29: The Birthday Breakfast

Lucca

"Okay, she will be down in thirty minutes." I announce as I entered the kitchen that is filled with both our family members.

"Has the delivery come in yet?" I question Ciro in an irritated tone as I glance at my wrist watch. The catering people were supposed to be here half-an hour ago. What are they doing?? Do they have some death wish??

"Yes bro they just got here. They are in the back kitchen plating all the food." Ciro informs me in a playful, light tone."You need to chill bro; all is okay." He adds with a smirk and all it does it annoy me even more.

"Not now ciro." I warn my younger brother with a glare that clearly says 'don't mess with me right now'.

"Okay, relax bro." Ciro says as he gets the message loud and clear as he moves across the kitchen.

My heart has been thumping faster with every passing minute. Today has to be perfect, everything has to go according to plan. It was my angel's first ever birthday party with us and today is the day I will finally make her mine.

I inhale in a deep breath. The smell of freshly baked goods mixtured with vanilla and cinnamon fills in my lungs.

Everything is going to be okay, Lucca.. Everything is going to be okay.

Francesco claps me on my back as he comes to stand next to me "Relax Lucca he is just trying to annoy you."

I nod knowing Ciro too well and his way of teasing me. He is the youngest of all and is a little too wild, but only with people he chooses to be. He never lets his guard down with strangers or people he doesn't want to get close too. In most ways he is like Francesco - reserved and quiet but then he has this jolly side to him. The one that always need to crack some kind of joke or annoy one of us.

I roll my shoulder trying to relax the tension there "Yeah, I know. It is just that..." I stop the sentences not knowing what exactly was I feeling. Today is my angel's birthday, and today is the day I plan to propose her. I want to make this day special for and not a day she doesn't want to remember. That's why everything has to be perfect.

Francesco moves beside me and grabs his coffee mug from the kitchen island and looks me up before taking a big gulp of his black coffee. "I can't say I know how it feels to propose, but I know what it feels to be in love Lucca."His words hold sincerity in them and the way he looks up at Eleanore after saying that made me realise he is still crazy in love with her.

"So I can totally understand your jitteriness Lucca," My eyes move back to him "But believe in your love, believe in Bella. She loves you brother and whatever you do for her she will love it. Because she loves you and you love her - that's all matter.

I lick my dry lips and nod in understanding as I tired to act a bit cool. But I was pretty sure Francesco wasn't buying my act. He could read me better than anyone in this room combined, including myself. But he always remains quite and by my side.

"I will try to loosen up a bit." I inform Francesco as I move my right hand to the chest pocket of my suit to double check on the ring. I have been doing that since morning and I am pretty sure both Ciro and Francesco have noticed it. Just like now, Francesco eyes my hand movement and just shakes his head.

"It is still there Lucca," Francesco says as he places his hand over my shoulder and gives it a tight squeeze "and I promise you if you lose it I will find it for you no matter what."Knowing damn well he means what he said, I just look at him and nod my head appreciating his support.

In my entire life, I'd never been this nervous. For the entire week I have been on edge with it. At first I was nervous that I might lose the ring, or I might not be able to get my angel her dream proposal. So I googled all the tips and trick on that and worked my plan accordingly around it. But then as my angel's birthday was getting closer I started panicking wonder what if she says no. What if she is not ready?? I mean we haven't been dating for so long and we all know why she is staying with me. I practically ordered her to move in. Maybe that is what I should do, orde her to marry me??

uuuhhh..... I groaned at my own stupid thought. My angel wasn't any business deal, that I was thinking about all the possible scenarios that could happen. She was the love of my life, and I can't order her to do something. But deep down I know I want to, I want to make her mine.

"Lucca dear," I feel Ms.Isa's soft hand touch my forearm, dragging me from self-pity or more like evil planing.

"Bella will love the surprise you have arranged for her." Her words were motherly, and I knew my angel would. I nod as I glance around the kitchen and take in everything.

I have arranged breakfast for my angel from her favourite French cafe near to her apartment. I practically ordered everything on the menu, and the owner was more than delightful to fulfill them, even more after hearing the family name. Then I have ordered the florist to place beautiful red roses arrangement all around the house, literally everywhere. It was something I found out from her room-mate. My angel love red roses and she would buy them for herself once a month or so. So been her man it was my responsibility to rectify that situation and get my angel her roses. So I called the best florist in the city and signed a contract with them forever. A dozen of red roses to be delivered every day at my house. And of course on special occasion you go a bit wild like today.

"Okay she is here, she is here." Ciro says as he pushes opens the kitchen and rushes in.

I quickly stand straight and fix the lapel of the suit jacket and then the sleeves. I will make this the best birthday for my angel. I mentally school myself as I headed out to welcome my angel.

My body felt her presences even before I saw standing at the top of the staircase. She looked so beautiful, breathtaking in that dress - the dress i got for her. My beautiful angel.

"OMG" Her surprise tone pulls me right out of the stupor. I was ogling her like a love sick puppy, which I must add I was totally.

"So I presume you like the arrangement." I ask her with a huge smile on my face. I was trying to keep my tone neutral, but I bet she could hear the excitement and happiness in them.

