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I glanced into the next room. Alessio, clad in an Armani tuxedo, was standing at an altar covered with flowers. The pews were packed – mostly friends and family of the Amorusos – but I had a few guests of my own, including Heather and some of my other friends I’d made over the past year.
Alessio had asked me to marry him as soon as he’d been declared free. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I’d said yes immediately, then we’d made love in his limo and gone to every jewelry store in a thirty-mile radius to look for rings. Alessio had made me choose a two-karat stone. It was beautiful, if a bit ostentatious. I liked that because it reminded me of my husband-to-be. He was still the kindest and most generous man that I’d ever known….even if that had taken a little while to be revealed.
The organ began playing the familiar Mendelsohn Wedding March, and I gasped.
“It’s time,” Heather said. She gave me a little pat on the butt. “Go ahead, Beth. I know you’ll be great.”
I grinned. I glanced down, admiring my dress one final time before walking into the grand mansion. My ivory gown was fitted to my body, and showed off every curve…especially the small bump that I’d begun to grow in my lower belly.
I’d found out that I was pregnant three months before the wedding. Not many people knew, but I had a feeling everyone was going to find out at the reception, when the bride would toast with apple cider instead of champagne. I’d never really thought much about being a mother before, not even when I’d still been with Michael. But having Alessio’s baby was the best thing that could have ever happened to me.
It was so crazy to think that I was finally settling down to have a family with the only man I’d ever loved.
The organ grew louder and I took a deep breath, slowly walking down the aisle and holding my bouquet of peonies in front of me. Alessio kept his eyes on me the whole time, beaming with pride and managing to look only slightly smugger than usual. I couldn’t keep my sweet smile in place for too long. My emotions were all over the place, and soon I was tearing up and grinning broadly.
The priest took my hand and brought it together with Alessio’s. Alessio gripped my fingers tightly as the priest wrapped a sacred cloth, binding us together.
“This is forever,” I whispered softly to Alessio.
Alessio nodded. His eyes flashed with dark intensity. “Forever,” he repeated. “I love you, Beth.”
I didn’t have time to reply as the priest took his place before us and blessed our hands, then began the long process of our vows. We’d written our own, and while I knew I would cry while reading mine, I couldn’t wait for the chance to tell Alessio how I really felt about him.
“Alessio,” I began nervously, my voice shaking. “I never thought that I would find happiness, but you have changed my life. You’ve made me think about things in ways that I never imagined before, and I’m so proud to become your wife.” A tear dripped down my cheek. “You’re loving and bold and strong and sweet. I will love you forever.”
Alessio winked. My heart skipped a beat and a warm thrill came over me. After all this time, Alessio could still turn me on in just a few seconds. I hoped that no matter what happened, that would never change.
“Beth,” Alessio said heavily. “I never thought of myself as a marrying man. I never thought I would have a family, or fall in love. But meeting you changed everything. We had an intense, passionate, and instant connection that made me unable to stay away from you.” He grinned and I nodded as another tear dripped down my cheek. “I love you, Beth, and I always will. I promise to protect you with my life. I promise to keep your safe, and to give you anything your heart desires. I promise to be the perfect husband.”
The priest nodded. “Alessio Amoruso, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and hold, to cherish and to love, until death do you part?”
“I do,” Alessio said quietly.
The priest turned to me. “Elisabeth Wilson, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and hold, to cherish and to love, until death do you part?”
“I do.” My heart leapt into my chest with the words.
“Then by the power invested in me by the state of New Jersey, I now pronounce you man and wife.” The priest turned to Alessio and winked. “You may now kiss the bride.”
As Alessio pulled me close and kissed me passionately, I knew the best part of my life was yet to come.
