Set on the nearby hilltop with panoramic views, the ceremony was the most breathtaking ceremony Angela had ever attended. Aside from a stunning floral arch peppered with lemons and olive greenery, the ceremony decor was understated but beautiful. Angela didn't understand a word of it, but she didn't need to; at one point during Maurizio's vows she even got teary. Tony caught her eye, bemused, and casually slipped his hand into hers. Angela tried not to think too hard about how holding hands isn't really something they do, not really, and never in public. She smiled at Tony and returned her attention to the ceremony. Emilia looked almost ethereal in a white lace gown, her chocolate locks tumbling down her back in curls, a crown of flowers on her head in lieu of a veil. Dressed in a white tux with black lapels and a black bowtie, Maurizio looked the part and was completely captivated by his bride.

Tony had stayed close to Angela's side at the reception, not wanting a repeat of the party their first night at the house. He kept his hand on the small of her back, not caring if it made them seem more like a couple than they intended. They were a popular pair, with everyone clamoring to meet Maurizio's famous American baseball player cousin (which Tony now understood is what he would always be in Italy) and his beautiful blonde date.

He finally pulled her away from the chattering masses to a cocktail table on the perimeter. "Sorry, I ah, wanted to get some time away from the famiglia. And I was wondering if I could go and fetch you a plate."

"I always say, you know what I like better than I do."

"I do indeed, madame. Wait until you try the risotto cakes, Madonna-mi they are amazing. I'll be back before you can say "Branzino..." He said with a fluorish. She laughed as he strolled away. For the moment at least, he seemed back to his old self.

Emilia approached their table. "So smart of you to tuck yourself over here, can I join you? I need a moment of quiet. My family is a lot," she laughed.

Angela commiserated with a chuckle, "Tony says the same - 'mi famiglia, Madonna-mi!'" she imitated with an eyeroll and a pinch to the heavens for emphasis.

"Yes, that exactly. But you fit in perfectly."

"You mean apart from my blonde hair, my ineptitude anywhere near a kitchen, and my inability to utter a single Italian phrase," she joked.

"No, you are warm, and genuine. The whole family is taken with you...whether you like it or not," she winked.

"Well, that's so kind of you to say Emilia. But I should be the one complimenting you. The wedding was absolutely breathtaking, almost like a dream. Such a gorgeous setting. And you are a most stunning bride."

"Thank you, Angela; I'm flattered! I'm so happy to be married to Maurizio," she sighed.

"He's such a sweet man. How did you meet?"

"We met at University. Just friends for a few years though." She leaned in and said with a conspiratorial whisper, "Our Maurizio had a bit of growing up to do. And for a time, I think he was hung up on some girl he met in America."

Angela laughed nervously. "Oh Emilia, I'm sure he was quite smitten with you from the beginning."

"Perhaps. But the timing had to be right for both of us. Surely you understand what I mean," she said, looking directly into Angela's eyes.

Angela replied with a slow nod and spotted Tony returning with their plates.. "I'm...sure I do," she smiled graciously. "Timing is everything."

"Here you go, Angela. Emilia - what a beautiful ceremony! Angela and I were blown away. She got a little misty, even not understanding a thing you said. And I hope you don't mind my saying that you are a most radiant bride."

"Thank you, Tony. I'll never tire of hearing that!" she laughed. "You only get married once, if you're lucky," Tony and Angela exchanged a glance at that. "I'm so glad you and Angela could be here."

Angela took a bite of her risotto cake as the expression on her face melted into one of sheer bliss. "Oh Tony - this is divine."

"What did I tell you, Angela?" He leaned over and mock-whispered to Emilia, "She'll never admit this, but the key to her heart is through her stomach."

"Well it seems you do have a bit of Italian in you, Angela," she winked. "I was just telling Angela that she fits in perfectly here."

"And I was arguing that I stick out like a sore thumb," Angela said through a mouthful of Caprese toast. "I have that feeling like everyone is staring at me."

"Oh, nonsense, Angela," Tony began. "I - "

The band started up and Emilia was summoned to the dance floor for the first dance. Angela watched as Maurizio pulled her into him, their foreheads touching as they began their first dance as husband and wife.

"They really are a gorgeous couple," Angela sighed.

