TONY: Slow Burn (Raging Fire Book 1)

by Kallypso Masters

  “Mama’s going to be devastated. Marrying ourselves on the spur of the moment seemed like such a good idea at the time—”

  Tony stopped, turned her toward him, and cupped her face in his hands. “What we did was perfect and right for us, and we aren’t going to apologize to anyone. Remember?”

  After a brief moment, Carmella relaxed and smiled. “Thank you. I needed that. I promise not to let anyone guilt me into regretting our decision.”

  He gave her a nod of reassurance. “I’m sure my mama will be a little miffed at me too, but she’ll get over it as soon as she realizes she’s gained a new daughter.” He kissed her and soon got carried away, not wanting to stop. But the sounds of laughter and Frank Sinatra’s crooning spilled from the house, reminding them they needed to go in and face the music.

  “Too bad we agreed to spend the night here. I can’t wait to get you into my bed again.”

  Carmella tingled at the thought of what he’d do with and to her in that bed. “It seemed like a fun idea when Angelina invited us to stay.” These dinners usually went on for hours and hours, so his sister had probably invited them to stay so that Carm and Angelina could be together on Christmas while Marc and Tony worked. She probably should find a way back to Aspen, but Sandro had insisted she take that day off too. She really had become a slacker at the resort lately, but she’d make up for it over New Year’s weekend and give him some time off.

  Tony appeared to regret that decision, so she’d give him an out. “Our overnight bags are in the truck, so we can always say we forgot to pack.”

  “I like how you think, my bride. But knowing my sister, she’d probably pull out everything we’d need for staying over.”

  She kissed him quickly. “Let’s play it by ear. If the tension is too thick after our announcement, we’ll make an early escape. This will be our first Christmas Eve and Christmas morning as a married couple. Nothing is going to ruin it for me.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  She hoped they wouldn’t have to do that. It would mean that their announcement hadn’t gone over very well.

  Tony turned toward the door again but before opening it, he glanced at Carm again. “If blaming me for the decision will lessen the damage with your mama or make the Feast less awkward for you, feel free. I have broad shoulders.

  How sweet of him! But she simply nodded, not planning to take him up on that for a minute. This had been a joint decision, and she didn’t regret it. She only dreaded telling Mama.

  They entered the house where boisterous chatter and more laughter carried to them from the kitchen, always the heart of any Italian home. Carmella wondered if they’d be able to host next year’s Feast at their new home in Wolcott, or wherever they found a place to live.

  A quick survey of the room confirmed everyone else was here, including Sandro and her parents. Her heart started to pound again.

  “What are you drinking, Carmella?” Matt asked, holding up one bottle of red and another of white. Did he always do bartending honors with the Giardanos? The men all sat around drinking while the women worked. Angelina would put them to work on clean-up duty afterward.

  “White, please.”

  “For me too,” Tony asked.

  “Pour your own,” Matt came back with the same response Franco had given Tony at Thanksgiving. Was this a ritual between the brothers?

  The smells of garlic and seafood permeated the kitchen. She didn’t feel much like eating, but seeing her mama chopping onions took her by surprise. Carm leaned in to whisper to Tony, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen my mama working in a kitchen.”

  The scene made Carmella thankful that their families had already become blended when Marc and Angelina wed. Surely everyone would accept their marital status quickly and move on as soon as the shock wore off.

  “Carmella!” Mama cried as if they hadn’t seen each other in weeks. Carm went over to her mother and gave her a hug and kiss before making the rounds with the rest of the family while Tony made his way to his mama. She zeroed in on him. “What’s wrong?”

  How’d she read him so fast? Carm’s gaze zeroed in on Tony. “Nothing’s wrong, Mama.” At least, not as far as they were concerned. Carm signaled with a half-shrug that he they might as well tell everyone their news now, and she made her way back to his side.

  “If we can have everyone’s attention,” Tony began, “there’s something that we’d like to tell you.” His gaze focused on his mother. “Something very right, actually.”

  All motion and sound ended as everyone’s attention turned to the two of them. Her face grew flushed. She didn’t feel married yet, to be honest, but worried how everyone would take the news, most especially their mamas.

  “Yesterday, Carmella and I took a major step. We went out to Maroon Lake and exchanged marriage vows that will link us for the rest of our lives.”

  The expressions on their faces told her they were either too shocked to react or that they didn’t know what he was saying. Maybe she should clarify some.

