They file out, and I take another swallow of the whiskey.
"Enzo."
I straighten at the sound of my father's voice.
When I turn, there he stands, in his suit. And even though I know he's packing, he looks proud and mostly relaxed.
"Dad."
"I...I honestly didn't think I'd see this day. Lyndall gave me permission to ask you this. Could I walk Lola down the aisle? Her father is gone, but..."
Oh, fuck.
Is a speech coming about hate and putting it aside, or she's not like him, or something?
I brace myself.
"The past is the past. And regardless, I loved Emilio. We were close once, and I did promise to protect his kid when she was born, if anything happened. I failed that...I failed so many things. But I want to step up. For Lola, you, my grandbaby."
I swallow tightly. And my eyes blur.
Shit. It's the bride's job to be late and all emotional, not mine.
"Dad, I think...I think you have to ask Lola." I swallow again. "And Lyndall. I thought she was walking with Squish and Lola."
Dad winces at the name I insist on calling my kid. But I don't care.
"I have. Lola said yes. I'll walk with Lyndall and Eliza. But only if you want that, too."
"Dad, I'd love it."
My father hugs me.
I know he is still a complete asshole. And he is violent and still stuck in his ways. But he does know better than me how to run the mafia family. I do learn some things from him, but the truth is I don't want to run a mafia family.
I'll use it, one of the cousins can do it, follow my instructions, and I'll integrate my business with it. Slowly.
But this will be down the road. When the time comes.
However, it is far off, and I intend to enjoy my wife. Love her and my kid.
And I do.
I don't think I've ever loved anyone as much as Lola. Except for Squish. But Squish is something we made. We make a complete family. That is, until the next Marino comes along.
And I'm working on it.
Hard.
"Thank you, Enzo. Your mom is smiling on you. I can feel her warmth today. She would have loved Lola. What she's grown into. And she really is quite something. I'm happy she's going to be family."
With that, Dad leaves.
And when I think about it, the laugh-cry urge is gone.
But Dad is wrong on one thing.
Lola isn't going to be family.
