Bonus Chapter

 

 

 

Nine months later

 

Celeste woke early and walked out onto the balcony in time to catch the sunlight as it rose from the east, behind the hotel.

For so many people, it was just a normal Saturday morning in early June.

For her and Filipe, it was their wedding day and it had finally arrived. She would become a Romano—Dona Celeste Romano, wife of Filipe Romano. Still a Quintano, but definitely not Ferreira anymore. A smile bloomed in her face.

The day dawned bright and clear, promising to be a warm one. The ceremony was scheduled to start just before sunset, with the reception and dance right after and into the night. Why hadn’t they chosen to be married in the morning instead? Waiting almost all day would seriously challenge her patience.

At least she and Filipe had planned to have breakfast together with Lucas, despite the Romanos’ insistence the groom couldn’t see the bride on their wedding day or they’d surely bring bad luck on themselves. It would be the most covert, secret breakfast of her life. Luckily, no one else occupied the suites on the last floor, as she and Lucas had one for themselves and Filipe had the other one.

He had blocked out the SoliMar for their families and guests for the weekend, and some had already arrived last night. The rest would trickle in throughout the rest of the day. She and Filipe had set up rooms for visiting, games, and activities, and there was plenty to do to keep everyone entertained between the beach, the golf course, and the aquarium. Although she and Filipe would be leaving for the honeymoon sometime after the reception—or during, if Filipe had his way—everyone else was invited to stay until Sunday evening.

She walked back inside and checked in on Lucas. He still slept, askew on his bed, looking more like the little boy she still remembered than the big boy he proclaimed himself to be. Sleep relaxed and softened his features, and she resisted the urge to bend and kiss him on the forehead.

A soft knock sounded on the door, and she hurried to open it. Filipe slipped in, still wearing his pajama bottoms and a sleeveless shirt.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he said, his morning voice husky and deep.

“Good morning, handsome,” she said back to him.

He draped his arms around her back for a close embrace, and Celeste ran her hands on his upper arms, meeting him halfway for a languorous kiss.

Filipe reluctantly pulled away after a long moment. “Breakfast is coming in ten minutes.”

“Lucas is still asleep,” she said.

He brought her back into his arms with an arched eyebrow and a crooked smile on his lips. “Well, then. Let’s make good use of this time, shall we?”

She went up on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms behind his neck as they resumed kissing.

When the kiss turned into something more, Filipe put some distance between them and sighed. “Is it too late to move up the ceremony to, say, in an hour?”

Celeste chuckled. “Like your family would let us.”

“We could elope,” he said with a hint of hope.

“Too late for that too,” she said.

He took a deep breath. “Before Lucas gets up and breakfast gets here, I got something for you,” Filipe said. He slipped a hand into the pocket of his pajama pants and drew out a slim box tied with a white satin ribbon.

“Filipe, you’ve given me so many gifts already,” Celeste said. She took the pale-blue box and pulled at the bow.

“This one is special,” he said in a low tone.

Inside, she found a bracelet made of gold links and charms. Filipe helped her clasp it around her left wrist.

“It has custom beads made of sea glass and seashells, all found on our beach walks together,” Filipe said. “The seashells have been dipped in gold to make them more solid, and the charms represent important things and people in your life. The bracelet is one of a kind—like you.”

A heart-shaped charm had the word Mamã engraved in the center; another one was a seahorse, which was the new logo for the aquarium, and the third was a pea pod with three peas inside.

“Remember how my grandmother had us shell peas on the back porch that summer when you and Eduardo came for a visit?” Filipe asked.

Celeste nodded, understanding the meaning of the charm.

She turned her wrist and the sea glass beads caught the light and reflected it back, and two golden shells dangled from the chain.

“This is so incredible,” Celeste said, touching it. “You have put so much thought into this. How long have you been planning this amazing bracelet?”

He tilted his head and smiled softly. “Maybe since the day we became engaged?”

Celeste bracketed his face with her hands. “You are amazing, Filipe Romano.” She went on her tiptoes and kissed him. “To know you’ve been planning this gift for that long—it touches my heart.”

“Good. I did it right, then.”

Celeste walked to the closet and slid its door open. “I was going to wait until we moved to the new house, but looks like this is the right moment for your gift.” She picked up a framed rectangular print and held it up.

Filipe grabbed the other corner. “Is this the night sky?”

Celeste nodded. “It’s a star map of a special night in Porto last year.”

He read the date inscribed under the rounded representation of a dark night full of stars and planets. “It’s the night we kissed.”

A moment she wouldn’t forget.

