The meal was served to us, but I barely noticed it. My focus was on the man across from me. The soft glow of the candles on the table, combined with the twinkling lights around us, give just enough lighting to make it romantic.
“Carly,Bella, you amaze me every day. You had to grow up so quickly, when you found yourself pregnant before you were out of high school. Your strength, your determination, your passion, blew me away the first time we met. When I think about my life, and where it was before I met you, I know it was empty.”
I stared at Gio as he moved from his seat and knelt beside my chair. Was he…?
“I think I fell in love with you that first night. You carried yourself with a poise and grace I wasn’t expecting. You took my breath away then, and you take my breath away now.Amore, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife, and make me the happiest man alive.?”
I sat there in stunned silence for what felt like a lifetime. “Are you sure you really want me? I’m a mess, Gio.”
“Si, I am positive. You are what I want. You, and Eli. You’remia famiglia. I want to wake with you in my arms every morning, for the rest of my life.”
“Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you. On one condition.”
“Name it and it’s yours.”
“We don’t have an insanely long engagement. I don’t need a huge, fancy wedding that takes two years to plan.”
“Whatever my woman wants, she gets.”
A few tears slipped from my eyes as I remembered the night he proposed. When we’d told his parents, they’d wanted to plan out this elaborate wedding but Gio kept his word. He’d put his foot down. As much as he loved his mother, he refused to let her steamroll over me and what I wanted.
Now, six months later, I was getting ready to walk down the aisle and tie myself to Gio for the rest of my life.
“Here, let me help you get your veil attached.”
I smiled at Risa in the mirror. She was my maid of honor while Camille and Rosalia were my bridesmaids. “Thanks, Risa.”
“This dress is amazing, Carly. It’s so vintage, and so you.”
The gown I’d found was reminiscent of something you might have seen in the days of the wild west. The strapless bodice was form fitting, and the skirt hung in tiers down to the floor, The cream colored fabric had champagne-colored intricate beading that drew the eye and really made the gown a thing of beauty. A choker in a similar beading adorned my throat and the ‘veil’, which was more like a shawl, was attached to it in the back. My curls were pulled up in an intricate twist, flowers intertwined, and a few well placed tendrils framed my face.
“You are so beautiful,mi hija.”
I turned to my mother. She’d been thrilled when I’d called to tell her I was getting married. “Thank you, Mama.”
“I have something for you.”
She held out a small box and when I opened it, I stared. “Mama. Is this…?”
“YourAbuela’sbracelet? It is. She would have wanted you to have to have it.”
I had to wipe the tears from my eyes as I held my wrist out so she could help me with it. “Thank you, Mama.”
We shared a hug before she kissed my cheek and left to go find her seat.
The music began and a sense of calm filled me. I turned to the door where Vincenzo, Gio’s father, was waiting. I’d asked him to walk me down the aisle.
“Are you ready?”
“I am. I can’t wait to finally be part ofla famiglia.”
“You have beenfamigliafrom the moment Gio brought you to the house the first time.”
He kissed my cheek and I smiled. “That means a lot to me. Thank you.”
With my hand in the crook of his arm, I made my way into the ballroom where Gio waited.
Gio
