152
CATERINA
“Everything’s all set.” Tatiana comes flying into her room, a table balanced in one hand.
The past few days, I would swear that damn thing was permanently attached to her. It contains her many lists, phone numbers, email addresses, and schedules. There’s even a spreadsheet complete with a cost breakdown for Gianni to review.
I would never complain. She’s her old self again, vibrant and alive and bossy. Seeing her like this, hearing the strength and excitement in her voice, reminds me how much I’ve missed this side of her.
“You really should consider being a wedding planner.” I grin at her in the mirror when she finally looks up from the device and rolls her eyes. “I’m serious. You’d make a killing at it.”
“Eh. I don’t know if I would care half as much if the wedding was for a couple of strangers.”
“I want you to know I appreciate all the work you’ve put into this. Seriously, everything you’ve put together in a week?” I’m still not sure how she did it. Though I did overhear her bullying the hell out of some poor florist and reminding them of the rush f*e they charged.
I guess she had a point. When you pay a rush f*e, you expect results. And the results are stunning–I’ve only gotten a few glimpses of the archway they constructed on the lawn off the patio, but what I saw was breathtaking. Like our bouquets and boutonnieres for the men, there’s an array of cream, red, orange, and yellow roses to fit a fall theme. My bouquet is entirely cream, while hers is red, and both are so lush and fragrant I can’t help but take a sniff every time I get a chance.
“How are you feeling? The dress isn’t too tight, is it?”
I run a hand over the bodice of my white satin dress. Its lace overlay conceals the fact that I’ve gotten a little thicker around the middle–I haven’t popped yet, but I’m starting to put on a little bit of weight. “It’s great. If we had waited another week, that might be a different story.”
Standing, I take in my reflection in the full length mirror behind the bedroom door. The sleek, sleeveless satin flows over my body like it was poured in liquid form. The overlay’s sleeves run the length of my arms and the entire piece features pearl and glass beads that shimmer ever so slightly when I move.
Tatiana adds another pin to the elaborate updo created by the stylists who came in earlier. It’s studded with beads matching those on the lace, and it makes me feel regal.Me. Regal. “I swear, keep thinking I’m going to wake up and this will all have been a dream,” I confess as she inserts the comb attached to a short, lace veil.
She then gently wraps her arms around my waist and grins over my shoulder. “I’ll pinch you, if you want.Stepmom.” That is so strange to hear, and I know she only says it to tease me. I might technically be her stepmother once the ceremony is finished, but she’s always going to be the best friend who defended me against a bully the day we met. I’m just glad she’s not angry and would rather tease me over my new position in her life.
“No, thanks.” Turning, I can’t help but admire how beautiful she looks today—and much healthier than I’ve seen her in a long time. I’m not going to fool myself into believing all she needed was something to take her mind off things. I mean, that could be true, but that would also mean that once the wedding is over, she could go back to her depression. I don’t want to imagine that happening
Instead, I’d rather take in how the burgundy A–line dress sets offer blond curls and makes her green eyes sparkle. “I think we have a problem.”
Right away, her brows draw together, “What? I figured everything out down to the last detail. Don’t tell me somebody decided to fuck with my plans.”
“More like you’re too pretty to be my maid of honor,” I giggle why she gapes in shock. “You’ll upstage me.”
“I could strangle you.” She appears to think about it, though, and makes her head. “No, then this will all have been for nothing. And I’ve already threatened to strangle my father twice today.”
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“How is he doing?”
She blows out a frustrated sigh. “Please. He wants to act like this is all no big deal, but he’s been on edge all day and can’t stop double checking every single detail, like I’m suddenly an idiot.”
“Oh! I thought he was feeling relaxed with you in the driver’s seat
She lifts a shoulder, sighing. “He wants everything to be perfect for you, just like I do, but he’s not exactly, you know, skilled at sharing his true feelings.”
“No way. I’m shocked.” When we laugh together, it feels like the old days. Like I have the old Tatiana back. I hope that’s true. I don’t want to think of spending the rest of my life without her. It’s bad enough she’s running off with Roger first thing tomorrow morning–but she’ll be back. And we can be a family, finally.
The soft knock at the door sends her scurrying to stop whoever’s on the other side. “You can’t see the bride before the wedding, Dad. We talked about this.”
“I’m a dad, but not that one.”
She throws the door open, laughing. “Oh, that’s okay, then.” She whistles in appreciation, giving Dad a thumbs up. “I have to say, you look good in a tux, Mr. Cole.”
He chuckles and brushes invisible lint off his shoulder. “Thank you, Tatiana. You look very nice tonight.”
1
She steps aside to give me a full look at him, and right away my throat clogs with emotion. He does look good–very good, almost like the young man from his wedding pictures. He’s come along way from the mess he became. Pride swells in my chest when I think of how much it must take for him to look as genuinely happy and hopeful as he does today.
