Loving a Santini

by Schroeder, Melissa

  He pushed aside those thoughts and slipped out of the vehicle. He hurried to unlock the door, then return to the SUV. Nando opened the door as quietly as he could, unhooked her seatbelt and picked her up to carry her into the house. Once inside, he took her to her bedroom and gently laid her on the bed. He wanted to slip into bed beside her but didn’t want to wake her up. She hadn’t had much rest the night before.

  He stopped at the door and looked back at her. He couldn’t believe he might have lost her if it hadn’t been for her brother. Then he left her alone, closing the door a little. After getting some water, he settled down on the couch. Before he could get comfortable, she came walking down the hall.

  “What are you doing? And how did I get into the house?”

  He smiled and rose from the couch. “I wanted to let you rest.”

  “Well, I’m not. I’m standing here because I reached for you and you were gone.”

  Then, in a completely un-Sunshine-like reaction, she started crying. And not just a little bit, but big sobs.

  “Hey,” he said pulling her into his arms. “It’s okay. He won’t be able to get you now.”

  She said something, but because she was crying and had her face buried against his chest, he had no idea what it was. He couldn’t stand to hear her cry. He rocked them back and forth for a few moments, letting her cry even though every sob tore at his heart.

  When she stopped crying so hard, he asked, “What did you say before?”

  Sunshine lifted her head. Her face and nose were red, and her eyes were filled with unshed tears.

  “I said I wasn’t scared. Not of that.”

  “Then what?”

  “That you weren’t there. And it hit home that you might not be there some day. You could get called away and I wouldn’t have you here with me.”

  “Hey, I’m not going anywhere,” he said, cupping her face. “I’m right here.”

  “You don’t understand,” she said as a fresh wave of tears spilled from her eyes. “I thought I wouldn’t want to be with you because you could leave. That you might just decide the military is more important than us.”

  “Nothing is more important to me than you.”

  “But…I’m making a mess of this.”

  “No, you aren’t.”

  She sighed and stepped back. He let her go and waited.

  “I like to pretend that I am a free spirit.”

  “You are.”

  “To an extent, but I am my mother’s daughter. She was the best of moms, until she wasn’t. Toward the end, she ranted about how unfair life was, how everything was a burden.”

  “Not you.”

  She shook her head. “No. She never called me a burden. She just didn’t like men, for good reason, and particularly military men.”

  He nodded, not wanting to interrupt her but wanting to show he supported her.

  “I avoided them. For a long time. Not easy on an island where there are five or six bases and tons of young military guys. I used her comments to refuse dates. Until you.”

  “Thank God for that.”

  She smiled, then it faded. “Now I realize that I was using my mother’s opinions to protect myself. That I am a coward.”

  “The hell you say.”

  She laughed. It was watery, but she laughed.

  “I do say. I laid there in the hospital bed and realized that I could have been killed and that I might never get to tell you that I love you. That I don’t care what happens later on, only that I want to be with you.”

  His heart squeezed tight. “I love you too. And I wanted to tell you something.” He took her hand. “I’ve been thinking about getting out.”

  “But I don’t want you to do that.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t want you to give up the career you love.”

  “Hey, I won’t. But I am not sure it’s for me.”

  She frowned. “What are you talking about? You have a bunch of medals and stuff.”

  He couldn’t stop the bubble of laughter. The weight that had held him down was now lifted. She loved him and that was all that mattered.

  “I did well, but it wasn’t until I started working budget that I realized what I wanted to do. I don’t want to go back to my regular career field. Or, I’m not sure I want to at least.”

  “You’re not quitting because of me.”

  “I’m not,” he said, stepping forward and taking her hands in his. “I don’t know if I will get out, and a lot of it will depend on what is going on in the world. But, right now, I plan on serving my time for the move I just made—three years—then I am going to get out. Maybe get my MBA, or work as a civilian. It’s what I really want to do. And I want to be here with you. That is, if you will have me.”

  She gave him that thousand-watt smile. “I will definitely have you, any which way.”

  He laughed and slipped his arm over her shoulders. “Come on. You need to sleep, I need sleep as well.”

  “But shouldn’t we seal the deal?” she asked.

  He laughed. “Nap, then you can seduce me.”

  She let him lead her back into the bedroom. They both got under the covers and snuggled. She laid her head on his shoulder, her hand over his heart.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Two weeks later, Nando’s Aunt Joey and Papa made their way over to the island. They did have another grandchild coming, but he knew Joey couldn’t wait to see Marco now that he had returned. It was the first real Santini gathering since Nando had moved in with Sunshine. Well, he was in the process of moving in. He still had a few things at the cottage that needed to be moved over to her house. Why anyone needed such a big tv she had no idea, but Nando wanted it, so he could have it.

  “I’m so glad Nando found you,” Joey said. “His mother is dying to see you again.”

  “They’ll be over soon enough,” Papa said with a laugh, as he sipped his beer.

  “I’ve met them once, but this will be different.”

  She couldn’t help but worry what his parents would think. He had discussed leaving the Marines with his parents and had said they were both supportive of his decision. Still, she worried that they might blame her.

