“Well, sir, I wanted to say again how grateful I am that you’ve supported our relationship since we reunited. It’s meant the world to me.”
Alex jumped off the chair, too nervous to sit any longer.
“I love Aria deeply. I realize that I've loved her my whole life, it seems. I am beyond grateful an amazing and special woman such as your daughter would even consider opening her heart to me.
“Mr. and Mrs. Costa, I want to ask Aria to marry me. But I won't do so without your blessing for this as well,” Alex said, holding his breath as he waited for Aldo and Maria to answer.
The line was silent for a minute and Alex was getting nervous.
“Son, for Aria to find true love twice in one lifetime is a miracle,” Aldo finally replied. “You have made our daughter happier than I could have imagined was possible, and it is my pleasure to give you my full blessing.”
Blowing out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, Alex replied, “Thank you both so much. I promise to spend every day of the rest of my life showing her how much I love her. I’ll be asking her tomorrow evening. I can only pray that her answer is yes,” he laughed nervously.
He heard Maria in the background yelling, “Oh, she'll say yes!”
Hanging up and knowing that his plans could move forward, Alex had a lot of work to do.
Later that evening, Alex drove to Aria’s house as he had done countless times before, but this time was different. The weight of what he was going to ask was a mix of fear and excitement.
Is she ready for this next step?
But all his nervousness disappeared when she opened the door and he saw her standing in front of him.
He had told her that tonight was special, hoping he hadn’t given it away.
Aria stood before him in a black and white maxi dress that showcased her collarbones in an enticing way. Her toes were painted bright red, which matched her luscious lips. She was a vision.
“Aria, you look… Wow.”
Putting her arms around his neck, she pulled him into a warm kiss. When she pulled away, she tried to swipe her lipstick off his lips, but he didn’t care.
“Glad you approve,” she said, obviously flirting.
There was an unspoken understanding that she wasn’t ready for more than kisses and hugs, which he was in agreement with, but he loved that she had recently gotten much more open with her attraction and flirtation with him.
“Are you ready, love?”
“I am. What are we doing tonight? What are the plans?” she asked excitedly as he held her hand, helping her into the car.
“It's a surprise, so don't ask any more questions. You'll see once we get there,” he answered getting into the driver’s seat.
When they arrived at Alex’s house, he allowed her to turn the corner to the front of his house first. She gasped and put her hand to her mouth as she stepped onto the front porch.
The entire area was decorated with bouquets of flowers of every variety and color.
“Alex?What is this?”she exclaimed, spinning around to face him.
“Aria, you have filled my life with color. You have made my heart live again, and you have captured me, body, mind and soul. There is no longer a me without you, no longer a life without you in it. I can’t live another moment not knowing that you aren’t mine.”
Taking her by the hand, he led her inside to the living room where candles lit every surface.
Aria spun around, taking in the sight, shaking her head in disbelief, a wide smile across her face. When she turned back to him, he was on his knee in front of her.
Alex pulled out a black velvet box and held it open, hands trembling.
“Alex,” she whispered, tears pooling, her hand on her heart.
“Aria, I want to be the man who gets to love you for the rest of your life. I want to feel your breath on mine all my days. I know I wasn't your first love, but I want to be your last. Aria Bianchi, my life, my other half, my heart. Will you make me the happiest man in the world? Will you marry me?”
