Be Brave With Me

Epilogue

Drenched and bare-footed, Theo waded in slow circles through the shallow water of the fountain. Between his legs, holding onto his hands to stay upright, Mia cackled with delight at the big splashes her tiny toddler feet made in the water.

Fuc- Flip me. How was it possible to feel so much love for such a tiny being?

Theo bent over to peek at the face of his happy eighteen-month-old, and his wide grin matched her bright smile. Bright like the sun.

"You look just like your Mom, you know that?"

Mia babbled her eloquent answer.

"I know, I know. I don't know how I've gotten this lucky either."

Mia blew a raspberry at him and plunged her swim nappy-covered bottom into the water for the biggest splash possible. Theo scooped her up, launched her upwards into the air, caught her right away, and pretended to drop her back in the water. Mia's giggles filled the summer air.

"Theo!? Mia?" On the lookout for them, Aura rounded the corner of the house on the stone path that led to their renovated winter garden and rejuvenated backyard. It had taken them two whole years to restore the entire villa and its grounds. In the middle of it all, Mia had been born. Theo had held Aura's right hand during birth, Nonna her left. Last year, Henry and Isodora had come to stay to help with nappy changes and the last bits of renovation.

Quick to cover up his air-bound shenanigans, Theo propped Mia up on his hip and kissed her soft baby cheek. "Don't rat me out, okay?"

Aura raised her voice to carry across the driveway on her way over. "Did you remember to cover her head from-"

She dropped her question and smiled wide when she noticed the green, floppy bucket hat on Mia's head that was shielding her from the strong afternoon sun. "You did! Thank you."

Theo gazed at his daughter and bounced her in his arms to make her laugh again. "Of course. But how come she looks so flipping cute wearing it? When I wore a hat like this one on our hike in Costa Rica, I looked like... a Dad?" He scrunched his nose in disgust. "One that wears socks in his sandals."

Aura laughed and leaned over the edge of the fountain to tug at Mia's big toe. "You were carrying this one on your back on that trip. You are a Dad, tadpole. Soon to be a Dad of two. Deal with it."

Running one hand over the prominent curve underneath her oversized summer dress, Aura smiled down at her eight-month belly and then up at him again. She shone bright like the sun. Like mother, like daughter.

Theo couldn't help it. He leaned forward for a kiss. She always tasted of ginger tea these days. The best remedy against her heartburn. It'd helped during her first pregnancy, too. Mia might have her mother's smile, but she had inherited his dark curls.

Aura drew away from his lips, still smiling bright, to reveal what she had been hiding behind her back the entire time. "This might help with your bruised ego, though." She placed an elaborate flower crown on his head. Her smile grew even wider at the sight of him. "Look at you! I knew you'd rock one with your curls. I made it from the flowers that Nonna brought over for Mia from our paradiso."

They had returned home to their villa, returned to Ravello and their paradise garden, to rest up for the birth and the first few months as parents of two. Then, they'd take off again to see more of the world. They'd done it with one baby for the past year, they could do it with two. All it'd take was... courage.

"Thank you, sunshine." Theo reached up to secure the crown gently in place. The softness of the petals beneath his fingers had nothing on the softness in his heart. How was it possible to feel so loved? To love so much?

On his hip, Mia clapped her hands together and cooed at the sight of the pretty poppies and primroses on her Dad's head. She reached up to grab and eat one. Her parents distracted her with kisses.

Until the familiar sound of an old truck rumbling down the dirt road distracted them all. It couldn't be Nonna. Nonna was enjoying the sun in their backyard right now. It had to be...

Theo looked at Aura. Her eyes widened. He knew that she knew what he was thinking. Like only best friends who had fallen in love with each other could.

"He can't be back, right? He's in the-" Theo held his breath as the truck took the last curve. But it wasn't Romeo sitting behind the wheel. It was only Uncle Giuseppe, of course. Who else? They'd been wrong to assume.

"Look! It's Zio Pepe." They pointed at the truck for Mia.

They were wrong again, though. From behind the driver's cabin, none other than Nora Harrington popped up, waving at them like crazy. "Guess who's back in Italy!"

To top it off, his Mom had a flipping hen tucked under one arm. She motioned to someone next to her, beckoning him to stand up, too.

Fitzwilliam Harrington did. With an exasperated sigh.

He'd do anything for his wife.

Theo knew the feeling.

"Guess who convinced your Dad to let Romeo manage The Harrington so we can help out with our two grand babies!" His Mom hopped off the truck bed, released the fluttering hen and raced over to embrace her pregnant daughter-in-law. "Guess who will look after this beautiful house for you, so you four can go travel again!" When she released Aura, they both had to wipe away their tears admits their laughter.

Finally, his Mom turned to him with bright, watery eyes. "And look at you, honey. You're a Dad! That makes me - the mastermind behind this brilliant plan - Nonna Nora. Oh, doesn't that sound wonderful?!"