Page 48 of Beneath the Dawn

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“My compliments to the chef. Dinner was delicious, Dante.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

He slowly sipped his wine as he watched his Martina. She looked beautiful. The flickering light from the fire pit and torches seemed to enhance her beauty, and her outfit was the perfect complement for it. He was enthralled by the entire package.

She might not have realized it yet, but she was his. And no matter how long it took, he would convince her of it. Of course, that meant first convincing her that she was ready for a committed relationship. With him.

“Do you remember me telling you a while ago that I was commitment-phobic, Martina.”

She looked up at him. “I remember.”

“Well, I’ve discovered that phobias aren’t permanent.”

“They aren’t?”

“No. I never wanted to love someone as much as Dad did. I didn’t want to experience the fear of losing her. However, now I’m faced with another type of fear.”

“And what fear is that, Dante?”

“That I might never have her to lose. That I might never know how it feels to wake up beside her each morning without having a reason to count the days we would be together. To enjoy them as they come. That I might never know how to share my life with her, give her a part of me that no other woman has ever had.”

He paused for a moment, giving her a chance to stop him…if she was going to. When she didn’t, he continued. “Over the past month, I’ve discovered no matter what happens, life goes on. A person should appreciate every second, minute, and hour and not worry about the things they can’t control, but take charge of the things they can.”

He looked deep into her eyes, wishing…hoping. “Do you understand what I’m saying, Martina?”

***

Marti nodded, joy bubbling up inside her. “I understand fully. I came here to escape, but found something I hadn’t known I was truly seeking--a sense of purpose. It took a threat to my life to make me realize every day is precious, Dante. Having someone there who believes in you, who understands you, and who will be there for you after the storm. Someone who will get you through the good days and the bad.”

She smiled up at him. “I believe there was a reason that we ended up in Wild Rose Point together. I think our ‘Things in Common” list can attest to that. I guess the question we have to ask ourselves now is, what does it all mean?”

He reached out and took her hand. “For me, it means I don’t want to wait until next summer to spend time with you. I want and need something more permanent. I want to take a chance on a future that until now--until you--I thought would be impossible. I want you in my life, Martina. I’ve fallen deeply and hopelessly in love with you.”

“Oh, Dante,” Marti said, unable to hold back her tears. “I have fallen in love with you, too. I never wanted to be in a committed relationship until I met you. Not only did you give me hope, but you also gave me a reason to believe that I am worthy of one, that I have something to bring to the table with the right man.”

Swiping at her tears, she said, “Seeing you swim every morning beneath the dawn invigorated me as much as it did you. Every day, my mental health was reset right along with yours. I might not have been out in that water with you, but through you, I was getting the full effects.”

Getting up from his seat, Dante went to her and pulled her into his arms. “Visiting you every so often won’t be enough for me, and I hope it won’t be enough for you. We’re too old to take things slow. We’ve been doing that for close to a month. I know what I want, and I believe that you do, too.”

Pulling a box out of his pocket, he got down on one knee. “I love you.” Then he asked, “Will you marry me, Martina?”

She blinked when he slid a beautiful ring on her finger. More tears filled her eyes. “Yes, Dante, I will marry you. I love you, too!”

He stood, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her deeply. It was a kiss for new beginnings, a promise that their love was for keeps. After releasing her mouth, he held her in his arms.

“I love my ring, Dante. It’s beautiful.”

“It belonged to Mom. It’s a symbol of the love shared by my parents and now by us.” He paused and then said, “I will never forget the day Dad passed it on to me. By then, he knew of my decision to never marry and why. Do you know what he told me?”

“What?”

“He said that I might feel that way at that moment, but he believed one day, a woman would enter my life who would need me as much as I needed her, and that our souls would be united as one. He was right.”

Marti smiled. “Mario Avera was a very smart man.”

Dante pulled her back into his arms and kissed her again.