Chapter 62
Chapter Sixty-Two
When the sleek Maserati Levante pulled up, Corinna yelled to the group excitedly, “It’s time. Let’s go, everyone!”
One by one, they got into the luxury vehicle that Alex had sent for them. Helping his daughter get into the car last, Aldo took an opportunity to tell her again how lovely she looked.
“Thank you, Papa, I'm going to miss you both so much,” she said.
Pulling up to the Rossi house, Aria suddenly felt nervous. The music began to play, signaling the beginning of the procession.
Santo and Maria took turns kissing Aria’s cheeks as they readied to walk down the aisle. Santo turned around before taking a step and winked at his sister, making her calm slightly.
Aria watched them walk down the aisle to their seat as Corinna and Enzo, Adrian and Sofia, lined up next.
With a few blown kisses, the couples walked down the aisle slowly as the photographer took pictures.
The music changed, and the beautiful sounds of stringed instruments playing Pachelbel Canon filled the garden.
“Ready, piccolo angelo?” her dad asked.
Overcome with joy but not wanting to cry, she nodded quickly.
Aldo kissed her hand, and they took their first step out toward the waiting guests.
Aria looked ahead wanting to get a glimpse of Alex. A cool breeze blew the tendrils of her hair as she walked.
As they got closer, Alex turned for a second to say something to Enzo. But when his eyes met hers, thousands of butterflies went into flight inside her.
All her nervousness was gone. This was where she belonged. With him, for the rest of their lives.
Alex’s mouth bit his bottom lip as his eyes widened, and before Aria knew what was happening, he took several long strides toward her, causing Adrian and Enzo to look at each other in confusion.
Smiling up at him as he approached, Aria’s eyes scanned his handsome face. When their eyes met, she fought the urge to fall into his arms. The look in his eyes radiated pure love and devotion.
Aldo put her tiny hand in Alex's large one and said, “Weather the storms together, and may your love always be as strong as it is today, my children.”
Holding back her tears, Aria hugged her dad and told him that she loved him. He walked alone the rest of the way down the aisle to his wife who was close to sobbing.
“He seems ready to be married,” he whispered to Maria.
A wave of quiet chuckles could be heard from their families and friends as Alex finished walking his bride down the aisle to the front, never once breaking eye contact with her.
Stopping in front of the officiant, they turned from each other's gaze as he spoke.
“Alex and Aria, you have asked for a simple wedding ceremony, so as you wished, I will just say a few words. I have never seen a couple more in love than the two of you before me today. It's an honor to be here to witness your union.”
Addressing the crowd, he welcomed them to the joining of the two souls in matrimony. Telling them that Alex and Aria had written their own vows, he asked Alex to please say his vows.
Turning to face each other again, Alex took her hand in his and slipped the wedding band on her ring finger.
“Aria, love of my life, my heart beats only for you. You are the only woman I have ever loved. I promise to walk by your side through this life. I will protect you from storms and guide you through the challenging times to come. I devote my life to you, my one and only, always. Today, I give you my heart because it has always belonged to you,” Alex said, his voice cracking with emotion.
Aria watched him wipe a tear that had slipped down her cheek. She placed his wedding band on his ring finger and then brought his hand up to her lips where she kissed him tenderly.
Alex’s eyes fluttered closed, but he opened them again when she started to speak.
“Alex, my love, my heart, my albatross. You have flown all over the world, but I will always be grateful that you found me right here. Without knowing it, I was waiting for you. Waiting to pour my love out to you, and you only, for the rest of my life. Today, I also give you my heart. I will hold your hand when you are troubled and kiss away your fears. I am yours, Alex. Today and always.”
She in turn, wiped a tear from his eyes, then watched him bring her hands up to kiss them.
The officiant smiled and said, “By the authority given to me by the Province of Salerno, I pronounce you man and wife! You may now kiss your bride.”
Alex cupped her face and brought his down to her, kissing her lips.
Then he whispered, his lips still touching hers, “You are my dream come true, Aria Rossi.”
Feeling her body shiver, she whispered, “And you are my beautiful, unexpected love, Alex Rossi.”
The small crowd erupted in applause. Alex never let go of her hand even as they greeted their loved ones. He would never let her go again.
The DJ began to play a familiar song as Alex led his bride to the makeshift dance floor. Taking his wife into his arms, Alex took her breath away when he started to softly sing along to the Etta James song.
