Love That Froze and Thawed

The city blurred in reverse through the car window.

Sandro called. "Helga's baby's fine. You keep begging me to trust you, but somehow you always end up hurting my kids."

He sounded beat. "Maybe my dad was right about that no-kids agreement... I vanished for three days hoping you'd get it—"

"I do," I cut in. "Hope you all live happily ever after."

Silence. Then he snapped, louder now, "What the hell does that mean? You think I love Helga? The only person I've ever loved is you!"

I clenched the phone. Didn't say a word.

He took that as a win. Typical.

"Let's just forget all this. I'm not mad. But don't ever talk about leaving again. Everything I've done was for us."

The airport came into view. I didn't bother telling him I was already gone.

"And Helga? She cool with all this?" I asked.

"She forgave you. Just wants a fake wedding tomorrow—for the kids. So they think we were married or whatever. It's just for show."

A beat. Then, "Just wait for me. One last time. Then I'll marry you."

One last time.

Sure.

My heart didn't even flinch. "Okay."

I hung up, walked straight into the airport, and dumped my phone in the trash. Then I boarded.

***

The wedding kicked off right on time.

Sandro peeked through the door. Guests buzzed in and out—no Emilia.

Well, duh. Emilia actually loved him. That was why she got jealous every time. No matter how chill she sounded on the phone, there was no way she'd roll up to watch him marry someone else.

Just thinking about her hit like a gut punch.

Meanwhile, Davide and the whole Vaitti squad sat beaming as Helga floated in, glowing.

Everyone was smiling—

Except him.

He could still feel Emilia in his arms.

"Once we leave the Family, let's rent a little house with a yard," she'd said. "We'll have a small wedding and two kids—one boy and one girl."

She'd pouted when he just smiled. "Why aren't you saying anything?"

"I was imagining how beautiful you'd look in a wedding dress."

"Mr. Vaitti."

The priest's voice yanked him back.

"Please place the ring on the bride's finger and recite your vows."

Sandro stared at the ruby ring, blank.

He'd promised his mom this would only go to the one he truly loved.

That was Emilia Estavini. Only Emilia.

Helga was beaming. But then she noticed something was off.

"Sandro?"

She whispered a reminder, reaching out to touch his face.

The second her hand brushed him, it snapped—like waking up mid-nightmare.

"No. Even if this is fake, I'm not doing it." He shoved her hand away. "I'm sorry."

Gasps. Whispers. Helga's voice chasing after him. He didn't stop.

His car flew toward the house he used to share with Emilia.

He didn't wait for the engine to cool—he was already out, already running.

"Emilia! Babe, we're done waiting! Let's go—right now!"

He kicked open the bedroom door, heart in his throat—

And froze.