Page 111 of Delivered in White

I swat her away. “I’m there part time as a consultant. Is that not enough for you, Jacky dearest?”

“No way. I miss my Capri. Who else am I going to tell about dragging this jock to all my festivals?” She smiles wide.

“I’m helping manage all of Trino’s businesses. Plus, I’m the lead counsel for a non-profit to help clean up the ocean! These are both full-time jobs, love, and I’m only one Capri.Sorry. Do you believe they let me go on the boat to remove sea trash half the time? We’re disgusting creatures.”

“Who would’ve thought.” Jacky shakes her head. “Bad ass stripper turned Earth-saving business manager, turned soon-to-besuper mom.”

“I want this growing little one to be proud of me.” I rub my belly. “Oh, oh.I forgot – there was one environmental trip where we helped sea turtles get to shore to lay their eggs. Isn’t that—”

“I’m dead. Died of cuteness overload.” Jacky is nearly in tears.

We both laugh, and when it settles, I take a breath. “Life’s crazy. Especially with this one.” I point to Trino cracking beers open for everyone.

Charlie makes his way over next, and we have a mini-reunion of surviving Nicky Frits’ dungeon. It’s amazing how time heals. There will always be a stain, of course. Each of us thought we were going to die that day, and saw one another in our darkest moments. But today is bright.Everythingis bright.

The day goes by in a flash. I think I may have hugged my dad about a thousand times since he got here. He offered a nice formal toast after we ate, where everyone but me took a shot to honor Trino’s dad. And then he gave an adorable speech about me and Trino. How we’re the gold standard for everyone to strive for. Apparently, Castor – Trino’s cousin – took offense to that, considering that scary bastard is literally gold plated. It made for good banter though, and his wife, Gia, is a spitfire taming his grumbles into eased back smirks. We’ve become fast friends. Seeing us all together really warms my heart.

Once we say our goodbyes and clean up most of the mess, Trino and I plop on the couch, staring at a box wrapped in white, with an eggshell-colored ribbon. We both look at it dumbly.

“Knowing him, it’s probably snakes in a can or some shit,” Trino scowls.

“Or maybe that blue paint that stains you when you steal something,” I suggest.

Trino scoots away from me. “Okay, go ahead. Open it.”

I gasp. “You’d sacrifice your pregnant wife?”

He laughs and grabs the box. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

He rips open the bow like a savage and tears through the wrapping paper. I can’t help but slowly lift the box top to peek inside. No projectiles or pranks that I can see.

Trino knocks the top off to what looks like a scrapbook deep inside. No. An album.

We’re dumbfounded again – our mouth’s hanging open.

He slowly grabs for it like his arms are held back by weights. The shining letters touch the light, reading ‘Your First Wedding.’

It all clicks so fast – that strange photographer with the old-style camera… we never got the pictures developed.

“Capri…” Trino holds the album closed in his hands. “Pennsylvania—”

“Iknow. Open. Open. Open.”

He cracks open the fresh book to the sound of creasing. Old style photos are faded in a yellow-ish tint, making it feel like a 1950’s album. The first picture is of me and Trino fake smiling for the camera. He literally captured me mid-pinch, which makes me burst out laughing. Trino can’t help but chortle either.

The cracks in the wall behind us, and the tiny old lady officiant smiling just barely over the podium makes it so endearing.

A few more pictures of Trino and I annoying each other make us reenact it all over again. Then there’s one of us kissing. I remember that moment. It’s like everything around us fades away whenever our lips touch. I feel safe, and wanted, andloved. Even then, when he pretended he couldn’t stand me.

“That’s a nice shot,” he admits.

“I love that it wasn’t a show,” I say. “It was just for us.”

“Yeah.” He lingers on the picture, then eventually turns the page.

There they are, Stanzo and my dad, laughing genuinely. Not an ounce of pain plagues Stanzo in this photo. He’s all widesmile and excitement. It’s the definition of bliss. He’s got an arm around my dad mid-laugh, even though they were both in hiding.

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