A Dark Sicilian Secret(65)

“Yes.” She blinked to clear her vision. “So you’re not mad at me?”

“Of course not.”

Joe wiggled in Vittorio’s arms, and reached out with both arms to Jillian. “Mama.”

Jillian looked up, over Joe’s head, to Vitt. “Can I hold him?”

“You better. Your little boy cried for you endlessly on the plane. Fortunately it was my own plane so no one complained.”

Jillian didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. And then she laughed because Vittorio had the most amazing way of making her feel good. With him, life was the way she’d always dreamed it should be.

“Can we go home now?” she asked.

“Most definitely.”





EPILOGUE



eleven-and-a-half-month-old Joseph was supposed to be the ring boy, but he refused to walk down the aisle in his miniature black suit to the front of the d’Severano chapel where Vitt waited in his elegant black tuxedo. Instead Joseph walked down the aisle swinging his pillow in circles before stopping at his grandfather’s wheelchair at the outside of the wooden pews.

“Up,” he said to Salvatore, dropping his pillow. “Up, Papa,” he repeated, wanting to be put on his grandfather’s lap, because in his nine days in Paterno he’d learned to love many things and many people but his grandfather Salvatore was probably his favorite.

His grandmother Theresa put a hand on Joseph’s shoulder and tried to steer her grandson toward the front of the chapel, but Joseph squawked in protest.

Checking his smile, Vitt stepped down from the stone steps before the altar and placed his son on his father’s lap.

“Vittorio,” his mother said softly, reprovingly, slim and chic as ever in a pale silvery-gray fitted gown.

Vitt shrugged. “It’s his day, too. He should sit where he wants, and if he wants his grandfather, who am I to say no?”

Salvatore smiled at Vitt and then down at Joseph as the little boy squirmed to get closer to Salvatore’s chest.

Vittorio clapped his father on the shoulder and then returned to the front of the church as the string quartet played the first bright notes by Vivaldi.

Jillian appeared in the arched doors at the back of the chapel. The ends of the pews were decorated with flowers. The old stone chapel glowed with candlelight. Guests crowded the pews but Jillian only had eyes for Vittorio who looked impossibly handsome in his black tux and white dress shirt with the white tie.

Hers, she thought, on a quick breath. He was hers. And she knew he’d always be hers.

Her lover. Her partner. Her husband.

She walked down the aisle on her own, her ivory gown rustling, her legs shaking with every step, yet knowing that once she reached the front of the chapel she’d never be alone again. She’d have Vittorio. She’d have his family. They’d be a family.

Reaching the front of the chapel, Vitt stepped forward to take her hand. His beautiful face looked somber in the candlelight but then he smiled and love raced through her, love, desire and joy.

The ceremony passed in a blur, with Jillian seeing nothing but Vittorio’s beautiful face and dark eyes. They said their vows, exchanged rings, kissed as her heart turned over.

She was home.

She finally belonged somewhere.

And then the ceremony was over and she was walking with Vittorio down the aisle. The chapel smelled of gardenias and orange blossoms and the soft candlelight reflected off the arched ceiling and the high stone walls. Faces smiled at them as they passed the crowded pews, but then they were alone in the small antechamber. It was dark and blissfully cool.

Vittorio dropped his head, kissed her and kissed her again.

“I love you,” he said as the chapel bells pealed high overhead.

“Even though your family was shocked when you told them who I was yesterday?”

“They’re fine. They’re used to drama,” he answered with a grin. “I don’t know what we’d do without some excitement.”

Jillian tried to smile but tears filled her eyes. “You’re too good to me.”

“Impossible. You deserve so much happiness.”

“You’ve made me happier than I ever dreamed I could be.”

“Good. I’m glad.” He tipped her chin up so he could look into her eyes. “I have loved you since you walked through the lobby of the Ciragan Palace in your black management suit with your midheight heels. You were the picture of efficiency and yet somehow you stole my heart. I’d never thought about settling down and then suddenly all I wanted was to marry you and take care of you forever, and I mean that Jill Anne Carol Lee, I do.”