Joy rested her arm on the back of Edith’s chair. “I know. He wanted to apologize, so I let him.” She chuckled.
“And?” Millie asked.
“And that’s that. I told him he’s part of my past, and the only part of my future he has is as Jaime’s father. That’s it.” Joy took a glass of champagne and held it up. “Cin, cin.”
“Cin, cin.” Everyone at the table toasted.
The band played an Italian rumba song that reminded her of dancing with Alessandro in the ristorante. Alessandro. His kind face appeared in her mind. The smile…the tiny wrinkles around his eyes when he smiled…his hand on her back as he led her through the garden. She sighed. I wonder how he’s doing. If only we had more time together. If only things had worked out…
“I love this song, don’t you?” Millie wiggled in her chair. “Makes me want to dance.”
“Yes. I love it.” Joy smiled.
“I agree. This song is perfect for dancing.” Martin rose and held out his hand, asking Edith to dance. “Shall we?”
She winked and joined him.
“Aren’t they adorable?” Joy asked Millie.
“Yes, they are.” Millie nudged Walter, who stood and asked for her hand.
Joy watched them saunter to the dance floor.
Being with her friends again warmed her heart and gave her hope for the future. She sipped more champagne and rested her elbows on the table, watching her friends and family have fun. This is what it’s all about. Love. True love.
“Would you like to dance?” came a voice from behind, jolting her.
The thick Italian accent made her stiffen. A lump formed in her throat, and a chill raced over her flesh.
It can’t be.
“Bonasera, Joy,” the voice said.
Tears filled her eyes when she recognized his voice, and she covered her mouth at the thought. It can’t be. Can it? Slowly turning around, Joy gasped.
Alessandro stood behind her with a bouquet of coral roses in his arms.
He politely bowed his head as he did when they first met in Venice, then he handed her the bouquet of roses.
“You’re here,” she replied in a raspy voice filled with emotion. Staring at the roses in her hands, Joy shook her head. “You’re really here. I can’t believe it.”
“Believe it.” He took her hand and kissed it. Then he pulled her close to him, and Joy relaxed into his embrace.
His scent, his strong arms, his soothing voice all melted her heart.
“Is this real? I so want it to be real.” she whispered into his ear.
“Si, amore mio.” He pulled away and stared into her eyes with passion. “It’s real.”
“But how? When did you—how did you find me?”
“Joy, when you left the farm that day, I could barely speak.” He touched his chest. “My heart broke. Gianna told me, no, commanded me to come here. At first, I did not know what to do. But then I saw in her eyes that she knew. She knew what I knew. After meeting you, I would never be the same without you. I couldn’t let you go. My heart went with you that day you left, and my children saw the emptiness in me. They told me to follow you and confess my love and adoration for you before . . . before it is too late.”
He gripped her hand tightly and placed it onto his chest. “One thing I have learned since losing Anna is that life is too short to let a chance for love slip through your hands.”
She nodded.
“Your strength, your courage inspired me to take a chance. Joy, will you have me?”
“Yes.” Joy hugged him. “Si, amore mio. Are you sure you want me? I’m a mess, you know.”
“Assolutamente.” Alessandro took her arm, and Joy set down her flowers. He led her to the dance floor past Millie and Walter and Edith and Martin, who grinned widely at the two of them.
He twirled Joy and dipped her as everyone watched. Joy laughed heartily.
On the dance floor, they swayed to the music with their foreheads together.
“I must be dreaming.” Joy closed her eyes and reopened them. “Tell me this isn’t a dream.”
“This is not a dream,” Alessandro kissed her forehead. “There is no place I would rather be than with you right here, right now.”
Edith raised her arm in a silent cheer for Joy as they danced by. Millie hopped up and down and clapped for her.
Jaime and Michael stood arm in arm, watching them dance. Jaime used her finger to swipe a tear as she smiled for her mom.
Joy looked into Alessandro’s kind eyes and pressed her lips to his there on the dance floor, losing herself in the kiss and in the music. He twirled her around again.
When the song ended, Alessandro walked her back to the table, where Joy introduced him to all her waiting friends.
