me one more time, Gemma, so I know I’m not hallucinating.”
“I plan to kiss the daylights out of you after we say ‘I do.’ But since I shouldn’t be bothering you while you’re driving, I’m going to call Mamma right now and tell her everything. She can think about it on her flight back to Florence.”
He squeezed her arm. “I’ll talk to her, too, and tell her we’ve just come from the home where we want her to live with us.”
Gemma was euphoric as she pulled out her phone to reach her mother. No matter her parent’s first reaction, Gemma would talk her down, because there was no one like Vincenzo. She planned to be his wife, and her mother had to understand that.
The phone rang a few times until Mirella picked up. “Oh, Gemma—I’m so glad it’s you. I’m tired of traveling around and am anxious to come home.”
“I can’t wait for you to get here, but please don’t be too tired, Mamma.”
“Ah? What’s wrong?”
“Everything is so right, I don’t know where to start.”
“You must have gotten a wonderful job.”
“Oh, I did!”
After a pause, her mother said, “I haven’t heard you this happy since...”
“Since we once lived at the castello?” she answered for her.
“Gemma? What’s going on?”
“Vincenzo is back in my life! That’s what’s going on.” She smiled into his eyes of molten silver. “You’re not going to believe why he really disappeared or why he’s back now. We’re going to be married the day after tomorrow.”
“But he’s a duca!”
She smiled at Vincenzo through her happy tears. “Yes, and I’m going to be his duchessa. That’s why you can’t be too tired. Tomorrow we have to buy me a wedding dress and a beautiful dress for you. Filippa will need one, too. The ceremony is going to take place in the castello chapel by Father Janos. You remember him?”
“Lentamente, mia bambina—”
“I’m too excited to slow down. Tomorrow I’ll tell you all the details while we’re looking for dresses.”
Vincenzo took the phone from her. “Mirella? We want your blessing. No one knows better than you how much I love your daughter. The day you made that little lemon ricotta cheesecake for me when I was eight was the day I fell in love with you, too. Here’s Gemma back.”
Tears were rolling down her cheeks as she took the phone from him. “Mamma? Did you hear what Vincenzo said?”
“I did,” she answered in a croaky voice. “Tell him that if I hadn’t loved him, too, I wouldn’t have made it for him.”
Gemma could hardly breathe. “I’ll tell him. I love you, Mamma. See you tomorrow. Fly home safe.”
The minute she heard the click, she told him what her mother had said. His eyes filled with tears before she broke down sobbing for joy.
* * *
When Dimi arrived at the pensione in the ducal limousine at three o’clock, Gemma walked outside with Filippa, leaving the place in a complete mess. She wore the white wedding dress her mother and her friend had helped her pick out in one of the shops in Milan earlier that morning.
The skirt was a filmy chiffon that fell from the waist and floated around her legs. Lace made up the bodice and short sleeves. Instead of a veil or a bouquet, she wore a garland of white roses and a single strand of pearls with matching earrings that had been delivered that morning by courier. Vincenzo’s prewedding gift.
Filippa had helped her put them on and handed her the enclosed card.
Ti amo, squisita.
You are my treasure.
The little makeup she wore was ruined by her tears, and she had to rush to repair the damage.
Gemma had wanted a simple wedding outfit that would still look bridal. If they’d been getting married in front of several hundred people, she would have chosen a long dress with a train and veil. But she was happy with their perfect little wedding.
Dimi took pictures with his camera first. Gemma insisted on taking some of him. Within minutes he helped her into the back of the limousine, where her mother was waiting in an ivory lace suit and pearls. Then he assisted Filippa.
He looked marvelous in a dark blue suit with a white rose in the lapel. Her friend wore a pale pink silk sheath with a corsage of pink roses and looked stunning.
As the limousine drove away, Gemma looked across at Dimi. She squeezed her mother’s hand. “I’ve been thinking back through the years when we were just little children.”
“Now you’re all grown up.” Mirella smiled at them.
“I can’t believe this is really happening, Mamma.”
Dimi grinned. “Neither can my cousin. He’s been waiting for this day for so long, I hope he’s still holding it together. I told his friends to do whatever was necessary to help him make it through to the four o’clock ceremony. It’s your fault he’s in this state, Gemma.”
“I’ve been in a state since I applied for a job at the castello, battling my old demons.”
“Vincenzo and I know all about those. But yours are gone, right?”
Filippa spoke for her. “I can promise you that my dear Gemma is the most divinely happy woman on the planet. I ought to know. For the last nine years I’ve listened to her pain over losing Vincenzo.”
“Oh—” Mirella threw her hands in the air. “I prayed every night the pain would stop.”
Gemma’s friend chuckled. “The minute I heard he was alive and back at the castello, I actually sent up a special prayer of thanksgiving.”
Dimi nodded. “I did the same thing when he told me you’d applied for the pastry chef position. It was your recipes, Mirella, that put Gemma over the top with Vincenzo’s partners. Do you know that from the moment he arrived in New York, I’ve heard nothing but grief from him where Gemma was concerned? Today I’m the happiest man on the planet to know that this torturefest is about to be over.”
The four of them laughed.
“I love Vincenzo so much. When he walked in the office, I almost fainted.”
Dimi leaned forward and patted her hand. “When you two met, we couldn’t have been more than four or five. Even then it was as if no one else existed. He followed you around like a puppy dog. You teased him and provoked him, but he just kept coming.”
“He teased me back constantly. His growls were terrifying when he chased me around the old ruins. I laughed until I fell down and couldn’t catch my breath. Every day when I woke up, I knew I was going to see him and there’d be a new adventure. Nothing else mattered.
“But I want you to know something, Dimi. I loved you, too. So did Bianca. I don’t think there were four happier children anywhere.”
“I agree. What I want to know is, are you ready to be chased around the castello’s secret corridors and chambers for the rest of your life?”
“Yes. I can’t wait!”
“Gemma!” Mirella cried, but she knew her mother was only pretending to be shocked.
“I’m warning you. He hasn’t outgrown certain tendencies.” His wicked smile reminded her of the old Dimi.
“Neither have I, but don’t you dare tell him.”
When she looked out the tinted windows, she realized the limousine had pulled up in front of the castello steps. She gripped her mother’s hand. “This is it.”
Dimi