Nicolò hear the news of Dominic and Alannah upcoming nuptuals. He smiled at this, he himself was getting ready to ask the love of his life to marry him. Patrick would make a formidable in-law, he liked the man and Nicolò hoped that the feeling was mutual.
Nicolò walking up to where the unlikely pair, Patrick and Alannah, cleared his throat to get Patrick's attention.
"Ahh, Nicolò my boy. How have you been?" Patrick asked
"I have been well thank you, Patrick might I have a word with you?"
Alannah sitting in her favorite chair at the outer edges of her garden, giggled to herself as she sat there reading her book. And then looked up at Nicolò, "What a pleasant surprise."
"Indeed it is, hello Alannah."
"Would you care to sit Nicolò? Please anything you have to share surely can be done with Alannah as well?" Patrick asked, as he motioned for Nicolò to join them.
"Of course," he said as he pulled up a stool to sit. "Patrick it is no doubt known to you that I have grown very fond of your eldest daughter. And while I may have come here with Alannah, she is no longer the desire of my heart." Nicolò said looking at Alannah with understanding, "as I am sure Alannah can say the same thing about me."
Alannah smiled and said "Nicolò you will always have a special place in my heart, but I am afraid that you will never be more than a very good friend."
"Thank you Alannah, you are and always will be a very dear friend to me as well." He said to Alannah, and then turning back to Patrick "I am grateful for the oportunity to work here with you and to be working for the Barringers. I thought that when I left the sea life I would get bored, but here I am happy. I have come to be happy with more than just my work, Patrick. In the last few months I have gotten to know your Julia and I feel as though I have known her my entire life, and I cannot see my future withourt her in it. Patrick Davies, I am asking your permission to take Julia as my bride."
Both Patrick and Alannah looked up at Nicolò with amused and surprised looks. "What took you so long my boy?" He said as he walked up to Nicolò to give him a warm hug, "I would be honored to have you as a son."
"I am happy for you Nicolò," Alannah said
"As I am for you," Nicolò replied, as he gave her a sisterly hug. The trio parted ways and Patrick went back to his paring knife and pulled out a board to whittle on. "What pray tell are you reading?"