Giovanni frowned.
‘We’re not just here to give you the necklace,’ Matteo said.
‘You two...’ Giovanni had been accused one too many times of jumping in and he was struggling not to now. ‘You are engaged.’ His eyes lit up again as Abby held out her hand for Giovanni to admire the ring. ‘When did this happen?’
‘Two weeks ago,’ Matteo said. ‘We’re getting married in, oh, about ten minutes from now.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘You don’t have to,’ Matteo said. ‘Alma has everything ready, the celebrant is here...’
‘Your brothers and sisters...’ Giovanni went to rise, to share the news with family, but Matteo shook his head.
‘We want it to be very small,’ Matteo explained. ‘Abby has been through a lot and we don’t want to make a big fuss. The press will no doubt find out but it will be long over and done with by the time that they do. We’re marrying now, by the lake with you and Alma as our witnesses...’
The drapes had been drawn and now Matteo pulled them back on a delicious setting sun.
Beneath the tree he had once fallen from was an arch of white roses and soon they would stand there and make their vows.
Alma had already changed and had a suit waiting for Giovanni.
Abby’s hair had already been done and she changed into a very simple, coffee-coloured chiffon dress and the same jewelled sandals that had seen her through favourite days.
It was as simple and as beautiful as that.
Abby topped up her lipstick and the least nervous bride walked slowly with Matteo and his grandfather outside and then Giovanni took a seat with Alma.
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It was the smallest, most intimate of weddings.
Abby didn’t wear the necklace; today it was their memories they made. Instead Giovanni held one of his Lost Mistresses in his hands as he sat and watched his wayward grandson stand before the woman he loved and offer his vows.
‘I will always take care of you,’ Matteo said. ‘I know that I shall. You have made love possible for me and I will never forget that. I love you.’
Abby’s words were similar. ‘I will always be there for you as you are for me. You have made love possible for me and I will never forget that. I love you too.’
She looked into his dark eyes and she had never known such pure happiness, acceptance and absolute trust.
He slipped on a ring—a very simple band was all that was needed to set off such a magnificent engagement ring—and then Abby slipped a somewhat heavier band on his finger.
Matteo examined it.
It was a simple platinum band but there was just the tiniest emerald set into the metal.
‘That’s a bit blingy.’ Matteo smiled, because not only hadn’t he seen it, he’d never, not once, envisaged wearing a ring.
Proceedings paused for a moment but no one seemed to mind.
‘Wear the stone facing down, then,’ Abby said and Matteo did so.
It was never coming off!
And now, the celebrant told them, they were husband and wife.
‘We should call the family...’ Giovanni said to Alma as the bride and groom kissed. He wanted dinner, celebrations, but though Matteo loved his grandfather tonight was theirs.
‘We’re going to go,’ Matteo said, holding Abby’s hand. ‘We just wanted to share the special day with you.’