For Christmas Day, I had all of the traditional foods fixed, and Susan was in charge of the turkey. Once I had everything pretty much done, I ran to shower because I knew our guests would start to trickle in soon to snack and lounge. This arrangement was fine with me. Since I’d moved to California, I had missed being around people I loved, cooking together, and making new memories. This year was special; I had most of my family with me. One person was missing: my mom.
While I was in the shower, Dominic called in to say he was getting Lucia ready and that they would pick up his parents at their hotel. The timing was perfect, since it allowed me to get ready in peace.
After my relaxing shower, I went through my beauty routine, applying lotion, deodorant, perfume, and face creams. I put some frizz serum and mousse in my hair and let it air dry. Next, I put on a calf-length black skirt, a silver shimmery sweater, black tights, and black knee-length boots. It was formfitting but, to my surprise, comfortable. And sexy, I admitted as I twisted and turned to check myself out in the mirror.
Just as I was slipping on my jewelry, I heard the front door open. Perfect timing.
I walked out of our bedroom to see Dominic and his parents standing in the living room. I started to greet them when I noticed an unexpected person in the room. I jumped in place, but then ran over to hug her fiercely.
“Ma! Oh, my God! What are you doing here? How’d you get here?” I was crying, so excited to see her.
She just laughed and squeezed me tighter, whispering in my ear, “Your handsome man arranged the whole thing.”
I was soaking my mom’s shoulder in my tears, and I was ecstatic to have her with me. I didn’t think she would care—I didn’t!
Letting her go, I turned around to find Dominic sitting with his parents and Lucia on the sofa. I ran to him and, he stood up to catch me. I jumped into his arms and hugged him hard.
“Thank you so much. Thank you.” I heard everyone giggle at my exuberance. Turning around, I faced Dominic’s parents. “I’m so sorry for being rude.” I hugged his mother first. “Emma, thanks for being here.” Then I turned to his father and hugged him, too. “I’m so glad you are all here.”
“Mia, you know there’s no other place we’d rather be than celebrating the holidays with all of you.”
I smiled wide at Emma’s sincerity. “Aw, thanks! You guys have no idea what this means to me. I haven’t had a big family dinner since I was in high school.”
We sat on the sofa catching up while Dominic got everyone a drink. I mouthed a thank you, and he blew me a kiss in return. Lucia sat on my mother’s lap the whole time, absorbing all her love while she could.
“So, Mia,” Emma said, “Dominic tells me you made a whole Italian spread for tonight.”
Her face lit up while I explained the meaning of the Feast of the Seven Fishes. “But tomorrow we’re doing the traditional Christmas dinner,” I said.
At that, her whole face glowed, and her smile rivaled the lights on my tree.
“Oh, yes, tomorrow.” She grabbed my hand and, with a firm grip, wrapped it in hers. “I’m just so happy to be here.”
I watched Emma loosen up and touch me more often with small hugs and gentle arm squeezes. She even began complimenting me. This treatment was quite different to how she had been when we’d first met. Not to say she was ever rude; just very polite and reserved.
“Momma, when is everyone else getting here?” Lucia interrupted us.
I looked at her, still sitting with my mother. “Soon, baby, soon. You want something to eat?”
“Yeah, I’m hungry.” I stood up and excused myself, asking if anyone else wanted anything. My mother followed me into the kitchen.
“Mia, I’m so happy for you. Dominic seems wonderful,” whispered my mother.
I smiled at her over my shoulder while I made Lucia a sandwich.
“He is, Ma. I can’t believe he pulled this off without me knowing.” I shook my head. What a sneaky, wonderful man.
“I know. He called me weeks ago and asked me to keep it a secret. He’s been planning for a while,” she answered.
“I wonder if that’s what he and Lucia have been so secretive about,” I said.
A mischievous smile spread across her face, but she just shrugged.
~*~*~
The next time the doorbell rang, Lucia jumped for joy. Warmth from the cooking was filling the condo and the joy from our arriving family filled my heart.
