Page 147 of Effortless

He was just …

Fumbling.

Jittery.

Stumbling.

Stuttering.

“Ah,” his father said like he could read Tom’s mind. “You know, on the morning I married your mother …” Tommas trailed off, and placed his hands to his son’s shoulders. “I put my shoes on the wrong feet twice. I also suddenly forgot how to tie my laces. Damian saved the day for me, and never spoke about it again.”

“You never told me about that,” Abriella said from the other side of the room.

Tommas never looked away from his son. “Abriella was the one thing I was most sure of in my life, and there I was on our wedding day … fumbling like an idiot because of my nerves.”

Tom laughed, and some of the edginess bled away. His father patted his cheek, and gave him a nod.

“I’m proud of you, son.”

“Are you?” he asked.

“Of course. How could I not be?” Tommas chuckled, saying quickly, “Oh, sure, you made some things difficult for me these past couple of years, but you taught me important things, too. About being a good boss, and a good father. I love you, my boy. My blood, huh?”

Tom nodded. “Yeah, Dad.”

Tommas let him go, and checked his watch. “Shit, Ella. We’ve got thirty minutes to make sure the girls are finished getting ready, and take our places.”

“Oh, calm down. Not everything is a rush, Tommy.” Abriella stopped at Tom’s side to cup his jaw in her hand, and kiss his cheek. “I love you, Tommaso. You did well with her. You know that, don’t you?”

“Of course, Ma.”

Abriella winked, and patted his cheek harder than his father had. “And don’t you forget it.”

How could he?

Tom’s whole life had been spent watching his parents together, and loving. An exceptionally strong man, and an equally strong woman who lived their love honestly, and openly. It had been them who taught him that the tough, difficult women were the ones most worth loving. They made life fun.

“Come on, Ella,” his father said, waving at the now opened door.

“You’re so impatient,” Abriella muttered as she left her son’s side.

“Yeah, yeah.”

“And why didn’t you tell me about our wedding day? Don’t think I forgot just because five minutes passed, either.”

“Oh, my God, Ella,” his father groaned as the two headed into the hallway. “You don’t need to know everything.”

“Yes, I do, Tommy! Every little last thing.”

“You’re ridiculous. I hope you know that.”

“Yes, and who made me this way?”

Tom shook his head, and walked over to close the door. It drowned out the bickering of his parents. Still, their pseudo argument comforted Tom, and reminded him of years gone by. It also helped to settle the last of his nerves.

He was back in front of the mirror to tuck in the matching pocket square, and straighten the cufflinks on his sleeves. It wouldn’t be long before someone came to get him to help settle his over-excited sisters before they had to make their appearance down the aisle. Even though that’s where his parents had been headed to deal with the girls, Sara and Rebeka likely wouldn’t calm down until it was Tom talking to them, and explaining one more time why this day was so important for him.

A knock on the private room door took his attention away from the mirror momentarily. Seemed like he wasn’t going to get any time alone, apparently.