He walked toward me. The two Valenti soldiers flanking the town car straightened but stayed where they were.
"What are you doing here? Did you get the invitation I sent?"
When I said nothing, he kept talking, filling the silence himself.
He'd already decided what this was.
"You must have received it. And then found out where I'd be, so you dressed up and came here on purpose."
"I had a bottle of that Barolo set aside at Pinecrest. The '96. I was going to open it with you at the marina."
"Since you're already here, that saves me a trip to the Corsetti house."
The Barolo...
My mind drifted for a moment.
I remembered being a little girl, mistaking the wine for grape juice and drinking half a glass before anyone caught me.
I'd slept for three days straight. The memory pulled a faint smile from me despite everything.
Dominic's expression softened. He reached for my hand. "I knew it. I knew you'd like that."
"Serafina, you've given me the cold shoulder long enough. Whatever anger you had, surely it's passed by now."
"Let's go back to the way things were. In a few days, I'll talk to the Commission, have them set a proper date, and I'll marry you. The right way."