AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"What?" I ask in confusion as she tries to slide away, gripping her wrist in my hand. "What the hell are you on about?"
"Your mother," she repeats like I'm brain damaged. "You are walking her down the aisle in twenty minutes."
"But I don't even know the man she's marrying," I protest. Bert is flying in late because of some work he had to wrap up, so I didn't have a chance to meet him up until the big event.
The woman gives me a venomous look.
"Listen, pal," she spits out. "That's the plan and you better go with it." She waves her notebook in the air. "Do you want me to hit you with this? Because I will do it!"
I can't help but laugh at this neurotic woman, which seems to piss her off even more. She will hate me in a couple of hours, but for now, I'll go with her plan. I nod, letting go of her wrist and raising my arms in the air in sign of defeat.
She huffs and puffs for a second longer before stomping off to deal with another pre-wedding disaster. I head towards the back of the hall where my mother is supposedly waiting for me.
There's a big door in the back, and I knock on it hesitantly, half hoping no one will answer. What is a guy supposed to say to his own mother on her wedding day, anyway?
Unfortunately, the door opens and a woman I don't know ushers me in.
"Okay, he's here," she says in a panicked voice. "I'll go deal with the flowers, and you two can have a nice little talk."
She's so nervous, the nice little talk sounds more like forceful torture to me. The woman rushes outside, and I'm left alone with just one more person in the spacious white room.
"Hello, Dom," a soft voice greets me and I see my mother sitting in front of a vanity table. She's in her wedding dress already, a baby pink gown that looks great on her. She looks beautiful.
I stride over to her, leaning down and giving her a kiss on the cheek as we both look at our reflections in the mirror. "Happy wedding day, Mom," I say sincerely, giving her a big smile.
She returns a sad smile, and it is then that I notice the tears in her eyes. I kneel, the concern in my eyes palpable. "Is something the matter?" I worry.
Mother shakes her head, like every motion is an effort. Her hand flutters to her cheek, wiping a stray tear that has escaped from her eye. "I just… I don't think I ever expected to be getting married for the third time."
She gives a shaky laugh and I smile to calm her down. It's just a case of pre-wedding jitters.
"Listen," I say, my voice calming. "I hold no grudges against you, Mom. I never expected you to stay with my… dad. Not after what he did."
"I'm not talking about your dad. We left that chapter behind long ago, and we're better for it," she admits. As soon as the words are out of her mouth, I realize what this is all about.
"Tony?" I inquire and she nods with a soft sob, more tears falling from her eyes.
I take the handkerchief from my breast pocket, offering it to my mother. "It will ruin the way your suit looks," she protests weakly, and I grin.
"You think I give a shit?" I ask her, a smile plastered to my face.
She wipes her eyes. "He was so proud of you, Dominic, and you weren't even his son. He loved you so much…"
"I know he did, Mom," I tell her, stroking her hand. For the first time, I'm noticing how prominent her veins and freckles are, like she's aged twenty years. It hurts me to see it, knowing I should have been more present all these years. "I loved him too, and I hope he'd be proud of me today."
"He would," Mom nods passionately, and she's about to go on when I interrupt her.
"He'd be proud of you too," I say firmly, and she looks at me with the surprise evident in her gaze. "It's true, and I can prove it," I say, grinning again. That gets her attention.
"How on earth could you prove that?" she asks curiously.
"You'll have to get married first to see," I say cheekily, and she shakes her head, laughing at me.
"I guess I will, then," she says, getting to her feet. I look her in the eyes, getting ready to walk her down the aisle.
"Tell me the truth," I say as a final thought lodges itself in my mind. "Is this guy a good one? Or will I have to beat him with a stick one of these days?"
"Dom," she protests, but she's smiling. "He's great. You'll see soon, I hope."
