Page 201 of Modern Romance Collection February 2025, 5-8

Rosaria’s eyes stared blankly at the wall behind Mari. And then she nodded as if she’d realised why. ‘That was thoughtful of you both,’ she said. ‘Except…’ She turned her gaze on her son. ‘A Las Vegas wedding? It won’t do, you know. It won’t do at all.’

Dom frowned. ‘Why won’t it do? I thought you wanted me married. I’m married.’

‘It’snotwhat I had in mind. You have cheated me out of a wedding. The wedding of my only son. Why would you do such a thing?’

‘Mamá, I thought you would be pleased.’

‘Yes, of course I am, and I’m happy for you both, but I would have hoped to be there to witness my only child get married.’

Dom muttered something under his breath as he raised his eyes to the ceiling. Mari smiled. How Mari loved Rosaria. She loved seeing this less than pint-sized woman cut the ground from under her billionaire son’s feet in a way nobody else could.

‘Perhaps we could have a blessing ceremony?’ Mari suggested. ‘Maybe a party. It would be lovely to celebrate our marriage with you and all the family and friends here in San Sebastián. It would be right.’

‘That’s a wonderful idea,’ Rosaria said, sounding animated. ‘We’ll have another ceremony, won’t we, Dominico? And we’ll invite everyone.’

‘Mamá,’ Dom interjected, ‘are you sure you’re up to this?’

‘What?’ she said imperiously. ‘You would deny your dying mother a party to celebrate her son’s wedding?’

‘Of course not,’ he said, while sending a glare in Mari’s direction.

Rosaria leaned back on her pillows. ‘You’ve made me so happy,’ she said. ‘Both of you.’ Tears welled up in her eyes. She sniffed as she batted them away. ‘So happy.’

And Mari, who’d been so opposed to the whole faux wedding idea, realised just what it meant to Dom’s mother and, in turn, what it meant to Dom. He knew he was going to lose his mother, but he loved her so deeply that he would go to impossible lengths to fulfil her final wish. His plan wasn’t perfect. Their marriage was a sham. But seeing Rosaria smile, seeing how happy Dom had made her, what else could he have done?

The older woman closed her eyes and looked as if she was drifting off.

‘We should leave you and let you rest,’ he said.

‘Yes,’ she said, blinking. ‘I’m tired. But later, please come visit me again, Marianne.’

‘We’ll both come,’ said Dom.

‘No. Not you, Dominico,’ Rosaria said. ‘I want to talk to Marianne. I want to get to know my new daughter-in-law.’

Dom looked helplessly from his mother to Mari and back again. ‘But surely—’

‘No,’ Rosaria insisted. ‘You have work to do. You have a wedding party to organise. Marianne, you’ll be fine to come by yourself. I promise I don’t bite.’ She smiled then. ‘Unless it’s my Dom. My nurse will let you know when I’m awake again.’ She gave a blissful smile as she nestled back into her pillows. ‘And now I’m going to dream about weddings and parties and celebrations. Right now, I think I must be the happiest woman in the world.’

Dom let the nurse in and closed the door behind him with a sigh. ‘You did well,’ he said, his voice thick and gravelly. ‘She’s happy. She likes you. She always has.’

‘I’m glad. She’s remarkably strong-willed for someone so ill. She certainly knows what she wants.’

‘Oh, yes,’ Dom said, his eyebrows raised. ‘And don’t I know it. Come on, we’ll go to the apartment. We can freshen up and have some lunch while Mamá rests.’

Mari was entranced by the vibrant city, Dom pointing out the local sights as their driver weaved his way through the busy streets. Everywhere she looked there seemed to be another attraction, and even where there wasn’t, the streetscape was an attraction all by itself. There were no skyscrapers, the character buildings seemed to top out at four or five levels, with balconies adorning almost every window. Dom pointed out the old town, the city hall and the Buen Pastor Cathedral before the car turned onto a street that bordered probably the most beautiful beach that Mari had ever seen: a sandy bay with mountains either side and the jut of a treed island in between.

‘The Isla de Santa Clara,’ he explained, naming the other peaks as Monte Urgull on the right and Monte Igueldo on the left. ‘You can take a funicular up to the top of Mount Urgull, and there’s a ferry that will take you out to Santa Clara Island.’

Mari was overwhelmed by it all, by the beauty of the sparkling bay, the mountains protecting it either side and the island nestled in between. ‘I thought Bondi Beach was something special,’ she said.

‘It is special,’ Dom agreed. ‘But this is better.’

No false modesty there, thought Mari, but he was right. How could anywhere on earth compete with this glorious setting?

The driver pulled into a garage in a stately building with a classic sandstone façade. A lift took them up to the top floor, where the views were even better. Of course Dom would have a penthouse apartment with unobstructed views overlooking the entire curve of the bay, taking in the mountains and the island. Another window boasted a view over a park towards the city hall.

Dom showed her around. The vast apartment had the high ceilings of the villa but it was clear that it had been updated at some stage, to retain the charm of the original while giving the interior a more contemporary vibe. It was clear Dom had stamped his style all over the apartment. There was marble aplenty and terracotta tile floors, but it was elegance without fripperies. It was streamlined, masculine and functional.

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