Page 368 of Marcello

He raced to me and kissed me.

I kissed him back with everything I had.

Then he pulled away.

“What?” I asked, afraid I would lose him right after I got him back.

He grinned… took out a tiny clamshell box from his pocket…

And got down on one knee as he opened the box.

Inside gleamed a golden ring and diamond.

“Emilia, I love you with all my heart… and nothing else matters but you. Will you marry me?”

I burst into tears again and frantically nodded Yes!

The entire store – customers and clerks – burst into applause as he put the ring on my finger…

Stood up…

And kissed me.

I could have stayed in that moment forever.

The smell of perfumes…

The beautiful surroundings…

The man I loved more than my own life…

Pure heaven.

PART VIII

MARCELLO & LAURA

143

Marcello

Outside Florence

As the early morning sunlight filtered in through the window, I lay there in bed and gazed at the woman I loved.

It was the loveliest face I had ever seen.

She was still asleep, snuggled amongst the covers…

Totally at peace.

I smiled. For the first time in seven years, I was at peace, too.

We’d checked into a luxury hotel in Il Salviatino, a neighborhood a few miles away from Florence.

Through our window, we could see Il Duomo in the distance – the massive dome of the cathedral surrounded by the terra cotta roofs of the old city.

We’d done nothing but stay in bed for three days.