Two and a half months later.
The day rose clear and cold, and the frost clinging to the winter-dormant roses shone in the early gray sunlight. In the valley below, the village of Sete Fontes hid behind a layer of gossamer fog.
Catarina smiled with a contented sigh at the view from her bedroom. So much had changed since she’d arrived in the early spring, so much would change from today.
In the bassinet by her bed, Carlota finally slept after being awake for half the night. Catarina would have to wake her in a few hours to get her ready for the christening, but for now she enjoyed the quiet.
Her phone chirped with a text from Afonso. Let me in?
She walked to the door and noiselessly turned the handle. He still wore his pajama bottoms and an old T-shirt. Catarina let him pass and closed the door behind him, glad he’d oiled the hinges last week.
“What are you doing here? If my mom and aunts catch you…” she whispered.
He laughed quietly and slipped an arm around her waist, intent clear in his eyes.
The sound of a car crawling up the drive interrupted them and brought them to the window. “Do you think it’s Luciana?” Catarina asked. Everyone else who was coming had arrived the day before, but Luciana had been on a job in New York, stranded over the Christmas season after a snowstorm.
In the bassinet, Carlota squirmed, and Catarina sagged against Afonso. “She’s such a light sleeper.”
He brushed a kiss on her cheek. “Go meet your cousin. I’ll watch Carlota.”
Catarina returned the kiss on the cheek. “Don’t let my mom see you leave.”
He chuckled. “I’ll come downstairs after I change Carlota’s diaper.”
When Catarina arrived in the kitchen, Luciana stood at the espresso machine. “You came,” Catarina said.
Luciana smiled and hugged Catarina. “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”
“I thought you were still in New York.”
“I managed to catch a flight last night. I arrived in Lisbon and drove straight here.”
Catarina’s eyes widened. “You must be so tired.”
Luciana dropped a spoonful of sugar in the small cup and stirred. “That’s what the espresso is for. I’ll catch a nap after the christening. There’ll be time, right?”
“Plenty of time. The christening is at eleven at the village church. We’ll have a light lunch, and the wedding is here at five in the afternoon.”
Luciana smiled. “Look at you, so cool and collected. Aren’t you nervous at all?”
“Excited, but not nervous. Now tell me, how did the project go in New York?”
“It went well.” Luciana sipped slowly. “Better than I expected.”
“Where did you stay, and what did you do while you were waiting for the airport to open again?”
Luciana finished her coffee. “I promise I’ll tell you everything, but not today.” She walked to the table and reached inside her large purse. “I did have the time to finish my goddaughter’s outfit. It’s in here somewhere.”
Carlota would wear the Romano christening gown for the ceremony and formal pictures, and Catarina would change her from that when they returned from the church.
“Is it true Knox proposed to Jacinta on Christmas Eve?” Luciana asked as she withdrew items from her purse.
“It’s true. They’re engaged.”
“Finally. I don’t know what took him so long. Hope they set a date soon.”
Catarina drew the milk from the refrigerator. “They already did. Jacinta said she’s waited enough and they don’t need a long engagement.”
“Good for her. We’ll have two Romano weddings this year.”
“Three, with Matias and Vanessa.”
“Ha, here it is.” Luciana placed a small bundle on the table and unwrapped it. A two-piece outfit of pure white yarn with pink embellishments nestled inside. “Do you think it’ll fit her?”
Catarina fingered it reverently. “She’s a chubbers, but I’ll make it fit. This is exquisite, Luciana. Obrigada.”
Just then, the complaints of a grumpy baby sounded from the door. Afonso entered the kitchen holding Carlota in the crook of his arm. “Someone’s ready for breakfast, mamã.”
“I’ll warm up the bottle,” Catarina said.
Luciana stepped forward and took the baby from him. “Oh my goodness. She’s changed so much. So adorable.” She cooed at Carlota. “Look how big you are.”
“Glad you made it, Luciana. We heard you had an adventure in America,” Afonso teased.
Luciana chuckled lightly. “What I want to know is why you guys couldn’t wait till spring to get married. It’s so cold today.”
The way she sidestepped the question, Luciana had a story there, but Catarina would have to put it aside for now.
Afonso exchanged a look with her, and she nodded at him to reply.
“We wanted to start the new year as a family,” he said. “No point in waiting on account of the weather. What better day to symbolize a new beginning?”
Catarina handed the warmed bottle to Luciana, much to Carlota’s happiness.
Luciana sat down, gazing at the baby for a moment, then looked up between Catarina and Afonso. “How did you manage to convince a magistrate to perform the wedding on a holiday?”
Afonso and Catarina sat next to each other. Afonso winked. “I had some connections that Filipe set me up with.”
Carlota sighed in contentment, and Luciana returned her attention to the baby. “Pardon my nosiness. You guys can tell me it’s none of my business. But what about the legal procedures concerning this little lady? I’m assuming Afonso is adopting her. How long will that take?”
Afonso brought an arm around Catarina’s shoulders, and she leaned into him with a smile. She lowered her voice. “He won’t be adopting.”
Luciana snapped up to them, frowning.
“I’m Carlota’s legal father,” Afonso added.
“We had Carlota registered with Afonso as the father. As far as the registrar in Castelo Branco knows, Carlota is our daughter.”
“That’s awesome.” Luciana nodded at them. “I’m really glad for you both.” She propped the baby on her shoulder, and Carlota burped.
Afonso stood and took Catarina’s hand in his. “It looks like nobody else is up yet, and you’re feeding our daughter, so I’m taking advantage to have a moment with my bride.”
Luciana winked at them. “Go ahead. I’ll cover for you if anyone shows up.”
Afonso led Catarina through the house, past the entry hall, and to the music room. He drew open the heavy wood shutters, from where the rose garden was visible.
“Are you trying to remind me of where we met?” she asked.
Afonso didn’t reply. Instead, he slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her close, claiming her lips to his, slowly, deliberately, a deep sensuous kiss that stole all the air from her chest.
When he was done, he touched his lips to the spot on her neck below her ear. “Next time I kiss you like this, we’ll be married,” he whispered. The warm gleam in his eyes promised much more than a kiss.
The small hairs on her neck raised, and Catarina melted into him. She took a deep breath and grabbed on to his arms, her legs unstable and her knees shaky. “Only twelve more hours.”
“Twelve hours seems like forever,” he said with a hint of impatience.
“After today, it will be for always,” she reminded him.
Afonso’s mouth curved in a confident smile. “Forever is worth waiting for.”