"They are, they are." He smoothed his shirt with his palms nervously. "What I was gonna say is, I agree with Emilia, you fit in perfectly here. The only way you stick out like a sore thumb is that other than Emilia, who is the bride and thus by default the most beautiful woman in the room tonight, you are the most drop-dead gorgeous woman at this party. So don't be surprised if everyone's looking at you. They can't help it, they're only human. And there isn't anyone I'd rather be here with than you." His words tumbled out with clumsy earnestness and he sucked in his bottom lip, stroking his chin nervously.

Angela's heart stopped, and her eyes shone at Tony, whose gaze was not cast shyly downward; rather, he was looking straight into her eyes, into her soul, and she knew his words were intended as a deliberate broach of the line they so carefully tiptoed around.

As the band piped in with a rendition of Sinatra's "Always," it was Angela who finally cast her gaze downward, her face crimson, unable to bear the weight of their suddenly palpable connection any longer. "Tony, I – I don't know what to say," she replied honestly, sliding her hand down his arm for reassurance. And she knew that was enough, and that he would understand.

"Don't say anything. Just dance with me."

Her mouth twitched into a broad, flirty smile. "Always." He took her hand and spun her onto the dance floor before pulling her close, closing any gap of distance between them. He pulled their joined hands to his chest and nuzzled her ear gently, his thumb absentmindedly stroking the spot between her shoulder blades.

"Remember the Fergusons' wedding?"

She hummed in response. "I think that was the last time we danced...like this."

"Well, no, there was that night when I had the party at the apartment. And don't forget about your prom."

She laughed. "I could never forget my prom, Tony. Okay, you've got me; we dance like this a lot."

"Not enough," he muttered under his breath. "Be honest with me, Ange. Did you feel something that night of the Fergusons' wedding? Something...different?"

She pulled back a bit, measuring her words before she spoke. "Of course I did. I think we...both did? I just chalked it up to, oh, you know, the romance of a wedding. We probably crossed a line we shouldn't have, going as each other's dates, but it just made sense. I don't think we thought it through. The whole thing was a little bit of uncharted waters for us I think," she rambled. His eyes did a bemused dance with hers and she cleared her throat.

"So, did you? Feel something...different? That night?" She pressed him.

He pulled her close and spinning them in a new direction. With a low, husky growl, he replied into her ear, "Of course I did, Angela." A tingle shot down her spine as he continued, "Do you feel like those same...boundaries...are still in place?"

She thought a moment. "Well, I think we agreed we are working toward...removing them. Toward terra firma. But at our own pace. When we're ready."

"When I'm ready, you mean."

"Well, no. I think we both have to feel secure in going that direction. Because, Tony, I have grown closer to you than to almost anyone. And I don't want to lose that. I don't want to lose you. Or Sam. Ever."

Tony said again into her ear, "Angela, what if I told you I was maybe ready for tonight to not be like the last wedding we attended together?"

She pulled back and looked him in the eye. "You're –"

The cymbal crashed, startling them both. "LA TARANTELLA!" The lead singer announced, and the entire wedding party swarmed onto the dance floor, pulling them apart. The music began and someone grabbed Angela's hand. It was Rosa, with Matteo on her left, and they had formed a circle in the middle of the floor. She scanned the floor for Tony, who was meeting her eyes across the room. The massive circle began moving in unison to the right. Every time she looked over at Tony, he would catch her eye too, relying on their unspoken language to finish their conversation.

The circle pulled together, and Tony was inches from her face, boring a hole into her soul. They pulled apart, and danced to the left this time. Angela began to laugh self-consciously at her clumsy footwork.

Rosa called over the music, "You think you are the worst one here, but I have been doing this my whole life and I still don't have it down."

Matteo added, "No one knows what they're doing, Angela, don't worry." She felt Tony's eyes on her, and every time she met them they were twinkling. For her, she felt certain.

Tony was unprepared for how completely enchanted he would be watching Angela muddle her way through the Tarantella. At first self-conscious, she eventually let her guard down, giggling at her inability to keep step with the group, and delighting in the joyful chaos of the traditional Southern Italian dance.

By the time the dance finished, she was almost in tears from laughing so much; there was so much joy on exuberant display, so much warmth emitting from Tony's gaze she thought her heart might burst.

