She was home. At last.
Hours later, after the revelry had finally died down and Ciro had picked her up to carry her to their suite amidst much catcalling and cheering, Lara stood facing out to where the dawn was breaking on a new day on the horizon.
Ciro was behind her, undoing each tiny button on the dress—undressing his bride to make love to her, kissing each sliver of exposed skin.
Lara’s eyes filled with tears. She whispered, ‘I dreamt of this moment but I never dared to believe it might come true. I was so scared to love again after losing my family.’
Ciro’s hands stopped and he turned her around to face him. He wiped her tears away. ‘It’s not a dream...it’s real. Because you were brave enough to trust.’
Lara smiled through her tears. ‘Because you made me fall for you.’
Ciro smiled smugly. ‘That too.’
Then his smile faded and he put a hand to her belly between them. ‘And we can have more too, if you trust me.’
She whispered, ‘A family...’
He nodded. ‘I wouldn’t want this with anyone else. Only you.’
‘Me too.’
‘Let’s start now. This morning.’
Lara reached up and put her arms around his neck, pressing her mouth to his before saying emotionally, ‘Yes, please.’
* * *
Nine months later, in a hospital in Palermo, Ciro and Lara welcomed a baby son—Carlo—and their family was complete.
At least until Margarita arrived a couple of years later.
And then Stefano.
Then it was complete.
* * *