Chapter 13 - THE SECOND CHANCE
Roman's treatment began working.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Her strength returned.
She started walking farther.
Eating better.
Laughing more.
One afternoon, Salvatore took her to the Brooklyn waterfront.
The same place where they'd first fallen in love.
The air was cold.
The river gray.
Roman stood beside him.
“Do you remember?”
Salvatore smiled.
“You told me I had a thief.”
She laughed.
“You did.”
“I had several.”
“You were very bad at hiring people.”
He looked offended.
“I hired you.”
Roman smiled.
“That was your one good decision.”
Salvatore laughed.
Then grew serious.
He reached into his coat.
Roman stared.
“Sal?”
He opened a small velvet box.
Inside was a ring.
A simple diamond.
Roman's eyes filled.
Salvatore took her hand.
“Twenty-three years ago, I asked you to marry me.”
She nodded.
“You said yes.”
“I did.”
He swallowed.
“Then someone stole our future.”
Roman began crying.
Salvatore lowered himself onto one knee.
“But they didn't steal everything.”
His voice broke.
“We still have each other.”
He looked up.
“And we have Griffin.”
Roman covered her mouth.
“Roman Bellini Miller.”
He smiled through tears.
“Will you marry me again?”
She laughed.
Then cried harder.
“Yes.”
Salvatore stood.
May you like
She threw her arms around him.
And beneath the gray Brooklyn sky, they kissed like two people who had finally found their way home.
