“I will live for her,” Matteo said, touching his heart with our hands. “I will die for her. You have my word, uncle.”
Uncle Tito nodded at this, and I heard sniffles from behind us. Uncle Tito took his seat, and Matteo moved us toward the waiting priest.
“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” he said. Then he repeated the words in Italian. Then seemed to add something to them. He translated. “My eyes will never see another vision like this for as long as I live.”
I wanted to take his words and borrow them, except exchange woman for man. He was dressed in a tux like his father’s. Even if I had never spoken to this man before that moment, in that tux, I would have not fought a marriage with him. That was how gorgeous he was. I actually wished for a stronger adjective because they all seemed so lame in comparison to his looks.
“Ditto,” I breathed out. Weak response, but it was all I could manage.
He grinned at me as he took my hand and breathed me in, right over my pulse. Then we faced the priest as he spoke ancient vows for us to repeat. He’d say them in English, then Italian. I repeated both, hoping my Italian was good enough. Neither of us fumbled, even though tears ran down my cheeks. An intense pressure felt like it had erupted from my heart and soul, and it was doing a number on my emotions. Every vow spoken was in pure truth as our eyes connected like they never had before.
Our connection had been tame compared to what was happening in that moment.
It was wild and free, but a cord tied my heart to his, and his to mine, and it was a cord that could never be broken, no matter how hard life tried to rip us apart. Right as the priest was about to pronounce us as husband and wife, he cleared his throat and said something to Matteo in Italian.
Matteo gazed at me, and without a breath, said loud enough for everyone to hear, “You are the beginning and end for me, Stella Fausti. My body will only know and serve yours for the rest of my life. And as our life continues together, I will continue to make vows to you. I will continue to become the man who is good enough to be yours. You are mine. And I am yours. You are mine for the rest of my life, and I am yours even beyond that. What’s between us is more than love, and it will never die.
“You are the blood inside of my heart and inside of my veins. You are the air that I breathe. You are the sustenance that keeps me alive. I’d die to keep you. I’d die to protect you. I live for you and only you. Always come to me. Don’t ever run from me again. Always, always, always fall into my arms, into our home, and into our bed. Always, always, always shine for me. All that I am I give to you. All that is mine is yours. You are my wife. You are my life. Mine.” He hit his heart. “La mia stella.”
Then he repeated the vows in Italian.
How could a mere woman answer that? I couldn’t. So, I did what my heart ordered me to do. I wrapped my arms around his neck, trying to get my heart as close as possible to his, so it could tell his all the things my weak voice couldn’t.
“With that-ah,” the Italian priest said, holding his Bible close to his heart. “I now pronounce you-ahman and wife-ah. Matteo, you may kiss-ahyour bride-ah!” He repeated the words in Italian, and as soon as my husband’s lips came to mine, the entire room erupted into cheers, but I was locked inside of amoment that was sealing the most serious and sacred vows of my life, and I never wanted to leave it—because it felt like just the two of us floating in the vast sky.
Us against the world.
Together as one.
Always.
Chapter 31
Stella
As soon as our feet hit the ground right outside of the church, underneath a flower archway full of white roses and forget-me-nots, Matteo took my face in his hands and kissed me again. It was a kiss that echoed the first one we had shared as man and wife just a few minutes ago.
It was a kiss that stopped time.
My eyes were closed, my breath ragged, when we pulled apart.
“I will never see anyone, or anything, as beautiful as you are in this moment.Mywife.”
I couldn’t seem to catch my breath to respond. I nodded into his embrace and let his words sink into my heart. When I finally opened my eyes, Mia was there, without either of us noticing, her camera in hand. She lowered it, and tears streamed down her cheeks. She ran to us, hugging us both.
Before I knew it, we were walking toward the reception, which was set up outside of Brando and Scarlett’s villa.
What Scarlett had planned for us was breathtaking.
The “reception” tent had thousands of flowers, the same ones that created the archway outside of the church, and they seemedto cling to it. The outside tables were filled with flowers. Bulb lights hung from tree to tree.
Nothing was as beautiful as the millions of stars swirling above our heads.
After more pictures were taken—this time by someone Pnina had sent, because it was clear to see Mia was already tired, her due date fast approaching—Matteo and I stood next to each other to welcome the guests. He set his hand on my hip and pulled me close. He introduced me to each man, to each couple, from his vast family. I expected the women to be blown away by the veil, but it was apparent the men were moved by it more than the women, who mostly complimented me on my gown, or how I made such a beautiful bride next to such a handsome groom. Some checked out my wedding rings.
Magpie hugged us both, crying, with Nonno next to her, looking so proud, I thought he’d burst out of his tux. And after Magpie had heard some of the women complimenting me, she whispered in my ear, “Whenever they do that to you, or your future children, always say…kiss my ass, or baby boy or baby girl’s ass, under your breath. The woman might be putting themalocchioon you or your family.” She nodded seriously and took Nonno’s arm as they walked toward the gathering party.
I looked at Matteo.
