Page 169 of Along Came Amor
She’d pulled him to his feet and kissed him, and the bystanders broke into applause. Getting engaged on a street in Paris was horribly cliché and, hopeless romantic that she was, Ava loved every bit.
Alas, it was impossible for them to elope in France, so they’d flown to Italy, where Roman went to the embassy to initiate the necessary documentation for a civil ceremony. The man’s ability to handle paperwork was a real turn-on.
Their witnesses were the older Italian couple who owned the florist where Ava bought her bouquet. The wife, impressed by Ava’s creative vision and knowledge of flower arranging,had invited them to dinner. Roman hit it off with the husband, who’d grown up on a vineyard.
Ava donned the same white dress she’d worn the night Roman declared his love for her on the patio in Puerto Rico. Roman wore a plain black suit. He got a haircut and shave for the occasion and looked unbearably dashing.
For the ceremony, they used the typical vows—Ava knew better than anyone that actions were what really mattered, and Roman showed her every day that he loved and cherished her.
Their wedding had been simple and spontaneous.
In a word,perfect.
“I’m shocked Roman didn’t go for something humongous and flashy.” Michelle turned Ava’s hand side to side and admired the classically beautiful but ethically sourced brilliant-cut diamond rings.
Ava gave a short laugh. “Believe me, he wanted to.”
“This is much more you,” Jasmine said, smiling.
“Are you upset that you weren’t there?” Once upon a time, Ava would’ve been too scared to voice the question. Now, she just asked. And god, it wassomuch easier.
Jasmine shook her head. “Ashton still says we should’ve eloped. And while I loved our wedding—thanks, in large part, to you and Roman—sometimes I wonder if he was right.”
“This was the only way you could do it on your own terms,” Michelle said. “You know how our family gets about weddings.”
“Do I ever,” Ava muttered. But any bitterness that might have once accompanied the words was gone. She could look back and recognize how each step she’d taken had led her to this point. Without those experiences, she wouldn’t have the context to appreciate her life as it currently was.
Perfectly imperfect. Or imperfectly perfect. Whichever one.
Michelle glanced at Ava’s midsection. “Not to be a chismosa, but... any other news you’d like to share with the class?”
Not yet, Ava thought.
All she said was, “We’ll see.”
Next Year
“You did it,” Roman whispered to Ava, leaning down to kiss her forehead where she rested against the pillow.
She beamed at the baby nestled in Roman’s arms, love shining in her eyes. “Wedid it.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t do anything. You’re the superhero.”
“You were here,” she said simply, and the impact of those words sank into his very bones.
Roman gazed down at his daughter’s beautiful, precious, extremely squished little face. Then he looked to his strong, stunning, and compassionate wife. In his heart, he recited a promise.
I’ll be here. For as much and as long as I’m able, I’ll be here.
When the concept had first been introduced to him, it had seemedtoo simpleandnot enough. Now he knew better. His own father hadn’t done it, but he’d learned from others, like Keith and Ashton, that nothing was certain, and beingtherefor your family, in all senses of the word, was more valuable than gold.
Once, he’d been driven by the urge formore more more. And while he didn’t regret it, he was so fucking glad he’d gotten his priorities in order before it was too late.
When the baby shifted in her blanket, Roman settled her back on her mother’s chest and marveled at the way his entire world sat right here in front of him. He stroked his wife’s curls away from her face and joined her in staring at this perfect little being they’d created. His ribs felt like they would burst, unable to contain all the love and happiness welling up inside.
“Welcome to the world, Isabella Benita Vázquez,” Ava whispered. “We love you so much.”
Next Year
