His Lost-and-Found Bride

More than anything, she wanted to be prepared.

Florence was alive. She’d forgotten how much she loved this city. Chattering voices were all around them, tourist parties bustling past and Italian voices mixing with a multitude of other languages.

She slid her hand into his, clutching her pink and lilac flowers in her hand. ‘I’m ready,’ she said with a certainty she hadn’t known she possessed.

The walk through the streets took around fifteen minutes, the crowds lessening the further out they went. No one else was going where they were.

It was a pleasant walk with a few shopkeepers nodding at Logan as they passed by and him pointing out a few changes to the city since she’d left.

As the green archway of the cemetery came into view her footsteps faltered. Logan slipped his hand around her waist. As their bodies pressed against each other she fell into step with him. It felt natural and gave her the added reassurance to continue.

The cemetery was quiet, bathed in warm sunlight, with only a few people dotted around in quiet condolence.

Her throat was closing up as they walked along the white paved path. Like most cemeteries this one had a special section for children and babies. It was tucked away at the back, next to the white wall that separated the cemetery from the rest of the city.

There was a white bench in the middle, with lots of green grass and flower beds erupting with colour. Something inside her clenched. She hadn’t allowed herself to think about this. She hadn’t allowed herself to realise the beauty of the surroundings.

Within the cemetery walls she couldn’t even hear the noise of the city outside. It was like their own private sanctuary.

She squeezed her eyes closed as they passed rows of little white headstones. So many little lives lost. So many other people who’d experienced the same pain that she had.

Had she maybe even met some of them? She’d been so immersed in her own grief that she hadn’t stopped to think about anyone else’s.

Their footsteps slowed. She’d only been here once and Logan had been numerous times but she still knew exactly where Ariella Rose was buried—it was imprinted in her brain.

They stopped and stood for a second, looking down at the little white headstone.

Beloved daughter.

Ariella Rose Cascini.

Born asleep.

Apart from the date, there was nothing else on the stone.

Lucia laid her head on his shoulder as silent tears fell down her cheeks. She needed this. She’d needed to do this for so long.

A dove swooped in the air above them, landing on the grass at their feet. Lucia gave a little nod of her head as it eyed her suspiciously then walked away. She put her pale pink and lilac flowers into the little white vase at the graveside then leaned over to touch the stone.

It was odd. Any marble headstone she’d ever touched before had been cold. But Ariella’s wasn’t. It was bathed in the bright light and warmed by the sun.

The horrible closed-in feeling that had been around her heart for so long was gone. The terrible weight and the dark cloud that had pressed on her shoulders for the last twelve years was finally gone.

Today she didn’t feel despair all around her. Today she saw a beautiful memorial and resting place for her darling daughter. A place where she could come and sit sometimes if she needed to.

She’d been so afraid for so long. But with Logan by her side she didn’t need to be.

‘I love you, Ariella Rose,’ she whispered. ‘I’m sorry I haven’t been here and I promise to visit in the future.’ She stroked her hand along the stone and stood up, taking the few steps to Logan and wrapping her arms around his waist.

‘Thank you,’ she said quietly. ‘Thank you for bringing me here.’

‘Any time. Any time at all.’

He threaded his fingers back through hers. ‘Do you want to take some time? How do you feel?’ His voice was cautious.

She tilted her head up towards the sun and the face of the man that she loved and adored. The man she wanted to grow old with.

‘I feel as if I’ve taken that step. The one that I’ve needed to for so long. I’m ready now.’

He clasped both her hands in his. ‘Ready for what?’

She met the gaze of his steady green eyes. ‘Ready to move forward. Now I can love the man I want to without feeling overcome with grief.’ She smiled up at the sun. ‘Now I can look towards the future.’

There was a swell in her chest. A confidence she hadn’t felt in so long.

He reached up and slid his hand through her hair as he pulled her to him.