It would look beautiful on Misty’s long, slender neck. He’d almost given the little necklace to her after her parents were killed. He understood what an inconsolable loss felt like.
Now, thinking about her wearing it gave him a warm feeling inside. He gazed at the heart and saw it in a whole new light. Misty was the one who had made it possible for him to get over his loss. She’d given him the kind of unconditional love he didn’t think existed. She deserved the token of his affection and so much more.
He tucked it in his pocket and jogged down the stairs. When he rounded the corner to the living room, he was greeted with loud hoots and applause from his entire boisterous family. The whole gang was there. Ryan and Chloe, Jayce and Kristine, Miguel and Sandra, Dante, Noah, Luca, his parents, and, of course, his beautiful wife, Misty. Her name fit as he gazed at her beautiful blue eyes, filling with moisture.
She wasn’t the only misty-eyed one in the bunch. His mother and sisters-in-law all looked like they had happy tears about to spill.
Misty led the long procession of kisses and hugs, handshakes, and pats on the back. As soon as his mother had stopped kissing him on both cheeks, twice, Gabe stepped back and found Misty in the crowd. As he walked over to her, he drew the necklace out of his pocket and opened the clasp.
He held up the little heart so she could see it and then reached around her slim, tan neck and fastened it. No words were needed.
The flood she had been holding back finally let go, but she was smiling as she was sobbing, so he knew they were happy tears. She slipped her arms around his neck and hugged him for a very long time. Which was just fine with him, because he never wanted to let her go either.
At last, Gabriella announced, “Let’s go into the dining room and eat some of the feast that Misty and I slaved over all morning.”
“There’s one last thing before we do that,” Antonio said.
Everyone halted. Antonio pulled an envelope out of his pocket and crossed to the happy couple. “We never gave you two a wedding present.”
“We don’t need presents,” Gabe said. “I have my gift.” He looked lovingly at Misty.
She cuddled up to him and laid her head on his shoulder. “Me too.”
“I’m glad you feel that way, because you’re not getting a bunch of presents. Just one.”
Chuckles and laughter followed, but Gabe wasn’t the least bit embarrassed. One gift. That’s how he wanted it.
“Everyone contributed to it,” Gabriella said as his father handed Gabe the envelope.
Opening it, he found a hotel brochure and two plane tickets to Venice, dated the following day. “Wow! This is great, everybody, but shouldn’t I be getting back to work? It’s been ten weeks.”
“So what’s another week?” Antonio smiled. “Don’t worry, Son. It’s been cleared with the chief.”
“A week in Venice?” Misty asked, wide-eyed.
“Divertiti, bella,” Gabriella said and kissed her daughter-in-law on both cheeks.
“What does that mean?” Misty asked.
Gabe translated for her. “Enjoy yourself, sweetheart.”
She smiled at Gabriella. “Thank you. We will. Thanks, all of you!”
Gabe handed the envelope to his brother. “Hey, Jayce. Hold this for me.” As soon as Gabe had his hands free, he dipped Misty and followed her down for a long, deep kiss.
Jayce laughed harder than the rest. “Ah, newlyweds.”
* * *
“A honeymoon in Venice. I still can’t believe we’re here,” Misty said breathlessly. Gabe was taking her picture from the bridge over one of the canals.
“Believe it, babe. You deserve it.”
“Me? What did I do?”
He laughed, draped an arm over her shoulder, and started walking toward the more populated area. “You waited for me.”
She smiled up at him. “Is that all? That was easy. I had nowhere else to go.”
