the book || matt sturniolo
I was running around the house like crazy, making sure every decoration was perfect. Nick was in the playroom with Noa, keeping her entertained while I finished everything before Matt got home.
He had gone into the office earlier that morning because today was the day—he was finally announcing his solo project he'd been working on for so long.
A beautiful, heartfelt book that had me tearing up by the second page when he first let me read it.
I was so incredibly proud of him that I couldn't even put it into words.
I knew Matt didn't want a huge celebration or a big party. Maybe when the book was officially released. But right now, with us preparing for Boston and everything else going on, I simply wanted to do something special for him.
That morning, Noa and I had baked cupcakes together. Most of the frosting ended up on her face instead of the cupcakes, but somehow they still turned out great. Later, when Nick arrived to help, we decorated the house with red, blue, and yellow balloons and ribbons inspired by the book's cover. I made Matt's favorite pasta for dinner, baked cannoli for dessert, and even dressed Noa in the same colors as the book.
She looked absolutely adorable.
"He's on his way!" I called out when my Apple Watch buzzed with a text from him.
I quickly finished setting the table before joining Nick and Noa in the living room. Chris wasn't here to celebrate with us—he was already in Boston.
The moment we heard Matt's car pull into the driveway, we all hurried toward the front door.
"Dada!" Noa squealed the second he walked inside.
Before he could even put his bag down, she threw a balloon at him.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"Yay!" I cheered, wrapping my arms around him while Noa attached herself to his legs.
Matt looked between the decorations, the balloons, and the three of us waiting for him.
His face softened immediately.
"I'm so proud of you, Matthew," I said, kissing his cheek.
I picked Noa up and she immediately wrapped her tiny arms around his neck too.
"Congratulations, brother," Nick said with a grin, holding up the tray of cupcakes.
"Ooh, cupcakes. Thank you, guys." He shook his head. "Not gonna lie, I almost peed my pants from stress today."
I burst out laughing. Judging by the way he glanced at Noa, I was pretty sure he'd originally planned to use a different word.
"Well," I said, squeezing his hand, "you did it. And I'm so happy people are finally going to read your book."
The evening passed exactly how I'd hoped.
We ate dinner together, talked about the announcement, and celebrated with cupcakes afterward. By the end of dessert, Noa was completely covered in frosting from head to toe. Again.
Nick took one look at her and laughed.
"Yeah, she's going straight into the bath."
"I'll do it," he offered.
While Nick handled bath duty, Matt and I stayed behind to clean up the kitchen together.
The house had grown quiet except for the faint sound of Noa's giggles from upstairs. She loved her uncle so much. She was probably happy he is doing everything for her bed time and not us.
"Thank you," Matt said softly as I finished loading the dishwasher. His hand slid across my back. "This was lovely."
"I'm glad. I just wanted to do something nice for you."
His smile was warm as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer.
I smiled into the kiss, resting my hands against his chest.
When we finally pulled apart, he leaned his forehead against mine.
"Thank you. It was perfect." He let out a long breath. "Honestly, it feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I'm excited... and relieved."
"I watched you work on this for years," I said. "I know how hard it was. You deserve to be celebrated."
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
"I am a little nervous, though."
"About how much I shared in the book." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't think I've ever opened up like that before."
"I think that's exactly why people are going to love it."
He stayed quiet, listening.
"It lets them get to know the real you," I continued. "And honestly... reading it was really special for me too. So much of what you wrote happened before I met you. It felt like you were sharing pieces of yourself I'd never known before."
"It felt like you trusted me with a piece of your heart. And I think everyone who reads it is going to feel that too."
His expression immediately melted.
"Baby," he said softly, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear, "you have my whole heart."
Matt laughed and shook his head.
"Nope. It's being shared."
Then his expression turned serious again.
"But really... none of this would've happened if you weren't in my life."
"I'm serious." He squeezed me tighter. "You got your own copy with the dedication, and I meant every word I wrote in there."
Without saying anything, I wrapped my arms around him and rested my head against his chest.
His heartbeat echoed steadily beneath my ear.
And in that moment, standing in our quiet kitchen surrounded by balloons, dirty dishes, and the remains of our little celebration, my heart felt completely full.
Because after all the hard work, the stress, and the months of waiting...
It was finally happening.
And seeing how happy he was made every second of it worth it.
Before this book belongs to anyone else, it belongs to you.
You were there for every page, every late night, every moment I wanted to give up. You listened to me ramble about ideas that didn't make sense yet, read chapters before they were finished, and somehow convinced me I could do this even when I wasn't so sure myself.
And then, while I was writing this story, you gave me a much better one.
The greatest thing that has ever happened to me.
The truth is, there were moments when this book almost didn't happen. But then I'd look over and see you holding our little girl, and suddenly finishing it felt important again.
Because one day she'll be big enough to read it.
One day she'll hold this book in her hands and know that her dad chased a dream and actually finished it.
And she'll know that none of it would've happened without her mama.
Thank you for loving me through all of this.
Thank you for believing in me when I didn't.
Thank you for giving me a home, a family, and a reason to keep going.
You and Noa are my favorite chapter.
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