Page 289 of Lorenzo

I see the woman I love.

Donna’s eyes find mine, and her smile grows.

The sight of her affects me more deeply than I expected, and for a moment, my thoughts still.

Apparently Alessio was right.

I am emotional.

She starts walking toward me, and with every step, the rest of the room seems to recede until all I see is Donna coming toward me.

When she reaches me, I take her hand.

Her eyes soften, and for a second, she looks every bit as overwhelmed as I feel.

“You look beautiful,” I say.

“So do you.”

Then the ceremony begins, and before I know it, it is time for the vows.

I take both of her hands in mine and look at the woman who, in a matter of minutes, will be my wife.

There are things I could say about fate, or second chances, or how unexpected she was, but none of them feel quite right. She deserves something simpler and more honest.

“Donatella,” I say.

Her eyes immediately shine.

I smile. “Do not start crying yet.”

She gives me a look. “Then don’t make me.”

A few people laugh behind us.

I tighten my hold on her hands.

“I spent a long time believing I already knew what the rest of my life would look like. I had my sons, my family, my work, and I thought that was where the story ended for me.”

Her expression softens.

“Then you came into my life and made it very clear that I had no idea what I was talking about.”

That gets another laugh, including one from her.

“I do not love you because you made me forget what came before. I love you because you never asked me to. You understood that my life had already been full before you arrived, and somehow you made room for yourself without taking anything away from it.”

Her fingers tighten around mine.

“You gave me something I did not know I was still allowed to want. More time. More love. More family. More reasons to look forward instead of only appreciating what I already had.”

Now she is definitely crying.

I brush my thumb over her knuckles.

“I choose you. I choose the life we are building.”

Her lips tremble.