Page 77 of Italy and Forever

She shook her head, approaching him. ‘Andreas⁠—’

‘No, wait. I know getting married in a hurry wasn’t what you imagined and you’re worried about the baby, about me as a father⁠—’

Sophie opened her mouth to say something, but he raised his hand to stop her again. Kira rushed to join them, pulling up short when she saw Andreas and Sophie in earnest conversation. Mattia was right behind her. Ginny noticed the others slowly making their way along the road: Toni and Gabri, Reshma and Will, all of the parents.

Ginny stood next to Rhys, trying not to think how much she wished they were the next Great Heart love story rather than a Great Heart wedding fling.

‘I have something for you,’ Andreas said, oblivious to his growing audience. ‘I wasn’t sure if it would have to wait for after the ceremony, but it makes more sense before, so I can prove… everything to you.’

‘You don’t have to⁠—’

Reaching into his pocket, he retrieved a piece of folded paper, printed with a grid pattern and obviously ripped out of a simple notepad. If he’d asked Ginny’s help, she would have found him some pretty paper with dried roses in it, but she had to say it was at least entirely authentic this way.

Sophie took it gingerly, all eyes on her. Then she burst into tears.

Ginny leapt into action, producing a tissue, murmuring to Sophie about her make-up. She couldn’t resist a curious glance at the paper. It was a list of names:

Emma

Charlotte

Anna

Marie-Louise

Lieselotte

Aurelia

In a second column were boys’ names:

Tim

Linus

Michael

Kai

‘If you don’t like them⁠—’

‘I love them!’ Sophie declared with a snort.

‘I tried to picture her – as a baby, as a little girl. It nearly stopped my heart.’

Ginny gave up trying to save Sophie’s make-up. Tears were streaming down her face. ‘I know. I know that feeling. We don’t even know who she is yet, but she’s breaking my heart.’

‘And remaking it – me too.’ Andreas swept her up and crushed her against him and now there would probably be smudges of eyeliner on his pristine waistcoat, but Rhys could surely get rid of them in post-production.

‘But why the list of boys’ names?’ Sophie asked. ‘We know she’s a girl.’

Ginny would never forget the flummoxed look on Andreas’s face. The poor man had never expected he’d be required to provide so much love, but he seemed to be bearing up well, all things considered.

‘Those are possible names for her brother – in case he ever comes along. I thought I should… prepare for that as well.’

When Sophie gave him a beaming smile through her tears, Ginny clutched Rhys and tapped him urgently until he raised his camera and started snapping, pausing to make his adjustments.

‘But Sophie,’ Andreas continued solemnly, ‘I sat down to think about those names so I could get to what really matters to me – which is us. I would be standing here – right here – even if the baby weren’t already on her way into the world. I asked you to marry me last year, before any of this.’