She nodded, blinking back tears which had begun to well. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything more.’
His mouth met hers and they locked together. Tightly wound in each other’s arms wasn’t close enough.
‘You’ve made me the happiest I’ve ever been, Sarah. I can’t imagine life – any life – without you.’
She held him a little tighter. ‘Youaremy life.’
‘So, this is “us” now.’
She smiled and tilted her head to look up at him. ‘Absolutely.’ His arms drew her closer to his chest and she felt him exhale a long-drawn-out breath. ‘This must be what meant-to-be feels like.’
‘I guess so.’ He cradled her in his hold, gently tucking a few stray hairs behind her ear.
Sarah suddenly pulled back from his grasp. ‘Matthew . . . starting a family . . .’
He silenced her with a kiss. ‘It’s something we can try. If it happens, it happens. But know that I am here foryou, first and foremost. We face this together, whatever might come our way. As long as it’s with you.’ His green eyes seemed almost hazel in the light of the dying sun, and Sarah was moved by the tears she saw gathering in his eyes.
‘Matthew, you are heaven.’ She stroked his cheek with the back of her fingers. ‘You are the most humble and generous man. I’m going to spend the rest of my life trying to make you happy.’
‘Your being here achieves that.’ He pulled back slightly and took her by both hands. ‘Sarah, I want you to have this.’ From his back pocket, he retrieved a white gold ring and motioned for her left hand. ‘If you would like it back, that is?’
Sarah’s eyes narrowed, then widened suddenly. ‘Is that my—?’
‘It broke me to see you so upset. But yes, this isyours.’
Sarah gazed down at the ring Matthew had slipped onto her finger. ‘Matthew, it’s beautiful.’
A row of emerald-cut white diamonds were now set in Sarah’s band, filling it all the way around her finger.
‘There are twelve diamonds. One for each month of this time together.’
‘I’ve never seen a ring like this.’ She rolled her hand over to take in its beauty.
‘A jeweller friend of mine who has a store on the Ponte Vecchio made it. One-of-a-kind. That’s your original wedding band under there. I designed it myself.’ He beamed humbly. ‘You’re a very special woman, Sarah, and you deserve a very special token of my love for you.’
Just when she believed she couldn’t be anymore taken by how much she loved Matthew, he disappeared momentarily to retrieve a second and final gift for her. ‘This is for you.’ He handed her a small parcel wrapped in traditional Florentine hand-marbled paper and secured with twine. ‘I even wrapped it myself.’
She ran her hands over the paper. ‘Well, I am very impressed.’
‘Phew!’ He mimed wiping sweat from his brow.
Matthew pulled out a chair from the patio setting, and coaxed her to take a seat. He fumbled his way to the other chair, not taking his eyes off her. ‘What are you up to?’ she asked with a playful tone. But reading the desperation in his eyes quickly told her that this wasn’t a joke-worthy token. She tugged off the twine and her fingers slipped under the paper. As soon as her skin made contact with the leather surface, she knew what it was. ‘Matthew, no. I can’t.’
‘Please. I want you to have it.’
‘But it’s private.’
He shook his head and closed his eyes momentarily. ‘No. It’s for you.’
She steeled herself with a deep pensive breath, then returned her focus to the parcel. Removing it from the sheaf of paper, it was indeed Matthew’s journal. She locked eyes with him, and the intensity in his certainty that she should have it became clear. Holding it securely in her lap she opened to the title page. It was blank apart from the words,Our Italian ‘Marriage’. She looked at him curiously and turned to the first page, and her eyes traced over his opening line of cursive.
Today, I met Sarah. My wife. And God, she’s even more beautiful in person . . .
Sarah immediately succumbed to tears, and looked away from the journal. It was too much all at once.
‘Please,’ he coaxed.
Despite hesitating momentarily, she turned ahead a few pages.
