Chapter 9 - The Garden of Stars
Three months later, the summer sun turned the private walled grounds of the Mancini estate into a lush, vibrant sanctuary of blooming hydrangeas and green lawns.
The tall concrete walls were still manned by discreet security patrols, but the razor wire had been removed, replaced by climbing white climbing roses and fragrant honeysuckle.
In the center of the garden stood a brand-new cedar play complex with three swings, two slides, and a towering observation deck complete with a brass telescope.
Mia and Enzo sat on the grass beneath the shade of an ancient weeping willow, surrounded by hundreds of colorful paper strips.
Mia was patiently demonstrating the art of folding lucky origami stars, her small tongue tucked into the corner of her mouth as her nimble fingers worked the folds.
"You have to pinch the corners very gently, Enzo," Mia instructed with maternal seriousness. "If you squash it too hard, the wish gets trapped inside and can't fly away."
Enzo held up his clumsy, lopsided blue paper star with immense pride.
"I wished that we never have to eat frozen chicken nuggets again," Enzo declared.
"That's a very practical wish," Leo approved from the swing beside them, tossing a leather baseball back and forth with Mateo.
Arya sat on the stone patio steps, wearing a breezy linen summer dress, sketching out the weekly family menu in a leather-bound notebook.
Beside her sat a stack of legal documents from the New York family court.
Earlier that morning, a judge had officially terminated her deadbeat ex-husband's parental claims, while simultaneously approving Dante's petition to establish an educational trust fund that would guarantee Mia's future through medical school.
Footsteps sounded on the stone flagstones.
Dante walked out through the French doors carrying a pitcher of fresh lemonade and two crystal glasses filled with ice.
He wore lightweight khaki trousers and a dark navy polo shirt, his posture completely relaxed, his hair slightly ruffled by the warm summer breeze.
He set the tray on the iron patio table, poured two glasses, and sat down on the step beside Arya, resting his arm naturally behind her back.
"The boys passed their academic assessments for next term," Dante said with a proud smile, handing her a glass.
"The headmaster said Leo is reading two grades ahead of his age."
"Of course he is," Arya smiled, leaning her head against his shoulder. "He reads three mystery novels a week under his bed covers with a flashlight."
Dante looked out across the sunny lawn, watching the four children laughing and chasing the golden retriever puppy he had bought for Mia's seventh birthday.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, velvet-lined jeweler's case.
Arya’s breath hitched in her throat as she sat up, looking at the box in his hands.
Dante opened the brass clasp, revealing an antique platinum ring set with a flawless cushion-cut yellow diamond, surrounded by four smaller round white stones.
"The center stone is you, Arya," Dante whispered, his voice trembling with an emotion that no business empire could ever match.
"The warm, brilliant light that refused to go out in the dark. And the four stones are the children whose lives you saved with your courage."
He took her left hand into his, his thumb tracing her wedding finger.
"Arya Penelope," Dante said, looking straight into her soul.
"You took a broken house and turned it into a family. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Tears of pure, overwhelming joy spilled over Arya’s eyelashes as she threw her arms around his neck, burying her face in the crook of his collar.
"Yes, Dante," she wept happily against his skin. "Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!"
Across the lawn, Mateo spotted them first.
"Look! Daddy is hugging Arya!" Mateo yelled, dropping his baseball.
May you like
All four children came stampeding across the green grass like a joyful herd of wild horses, tumbling onto the stone patio and piling onto Dante and Arya in an avalanche of hugs, giggles, and flying sneakers.
Dante wrapped his massive arms around the entire tangled bundle of limbs and laughter, pulling them all tight against his chest, his eyes shining with tears of pure, absolute happiness.
