As soon as the wedding date was announced, the Camorra was in an uproar, knowing that a new Capo would soon be in power. Contrary to what I expected, the reactions were not as negative as when the engagement was announced. They are still clearly reticent about the future Capo’s wife being an outsider, but the displeasure is no longer as visible. Nikolai’s attack and death somehow worked in my favor, the soldiers started to respect me after I ordered the torture and death of the man who masterminded it all. It seems completely absurd that someone’s death has somehow boosted my morale.
I look at my mother smiling and suggesting something while Valentino sketches out what will be my wedding dress, and I see Grandma next to her designing the jewelry that will go with it. Their reaction to the wedding being brought forward was a lot better than my father and brothers, who argued and tried to dissuade me from extending the date as much as possible. But they didn’t. When I told them, my grandma smiled and looked really happy, my mother hugged me and told me that I would be a beautiful bride, which automatically calmed me down; they trust my judgment, they understand my motives, they know that I love him.
“Where is the wedding going to be?” I look in Valentino’s, looking really confused. We can adapt the dress to the venue.
“We haven’t decided yet.” I look at my mom and grandma, who seem a little apprehensive, clearly because of the short time until the wedding, Lady Milena, on the other hand, smiles at me, looking calm.
“What’s your favorite church in Italy?” Lady Milena’s calm voice floats through the studio, bringing tranquility to the place once again.
“Any church…”
“Anywhere in Italy, it could be a cathedral, a basilica, which is your favorite?”
I don’t really need to think about it, I know exactly which one it is. “St. Peter’s Basilica, but it’s in the Vatican, so maybe I should think of another one…”
“You don’t have to think about another one St. Peter’s Basilica, in fact it’s perfect, it would be perfect for the wedding!”
“Milena is suggesting that the wedding be held in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican?” says my mother, looking incredulous.
“Yes, it’s a beautiful location, close to Rome, which is very convenient for dinner. Guests won’t have to drive for long, it’s a relatively quick journey!”
“I think what my daughter means is if that won’t be complicated to make it happen, considering the time and the fact that the Basilica is inside Vatican territory?” Grandma speaks with a certain disbelief in her voice, probably considering in her head alternative places to officiate the wedding.
“You don’t have to worry about those details Daisy. Henrico will take care of everything and we’ll make sure the wedding in the Vatican happens.” I let out a little laugh through my nose, amazed at her confidence. “Just as I told you the day they decided to move the wedding forward, everything you want will happen Chiara, we’ll make it happen, just ask and you shall have it. I really hope you have the wedding of your dreams!” I smiled at my future mother-in-law, making her smile back. “Since we’ve started by choosing the venue, how about we decide on some details, what are your favorite flowers?”
I look over to my mom and grandma and see them smiling. “Peonies, I want everything that has to have flowers to bedecorated with peonies.”
“So peonies it is, I’m going to book food and cake tastings for this week. She, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to call Henrico to arrange the ceremony at the Basilica.” She gives me an excited smile before leaving the room with her phone in hand.
I look at the table, where the two most important women in my life are concentrating on the sketches being drawn. Mom looks up at me, smiles and gestures with her hand for me to come closer. I walk toward her in light, calm steps, watching Valentino open a space between him and my grandma, allowing me to see the sketches of dresses and jewelry laid out on the table. I look through all the sketches, analyzing them and trying to imagine how they will fit my body. Valentino puts down a new sketch on the table, and my attention is immediately fixed on it. It’s a dress I could really imagine myself in and walking down the aisle with. I pick up the sheet of paper and check it thoroughly, taking in every detail. It has short sleeves, hanging a little below the shoulders, leaving them bare, it fits the chest, loosening a little after the well-defined waist, a sort of second veil hangs down the back with the intention of trailing along the floor. I can see the detail of the small, discreet flowers on the side of the waist, meeting slightly with the voluminous skirt of the dress.
“I thought about studded crystals on the sides, but considering the family business, perhaps diamonds would be more appropriate.” I look at him and smile, my face seems to please him and he seems to get more excited, looking at the dress. “I was thinking of a handmade lace veil, with some details that are meaningful to you and the families, considering the wedding location, I think a veil of 10 to 15 meters would be stunning.”
I look at the woman and they smile as they assess the dress and watch Valentino make a sketch of what will be the veil.“Would it be possible to add one or two blue diamonds to the detail on the side?” I feel all three of them looking at me. “It could be my something blue!”
“That’s brilliant, it’ll be a great detail!” Valentino looks in my grandmother’s direction, hoping to hear her thoughts, and I look at her, seeing her smile in my direction.
“You’ll have access to all the diamonds you want, Chiara, and if blue diamonds make you happy, you’ll have them!”
I hug her from the side, watching the design of my wedding veil gradually come to life. “I’m getting married!” I say softly, with the realization as I see my wedding dress become real, and I feel my mother’s arm hug the other side of my body.
“You’ll be the most beautiful bride Italy and that the Camorra have ever seen, they won’t know what hit them!”
I let out a smile, trying to visualize myself as a married woman, as a mafia woman, the doorknob makes a noise before the door opens slightly, I see the security guards take their guns out of their holsters and my body shudders slightly and I feel paralyzed. Lady Milena finally enters the room, they return all the weapons to their original place, and I feel my mother’s gaze on me, assessing my actions. She approaches me slightly, pulling me toward a sofa a little to the side. I walk toward it mechanically, before sitting down with her by my side. I watch my grandmother show the sketch of my wedding dress to my future mother-in-law and glance in my mother’s direction when she squeezes my hand lightly.
“You’ve never had a problem with guns!”
“I grew up surrounded by them…” I feel her appraising me and squeezing her eyes shut a little as she looks at my face, as if trying to find something lost.
“But you still shuddered and froze when the security guards held them, why?”
“I don’t…” The words die on my lips and I try to organize mythoughts.
“You did it and you know it, I saw the surprise on your face, you didn’t expect your body to react like that. You love shooting, so why?”
“I wasn’t nervous, it was just a little reaction from my body, nothing you need to worry about.”
The look on my mother’s face is unsettling, she watches me and picks up her phone, looking at it and at me again. “I’m going to call your dad… we should go to a shooting range, you need to get over it, you can’t be nervous around guns, especially now…”
