give me Mr. Costa's number, please,” Alex asked, his knee bouncing as he sat at the dining room table.
“Oh, okay, sure. I'll share his contact information with you now,” she answered with a curious tone.
“And Corinna. Don't tell Aria about this, please. I'm counting on you now for your discretion. I think you understand that this is important, right?”
“Oh, Alex! If this is what I think it is, I’m over the moon for you both.”
“Your blessing is as important as Aria's parents’. I know you and Aria are like sisters, and it means a lot to me that you approve. I'm glad you never actually had to kick my butt,” Alex said as she laughed.
Hanging up, he made the decision to call the Costas in the morning. It was time.
The next morning after a fortifying breakfast, Alex dialed Aldo’s number and waited for him to answer.
“Hello?” Aldo asked as Alex sat back in his chair in the living room.
“Good morning, Mr. Costa. This is Alex. How are you doing?” Alex asked as he shifted nervously.
“Ah, I'm well, Alex. Is everything alright with Aria?”
“Oh, yes, yes, sir. She's fine. She's at work right now.
She doesn't know I'm calling you, actually. I asked Corinna for your number,” Alex explained, trying to keep his voice steady.
“I was hoping that we could talk about something important.
I would've preferred to have this conversation in person, but it's just not possible right now. Do you have a few minutes?”
“Yes, Alex, of course. Maria just walked in so if it’s important, I’ll put her on speaker. What can we help you with?”
“Well, sir, I wanted to say again how grateful I am that you’ve supported our relationship since we reunited. It’s meant the world to me.”
Alex jumped off the chair, too nervous to sit any longer.
“I love Aria deeply. I realize that I've loved her my whole life, it seems. I am beyond grateful an amazing and special woman such as your daughter would even consider opening her heart to me.
“Mr. and Mrs. Costa, I want to ask Aria to marry me. But I won't do so without your blessing for this as well,” Alex said, holding his breath as he waited for Aldo and Maria to answer.
The line was silent for a minute and Alex was getting nervous.
“Son, for Aria to find true love twice in one lifetime is a miracle,” Aldo finally replied. “You have made our daughter happier than I could have imagined was possible, and it is my pleasure to give you my full blessing.”
Blowing out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, Alex replied, “Thank you both so much. I promise to spend every day of the rest of my life showing her how much I love her. I’ll be asking her tomorrow evening. I can only pray that her answer is yes,” he laughed nervously.
He heard Maria in the background yelling, “Oh, she'll say yes!”
Hanging up and knowing that his plans could move forward, Alex had a lot of work to do.
Later that evening, Alex drove to Aria’s house as he had done countless times before, but this time was different. The weight of what he was going to ask was a mix of fear and excitement.
Is she ready for this next step?
But all his nervousness disappeared when she opened the door and he saw her standing in front of him.
He had told her that tonight was special, hoping he hadn’t given it away.
Aria stood before him in a black and white maxi dress that showcased her collarbones in an enticing way. Her toes were painted bright red, which matched her luscious lips. She was a vision.
“Aria, you look… Wow.”
Putting her arms around his neck, she pulled him into a warm kiss. When she pulled away, she tried to swipe her lipstick off his lips, but he didn’t care.
“Glad you approve,” she said, obviously flirting.
There was an unspoken understanding that she wasn’t ready for more than kisses and hugs, which he was in agreement with, but he loved that she had recently gotten much more open with her attraction and flirtation with him.
“Are you ready, love?”
“I am. What are we doing tonight? What are the plans?” she asked excitedly as he held her hand, helping her into the car.
“It's a surprise, so don't ask any more questions. You'll see once we get there,” he answered getting into the driver’s seat.
When they arrived at Alex’s house, he allowed her to turn the corner to the front of his house first. She gasped and put her hand to her mouth as she stepped onto the front porch.
The entire area was decorated with bouquets of flowers of every variety and color.
“Alex? What is this?” she exclaimed, spinning around to face him.
“Aria, you have filled my life with color. You have made my heart live again, and you have captured me, body, mind and soul. There is no longer a me without you, no longer a life without you in it. I can’t live another moment not knowing that you aren’t mine.”
Taking her by the hand, he led her inside to the living room where candles lit every surface.
Aria spun around, taking in the sight, shaking her head in disbelief, a wide smile across her face. When she turned back to him, he was on his knee in front of her.
Alex pulled out a black velvet box and held it open, hands trembling.
“Alex,” she whispered, tears pooling, her hand on her heart.
“Aria, I want to be the man who gets to love you for the rest of your life.
I want to feel your breath on mine all my days.
I know I wasn't your first love, but I want to be your last. Aria Bianchi, my life, my other half, my heart. Will you make me the happiest man in the world? Will you marry me?”
“Yes! Yes, Alex!” she breathed out shakily.
Alex placed the vintage-style platinum ring on her finger, delicate scrollwork embellished the setting. The diamond was an emerald cut, and it sparkled in the candlelight.
As Alex stood up to his full height, Aria’s eyes tracked the movement, her eyes sparkling in wonder.
Placing his hands on either side of her face, he kissed her, transferring with it promises for their future.
“Aria, I can’t wait to make you my wife. To show you the power of my love and the strength of my feelings for you,” Alex said, making Aria blush furiously.
“And I can’t wait to be your wife.”
“I know I don't deserve you. But like I promised your dad, I will spend every day of my life showing you how much I love you.”
“My dad? You spoke to him?”
“I did. Corinna gave me his number. I told him that I wouldn't ask you without getting his blessing. He said he and your mom knew that this was true love,” Alex answered, holding her close.
“They’re right. This is true love.”
Dinner forgotten, Aria and Alex sat together on the sofa, listening the wind coming in from the open windows as it made the candles flicker. She was tucked closely beside him, his fingers playing with hers in a dance of touch.
“What are you thinking about, my love?” Aria asked, her head tilted to one side.
“Thinking about our new life together.” Sitting back and twisting so he could face her, he continued.
“Let’s get married right away. I want to take you to see an albatross like you’ve dreamed of.
I want to be the one to show you the beauty of this world.
You can write your next book, your next ten books, and I'll take pictures of everything we see! I want it all with you. We will have our home, our garden here when we get back, children when we’re ready.
I’ve waited for you my whole life and if you’re ready, I want that life together to start right away,” Alex said, his eyes roaming her face.
Aria closed her eyes as if she were dreaming about what he proposed. When she opened them, she rubbed her nose against his before answering.
“I want those things, too, my love. All of it. Let’s tell everyone first and celebrate our good news with them. Give me a few days to think about how soon to have the ceremony.”
“I can do that, love. I won’t rush you. I just wanted you to know that I’m ready,” he said, before kissing each cheek, her forehead, her nose and then chin.
He could feel her cheeks pull up into a smile as he moved around her face.
“Are you stealing Mr. Darcy’s moves?” she said, her voice huskier than he had heard before.
“If they get a yes from you to get married sooner, then yes, unashamedly, I’m stealing his moves.”
They laughed and caressed, speaking words of love and adoration long into the night.
On their way home, they called both their families and friends, and promised them all to share the details as soon as they decided.
Maria and Sofia both cried at the news. The men were all excited and wished them well. In her usual flair, Corinna began making plans for the bachelorette party. Aria ended up hanging up on her when the details took a turn toward outrageous, making Alex laugh out loud.
“Have you noticed how she and Enzo have been weird when they’re together?” Aria asked when they were almost to her house.
“I have, and when I asked him about it, he just said I was seeing things.”
Shrugging, she said, “I guess we’ll see.”