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Papà nodded, satisfied. “You’ll be good for her.”
I felt like I was flying. I had my parents’ approval. I was in love for the first and the last time in my life, and I had a daughter. The responsibilities were bigger, but I felt ready to meet the challenges. I was excited for what life had to offer.
* * *
The restaurant was finally completed, and we were christening the place with a party.
Gia was here. She planned the event and even brought her coworkers, since they helped with the flowers, the cake, and the photography.
As soon as Papà gave us the go-ahead to move forward with the expansion, we conferred with Silas. He had good business sense, and his knowledge was invaluable. He’d bought the resort and renovated it to what it was now.
I knew Gia wouldn’t like him here since she saw him as her main competitor in the wedding business, but he was a friend.
It was Gia’s idea to have the door wrapped in a large ribbon and Mamma and Papà cut it for us. Abby took photographs that she said she’d send to the local papers, and I wanted to frame them for the walls.
Inside, the dining room had plush maroon booths, dark wood paneling, and a fireplace in the middle of the room. It was warm and inviting, everything I hoped it would be.
The walls were covered in family photos of us as kids, playing in the sprinkler, coloring in Papà’s office, and later, greeting customers at the original restaurant. It was the first time Papà had seen the final renovated space, and everyone fell silent as we waited for his reaction.
“You did good. It’s fantastic. It has the Giovanni feel.” That was high praise from my father.
It was hard for him to give us the space to create something on our own, but he’d let us do our thing, and we’d met his expectations, maybe even exceeded them.
Papà hugged us as Gia poured the champagne glasses and handed them around. She even had a glass filled with juice for Evie.
Gia raised her glass. “Let’s toast to Giovanni’s.”
She could have been referring to family, the restaurants, or everything. It fit perfectly.
“May you have the success we did with the first location. May you be happy in your relationships. May you find love like we have,” Papà said to Mamma as everyone clinked glasses and drank.
I waited for the glasses to lower before I turned to Harper and said loudly so everyone could hear, “I already found love.”
Here, in front of our family and friends, I wanted to declare my love for Harper and Evie. I’d already asked Evie’s permission for me to ask her mother to marry me.
Harper’s eyes widened. “Leo, what are you doing?”
I lowered to one knee and held her hand in mine. “Harper, I’ve loved you far longer than you think. I think I fell in love with you the day you came into our lives. Back then, I wanted to protect you and care for you. But I pushed those feelings down deep because you were too young and Gia’s best friend. But I’m so glad I lowered those walls because loving you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I want to spend the rest of my life making you and Evie happy. Harper, will you marry me?”
She covered her racing heart with the palm of her free hand. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
The room erupted into cheers, and I stood, lifting Harper in the air so that her hair fell around me, shielding us from the others. “I can’t believe you proposed in front of everyone.”
“I wanted everyone to know how I felt.” I kissed her and slowly lowered her to the floor. And then I pulled out the ring box and opened it to hushed gasps as it sparkled under the lights.
Harper covered her shocked gasp with her hands. “It’s beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you,” I said as I took her right hand and slid it onto her ring finger. Then I kissed her again.
When I felt a tug on my pants, we broke apart and looked down at Evie. “Me too.”
She raised her hands to me, and I lifted her too. “I have something for you.”
“You do?” Evie asked, her eyes wide.
“Can you get the other box in my pocket?” I asked Harper.
She smiled; her eyes filled with excitement as she grabbed the second velvet box.
