The past month has been filled with changes for our family. Michael was arrested for his assault on Tess. The FBI caught up with him and added a list of charges, including securities fraud and insider trading. Tess sold the house in Maine and purchased a townhouse in the same complex as Frankie’s. Ellie can easily go between our homes as necessary. We have been using the new visitation schedule for two weeks. Ellie seems happier and less stressed with moving between the homes less frequently. It also gives Tess time to focus on her healing and moving forward.
“Is it time yet?” Ellie whispers.
“Almost. Your mom is running late. She texted about fifteen minutes ago.”
“This is a big deal, Dad.”
I smile at Ellie. It’s a huge deal. I’ve been waiting for everything to be perfect, but I’m not worried. I enlisted Ellie, Matteo, my siblings, and even Luca to help pull this off. Right now, Frankie is at Luca’s for some phantom family meeting. I don’t know how long the ruse will hold.
Along with Ellie and my siblings, we have been hard at work making a romantic setting in the backyard. We erected a tent with string lights and portable heaters. Tim set up a small wooden area so we could dance if we choose.
Tess arrives in a flurry. “I’m sorry I’m late. I wanted to find this for you.” She sets my grandmother’s wedding band in my hand. I gave it to Tess as a promise ring years before her engagement ring.
“I appreciate you taking the time to find it. I’ll hold on to it for Ellie.” Everything about Frankie is different. I don’t want any overlap from my marriage to Tess.
“Ready, Ellie?”
“Yup. Will you be coming to the party tomorrow or just bringing me there?”
“I’ll stay if it’s okay with Frankie,” Tess replies.
The Cappellis are having a huge family dinner, including all the cousins, tomorrow. “You’re more than welcome to stay, Tess.”
“Thank you. We’ll be there tomorrow. Here, Ellie, get into the car. I’ll be right out.”
“Everything okay, Tess?”
She smiles. “Yes. You found your true other half. I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you. I’m sure this is difficult for you considering you’re divorcing Michael.”
“Not really. I’m stronger now, and someday I’ll find my other half too.”
Ellie honks the horn to get Tess’s attention as Frankie pulls into the driveway.
“Oh shoot! I’m going. We’ll see you tomorrow.” Tess hurries out the front door, passing Frankie on her way in.
I kiss her as I close the front door. “Hi, Sunshine.”
“Hi. Is everything okay with Ellie and Tess?”
“Yes,” I reply.
“Why is she leaving then? What about the party tomorrow?”
“Breathe, Sunshine. We’re going on a well-deserved, long-overdue date.”
“Oh.”
“Please get ready for a fancy dinner. Everything you need is upstairs courtesy of Kelly with Ellie’s help.”
Sheer glee crosses her face. Francesca Cappelli is a complex woman. She’s a successful businesswoman in a male-dominated profession. I understand why men in her field find her intimidating. Plus, the overprotective big brother factor, which luckily doesn’t faze me because I already knew Luca. I’m sure it paved the way a bit. The glee she gets from dressing up is icing for both of us. She loves doing it despite her penchant for planting beautiful landscapes, and I love how high heels make her legs look sexy and a mile long. “How much time do I have?”
“Your sisters will arrive any minute, but Lily only has an hour for you to get ready.”
“I have no words. I love you more.” She throws her arms around my neck, nestles her curves against me, and sets her lips on mine.
I’m going to kiss this woman for the rest of my life starting tonight. Waiting until tonight wasn’t the initial plan. I had lunch with her father to ask for her hand about a month ago. Then I had to push it off because her ring wasn’t finished on time. “I love you most.”
The Cappelli sisters arrive and whisk Frankie away. I scan my texts to verify everything is set. Matteo is set to arrive with our dinner in about two hours. The flowers arrived while Frankie was gone, and Tam set some up outside. The rest are in the office. I sneak out to the workshop and set one of my gifts for Frankie under the tent as well.
When I step back into the house, laughter floats down the stairs. I grab a water and make my way to the guest room. I change into a suit and return to the kitchen. Lia and Lina come downstairs first.
