Salvatore parks in front of a small store with signage that proclaimsGioielleria Bella. Pretty Jewelry Store. We’ve only driven about three blocks from the Rizzo residence.
My father looks at Massimo. “Come with me.”
Massimo glances at me and shrugs. “See you soon.”
“Wait, I want to come too,” I tell him.
He glances at my blood-soaked dress. “Like that?”
Good point.
They disappear inside the store.
I glance at the nervous priest. I can’t believe we’re actually doing this. I never thought I’d be getting married in the backseat of an SUV, five minutes after the proposal, wearing a wedding dress I didn’t pick, and covered in the blood of the man who killed my mother. But I actually don’t mind. I want to marry Massimo as quickly as possible, before Papa changes his mind, or fate throws something else at us to wedge us apart yet again. I’ll only be able to finally relax when this is done.
Papa and Massimo return a short while later. When I see the two small boxes Massimo carries, my heart leaps.
As we drive away from the jewelry store, several police cars race past, sirens wailing as they head toward the Rizzo estate.
Massimo gives me one of the boxes.
I open it to find a plain, gold band. “No fair. I wanted to pick your ring.”
He shrugs, smiling.
I look at it. “I have to admit, it’s definitely the kind of ring I can see you wearing. Let me see mine, now.”
“You’ll see it soon enough,” he teases. He turns toward the priest. “Can we finish?”
“Yes,” Papa interjects. “Marry them already!”
The priest nods. “Groom, place the ring on your bride’s finger and repeat after me….”
Massimo opens the box, revealing a gorgeous gold wedding ring. The sapphire on top glitters a breathtaking blue and green.
“One color for each of our eyes,” Massimo explains.
I blink away the tears of love when he slips it onto my finger.
“I give you this ring. Wear it with love and joy. Just as this ring has no end, my love is forever.”
The priest turns to me and has me slide Massimo’s ring onto his finger, and I repeat the declaration.
“And now,” the priest says. “By the power vested in me by God, I declare you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
I look at Massimo expectantly. Before he can even move, I literally jump at him, wrapping my hands around his head and planting my lips around his beautiful mouth. We kiss, and for once, it’s not so desperate. For once, it feels like it won’t be the last time. I can take the time to enjoy him now. Relish in his every touch, and taste.
“Welcome to the family, Massimo Moretti,” I hear my father proclaim.
Neither of us answer. We’re lost in each other.
“We did it!” I tell Massimo after finally coming up for air. “Against all odds, we did it!”
He smiles proudly. “We did,mia tesoro.”
Epilogue
Angela
