La Sposa (25 page)

Mira took a step back to get a good look at
herself. The woman before her eyes, in a gown fit for royalty,
would make her grandmother proud. Catalina stared over Mira’s
shoulder at the reflection in the mirror. “When my brother sees you
in this dress, he will fall in love with you all over again. You
are truly, Gio’s
belladonna
.”

“
I already feel like he’s my
husband. You should have seen him this morning. He was so
excited.”

“
Oh now, this I can’t wait to see.
All I’ve seen is grumpy Gio for the past few weeks.”

Mira smiled, continuing to adjust her
dress.

“
Can I ask you a question?”
Catalina said, her voice low but serious.

Mira nodded.

“
Do you regret
anything?”

The question stung. Of course Mira had
regrets. She had a truckload of regrets. However, if this was the
endgame for all she and Giovanni endured, she’d have to say no.
“I’m happy. No room for regrets,” she answered.

“
Zia told you. What marrying my
brother means. All of what is expected?”

“
No divorce, no separation, no me.
It’s now his needs and the needs of our family. Yes, Zia has
drilled my role into me. Here’s what I think. I think those rules
were for her marriage, not mine. Catalina, you of all people should
know that love can be complicated between a modern woman like me
and a man like your brother. I believe in marriage. You get out of
it what you put into it. Yes. I love him, he loves me, and we
respect each other. We can build our life from there.” Mira sucked
down a deep breath and exhaled slowly, calming her nervous energy.
“I know what I’ve signed on for, and so does my Irish-Sicilian
prince.”

The day Mira discovered she was pregnant, she
knew there would be no turning back. She tried to explain it to
Kei, and reason it to herself. Married or not, she and Giovanni
were forever bound together. Her vow to love him, and only him, she
took seriously.

Returning her focus to her dress, she pushed
all other doubts away. Mira had been limited in her options because
of the rushed date of the wedding. Eventually, she settled on the
choice of charmeuse, a pearl white, lightweight silk fabric with a
subdued luster. And she used a delicate web-lace beading as the
overlay. She had measured it to be curve fitting and floor length.
The strapless heart- shaped bodice that shielded but enhanced her
growing bosom with a measured balance of feminine grace,
highlighted her small waist and shapely hips.

In the fashion world, they called this style
of dress ‘mermaid’. A slender design that flared out around the
calves in soft folds of lace tulle, which covered her feet and drew
backward into a mini train that shimmered with sparkling pearls and
iridescent beads. Thankfully, the warm climate of the
Campania
made her choice wearable.

Mira ran her hand down her curves. She took
the time to inspect the details to ensure not a bead was missing or
a stitch out of place. Because of the veil, she had decided to
smooth her hair from her face. Catalina and Rosetta worked
together, pinning her curls to the back of her head in a series of
ringlets and circles that would be a help, not a hindrance, for her
veil. Zia gave her a pair of pearl earrings with tear- drop
diamonds that were given to her from Rocco when she was younger.
Mira decided her makeup would be a natural blend of copper-brown
and golden tones with a hit of blue to darken and highlight her
lids. Her lashes were brushed straight and long, fanning
seductively outward around her deep-set almond- shaped eyes. She
wore a shimmering lip gloss that was a soft rose pink. She turned
around with her arms raised, inspecting how the back of the dress
was cut low just to the curve of her butt. It was covered however
in a sheer material with pearl buttons that trailed to the bottom
of the dip.

“
We have to go. You’re perfect.”
Catalina said.

“
Wait. Not yet. Over there!” Mira
pointed to her trousseau. “Quick, before Zia returns.”

Catalina went to the cedar chest and opened
it. She found several file folders neatly stacked upon lingerie,
and other things typically packed for a wedding night.

“
The yellow folder is yours. Take
it.”

“
What is this?”

Mira captured the side of her dress to be
careful not to step on the long hem. “It’s everything you need to
read and study before you meet Teddy. Giovanni won’t tell me where
we are going or for how long. So I need you to gather information
for me.”

“
Like what?” Catalina
asked.

