Sabrina, seeming to sense his sudden tension, reached up and touched her hand to the side of his face with a soft smile.
Much to his chagrin, the move was so wholesome that his silent bristling instantly softened at her touch. Cesare closed his eyes with a grunt and opened them again to see Sabrina’s beautiful hazel eyes giving him that tender doe-eyed look; the same look she’d given him when she walked down the aisle.
Cesare, so used to controlling everything around him, was suddenly struck with how uncontrollable all of this was; it filled him with equal parts terror and anticipation. Anticipation for what was to come, and anticipation of a challenge. Sabrina was his, and he would convince her to stay.
Dante’s absence was Cesare’s only regret in all of this, but he would find a way to make it up to him. Dante was going to lose his shit when he called.
The impromptu wedding party arrived at Cesare’s house, and a restaurant downtown that owed Raffi a favor agreedto cater last minute. A growing number of extended family members and friends flooded the palazzo to give their congratulations and best wishes.
Sabrina took it all in stride as Cesare introduced her to the endless stream of new faces. She patiently relied on Cesare to fill her in on their names, backgrounds, surrounding children, and assorted interests. Cesare felt a renewed sense of appreciation for her ability to absorb so much new information at once, read a room, and respond accordingly.
(Sabrina POV)
Papa Lombardi made the rounds, his excitement and joy palpable as he routinely called Sabrina over to meet friends and family.
Sabrina blushed under his praise as the family patriarch insisted she was the light of his eyes. He looked so much like Robert De Niro, she still had a difficult time not staring.
An older man dressed in an Armani suit wearing a large golden watch approached Cesare Sr. as Sabrina stood beside him, and the two men hugged like they were long-lost brothers.
“Cesare!” The older man grinned. He had a genial smile and a distinguished silver streak highlighted beneath the evening light of the chandelier above.
“It’s good to see you, my friend! I’m glad you could come!” Cesare Sr. responded, wrapping an arm around Sabrina’s waist. “Allow me to introduce you to Sabrina, the newest jewel in our family. Isn’t she beautiful?”
The other man grinned, giving Sabrina a nod. “Best wishes, my dear.” He turned to Cesare, waiting to be introduced, andCesare Sr., so much like his son, stiffened so slightly it was almost impossible to notice. But Sabrina was coming to know her Lombardi men very well.
It dawned on Sabrina that Cesare Sr., who clearly knew and cared about the man before them, couldn’t remember the man’s name.
Sabrina took a step forward and gave her most charming smile. “Cesare told me so much about you! You must be…” She trailed off with a mournful pout. “Oh no, please forgive me. I seem to have forgotten your name.”
“It’s Charles, my dear. Charles Falcone. And please, don’t trouble yourself. You’re learning more than enough new names, and all at once! Cesare and I, our families come from the same village in Italy.”
“That’s right!” Sabrina nodded. “This is the one that owes you a bottle of wine.” She teased, flashing a wink at Charles before looking back to Papa Lombardi.
Charle’s eyes widened, and he chortled. “Of course!” He grinned at the older Lombardi. “Next time we have dinner, drinks are on me. I insist.”
Cesare gave a rather distinguished nod that echoed of old world manners and longstanding tradition. “You honor me by coming. I look forward to next time, Charlie.”
Charles Falcone gave a departing nod as he joined the rest of the room, and Sabrina took a sip of wine. Feeling the weight of Cesare Sr.’s gaze, she turned to face him, hoping she hadn’t overstepped. Her father-in-law gave her a considering glance, followed by an approving nod.
“You’re going to do just fine, my girl.” He grinned. He put her hand in the crook of his arm as he spoke with several morelong-standing family friends; friends whose names he couldn’t quite place but didn’t need to, as Sabrina subtly smoothed over each exchange.
(Cesare POV)
Cesare watched as his father managed to visit with friend after friend; with the confidence he had before his memory had begun to fail; back when Cesare Lombardi Sr. had reigned supreme, and the Lombardis had owned Philly and everything around.
Sabrina was subtle enough that nobody else could see what she was doing, but Cesare had been with his father at enough events to know exactly what she was doing; and it struck him like a bolt of lightning that he was helplessly in love with his wife.
He sipped his wine and let the sensation of uncontrollable change buzz through his veins until it made his chest clench uncomfortably. Downing the rest of the wine, he let out a slow breath before joining his bride.His bride.
???
As the night went on, Sabrina eventually fell asleep with her head on Cesare's shoulder. They were seated on a couch, chatting with cousins and clapping as younger children of the group did cartwheels and various tricks for the gathered crowd. Cesare looked at the time, and snorted in amusement when he saw it had just hit midnight.
Cesare met Stefano’s gaze, who nodded to Sabrina as if to ask if she was okay. Cesare nodded, careful not to disturbthe sleeping redhead. “She’s like Cinderella.” He softly mused. “Turns into a sleeping rock at midnight.”
Stefano chuckled. “I think you have your fairy tales mixed up. Trolls turn into rocks. Cinderella turned into a pumpkin.”
Cesare gently curled a lock of Sabrina’s curly copper hair around his finger. “It’s a little too red to compare with a pumpkin.”
