"I know," I said.
He laughed. I laughed too.
Ella sobbed behind us.
"We—"
"Wait," I said, turning to Leo and Juliet. "Don't you have something for me?"
Leo and Juliet exchanged glances. Juliet pulled a small velvet box from the bottom of her flower basket. Leo fished out an identical one from his.
The two children ran over together, held the boxes up to me.
"For you!" Leo shouted.
"We protected them really well!" Juliet added.
I crouched down, first touched their heads, then took the two boxes.
Each box held a ring, simple silver circles, thin and bright.
I stared at those two rings, fingers trembling.
"Olivia, you okay?" Ezio's voice came from above, also carrying a faint tremor.
Somehow, hearing him so nervous suddenly calmed me down.
Taking a deep breath, I picked up a ring, stood up, looked in his eyes.
"Hand," I said.
He extended his left hand. I held it, slipped the silver circle onto his ring finger. His finger trembled, same as mine.
He picked up the other ring, held my hand, slipped it onto my ring finger. The ring was thin, bright, flashed in the sunlight.
"Olivia," he said. "You're finally, completely mine."
I smiled. "You too."
He bent down, pressed his forehead to mine. His breath fell on my face, warm, with a hint of coffee.
"I love you," he said, voice so soft only I could hear. "Loved you from day one."
"Me too," I said.
He kissed me.
In the sunlight, in the scent of roses, under everyone's gaze.
Juliet and Leo clapped beside us, laughing till their eyes curved into crescents. Ella cried her eyes out, Sophie passed her tissues.
Wind blew through the garden, carrying flower scent, the warmth of sunlight, laughter.
Ezio's lips left mine. He looked in my eyes, smiled.
"Yay! Vivi! I can finally call you Mom!" Juliet suddenly said.
I crouched down and looked at her. Her eyes were bright, mouth all smiles, but eyes a bit red.
