‘I am yours, Emmeline Morelli, for the rest of your life. Married or not, I will never not love you. I will never be with another woman. I will never marry again or have a family. Nothing. Because all that I am...all that I will ever be...is tied up in you.’
Her breath was held in her throat. But still he wasn’t sure she understood. So he kissed her again. He kissed her and he whispered into her mouth, over and over and over, like a spell being cast just for her. ‘Ti amo, mi amore. Ti amo.’
In response Emmeline reached up, out of the pool, sliding her fingers across the tiles until they reached the divorce papers. She pulled at them and then, without breaking their kiss, dropped them into the water.
‘I love you too.’
‘Per sempre?’ he groaned.
She nodded. ‘Yes. Forever.’
EPILOGUE
Three years later
EMMELINE STOOD IN her graduation robe, clutching her degree, a beaming smile on her face. In the front row sat Pietro, so handsome, so beautiful, and beside him Rafe, Ria and Sophie. Emmeline smiled down at them, waving her fingers as Pietro snapped a photograph, then moved off-stage.
Three blissful years, a university degree, and now she was on the cusp of a life that was about to change forever.
There was a swirling sense of celebration and she took part in all of it—smiling through the after-party, making polite conversation with the university professors who had been so helpful to her.
Finally, though, she was alone with her husband.
‘I have something for you,’ he said, with obvious pride.
‘I have something for you,’ Emmeline repeated. ‘Let me go first?’
‘Certo.’ He grinned. ‘Though it hardly seems fair. You are the one who graduated with distinction today. Surely the gifts should all be for you?’
‘My gift is a present to me, too.’
She reached into her bag and pulled out an envelope, handing it to him. She watched as he lifted the flap and then looked at the front of the card. It was just a generic I love you gift card she’d picked up at the pharmacist. Nothing special.
But when he opened it to read the contents inside, and lifted his eyes to her face, she saw his shock and surprise and she laughed.
‘This says we are going to be parents.’
‘I know. I wrote it.’
His jaw dropped and he read the card again, his eyes scanning it over and over just to be sure.
‘Are you serious?’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘But...when?’
Emmeline laughed. ‘I think we’ve given ourselves plenty of opportunities, don’t you?’
‘We’re going to be parents.’
He closed his eyes, and when he opened them they were swimming with emotion. He dragged her against his chest and kissed her, and she kissed him back, her heart soaring with love and optimism.
What they were—who they’d become—had taken a leap of faith, a mountain of trust and all the courage Emmeline possessed. And it had been worth it.
She stood in the arms of the man she adored, knowing without doubt that they would live happily. Per sempre.
* * * * *