“Hey, cuz! Merry Christmas!” said Vitto with a big hug. Susan walked in right behind him.
“Merry Christmas, Vitto” I said, and then turned to Susan with open arms. “Merry Christmas, girl. You look happy.”
She laughed while we hugged. “I am. He’s amazing. I just can’t believe I didn’t meet him sooner,” Susan said.
“Loretta! Oh, I’ve missed you,” my mother screamed when Lori and Chris walked in. My mother grabbed Lori in a tight embrace.
The before-dinner entertainment was watching my mother and father make small talk. They always did such a good job of being cordial and never saying anything bad about each other. I appreciated it a lot.
The girls helped me set out the stuffed mushrooms I had made, along with a bowl of olives, a plate of cheese and crackers, and a few bowls of mixed nuts. We snacked for a bit while we all sat around and caught up. The condo was full, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Chapter 24
K-I-S-S-I-N-G
I stood up from the table and raised my wine glass.
“I want to thank everyone for coming tonight. It has always been a dream of mine to have my own big, family dinners, and your presence has given me that. This is a beautiful Christmas! Thank you, everyone.” Truthfully, I wasn’t able get out everything I felt inside because I was so overwhelmed with happiness.
“Cheers!”
We drained our glasses. As I sat down and looked at the faces of everyone I cared about, new and old, I couldn’t help but think about how Lucia and I had survived great pain and how much our luck had changed. In the end, she had a full family, and I knew they would all be steady people in our lives.
Dominic’s face was shining like Polaris. He was the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen. We stuffed our faces, and I was very pleased when I received plenty of praise from Emma and Dom Senior. After dinner, we had coffee and light desserts, and we spent the rest of the evening talking, singing Christmas carols, and playing games to keep Lucia busy.
Just as I was about to put Lucia to bed, Dominic asked if he could give me one gift before she had to go. I was flummoxed because Santa had to come soon and I didn’t want her awake, but I agreed. Dominic’s silly, puppy dog expression was impossible to deny. It was pitiful.
Once I said yes, everyone around us scrambled into place while Dominic pulled me to the tree. Confused though I was, I had a feeling that the others were in on this moment somehow. I looked around, trying to read the expressions on everyone’s faces, but they all looked the same. The women had their hands clasped to their chests with bright smiles, and the men were wearing cocky smirks. Strange! Dominic and I stood in front of the tree with our audience beside us, apparently waiting for something with bated breath.
“What’s everyone looking at?” I whispered to Dominic.
He chuckled. “Us, baby.”
Oh, like that was a great explanation.
He reached down under the tree and seemed to struggle with something. When he won the battle and stood back up, I gasped.
“Oh, my God! What are you doing?”
In his hand sat a beautiful ring, which was poking out of a black satin box. When I looked up from the box, Dominic went down on one knee. His beautiful green eyes were shimmering like fresh raindrops on a blade of grass.
“Mia, I never knew what love was until I met you. I had almost lost hope that I would be a father or a husband one day. You and Lucia have given me more than I ever dreamed of or deserved. You love me unconditionally, and I promise to do the same. I also pr
omise that you and our children will always be my first priority. I love you with all of my heart and soul. Mia, will you marry me?”
I was sobbing, and I couldn’t stop. Through my ecstatic tears, I replied enthusiastically, “Yes, yes I’ll marry you! I promise you all of those things and more!”
I pulled him up and hugged him with all of my might. He pulled back, and, in what seemed like slow motion, placed the ring on my finger. Savoring every moment, I gazed at his beaming smile, and I vowed to always make him look that way. I was so consumed by the moment that I almost didn’t hear everyone cheering and yelling out their congratulations.
Dominic kissed me on the lips, and then I held my hand up in front of me to see how the ring looked on my finger. Nestled in a bed of platinum sat a beautiful, princess-cut diamond. It was perfect!
