BUTTERFLIES FLY AWAY (43 page)

She nodded and moved to check if her make-up was
beyond repair.  There at the window.  A single yellow butterfly
sitting on the iron bar.  She stopped to stare at it.  Then it was
gone.  The butterfly flew away.  Rob would always be near and this
was the sign for her.

“Thanks Dad, I’m just a little emotional I guess,”

“That’s perfectly alright, is this what you
want?  Because we can go home now if you don’t want this and call it off?”

Always her protector.

“I love Nico Daddy.  I want to marry him,”

“Alright well just let me have a couple more minutes
before we join them.  It’s a bride’s prerogative to be late but I think it
is a father’s to delay that just a little longer.”

Her father was dressed in his kilt, waistcoat and
jacket.  The full highland dress always drew attention and she knew her
father would be a hit with everyone.  Especially guessing if he were a
true Scotsman or not!

The stylist returned to secure the cathedral veil
and it was time.

Holding a beautiful bouquet of pale pink peonies and
white roses she took her father’s arm as they walked down the grand stair
case.  Onto the flagstones and open through the large arched doorway into
the courtyard.  Slowly they walked along the red carpet that had been
rolled out, scattered with rose petals.  Her father kissed her on the
cheek and took his place next to her mother who had taken the bouquet of
flowers from Carrie.

Nico was breathtakingly handsome in his black suit
that was tailored to sculpt his body.  A pale pink tie and rose in the
buttonhole.  She felt the tears of emotion build already before a word had
been said.  “I love you” he whispered to her.  “You look beautiful,”

The Mayor was presiding over their civil ceremony
and he welcomed Carrie and Nico for choosing this location for their
wedding.  As part of the civil wedding in Italy the Mayor read out their
civil wedding code.  There were several articles that he read out and
translated.  Article 143 the obligation to fidelity, to moral and material
assistance.  Article 144 the address of the family home.  The husband
and wife will agree together on the physical address of their home and
establish the family residence according to the needs of both.  Article
147 duties towards children.  Both the husband and wife share the duty of
supporting, raising and educating their children.

It was now the Declaration of Content and their turn
to speak.

“Does Mr Nico Vittorio Devanti declare to want to
take as his wife Miss Carrie Reynolds-Davies here present?”

“Yes”

“Does Miss Carrie Reynolds-Davies declare to want to
take as her husband Mr Nico Vittorio Devanti here present?”

“Yes”

“I declare in the name of the law that Mr Nico
Vittorio Devanti and Miss Carrie Reynolds-Davies are united in matrimony. 
Now the exchange of the rings”

Mark passed the rings.  Carrie hadn’t realised
just how much her hand was shaking until Nico placed the ring on her
finger.  A beautiful band of diamonds and platinum.  Nico’s a
matching band.

The last part of the ceremony the marriage act
reading. 

The Mayor continued with his duties.  He told
them the documents had been read and filed in the register together with the
documents produced for the posting of the banns.  After examining the
documents he could see no impediment to the marriage.

He confirmed that the newly marriage couple had been
read the Italian civil code numbers 143, 144 and 147.  He had asked the
groom if he would take the bride and asked the bride if she would take the
groom.  Having both answered ‘Yes’ of their own free will and before the
witnesses present, he had declared them united in matrimony.

“Uniti in matrimonio”

“You may kiss your bride,”

It was a tender but passionate kiss full of promise
for later.  Cheers of congratulations and clapping broke out as they
kissed. 

Their interpreter continued to translate and read
out the act it was time for the signatories.

Whilst they signed the register with their witnesses
and the mayor the photographer discretely took their official pictures. 
They received their family record book containing the marriage act.  They
were now husband and wife.  

In a rush of exchanges of kisses and hugs from their
guests.  Carrie saw her mother brush a tear away.  “Congratulations
Carrie Reynolds Davies Devanti, now that’s a mouthful” Claire exclaimed.

“Thanks Claire but it’s just going to be Carrie
Devanti.  Not a peep out of Daniel, I think he slept through the whole
service.”

“Oh Harry did well, I did think at one point he was
going to play with his toy cars on the red carpet” 

Harry ran over hearing his name dressed like a mini
me of his father and grandfather in a kilt.  “Tantie, tantie,”

Carrie picked him up as she always did and kissed
his cheek.  As soon as he saw his Uncle he wriggled down.  “Eco,” His
new favourite person. 

Nico took her hand and brought it to his mouth but
his eyes were promising much more then he picked Harry up.  His
grandmother was at his side. 

“Welcome to the family Carrie,” Nico’s grandmother
still had the burr of her soft Scottish accent.  “Thank you Nona, I’m very
happy to join it,”

“You’ve tamed a playboy, how does that feel?”

“There was no taming involved but truth be told he
saved me,”

They walked back towards the house as Carrie wanted
to remove the veil and freshen up.  At the steps of the large arched
doorway a shout was called out.  They both turned and looked over their
shoulders.  Click.  It was the perfect shot for the photographer.

Later with their permission that same photograph
would be used to announce their wedding.  Social media went into meltdown
as the picture was tweeted and re-tweeted as it was shared.  They had kept
their secret but now it was time to share their news.

Nico Devanti

@nicodevanti

Today with family and friends I am thrilled to
announce I married my beautiful bride Carrie.

It was tweeted with an instagram link to their doorway
picture.  The Devanti PR team who were notified in advance were ready for
the avalanche of requests for interviews, pictures and exclusives. 

Standing on the terrace they shared a toast with
their guests. 

“Carrie and I feel privileged to have found each
other.  Carrie has taught me the one thing I didn’t know I had and that’s
patience.  We’ve had to learn to compromise and rack up lots of air miles
but everything has been worth that for today. 

I’d like to thank Carrie’s parents, Kate and Dan,
and my parents Dorothea and Gino for their support.  Thank you to everyone
who has travelled far afield to join us today and all of you for keeping this
day a secret.  Especially Chiara for holding off updating her location on
all her social media sites! 

Thank you most of all for Carrie for agreeing to
become my wife.  I know life will never be boring with you at my side and
I promise never to make you want to ‘malkie’ me. 

A final, special thanks goes to Charlie for giving
Carrie directions to the beach that day and bringing her into my life.

So please raise a toast to my beautiful wife Carrie”

“To Carrie and Nico”

Clinking glasses and Carrie was crying.  “Happy
tears, remember,” she whispered to him.

“Did I tell you I love you Mrs Devanti?”

“Oh I eh, think you might have but do you care to
remind me?”

“I love you Mrs Devanti”

“And I love you Mr Devanti.  Thank you for the
lovely toast you gave.  Let’s make a promise to come back here every year
for our anniversary if we can”

“I think we can manage that, we might even be back
sooner than that.  Remember the article from the ceremony 144 the family
home.”

“Yes, I remember, why?”

“I made the owner an offer on this place.  I
could see how much you love it here and it will be a great place to work on
article 147 – children!  Beau will love it here too”

“Nico!  We can get started on article 147
anytime,”

“We can start on 147 as soon as we say goodbye to
our guests!  But I just want you to have a home with me, by my side. 
Does here feel like home?”

“Home is with you Nico,”

THE
END