“
Easy things, names, project plans,
events scheduled for this year and the next. And if you can get
your hands on Carole Montague’s design chart, I want it
too.”

“
I won’t remember all of this.
Mira, how could I? I’ve never had a job in my life.”

“
Don’t worry. I wrote it all down
for you,” Mira smiled. “Call
Melanzana
for the number to
where we are staying after you land. If they won’t give it to you,
then leave your number with Zia. I will call her and get it and
then contact you in a few days.”

Catalina looked over to the cedar chest and
the other folders. “Are you going to work on your
honeymoon?”

“
I have some reading and studying
to do myself. Fabiana ran so much of the business. It’s like I’m
starting over from scratch. Lucky for me, the messenger came
yesterday with what Teddy wanted me to catch up on.”

“
Giovanni won’t have it. It’s your
honeymoon, Mira. He’s not working, so you shouldn’t
either.”

“
I can handle my hubby. He won’t
even know. Trust me. Now. Get my veil.” Mira closed the chest. She
went back to the mirror. Catalina removed the precious veil from a
circular box and stepped behind her. It was sheer lace tulle that
draped over Mira’s head with a discreet pin-comb to secure it to
the back of her head. The front reached the bends of her arms, and
behind her, it fell to the back of her thighs. The trim had
carefully woven flower petals as a seal of perfection.

“
I’m ready,” Mira said.

“
Andiamo!”

They returned to Eve’s room. Everyone stilled
at the sight of her.

“
Ma-ma!” Eve said, stretching her
arms toward her. She blew a kiss to her baby, who was held in Zia’s
arms.

“
It’s time ladies.”

Rosetta opened the door. Outside, Nico waited
and Carlo paced. He looked down at his watch and grimaced,
grumbling under his breath. Giovanni had his best men on the job to
deliver them all to the wedding. Eve stretched her arms for Nico.
Mira hadn’t picked up on the bonding of the two before. Though she
knew he kept a good watch over her when she played outside or away
in the estate. He carried Eve and led the way.

A long stretch limo, black and sleek, waited
for them outside the doors. Mira was the first helped inside; and
the rest of the ladies, including her daughter, were next. All six
of them were able to sit comfortably. Carlo wasted not another
minute before he sped out of the gates, breaking only for the sharp
curves along the slender two lane highway.

“
Can someone tell me where the
wedding will be?” Mira asked, careful of how she sat on her veil
with the help of Catalina and Rosetta.

Zia clasped her hands together. “I have been
dying to tell you. We will be going to Amalfi. The wedding will be
held at
Conca dei Marini
. It is one of the small villages
before Amalfi, and it is yours for the entire day.”

“
Mine? He can’t buy an entire
village,” Mira chuckled, but she laughed alone. “Did
he?”

“
I wouldn’t say buy,” Catalina
corrected her through a smile. “You are marrying Don Giovanni
Battaglia. This is a very big day in the
Campania
. We have
friends and many, many townships who wanted to take part. Giovanni
chose
Conca dei Marini
because of its beauty, I suppose. And
the isolated feel. It reminds us all of Sicily. You’ll
see.”

Mira’s attention returned to her window. The
car travelled the SS163 highway along the Sorrentine peninsula.
This road was perfect to absorb the beauty of the country.
Turquoise blue waters glistened under the sun with such purity. No
ocean ever looked more majestic. And as they drove, the edge of the
cliffs she could look down at the tiny box shaped houses stacked
upon each other. Each one a bright alluring color of sherbet
orange, salmon pink, pimento green, strawberry and lemon yellow.
All of the houses were built along the sloping rocky cliffs and
green valleys. She had to look away, to keep from the feeling of
vertigo.

“
Did you bring your slippers?”
Rosetta asked. “You can’t wear those shoes.”

“
I think I can manage them. I don’t
want to get married in slippers.”

“
It’s what’s needed, Mira. Trust
me, you will thank us. We’ve all made the walk before. Besides, we
will have the shoes for you.”

