Page 11 of Big Island Weddings
Lorenzo frowned, looking puzzled. “I am very serious. I want to provide for my daughter, and for the mother of my daughter. That is what a man does.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“I know you enough.” His smile was crooked and charming, and in a heartbeat she was transported back to the night they met.
It was like a fairy tale, she marveled. Prince Charming finds his wife and child and vows to make up for the years that they’ve lost. They ride off into the sunset… or in this case, board a plane to Tuscany. Other women must dream of proposals like this.
But it wasn’therdream.
She had already found her happily ever after. And she wouldn’t let Lorenzo ruin it.
“There is something here,” he continued, “between us. You are very beautiful. And I love Rory already. I loveyou.”
Her heart lurched – not with love, but with panic. “Don’t say that.”
“How could I not love the mother of my daughter?” he pressed.
“I love someone else.”
He slumped, disappointed, and looked out across the grass at Rory.
She waved to them from the top of the slide, and they waved back.
After a long silence, he asked, “He is good to you? This someone else?”
“Yes,” she said immediately. “Better than I deserve.”
“Ah,bella.” His dark eyes were sad. “I think this is not possible.”
“What do you mean?”
“You deserve the best.” He was silent for another moment, and then he asked, “He has not married you, this good man?”
“He wants to.” Her voice came out quiet, subdued.
“You do not want to?” There was a spark of hope in his voice.
“I do,” she said quickly. Guilt tore out the pit of her stomach and her shoulders hunched forward, her body curling around the pain. “Just… not yet. Ijustgot divorced.”
“So you are not certain,” he pressed.
“I’m sure abouthim. I just don’t want to get married yet. To anyone.”
“Think about it,” he pressed as Rory came running back across the grass.
“I don’t need to.”
“But we could give her a family.”
Lani shook her head, but a splinter of doubt pierced her certainty as Rory ran into her father’s arms.
“Babbo! You’re still here!”
Rory laughed as he pulled her into a hug, lifting her feet off the ground for just a moment before releasing her. She pulled his hand, and they ran back to the swings.
As Lani watched them, her doubt burrowed deeper.
She knew whatshewanted.