His breath catches when he sees me, and right away his eyes start to water. Tatiana clears her throat, offering me a meaningful look before saying, “I’d better get outside. God only knows how things might fall apart if I’m not around to keep everybody in
line.”
That leaves Dad and me alone. “How do I look?” I whisper, doing a full turn for him.
“Like a princess,” he chokes out. “I told myself I wouldn’t get emotional, but that was before I saw you in that dress. You’re so grown–up, and stunning.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m only telling you the truth.”
“That’s not what I meant. Thank you for being here. Thank you for loving me enough to care as much as you do- even when I’ve disagreed with you, I know you were coming from the right place. I need you to know I understand that.”
“And I need you to understand I’m always going to care first and foremost about you. I see how happy you are today and I know this is the right thing. This is what you need. I’m just glad I get to a part of it.”
He makes a move like he wants to give me a hug, but holds himsel back. “I don’t want to ruin you.”
“I don’t think you could,” I wrap him in a tight hug, eyes closed, hoping to hold this moment for as long as possible. No anger, no resentment, no fear. Just the two of us together one last time before I become an official Rossetti.
“Are you ready for this?” he asks and he lets me go.
“Very.” And I mean it. I mean it with all my heart, with every fiber of me. I’m ready to be Gianni’s wite. I want the world to know we belong to each other, that I’m by his side no matter what.
It’s nearing seven o’clock, go time. I touch up my makeup once more before Tatiana hurries into the room. “Everything’s ready. Are you good?”
I only hand over her bouquet. “Let’s do this.” Dad takes my arm ore we step into the hall outside Tatiana’s room, and with her leading away we walk through her wing to the exit closest to the backyard. It was either this or go through the kitchen, but that
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seemed like a bad idea with Sheryl finishing the wedding dinner we’ll eat after the ceremony.
At first, I stop short of stepping out into the night. “Whoa.” It’s like something from a fairy tale. I knew Tatiana worked miracles, but I didn’t expect this. There are white fairy lights strung in the bushes and trees. A white runner starts at the door and leads to the arch, flanked on both sides by flickering pillar candles on stands. There are rose petals strewn the runner’s length, leading to the spectacular floral arch and the dozens of lights and candles arranged around it. The sun is setting, the last streaks of pink and purple on the western horizon, and altogether the effect is breathtaking.
It’s all beautiful but there’s nothing more breathtaking than the sight of the man waiting for me under the arch. I’ve never seen him look as handsome as he does in his black tux with its cream rose to match the flowers in my bouquet. Roger stands behind him, and even he is smiling in a way I’ve never seen before. Like a genuine, happy smile. Yet another miracle.
It’s Gianni I can’t take my eyes off of as Dad walks me down the makeshift aisle. This is it. Everything’s been leading up to this very moment. It might feel inevitable now, but I can’t pretend there weren’t moments when I wondered if we’d ever reach this place. So many reasons why this moment might never have come close calls, fights, lies. Maybe that’s what makes this so sweet now, the sense of our happiness being earned. We both fought hard to get to this place.
I wonder if Gianni is thinking the same thing as we approach slowly while the wedding march plays through a speaker hidden somewhere. I wonder if he’s thinking back how far we’ve come. Either that, or he’s reflecting on how he knew all along that this was where we would end up. That’s the thing about him. He always knows exactly what he wants and stops at nothing until he gets it.
How lucky am I that it was me he decided he wanted? Dad says I look like a princess–I feel like one, too, practically floating over the rose petals under my feet. I almost want to look down to make sure I’m even touching the ground.
This is it. No going back now. Not that I want to. Not when I finally know exactly where I need to be, now and always.
152.1
My heart is practically pounding out of my chest once we reach the place where Gianti waits expectantly. He and Dad exchange a handshake and a few murmured words I can’t hear before Dad stops aside, taking my hand and placing it in Gianni’s. He kisses my cheek, then takes a second to look at me one last time before he steps back.
“You look breathtaking,” Gianni murmurs after I hand my bouquet to Tatiana. “Thank you for being the most exquisite bride a man could ask for.”
I’m so overwhelmed, so completely floored by the amount of love oursing through me, that I can’t respond. I’m not even sure 1 could put into words exactly how I feel right now. Maybe someday will.
We have the rest of our lives for me to do it.
The judge says a few words that I can barely make out over my excitement, not to mention how hard I’m trying not to cry. I guess this would be emotional enough without all the pregnancy hormones wreaking havoc on me.