"OMG Lucca this is so beautiful." She replied still in aww and all the stress and worry that was piling up in my body for the entire week leave me in seconds. I love how happy she was and how happy I had made her. And how happy she makes me.

I looked at the love of my life, my angel, my everything as she descended slowly down the stairs. "Lucca this is so beautiful," She complimented my hard work again and it makes my chest grew an inch wide with pride. My angel liked something I did for her and it put that amazing smile on her face and I promised to do more of that.

"There is nothing as beautiful as the smile on your face angel. Nothing." I replied each and single word with so much sincerity in them. I would do anything for her.

I extended my hand out for her to take and in an instant she placed her soft hand in mine. She looked so beautiful and I wondered what had I done to deserve all this. To deserve her.

I look at her slightly flushed face and notice her eyes were tearing up "Angel, please don't cry, you know how much I hate your tears. They are my undoing." I tell her softly. I don't want her to cry on such a beautiful day. If it was up to me, I would never let her cry - happy tears or tears of joy. I didn't like my angel eyes teary and sad.

"I never.." My angel says but stop to clear her throat and start again "I never imagined I would meet someone who would love me the way you do Lucca. Never in my wildest dream I thought a man would come like a wind and take me away with him."

Her words melt my heart like they always do and I leaned down and kissed her temple but what I really wanted to do was to kiss her senseless and show her how crazy I was for her. But I needed to control myself, her family was next door and so was mine. And they all were waiting for her and I wanted her to enjoy the day too.

"And I never thought I needed an angel until I meet you." I tell her honestly and see the beautiful smile is back on her face once again. We stare at each other for another heart beat before I usher her to the kitchen.

"C'mon now angel, we got people who are waiting for you." I inform her as I offer her my forearm and she takes it in a second. Then we both head in the direction of the kitchen.

"Happy Birthday Bella." All my family and hers yelled in unison the moment we pushed open the kitchen door.

"Omg you guys, thank you so much." My angel replies and I can sense her tone shaking a bit. So I quickly move my arm over her shoulder and hug her from side. "No crying angel, it is your day." I whisper close to her ear before kissing the side of her head.

"Oh honey, Happy birthday." Her mother said as she squeezed her into one big tight hug. I hate it, but I slowly release her and let her hug her mom properly and let them have their moment.

"I am so sorry I wasn't there for all your previous birthday dear. But I promise you I will not miss another one."Ms.Isa says sounding emotion but happy too.

"Thank you mom." She thanks her and then move on to her sister Eleanore. She hugs her as tight as her mother did and wishes her happy birthday.

"Happy Birthday sister. I hope you have many more and all with your family and your man right next to you." Eleanore says as she looks at me. I give her a smile and nod, letting her know I would always take care of her sister and never leave her alone.

"Thank you Eleanore." She thanks him and I add in my thank you too. "Thank you Eleanore."

"Thank you, you all." My angle say shyly as I move closer to her and engulf her from side and pull her closer to me - the place where she belongs.

"Buttercup, Happy Birthday." Ciro says as he moves closer to my angel to hug and I block it. "What??" He pouts and add "Don't I get a hug from the birthday girl?"

"What did I say about getting your own woman little brother. I snarl at Ciro. I know he is my brother, and he would never dare thing about her that way. But I was too possessive about her. "She is mine." I say as I eye Ciro to get going.

"Ohhhohh oh Lucca," Ciro says in a cheerful tone as he raises both his hands in surrender "I just wanted to hug her and wish her Happy birthday. But I get it she is yours." He says as he moves around the kitchen.

"Happy birthday Bella." Francesco says with a straight face, and I just roll my eyes at him. This man is so emotionless sometimes that it makes me wonder how he must expresses his emotions or feeling to his girl. But I never dared ask.

No my circus, not my money.

"C'mon love birds let's have the Birthday breakfast. I am starving." Ciro chimes in and I look at him and then down at my angel, who had a beautiful smile on her face.

"Shall we angel?" I ask her and she nods her head and moves along with me to the table.

I pull her chair, and she takes her seat right next to mine. Then I sit and drag her chair even closer to mine and throw my arm over her chair and pull her body closer to mine.

She comes willing as she rests her hand over my chest. "This all looks delicious." She softly says as she eyes the food on the table in front of us. "Did you make them too?" She says playfully.

"Nah, angel. I ordered them from you favourite french bakery 'French Brunch'."At the mention of the bakery, her eyes went go wild.

"Omg, from Louis's - 'French Brunch' bakery the one near my house." She questions me as she scans the food once again on the table. I knew it was a rhetorical question, but I still choose to answer.

"Yes angel and I got all your favourites and some more." I say and notice how her eyes from the food spread in front of us to me. And within seconds they go all soft.

"But how did you even know??" She ask but then quickly stops me from answering "No, you know what I don't want to know. I am just going to enjoy everything today." She beams up at me and then gets ready to eat.

We enjoy the breakfast over small family talk and how the pastries and pancakes were so amazing. They were really so fluffy and delicious.