Tony made his way back to her side, boldly slinging an arm around her waist and pulling her close. "We, ah, didn't get to finish our conversation."

"No, we should probably do that."

Just then Aldo approached them, and took Tony's arm. "Tony, I have something I wanted to show you. Can you join me for a moment in the office next to the Great Room?"

He looked at Angela, "Ah, sure, Aldo, as long as it doesn't take too long. I don't want to abandon my date."

"It won't be long."

Tony's hand slid up to the nape of her neck as he leaned in and whispered in Angela's ear, "Save the next dance for me," to which she replied with a bashful smile.

Rosa lumbered her way over to Angela. "It is so exciting, yes?"

"Yes, Maurizio and Emilia make a beautiful couple! I'm so happy for them," Angela smiled.

Rosa rolled her eyes to the heavens. "No, not them! Antony!"

"Antony?"

"Si, Tony! He is taking over the vineyard! Returning to Sicily. Aldo is working out all the details with him now."

Angela's face grew hot. Tony is moving to Italy?

Not registering the angry confusion on Angela's face, Rosa continued excitedly, "He is the perfect one. Maurizio didn't want to do it. He is going to work for Emilia's father. We had no one. I hope this means you come to visit. Angela. I will give you more lessons. You will become wonderful cook!"

Angela was quiet, not sure what to say in reply. She knew nothing of this. Tony is leaving her?

"You will come to visit Tony, yes?"

"I...ah...yes, of course I will, Rosa. Will you excuse me? I uh, need to use the powder room."

Angela stormed inside, willing herself to hold it together until she made it to her room. As she turned into the corridor, she bumped squarely into Tony, and the tears began flowing. Tony grabbed her by the arms.

"Hey - hey, whoa, Angela. What happened? Are you okay? Did someone hurt you?"

She shook him off of her. "You're leaving? Moving to Italy? Really? I know this place means a lot to you Tony, but I thought I – we – your family – did too. How foolish of me to think we were finally getting somewhere here. I should have known better than to trust a man who has spent the last four years playing mind games with me."

"Mind games - what - Angela...let me explain..."

"We were so precariously balanced here in the first place, Tony. Since we got here we've been in this very gray area where I don't know where I stand with you. We have all this talk about terra firma, being patient, moving at this glacial pace toward something more. But I felt like we were actually moving in the right direction, getting somewhere here, and not even all that glacially..."

"We were, Angela –"

"Tony, do you deny that Aldo is giving you the vineyard? That's what all this secretive time with Aldo has been about?"

"No, it's true, but Angela –"

"Tony, I can't believe you would keep something like this from me. After everything we've talked about! It's like - it's like I don't even know you."

"Angela, I need you to let me explain."

"Tony, I can't even talk to you right now. I'm so...I'm so flustered, my head is spinning. I need a minute. Whatever you have to say, you can't deny that you were keeping this from me. This is big. And you know if you had told me, I would have been so happy for you. I hope you know me well enough to know that. But this affects me too. I'm your boss, I deserved to hear this from you, not be blindsided by this news in the middle of a wedding. And more than just being your boss, I thought...Tony, I thought I was your best friend?" She met his eyes, her expression wounded and confused.

"You are, Angela. You're more than that to me, you're...look," he took her arms again gently, "Take a minute to collect yourself if you need to, but then come and find me when you're ready. I'll explain everything. Okay?"

She nodded, then took a deep breath and headed up to their room. She could use a few minutes of quiet.

When she arrived at their room, she immediately saw that the bed was covered in rose petals again. Surely not Tony. Maybe Alessandro got confused again? Or maybe one of the others thought it was Maurizio's room? She went to the bathroom and pulled at her cheeks, smoothing out her makeup and wiping away any evidence of tears. What a whirlwind of emotions this trip had been.

Upon freshening her face to her satisfaction, she walked out of the bathroom and noticed there was a card on the pillow with her name on it.

Surely Tony hadn't...

Should she open the card, when it was clearly intended to be read with him present? But, she reasoned, maybe opening it would provide some clarity to this whole situation.

She decided to open the card.

"Dearest Angela,
It's time I finally told you,
You are la luce della mi vita.
Yours always,
T"

She had to find Tony.