Here is another update!! I will post the next chapter tomorrow!! Enjoy reading!!

Until next time!!!

Bye!!! J

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Chapter 31: Choosing Desserts

Scarlett P.O.V

This past month has been a whirlwind dealing with all the wedding preparations and taking care of Dante. Even though I didn't plan to be involve in the wedding planning I somehow got rope into it by my mother who insist that she wants my opinion on everything so naturally I ended up following her everywhere. Ricardo is being considerate by also following me and deciding on the decorations.

He even took some time off work just so he can accompany me and help me with choosing the cake, the lights, food catering but my mother didn't let him follow when I choose my dress as she said its bad luck for the groom to see the bride's wedding dress before the wedding. Ricardo didn't protest and just follow my mother's word, as my mother can be very stubborn when it comes to traditions.

Furthermore, she never got to be there for my sister's wedding, she is using my wedding to make her dream come true. I don't really mind since she has done a lot for me while I was growing up, this is the least that I can do to make her happy. Right now I am waiting with Dante at home for Ricardo to pick us up for tasting desserts for the wedding and of course Dante wants to be there to choose some of it.

I'm pretty sure he is going to be on sugar high after tasting all the desserts. That is the reason I didn't let him eat any sweets until we reach the dessert shop. I am going to have to pay attention to how many sweets he eats so that he does not get any stomach ache tonight. The sound of the car's engine brought me out off my thoughts. I had to hold Dante to stop him from running to the still moving car.

Dante was impatient and couldn't wait so we waited out the house and as soon as he sees the car he was about to run to it even though the car is still moving. "Dante don't do run to a moving car like that its very dangerous," I scolded him. He just pouts at me and nod his head while waiting for his dad to come out of the car. Not a minute later the car stop in front of us and Ricardo step out of the car.

He looks so handsome in his shades and work clothes. "Hi too you too Dante," Ricardo says. I look down and Dante is not with me anymore but ran to his dad and I didn't even realize it.



I blush and reprimanded myself for being too busy checking out Ricardo that I didn't realize that Dante ran off. "Dante its dangerous to run towards a moving car. You have to wait until I stop the car before you run towards the car," Ricardo told Dante in a stern voice. "Yes daddy," Dante says with a sad pout. "Good boy, come lets go and choose deserts for the wedding," Ricardo told Dante and Dante squeals.

Dante asks his dad to hurry up making Dante chuckle at his impatience. He opens the door for Dante and makes sure that he wears his seatbelt before opening my door giving me a quick kiss before I enter the car, which made me blush. I fan my face to get rid the blush from my cheeks. He enters the car a few seconds later and start the car immediately and then we are on our way.

All the way to the desert shop Dante didn't stop talking and singing in the car. I breathe a sigh of relief when we reach our destination and Ricardo parks the car in front of the shop. Dante was driving me crazy with all his talking and singing. I am glad that we finally reach our destination. The shop we are going to is called Bakery Life. It's a small dessert shop that I have seen it a few times since I started living here when I am driving past.

Ricardo open the door for me then went to open Dante's door. Ricardo open the seatbelt and carries Dante. Dante is just a ball of energy cannot stay still even when his dad is carrying. He is moving here and bouncing wanting to walk but Ricardo does not put him down until we reach the entrance of the shop. As soon as Dante is on the floor he push the door open and run inside stopping when he realize we are not walking behind him.

"Daddy! Mum! Hurry up, you so slow," Dante shouts at us. Me and Ricardo chuckle at him and walk inside faster. "Hi! Welcome to Bakery life. What can I help you with today?" a perky teenage girl said when she heard Dante shouting. "Hi we are here for our tasting for our wedding," I told the girl. "Ah yes! You must be Mr. Giovanni and Miss Jones," the girl says brightly.

"Yes we are," I told her with a smile. "Please follow me, the tasting will be done at the back room," she instruct with a smile. I couldn't help but smile also as her smile is infectious. We follow the girl as she walk deeper into the shop until we reach this medium size room that has two purple sofas and a black coffee table in between the sofas. The room has AC so it's not too stuffy inside the room.

"Please have a seat and I will bring the owner and the dessert in a few minutes," the girl said while gesturing us to sit down on the sofas.



"Thank you," I told her. She gives one last smile before she left the room, closing the door behind her. "Dante no. You are not allowed to play with that," Ricardo scolded Dante when he saw Dante making a mess of the flower bouquet that is on the coffee table. I shook my head he seriously cannot not sit still he has to be constantly moving and doing something.

"Here sit down and play with my phone until the lady comes back with the desserts," Ricardo instruct Dante giving him his phone to keep him occupy. He obediently take the phone and sat there on the sofa quietly. Ricardo looks at me in exasperation, as he does not like it when Dante plays with gadgets since it is not good for kids Dante's age to be playing with gadgets a lot.

