I wore a pale lemon and white Dior suit. As I buttoned the box jacket I saw myself in the mirror. Who was that girl in the mirror? My eyes were glittering with excitement. So much had happened in three little weeks. My lips moved and out came words. “Hello, I’m Skye Messana.” The words didn’t sound foreign. They sounded right.
I turned away from my reflection. I didn’t dare feel happy, but as I reached for a pair of cream shoes I couldn’t stop my hands trembling from sheer excitement and nerves. Taking a deep breath, I went out of my room and down the stairs.
Luca was waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. I nearly lost my footing when our eyes met. His were dark and possessive. He was dressed in a black shirt and dove gray suit. He looked like heaven. God, I was so in love with him I felt almost dizzy. I reached the bottom step and stopped.
I felt the warmth of his flesh curl around on my wrist. I looked down and saw his hand, strong and tanned, against my own pale skin, and my heart thundered in my chest. What did this mean? What did any of this mean? My gaze lifted to his and he spoke.
“You look beautiful,” he said softly.
I wanted to say thank you, but I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t make a single sound.
He led me to the car. Outside a cold wind lifted my hair and blew it into my face. I felt alive, every nerve was tingling. I was getting married to Luca Messana. The driver opened the door and I climbed in. I sat back on the leather seat. It had already been warmed in preparation for our entry. Luca slid his long body next to mine. I turned to look at him. A small smile lit his face. “Are you okay?”
I nodded.
After that neither of us spoke. It was as if the moment was too important to spoil with words. I felt as if I was on a cloud. When we arrived at the church, the door was opened and I stepped outside to look at it. It was an ancient stone church. There were gray angels and gargoyles guarding it. This was where I was going to marry Luca Messana. People passing by turned to look at me. Maybe I was glowing with happiness.
Then I felt Luca’s arm around my waist. We went up the steps. His men were around us. The great wooden doors were opened for us and we went inside. It was cool and dim. Pale winter light filtered in through the stained-glass windows. Our footsteps echoed as we walked towards the altar. I felt as if I was in a dream. A portly man with rosy cheeks in priest robes appeared from one of the doors. He beamed at us and came forward to greet us. He had a thick Italian accent. Luca introduced him as Luigi Sabella.
A little while later we were standing facing each other. People I didn’t know stood next to us as our witnesses.
“Do you, Luca Messana, take Skye Morrison, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?”
“I do,” Luca said, his voice strong and filled with conviction.
“And do you, Skye Morrison, take Luca Messana as your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?”
“I do,” I whispered.
He beamed happily at us. “By the power vested in me by God and man, I pronounce you husband and wife. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. You may now kiss the bride.”
Luca’s hand settled on the side of my chin and I returned my attention back to him. Then, slanting his head he leaned down and placed his warm mouth against mine. I had to force my hands from snaking around his neck and deepening the kiss. The moment was so special to me. I wanted to make it last and last.
But I didn’t and his lips left mine. The priest congratulated us and we began to move towards the entrance. Outside Luca or someone who worked for him had arranged for little girls to throw rice at us. I stood there in a daze of happiness. If only this was real. But a little voice said, it is real. Enjoy it. It will never come back.
We rode back to the house in silence.
I was now officially his wife.
When we arrived back at the house, Madam was waiting at the front door. “Congratulations, to both of you,” she said softly.