I looked around at our closest family and friends and saw their eyes shining with tears of joy to match our own. They rushed over and surrounded us in warm hugs. Emma and Dom welcomed me to the family, and I saw the sincerity in their faces. I looked over and caught my dad giving Dominic one of those half man-hugs. All the emotions running through me were almost too much.
Then Dominic cleared his throat. He had Lucia in his arms.
“I have a few more things I want to say. Part of my proposal is for Lucia as well. Lucia, will you officially adopt me as your father?”
She laughed. “You supposed to adopt me,” she said to Dominic before looking at me for confirmation. “Right, Momma?”
“Yes, baby, you’re right, but he wants to make sure you want him, as well.”
She nodded with excitement. “Yes! We adopt each other.” That settled it, and I thought it was the sweetest thing I’d ever seen.
Susan and Lori gushed over my ring, telling me how happy they were for me.
Dominic interrupted all of the excited voices. “I have one more thing to say—or ask, rather.” He looked quite nervous. “I want to marry you as soon as possible and to take advantage of having both of our families here. So, with the help of the people that mean the most to us, I’ve arranged for us to have a ceremony tomorrow. In the morning.” The last words he dragged out, and I could see the uncertainty in his face. Dominic didn’t want to upset me; he wanted to make this a memorable time.
He continued, “We’ll have to do this at the courthouse when it opens to make it official. There was no way I could have gotten a marriage certificate without you finding out my plans. Okay?”
I wasn’t upset, just very shocked. “You did what?” Surprised by the secret itself, I figured out what everyone else had been up to. All the strange looks and secrets between Lucia and Dominic made sense now. “Did you know?” I asked Lucia.
“Yes, I helped pick your ring and decorate for the wedding,” she squealed.
“How did you do it, Lucia?” I looked at her in shock. At her age, she shouldn’t have been able to keep a secret so well.
“It was the most important secret ever,” she said with such conviction that I laughed.
I glanced at Dominic. He was waiting for my answer.
“So, are you okay with getting married tomorrow? I didn’t want a courthouse or a Vegas wedding. I wanted a nice ceremony with our friends and loved ones.”
“I’m very okay with this. I’m just overwhelmed. I can’t believe you would go through all this trouble for me.” This was a gift, and I was ecstatic that he’d thought enough about our wedding to plan it for us both. I looked at everyone in the room: my mom and dad, Dominic’s parents, my cousins, and my best friend. They all had a part in this, and it was for me. “Thank you, everyone. You have no idea what this all means to me.”
“So tell me, what’s the itinerary?” I continued.
The women swept me to my room, and after I put Lucia to bed, we sat around going over a few details of my wedding. They gave up the time schedule and said the rest would be a surprise. Everyone stayed that night on blow-up mattresses and spare beds. We had a long and special day ahead of us, and no one wanted to miss a second of it.
Susan dragged me out of bed by seven in the morning and pushed me into the shower. I was scheduled to meet Dominic at the altar at ten in the morning, and Lori informed me that the men had left already. They had to finish setting up and would get ready at the venue.
I drank some coffee and ate a light breakfast while the girls did my hair and makeup. Lucia came in wearing a silky, bright red dress with a white sash around the waist and white tights and shoes. She looked beautiful. Her hair was half up and secured with a white ribbon, while the rest of her curls cascaded down her back. She carried a white basket full of red rose petals in her small hands.
“I’m the flower girl, Momma.” Her proud smile was infectious.
“You lucky girl. That’s an important job.”
“Nana and Grandma got me ready.”
“Well, you look beautiful, baby girl. I love that dress!” She twirled around in circles so the skirt rippled in the air.
Time passed in a flash, and soon, the girls informed me it was time to leave.
“Mia, Lori and I wanted to tell you how happy we are for you. You found a wonderful man who was made just for you and Lucia. We’re so happy to be here with you.” My tough-on-the-outside friend, Susan, began to cry, and it touched me so much that the dam just broke. Lori joined in and hugged us with love.