  “Don’t worry,” Joey said, slipping her arm over her shoulders and giving her a squeeze. “They are going to love you. I know she’s so excited about coming over here. She hates that she’s missing all this. Don’t worry. You fit right in.”

  She nodded just as Jon came barreling toward her. He ran into her legs and she almost fell over. In fact, she would have if Joey hadn’t had her arm around her.

  “Hey, there,” she said.

  “Sorry,” Jon said smiling up at her. “I’m just so happy you brought cookies.”

  “And I have a feeling you’ve had a lot of them,” Papa said with a chuckle. He handed his beer bottle to his wife and picked up his grandson and hung him upside down. Jon giggled so much she was afraid he was going to throw up all those cookies.

  Papa flipped him over and set him back down on the ground. “Watch where you’re running, okay? You don’t want to hurt your favorite cookie baker.”

  Before she could respond, Nando came out of the house. He was talking to Judson. They had invited him to the cookout as a way to get to know about him. Standing behind him were two other people she recognized. Her brother had shown her pictures of them.

  Lil was as petite as Sunshine and her hair was even curlier and redder. She was wearing a bright blue sundress. The man standing next her had to be Roman. He was the tallest of the three and bigger. It made sense since he was a Green Beret. His hair was thick auburn just like her father and brother. She couldn’t see his eyes, but she assumed they would be green.

  Her stomach started to churn. She had wanted to meet them, but no one had told her they’d be attending today. She glanced at Nando and saw his apologetic smile. This was not his idea.

  “Hey,” Joey said, stepping closer. “Are you okay, sweetie?”

  She glanced at her, the
n back to where Nando was. He was introducing her siblings to his cousin and brother.

  “Those are my half siblings.”

  “Hmm.”

  She looked at Nando’s aunt. “I take it he didn’t tell you?”

  “No, but I don’t think this was his idea.”

  As if he knew they were talking about him, he looked over at them, that same smile on his face.

  “No, he didn’t,” Joey said, sipping at her drink. They made their way over to the group. Each step they took ripped away another shred of her composure.

  “Hey, Sunshine,” Nando said, slipping his arm around her waist and brushing his mouth against hers. Then, he stood beside her. She didn’t miss the meaning of that. He was on her side, like he always would be. No matter what, they were in this together.

  “You know your brother Judson, but this is Lil and Roman.”

  There was a beat of silence, then Lil started talking.

  “Oh, God, see, I told you this was wrong. I don’t know why I listen to either of you.”

  Sunshine assumed she meant her brothers. Their brothers.

  “I’m so sorry to crash the party. I didn’t know until we drove up that he planned this, and I told him it was all wrong. I mean, you would think that in the twenty-eight years I have been on this Earth, they would listen to me, but they don’t. I’m always right, but then, I am a woman.”

  “I like this one,” Joey murmured just loud enough for Sunshine to hear. She couldn’t help but like her too. While her brothers were being standoffish, her sister was being completely genuine.

  “Oh, screw this,” Lil said as she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Sunshine, bumping Nando’s arm away. “I’m so happy to have you as a sister, so don’t let these jackasses get in the way of that,” she whispered. Then she stepped back, tears in her eyes. Sunshine felt her own eyes burn.

  She opened her mouth, then had to clear her throat. “Thank you. I’m happy to meet you all.”

  “Why don’t you come with me to get some drinks? I understand Anthony is manning the bar, and that means they’ll be strong,” Joey said.

  “Good, because I need a drink. A good, tall one.”

  “Lil,” Roman said with enough aggravation in his voice that Sunshine almost laughed. She’d heard that same tone from Nando when he was on the phone with one of his siblings.

  “It’s not like I don’t know how to mix a drink. One of my best friends, Brandy, taught me. She co-owns a bar and grill with two other of my friends.”

  Joey paused. “Where?”

  “Just outside of Warrenton. I mean, most people don’t know where that is.”

  “I do. I live there.”

  Lil gasped, then laughed. “I love when things like this happen. Don’t I always say that?” she asked her brothers. She didn’t wait for them to answer. In fact, she just kept on going. “We are in a little area called Shetland Falls. I own an antique shop there.”

  “I know that area. My nephew is about to open a bookstore there.” Joey looped her arm with Lil’s and started leading her away.

  “Good God, she was making my head hurt,” Judson said.

  “You didn’t ride over on the plane with her. She met me at DFW and we took that nonstop flight. Eight hours. Eight hours! She didn’t stop talking about what she would say first to you,” Roman said with a smile. “So, get ready. None of what she just said was on her list.”

  She smiled. “I’ll take that under advisement.”

  “I thought an Army Green Beret would have a little more stamina,” Nando said.

  “Suck it, Jarhead,” Roman said.

  “We didn’t mean to ambush you,” Judson said. “We wanted to surprise you, but until I texted with Santini today, I didn’t know about the party.”

  She could tell from his tone that he was being absolutely serious. “It’s okay.”

  Judson tossed a look at Nando, then he said, “Let’s get one of those drinks, because I think Santini has something for Sunshine.”

