Page 6 of Something Blue

“He’s not there.” Dalila’s voice comes from behind me, and Neve’s face tightens.

“What is going on?” She whispers. “All those people in there—” She glances towards the church doors and clenches her fist around the flowers she’s holding in one hand, slung low against her side as though they are nothing but a burden at this point.

“Isn’t there anything we can do?” Neve asks Mas.

“I can’t trace his number with his phone being off.” He shrugs.

It wouldn’t help.I smile inwardly.

“Is there some way we can?—”

“Where the fucking hell is he?” Franco Greco’s voice is a booming annoyance in my ears. An arrogant man who looks down on my family, althoughwe are the only reason he can afford to run his political campaigns. He views himself as high society and us as mafia scum - a necessary evil in his plans for ultimate power.

“No one knows, daddy. Please keep your voice down.” Neve moans.

“I will kill this boy. How dare he embarrass us like this.” Greco snarls, his fists clenched and his jaw muscles feathering as he chews away at his own teeth in agitation.

“Embarrassing?” Neve spits. “You’reembarrassed? That’sall? Nothing about how yourdaughterfeels on her wedding day - nothing about me - no care in the entire world?” She’s furious and taking it all out on her father.

“Neve, be quiet. We don’t want the reporters hearing.” Greco warns her.

“Oh, thetragedy, if a report hears thatI’m upset about the fact that my fiancé has not shown up to marry me while I stand here in this straight jacket of a dress, hardly able to breathe.”She shouts.

Her father grabs her arm and drags her furtheraway from the church doors, towards the steps, and out into a small indoor garden area.

We follow, all of us, Dalila looking panicked and wanting to help her friend. Mas looking like he might be ready to break up a fight - and me - well, I want to know what’s going to happen next.

But if Greco doesn’t take his hands off Neve soon - he will be answering to me.

Father and daughter continue to argue under whispered harsh breath. Neve’s cheeks are growing redder by the second, and her eyes are flooding with tears. She throws her hands in the air in exasperation and glares at her father with pure horror.

“You want me to do what?” She asks in disbelief.

“I want you to go into the church and address the guests. Tell them you are grateful they came out here, and they can please still enjoy the reception food and drink, otherwise it will go to waste.”

“Dad, I can’t.” She stammers. “I can’t do that.” Tears are streaking down her cheeks.

“I’ll do it.” Dalila steps forward. “As the maid of honor, it makes sense for me to doit?—”

She looks hopefully at Greco, who sneers and drags his eyes up and down over her in disapproval. This man better watch himself. He is grating up my last nerve.

Mas sighs, running his hand through his hair. “I’ll stand with you.” He says to Dalila.

“Fine.” Greco snaps and storms off without another word.

Dalila gently touches Neve’s arm. “I’m so sorry.” She whispers.

Neve shakes her head, unable to speak. Her throat closed around her tears. Tears wasted on another man. A man she should never have been involved with.

I hate to see her broken like this. But I warned her.

“It’s ok.” she finally mutters and Dalila smiles tightly before glancing at Mas. My brother and sister leave the garden. And now I am alone with Neve again.

She doesn’t seem to notice that I’m here.

I take my time watching her in her assumed privacy. She is crying a little more freely now, but trying to get it under control.

Wiping her fingers underneath her eyes to stop the makeup from running, she takes a deep breath and holds it in. Counting.

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