Chapter 58
Chapter Fifty-Eight
When Aria woke up on Saturday morning a few days after Alex proposed, she made a decision. There was one last conversation that she needed to have before making her decision about Alex’s idea for their honeymoon.
Grabbing a sweater, she got into her car and headed for the coast. She found a parking spot and looked around, listening to the birds chirping happily in the pine trees.
As she walked closer to their tree, she reveled in the feeling of peace that she felt in this place. The water was still and blue as the sky. The pine needles crunched under her feet as she walked, inhaling the fragrant orange blossoms nearby.
When she was still a distance from her special tree, she was surprised to see that someone was standing underneath it. She could see that it was a man, but his back was to her.
His frame was familiar and when she was a few feet away, she realized he was speaking. Stunned, she recognized who was speaking, but her mind couldn’t put the two things together.
Is that Alex? What is he doing here?
“So, Nicholas, I wanted you to know that I love her and I—”
“Alex, what are you doing here?” she stammered.
Alex spun around, surprise coloring his expression as he strode toward her.
“Aria! Please don't be upset. I can explain,” Alex said, taking her hand.
“I don’t understand,” she stammered, looking at him in shock.
“Please come sit with me, love. Let me talk to you.”
Alex held her hand and helped down so they sat facing each other. Kissing the hand he was holding, he explained.
“Aria, you told me about this place a while back when we were talking about Nicholas. That day in my car after you came to my house, remember? Your detailed description helped me find it easily. Or at least, I was pretty sure this was the place.”
She nodded her head, remembering the day they made his mom's cookies. They had talked about Nicholas for a long time, but she couldn't imagine that he would remember her telling him about the tree.
“This is it, but why are you here? I still don't understand,” she asked, her eyebrows pinched.
“Aria, if it were Nicholas wanting to marry you and I had been your husband first, I would want to meet this man and hear from him directly about his intentions. I know that I got your dad's blessing,” he shrugged, “but I wanted to get Nicholas' as well somehow.”
“Alex,” she whispered, grabbing him around the neck and pulling him into her.
The flood of emotion burst from her like a dam. She was wrecked in the best way possible.
“Are you upset with me?” he asked timidly, when she let him go.
“No, I'm not. Nicholas would've respected you for that. I know that for sure. So, what were you saying to him before I interrupted?”
“Well, I wanted to promise to take care of you, to love you with everything in me and to do everything in my power to make you happy always.”
“He would've been happy to hear those promises. I came here to speak to Nicholas as well. To tell him the news about our engagement. I think he would have been happy. For us both.”
“Are you sure you're not upset? I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable being in your special place.”
“No, you didn't. I think we should talk to him together.”
“I’d like that very much.”
Nodding, Aria took a deep breath and looked up at the massive pine tree.
“Nicholas, my love, Alex and I wanted you to know that we are getting married. We love each other very much,” she said softly.
“Please know that I will love Aria and be her greatest cheerleader. We will take care of each other and will always honor your memory,” Alex added as Aria leaned on his shoulder.
There were no grand signs, but Aria had a peace that she had Nicholas’ blessing.
“Let's get married as soon as possible, Alex. I don’t want to wait. Let's call our friends and families, make arrangements with the Consulate Generale and have a party. How quickly do you think we can do that?”
Alex looked at her face with joy.
“Do you mean that, Aria? Are you really ready?”
“I am, my love. Marry me, Alex Rossi. Marry me and let’s go on our big adventure,” she said, barely finishing her sentence when she felt him envelope her in a warm hug.
This was what pure happiness felt like. Laughing and holding each other, whispering words of love.
They arrived back at his car a short time later, climbing inside and making phone calls to their family and friends to tell them their crazy plan.
There were screams of joy, more tears from Maria along with chiding for not giving her much time, but lots of laughter.
The to-do list was divvied up and plans were made.
First thing Monday morning, Alex would get the marriage certificate and find an officiant. Then they could make a plan for the date and pass that on to everyone else.
Alex walked her to her car and held her again saying, “Aria, you’ve made me the happiest man in the world today.”
“I love you. I can’t wait to start our lives together,” Aria whispered.
“Oh wait, I need to make arrangements for our honeymoon. Where would you like to go?” Alex asked, holding her close.
With her eyes sparkling with mischief, she answered, “Take me to see an albatross first. Then show me the world. When we get home, we can fill our house with babies.”
She batted her eyes as if she were trying to convince him.
Choking for a moment, Alex gained his composure.
“You mean that? Do you want to leave on our adventure?”
Aria nodded. “Yes, I’m ready. Make my dreams come true.”