Before Ariana and Alessandro joined hands, she handed her bouquet of white roses and hydrangeas wrapped with trailing ivy to Carmela, who immediately stuck her nose deep into the flowers and said, “Che belli!”
Everyone chuckled, and the rest of the ceremony proceeded in such a lovely manner that Ruby continued dabbing her eyes with Niccolò’s handkerchief.
Afterward, as they emerged from the church, the bells of Chiesa di San Giorgio clanged in honor of their joyful celebration. Niccolò kissed her cheek as Ariana and Alessandro walked ahead of them.
“What a beautiful couple,” Ruby said, watching them, “Your nephew is so handsome.”
“As good-looking as I was?” Niccolò asked.
Ruby nudged him. “Now you’re just angling for compliments.”
Ariana and Alessandro turned to embrace them. “Aunt Ruby, I can’t thank you enough for insisting I come to Italy with you,” Ariana said. “That trip changed my life.”
Ruby pressed her cheek against Ariana’s. “You were the one who took the chance, sweetheart. And now, just look at the life you’ve created.”
Ariana smiled up at Alessandro before turning back to Ruby. “When I discovered you’d purchased an Italian villa on your holiday, I have to admit that I thought you’d been too extravagant.”
“For some reason, I felt drawn here,” Ruby said, squeezing Niccolò’s hand. “Though we’ll visit Palm Springs soon.” Ruby and Niccolò had decided to spend a few winter months in Palm Springs before Teatro Della Vigna opened for the summer season. Although this year, they would wait until after Ariana had the baby. Ariana was having a girl, and she and Alessandro were still deciding on names.
Besides planning the wedding with Mari—whose organizational skills were put to good use—Ariana had been working hard on her first collection. The boutique would open after they returned from their honeymoon, which they planned to spend sailing along the Italian coast for two weeks, while Paolina and her husband looked after the children. Although Ariana’s pregnancy seemed perfectly normal, she and Alessandro didn’t want to venture too far, just in case. Mari seemed eager to help at the boutique, too.
Niccolò and Alessandro embraced as they congratulated one another, and then everyone made their way to the dock, where a fleet of boats waited to take everyone across the lake to Villa Fiori.
Ruby and Niccolò joined Ariana and Alessandro on his restored Riva yacht. They sped across the sun-dappled lake toward Bellagio and Villa Fiori with the breeze in their hair and the mist on their faces.
“What a grand day we’re having,” Ruby said, laughing and flinging her arms out. Inside, she still felt like that girl of seventeen, seeing the treasures of Lago di Como for the first time.
Chuckling, Niccolò wrapped his arms around her. “Won’t let you escape this time.”
“I hope we’ll be just like you two someday,” Alessandro said. “Full of life forever.”
As they and their guests disembarked at Villa Fiori, the musicians that Ruby had hired began to play. Soon, music soared across the water, the champagne flowed, and everyone gathered to feast on the delicacies that Lorenzo had prepared for the wedding party. Tables filled the terrace on this autumn afternoon, although heat lamps were standing by to chase the evening chill. People began to fill the dance floor. Everyone was having a wonderful time.
Leaving Niccolò, Alessandro, and Ariana at a table, Ruby strolled toward the kitchen with Mari to check on Lorenzo, who had a team of servers circulating with hors d’oeuvres. “I want you to know you’re doing a fine job with the portfolio, Mari.”
“With a calmer life, I have a clear mind for investing,” Mari said. “I enjoyed overseeing the wedding arrangements for Ariana, too. I never thought I’d say that, but it’s been fun. Lorenzo has been an enormous help, too. That man can certainly cook.”
“And Ariana has loved having you here,” Ruby said. Her daughter had gained a little weight and looked much happier, and she and Ariana were getting along very well.
As they walked into the kitchen, Lorenzo looked up from the stove, where he was preparing a sauce that smelled heavenly. Leaving the simmering concoction to an assistant, he hurried to them, holding his arms out wide. He looked handsome in a white chef’s jacket, and he was clearly in his element.
“Congratulations,” Lorenzo said, bestowing kisses on Ruby’s cheeks. Turning to Mari, he did the same, although Ruby noticed that he held her gaze a little longer.
“Working on the planning with Lorenzo has been wonderful,” Mari said, her eyes shining brightly.
“It was your suggestions that made all the difference,” Lorenzo said. “I have a new salad that I made just the way you like. Maybe you could come by and try it before I add it to the menu?”
“I’d like that very much,” Mari said, returning his smile. “How’s tomorrow?”
“Perfetto,” he said with a wide smile.
Ruby glanced from Mari to Lorenzo, suddenly realizing that a strong undercurrent of attraction hummed between them. And why not? Ruby thought. Lorenzo might be a few years younger than Mari, but she was quite youthful for her age.
Lorenzo was bursting with happiness. He turned back to Ruby. “I feel like I had a small, but important part in reuniting you with Niccolò,” he said. “We have been great friends for many years. He was my first regular customer at the café, and brought so many of his friends.”
Ruby smiled and took his hand. “If you hadn’t posted that flyer about the Roman Holiday production at Teatro Della Vigna, Niccolò and I might have never reconnected.”
Just then, Ariana joined them. “I suddenly realized I’m famished. Guess that eating-for-two adage is true.”
“Allow me,” Lorenzo said, quickly compiling a special plate for her. “So many of my customers are waiting for you to open your boutique.”
“I think we should have a grand opening party,” Ariana said. “Lorenzo, would you cater the opening? It certainly wouldn’t be far to walk.”
“Of course,” he said. “If you like, I can work on the details with your mother. She’s very organized,” he added. “Not like me.”
Ariana turned to Mari. “Would you, Mom? That would be such a great help.”
“I’d be happy to, honey.” Mari hugged Ariana. “And I can’t wait until your little one joins this crazy family.”
Ariana reached out to Ruby. “Life is so strange. Remember that day that I found the envelopes postmarked Rome, Italy tucked in the box with your old photo albums?”
“Indeed, I do,” Ruby said. The envelopes were still there, but the letters had fallen apart after years of re-reading them, even though she’d memorized every word.
“I couldn’t have imagined that within the year, I would be married in Italy. That was more than coincidence.” Ariana flung her arms around her grandmother. “You’re like a fairy godmother, wielding a magical wand.”
“Coincidence or kismet?” Ruby laughed. “Life is full of magic—if we only take time to see it.”
Later that evening, after dinner and dancing had stretched beyond midnight, Ruby and Niccolò stood by the railing gazing over the lake. He wrapped his arms around her, just as he had so many years ago.