Page 86 of Nobody's Girl

“Boy did good.”

Sofia giggled. Callie’s approval wasn’t often given, and Ivo and Jonas were both terrified of her in almost-half-joking way.  Ivo beamed and Sofia swiped his butt. “Good boy,” she whispered and he laughed.

Inside and outside, they had decorated the villa with strings of tiny white lights, candles guttered in mason jars around the patio and the pool, and a table of food lay covered and ready to demolish.  Sofia gaped at it all. “You did this in…” she checked her wrist watch, “four hours?”

“Like I said,” Ivo laughed, “It was a military operation.  I was going to hire people to do it for us, but Peony and the kids insisted.”

Sofia felt close to tears again and she hugged the children. “You three are amazing, I love you so much.” She kissed their cheeks and the boys made disgusted faces and ran off, but Peony flushed with pleasure.  She had always adored her step-mother, who had, after all, helped her mother give birth to her and Sofia adored her, telling her often, that when she, Sofia, had a little girl, she wanted her to be just like Peony. Clemence encouraged their friendship – she and Sofia had grown as close as sisters in the years that had passed since Peony’s birth.

Sofia chatted to everyone, and when it came to eat, they sat around the long table under the pergola and ate and talked and laughed. Sofia looked around the table at all the people she loved and felt so overwhelmingly lucky that she felt the tears coming again.

“Hey, hey,” said Ivo in a gentle voice, but she smiled at him.

“Happy tears, I swear, baby.  Thank you so much for this, for everything.”

Ivo kissed her. “I love you, baby, so very much.”

Sofia felt her emotions overwhelm her and she buried her face in Ivo’s neck to hide her tears. She heard an ‘aww’ go around the table and chuckled as she felt a laugh rumble through Ivo’s big body. She wiped her face. “Ignore me, I’m just hormonal or something.  Thank you all for being here.”

“Speaking of which, time for a speech,” Ivo said and she looked at him in surprise. Ivo wasn’t one for public speaking, even amongst friends.

He raised his glass and took Sofia’s hands. “Today, we come together to celebrate your thirtieth birthday, baby.  Nine years ago, I went swimming and found a mermaid.”

Sofia groaned and Ivo laughed. “Listen, wife, better get used to the cheese because there’s more of it coming.” He gave a discreet nod to Jonas, who smiled and left the table. “Sofia…you have given me the world, two incredible sons, and also you had a big hand – so to speak – in bringing our beautiful Peony into the world too.”

“Hear, hear!” Clemence raised her glass and Peony beamed at her step-mother. Ivo smiled at the both then turned his eyes back to his blushing wife.

“I could never have dreamed that I would be lucky enough to find someone like you,” Ivo said, the emotion clear in his voice. “That terrible day, all those years ago, when I thought you were lost to me, to us, was like a living death to me.” His voice broke and he took a moment to gather himself. “But, of course, I should not have worried.  You are a warrior, Sofia, a fighter, a survivor and I love you so very, very much. Happy birthday, my darling.”

There was a chorus of ‘Happy birthdays’ as her family and friends raised a glass to her, and then Sofia saw Jonas lead in an elderly man she didn’t know. Ivo went to meet him and helped him towards Sofia. “Sofia, this is Giovanni Menti, the owner of this villa. Giovanni, my wife, Sofia.”

The elderly man smiled at Sofia. “I see young Ivo didn’t exaggerate your beauty, Bella. Happy birthday.”

She kissed his cheeks. “It’s wonderful to meet you, sir, your villa has been a haven this past week.”

Giovanni shared a grin with Ivo. “I’m glad you think so.”

He nodded at Ivo and Ivo smiled at Sofia. “Darling, Giovanni’s come here today to help me with the last part of your birthday gift.” Giovanni handed Ivo an envelope and Ivo gave it to Sofia. She opened it and drew out some legal documents.  They were written in Italian, and Sofia tried her best to make head or tail of them. Finally, she looked at Ivo, who grinned.

“Baby, these are the deeds to this villa.  As of today, it belongs to you.”

Sofia’s hand flew to her mouth, so utterly shocked was she and laughter broke out around the table. “Ivo…I…can’t believe it.”

She stood, rather shakily, and almost fell into his arms.  He held her tightly. “I knew pretty quickly you’d fallen in love with the place so I called Giovanni.  He was more than happy to sell it to me.  It’s yours, sweetheart.”

“Ours” she said, and kissed him fiercely. “Thank you thank you, thank you.”

Later, when most of their guest had gone, Sofia and Ivo showed the boys their new home.  They quickly chose the bedrooms they wanted, and were telling Peony about their plans. “Ad you choose yours too, Pea,” Sofia said, “And you can come whenever you want to, if your mom says it’s okay.”

Peony grinned and went off to explore.  Outside, Jonas and Camille were trying to round up their brood, and Desiree was chatting with Clemence. Sofia stood at the window and shook her head as Ivo slid his arms around her waist, and kissed her shoulder. She turned in his arms, gazing up at him. “You have given me the world, my love.”

“You are my world.” he said simply, and pressed his lips to hers.  Sofia took his hand and pressed it to her belly, watching his eyes widen.

“I took four of the tests we bought,” she whispered softly. “Congratulations, you’re going to be a daddy again…”

And she kissed him, knowing that their family was complete.