“Francesco.”
“Darling Doves, did you call for me?” A knock on the bathroom door makes us all dissolve into a fit of giggles as Becca glares at us.
“Go away!” She calls out and Fransisco snorts from the other side of the door but we hear him move away as we all finish our smokes, the air cleared between us.
Maddie opens her clutch bag and I groan as she starts hanging out little bottles of cinnamon liquor.
“We have to do it.” She says as we all crack them open, stepping closer to each other.
“To good times, good friends, and good trouble.”
And we take our shots, ready to go enjoy the night together because it’s a party and what’s better than being with your besties at a party?
41DANTE
Ilaria looks beautiful in her reception dress, drinking from the champagne bottle as her friends dance with her, screaming along to lyrics of a song, and leaning against each other with the love that they share for each other.
She shimmers like a star in the sky against the backdrop of Boston harbor and I’m already thinking about getting her home, making love to her in a bed this time.
Having her drag us away from the pictures because she wanted me that badly was the highlight of my life.
Seeing her take me for the first time, the way she made those sounds mewls of pleasure mixed with the hiss of pain as she accommodated me. I had to adjust my pants, my cock already missing the warm wetness of her body.
The song changes and I’m standing, making my way over, wrapping Ilaria in my arms and watching the way she melts against me.
Her eyes sparkle as she presses against my chest, cheek against my chest as I drop a kiss on her head.
“Te amo, moglie mia.”
She smiles, as she looks up at me and I know that no matter what happens in life, as long as she looks at me like she does in this moment, I will be happy.
“I have a surprise for you.” Her eyes look up at me as I lead her to the balcony, as an announcement is made for people to go outside.
They give us space as I hold Ilaria in my arms just as the firework display starts, lighting up over the harbor and making my sweet Ilaria gasp in surprise.
Her hands cover her mouth, leaning against me as I see the tears that are already starting to burn there.
“I just wanted your mother to be here with us today. Wanted her to see how beautiful you look. Wanted her to see how much I love you.” I whisper to her.
Ilaria turns, wrapping me in her arms before letting go, leaning against me so I can hold her as we watch the fireworks together. See the beauty at the end of the night.
Home is a person. Happiness is a person. Love is a person.
And my person will always be Ilaria.
Until death do us part, moglia mia.
DANTETWO YEARS LATER
“Sammie, so help me god, if you don’t stop taking pictures of my vagina I’m going to wrap the baby’s umbilical cord around your throat and choke you out.”
My wife is in labor and apparently pushing a tiny human out of her puts her in one of the worst moods I’ve ever seen her in which is impressive because she really believes in our wedding vows of good times and bad.
This is all exasperated by her four best friends all being crammed into a delivery room with four different personalities all trying to enjoy the moment with their friend as well as coach her through this as her own personal cheerleaders.
I still feel like an outsider with them because their bond is so special.
But my wife would kill me if I had said that it should just be the two of us in here together.
Tessa swipes the camera from Sammie, snapping a picture of the chaos that is in the room as I think about how this is going to be the strangest baby book that ever existed.
“Do you think it’s a boy or girl?”
Becca is running a cool cloth over Ilaria’s brow as my wife squeezes my hand, a finger cracking as she makes a soft sound as a contraction hits her and her breathing turns harsh.
She doesn’t seem to hear her friend who is staying the calmest in the situation. Knowing better than to just talk as Ilaria is trying to make it through this.
The door flies open as Maddie comes in, dragging a nurse behind her.
“Get it out of her.”
‘It’ is my child but I appreciate how concerned all the girls are for their friend. And even Ilaria gives Maddie a look for referring to our child as an it but she doesn’t say anything as the nurse looks between my wife’s legs.
“I’m going to throw up.” Ilaria says it so calmly and I look at her, eyes widening as she takes a deep breath and a sip of water that Tessa is holding out for her.
“You can vomit after you push. Your baby is crowning. Press the button, sir. The doctor will need to come in.”
