Page 610 of Not Over You

“You were having too much fun. I refused to let anything ruin it. You worry too much.”

We became quiet, just sitting in the silence we created, just staring out of the windshield.

“Take me home, Lilo,” she said after a while. “To Sonny’s house.”

The house was cloaked in darkness when we got there. My headlights illuminated the broken place she called home.

She looked down at her hands before she turned to face me. “Do what I asked you to—or not. It’s up to you, but—”

“Saturday,” I said. “Let me know where and what time.”

“The earlier the better,” she said.

I nodded and let the car idle while I opened her door. She stood in front of me, either a million things to say or nothing at all. She slipped past me when she decided on nothing, going for the door.

“Lucila,” I said, stopping her before she made it. “I’ll be there. On time.”

“Heard that before,” she said, and the door slammed right after, locking me out.

LILO

PRESENT DAY

This time, I waited for her.

The windows of the church threw long shadows along the floor. The air was cool and smelled of old paper and lemon wood cleaner. The pews were empty save for a few people—Ava, Minnie, Molly, Unc, Michele, ma, and the nurses who helped take care of her. She couldn’t even smile at me, but her eyes were bright and alert. Michele was only there because of ma and my wife. If ma would have been doing better, he wouldn’t have come.

I could tell he was thinking about the last time he sat where he was, not disappointed in me because he expected it. He’d sent me the bloodied dress he carried as a reminder after.

Clara Mulligan sat at the piano. She was a nurse who helped take care of ma and had been a student years ago. At the nod from someone in the back of the church, Clara turned forward and started to play.

The doors opened, and Lucila stepped out of the darkness and into the light. She was covered in a long-sleeved gown that fit her body but flared out at the bottom. A sheer veil flowed over her hair as it cascaded down her shoulders and to the floor. There was no doubt the gown was a representation of who she was.

Nothing could compare to how beautiful she was, though.

The solitaire engagement ring I’d given her caught the light, and the round diamond sparked as it met a patch of darkness.

She was the light. Mine.

My chest felt tight. She held my eyes as I held hers. I didn’t deserve this moment, but it was mine. And I dared anyone to try and take it from me again. I met her halfway, in the shadows, and she took my hand as we made it to the altar together. That was when I realized the back of the dress, from below her neck to her lower back, was open.

It was unexpected, but again, just like her. It was mine to find.

She said her vows in English. I said mine in a mixture of Italian and Armenian. I slipped a diamond band on her finger, and she slipped a white gold one on mine. Over the “H” tattooed for “LIGHT” on my left hand. It had piano keys etched into it.

We turned to the priest, and he pronounced us man and wife. Then he told me I could kiss my bride. I set my hands on each side of her face and my lips touched hers. It was soft, but it hardened the moment into my heart—it solidified her place in my life like never before.

She blinked at me when we pulled apart. Her eyes almost glowed sherry from the incoming light beaming between the space between us. She jumped a little when Ava started clapping. Everyone followed but ma and Michele. Ma couldn’t and he refused.

I took Lucila’s hand as we started to make the walk back together. I stopped and took a moment to kiss and tell my mother how much I loved her. She couldn’t reach out to me. She couldn’t even eat on her own anymore, but I knew she’d heard me. She felt me. Lucila embraced her next, before we were stopped by Ava, who pulled us in at the same time. Molly dabbed at her eyes while Minnie wrapped her arms around my legs. I pulled her up in my arms and took Lucila by the hand again.

The early morning light was bright outside of the church, and Lucila and I both seemed to look down at the cement at the same time. Even though the blood no longer existed, it couldn’t be erased in our memories. I squeezed her hand and we both looked forward—then to the left.

Sonny nodded and started to leave.

“Sonny,” I said, stopping him. “This afternoon, a few family members will meet at my parents’ place. We’ll have some food, and Molly did the cake. I’ll have Aren pick you up and give you a ride.”

He didn’t acknowledge me as he started walking to wherever he was headed.

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