“This has to be your best work yet,” I say.
“No, that would be the rice pudding on Monday,” she teases.
As we laugh, the sound of a glass clinking silences the room.
“We want to thank you all so much for being here to celebrate our marriage,” Luciano begins. “I know it’s a lot to ask for an entire week of your time, and we won’t ever forget how you all went out of your way to be here for us. I have learned so much about Sofia’s family over this week. I have learned they are proud, hardworking, and, most importantly, full of love and care for my wife. I am so proud to be a part of the Perez family, and I hope you all accept my parents and me into yours.”
The guests start clapping and cheering.
“So let’s raise a toast. To family!”
“To family!” we all yell back and take sips of our champagne.
As the meal ends, the bride and groom take to the dance floor, swaying gently to the strains of a live band that plays a mix of romantic ballads and upbeat classics. The guests begin to join in, their laughter and joy filling the air as they spin and twirl beneath the stars.
“May I have this dance?” Valentina reaches for my hand.
“You absolutely may,” I reply, blushing.
As the night wears on, the party only grows more exuberant. The bar flows with top-shelf spirits and local craft beer, and bartenders mix up bespoke cocktails that tantalize the taste buds. Servers bring trays of decadent desserts around the party, but the showstopper is a towering cake adorned with fresh flowers and fruit. There’s even a spread of artisanal chocolates and macarons begging to be devoured.
“This has been the best week of my entire life,” Valentina says as she sways me from side to side.
“I couldn’t agree more,” I reply.
“And look. I didn’t even rip your dress,” she teases.
“There’s still plenty of time for that,” I say with a grin.
“Promise?” she asks.
I reach up and kiss her gently.
“I promise.”
At the stroke of midnight, the newlyweds bid us all farewell, and the party comes to a close. As we make our way back to our cabin, I feel a sense of awe at the beauty and grandeur of the evening and the entire week. It was a week of magic, love, and pure extravagance, and it will be remembered for years.
“Are you ready to spend the night together?” Valentina says.
“Depends. Am I sleeping on the cot or with you on the bed?” I joke.
“I hope to sleep next to you on a soft bed for a very long time, Isa.”
“I’d love that,” I say, my heart fuller than it’s been in ages.
Chapter Twenty-Six
I have mixed feelings about this place. Celebrating Sofia and Luciano in the Berkshires was equally the most stressful and exciting time of my life. Secrets were revealed. A sister was found. A romance blossomed. It’s also was where Valentina and I had our first fight, and then where I fought back for our love. Being in a place you’ll likely never be in again for the rest of your life is weird. It’s like a fleeting moment. Maybe one day, I’ll wonder if it was just a dream I made up. If it wasn’t for Valentina, I might have believed this was all a dream. But here we are, packing up and preparing to return to reality.
“This was a pretty crazy experience, wasn’t it?” Maria chuckles. “I grabbed some extra wedding favors for the road. How’s Miss Piggy?”
“You’ve got that right. I think she’ll get us home.”
“You think? Oh, God. I’m already dreading this. So did you get the investment at least?”
“I’m not sure, actually. I didn’t want to bring it up yesterday, so I’ve been waiting to see Luc this morning. I have a feeling we didn’t. I lied to him. No matter how he feels about the restaurant, who wants to invest in one with so much debt?”
“But didn’t you send him the business proposal?”
