Page 25 of Claimed by The Italian

“You must be the blushing bride. It’s good to meet you at last. I think you’ve calmed Lorenzo down somewhat. It’s nice to see him looking so...calm.”

“Lorenzo left his mafia life behind,” Lydia says firmly. I think she’s a little uncomfortable with Marco’s sudden appearance. “Are you here to try and convince him to go back with you?”

Marco shakes his head. “Oh no, dear. Not in the slightest. In fact, I’m going to be retiring myself soon.” He looks back at me. “You know, son, the way we chose to live our lives is lonely. Seeing you so happy, it made me wonder if an old man like myself can finally find some peace. Your sister should look for it too. We made more money than we know what to do with it, it’s time to start enjoying it. I simply came here to wish you the best of luck with your new life. I promise I’m not here to cause trouble.”

I get to my feet, brushing sand from me. I stand opposite Marco and regard him sadly. He was a huge part of my life, but something tells me this is the last time we will see one another. It’s the only way to keep us both safe from the life we used to live. Cutting ties is our way out.

Marco reaches out his hand for me to shake and I take it. He grips my hand hard.

“I want you to know that you made a good decision, leaving it all behind,” Marco tells me. “You’re still young, you’re smart. You have another lifetime ahead of you yet. Marriage was the first step and children are on the way, I hear. Enjoy it. Find work to be passionate about. Give all the love you’ve had stored up for all this time. Make your Mother and Father proud.”

I nod, feeling a tightness in my throat. I wish they were here now to see how happy Lydia has made me. I wish they could see that there’s something more to life than the work they gave their lives up for. But I guess knowing that Marco has found a new way to live too has to be enough. Now if only Bianca would give up mafia life, we could all live safely and happily. Marco clears his throat.

“Well, I should be going,” he says. He smiles at Lydia once again. “Look after him, my dear. That’s your job now.”

Lydia nods, standing up to take my hand. She squeezes it hard and I feel so lucky to have her by my side. Even as one era is ending forever, Lydia is showing me a new life where I can finally be happy and fulfilled. Marco turns to walk away and I feel an ache in my chest as I feel the finality of it all. He turns back to me briefly.

“Oh, and Lorenzo?” He smiles, putting his sunglasses back on. As he hides his eyes, it’s like he could be any stranger on the street, not the man I knew. “Retirement suits you.”

I manage a smile. As he walks away forever, I do feel a little sad. But when I look at Lydia, I don’t regret a thing. I know that my life with her is ten times better than anything I had before. Sure, I won’t be living in a mansion. Sure, family life isn’t going to be the same type of excitement as my career...it’ll be better. I’m ready to face every challenge head-on with Lydia beside me. I’m ready to prove to myself, and everyone else that I’m more than the man I was before I met her. I don’t belong to my career anymore.

I belong to my family.Extended EpilogueAlmost Twenty years later...LydiaI feel pride swell in my heart as Daisy is called up onto the stage to complete her high school graduation. Me, Lorenzo, Bianca, and the kids applaud and cheer for her as she walks across the stage to shake her Principal’s hand. She flashes us a pearly smile and she looks just like her father for a moment. She’s got his looks. In fact, all the kids do. They’re so obviously his, even though I’m their Mom. They took all of the genes from him and I can’t say I mind. Looking at them reminds me of the beautiful life Lorenzo and I have made together.

As she leaves the stage, my hands are sore from clapping and I lean my head against Lorenzo’s shoulder. Even after all this time together, our life seems like a dream to me. Every single day we’ve had together has been beautiful. He’s worked hard for this family over the years, splitting his family time and his career as a banker equally to support us. It’s been a long time since my own ambitions slipped away from me, they seemed so insignificant to me by the time I had our first child. It didn’t feel like I was letting my career go, it felt like I was starting a new one as a mother.

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