Chapter 98: Epilogue 1—Isabella
Four months later…
Massimo steps forward with our wedding rings. Father De Lucca blesses mine first and hands it to Tristan.
I’m doing my best to hold back the tears of joy, but I find I can’t when Tristan takes my hand and stares back at me with so much love. His eyes are brimming with it.
He keeps hold of my hand and says, "I take this ring as a sign of our union and faithfulness in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
Tristan slips the ring on my finger, and I feel the overflowing sense of happiness I always dreamed about.
Father De Lucca gives me Tristan’s ring, and when I take his hand, love rises and flows within me. I just want to savor the moment and remember today, our wedding, as a day that was one of the best in my life.
I smile up at my dark knight, and I remember the day I first met him. I remember so clearly that day in the park. I was upset. I wished my life would change, and then he happened.
“I take this ring as a sign of our union and faithfulness,” I say. “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Father De Lucca declares, and I become Isabella D’Agostino. What a great name change. “You may now kiss the bride.”
Tristan kisses me, and our guests applaud.
It was a beautiful wedding.
As we pull apart, I look at the people in the church who came to support us. Candace has the biggest smile on her face. She’s so happy for us, and she’s become such a great friend to me over the last few months.
Next to her is Sacha. He walked me down the aisle and gave me away. I couldn’t have had a better person give me such an honor. If not for him, there would have been many times in my life when I would have slipped into the dark, never to return.
He’s smiling at us, but he also has the pride a father would have. He truly was the father I always wanted.
“Come on, Bellezza, time to start this adventure of ours,” Tristan beckons, and we take our stride down the aisle as husband and wife.
As we do, I think of everything that’s happened in these few months. I got everything I ever wanted and can now get my life back on track to how I imagined it to be.
When Tristan and I got engaged, I wanted to get married before I got bigger, so the last few months have been busy with wedding arrangements, but also with arrangements for my career.
I got a job at the Medical Center here in L.A., and I’ll be able to work until I can’t. When the baby comes, I’ll take enough leave and head back to the classroom to continue my studies and get my final qualifications to be a therapist.
It all worked out exactly how I wanted it to be.
And now Tristan and I are heading back to the island.
I can’t wait to get lost in him all over again and again forever.