Page 60 of A Wedding in Tuscany

‘Hey, where are you going?’

‘Shower. Lots to do this morning.’

‘Really? But it’s your birthday.’

I pause at the door to the en suite. ‘I know, babe, but I’m on wedding duties with Jaelee. We still have to figure out the venue. I swear, if I’d known all this time that Jaelee couldn’t read Italian … What?’ He looks a little crestfallen.

‘Nothing.’ He smiles but I don’t believe it for one second.

‘Tell me.’

‘It’s all good, just go have your shower.’

Fuck. I know there’s some sort of party planned for me this evening, but maybe he had something else in mind, just the two of us. ‘You sure?’

‘I’m sure.’ He doesn’t sound it. ‘Hey, you’re still having lunch with your sister, right? And your friends?’

I’d forgotten about that. ‘Um … yes, I think so. There’s just so much going on this week, I’ve lost track.’

‘That’s saying something,’ he jokes. He’s right though?I’m Ms Clockwork when it comes to organisation?so I pay him the smile. ‘Oh, and I do have something for you when you’re done.’

‘Someth? you didn’t get me a present, did you?’

‘I might have.’

I make my way back to the bed. ‘But this trip is my present.’

‘Well, yeah, but I wanted you to have something to open on your actual birthday.’

‘I like presents,’ I say softly.

‘I know you do.’ His characteristic grin returns and my heart flutters at the sight of it. Even after several years together, I still get overwhelmed by how heart-stoppingly gorgeous he is.

‘Can I have it now?’

‘Oh, so you’re not in a rush anymore?’ he teases.

I sit on the edge of the bed. ‘I have time.’

He reaches up and kisses me, softly and rather sexily. Still, if he keeps doing that, Jaelee can figure out the wedding stuff by herself. He breaks the kiss and flings back the covers on his side of the bed, then crosses the room to his suitcase. I watch him go, of course I do. He’s got a gorgeous body too, especially that pert, rounded bum.

‘Close your eyes,’ he says, laughter in his voice. Oops?I’ve been caught out perving on that bum. I close my eyes and smile to myself as I feel the bed shift beside me under his weight. ‘Okay, you can open them now.’

He’s holding out a card and a small flat gift box. I take the card first and open the envelope and slide it out. On the front of the card, the numbers four and zero shout up at me in gold glitter. There’s even an exclamation point to make it as clear as possible?YOU ARE TURNING FORTY, SARAH! I open it.

To my beautiful Sarah,

Even at the salutation, I start to tear up.

I could never have imagined that booking a last-minute trip to Greece would mean I’d find the love of my life standing on a pier in Santorini. I think I loved you as soon as I saw you, only it took me a little while to figure that out. But I’m so glad I did. You were beautiful then. You’re even more beautiful today – inside as much as out. I wanted a bigger life. You showed me how. My life with you is bigger and more wondrous than I ever could have imagined possible.

I hope your fortieth birthday is everything you dreamed it would be. I love you now and always. Happy birthday.

Love, Josh

I’m on the verge of ugly crying now, but instead I take a steadying breath and sniff. I look up and there are tears in his eyes too. ‘Thank you,’ I manage.

‘Sure, babe,’ he says, clasping my hand. ‘And there’s this. It’s just … it’s a little something.’ He passes me the gift box, also covered in gold glitter.

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