He’s perfect,all three voices agree in unison.
Hell yeah he is. I’m glad we can also agree to that.
The walk down the aisle feels both eternal and instantaneous. I’m aware of the faces turning to watch me pass.
Some are approving, the others judgmental, but they all recognize that they’re witnessing something significant.
But my focus remains on Alessandro, on the way his eyes never leave mine, on the slight smile that curves his lips as I get closer.
Halfway down the aisle, I catch sight of Bella in the front row, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue while Giovanni and Arianna wave excitedly from beside her.
The twins are dressed in matching outfits that will probably last all of five minutes once the wedding is over, their faces bright with joy at seeing their “Banca” in a pretty dress.
My family. The ones who would walk through hell for me and the ones I would do the same for.
When we finally reach the altar, Dad stops and turns to face me.
For a moment, it’s just the two of us, father and daughter, sharing this final moment before everything changes.
“I love you, sweetheart,” he whispers, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
“I love you too, Dad,” I whisper back, feeling the significance of this moment. This is the last time I will ever be his little girl.
Then he’s placing my hand in Alessandro’s, and the warmth of his touch sends electricity up my arm.
His fingers intertwine with mine, solid and sure, and when he lifts my hand to press a soft kiss to my knuckles, I feel like I might float away with happiness.
“Hi,” he murmurs, just for me.
“Hi yourself,” I murmur back, grinning like an idiot.
The ceremony itself passes in a blur of vows and rings and words that carry the weight of forever.
When it’s time for my vows, I look directly into Alessandro’s hazel eyes and speak from the heart.
“I promise to love you with everything I am,” I say, my voice steady despite the emotion threatening to overwhelm me. “The light parts and the dark parts, the gentle parts and the dangerous parts. I promise to stand beside you as your equal partner in everything we build together. And I promise that no matter what comes next, you’ll never have to face it alone.”
His vows are just as heartfelt, just as perfect, and by the time the priest pronounces us husband and wife, there isn’t a dry eye in the cathedral.
“You may kiss the bride,” the priest announces.
Alessandro’s hands cup my face gently, his thumbs brushing across my cheekbones as he looks with so much love it makes my breath catch.
“Hello, Mrs. DeLuca-Ricci,” he whispers.
“Hello, husband,” I whisper back, unable to stop the smile unfurling on my lips.
The kiss is soft at first, tender and full of promise.
But it quickly deepens as months of love and desire and the euphoria of finally being married combine into something that makes the cathedral disappear around us.
When we finally break apart, both breathless and glowing, the applause is thunderous.
But even over the applause, I can hear Giovanni shrieking, “Ew! No kiss!”
As we turn to face our guests, Alessandro’s arm around my waist, I feel complete and utter contentment.
Everything feels exactly as it should be.
