Loukas grinned. ‘I’m dying to kiss you but I’m worried it might turn into a foursome if I bend down while we’re holding these little rascals.’
‘Kiss her. Kiss her!’ the reception staff and patients chanted.
Loukas’s eyes twinkled. ‘Are you up for it?’
Emily lifted her face to his. ‘You bet.’
EPILOGUE
LOUKAS STOOD AT the end of the aisle at the St Sypridion Church on Corfu. He could barely see through the blur of moisture in his eyes when he saw Ariana coming down the aisle in her chair behind Allegra. It had only been a couple of weeks but already his relationship with his sister and mother was in a better place. A good place. A place where they could talk about the accident and how it had impacted on all of them. His mother had even confessed her own crushing guilt over not watching Ariana in that split moment when she’d gone off to ride her bike. Because he had been so focussed on his own guilt, he hadn’t realised his mother had been in her own private hell for all these years.
But seeing Ariana now, filled with joy for him, he felt a sense of peace she too one day would find the love and happiness he had found with Emily.
He looked at his mother, who was in the front row, mopping tears from her eyes, and another wave of emotion rolled through him. She smiled and gave him a little wave and he smiled back, full of love and admiration for her, for how she had supported his sister and now welcomed Emily to the family as if she were her own daughter.
Emily’s mother was in the front row on the bride’s side and she winked cheekily at him. He genuinely liked Willow, especially since he’d passed the Body Language Intimacy test, whatever the hell that was. Not that he needed anyone’s approval, other than his beloved Emily’s, but it was nice to know her mother was part of his family now.
And then, just when he thought he had his emotions back under control, in came Emily. Nothing could have prepared him for that moment. She was dressed in a beautiful French lace dress that couldn’t quite hide the swell of her belly where their twin babies were continuing to thrive. She was glowing with good health and radiant with love. The same love he could feel beaming out of him as she took her place by his side. He took her hands and gave them a gentle squeeze. ‘You look so beautiful, you took my breath away.’
Her dimples appeared when she smiled. ‘Didn’t Ariana look amazing?’
His heart gave a spasm of happiness. ‘You’ve given me back my family, agape mou.’
She leaned a little closer to whisper. ‘Speaking of families. Allegra has some news.’
Loukas glanced at Allegra but she was looking dreamily at Draco, one of her hands pressing against her abdomen underneath the bouquet she was holding. Loukas smiled at Emily. ‘Looks like we’re not the only ones starting a family.’
‘I know. Isn’t it exciting?’
‘Ready?’ the priest asked, stepping forward to begin the service.
‘Are we?’ Loukas asked, winking at Emily.
Her sparkling brown eyes twinkled back. ‘We’re ready.’
* * * * *