I want to argue but am too tired to. When the SUV stops, Tony gets Rosie out of the car seat, pulls me close for a kiss, then goes into the house. I’m lost in my thoughts of our whirlwind wedding and Tony’s thoughts on how badly I’ve raised our daughter when Vito clears his throat.
“You’re back.” It’s an accusation.
Closing my eyes against his clear anger, I nod. “I’ll never leave him again. I promise.”
“If you do, I don’t care how much he loves you. I will kill you.”
Swallowing down the lump of fear in my throat, I nod.
“I’ll protect you and your daughter with my life the way I would Tony, but if you hurt him again...” He shakes his head.
“I understand.” I squeeze the words out.
“I hope you do.”
As I get out, he tells me to call him when I’m done.
***
Christy
I turn, checking the back of the dress. God, my ass is too damn big. I shouldn’t have let Lydia talk me into this one.
“Change. You aren’t wearing that.” Tony shakes his head from behind me in the mirror.
Turning around, “Why not? It’s that my ass is too big, isn’t it?”
Rough hands pull me to him, “No, it’s that you are too fucking sexy in this.”
He unzips it then tears it apart. “Holy shit, do you know how much this dress costs?”
An eyebrow goes up. “I don’t give a shit how much the dress costs. Pick something else out that doesn’t cling to your tits and ass.”
I stumble a little as he lets me go. “It’s dinner with Dominic and his wife. How the hell can I be too sexy in front of Dominic?”
“I don’t give a fuck if it’s my five-year-old grandson who sees you looking as sexy as you did. No one with a dick gets to see you and admire your body but me.” From downstairs, Dominic calls out to Tony. Without another word, he’s gone.
Fuck. I seriously hate how wet it makes me when he gets bossy and orders me around.
In a dress fit for a funeral, I follow the voices into the kitchen. Dominic is at the table with the pretty young woman from the picture Tony showed me. This time Dominic is looking down at her as if she’s his whole world while Regina talks to Tony. He feels my eyes on him, his eyes meet mine. Those blue eyes so like Tony’s churn with violence before he blinks, and it’s gone.
Tony gets up, and his arm goes around my waist. “Regina, I’d like you to meet Christy, my wife.”
Regina’s smile is welcoming. “Hi, it’s good to finally meet you. Your daughter is adorable. She made me excited for the little girls we’re going to have.”
The night passes easily, even if Dominic throws a few barbs at me. I don’t flinch from them—aware they could be worse. We talk about their upcoming plans to go overseas for their treatment. They will leave the day after our wedding. Regina is honored Tony told her that she would be my matron of honor but understands if I would rather pick someone else. I tell her that I appreciate would her standing up with me as I didn’t have anyone else. I find out that tomorrow after the lunch with his nieces, who will also be bridesmaids, we’ll go back to the dressmaker for them to pick out their dresses.
When they leave, Tony’s arms come around me, I forget about the chaotic day and the anxiety that jolts me every time I think too long about the wedding. We make love slow and sweet and fall asleep locked in each other’s arms.
***
Christy
Alicia hates me. Her smile doesn’t reach her eyes. The same is true of Bethany, her sister, and Chloe. Regina is the only person who doesn’t appear as if she has a gun to her head to be here. Tony cooked a lasagna for me to serve today before he left with Rosie to go pick out puppies. After researching, he determined poodles were the best for people with allergies. Once Tony leaves, Alicia doesn’t even bother attempting a smile. For some reason when I serve lunch, she stiffens even more.
At the dressmakers I bite my tongue so hard it bleeds as Alicia shakes her head, without a word of why, at the sixth dress I suggest.
“Okay, I give up. If you don’t want to be here, then please leave. I’ll tell Tony I just want to have Regina there. That this is all too much for me and even though a small wedding is no longer an option, I’d rather the wedding party was small.” I get up to walk away.