“No,” I say, burying myself back in my phone.
“A woman who has zero interest in her wedding day?”
“She’s not able to get away from work right now.”
“Aww, that’s too bad. Maybe you can invite her over for dinner this week. You should invite all of the DiMaggios. After all, we’re about to become family.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary, Mom. Everyone’s a bit busy.”
She clicks her tongue but doesn’t argue with me. “Well, at least you were able to get some of her favorites for us. This will really help with making these decisions. I wouldn’t want her to get married and hate everything.”
“She won’t hate any of it, Mom. I know you and Kandace are going to pull off an amazing wedding. Liana is very thankful you both are stepping in to plan it.”
That seems to put a smile on her face.
“Well, I know she’s very busy with her company, so Kandace and I will do our best to bring the wedding of her dreams.”
“Sounds great, Mom.”
“Alright, so the location will be the catholic church,” Kandace says.
“No,” I say, not taking my eyes off my phone. “It’ll be at The Garden Villa.”
One of the many things I learned about Liana is that she’s not your typical Mafia princess, so I can’t really see her wanting to get married in a church like tradition states. She hasn’t even been since her parents passed, so if I were to guess, it’s not the first place she’d choose to get married. After copious amounts of fucking research, I discovered The Garden Villa makes for a nice venue, so here we are.
“The Garden Villa?” my mom repeats.
“You have to book The Garden Villa a couple years in advance, Mr. Bonetti. It’s a highly sought-after wedding venue,” Kandace says.
I pause what I’m doing on my phone and look up at her. “Are you saying you’re incapable of getting us The Garden Villa?”
“I… I just know they’ll be booked already.”
“That wasn’t my question. Are you incapable of getting The Garden Villa?”
“Now, now, Massimo,” my mom says, then directs her attention to Kandace, who looks like a scared little kitten with her eyes wide in astonishment. “Kandace, I’m sure you can make a call and see about getting my son and his bride in.”
“Mrs. Bonetti, The Garden Villa?—”
“If you say they book up two years in advance again, I will find another wedding planner who can do the job you’re clearly proving to be incapable of,” I snap.
“I don’t think that’s necessary, Massimo,” my mom says sweetly. “Kandace is going to make a phone call, aren’t you, sweetie?”
She looks between my mom and me. “Um, yes, I will make a phone call and see what I can do.”
“Money talks, Kandace. We’re willing to pay to get The Garden Villa.”
“I’m sure whatever couple is scheduled to be there wants a house to start their new lives in. Offer them that,” I grumble to Kandace.
“Of course, Mr. Bonetti. The Garden Villa will be yours.”
“Great!” my mom says. “Now that that’s settled, let’s move onto the menu.”
I tune my mom and Kandace out for the remainder of the appointment. Only chiming in when I absolutely have to, focused on the last thing I need to do before this wedding, and that’s moving my bride into my home.
18
LIANA
