AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Olivia placed their joined hands on her chest, her heart beating steadily with love. “I’m on the pill, remember?” They were getting married and would start a family. Hopefully, sooner rather than later so she saw no reason to continue with additional protection.
“The pill isn’t foolproof.” Sergio countered, though he didn’t seem bothered.
“Should – well, would it bother you if?” Olivia didn’t think so or he would have slipped the condom on before they’d had sex.
“Not at all. I’m looking forward to it. When you’re ready.”
Olivia was so lucky. Dreams delayed were now coming true, and she was overjoyed.
“I’m relieved my proposal didn’t cause more stress after the day you’ve had. I wanted to propose today because I was there when you first came to New York to begin an exciting new phase of your life. And I’m still here with you now, for the beginning of another.”
Sergio was absolutely right. Olivia hadn’t considered that. He poured them each a glass of chilled champagne to toast the next phase. When their stomachs growled, he called down for room service. Good thing he knew the people who ran the joint.
Epilogue
5 years later
Seated at a small table in the corner of Wilson Dairy’s ice cream shop in Orrville, Ohio, Sergio nearly inhaled his sundae. He couldn’t help himself. The superior vanilla ice cream, topped with hot fudge and caramel then covered with roasted pecans, whipped cream and a cherry was so fucking delicious, Sergio considered getting another when he was finished. Henry who sat beside him on the other hand, displayed considerable restraint as he enjoyed his strawberry sundae with couth.
“My God this is good. How do they make the ice cream so rich and creamy?” Henry asked as he finished his treat.
Sergio knew, but couldn’t share the Wilson’s secrets. Their ice cream was only one part air to every two parts of cream. They used 18% butterfat and only the finest ingredients. It was rich, creamy and made in small batches using cream made from the same milk their farm’s cows produced.
“I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you.” Sergio teased.
All kidding aside, Sergio finished his sundae and glanced around the store. Their family had needed a break from their busy lives in New York and visiting the Wilson farm was the perfect way for all of them to slow things down a beat and decompress.
His sister Antonella and her wife Elisa were behind the counter learning how to serve customers by Olivia’s sisters Faith and Natalie, while sampling the inventory in the process. As Sergio had expected, his father had been taken aback when the women had come out and quit their jobs at Martinez Designs. But to his surprise, he’d regrouped quickly, perhaps learning his lesson from what had gone down between him and his only son.
He had proudly escorted Antonella down the aisle on her wedding day. Sergio had escorted Elisa as her parents had essentially disowned her. Fortunately, there had been plenty of Elisa’s younger and more open-minded family members, including her older sister, who had attended their wedding and supported her.
Sergio turned toward the front of the store when he heard the angelic giggle of his and Olivia’s four-year-old daughter Justina. She’d been named after his late mother, and took after Olivia with dark blonde hair and blue eyes. His father wiped her face wearing a huge grin. The two adored each other. His father had asked if he could be the one to teach the girl Spanish. He and Olivia had happily agreed and Justina was already quite fluent. His father had turned out to be a caring and doting grandfather.
His executive assistant Ruby was also seated at the table, enjoying a loaded banana split. No one had seen it coming when she and his father had announced they were in a relationship two years ago. It seemed Ruby, a widow herself, was able to keep his father grounded and in line.
A low growl escaped Sergio’s lips as his youngest sister Valeria and her gorgeous three-year-old daughter Luciana joined his father, Ruby and Justina at their table.
“It’s been nearly four years. You need to let it go. It’s not healthy,” Henry said, his tone even and calm.
“Maybe you and Dad should have let me beat the shit out of Diego and I would be.”
Henry raised a brow and shook his head. “It would have made things worse and you know it.”
Would it have? Sergio wasn’t so sure. Beating the crap out of Diego after he’d knocked up his sister and then abandoned her would have made him feel a hell of a lot better.
It had been Sergio’s father and Henry who had convinced him to leave the dead beat alone for Valeria’s sake. They’d assured him that Valeria would eventually find the love she deserved and a worthy father figure for his precious niece.
“Breaking his nose would have made me feel a lot better.”
Henry chuckled. “I don’t doubt that, but Valeria’s happy. Lucy’s thriving. It all worked out in the end. That’s what matters. Not Diego. He was a loser from the get go.”
Sergio couldn’t agree more. He’d never liked Diego. And Henry was right, Valeria and his precious niece were happy. That’s all he’d ever wanted for them.
Henry’s face lit up when Olivia’s Aunt Brenda entered the ice cream shop. An unexpected romance had bloomed and everyone couldn’t have been more pleased. Brenda had ended an abusive marriage several years before and had fallen hard for Henry. Henry had been blindsided by their connection, convinced he’d never love another after Vera had passed.
“Vera would approve of Brenda, you know? She’d be happy you’ve moved on and are happy.” Sergio knew Henry sometimes felt guilty about having a new woman in his life.
“I know. She told me many times before she died that she hoped I’d find happiness with another. I’ll always love Vera, and miss her. But I thank the heavens above every day for Brenda.” Henry nodded and went to join his new lady at the counter where she was placing her order. Sergio was grateful fate had brought the two together. They deserved their happiness.
