Page 145 of Married with Mayhem

The pizzeria furniture had to be temporarily rearranged to make a space resembling an aisle. At my request, decorations have been kept simple. Arrangements of pink and white roses match my bouquet, which is in the care of my mother now that I’m holding Monte’s hand and saying my vows to the man I love.

This time is different. I’m not nervous. I’m surrounded by the people I love. And I speak every word with complete, unshakable conviction.

“Monte Carlo Castelli, I choose you as my husband. I will love you and cherish you every day of my life.”

Our eyes remain locked on each other. His throat bobs.

“Sabrina Filomena Barone, you’ve given me your hand and I will give you forever. You’ve won my whole heart, cupcake. There aren’t words enough to define how much I love you.”

The priest, who happens to be a regular Gino’s customer, beams and pronounces us husband and wife.

Unlike the last one, this wedding kiss is no obligatory peck. Monte slides one arm around my waist and brings the other up to tangle in my hair before he aims for my mouth. Today I’m not wearing the sling on my right arm but I am still recovering. Monte is careful but no less passionate. We hold nothing back and seal our vows with an extended kiss. It carries on for so long that one of the guests clears his throat with loud irritation.

I’m almost positive Uncle Vittorio is the culprit but he’ll just have to stand there and suffer. I’m going to kiss my husband for as long as I want.

“To be continued,” I say to Monte when we finally need to come up for air.

He smirks. “Tell me when you’re ready.”

I will. However, we can’t run upstairs to our apartment and get freaky just yet. We’ve got guests.

Applause breaks out and my mother rushes over to kiss my cheek. Then she kisses Monte’s cheek. Then she kisses my cheek again. She’s crying all the while.

Mama has decided not to return to Sicily. She couldn’t bear to be so far away from all her girls. When I asked what will be done with Aunt Marcella, she scoffed and said, “Let that horrid old woman become someone else’s problem.”

There was still the question of where she would live. The Long Island house sold right after we left and she has no desire to return there anyway. She wants to stay here in the city.

As it happens, I own an entire building now. Still, I was surprised when my mother, accustomed to huge houses and luxury surroundings, eagerly pounced on an offer to move in. She’s been having fun renovating a second floor apartment. She says it’s the first home that has ever felt like hers.

I hadn’t thought of it that way. But she never had any say in my father’s decisions. She married the man who was chosen for her, then lived in the house he selected and was always made to feel small and inferior. She got by as best she could. Now she gets to make all of her own choices. I’m very happy to have her close by.

Monte and I are quickly surrounded by people. Sal and Nico squeeze Monte with manly hugs that look like they might bruise lesser mortals. They are far more gentle when they hug me.

My sisters are next, impatient for their turn to hug the bride. Vittorio was nice enough to give Anni and Luca use of his private jet to fly out here with Jane. Daisy, now showing a tiny baby bump, admires my new rose gold wedding band. Anni straightens my gauzy veil so that it floats around my shoulders.

My wedding dress is perfect. It’s a swing-style design with a full twirly skirt that ends just below my knees. Between the high neckline and the short sleeves, the protective bandages still worn over my wounds are hidden. This dress won’t need to be cut off me later, although Monte has my permission to undress me however he likes.

Monte’s mother approaches us timidly. She and Monte are obviously not used to hugging and their embrace looks a little awkward. But she’s here and she loves her son. She thanks me profusely for inviting her and says she’s so proud to call me her daughter-in-law.

I wish I could hold little Jane but I don’t have faith that my arm is strong enough yet. Instead, I simply admire her as she observes the scene with wide-eyed curiosity from the safety of Luca’s arms.

Anyway, when Mama is around, no one else gets to hold Jane for very long, including her father. Mama approaches with her arms out and Luca automatically hands over his daughter.

A little bit of a twinkle shows up in my brother-in-law’s eye and I suspect I’m about to be verbally tormented somehow.

Luca says, “I always knew the two of you would end up together.”

I have to roll my eyes over that one. “Oh Luca, you did not.”

“Sure I did. He’d make fun of your cat ears. You’d call him a caveman and ask if he just escaped from prison. Obviously it was meant to be.”

“Go eat some pizza. You are clearly delirious from hunger.”

He grins. “Thank you for making my best friend my brother-in-law.”

“I’d say the pleasure is all mine but Monte would definitely argue with that.”

“Just treat my boy right.” Luca wags a finger. “Or we’ll have to have a talk.”

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