Chapter 21–Dreams Taking Flight
Interest piqued despite myself “Oh!”
“You’ll see.” That infuriating smirk played at his lips. “For now, home. Best Tomorrow I show you something magical,”
The penthouse had changed in subtle ways during my absence. Safter touches mixed with his usual masculine minimalism. Ant pieces I recognized. from countless conversations about my favorite designers. Even a few more of my “aesthetic catastrophes as he’d once called them
“You’ve been… nesting.” I realized with a start..
He raised an eyebrow at my strange tone. “Redecorating, cara. The place needed warmth ”
If he only knew how apt that choice of words was
Morning came too quickly and not fast enough. Dante’s idea of “casual” for our mystery trip still involved Italian leather shoes, but at least he’d skipped the tie.
“Where are we going?” I asked for the dozenth time as the city fell away, replaced by rolling hills and open space.
“Patience.” His hand squeezed mine as Taylor turned down a dusty access road. “Some things are worth waiting for.”
We crested a full and my heart stopped
Acres of undeveloped band spread out before us, gentle slopes rising to meet the horizon. Perfect for..
“An amusement park,” Dante said softly, watching my face. The largest in the world actually. With special programs to ensure every child in the city can experience in, regardless of their family’s means.
Tears burned behind my eyes as I stared at him. “How did you..
“You told me once,” he said, drawing me closer, “about hiding in the library as a chuld, reading about fairy tale castles and magical worlds. About wanting to build places where dreams could come true.”
That was months ago,” I whispered. “One random conversation”
“Nothing about you is random to me.” His thumb brushed neay a tear I hadn’t realized had fallen. “Every dream you’ve shared, every hope you’ve expressed – they’re all filed away here.” He tapped his temple. “Waiting for the right moment to make them real ”
Joy bubbled up inside me, mixing with another secret ready to burst free Speaking of dreams coming inie…”
“Mm?” He was still studying the landscape, probably already calculating construction timelines and budget projections.
“There might be another project you need to prepare for.” My heart raced as his dark eyes found mine. “One with a slightly shorter timeline than the park.”
His brow furrowed slightly. The community center restoration? That’s not due to break ground for…”
“Nine months.” I cut in softly. “Give
or rabe
1 watched understanding dawn in those beloved eyes. Watched careful control shatter into something raw and beautiful.
“Lucia.” Just my name, but it carried universes of emotion. “Are you saying
“Congratulations, Papa.” Joy and tears inised in my voice. Think you can handle one more thing you can’t perfectly control?”
His laugh real and shocked and wonderful – echoed across the empty land as he pulled me into his anna “Like you don’t already know I’m
completely at your mercy.”
“Say it again,” I demanded, just as I had that night in Oslo when he’d first admitted to love
His smile could have poirered the entire city as he obliged. “Taps,” he whispered against my lips. Tm going to be a papa.”
“Terrified” I teased, though my own heart raced with equal parts joy and fear.
“Completely.” He pulled back just enough to rest his hand on my still–flat stomach, wonder replacing his usual perfect contral. “But also…perfect.”
And there, on land that would become dreams made real, we held each other and laughed and cried and planned impossible futures. Because sonte things were bigger than contracts or calculations or careful political arrangements
Some things were pure magic.
“Ti amo,” he whispered against my hair. “Both of you.”
“Tino,” I whispered back. “My perfectly imperfect control freak.”
His laugh joined mine, echoing across land that would soon ring with children’s joy.
And now now everything would change again.
I couldn’t wait.
Setting
