“I guess you could say that!” I smile even though I know he’s not watching, feeling that the stars have alignedandthat I’m where I should always have been. I feel Lorenzo’s hand on my shoulder, and I look back to meet his eyes. “You know you’re still number one, right?”
I nod, knowing that they will never abandon me. “I don’t mind sharing.” I feel Lorenzo’s arm go around my waist, and I rest my head on his shoulder. “It’ll be good for her to have you around; it was amazing for me!”
“Always and forever!” I look at my older brother and smile, repeating the words that have always been part of my life, the only words I’ve never doubted.
Bella pulls me toward her in a strong, sure gesture, hugging me as soon as my body is close to hers. “I’m so happy that you’re now part of the family; I feel like I’ve gained a big sister!”
I look at her and see her happy face. I can not help butwant to smile. I put my hands on the apples of her cheeks and put a lingering kiss on her forehead. “You’ve also gained two brothers, and we’ll always be here for you; that’s how we work. For whatever comes and goes, always and forever!”
A kiss is planted on my cheek, and I pull her toward me, hugging her tightly andpromising myself that I will never let anything bad happen to her. I’ll be the big sister I’ve longed to have. I look toward my now-husband and give him his sister’s hand, watching him lead her toward the dance floor. I look to my right and see my two lifelong companions offering me their hands, and I hand one to each of them, starting to dance in their embrace.
“You are the best gift life has ever given me!” The words come out of my mouth quickly and lightly, without me really thinking about them; I just let my feelings and emotions come out.
“You were the best result of our parents’ marriage.” I look at Vincenzo with a frown and see Lorenzo nodding in agreement.
“Without you, our family would have fallen apart after the divorce; if we didn’t have you, maybe we wouldn’t have fought so hard to stay together.” I look at the two of them without knowing what to say. “We had someone to fight for; we’ll always fight for you!”
“I love you; I know I’ve never said it, but I want you to know…”
“We know, and we love you just the same, Chiara; nothing will change that!” I nod, feeling a tear run down my cheek at Vincenzo and Lorenzo’s words.
“Can I steal my daughter for a moment?” My father’s voice makes our eyes go wide, and they nod. I watch them walk away, and each of them takes my mother’s and grandmother’s hand. I look at him and see him looking at me lovingly with a smile on his face. I put my hands over his shoulders and hugged him,dancing in his embrace. “You look so beautiful anymore, mio; I don’t think I’ve seen you this happy in a long time!”
“I feel like I haven’t been this happy in a long time. Who knew?”
“Fate sometimes surprises us!”
“Yes, it seems I’m finally in the right place at the right time!”
He smiles at me with a dreamy look on his face, like heis being transported to some other place. It was as if all the stars had aligned, and you felt like you’d been waiting your whole life for this moment.
I stare at him, and he seems to be in another place, at another time in his life, reliving happy moments, moments of love. “You seemed happy…” He looks at me, seeming to wake up from his fantasy. “When you were dancing with Mom, you looked happy, you looked like you used to…”
“Your mother is and always will be the great love of my life, sometimes the right person at the wrong time.”
“The good thing about life is that time passes, and the time that was once wrong can now be the right; you just have to try!”
He smiles, looking somewhat relieved by my words. I pull Vincenzo’s arm as soon as he’s close enough and pull my mother’s hand, resting it on my father’s. I see the two of them looking at each other like two teenagers in love, smiling endlessly and slowly walking away from us according to the rhythm of the music.
“They seem happy, just like before…”
“Maybe it wasn’t the right time before; who knows now. They were always right for each other.”
“Yes, they are, they always have been, only they didn’t see it.”
I nod and feel my grandmother’s hand on my arm. I look at her and hug her from the side, watching her watch her daughter dance with the love of her life.
“My girls look happy; you’re finally really happy!”
“Yes, I think we are!” I kiss her head and hug her tightly, knowing that she wishes grandad was here dancing and smiling with her.
“I miss him! “She looks at me with watery eyes and nods.
“Wherever he is, I’m sure he’s proud of you, your brothers, your mother.”
“Wherever he is, he’s probably missing his Daisy!”
“We’ll meet soon; our love is too great to end here!”
