His Lost-and-Found Bride

‘Then let’s start now.’

And he kissed her.

And she kissed him right back.

* * *

She was laughing. She was running through the cobbled streets of Monte Calanetti in her impossibly high heels.

He loved it. He loved every second of it. ‘Watch out!’ he shouted. ‘You’ll break something!’

‘Keep up, slowcoach!’ she shouted over her shoulder as she made the final dash towards the fountain. He walked up behind her and slid his hands around her waist. He could feel her rapid breaths against his chest wall.

‘Do you have them?’ she asked.

He unfurled his fingers, revealing the shiny euro coins in his hand. He eyed the clamshell the nymph held above her head in the centre of the fountain. ‘First time?’ He was smiling. She’d tried this a hundred times before and had never managed to hit the mark—the clamshell that would make your wish come true.

Her deep brown eyes met his. ‘First time,’ she repeated. Her index finger moved the coins in the palm of his hand as if she was looking for just the right one. After a few seconds she smiled. ‘This one,’ she said, weighing the coin in her hand.

‘That one? You’re sure?’

‘Oh, I’m sure.’ She spun around to face the nymph. His hand was on her abdomen and she pressed her right hand over his, as she took a deep breath, pulled back her left hand and let the coin fly.

His eyes stayed on the coin as it caught the sunlight as it arced through the air, but his left hand was flicking something else into the fountain at their feet.

The coin was on a direct path and landed squarely in the middle of the clamshell. Lucia let out a shriek. ‘I’ve done it! I’ve finally done it!’ She spun around and flung her arms around his neck. ‘I’ve finally done it.’

He picked her up and spun her around, her hair streaming out behind her. ‘You’ve done it,’ he cheered as he set her back down. ‘Now, what did you wish for?’

For the first time his stomach wasn’t in knots around Lucia. Slowly but surely she was turning back into the woman he loved. The dark shadows were going from her eyes. Her steps were lighter. She laughed more. She cried more. And she still loved to dance.

‘Isn’t the wish supposed to be a secret?’ she said coyly.

He swallowed. He’d never felt more nervous, or surer about anything in his life. ‘Look down,’ he said quietly.

She blinked. It obviously wasn’t what she had expected to hear. A frown creased her brow as she stared down, taking a few seconds to see the glint of gold under the clear water.

Her eyes widened and she bent down, putting her hand into the water and pulling out the ring.

‘Logan?’ she asked as a smile spread across her face.

It wasn’t a traditional flashy engagement ring. He didn’t want to waste any time. It was a gold wedding band studded with diamonds and rubies. It was a ring of promise. A ring of hope.

He didn’t hesitate, just got down on one knee in front of the woman he loved. ‘Lucia Moretti. You’re the woman of my dreams. The woman I love with my whole heart. You are my perfect match. The person I want to laugh with, cry with, play with and grow old with. I believe this was meant to happen. I honestly believe we were meant to meet again and mourn our daughter together. I don’t care where you want to make a life. I don’t care if it’s Venice, Florence, Rome or anywhere else. All that matters to me is that home is with you.’ He pressed his hand against his heart. ‘As long as I’m with you, I don’t care where we are. You’re the person I call home. You’re all that I need. Will you make me the happiest man alive and marry me?’

She was still staring at the ring, watching the sun glint off the little diamonds and rubies. The smile was permanently etched on her face.

She wrapped one arm around his neck and sat down on his knee. She didn’t hesitate to slip the ring on her finger. ‘How on earth could any woman refuse such a romantic proposal at Burano’s fountain?’ Her eyes were twinkling. She put her hand over his. ‘There’s no one else I ever want to be with. You’re the only man for me.’

He pulled something out from behind his waist. ‘I’ve brought you something else.’

She stared at the wrapped package. It wasn’t big, small enough to tuck into his waistband. Plain canvas tied with string. She pulled the string and let the package unfurl. It was new paintbrushes and some oils. Her mouth fell open.

‘How...how did you know?’