  “You see, we didn’t think we could wait even a few months to have a big wedding. It’s not who we are.”

  “You’re married?” her mama asked, fanning herself with what looked like a recipe card. “How can that be?”

  “There’s a new law in Colorado that makes it legal for a couple to marry themselves without a justice of the peace or priest or anyone officiating. It’s as legal as if we married the traditional way.”

  “Not in the eyes of the Church,” Mama pointed out. Mama knew she hadn’t been a regular churchgoer since leaving for college but held onto the hope that Carmella would become active in her faith again one day.

  “The clerk at the courthouse told us about the modern way elopement works,” Mama G said. “But Paul and I opted to do it the old-fashioned way in front of a priest.” She gave Tony a look of disappointment. That she and Tony had married without her and the rest of the family present might be part of it, albeit hypocritical, but Carm guessed that the lack of a priest is what really bugged her. Just like Mama.

  Clearly, this wasn’t going over very well. Not that she thought it would.

  Tony cleared his throat. “We chose last night to marry because we knew we’d all be together today to celebrate with you, our famiglia.”

  Marc came across the room to wrap her in a tight hug. “I wish I were as brave as you two were, Carm,” he whispered. When Marc pulled away, she saw Angelina giving Tony a hug.

  “We’re so happy for you both,” Angelina said, “and honored that you chose this occasion and our home to announce your wonderful news.” As Marc reached out to shake Tony’s hand, Angelina switched places with him and gave her a hug. “Congratulations to you both. You look so happy. I could cry a bucket of happy tears.”

  And in an instant, the joy of the occasion returned to Carm’s heart.

  Angelina shouted across the room’s chatter, “Matt, make sure everyone has a glass of wine so we can have a toast to our newlyweds.”

  Carm cowardly avoided looking at either of their mothers, but Matt soon had full glasses in everyone’s hands.

  Marc raised his toward the two of them. “Cent’anni! Salute! Evviva gli sposi!” Hearing the words spoken for her and Tony by her own brother filled her with joy. This time, the blessings were being asked on their behalf and over their marriage. Tears of joy filled her eyes.

  As she sipped her wine, she glanced at Mama over the top of her glass. She hadn’t lifted hers to toast them. The tears welling in Carm’s eyes began to sting. She’d never done anything spontaneous before and the first time she did, look what happened. How could they fix this?

  Before she could say or do anything, Tony spoke again. “We recorded our wedding ceremony and can show you after dinner how beautiful and special it was.” He turned toward her and smiled. “The most beautiful woman in the world—inside and out—became my bride last night.” He turned toward their mothers in particular. “No one can make that a negative thing, and I won’t s
tand by and have anyone make my wife cry. Ever.”

  Mama glanced down, almost sheepishly. That Tony would stand up to her as well as his own mama filled Carm with surprise and some elation. He’d vowed to protect her. She supposed that included protection from her own family.

  Papa came toward her, and she braced herself, not sure what his response would be. “My one and only daughter, I am so happy you have found someone to love you, to keep up with you, to complete you, and to bring you the kind of joy I saw on your face when you came into the room tonight. God is everywhere, especially in nature. I have no doubt He was there as you made your wedding vows and that He will be ever-present in your marriage.” His last words seemed intended for anyone in the room who thought their wedding wasn’t valid.

  “Oh, Papa!” She set her glass on the island, and the two wrapped their arms around each other. “Don’t worry about Mama,” he whispered. “She only wants you to be happy. She will come around, with some nudging from me perhaps. But possibly not as early as tonight.”

  “Thank you, Papa. It would mean the world to us if we had your blessing, even if we didn’t do this in the traditional way.”

  He pulled away, glancing first at Tony and then back at her. “Actually, your groom stopped by to see me to ask for my blessing.”

  She turned to Tony and raised her eyebrows in confusion. “You did? When?”

  “Before I picked you up at your office. I guess I’m old-fashioned about some things and felt bad that I hadn’t been able to ask before I proposed because your parent were on their cruise.”

  “That’s so sweet of you!” She moved into her husband’s arms and kissed him, unconcerned who watched and knowing everyone did. A loud cheer arose from those assembled—well, she hoped everyone had joined in, but she refused to let her joy be dampened. Mama would come around—eventually. Papa always knew how to sway her in his quiet, subtle way.