“Everything in life happens for a reason. If it weren’t for Lori, I would never have met Dominic. If I hadn’t been with Alex, I wouldn’t have had Lucia. Without Lucia, I wouldn’t have had a reason to meet Dominic. I’m just so happy, and that word doesn’t even seem big enough to describe what I feel.” I giggled, the happiest I had ever been in my whole life.
We stood to slip on my dress. Lori pulled open the dress bag and, with caring concentration, slid out the most beautiful dress I had ever seen. It had spaghetti straps and a sweetheart bodice. Lace and satin shot out from the waist in a long skirt, which had a train several feet long. My favorite part was the big, red satin sash around the waist, matching the color of Lucia’s dress. They had chosen my favorite color as the accent, and I loved it. Everything was perfect.
I stepped into the dress with care, not wanting to ruin it, and I looked in the mirror, feeling beautiful. My hair was styled like Lucia’s, but instead of a ribbon, I had a dainty, diamond-like tiara placed on the top of my head. My make up was light, natural, and just right for me. The dress fit just right; I wondered how they knew my measurements.
“Girl, we’ve been dressing you for years,” Susan responded when I asked. “I’m glad it fits so well.”
“Thank you! Both of you! I’ll never be able to repay you for all you’ve done for me.”
They waved me off like I was crazy, but they had both been by my side during my most difficult years.
“Let’s get me married.” I grinned and turned around, calling, “Mom, Emma, we’re ready.”
I walked out into the living room and saw both mothers standing in similarly beautiful dresses. Each dress was a different shade of cream: Emma’s with a small jacket, and my mother’s with cap sleeves. They were both knee length and form fitting, as both women had great figures for their age.
Lori and Susan came out wearing red dresses that fell a few inches above the knee and had the same sweetheart neckline as my dress had. They were simple but very elegant, and the color also matched Lucia’s dress.
“So which one of you wants to be my maid of honor?”
Lori laughed and looked at Susan. “We already decided that I’d be the maid of honor and Susan would be the bridesmaid.”
I smiled and shook my head. “God, could you make it any easier to get married? I haven’t had to do anything.”
My mother and Emma each wove an arm in mine, and we walked to the elevator together. When they chose the button for the lobby instead of the garage, I knew we’d be walking to our destination.
My mother was the first to crack. With a knowing smirk, she revealed, “We’re goi
ng to the clubhouse.”
The clubhouse sat on the lake, surrounded by trees; it was a beautiful setting for a wedding. I wondered how they’d set it all up. It had the potential to be the ideal spot to get married.
We walked along the concrete path to the clubhouse until I could see the outside of the building. A big, wooden deck hung over the lake, decorated with white tulle, two big Christmas trees framed a staged altar, and red and white lights draped everywhere. The day was overcast, so the lights stood out in the haze like beacons on a boat.
Emma and my mom walked me around to a door that led us to a small room by the kitchen area. They practically shoved me into the room; I supposed it was so Dominic wouldn’t see me.
“By the way, who’s marrying us?”
Susan piped up. “The husband of one of my co-workers is a Justice of the Peace, and he agreed to do this for us.” Wow, they’d thought of everything and put so much time and energy into this. I was so grateful for all they had done—and now, I was ready to get married.
Chapter 25
Pitching Pennies
There was a knock on the door, and my mother opened it to reveal my father looking dapper in his tuxedo. My father was a handsome man, and I’d been told that I looked just like a female version of him.
“You ready, sweet girl?” He came over to me with a box. “This is for you from your mother and me. We pitched in to get ‘your something new’.” He opened it, and inside was a beautiful set of earrings. They were made up of three diamond bubbles, one that sat on the ear and two more that dangled beneath the first. There was a matching necklace with the same three bubble diamonds; all three were simple and elegant—just my style.
I hugged my dad and mom forcefully. Just then, Emma came forward with two small boxes.
“Dom and I have fallen in love with you and Lucia. You both make our son very happy, and we are so grateful to you for that.”
“You don’t have to thank me for that, Emma. He’s very easy to love and makes us just as happy as I hope we make him,” I said, smiling at her.
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