“The dress is beautiful,” Lia states.
“The shoes are spectacular. Lie to her when she asks how much they cost,” Lina adds.
I smirk. “That was all Ellie.”
“Are you kidding? We love that we know something she doesn’t. Can’t wait to share tomorrow with everyone. Prepare yourself, it will be crazy.”
“Understood.”
Lily joins us in the kitchen too. “She should be down in a few minutes.”
“Thank you for coming, ladies. I want this to be perfect.”
They all smile and hug me. “It will be. Even if it isn’t, she’ll be ecstatic.”
Once they’re out the door, Frankie descends the stairs. The dress Ellie picked is a deep maroon color. It has lace along the hem and the entire back. The shoes are peep toe with a high heel.
“You look gorgeous.”
Her flawless skin turns pink. “Thank you. Ellie picked well.”
“You don’t think I could’ve picked this outfit for you?”
“Maybe, but I know it was Ellie. She left a cute note. It said she picked the dress so you wouldn’t take credit for her work.”
“She’s clever.”
I take her hand in mine, press a kiss to the back, and lead her into the kitchen. Dropping her hand, I scoop the roses from the office and present them to her. She kisses me in thanks before reaching for the vase. I intend to look away. However, the absence of a panty line has me watching her hemline creep up the back of her thighs instead of offering my assistance.
“Tommy?”
“Uh-huh.”
“What’s wrong?”
“You’re tempting. I was distracted by your dress revealing the back of your sexy legs while you reached for the vase. Almost tempting enough for me to forget our date, throw you over my shoulder, and carry you upstairs.” I pull myself together. I will have every evening for the rest of my life to be with Frankie. “Right this way.” I offer her my arm and lead her out the French doors.
We made an aisle lined with lanterns leading to the tent. The side is closed so she can’t see inside yet. When we reach the tent, I reveal the work we did this morning.
“When did you do all this? It’s magical. Everything from the lanterns to the lights and the table is perfect.”
“I had a lot of help from our siblings and a cousin,” I admit with a sly grin. I never asked if Frankie liked surprises. Her reaction would lead me to believe she doesn’t hate them.
“You really didn’t have to go to all this trouble for a date.”
“Trouble, not even close. Planning, sure. I’ll do this and so much more for you as long as you’ll have me.”
“What are you saying?”
“Please sit.”
She takes a seat, and I bring my first gift of the night to her.
“What’s this?”
“I made you something.”
“You made me something in addition to the gorgeous foldaway desk?”
“Yes. I started this first though.”
She opens the wrapping. “It’s gorgeous. What is it?”
“It’s a memento box. I made one for Ellie when she was born. I’ve been filling it with milestone photos or remarkable events of her childhood. I want you to have one to fill for us.” I take her hand in mine and drop to one knee in front of her with the ring box in my hand. “You’re willing to love not only me but my almost teenage daughter. Without hesitation, you accepted us both. I knew the qualities I needed in my partner, and you exceed them beyond measure. I have been searching for you my entire life. When I am with you, the only place I want to be is closer. Francesca, will you spend the rest of your life with me?”
“Yes, absolutely yes!”
I slide the cushion cut diamond ring with micro pave band onto her finger and kiss her until we’re breathless. “Shall we eat or go inside?”
“We should eat Matteo’s food before it’s cold,” she replies.
“How do you know Matteo cooked?”
She smiles and brushes a kiss across my lips. “The napkins are folded in the shape of the letter C, his signature. I assume Ellie isn’t coming home tonight, so we have at least twelve hours to celebrate appropriately anywhere in the house.”
“We better eat quickly then. We have a bunch of rooms to check off the list in one night.”
She giggles. “No.”
“No?”
“We have a lifetime to complete all the rooms in the house.”
“Can we add that to our vows?”
“Yes. I love you more, Tommy.”
“I love you most, Sunshine.”
Thank you so much for reading Chasing My Sunshine!
I hope you love Frankie and Tommy. Find out what happens with her sister Lina.
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