Page 71 of A Very Italian Wedding
Then music began to play, and Ben saw Elena leading a woman who looked like an older version of Luna towards the empty chair next to Francesca, while Leonardo hefted a suitcase into the villa.
Had Deborah Kennedy arrived? He didn’t get a chance to find out because the music got louder, and Marco straightened and patted his back again.
Ben mirrored his friend and turned to face the villa just in time to see Luna looking stunning in a floaty white wedding dress covered in hundreds of tiny heart-shaped sparkles walk slowly out of the patio doors — her elbow linked with Rose’s.
He watched as they took their time descending the steps, his heart in his throat as he took in every detail. Rose looked beautiful. She wore the long dress Francesca had picked out for her on their shopping trip. He hadn’t seen it when Rose had tried it on, but his knees went to liquid as he watched the strawberry-coloured material flow like water around her legs and the ribbon straps of the bodice hug her elegant shoulders. Someone – Aurora perhaps – had sprinkled her collarbones and bare arms with sparkles, making her look almost unworldly. His stomach went fluttery, and he suddenly felt giddy, like all the air had left his lungs.
In his mind, Ben begged Rose to look up so he could somehow signal that he was sorry, that he’d been wrong. But she avoided his eyes.
‘To the bride and groom,’ Ben said, holding up his champagne glass as his audience — who were sitting at various tables dotted across the lawn — drank before starting to clap loudly. He sat again, relieved he’d completed his best man’s speech. The guests had all laughed and cheered in the right places and he knew he’d done his friend proud.
But being on form – trying to remain happy and joyful — had taken its toll.Rose still hadn’t looked at him.
Ben gazed over at her again and he felt desolate. He had to fix this somehow; it wasn’t something he could brush off or joke about. He couldn’t repair it with cake or a lifetime of toasters. This wasn’t pretend and he couldn’t fake it until he made it. Not this time. This was real — and he had to do something before it was too late.
‘Um.’ Ben stood abruptly, making his chair scrape on the grass as the guests fell silent. ‘With the bride and groom’s permission,’ he said loudly. ‘I wonder if it would be okay if I said a few words?’ He cleared his throat feeling self-conscious. ‘To Rose.’
‘Hell yes,’ Marco said, raising his glass.
‘I thought you’d never ask!’ Luna cheered.
When Ben glanced over at Rose again, he saw she was looking at him, her expression confused. Then she gave him a tentative smile and his insides reacted immediately. It was like his blood had suddenly returned, flooding every available space with warmth. What had been lying dormant – even frozen – suddenly reanimated. He felt hope creeping into his limbs. Histhroat still felt dry and he had a lot to say, so he took a quick sip of the champagne.
‘Aldo says to say what’s in your heart,bello,’ Aurora piped up from one of the tables, waving her glass. ‘Unless you want me to get my crystal ball, and tell you which words to use?’
Ben shook his head, smiling. ‘That won’t be necessary,’ he said, turning his whole body to face Rose, trying to pretend their audience had disappeared. ‘I have an apology to make. I accused you of a lot of things yesterday.’ He paused when she started to shake her head looking uncomfortable.
‘You don’t—’ she began.
‘I said you were scared of love.’ He took another moment to gather his thoughts, hoping the perfect words would come to him.
‘Keep going!’ Luna whispered in a very loud voice.
‘You’re doing brilliantly,caro,’ Elena added.
Ben sucked in a breath. ‘But what I should have said is that I was the one who was afraid.’ He pulled a face as some of the crowd let out a hushedahhhh. ‘I got hurt two years ago and it was easier for me to shut down and not get close to anybody.’
‘Sophia,’ Francesca spat angrily.
‘Then I met you and everything changed,’ Ben said, his voice gruff. ‘Suddenly, I started to feel things. I began to fall for you. Despite my best intentions.’
Rose stood abruptly too and held up a palm. ‘And I ruined it.’ Her cheeks glowed with embarrassment as her gaze swept across their audience before she turned back to him. ‘Because you were right. I was scared. I did look for problems – with us and with Luna and Marco — and I needed you to point that out.’
He smiled at her as relief flooded his bones. ‘I needed you to help me feel again,’ he said, suddenly not caring that everyone was listening. ‘I’m not sure anyone else could have got me toopen my heart. I know it seems crazy – we’ve only known each other a few days – but I love you, Rose.’
‘Of course you do!’ Aurora boomed.
Ben put his empty glass back on the table because suddenly he wanted to be beside her, wanted to hold her and tell her everything was going to be okay.
Rose must have felt the same because she shoved back her chair. You could have heard a pin drop. None of the guests made a sound as they both walked around the table, their eyes glued on one another.
Then suddenly Rose was in Ben’s arms and he was kissing her, hugging her closer, wishing they were alone. He tipped her to the ground, deepening the kiss, as everyone watching them began to clap, cheer and stamp their feet and he felt Rose’s answering smile against his lips.
‘I said they were meant to be together!’ Ben heard Aurora yell over the din. But he didn’t pull away – he couldn’t – instead he continued to hold on. Knowing whatever happened from this day forward, he and Rose —hisLove Doctor — were never going to be scared of loving each other again.
EPILOGUE
ROSE
