Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
A united scream of “surprise!” was instantly followed by a collective gasp when I came into view.
“Gina?” My mom comes at me with tears streaming down her face. “What’s going on?”
I hug her tightly before I wipe the tears from my cheeks. Wanting to be sure that my dad can see me, I take a step to the left and sign the most important words I ever have to my parents and my entire family, as I say them loud enough that I know everyone can hear me. “Daniel and I got married in Las Vegas. We want to renew our vows tonight in front of all of you.”
So many voices chime in that I can’t differentiate one from another. Overwhelmed, I reach for my husband’s hand as Dominick pushes through the crowd to get to us.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” He glances over his shoulder to where Marti is standing with her hands covering her mouth. “You two got married in Vegas? When we were all there together?”
I take the lead and nod. “Before he died, Marlin made a wish that we would.”
“And the shots we had convinced us it was the right move,” Daniel adds. “It was reckless and spontaneous, Dominick, but dammit if it wasn’t the best decision I’ve ever made.”
I glance at my husband to see a broad smile on his face. “Me too.”
Dominick takes us both in his arms for a hug. “I’m so fucking happy right now. Why couldn’t I see before now that you belong together?”
Daniel steps back from the embrace first. “You’ll be my best man tonight. I need that, Dominick. I want you there beside me.”
“I’m there.” Dominick grins. “You don’t have to ask me twice.”
“So, you’ve been married all this time?” Isabella asks as she approaches us. “You’ve been living together and married? You fell in love, didn’t you?”
Daniel and I nod in unison before he answers for both of us, “Madly, deeply, forever. It’s that kind of love.”
“I’m so happy!” Bella shrieks loud enough that everyone can hear.
As our dad steps next to us, Bella raises her hands to sign the next words out of her mouth. “A birthday, a wedding, and a new baby all in one night.”
What? My dad signs as he looks at me. A baby, too, Gina Marie? You’re having a baby?
“Not me,” I say and sign at the same time. “Bella, are you pregnant?”
“Yes!” She bounces in place, sending the skirt of the pink dress she’s wearing swaying back and forth, being mindful to keep her hands in our dad’s view as she signs. Barrett and I are expecting another baby in the spring.
“Bella just outdid our surprise of the birthday surprise,” Daniel says as he faces my dad to sign the words to him.
This is one of the best days of my life. My dad signs as tears fall down his cheeks.
Can I talk to you for a minute, Louis? Daniel signs to my dad. In private?
My dad pats Daniel’s cheek before he responds. Of course, my boy. Let’s go to the kitchen.
Daniel passes the bouquet in his hand to me before he kisses me softly on the forehead.
As they leave the dining room so my husband can ask my dad for my hand in marriage, I step forward, and my family parts to make a path. My cousins, Luke and Rocco, hug me briefly. Lia tucks a few strands of my hair behind my ear, and Dante, Lia’s brother, kisses my cheek.
Rocco and Luke’s brother, Nash, smiles as I near him. I stop for a moment to ask him an important question. “Will you officiate?”
He handled those duties for Bella and his brothers on their wedding days. “I would be honored, Gina.”
I take a few more steps until I’m standing in front of the most remarkable woman I’ve ever known.
“Grandma,” I say, holding out the beautiful bouquet of pink peonies. “Will you be my maid of honor?”
Her eyes well with tears as she nods. “My Gina. My girl. I would be so honored.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
Daniel
It wouldn’t be a Calvetti family gathering without food.
Marti had the birthday party menu planned for weeks, but as Gina walked down the makeshift aisle in the middle of the restaurant with her parents on either side of her, I could see the wheels turning in her grandmother’s head.
She listened with bated breath to every word Nash spoke and signed as he officiated our second ceremony.
He changed up the traditional vows to reflect the fact that we’re already legally wed, but it was perfect.
Each word we repeated to each other spoke of the undying commitment that my wife and I share.
“Where’s Marti?” Gina asks me as she gazes around the dining room.
Her family all pitched in and pushed the tables into a corner before the ceremony so they could line the chairs up. When it was over, they got back to work placing everything where it usually is so we can have dinner before we indulge in the triple layer chocolate birthday cake that Marti baked and decorated for my wife.