That's why he gets all this toys that requires Dante to challenge his intelligence and have fun at the same time. Ricardo is all about wanting Dante to be smart so that he can succeed in his dad's company. I didn't say anything because Dante honestly loves the toys that challenging for him to do. He likes to do the puzzle with me, and with a little help from me he can solve a 100 pieces of puzzle.

I gave him lasagna and sweets for being able to solve it and needless to say he was hyper the rest of the day but I didn't care since he manage to finish the puzzle that most kids his age cannot. Ricardo came home that day and ask me why Dante is so hyper today and I told him I gave him sweets. He looks at me like I was crazy to give Dante sweets but I explain to him that I gave Dante sweets as a reward for solving a 100 piece puzzle almost by himself.

His face brightens and hugs Dante congratulating him while promising Dante a present for being so smart. Of course Dante was so happy and keep pestering his dad on what was his present. The next day Dante got his gift and it was the car that is for kids to drive. Dante went completely berserk with happiness hugging his dad then went to try out his new toy.

Even I was shock at the present since it must of cost thousands of dollars. The car is a miniature version of the hummer. It looks just like the original hummer car except that is smaller. I remember Dante saying that he likes this car because it is very big and only big boys drives it. I can't believe he manage to get Dante this. I also felt a little envious of Dante since when I was his age I remember wanting this toy car but it was way to expensive for my parents to buy.

So I settle with a normal remote control car. But I had a lot of fun watching him laughing trying to catch his dad with the car.

I was also laughing at him and I don't know how but I ended up running with Dante trying to catch me with the car. That night all three of us was so tired that after showering we immediately went to bed and as soon as my head hit the soft pillow I fell asleep. The next day I am woken up by Dante and Ricardo brought breakfast for me so that morning I had breakfast in bed.



It was a new experience since I never had breakfast in bed before. I am brought out of my reverie when I heard the door open. I look towards the door and see a middle age women in a flowery apron coming in. "Hi Welcome to Bakery life. I am sorry for being a bit late since I was talking to a customer just now," the woman said with a warm smile.

"Oh its no problem, thank you for having us," I told her returning her smile. "Well lets get the tasting started since this young man looks hungry for sweets," she says laughing. I look at Dante and he is looking at the woman with excitement and a little drool coming out of his mouth. I laugh as well and nod my head while taking a tissue out of my handbag and wiping his drool.

I shook my head this boy. Even though he is smarter than average he still acts like kids his age when it comes to sweets or ice cream. I look at the door again when I hear it creaking open. The girl from just now came in with trays full of colorful desserts. I got a headache looking at all the colors and flavors that they offer. It's going to be a while to choose the dessert.

So to not take too much time I decided that Ricardo, Dante and me should each choose two desserts. Ricardo agrees with me so we began tasting it. Dante went all out and tried everything twice. I just tried a few that appealed to me and most of them were pretty good that I had a hard time choosing. So me and Ricardo traded opinions and I decided to choose the red velvet cupcake with the double chocolate cookie while Ricardo choose the cinnamon roll and éclairs.

It took a while for Dante to choose since he wants everything that is on the table but Ricardo told him to pick two or don't get to pick anything. He stop whining after he heard that and has this concentrate face while looking at the desserts. After a few minutes he finally decided.

Dante choose his favorite dessert of all time, which is double chocolate chip cupcake and strawberry cheesecake. After choosing Ricardo told the amount that he wants for each dessert and by what time and date he wants it to be delivered. The kind women jot down everything on a piece of paper assuring us that it will be delivered on time.



Once that is done we said our goodbyes and take a hyper Dante out of the shop and decided to burn off some energy by walking towards the park that is only 100 meters away. So there we were walking with Dante swinging in between us giggling and asking us to swing him higher. We did as he ask and swing him higher as I relish his childish laughter.

Three minutes later we are at the park and let Dante go and play at the playground while we seat at the bench near the playground so that we can keep an eye on Dante as he tends to run all over the place and might get lost. So Ricardo and me sit down holding hands while watching Dante. "It totally feels like we are a family," Ricardo told me while staring at Dante.

"Yeah it does," I agree with him. "Is this how you imagine a family would be like," Ricardo asks me. I thought about it and answer, "yeah it is all though I don't like the fact that I lost a family member to get here." I see Ricardo nods his head and looks lost in his thoughts. I instantly feel guilty for bringing up a painful past and was about to apologize when he looks at me and smiles.

Not a sad smile but a smile that is full of hope and happiness. "True but I am sure she would have wanted us to live our lives to the fullest and not linger in the past that cannot be change. So that is what I will do and I will start with marrying you," he tells me. I look at him stun, as that must have the longest things he said to me since he propose to me a month ago.

"I truly fell in love with you when I start to know you personally and about your kindness that can rival hers," he tells. I can feel my eyes start to water at his confession of his feelings for me. "I have fallen in love with you too for these past few months but I never thought anything will happen and I actually felt wrong for being in love with my sister's first love," I told him my voice is shaking with strong emotion.

