“It feels great to have that chapter of my life done with. On to a new one and certainly a more exciting one,” Sergio said. He leaned in to Mandi and a ring sound out through a speaker in the bedroom. They were getting ready to descend and Sergio and Mandi would have to go back out to their seats.
The landing was smooth and an hour later they were at Benvenuto, making their way up to Sergio’s room and saying their hello’s to everyone. Suffice it to say that everyone was surprised to see them too. Sergio hadn’t let them know he was coming.
Then it was time for a shower and getting ready to go have that pizza that Sergio had been craving. After knowing she was going to have it again, Mandi also wanted it so she didn’t mind. It was fantastic, after all.
Mandi walked out from a hot steamy shower and paused. There was a table set up in the room with pizza on it, a single red rose in a vase in the center, and a bottle of red wine corked and breathing. It looked wonderful and she smiled, taking in the surprising scene. How did Sergio get that all done so quickly? It was incredible.
Sergio walked back into the room and stared at Mandi, who looked absolutely beautiful in her silk bathrobe, which tied at the waist and revealed her sexy legs.
“Are you hungry?” Sergio asked.
“I am hungry. It smells so good. This is incredible, Sergio.”
“I have something I need to talk to you about before we eat,” Sergio said.
He suddenly looked nervous and that made Mandi feel a bit nervous too. She couldn’t imagine what he had to tell her.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Why don’t you sit down first.”
“Okay,” Mandi said. Sergio guided her to the edge of the bed and sat her down. Then he knelt one knee down on the floor and leaned in toward her.
She was staring at his eyes, trying to read them and see what was going on, so she didn’t see his one hand pull out something from inside his pocket.
Sergio placed the deep blue crushed velvet box in front of him so Mandi could see it and slowly opened the top. Mandi was staring with wide and curious eyes, not able to say a word. Her heart was pounding and now her hands were shaking as much as Sergio’s. Inside that box was a beautiful diamond ring and she could tell that it was very old. It was a square cut with small diamonds surrounding it and absolutely amazing—the most beautiful ring she’d ever seen.
Sergio licked his lips and took her hands in his. “Mandi, I love you so much and I am hoping that you will make me the luckiest man in the world and marry me. Will you?”
Mandi’s eyes swelled up and she couldn’t contain her excitement. The answer was easy. She shouted out , “Yes,” and lunged toward Sergio, kissing his face passionately and toppling him over to the ground.
He laughed and then asked if he could put the ring on her finger before he got distracted with anything else. Mandi shook her head and extended out her left ring finger. Sergio slid the ring on and Mandi assessed its beauty upon her still tanned skin.
“It fits perfectly,” she said.
“As it should because you are perfect for me,” Sergio replied.
Epilogue
Preparing for the wedding was an incredible and busy experience for Mandi and Sergio. He’d given her carte blanche for everything she wanted to do and that was spectacular, but Mandi wanted this day to be amazing for both of them.
There was only one option for a place to have the wedding and that was Italy, and in specific, on the grounds of Benvenuto. There couldn’t possibly be a more beautiful venue and the weather was absolutely gorgeous. It was a very warm October, nearly 85 degrees, and the leaves on the trees were starting to change colors. It was more beautiful and enchanting than a fairytale wedding could ever hope to be.
The wedding was a small affair with the Leon relatives and Sergio and Mandi’s closest friends. Mandi wore a custom wedding dress which La Bella Donna had made for her, working endless hours to get it done on such short notice. She looked absolutely enchanting in it with its straight sleek lines, white sateen ivory and small emerald colored embellishments about it. A dress that came close to being as beautiful as the bride.
When Sergio and Mandi stood upon the alter that had been constructed in the back yard, overlooking the ocean, they stared at each other, showing just how right this moment was they joined vows in front of some of the most special people in their lives.
Sophia stood close by Mandi because she was her maid of honor, and Angelica was a junior bride’s maid. Marshall was to the side of Sergio playing the role of best man.
After the vows were exchanged a fun day of celebration commenced, starting with traditional Italian music to dance the afternoon away to and a more formal dinner, followed by a DJ that would carry the guests through the evening until they were driven to the hotel they were staying at in town.
Even Olivia couldn’t ruin the moment when she tried to crash the party. The men of the BBBBC gladly offered to hold her at bay so she wouldn’t be given the opportunity to ruin Mandi and Sergio’s special day. Eventually she gave up on destroying Sergio’s happiness and asked Leroy to go get Benjamin for her. Benjamin went to Olivia and the two took off together, neither returning to Benvenuto.
As Sergio laughed with his friends from the BBBBC that day they were delighted to tease him about having to be kicked out of the club. After all, he wasn’t a bachelor any longer. Marshall was the worse and took great delight in reminding everyone how he’d be a bachelor forever, the longest lasting legacy of the BBBBC. He savored his bachelorhood, but nothing showed how much he honored the thought of marriage between two people who were meant to be together more than when he gave his best man’s speech:
It isn’t every day that two people can find love and just know that it is meant to be. It changes everything and in one instant you swear off what you always believed would be your destiny and embrace the beautiful road ahead…the road that is traveled with someone you love so much and will not accept living without.
Today we have all laid witness to such a grand love. Sergio and Mandi show all of us that there is no need for good luck when you find the person you want to be with. It all aligns and is instantly beautiful and brilliant.
Everyone clapped at Marshall’s speech and there were many tears flowing. Sergio and Mandi stood up and Sergio swept her down and kissed her passionately in front of everyone, making the cheers and claps grow louder. As for Marshall, he walked off to the side with a big smile upon his face and walked off with two beautiful women, one on each arm.