The sun was starting to set, painting the far horizon in beautiful splashes of colours as rows and rows of clouds hovered in the firmaments, seemingly migrating for the night to rule the skies.
People who were most familiar with each other appeared to have paired themselves up in groups, chatting away as no one knew when they would again get such opportunity to gather and converse.
Noticing the sunset, Luca’s eyes began searching the crowd for his two beautiful daughters and almost instinctively, Emerald’s and Armani’s eyes also collided with his from where they stood with Logan and Oriana. Gaining each other’s attention, they gave a single nod simultaneously. It was time to put their plan into motion.
With his wine glass and a table fork in hand, Luca carefully hit the metallic cutlery against the flute. “Excuse me,” he called out, successfully gaining everyone’s attention.
He smiled as he made his way towards his soon–to–be wife. Placing a peck on both her cheeks, the guests couldn’t stymie their ‘awwns’ – causing her to flush at the PDA – as he snaked his one arm tightly around her waist and faced the crowd.
“We would like to thank you all for honouring our invitation and for making this day even more special for the love of my life here,” he looked into Maggie’s eyes as he spoke those words; she flushed even more.
“Is it just me or does Mom look chubbier than usual?” Armani observed as Luca’s speech went on.
“I’ve noticed that too and she’s been having weird cravings lately. You know how Mom never does without adding even the littlest amount of chocolate chips to her baked goods?” Emerald asked to which all three spectators nodded. Everyone knew that Maggie was the epitome of chocolate chip fanaticism.
“Well, three days ago, when I reminded her about adding them to the cookies since I thought she had forgotten, she had said and I quote, ‘Aren’t you tired of always adding chocolate chips to pastries?’
Initially, I had thought she was kidding until she actually added blueberries instead of the chips. Blueberries! The last ever flavouring on Mom’s grocery list. Something has got to be going on,” she concluded, making every one of their eyes shift towards Maggie’s direction, just in time to see Luca going down on one knee.
Tears began streaming down Maggie’s face as her one hand was over her mouth in shock while the other shook in Luca’s hold. “You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me, Maggie-”
“No offense, girls!” he called out to Armani and Emerald, causing laughter to erupt from the guests.
“None taken, pops!” they replied simultaneously.
“So, what do you say, Maggie? Do you want to be unfortunate enough to get married to miserable ole me?” Luca asked in a shaky voice. Tears were also brimming in his eyes.
“If being unfortunate means being married to you. . .” she paused, putting everyone on edge. “. . . then, yes! I want to be unfortunate for the rest of my life!” she pulled him in for a kiss, making everyone erupt in cheers for the now engaged couple.
“I love you, Mr. Romano,” Maggie smiled.
“I love you, Mrs. Romano,” Luca replied with a matching smile.
“Mom! Dad!” Armani and Emerald called out as they neared the happy couple and pulled them into a family hug. “Congratulations, you guys.” Emerald sniffed, lightly dabbing the wet skin underneath her eyes. She didn’t even know she had been crying.
“Congratulations, auntie. Congratulations, uncle,” Logan and Oriana also greeted and passed them warm hugs.
“Thank you so much, my babies.”
As the guests flooded the family with hugs, handshakes and congratulations, Maggie suddenly called out, “I also have something to say!”
Her face turned pink at the immediate attention that fell on her. She cleared her throat and looked straight into Luca’s eyes. “I’m fourteen weeks pregnant. We’re having a baby, Luca.”
Silence stretched thickly in the air as everyone’s eyes widened before four people-Emerald, Armani, Logan and Oriana-exclaimed, “That explains it!”
Maggie looked at them, confused. “Your chubbiness,” they answered her unasked question and before she could say anything, Luca was already hugging and twirling her with a happy squeal.
“I’m gonna be a father!-”
“No offense again, girls!” Everyone laughed.
“I love you so much, Mrs. Romano.”
“I love you too, Mr. Romano.”
“Three cheers for the happy couple!” Shouted Logan.
“Cheers! Cheers! Cheers!” And everyone raised their glasses to the night sky as grins and tears of joy subjugated the atmosphere.