Mira sighed in defeat. She eased her feet out
of her shoes and accepted the satin ballerina slippers. Rosetta
collected her shoes in a satin bag that Zia had brought as well.
Zia removed a box from by the seat, and Mira waited. Eve sat up in
her car seat, a bit curious over the package too. When she lifted
the lid, a sweet floral fragrance wafted upward, and she knew
instantly it was her bouquet.

A beautiful arrangement of long stem, royal
blue roses tied with a white ribbon. “How lovely,” Mira said. “What
do you think, Evie? Do you like them? They’re the color of your
eyes.” Eve blinked at the flowers, then at her mother, not
understanding the comparison. The girls all chuckled and she
eventually laughed with them. Once they were passed to Mira, she
felt the first pang of new bride jitters. However, the lasting
feeling turned out to be warmth and pride.

“
Final check, Mira! Do we have
something blue?” Catalina asked.

“
Yes! The flowers,” said
Rosetta.

“
And the something old and
borrowed?” asked Catalina.

“
I have the earrings Zia loaned
me,” Mira smiled. Eve clapped and everyone clapped with
her.

“
And you have something new with
your dress.” Zia pointed out. “One day, Evie will wear it. Won’t
you
bambina
?” Eve nodded to Zia, and Mira felt her cheeks
ache from smiling so hard.

“
I can’t believe these traditions
started in Italy. We do this in America too.”

The girls shared other traditions they did for
their own wedding. All the while, Mira tried to settle the swarm of
butterflies she felt were trapped in her belly, by focusing on the
excitement of the others. The closer they drew to their
destination, the more anxious she became.

“
Ma-ma?” Eve struggled to lean
forward in her car seat, restrained by the belts. “Pa-pa gone?
Ciao?
”

“
We’ll see him soon sweetie,” Mira
said. “How much longer?” she asked Zia.

The car veered off the coastal roadway to a
branched- off lane sandwiched between a wall of rocks and tightly
fit buildings. Mira could see very little from either window, so
she leaned forward.

“
Another thirty minutes.” Zia
said.

“
Ah, Mira, Catalina and I spoke. We
agreed, I’m staying at
Melanzana
for now. I called Papa and
he’s okay with it.” Rosetta smiled. Mira glanced at Catalina, who
shrugged and looked away. Rosetta cleared her throat and continued.
“I was thinking that I could go with Cecilia and you on the
honeymoon.”

“
What?” Catalina frowned. Zia’s
brows lowered with concern as well. Rosetta waved her hands at
them. “Only to help. I know she and Gio will be busy, and Cecilia
and I can keep Eve entertained.”

“
That won’t be necessary. You stay
at
Melanzana
with me, maybe return to Chianti to help at the
vineyard,” Zia said. Mira could see Rosetta’s disappointed pout.
She tried changing the subject to lighten the mood. “It’s such a
lovely day.”

Catalina and Cecilia leaned over to look out
the windows. They talked about what was seen and a few places Mira
should make sure Giovanni visited with her during their honeymoon.
She asked a couple of questions about the coastal towns and
beaches, not really interested. She didn’t swim, and hated open
bodies of water, other than glancing at them from afar. If he kept
her in a room and made love to her for two weeks, she’d be a happy
donna
. Mira touched her tummy. She hadn’t had any morning
sickness or strange pelvic cramping since some time yesterday. She
took her prenatal vitamins and tried to be easy on herself. The
worst was definitely over.

“
We’re here!” Rosetta cheered.
Cecilia worked on freeing Eve. Zia was the first to move toward the
door. It was Catalina that assisted Mira.

“
Remember, you have to step out in
your veil. Giovanni will remove it. Okay?”

“
Got it.”

Catalina paused. “I never had a sister, or
girlfriends, and I’ve missed my mama so much since her death, I
started to believe I could never be close to another woman. I love
you, Mira. I’m really happy for us, that we found you again. Most
of all, I’m happy for my brother.” Catalina leaned forward and
hugged her. Mira closed her eyes and hugged her too. Without
Fabiana in her life, the only family she would ever have would be
Catalina and Giovanni.