THE CASTILLO ESTATE winery was even more spectacular in spring, the perfect season for a wedding celebration. Felipe once more stood under the antique wrought-iron gazebo with Thiago at his side, only this time he was the proud and nervous groom.
Only his nerves were more about excitement. After a long courtship—he’d asked Emilia to be his wife three months into their exclusive relationship—today he and Emilia would finally make it official.
The music began and Emilia emerged from the avenue of pink-blossomed Oleander trees that led back to the house. Felipe and Thiago had played under those very trees as boys, and to see the woman he loved in this magical place that was so close to his heart left him choked. He held his breath, his heart racing at the beautiful sight she made. Dressed in a simple sleeveless gold satin dress, with her hair casually pinned up, she looked breathtaking. Eva, wearing a deep blue dress, walked arm in arm at her mother’s side.
His eyes met Emilia’s, the small congregation of friends and family melting away for a second so they were alone in this intensely personal moment. Today was just about them and the love they’d found while neither of them had been searching.
Felipe grinned, the broad smile on his face impossible to stop. He probed his feelings, relieved to find no trace of the fear that had held him back for years. His relationship with Emilia wasn’t perfect. They’d had their tests and trials over the past two years, like any couple. But every day they woke up together and showed up for their relationship, willing to work at it, to stay committed and to act with the unstoppable love and passion they shared.
When she reached his side, Felipe took her hand, leaning down to press a brief kiss on her lovely lips. ‘I love you,’ he whispered. ‘You’re beautiful.’
‘Me too,’ she replied, laughing as family members cheered at their sneaky pre-vow kiss.
But neither of them cared. Today was their day, a day of love, and the celebration of two families—one big and one small—coming together.
Felipe held Emilia’s hand throughout the entire ceremony, his heart swelling with so much love he thought it might burst. As they exchanged vows, promising to love and care for each other, he’d never felt more content or more certain of them as a couple. Of his ability to care for this woman and her daughter, and to make Emilia happy.
‘Emilia and Felipe are now husband and wife,’ the celebrant declared to raucous cheering from the audience.
Felipe held Emilia’s face, slowly dipping his head to hers and bringing their lips together. Thoroughly and passionately he savoured their first kiss as a married couple. Emilia sank into his arms, her hands gripping his neck as she kissed him back with equal passion.
Kissing Emilia should never be rushed. Kissing his wife, likewise.
‘I love you,’ he said when he pulled back, staring down into her beautiful deep brown eyes. ‘I’m never letting you go again.’ He squeezed her hand to prove his point and she laughed.
‘I love you, too.’ She smiled that secret smile of hers and his heart soared.
Second time around wasn’t without its challenges, but the rewards when you made that commitment were magnified tenfold. He and Emilia would cherish every moment they had together—a little older, hopefully a little wiser, but no less in love.
As they were swallowed up by well-wishers, engulfed in hugs and kisses and congratulations, Felipe kept his promise and kept a hold of his wife’s hand.
As the entire wedding party moved to the barn, which was festooned with swathes of romantic flower garlands and twinkling lights, Emilia couldn’t seem to stop smiling. With Eva at her side as maid of honour, and Felipe holding on tightly to her hand, she felt cocooned in love.
‘It’s so beautiful,’ Emilia whispered to Felipe as everyone poured into the barn and the party began—the wine flowing, the music playing and their loved ones smiling.
Felipe motioned to a waiter, who handed them each a glass of special sparkling wine, a vintage that had been specifically created by Thiago for Emilia and Felipe’s wedding. It even had their names on the label.
‘A toast, just for us, before the partying begins,’ Felipe said, touching his glass to hers. ‘To you my beautiful wife. May our marriage be long and full of passion. I will love you and take care of you and Eva every day of my life.’
‘And to you, my dashing husband.’ She smiled, blinking away the sting in her eyes as she stared at him over the rim of her glass. ‘I’ll love you and support you and care for you and our marriage with all of my heart, always.’
They both took a sip of the delicious wine and then Felipe drew her into his arms, kissing her once more. Emilia melted into the kiss, indulging in her husband’s lips for far longer than was decent. But she didn’t care. Life was too short to deny yourself the good things it had to offer.
When they pulled apart there was another cheer from the guests, punctuated by the odd wolf-whistle and cry of, ‘Get a room!’
Felipe dipped his head to whisper, ‘All in good time.’
His promise for their wedding night sent shivers down Emilia’s spine. But she forced herself to act with decorum and welcome her guests. She and Felipe worked the room hand in hand, stopping for a chat with each friend and family member in turn. By the time they reached their work colleagues from the General their glasses had been refilled several times.
‘I hear you’re both going to be working part-time when you return from your honeymoon,’ Isabella Lopez said, her husband Sebastian at her side. The triplets—Sergio, Lorenzo and a happy and healthy Luis—were toddling around, kept safe with the helping hands of their friends from the hospital and nearby clinic, Carlos, Sofia, Gabriel and Ana.
‘We are,’ Felipe confirmed, his arm around Emilia’s waist, holding her close. ‘We have too much life to enjoy living to work full-time. I don’t want the hospital to be the only place I see my wife.’
Emilia smiled up at him, excitement for their future a flutter in her veins. With Eva in her penultimate year at law school and living in a flat with her uni friends, she and Felipe had sold Emilia’s house and moved in together to Felipe’s apartment. There was a spare room for Eva, if she ever needed it, and Luna and Dante kept each other company, enjoying daily walks with the dog-walker while they were at the hospital.
Life was good again, and Emilia would never take one second of it for granted.
Later that night, after the best party ever, Felipe swung her up into his arms and carried her over the threshold of the estate’s guest house.
‘Congratulations, Mrs Castillo,’ he said as he kicked the door closed and placed her on her feet, making sure that her body slid down his so her every nerve was electrified.
‘Congratulations, husband,’ she said, undoing the top few buttons of his shirt to press kisses to his chest, his jaw, his smiling lips.
‘Now, stop talking,’ she said, taking his hand and dragging him to the bedroom.
And he did.
If you missed the previous story in the Buenos Aires Docs quartet, then check out
Daring to Fall for the Single Dad Doc
by Becky Wicks
And if you enjoyed this story, check out these other great reads from JC Harroway
Her Secret Valentine’s Baby
Phoebe’s Baby Bombshell
Breaking the Single Mom’s Rules
All available now!
Keep reading for an excerpt from Therapy Pup to Heal the Surgeon by Alison Roberts.