|33| Anelli-2

"Do you remember one of my first visits to see you?" Nathan then asked. "I challenged you to learn fifty different types of pasta." I laughed, and then heard the camera go off again. "That seems like ages ago." "Do you think you can recite fifty?" Typical of Nathan to remember that challenge. However unlikely it would be that I could recite fifty, I gave it my best shot. Standing with my back to Nathan whilst he snapped away was awkward enough and so I welcomed the distraction. "Farfalle, Macaroni, Penne, Orecchiette, Gemelli, Conchiglioni, Bucatini, Rigatoni, Cannelloni, Lasagne..." How many was that? Ten? Fifty seemed ambitious. I'd be impressed if I got to twenty-five without repeating one. "Isobel Smith?" I spun around, my eyes dropping to the ground. Nathan knelt on one knee, cradling a small square box. My heart lurched, my stomach flipping. With my mouth dry from shock and my hand frozen against my lips, I couldn't have spoken even if Nathan hadn't then continued. "Bella, this spot has always had a special place in my heart, just like you have. When you suggested coming here this morning, I could tell how hesitant you were, but I want to share all of my life with you. My past, my present, and my future. I know this year hasn't been easy for you. I know it's not been easy for our relationship, either. But we got through it, and if we got through this, then we can get through anything. After such a tough year, though, I did want to give you one special memory that would last a lifetime. But maybe that's just an excuse. Because I really can't wait to marry you." Nathan opened the box, and a round diamond sparkled as the sunlight bounced off it. "So, Isobel Smith, vuoi sposarmi?" Awareness returned to my body and I lowered my hand from my mouth. When I met Nathan's eyes, I noticed the hint of nerves amongst the tender affection. "Yes," I said. "Of course I'll marry you." Grinning, he plucked the ring from the box and eased it onto my finger. It was beautiful, a single diamond glistening against my skin that had started to tan in the warmer Italian weather. Nathan rose and swept me into a hug before seeking out my lips. As we kissed, his fingers grazed my cheeks, and I noticed the dampness that he brushed away. I hadn't even realised that I'd been crying. The whole situation felt like a euphoric dream. "How long had you been planning it for?" I asked him as we settled back on the grass, my head resting on his chest. "Four years." I laughed and playfully booted his ankle. "I'm being serious. I was the one who suggested we come up here. I was the one who suggested I face away from the camera." "Yeah. Thanks for making it so easy for me." Smiling against his chest, I threaded my fingers through his. "Well, we've always made a great team, haven't we?" "After what you told me last time we were here," Nathan said, "about how you thought I was going to propose, it made me realise that I wanted the real proposal to come as a complete surprise. With you being the one to suggest we come here, and you being the one to effectively set up the whole scene, I knew it would surprise you." "And you just happened to have the ring on you?" "Yes. I've been carrying it around for a while now, waiting for the perfect moment. Being with you has always felt so natural and real. I wanted the proposal to be like that, too." "It was perfect." He kissed my forehead. "When do you want to tell people?" "Let's wait until we're back in the U.K. It'll be nice to tell them face-to-face, and I like the idea of just the two of us knowing for now. It's something special that I want to share only with you for the time being." "Sounds good to me." We dozed under the shade of the trees, basking in the bliss of being engaged. It still didn't feel real and would probably take a while to sink in. I'd always imagined marrying Nathan, but I could never have imagined how exhilarating it would feel for that fantasy to become a reality. I was going to be his wife. Mrs Hunt. Three years ago, Nathan had given me a different ring—one that I wore on my right hand and that promised commitment. It had been a reassuring gesture on his part, and although he'd joked that it represented a promise never to break up, I don't think either of us would have been able to say for sure that it would be replaced by a more permanent version later down the line. This year had been a prime example of how we could never know what the future holds. But Nathan was right; we had made it work. We'd got through it. Despite the odds. Despite the sceptics who'd warned us that long distance never works. It had been a journey up to this point, but at the same time it felt like this was only the first chapter in the rest of our lives together. *** THE END