Page 68 of Bones

BONES

When we planned our wedding for the first day of December, I had no idea my father would die only days before, on Thanksgiving day. Athena was insistent we postpone our ceremony, but my mother wouldn’t have it.

“Figlio, no. At a time like this, we need to surround ourselves with love. What’s a better demonstration of love than a wedding? Besides, your father would be angry if you cancel it, because he will be there. He’ll be looking down on you with pride.”

I told Athena we could do our second wedding anywhere in the world. It was about what she wanted. I would’ve taken her to Italy, Greece, France, literally anywhere you can get to by plane, but she wanted to do it here at our home, on the balcony she fell in love with only a few short months ago.

I stand in front of the railing, waiting for my bride. I’m not nervous about marrying her because obviously I’ve already done that. What worries me the most, and has my anxiety at its peak, is my concern that Athena is happy. The need for today to be everything she wants it to be is intense. There aren’t a lot of people here, because Athena wanted to keep it small. We have white wooden chairs set up between an aisle with a red carpet. Every queen should have a red carpet to walk down. The De Luca brothers and their wives sit on one side. My buddies Sin and Zade sit on the other side with their wives. I don’t have to worry about Athena being alone today, because my mother and sister are with her. They wouldn’t have it any other way. Two of my three brothers stand beside me, but I’m beginning to wonder where the other one is. I ask, Psycho, “Where the fuck is Reaper?”

He shrugs. “No idea. He’ll be here.”

Finally, my missing brother comes running in, and I question him, “Where the fuck were you?”

With a grin, he says, “Saying hello to my sister-in-law. I’ve never told you, but she has beautiful eyes.”

I turn to him with a glare. “Fucking freak. Don’t look at my wife’s eyes. I’ll cut your fucking dick off and shove it down your throat.”

He chuckles loudly. “Calm your tits. I’m not going to hurt my little sister. Besides, it’s nothereyes I want.”

Right. Living dead girl.

Shaking my head, I turn away from him and mutter under my breath. “You’re not alright, man.”

All thoughts of my brother disappear when I spot my sister coming in to sit down. I watch the doorway like a hawk, and finally my bride enters with my mother beside her. My heart squeezes as I watch my wife and mother smiling at each other fondly. Everything Athena’s mother never was for her, my mother is now. If anyone in the outside world saw them together, they would be sure she and Athena were biological mother and daughter. Not because they look alike, but because the bond between them is that strong. It’s the same with her and my sister.

Athena looks over to where I stand with my brothers. Her eyes find mine, and she smiles warmly, as her cheeks fill with a beautiful rosy color. I don’t know if it’s from an emotion, or because it’s cold, since it’s December. The firepit is going, but the air is still chilled. She wanted to do this at night, so we could say our vows underneath the stars.

Of course, my wife always looks stunning and today is no different. She stands at the entrance, waiting for the music to start, wearing a white lace gown with a sexy ‘v’ neck. It’s strapless, but she has a fur shawl over her shoulders to keep her warm. While I hadn’t seen the dress, when she told me it had no sleeves, I demanded she find a new dress because I don’t want her to be cold,and get sick. I’ve been told I’m over the top more than once, but I don’t care. When it comes to protecting her from everything, even the cold air, I take it seriously. And it’s not just about her anymore. She is carrying our daughter. If she thinks I’m over the top with her, she hasn’t seen anything yet.

The piano starts playing the music she selected, and she begins to walk down the aisle with my mother by her side, which is a good thing, because I was coming close to charging toward her and taking her in my arms, long before our priest says I can.

They stop at the end of the aisle, and my mother kisses her on the cheek before she takes a seat in the front row. I watch my mom pick up the picture of my father sitting on the chair beside her. She stares at it affectionately before wiping a tear away. She catches my gaze and nods, letting me know she’s okay, which I doubt, because I know losing my father broke her heart. She dedicated her entire life to him, and loved him fiercely. We will all make sure she’s okay. Currently, she is staying a week at each of our houses, and soon she’ll decide where she’ll live permanently. At first she fought us on it because she can take care of herself, but the fact is she’s getting old, and none of us think her living in a big house by herself is good for her.

I take Athena’s hand and lean down to whisper in her ear, because my words are for her and her alone.

“You look beautiful, Butterfly. I can’t wait to get rid of all these people, and tear this dress off your stunning body.”

Her cheeks heat as she lowers her head in embarrassment. “Luca,” she scolds me, and I love it. Nothing I say should surprise her at this point, but I like that I can still get this reaction out of her.

We both chose to say a few things to each other before the priest conducts his ceremony, and he tells her she can go first.

She stares into my eyes as she speaks quietly, but from her heart.

“My life before you was a living hell. I never dared to dream of the life I have now, because you should only dream things that areattainable. This is beyond anything I could have imagined. It’s all because you saved me. I would have died there. You took an illiterate, broken butterfly and healed her. You showed me what love is, and gave me a beautiful family. For that, I will be eternally grateful. Thank you for loving me the way you do. Please, don’t ever stop.”

I swallow hard, and barely hear the priest tell me it’s my turn.

“I couldn’t stop if I tried, Butterfly. I told you before I thought I loved you in another lifetime, because it feels like our souls are inseparable. You were made for me and I was made for you. I’m not a good man, but I’ll always strive to be good to you. You deserve better than I am. But I’m a selfish asshole and I’ll keep you anyway, because I’d rather die than spend a single day without you.”

After the priest finishes his ceremony requirements, I hear the words I’ve been longing to hear since the moment I saw her standing in the doorway.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife, again. Luca, you may kiss your bride.”

Without any hesitation, I take my wife in my arms and press my lips to hers and kiss her. I push my tongue into her mouth and slide it against hers, tasting her sweet flavor, while ignoring the noise from our small crowd. We walk hand in hand back down the aisle together, and make our way downstairs where we have food set up, as well as a DJ and a dance floor, because I intend to have a dance or two with my beautiful Athena. I get a whiskey for myself, and a sparkling white grape juice for my wife, since she can’t drink. She stares at me with affection, and while I never expected any of this when I found her trying to steal from me, I welcome it.

I pull her over to a crowd of people to introduce her, because she shouldn’t not know everyone at her own wedding.

“Butterfly, these are the De Luca brothers; Domenic, Dante, Drake, and Damian. And their lovely wives; Giada, Katherina, and Natalia.”

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