Price didn't matter, though.It was the sentiment.
I knew that.
My brother knew that, too.
“So, you give it to Dani when the time's right.”
He smirked.“She won't want it either.She's just like her mom.A diamond girl all the way.”
I frowned at him.“There's plenty of diamonds on here.”And there were.The cushion cut sapphire was the largest stone, but there were many smaller diamonds surrounding it.Plus, all the ones down the band.
He held his hands up.“Look, you want to give it to your girl?Or do you want it to sit in some dark drawer?I'm telling you the truth.Nobody wants it.And you don't have a fuckin' ring for your girl.Would you rather fashion one out of tinfoil?”
That thought made me laugh.Mostly because I really didn't think Francesca would mind a ring made out of tinfoil.For one thing, she knew I wouldn't have time to go buy something—it was the middle of the night.Francesca just wasn't the kind of woman who'd give a shit what kind of wedding ring I gave her.
But—I cared.
And I cared a lot.
Giving this ring to the woman I loved would mean more to me than it would to her.Having her wear a family heirloom—even if it was just until she could pick out something else—would mean the world to me.
If I couldn't have my Nona here—or any of my living relatives besides my brother—then the ring would at least be a symbol of my family.
At my wedding.
To the woman I loved.
I peered over at my brother.“You sure about this?Because you're not getting it back after I put it on Francesca's finger.”
He laughed loudly and nodded.“I'm sure.”
The door to the basement flew open, and Nick walked through it with an armful of Christmas lights.“Gentlemen, we have an assignment.”
10
Francesca
“Here, you carry this in your basket.But only toss out the rose petals.Okay?”Giselle told her daughter for the dozenth time.
The little girl yawned and blinked through her bleary, sleepy eyes.“Yes, Momma.”
Gosh, she was cute.And no doubt she'd grow up to be the spitting image of her mom.Giselle's genes won the battle in that kid.Which surprised me a little considering how big and bossy Carlo seemed.I'd think his genes would have simply scowled at any other genes in their way.And demanded their dominance.
“What's Carlo going to say when he finds out you woke her up in the middle of the night to be a flower girl?”Eve smiled at her friend.
Giselle kissed her daughter on the forehead.“He'll say nothing if he knows what's good for him.”
I pursed my lips together while she and Giselle laughed.Dani tried to laugh but ended up yawning again instead.
“How many chances does a little girl get to be a flower girl?Your daddy will just have to deal with it,” Giselle said with certainty.And I was willing to bet that Carlo would be okay with anything Giselle said.Especially if Dani wanted it too.I had to admit—she looked really freaking adorable in her flower girl dress, tiny veil, and white basket of rose petals.
I knelt down and said, “Thank you for being my flower girl, Dani.”I gently touched her little arm.She was still warm with sleep.Her chubby cheek had sleep marks on it, too.“I'm very lucky you could be here tonight.”
Giselle fluffed Dani's hair out a bit and said, “What do you say to Auntie Francesca?”
My lungs froze at those words.
Auntie.
