Page 120 of Irreplaceable

Harper thought he resembled me, and he did. Similar skin color and hair, but he had her smile. Her sweetness and curiosity.

“Papà, this is Harper. My love. The mother of my child.” I pulled her close to me and kissed her head, the frigid air swirling around us. “And this is our son, Aiden Vittorio.” I smiled and wiped away a tear. If only he were here. If only he were still alive.

“Papà.” Aiden frowned, and I stilled.

I turned to Harper, sadness replaced by astonishment. “Did he—”

She grinned and covered her mouth. She nodded. “I think so.”

“Did you just say my name?” I nuzzled Aiden with my nose. “Did you?” I grinned and tossed him into the air, loving the sound of his squeal.

“Papà!” Aiden said again when I caught him. “Papà. Papà.” He kept repeating it, and it sounded like popcorn popping.

My chest was bursting with pride, and my cheeks ached from my smile. “Ti amo, angelo mio.”

When Aiden started getting restless, Harper offered to walk around with him. I was grateful for the moment alone with my thoughts and with my dad.

I waited until she was out of earshot then said, “I’m going to ask her to marry me.” I dug in my pocket for the ring and pulled it out to show him. “I wish you could meet her. I wish you could meet both of them.” I swallowed. “I miss you so much. I was so lost without you, until I met her.”

I laughed, remembering my introduction to Harper. It seemed like an eternity had passed and no time at all. “You’d like her. She keeps me in line. Keeps me grounded.”

The wind whipped through the cemetery, and I pulled my jacket closer and shoved my hands into my pockets. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I closed my eyes, leaning into the sensation. I didn’t know if my dad was watching, but I wanted to believe he was. I wanted to believe he was here.

“You’re always with me.” I placed my hand over my heart and the tattoo on my chest. “I carry your lessons and your love with me through life. And I will pass them on to my son.” I kissed my fingers and pressed them to the top of the headstone. “I love you.”

Aiden’s laughter rang out through the air, and I smiled. For the first time since my dad’s accident, I felt happy. Weightless. The grief would always be there, but it wasn’t as crushing.

When we returned to Mamma’s, I went to put Aiden down for a nap. I sat in the chair for a long time, just holding him and soaking in his baby smell. I wouldn’t trade this for anything in the world. Who would’ve guessed I’d love being a dad?

When I returned downstairs, Harper was in the kitchen with Val, learning how to cook from my nonna. I leaned against the doorframe and watched them work side by side, speaking in Italian, flour dusting their skin.

Over the past year, Val and Harper had become good friends. They’d bonded over their love of good food and wine. As well as their mutual dislike of Giada, though she was no longer an issue. Thanks to my influence and Val’s ingenuity, Giada had landed herself a spot on the Italian version of TheBachelorette. She relinquished all photos and signed an agreement not to speak to the tabloids about our relationship. She was too busy looking for her Prince Charming anyway. I shook my head. Whoever the unsuspecting fool was, I felt bad for him. Though, if he was willing to go on reality TV…

Harper glanced up at me and smiled. Her hair was in a bun on top of her head, wispy tendrils framing her face. Her cheeks were pink from the warmth of the kitchen, her lips kissable.

“I guess you were wrong,” she said.

“Was I?” I arched an eyebrow. “About what?”

“Your nonna’s teaching me how to make her secret pasticcio recipe, even though we’re not married.” She used the back of her arm to brush some hair away from her face.

Nonnalifted a finger. “Non ancora.”

Not yet.

“Nonna!” I glared at her.

“Cosa? Il tempo passa e io invecchio.”

Harper laughed, and I shook my head. My nonna was right; she wasn’t getting any younger. Neither was I.

“Uccellina,” I said. “My nonna makes a good point.”

She laughed, clearly not realizing what was about to happen. I’d had the ring for months, and I’d been waiting for the right moment. Doc had given me his blessing. Surrounded by my family, I couldn’t imagine anything better.

I stepped closer, rounding the island to stand next to Harper. I took her hand in mine, not caring if I got messy. That was part of the fun.

“Life with you has certainly been an adventure.” I chuckled and took a deep breath. “And I can’t wait to spend the rest of it together.” I knelt before her and opened the box with the ring. “Marry me, Harper.”