  She watched her brothers walk away.

  “Joey has a hold of your sister…you might want to warn her.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  “She lives near Joey and is unattached. Joey will see it as her duty to get her married off.”

  “That’s insane.”

  “That’s Joey.”

  She rolled her eyes.

  “So, you really didn’t know that my siblings were coming?”

  “I told you that I talked to your brother today, but I didn’t know that the other two would be here.”

  He looked around and she wondered at it. He was acting odd. Was it because her family had crashed the party?

  “What’s up? You’re acting weird.”

  He took her hand and led her away. “Don’t call me weird.”

  “I didn’t. I said you were acting weird,” she said with a smile.

  He took her hand.

  “Come on,” he said. She went willingly. He got them away from the party crowd and out toward the beach. It was a little busy, but the earlier rain had chased some of the tourists away. They were just beyond a massive hedge of hibiscus bushes but still on Alana’s land.

  “I wanted to talk to you alone.”

  “About what?” Her heart sank. “Don’t tell me you’re being deployed.”

  “No. Nothing like that. I wanted to ask you something.”

  She waited, her stomach jiggling with her nerves. He was really starting to worry her. “Nando, just do it. You’re driving me crazy.”

  “I’m afraid you’re going to say no.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Suck it up, Marine.”

  He stared at her for a moment, then threw back his head and laughed.

  “You will never bore me.”

  “That’s good to know,” she murmured.

  “Sorry,” he said, taking her hand. “Sunshine…I love you.”

  She smiled. “I love you, too.”

  “Marry me.”

  “What?”

  “Marry me.”

  “Are you demanding it? Shouldn’t that be a question?”

  “Yes. Dammit.” He pulled a small box out of his pocket and opened it. “I had this designed, and I had this whole thing planned out.”

  Her stomach was filled with butterflies and her head was spinning. But instead of fear, her heart was fill with joy.

  “You planned to demand I marry you?”

  He opened his mouth to respond but paused. Then his mouth curved. “No. But then, you’ve been making my head spin since the moment I met you. No wonder I’m making an ass out of myself.”

  He opened the box. Nestled in the white satin was an emerald ring, square cut, and surrounded by smaller diamonds. “I know most people go for a diamond, but you’re different. I wanted something that was…well, you.”

  Her vision wavered, and she realized she had tears in her eyes.

  “Hey, are those good or bad tears?” he asked, tugging her closer.

  “Good.” She wiped her eyes with her free hand. “Ask me.”

  “Sunshine, will you marry me? I want to have babies with you. I want you to be mine and I want to be yours for the rest of time.”

  Sunshine waited for the panic, but it never came. Instead, warmth and happiness unraveled within her.

  “Yes.”

  “Yes?”

  She nodded.

  He let go of her hand to pull the ring out and slip it on her finger. It was a little big. “We’ll have to get that resized.”

  She nodded as she looked at the ring on her finger, then looked up at him. He cupped her face and brushed his mouth against hers.

  “Thank you, Sunshine.”

  Then, applause broke out.

  “Dammit. I knew I should have waited,” he said with laughter.

  Sunshine looked over the hedge to where their friends and family were watching them.

  “Good lord,” she said. Laughter bubbled up. “They’re nosey.”

>   “I have your mother on FaceTime,” Joey yelled out.

  Sunshine saw his Aunt Joey standing next to Papa. She was holding her phone up.

  “As I said, good Lord.”

  Nando laughed as he pulled her into his arms. “Babe, you have to learn now. No matter what you do in life, as a Santini, you’ll always do it with an audience.”

  She was laughing when he kissed her. Pleasure and warmth filled her soul as she wrapped her arms around Nando. Another explosion of applause filled the air, along with a few “Ohh-Rahs.”

  Nando pulled back. “Sorry.”

  She shook her head. “Don’t be. I love you, Fernando Santini.”

  “I love you, Sunshine Foster. I guess we have to go up there,” he said. “We could run away.”

  She shook her head. “Nope. Not with your Aunt Joey up there.”

  “God, Mom will never forgive me that Joey got to see my proposal live. I should have waited until we went home.”

  She shook her head. “Doesn’t matter. All that matters is us.”

  With his arm wrapped around her, and the security of his love filling her, they walked back together.

  Epilogue

  “Yes, yes…just like that,” Sunshine moaned, causing Nando to chuckle.

  They were sitting in a massive tub, big enough for five or more, but thankfully it was just the two of them. He was massaging her shoulders. She’d pulled her hair up into a bun on the top of her head, giving him access to her neck.

  “Stop acting like that.”

  “Like what?” she asked, then moaned again.

  “Like you’re worn out,” he said, sliding his hands away from her shoulders. She leaned back against him. He picked up her glass of champagne, handed it to her, then got his.

  “You did wear me out. I haven’t even gotten a chance to play out in the snow,” she said waving at the window. He glanced out into the cold night through the frosted window and smiled. He loved that they could look out, but people couldn’t see in.

  “I promise we’ll go out tomorrow.”