“I’m very happy to be here,” the judge begins, smiling at us both. It’s an honor to officiate the union of two people so clearly in love, so deeply committed to each other. After speaking with you both prior to the ceremony, it’s clear you’ve had your challenges, like any couple, but that you’ve also grown stronger in your love and commitment through those challenges. That’s what this is all about. Growing together.” He chuckles softly. “I don’t normally make a speech like that–but I wanted to let you both know how glad I am to bear witness to your union, and that I Hope the years to come are full of nothing but joy for you
both.”
I’m humbled by his words until he slides an inquisitive look toward Tatiana, who from the corner of my eye gives him a slight nod. Just like her, micromanaging things to the point where she told the judge to make a speech. I only love her more for it.
“Now that I’ve gotten that out of the way,” he continues with another chuckle, “I understand you would like to share vows you’ve written for each other.”
It’s the one part of the whole event Tatiana left up to us. I was more than willing to go along with her ideas, but I had to shut down her well–meaning suggestions on what I should say.
“Caterina, ladies first.”
I turn to Gianni, placing my hands in his. He’s smiling at me, love #adiating from his eyes, eyes which seem to stare into my soul. It’s almost enough to make me forget what I had planned to say.
“You know something,” I begin, “until a few seconds ago, my hands were shaking. Not out of fear or anything like that. I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life as I am right here and now standing in front of you. I guess I’m just excited. And I’m not used to people looking at me the way they are now.” I look around, smiling at our small clutch of witnesses. “But you know what? You touched my hands, and the shaking stopped. Like it never happened. All of a sudden, I remembered I had nothing to be nervous about. Nothing to fear. You have given me everything could ask for, as well as a few things I didn’t even know I needed. You’ve taught me to be strong, and brave. You taught me have faith in love. You’ve shown me I’m capable of so much more than I ever thought possible, and that I should never, ever sele for second best, I’m glad I didn’t, or else I wouldn’t have you now. Because you are the best, and even through our challenges, I have never doubted your love. All I can do now is hope to love you as well as you love me. I promise I’m going to spend the rest of my life trying my best to be the wite you deserve.”
I can’t believe I got all of that out without shedding a tear. I didn’t an on starting off the way I did, but the general message was always going to be the same. Every time I’ve tried to run through I ended up bawling my eyes out.
He’s staring at me, his eyes widening, before he finally releases antle laugh. “How am I supposed to tollow that?” The rest of us laugh along with him, though I’m pretty sure I hear Tatiana suling behind me. “Caterina, you honor me beyond words. With your love, your gentleness, your patience.”
We both have to chuckle at that one. “I won’t pretend I’ve always ade things easy, but for some reason, you’re here. And I am never, not for a minute of my life, going to take that for granted. You are everything to me, and you have already made me the happiest man alive. I’m sure I don’t deserve you, but I don’t want you to ever doubt for a moment that I plan on spending every minute of the rest of my life earning you. And even then, when I take my final breath, it could never be enough. Thank you for helping me believe in love. I was in a dark place when we found each other, and you showed me the light.”
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Well. Just when I thought I could make it out of this without crying my eyes out. Tatiana’s sniffling has gotten louder, too. Giarmi pulls out a handkerchief and dabs at my eyes and cheeks. At can do is accept his gesture, smiling through my tears.
“Do we have the rings?” the judge asks.
That’s Roger’s cue. “I knew better than to misplace these,” he murmurs. “I didn’t want Tatiana to kill me.”
“I can hear you,” she whispers back.
I’m fighting giggles as Gianni extends his left hand for me to slide the titanium band over his third finger. He said he wanted the titanium as a symbol of how unbreakable our bond is. All I know is as I place it on his hand, I’m almost swept off my feet by a wave of pure love. It’s the most profound thing I’ve ever felt except for the first rush of joy that ran through me when we saw the baby together during the ultrasound.
I switched my engagement ring to my right hand for the ceremony leaving my ring finger free for the exquisite platinum band set with tiny diamonds. It sparkles like crazy, catching the light no matter how I turn my hand. “Like this ring,” Gianni murmurs, “there is no beginning or end of my love for you. It goes forever.”
“I had no idea you were so good with words,” I whisper.
“I guess you bring it out in me.” Once the ring is in place, he kisses my hand. “Mine forever.”
“Always,” I whisper.
“Then by the power vested in me, I declare you husband and wife. Gianni, you may kiss your bride.”
Not just yet. Give me a second. Let me be in this moment just a little while longer, this last moment before we seal it with a kiss. Let me savor this just a moment more.
I could swear he hears my thoughts, taking his time, holding my face between his hands and staring deep into my eyes. “Are you ready?” he murmurs, and I don’t think he’s talking about the kiss. He’s asking whether I’m ready for everything life has in store
for us.
There’s only one answer. The only answer. “Yes.” And I mean it with all my heart.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
