“I’m sure it’ll taste wonderful. It smells so good.”
Growl rose slowly from the kitchen chair from where he’d been watching the scene unfold with his usual caution. His expression remained wary as he stopped in front of us.
“Hello uncle,” Greta said in a soft voice, her expression warm. “I’m glad I can finally meet you. Is it okay if I call you uncle or are you uncomfortable with that label?”
Surprise crossed Growl’s face. He glanced at Cara then at me before the hint of a smile pulled at his lips. “Nice to meet you too. And you can call me uncle if you want.”
She nodded eagerly.
“Let’s eat,” Cara said after she’d cleared her throat, obviously a tad emotional.
“See you’ll have blood family here too,” I whispered in Greta’s ear before we headed over to the kitchen bench to sit beside Primo and Maximus. I wanted Greta to find a home in New York.
After my first visit to New York as Amo’s fiancée my anxiety about living there had lessened considerably. Aria in particular was so warm and considerate, she treated me like one of her children. Not to mention that the meeting with my uncle and his family had been so much better than I’d ever thought possible.
Dad hadn’t mentioned the meeting though he knew I’d been at the Trevisan house. Since he had enough to stomach with my marriage to Amo and my move to New York, I didn’t push him. I held hope that one day he’d come around and allow the past to rest. It wasn’t easy, it was something I too had to work on every day.
Every time I looked in the mirror at the two fading scars on my lower belly, the memories of the attack came back and with them the realization of the consequences. Amo hadn’t seen this scar on my body yet, as we hadn’t been intimate since the attack three months ago. Too much had happened and my body needed the time to heal. It still didn’t feel like my body on some days.
I’d always been able to move however I wanted, to bend my body to my will. Now I had to be patient, take one small step after the other toward healing. I hadn’t tried to do ballet yet. All my focus had been on managing to walk without a limp. With only four weeks to go until the wedding I’d finally accomplished my goal. My gait still felt off to me, and if you looked very closely and knew me very well, you noticed that it wasn’t as fluid as it had been before the attack, but for the passing glance it wasn’t visible. I was still doing physiotherapy every day to make my leg and the rest of my body stronger to regain this last bit of mobility and strength back.
Mom and Aria tugged at my hair and dress. It had taken several attempts to create a hairdo with my shorter hair that I was happy with. But eventually Mom had managed to pin my hair up at the back of my head with a white hairpin with flowers and pearls. Only one thick strand was falling down the left side of my face and curled slightly. Long white earrings that looked like several tine flowers had been stringed together matched my hairpin.
My dress was a minimal long-sleeved chiffon piece with a deep Bohemian V-neck. I especially loved the sheer puff sleeves that felt as if I wore nothing.
Mom clapped her hands when she was done wrapping the silk-ribbon around my ankle then she peered up at me with an emotional smile. “I love that you picked ballet shoes.”
They weren’t real ballet shoes, but the white flats imitated ballet shoes and even had silk ribbons that wrapped around my ankles and calves. High-heels had been out of the question despite the height difference between Amo and me. I didn’t want to overstrain my knee and I had rarely worn heels in my life and didn’t want to feel uncomfortable on my wedding day.
“I should have worn flats on my wedding day,” Aria said with a laugh. “It would have spared me the blisters. Though my hurting feet were the least of my worries on that day.”
Mom laughed and exchanged a knowing look with Aria. “I remember how nervous I was about the prospect of marriage when I was promised. But my wedding to Remo was so relaxed and easy-going.”
“I really wish I could have enjoyed my wedding day like you’ll hopefully enjoy today,” Aria said to me. She lightly touched my shoulder. “Amo is a good man. I know he’ll do everything he can to make you happy.”
“This isn’t the beginning of a sex talk, is it?” I glanced between Mom and Aria. “Amo and I have already been intimate, tonight is only the final step we haven’t taken yet.”
Aria flushed a bright red and laughed. “Oh Amo warned me about your directness.”
Mom’s smile was a bit tight too. “No talk, we promise. You and Amo will figure it out I’m sure without our unnecessary advice.”
I nodded and blew out a long breath as I regarded myself in the mirror once more. Aria left with a wave.
I pursed my lips in confusion.
“She wants to give us a moment alone,” Mom said, coming up behind me and hugging me gently. She was several inches taller than me.
“I know you and Amo love each other, but I want to make sure you’re still okay with everything that’s going to happen today. Especially tonight. Even if you and Amo have been intimate, I want you to know that nothing forces you to take the final step tonight. If you feel anxious or just not ready, then you should say stop. Amo can fake the sheets like his father did.”
Mom and Aria had exchanged many stories from the past, apparently even intimate ones I didn’t want to hear about. I was glad that they’d hit it off though, considering that Dad and Luca still had trouble being in the same room without a fight.
“I thought I wouldn’t get the talk.”
“It’s not a sex talk. It’s a talk about consent and your emotional wellbeing.”
I gave Mom a doubtful look. “Amo respects my boundaries. And it doesn’t matter what you call it, it’s not necessary. I have confidence in Amo’s abilities to make tonight special for both of us.” I patted her arm to ease the blow and didn’t comment on her blush. Considering how often I’d overheard her and Dad by accident, it was surprising that my mere mentioning of sex made her feel so uncomfortable. “I’m grateful for your concern though.”
A knock sounded.