He cleared his throat. “Lily and I were talking and we decided we’re not coming to New Orleans for your wedding.”
Arie’s heart tightened. She’d known it all along but to hear it from Vittorio’s lips was still a blow. She would never be accepted by the family. Now they were boycotting her wedding. But why did he have to sound so happy at the telling? “Oh,” she said, nonplussed. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Don’t be,” he said smugly. “We’ve decided you and Rome are going to get married right here in Italy.”
“What?” Now Arie sat up straight. “We can’t get married in Italy. We’ve already made all the arrangements here.”
“Yes, yes, a small wedding with just family and close friends.” Vittorio’s tone said none of that was important. “I know what you said but Lily and I were talking and we were saying how we need to make things up to you, make you see how much we want to welcome you into the family. What better way than to throw you the perfect wedding right here where the entire family can get to meet you? Rome has aunts and uncles and tons of cousins who want to be there.”
“Vittorio, are you serious?” Arie asked, incredulous. “The wedding is just two weeks away.”
“Plenty of time for my team to pull things together,” he said with confidence.
“But I would have to cancel everything…” Her voice trailed off. It wouldn’t be impossible. After all, they’d only planned a small event. But what about her friends? There was no way she was getting married without Lena by her side. “I can’t do that, Vittorio,” she said firmly. “I can’t disappoint my friends.”
“No-one will be disappointed. They’ll be flown to Italy in my private jet. We’ll arrange accommodation for everyone.” Then he chuckled. “And who knows? Your friends may love a free trip to Rome, compliments of your father-in-law.”
It was the way he said it that finally convinced her. Vittorio really wanted to please her. And, to be honest, changing plans wouldn’t be so hard. It wasn’t like she had a lot of friends. Even more convenient, she had no family, none outside of Maya. And then she smiled as she thought about it. Lena and Marylin would love the free trip to Italy. She was sure of it. “Maybe,” she said, thinking out loud. “Maybe we can make it happen but I’d have to speak with Rome first.”
“Beat you to it,” Vittorio said. “He’s on board. He just wanted me to clear it with you before he made any commitments.” Vittorio chuckled. “Smart boy.”
Arie didn’t know what to say to that. Vittorio had gone ahead and had discussions behind her back. She should be peeved about that. She should definitely be annoyed. Somehow, though, all she felt like doing was exactly what Vittorio had suggested. Right then, what she wanted to do was focus on her baby and let somebody else worry about pulling the wedding together. Like Rome told her once, it was so much easier if, on the appointed day, you just showed up.
It was so tempting to take him up on his offer. Maybe she was just tired. She sighed. “All right, Vittorio. It sounds like it could work. Can we talk about this tomorrow?” She was dying to catch a few winks before Maya woke up for her feeding.
But, like she’d sent her a message by telepathy, the baby woke long before feeding time, letting out a wail so loud it had Arie cringing.
“Is that the bambina?” Vittorio asked, his tone indulgent. “What is the matter with her?”
Arie sighed. “I think she’s teething. I’ve tried everything but nothing works. She’s so cranky. Can you hold on a second?”
She ran and got the baby and tried desperately to hush and soothe her as she again reached for the phone. Maya only wailed louder. “I don’t know what to do,” Arie cried, almost going crazy with frustration. “I tried everything.”
Then she heard Vittorio call out, “Lily, time to come work your magic on your grandbaby.”
And that was how Arie finally got some sleep that night. Lily had the perfect answer for teething, an old Italian remedy – a bit of lemon skin to rub on the gums. She tried it immediately and it worked like a charm.
And then Lily said the one thing that gave Arie a level of comfort that made her sleep soundly that night. “If you have any questions about the baby never hesitate to call me,” the older woman said. “Remember, I’m your mother now.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
"My daughter, I have never seen you more beautiful." Vittorio smiled down at Arie as she slipped her hand into the crook of his arm.
"Thank you, Vittorio." She would probably never call him Dad but that was okay. They'd reached a point where they had a certain level of respect for each other and that was the most important thing, wasn't it?
"Shall we go?" he asked, with a gallant bow.
She smiled, her heart full of happiness. "We shall." And, to the sound of the organ playing 'Here comes the bride', Arie took her first steps down the aisle, leaning on the arm of her giveaway father. Slowly and carefully she walked the length of the chapel, her eyes fixed on the man who had stolen her heart and returned it to her, filled to overflowing with love. As she drew closer and closer, her eyes never leaving his deep, dark ones, his mouth curved in a smile and his eyes shone with emotion, leaving her in no doubt that he was as touched by the moment as she was.
When they got to the front of the church Vittorio turned her to face him and lifted the veil, revealing her to the view of friends and family, then he turned her toward her husband-to-be. As the well-wishers looked on he took her hand and laid it, palm down, on top of his son's outstretched one. "She's all yours," he whispered, smiling as he delivered Arie into Rome's hands.
As soon as his father stepped away and headed back down the aisle Rome enclosed her hand in his and drew her close, his eyes glowing as he gazed down at her.
And then the ceremony began. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here together to celebrate the love of Rome Milano and Aristotle Angelis." As she'd expected, Arie's given name brought a couple of titters from their audience but she was too lost in love to care. "Into this holy estate, these two persons present now come to be joined. If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together, let them speak now or forever hold their peace. "