“It is,” she said. “I was hoping you wouldn’t remember it as the day your cousin Matias got married.”

He placed the framed print on the floor against the wall. “No. It’s our midnight kiss. This will go in our new home, in the bedroom,” Filipe said.

In the house they’d been building for the past nine months, which would be ready to move into when they returned from their honeymoon to the Azores islands. A house overlooking the beach, not too far from the aquarium and the hotel. The home they would build together as a family, with Lucas.

“I’d like that,” she said. “By the way, you have no idea how hard it was to find a meaningful gift for the man who has everything.”

Filipe rested his hands on her waist. “I will have everything this evening, when we’re officially married.”

She couldn’t agree more.

After a lively breakfast with a very excited six-year-old boy, Filipe left. They wouldn’t see each other again until the ceremony. Not too long after, Filipe’s mother fetched Lucas. Those two loved to spend time together.

Celeste walked to her bedroom, where her wedding dress hung from a padded hanger, and touched the fabric. Filipe had given her carte blanche with the budget, but that was not who she was. The only concession she’d made was to combine two different styles, the top of one and the skirt of another, into a custom-made dress that matched her personality, the venue, and the feeling of the reception.

Just a couple of shades warmer than white, in a flattering tone of light ivory, the softest tulle flowed into a skirt that brushed the floor. The form-fitting and sleeveless bodice in Chantilly lace added an elegant touch to an otherwise informal style. It was beautiful and completely fitting for a wedding by the beach.

Filipe’s sister, Luciana, came to get her. “Are you ready to see the dining room? The hotel’s team has done a spectacular job.”

Gabriela, one of the Romano cousins, joined them. Filipe’s immediate family and some of his cousins had taken their roles in the wedding seriously, and Gabriela was a sort of go-between for whatever need required attention.

When Celeste arrived downstairs, her jaw dropped in awe. The courtyard off the hotel’s main dining room had been transformed with a white canopy decorated with hundreds of twinkle lights and garlands of realistic silk flowers. The aisle, coming off the main staircase and leading outside, had been flanked by rows of chairs in a quarter-moon pattern, and everything was dressed in a white background as the canvas for a palette of pastel colors. The effect was stunning in its understated beauty.

At the end of the aisle, on a half-moon dais decorated with yards of diaphanous material, Filipe would be waiting for her—she could almost see it all in her mind.

“It’s beautiful,” Celeste said. “They’ve done an amazing job.”

Gabriela and Luciana agreed.

Off to the side, one of the wedding photographers took pictures of the decorations.

A team of three wedding photographers had been hired to record all the details for the day, one photographer each following Celeste and Filipe, and the this one here for the guests and decorations. Filipe had insisted on having more than one, saying one day they’d want to look back at everything that would make this day so magical and precious. In the end, it didn’t take much on his part to convince her. She would want to remember every little thing of this special day—every moment, every word and every smile.

For a short while after they started their relationship, Celeste hadn’t been aware of Filipe’s net worth. He never flaunted his fortune, and he was generous in a practical way, preferring to help build structures and form jobs instead of handing out short-term solutions.

As Celeste became aware of her fiancé’s wealth, she’d felt intimated at first, but under Filipe’s guidance, she learned how to make a difference and was now in charge of a learning program about oceans and aquatic animals for school-aged children. She’d also re-enrolled in university and had only two more classes to finish before she could graduate.

For the wedding, instead of gifts, they’d both decided to ask their guests to donate to the clean water initiative Filipe had worked with in Angola, and with everyone’s incredible generosity, they were on their way to providing enough funds for a new well and clean water education in a village that had neither. Filipe’s world simply astounded her.

If they’d done this much even before getting married, how much more would they accomplish together when they became officially and legally united?

Celeste was so ready to start her life with Filipe.

 

* * *

 

The moment had finally arrived.

Filipe could hardly contain his excitement. After waiting all day—after waiting for nine months and a lifetime—he was about to enter the room where the ceremony was taking place.

The waning light, just before sunset, held the perfect blend of warm colors and radiant glow, illuminating the sand, the beach, and the blue waters beyond.

Instead of getting married in the church, he and Celeste had chosen to bring in an officiator and have the wedding at the hotel. The dining room had been transformed into a beautiful background worthy of the occasion.

Until then, Filipe stood in a small room off the dining room, waiting his turn to exit and walk out to the courtyard at the signal of Matias, his best man. Upstairs, on the first floor, Celeste was probably finishing her preparations to walk down the staircase and up the aisle toward him. He hadn’t seen her since their stealth breakfast in the early morning, as they’d spent their day apart from each other and in the company of family and friends. As much fun as he’d had visiting with them, it was Celeste he wanted.

