Page 371 of Marcello

“I owe you everything for bringing my son back to me,” he whispered. “Thank you.”

I burst out crying, too – happy tears.

The food Giorgio’s mother prepared for us was delicious –

We danced to music played from a boombox –

And we drank wine, ate, and laughed until dusk.

When it was time to say our goodbyes, Giorgio and I hugged everyone, then piled into a private car with a driver. We were going to spend our first night in a hotel in the walled city of Montepulciano, then take a train the next morning to Puglia for our honeymoon.

On the way to the hotel, Giorgio said to the driver, “Stop by that place I told you about, please.”

“What place?” I asked.

“You’ll see,” he said with a grin.

It was out in the country, about four miles away from his parents.

The car wound through rolling hills until we reached a secluded piece of property at the end of a lane.

Giorgio held the car door open, and I got out with a look of shock.

At the end of the driveway was an old house made of stone…

With vines growing all over the walls.

In the backyard, I could see fruit trees and a little brook.

I stared at Giorgio. “What’s this?”

“Do you like it?”

“Yes, it’s beautiful – ”

“Then we can sign the papers tomorrow before we leave on our honeymoon,” he said as he took me in his arms.

My eyes nearly bugged out of my head. “We can’t afford this!”

“My bosses gave me a present when I left. Sort of a severance package, you could say.”

I pushed away from him, my face filled with fear. “They don’t – expect anything for it, do they?”

“No,” he said, taking my hands. “I told you, I’m out forever – and I meant it.”

I looked at the house, and tears welled up in my eyes.

It was everything I’d ever dreamed about.

“So?” he asked. “Do you want to raise our family here?”

“Yes!” I cried out happily.

“Good,” he said, and gave me an impish smile. “Remember our agreement: six dogs, three kids, and an option for a fourth. You shook on it.”

I laughed out loud –

And we kissed passionately in front of the house of my dreams.