Page 38 of Falling for my Family's Rival

“Surprise,” Marissa says, mustering up as much cheer and optimism as she can into her voice, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

It doesn’t work. Our parents sit completely still in stunned silence, staring at us. Chiara and Angelo exchange glances, and then give us sympathetic smiles. I still hope that everything will be fine, even though I know how stupid that sounds. We just dropped a bombshell on our families. No wonder they don’t know what to say.

Then everyone erupts at once. Marissa’s parents are upset, because they weren’t involved in the wedding. My father is angry that I kept our wedding a secret. My mother doesn’t know what to think. They all feel blindsided and betrayed. How could we marry the child of their rival? We stay quiet, while they have their say. When they finally all get it out, a moment of silence falls over us all, as they all now look at us expectantly.

“We didn’t mean to hurt you,” Marissa says, “but this is exactly why we felt we couldn’t tell you.”

“We fell in love,” I say. “It wasn’t to betray any of you. It was for us to be happy.”

Both families erupt again. This time it’s our parents all berating us, saying that they would have understood, if only we had trusted them enough to tell them what was going on. Then they start to argue with each other about who would have been the most tolerant of the situation. Again, we sit silently and say nothing, allowing their reactions to continue. I take Marissa’s hand. I’m acutely aware of other patrons staring at us. I wish our parents had a shred of embarrassment; it might make them stop all this nonsense. But there is no shame, no filters, no understanding.

Finally Angelo says, “Enough! You all need to stop acting like children. Marissa and Luca literally said that they couldn’t tell you, because they were afraid that you would act exactly this way. You’re proving them absolutely right! People are staring at us! If this happened in either of our restaurants, we would ask the people to leave. Now, please, I beg all of you: behave!”

“Thank you, Angelo,” Marissa says as everyone quiets down. “Now, we can continue this dinner, or we can all just go our separate ways. You all mean so much to me and Luca. It broke our hearts not to have you involved in our wedding, but clearly we made the right choice. We want to have you in our lives. That’s what family is for, but it can’t be like this every time we try to get together. Frankly, this ridiculous, irrational rivalry has to stop.”

“Angelo and I are in full agreement with Luca and Marissa,” Chiara says. “The rivalry is tearing everyone apart. Please, can we all just get along?”

Our parents eye each other. I’m afraid that there’s going to be more shouting. If there is, we’ll definitely get kicked out of here. Instead, Marissa’s mom speaks up first.

“Of course, your happiness is the most important thing here. I’m sorry that I lost sight of that.”

“I’m sorry, too,” my mom says. “We only want what is best for our children. If you two being together is what makes you happy, then it makes me happy as well.”

Neither of our fathers say anything, but they both grunt at each other and shake hands. It’s not exactly what we were hoping for, but it’s definitely progress. By the time the waiter comes to take our order, the mood around the table has begun to shift. Angelo makes a stupid joke, and everyone laughs. Again, it’s progress in our book!

The meal comes, and as we start to eat, I’m surprised when my father suddenly stands up. “I’d like to make a toast to my son and my new daughter-in-law,” he says. “Luca, Marissa, I wish you both much happiness.” He pauses, then looks directly at me. “Son, I know I’ve been hard on you, but …if you need some guidance for that, um, new plan you mentioned to me, well, I… what I’m trying to say is, I’m here for you.”

As he sits down, noticeably flustered, Marissa’s father immediately stands. “I, too, wish to toast the happy couple,” he says. “I am, uh… I’m sorry we haven’t made things, er, easier for you two to come to us. I propose a new beginning. For all of us here. Here’s to many years of joy.”

Marissa and I look at each other, shocked that not one, but both of them, made toasts to us. And not just toasts- acknowledgements of the need for change moving forward! This is the best wedding gift we could ever ask for right now. It might be that their rivalry has pushed them into it, but right now, we’ll take this gift. Our mothers are even chatting now like they’re old friends, while Chiara and Angelo argue good-naturedly.

Our fathers are trying to avoid eye contact, but then I catch my father’s eye and I lock his gaze. Without a word, I smile gratefully and convey my thanks to him with my eyes. He stares back sternly, but at last, his face softens as love wins him over. He takes a deep breath, then stands up and walks over to Marissa’s father and holds out his hand. Marissa and I hold our breaths, waiting to see what happens.

An array of emotions fans across his face in a matter of seconds- surprise, anger, suspicion, consideration, and then, at last, a softening resolve. He reaches out and accepts the peace offering, shaking hands with a resolute nod, and looking back over towards us with another nod of acceptance.

I hear Marissa’s breath catch, and I squeeze her hand gently. Dreams do come true. This Romeo and his Juliet are getting a happily-ever-after, after all!

“This is a very, very good start,” Marissa whispers as she leans in close.

“It can only go up from here,” I say, giving her a quick kiss. I’m happy with how things are, and I can’t wait to see how much better things get.

Epilogue

MARISSA (EIGHT MONTHS LATER…)

So much has happened in the first eight months of our marriage, that it feels like a lot longer. I’m almost finished making scrambled eggs, when Luca comes into the kitchen. He gives me a kiss on the cheek, and goes to the refrigerator. Grabbing the orange juice, he pours both of us a glass.

“You excited about tonight?” he asks.

“Excited… and nervous,” I admit.

Tonight is my first time directing the Cranberry Creek Youth Symphony Orchestra and Chorale. My volunteering job quickly led to the offer of an actual paid job position, which I accepted joyfully. Now I am getting the chance to direct and conduct both the orchestra and the choir. It’s all a dream come true!

“Well, I know that you’ll do amazing,” Luca says.

I set the pan of scrambled eggs down on the table. He has been my biggest cheerleader, as I have tried so many new things with this job, and our lives in general. I hope that I have been as big a cheerleader for him as he has painstakingly gone through each stage of opening his new Greek restaurant, Mediterranean Dreams, here in Cranberry Creek. The grand opening is next week, and I can’t wait to see him achieve everything that he has ever dreamed of.

He’s asked his father for a few select pieces of advice, but overall, he’s really done most of it himself. I know that he wants to show his father how capable he is, wants to make him proud. I marvel how much he respects and admires his father; after everything that’s happened, I wouldn’t blame him, if he was more resentful and wanted to prove his father wrong.

---