Anticipation was killing him.

A familiar face he hadn’t seen in a long time appeared at the door.

“Sorry to drop by unannounced,” the man said. “May I come in?”

Filipe smiled. “Damian Vaughn. What are you doing here?”

Damian entered the room and shook Filipe’s hand. “Making myself late for a meeting in Lisbon, but I had to stop by and wish you well today.”

“You’re welcome to stay for the wedding party,” Filipe teased.

“I wish I could. I only have a few minutes before my pilot calls me back. I wanted to personally invite you and your near-future wife to come stay at the island any time you want.” Damian lived on a semi-private island in the Azores archipelago, where he owned a house that more resembled a hotel resort.

“That’s very generous of you. Thanks, Damian.”

A knock sounded at the door, and Gabriela poked her head in. “Filipe, Lucas wants to wait with you. Should I bring him down?”

“Yes, of course.” He hadn’t seen the little guy since that morning and missed him.

“Lucas?” Damian asked.

“Lucas is Celeste’s son from her previous marriage, but I love him as if he were my own,” Filipe replied, unable to keep the pride from his voice.

Damian stared at him, as if impressed. “To think a year ago we were working in Angola digging wells, up to our elbows in mud and plumbing parts. And now you’re all domesticated, getting married and already doing the stepfather thing.”

Filipe chuckled. “I heartily recommend domestication. It would do you well.”

Damian shook his head. “Absolutely not. No wife and no kids for a long while. I’m doing fine on my own.”

“Maybe you don’t know what you’re missing,” Filipe said good-naturedly.

Just then the door opened wide, and Lucas entered the room. “Filipe, there’s too many girls in Mamã’s room. I want to wait with the men.”

Filipe laughed at Lucas’s serious expression and slightly annoyed voice, and Damian joined him.

“You can stay with me until cousin Gabriela calls you to stand in line,” Filipe said. “How’s that?”

“I’ll come back for you later, Lucas,” Gabriela said. She nodded at Filipe and then left.

The first bars of a popular song sounded suddenly, and Damian winced. “That is my cue. I’m afraid my time’s up.”

Filipe extended his hand. “I’m glad you stopped by.”

“I apologize for my ill-timed appearance. Thanks for making the time to let me wish you well, and good luck with everything, especially married life,” he added with a wink.

Filipe smiled wide. “I won’t need any luck, but thanks.” He was so ready for everything that came with the married life.

After Damian left, Filipe and Lucas played games until Matias returned.

“This is it,” Matias said.

Gabriela appeared and took Lucas by the hand. “Come on, Lucas. Let’s get you into the rest of your suit and in position for your mom.”

The string quartet playing soft music shifted to the piece Filipe and Celeste had chosen to signal his entrance. Matias walked beside him to the front, where they stopped at the officiator’s left.

Filipe took a deep breath.

The room was full on both sides, the happy faces of family and dear friends smiling with anticipation for the bride. As excited as everyone was, nobody could top his own eagerness.

When the music changed again, all in attendance rose from their seats and turned to the back of the room.

Filipe squared his shoulders and held his hands in front of him. It wasn’t nerves he felt—only readiness and gratitude for everything that had led him and Celeste to his moment.

Her father walked her from the bottom of the staircase to the dining room, where the double doors had been opened wide. Lucas was there waiting for his mom and took her hand in his smaller one, then walked her to where the courtyard started. From there, Celeste made the rest of the way by herself.

Filipe kept a steadfast gaze on her, his eyes unable to see anything else. She looked more beautiful and serene than he’d ever seen her, in a gauzy dress with a lace top, with her hair halfway up with loose curls around her face and neck.

When Celeste finally reached him, Luciana took her bouquet, and Filipe held her hand, the hand of his future wife.

“I love you,” he mouthed.

“I love you,” she mouthed back.

As the ceremony started, it became a blur. Everything around him was only an impression, a hazy smudge in his peripheral vision—his focus completely fixated on Celeste.

When he finally heard the final words declaring them married followed by the invitation to kiss his bride, Filipe wound his arms around Celeste’s waist and pulled her in for their first kiss as husband and wife.

Lucas was the first to clap and hoot, and everyone joined in, loud and crazy, laughing and cheering, as if it were the best thing to happen in a long time.

They were absolutely right, of course.

Celeste smiled against his lips. “We did it,” she said, eyes sparkling.

He bent to kiss her again, not even trying to resist her gorgeous face and lovely mouth. “Yes, we did it. Here’s to the rest of our lives together.”