UNDECIDED (Wisemen Series #1)

18 | New Beginnings

ISABELLE
___________

"Yes," I whispered, my voice a blend of love and certainty. The word seemed to lift a weight from both our shoulders, and in that instant, we began a new chapter together.

Two weeks later, the whirlwind of wedding planning consumed us. Every choice, from flowers to guest lists, seemed monumental, reflecting not just a ceremony but the life we were building together.

Amidst the swatches of fabric and seating charts, I felt a wave of stress threatening to overshadow the joy of our engagement. Riccardo, ever perceptive, took my hand one evening. "Let's take a break tonight. Dinner, just us," he suggested, giving me no room for protest.

That night, at a quaint, secluded restaurant, we remembered why we were doing all this in the first place. Over our favorite dishes, we laughed and dreamed, the stress melting away under the soft glow of candlelight.

The next day brought another kind of joy, one that bloomed from within as we attended the ultrasound appointment. The cold gel on my belly was a stark contrast to the warmth in Riccardo's eyes as we watched the screen intently.

"It's a girl," the technician announced with a smile, and the room filled with our elated laughter. A girl! Our future, our next generation, was unfolding before us, and nothing could dampen our spirits.

. . .

The day of the wedding arrived quicker than we had imagined. The venue was draped in an elegance that mirrored a fairy tale. Lush floral arches and twinkling lights transformed the space into a scene of enchanting beauty. I stood there, a bride ready to walk down the aisle, overwhelmed by the love that filled the room.

As the music started, I walked towards Riccardo, his gaze fixed on me with an intensity that made my heart flutter anew. The ceremony was a blur of vows and tears of joy, sealing our promises with a kiss that spoke of forever.

The reception was a lively affair, filled with the laughter and well-wishes of our dearest friends and family.

Marco, ever the charmer, spent the evening flirting playfully with Elena, who blushed and entertained his advances.

Chloe, usually so reserved, found herself caught in a surprising exchange of smiles with Luciano, who for the first time, seemed genuinely interested in someone else's company.

Across the room, Alessandro's gaze often lingered on Sienna, sparking whispers of a new romance.

The evening danced away under a starlit sky, every moment a testament to love and new beginnings. Riccardo and I danced as if we were the only ones there, our world complete and perfect.

As the night drew to a close, I looked around at the faces of our family and friends, the joyous energy that buzzed through the air, and felt profoundly grateful.

This was more than a wedding; it was the start of something beautiful, a celebration of life's most cherished moments and the new ones we were about to create.

With my hand in Riccardo's, everything felt possible. Our journey had just begun, and it was more magical than I had ever imagined.

. . .

THIRD PERSON

When Riccardo finds out they are having a girl, his reaction is a heartwarming mix of elation and awe.

As the technician confirms, "It's a girl," his eyes light up, reflecting a profound joy and the immediate deepening of his connection to the little life they're about to welcome.

Overcome with emotion, he squeezes Isabelle's hand tightly, leaning over to plant a gentle kiss on her forehead.

With a wide grin, he whispers excitedly to Isabelle, "A little girl. We're going to have a daughter." His voice is filled with wonder and a touch of nervous excitement about the prospect of raising a strong, beautiful girl.

He imagines the future-tea parties, playing dress-up, and being a protective father-and in those moments, he's visibly moved, almost teary-eyed at the thought of holding his daughter for the first time.

His happiness is palpable, and he shares it with everyone in the room, telling the technician and nurses about his hopes and dreams for his future child, his words brimming with pride and anticipation.

.
ISABELLE

As the first blush of dawn streaked the sky, I leaned against the balcony railing of our new home, Riccardo at my side. Below, the world was quiet, serene, just beginning to stir.

The chaos of the wedding had settled into a cherished memory, and now, the future stretched before us, vibrant and inviting with the promise of our daughter's arrival.

I rested my head on Riccardo's shoulder, feeling the gentle yet assertive kicks from the tiny life within me. His arm came around my waist, securing me in the warmth of his embrace.

The reality of becoming a mother, of us growing into a family, filled me with a thrilling mix of anticipation and nerves.

"I can't believe how quickly everything is happening," I murmured, more to myself than to him. The words floated away with the morning breeze.

Riccardo turned his head slightly, his cheek brushing against my hair. "I know, but we're ready for this, aren't we?" His voice was steady, a soothing anchor to my fluttering thoughts.

"We are," I whispered back, allowing his confidence to bolster my own. His optimism was infectious, his belief in us unwavering.

As the days unfolded into weeks, our home became a bustling hive of activity. Rooms were painted, baby clothes washed and folded, each little sock sparking a burst of joy or a moment of overwhelming love.

The nursery, with its walls painted a gentle, calming shade of lavender, filled up with the essentials and trinkets-a testament to the life we were eager to welcome.

One afternoon, as I organized a shelf of children's books, Riccardo came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my expanded waist. "How's our little princess today?" he asked, his hands gently caressing where our daughter kicked.

"Active and definitely making her presence known," I laughed, placing his hand over a particularly strong kick, sharing with him the lively dance that had become a part of our daily ritual.

As the sunset turned the sky to shades of orange and purple later that day, we sat wrapped in each other's arms on the nursery floor, surrounded by stuffed animals and dreams of the future.

Riccardo spoke softly about his hopes for our daughter, his words painting pictures of park visits, bedtime stories, and little footsteps echoing through our home.

Listening to him, I realized how profoundly our lives had changed. The struggles and uncertainties that had once seemed insurmountable were now just part of our story-a story that was continually unfolding in beautiful and unexpected ways.

"Our life, it's really just beginning, isn't it?" I said, not just thinking of our daughter, but of us, of Riccardo and me, of everything we had overcome to reach this point.

"It is," Riccardo confirmed, kissing the top of my head. "And it's going to be incredible."

In that moment, surrounded by the quiet comfort of our future daughter's room, I knew he was right. No matter what came our way, we were ready to face it together, building a lifetime of memories in this very home, our forever home.