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I shrug, I’m not ready to tell anyone yet. “I just woke up.”
“You just woke up? Only you. You want me to get you something to eat? Enzo’s downstairs threatening death to anyone who fucks up today, so you can’t go down there.”
“I’m not hungry, it’s fine. Bethany is on her way over with the dress.”
“Why does she have your dress?”
“Because she’s as bossy as you are. She was sure Enzo would see it if I kept it in the house.”
“Oh, she’s so smart. Come on, up. Go take a very quick shower, and here, I bought you the most amazing lotion. It will not only turn your skin into the softest silk imaginable, it will make your skin glow. I’m jealous I’m not white.” Russell yanks me off the bed. I go, taking the lotion with me.
The next two hours pass in a blur as I struggle to smile. Gradually, through Bethany and Russell’s laughter and excitement, I’m not struggling anymore. As I stare at the mirror, I sigh. I never thought I would get married, never dreamed of this day. Maybe this won’t be a complete disaster, I’m not betting on it though.
“Beautiful.” Nonna sighs.
“Nonna, what are you doing in here?”
“I come with your gift from Enzo. He wanted you to wear it for the ceremony.” She hands me a large velvet box.
The moment I see the box I know what it is. Opening it, I’m not wrong. Sighs are loud all around me. It’s the emerald necklace I looked at the day we went to get the replacement engagement ring. I don’t want it. I would have rather had the ring he gave me the first time. Forcing a smile, I turn so Nonna can put it on. Heavy and cold, the metal causes a shiver I can’t hide.
“It’s time.” Russell hugs me close. “Remember, five minutes. The music will start.”
Five minutes. I carry the heels down the stairs until I’m in the kitchen. Fuck I hate heels. A few more steps and I’m wobbling as I step out onto the deck. Okay, women have their dads walk them down the aisle so they don’t fall on their ass. This is not working, screw the line of the dress, I’m about to step out of the heels when an arm appears in front of me. It’s Tony. “Can I offer an arm?”
I stare at the arm, at the man. The dress won’t look as good if I’m not in heels. Taking his arm, I smile. “Thank you, Tony.”
“No problem, always here to help.”
Sixty feet, I counted them when we did it yesterday. It feels like more though.
Enzo is stunning. The moment I see him all my fears disappear because he’s looking at me like I’m every wish he ever made come true. Me, he’s looking at me, and when Tony gives my hand to Enzo I feel the shock of electricity from that first time. Enzo is so happy he’s nearly vibrating with it.
As we recite the plain vows I speak them clearly, meaning every word. When he kisses me, I can’t hold back my happiness, and it’s just a little longer and deeper than it should be. For the next hour I’m floating on air, until the moment we sit down to eat and someone hands me a glass of champagne. Before I can think of a way of getting out of drinking it without explaining why, Enzo reaches for it. Taking it, he holds it up.
“Can I have your attention?” Immediately, everyone goes quiet. “In addition to celebrating our wedding day, I want to share we’re also having a baby. Chloe is pregnant.” The oohs and ahs are deafening. I paste a smile on my face as I struggle to answer everyone’s questions at once. No, I haven’t seen a doctor. I just found out. No, I’m not going to quit working. I have the answer for why Enzo’s so happy, he had to have found the test. He’s gotten everything he wanted. A wife who won’t argue, is easy in bed, and who is so fertile that after less than a month of fucking he knocked her up.
We cut the cake, and by now my face hurts from faking a smile I don’t feel. Just when I think I can’t last another ten minutes, Cesare gets a call from the nanny: something is wrong with Matteo. She’s taking him to the emergency room because she thinks he has meningitis. Panic sets in, Alicia and Cesare are gone within seconds. Bethany and Dante follow w
ith Tony in their car. Dominic disappears too, but I’m pretty sure he isn’t going to the hospital.
“Come on, I’ll help you change,” Enzo says.
Shaking my head, I look to Nonna. “I can’t leave Nonna alone. You go, call me when you know.”
He’s disappointed. While I feel bad, I’ve always hated hospitals. I told him that when he talked about Alicia not wanting anyone to come to the hospital when she had Nicholas. “You remember how much I hate hospitals, don’t you?”
“This is important. Would you stay home if it were our child?”
“Enzo, that isn’t fair. If it were our child or you, yes I would be there. Please understand, I didn’t go to the hospital when I had kidney stones. Russell had to pick me up and put me in the car against my will.”
He shakes his head, doesn’t say a word, and he’s gone.
The next few hours pass slowly. Russell and Adam stay with me and Nonna. Then Everett, Enzo’s driver, arrives to ask if we were still going on our honeymoon. The pilot is calling. I shake my head. I still have no idea where we were going. Nonna speaks up and asks.
“Sicily.”
“Ah, I’ll take the flight, if you can delay it for a half hour while I pack.”
