Now she was able to stroll along the narrow streets with the vendors hawking their wares and feel the sun on her skin.
On the day of the wedding, she wasn't allowed to sleep with her groom. Christos had been whisked off the night before, much to his annoyance, by his brothers, his dad, and the male members of the family. The women threw her a fabulous shower complete with outrageous gifts.
"Who knows when I'm going to be able to wear this!" She held up a skimpy see-through black teddy and shook her head.
"Hopefully very soon." One of the women called out.
There was champagne, buckets of it, and for her, non-alcoholic wine. And the cake was a delicious combination of butter cream and chocolate.
Now it was her wedding day, and she was up early. And as soon as she opened her eyes, she was bombarded. A staff came in beaming and bearing a tray, followed by the women.
Mary-Ann had cream on her face and her hair in a wrap.
"Jacques is an excellent stylist and will be starting on the girls while you eat breakfast." She smiled at Leanne. "How do you feel?"
"A little nervous." She admitted, pressing a hand to her jumping stomach. "And starving."
"Something light. We don't want to get you all queasy." Mary-Ann instructed as her daughters-in-law discreetly blocked the view from the porthole.
"How's my fiancé?"
"Chomping at the bit and pouting that he's not able to see you before the ceremony." Grace told her with a laugh as she adjusted her robe. "He knows the deal."
"Bad luck to see the bride before the ceremony." Mary-Ann clucked. "We're a family of Irish and Greek and believe wholeheartedly in that sort of thing. Now--" She clapped her hands together. "Eat your fruits and scrambled eggs and order those adorable grandchildren of mine to behave."
"I already had a strong talking to just a few minutes ago." Leanne assured her as she lifted her teacup to her lips.
*****
"I look like an elephant." Leanne turned from the mirror to face the four women.
"You look like a very beautiful pregnant bride." Mary-Ann corrected, clapping her hands to her throat. "That dress was a perfect choice."
The thin floaty material swirled around her from neck to just below the knees and was a combination of colors. A hint of blush rose pink, matching the gauzy dress Grace was wearing. The lime green was the same color as Lilly's dress.
The springtime yellow was the exact shade of the one Lori had on, and the baby blue was a replica to Mary-Ann's.
"I have something borrowed and blue." Mary-Ann stepped forward. Unwrapping a pristine white handkerchief, she revealed a stunning diamond and sapphire brooch, the same one she had seen on each of the wives, including Mary-Ann.
"This has been passed down through the family. It belonged to my great-grandmother." She pinned it on and patted her hand over the brooch, her eyes moist. "I could never have chosen a better bride for my baby boy."
Tears shimmered in Leanne's eyes. "Now you're going to undo the excellent work Jacques did."
"There's more." Lori stepped forward with a smile and opened a black oblong-shaped box. "From your groom."
"Oh, he cannot possibly--" A gasp escaped her as she stared at the exquisitely made necklace and matching earrings. A set to her rings. "He's too much. It's too much." She whispered.
"He adores you." Mary-Ann said whimsically. "As it should be."
"Let's hurry up and get me ready to go and meet my man."
They insisted on blindfolding her. "What's this about?" She demanded.
"You'll see."
"I know we stopped somewhere."
"We did." Lori grinned at the others. "You're going to be pleasantly surprised."
