She felt Rafael’s deep chuckle. “There is another surprise.”
“Let the boys do it since they made the galette,” her mom said before Tori could demand an explanation.
“Is that what smells amazing?”
“Auntie Tor!” Jerome and Jonas burst through the door. Fourteen years old and towering, they planted a kiss on each of her cheeks.
She relished their boyish sweetness despite the fact that they were growing teenagers and not little boys. After hugging everyone one more time and finding her way between her sisters, Tori gathered herself enough to speak.
“I can’t believe you’re all here. This is like being in a dream. I’m so happy to have us together. Thank you for coming to surprise me. And Rafael. There’s no way for me to express how much you mean to me. Your thoughtfulness, your generosity, your love. This isn’t just a surprise for me, it’s a celebration of us. And it means the world.”
She took a step forward, bursting with the need to kiss him.
“Uh-uh, wait a minute. The boys have a surprise to reveal, remember?” her dad intercepted.
The twins walked over, Jonas holding the pie in front of him while Jerome had his hands behind his back.
“Auntie Tor, we made this for you…” Jonas held out the food offering and announced ceremoniously before giving his twin the cue to speak.
“Using yours and Rafael’s cookbook!” Jerome pulled the book behind him with a flourish.
“It came out?” she yelped. “It came out early?!”
She pressed it against her chest before running her hand over the hardcover. It was the cookbook Rafael started when they first met and her first social media project when she moved to France. The build up to publication was a marketing campaign she had poured her heart into. It was special to her in ways beyond its gorgeous pages and delicious recipes. It was special because it felt liketheirs.
“Read the dedication,” Celina said.
“Out loud,” Kat piped in before shouldering her to open the book.
Opening to the front page, she spoke with bated breath and read the printed dedication: “This is dedicated to Victoria Espinoza, who is my home and the love of my life.”
But in written script was a message which she stared at because she couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Read it all!” Celina said.
Tori’s spoke, her heart in her throat. “Mon ange, will you marry me?”
She looked up in shock to find Rafael holding a jewelry box. His deep voice reverberated throughout her body. “We made this together. And I never want to stop creating with you and for you. Will you make me the happiest man in the world and be my wife?”
“Yes, Rafael, yes!” She threw herself at him, the ring and the cookbook clashing. They pulled back long enough for him to slip the ring on her finger. Their lips touched for a moment before the surge of hugs and kisses from the Espinoza clan descended on the couple. Through the mist of some tears and the mayhem of boisterous cheers, she registered Rafael’s hand reach over to squeeze hers.
Champagne flutes were soon distributed. Through the night, the family ate and drank and laughed. They teased each other relentlessly while embarrassing childhood stories resurfaced. The one downside of having chatty parents in the room was the limitless bounty of these stories.
As the evening waned and everyone’s mild intoxication made them thoughtful, Tori leaned her heavy head on Rafael’s shoulder. Around her were the people who had shaped her life: parents and sisters whose love defined so much of her identity. In their midst were the children who heralded a bright future and the partners who made every day special and exciting.
Most amazing of all, there was Rafael. He was everything to her: the man who changed her life, the chef who shared her passion, the supporter who believed in her dreams, the friend she laughed with, and the lover who gave her everything she would ever need. Now they were engaged and therightnessof their union overwhelmed her. Home wasn’t a place; it was a sense of belonging.
Family members notwithstanding, she would have liked to sink into a passionate kiss. Brushing her lips against his neck would have to do for now.
In return, Rafael raised a perfect brow and unleashed a heartbreakingly handsome smile. As the surrounding conversation veered to tomorrow’s plans, he stood up to take glasses to the kitchen. She followed with plates, hoping for an opportunity to cuddle into her fiancé’s muscular arms. Yeah, right. Who was she kidding? She followed him into the kitchen because Tori wanted to touch Rafael in ways that would make him blush.
She entered the kitchen to find him heating up his hot pack in the microwave. She put down the plates and wrapped her arms around his torso. Rafael pulled her closer and offered a kiss on her forehead. Without talking about it, he took out the hot pack, sat on the kitchen stool, and pulled her over his lap. And like they did when it was called for, Tori placed the comforting device on his shoulder. With a grateful sigh and a nuzzle against her neck, Rafael said, “Thank you.”
“I think I should be thankingyou. Making all these arrangements couldn’t have been easy.”
“Your sisters took over most of the planning once I told them about our cookbook’s early release and my plan to propose.”
“I can’t believe you asked me in front of everyone,” she chuckled. She couldn’t help wiggling her backside against his growing erection. A deep groan of frustration was her reward.