"I know I feel the same at the beginning that is why I tried to avoid you but that didn't work since the more I tried to avoid you the more I am unconsciously thinking about you. So I decided to stop running and face my feelings and I have this feeling that tells me Sapphire would have wanted me to find someone else for mine and Dante's sake," he says while holding my hands and staring deep into my eyes.

His eyes never waver from mine when he spoke so I know what he is saying is coming from his heart and couldn't help the tears that is trickling down my face. He kisses my forehead and hug me to him.



I take comfort in his arms as I cry softly and listening to the soothing words he is whispering in my ears. I can feel other people around staring at us but I didn't care as I am trying to process the fact that the man I love honestly and truly loves me back and I am not a replacement for my sister. That is what I was afraid off that I am only a replacement for him but his confession had assured me that he loves me for who I am and not because I am like my sister.

He holds me for a few minutes when I feel a sweaty body wriggle their way in between Ricardo and me. I smile since I am sure that its Dante since he always wants to be in the middle whenever he sees us hugging. I made space for Dante to sit and once he settles down he looks at me with his big adorable eyes. "Mum don't cry. I love you a lot and so does daddy," he tells me innocently and more tears trickle down my face hearing him say that.

He looks alarm at me crying more and was about to soothe me when I told him, "thank you Dante that means a lot to me. I'm okay, I'm just crying because I am so happy to be able to have a son like you." He beams at me and wipe the tears on my face with his little hands. I hold his hands and gave it a kiss telling him I love him and hearing him saying, "I love you too mum."

Needless to say I cried a lot. After I calm down and wipe my face with tissue we decided to head home since its getting dark so we walk towards the car that is park in front of the Bakery Life shop. Like always Ricardo opens the car door for me before he opens the door for Dante and making sure he is wearing the seatbelt properly then he walks to the driver side.

As soon as he wears his seatbelt he reverse the car and drives off towards our house. I can't believe how much my life has change since my sister's death. All though I am devastated at her death I have learn to cope and live my life thanks to Dante and Ricardo's support. I understand when Ricardo told me that he has this feeling that Sapphire wants him to find another partner as I myself feel that she is not mad but happy that I am together with Ricardo.

I mentally shake my head to focus on the present when I feel the car stops and I look out the window we have arrive home already. I open the seatbelt and wait a few seconds before my door is open and Ricardo lends me his hand to help me get out of the car. I smile and gave him a quick kiss on the lips before he went to open Dante's door and help his son open the seatbelt and carry him out off the car. Dante is yawning and looks like he is about to fall asleep.



I giggle watching Dante yawning and resting his head on his dad's shoulder. "Don't fall asleep yet. You still need to shower before going to sleep," Ricardo told his son shaking him a bit to make him stay awake. I giggle again when I see Dante muttering something and pouts at me sleepily but I just smile and him and said that I will prepare a bubble bath for him and he cheered up.

So I made my way to the house and head to our room. I walk into the bathroom that's inside the room and prepare the bath for Dante and since he loves bubbles I put a lot of soap in the bathtub while the tap is open filling the tub with water. Once the bathtub is filled with water and bubbles I switch off the tap and not a second later I hear Dante shouting in glee when he sees the bathtub.

"Don't run in the bathroom you will trip and hurt yourself," I reprimanded him. He stops running but walk quickly to the bathtub and got in. As soon as he is inside the tub he is playing with bubbles blowing it here and there. I play with a bit before I start to really clean him while he plays with the bubbles. It took me a while to clean him off properly since he insists on moving around.

But I manage to finish cleaning him off and open the cork and drain the water from the bathtub. When Dante feels the water decreasing he looks at me with watery big eyes and said, "Want to play some more mum." My heart clench but I told myself to ignore his eyes and told him, "You play in the tub long enough. Look your hands are like and old people's hand already."

He looks at his wrinkly hands and nods his head sadly and stands up. "It's okay you can have a bath again tomorrow," I assure him while drying him off. He cheered up when I said that and walks to the room after I finish drying him off. I take a quick shower, and then dried my body and hair wearing a white bathrobe before walking out of the bathroom to the closet.

When Ricardo sees me walk out of the bathroom he enters it to take his shower. I walk to the closet and choose the first pajama I see and quickly putting it on. Then I walk out of the closet to see Dante reading his kids book while sitting in the middle of the bed. "Do you like reading that book Dante," I ask him as I got on the bed. He looks at me briefly and nods his head then went back to reading.

I smile at him and kiss his head and then grab my novel and begin to read. I am about to finish a chapter when I felt the bed dipped and look away from my novel and see Ricardo climbing into bed in his shorts and sleeveless shirt. I mentally drool seeing him like that but told myself to snap out of it.