Twirling her around, he crooned slightly off tune the words to ‘At Last’ that meant so much to the two of them.
Aria sighed and held Alex closer as they moved around the dance floor. She allowed the poignant words to wash over them, reminding them of the long journey that brought them to that moment.
She giggled at his attempts not to step on her toes.
“Aria, amore della mia vita. You are the most stunning bride in the history of the world. You outshine the beauty of the moon and stars, and I love you,” Alex whispered in her ear.
Taking her turn to serenade, Aria sang the words to the last verse while gazing into her husband’s eyes.
“And you, my husband, take my breath away every time I look at you. How did I get so lucky?” Aria asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Suddenly becoming serious, Alex’s eyes darkened.
He finally said huskily, “Mine.”
Aria simply nodded and whispered, “Yours.”
His stormy eyes cleared as he whispered, “I’ve waited over a decade to say that to you, my little angel. Tonight, I have become your husband. And you have become my wife, forever by my side. No matter what we face, you are no longer alone.”
“And you, my strong albatross. You no longer need to fly alone. You’ve found your mate. As of this moment, I am no longer a widow. I am a wife, your wife. There will be days I will need help navigating through my past, but let there be no confusion, Alex Rossi, I am yours, now and forever.”
When it came time for the mother and son/father and daughter dance, Maria walked up to Alex and asked if it would be alright for her to dance with him. Aldo went to Aria's side, and she lay her head on her father’s shoulders, watching the interaction.
“Maria, it would be my honor to dance with you,” Alex said. “Thank you for thinking of me. My only sadness tonight is that my mom can't be here.”
“Son, she is here,” she said, tapping him lightly over his heart. “She is right here with you. Always.”
Hugging her tightly, he took her hand and the four of them danced to Lauretta. Aria was awash in love and gratitude as she watched her husband and mother dance.
Afterward, the DJ announced that it was time to celebrate the bride and groom. He invited everyone up to the dance floor, playing high-energy music.
“Alright, now that you're my husband,” Aria said, “I think I'm ready to see these moves I've heard about.”
Alex laughed as he led her to the center of the dance floor.
“Let's go, my dancing queen,” he answered, spinning her with one finger.
Sofia yelled to them, “Don't say I didn't warn you, Aria, but he's yours now. You're stuck with him. Too late to back out now!”
Catching the beat with his signature head bop and arm movements, Alex started dancing around Aria as she watched in shock, her eyebrows all the way to the top of her forehead.
“Oh… oh, my,” was all she could say.
She had never seen anything quite like it, but she loved it all the same.
Aria loved every minute of it. She copied her husband's interesting dance moves and soon everyone was on the dance floor doing ‘The Alex’.
Everyone was having a blast, singing to all the songs they knew, changing partners as they danced and celebrating for hours. It didn't go unnoticed by Alex and Aria that Santo and Sofia danced quite a bit that night.
Susanna and Louis had graciously catered the small event, but refused their insistence that they stay once the delicious food was served. They gave the couple a hug and wished them well, saying they took credit for their reunion, making everyone laugh.
As candid photos were taken throughout the evening, it was evident the joy the occasion brought.
When the wedding party and families took the more staged photos, Aria gave Alex a knowing look when they saw Enzo and Corinna looking awkward as their photos were being taken.
Later on, after they cut the cake, Aria whispered, “I can’t get a reading on what’s going on with Enzo and Corinna.”
Alex shook his head and answered, “Yeah, they either really like each other and are in denial, or they hate each other.”
As the night went on, Alex enjoyed watching his wife dance with everyone there, but he didn't let her move from his side for very long.
Pulling her back into his embrace during another slow song, he whispered in her ear, “Is this our story’s happy ending, my wife?”
Shaking her head, she said, “No, Alex. This is just the start of our happily ever after.”
Putting his nose close to her neck to inhale her perfume, he whispered again in her ear, “Then are you ready to begin our lives together, Mrs. Rossi?”
Aria pulled back, looked into his eyes and whispered, “I'm ready, Mr. Rossi.”
That was all Alex needed to hear. He took them around to say their goodbyes to everyone. Throwing kisses and hugging tightly, they promised to keep in touch as much as they could.
Waving goodbye, Alex and Aria walked hand-in-hand to the car waiting to bring them to their house by the sea and to their new life.