  To Tony, after the noise died down, she said, “I didn’t think I could love you any more, and then you went and did something special for me like that. Perfection, Tony.”

  Halfway through the courses of dishes featuring the seven fishes, on the playlist of songs about fish and the sea that Franco had put together, Tony heard Dean Martin’s “How Deep is the Ocean?” begin. It wouldn’t be Christmas Eve without those old songs Papa loved so much.

  He leaned in to Carmella’s ear and whispered, “Listen to those words. That’s how I feel about you, dolcezza.”

  She listened to Dino singing a few lines about how much he loved the woman in his life and smiled. “I feel the same way toward you. And I always will.” They kissed briefly.

  “Get a room, you two lovebirds,” Matt teased.

  Carmella became a little flustered and pulled away, and Tony wanted to punch Matt in the mouth for interrupting them. But they would have their own room tonight and could kiss as much as they wanted. The Feast had now progressed to the time when he planned to introduce Carmella to the dish he’d made for her earlier this evening.

  The initial shock of their wedding announcement had worn off for most, not that Mama D’Alessio had come anywhere near them to offer her congratulations yet. She currently sat at the opposite end of the long table from where Tony and Carm sat, close to Mama and Paul, whether by design or chance, Tony didn’t know. They’d give her time to adjust to the idea. He understood that they might have wrecked a lifelong dream she’d had for her daughter’s wedding. But Tony, for one, had zero regrets about what he and Carmella had done, and apparently, she didn’t either.

  At least Tony’s mama had come over to congratulate them. She knew he wasn’t a religious person and hadn’t been inside a church since Angelina’s wedding. She probably was more disappointed that he hadn’t confided in her. Even with Carm’s Papa, Tony hadn’t revealed that they’d planned to marry later that day, only that he wanted his blessing.

  “Tony,” Angelina began, “I believe the next course is yours to present.”

  Tony nodded and stood. As he went toward the buffet to retrieve the dish that had been kept on a warmer, he stopped beside Franco’s chair and whispered for him to cue up the song he’d asked for.

  As he returned to the table with the covered dish, the catchy tune of Hank Snow’s “Squid Jiggin’ Ground” began to play. Franco and Matt rolled their eyes at the song he played every year about catching squid off the coast of Newfoundland. He’d tried to find some other song to accompany his dish this year, but that was the best.

  “As I do every year, I made the calamari dish. Thanks, Angelina, for putting in the order for the main ingredient for me. And for the wonderful red sauce you had on the stove to serve with this.”

  “Any time!” Most of tonight’s fish and seafood probably came from her restaurant supplier, because she could get it so much fresher than they could.

  “If calamari isn’t your thing,” he looked directly at Carmella who looked a little worried, “you can pass on this course. But I hope you’ll at least give it a try. For this year’s Feast, I made stuffed calamari with red sauce.” Because the dish was too hot to pass, he went around the table serving it individually. He served their parents first, followed by Angelina and Marc, their hosts, and then made it to each of the others until he wound up at Carmella’s chair.

  “Just take one and try it. If you don’t like it, I’ll eat the rest.”

  “I was hoping you’d forgotten about the promise to make me squid for the Feast of the Seven Fishes.”

  “Me? Not a chance. I’ve been looking forward to it.”

  “Okay, just one.”

  He spooned the smaller one onto her plate, not wanting to press his luck. After placing three of the stuffed calamari onto his own, he put the dish back on the warmer on the buffet and took his seat. Carmella stared at the offensive creature on her plate without touching it.

  “Tony, fabulous!” Angelina leaned forward to see him better at the table. “I might have to have this recipe to add it as a special at La Casetta.”

  “Glad you like it. Happy to share.” He’d found it on a web search himself.

  Perhaps if he showed Carm how best to eat it. Tony cut into the breading-stuffed calamari, dredged it through some of the red sauce, and put it in his mouth. Man. This really was good!

  Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as she cut hers in a similar way, only a much smaller piece, and brought the fork into her mouth. He waited. That she’d even taken that small bite warmed his heart. She wanted to please him enough to eat something that didn’t normally appeal to her.

  “Tony, I never thought I’d say this in a million years, but this is actually good.”

  Tony’s ego inflated a million times over. She’d tried and liked it. She finished her piece in one more bite, and he picked up one from his plate to transfer onto hers. “Here, I got an extra for you, just in case.”

  “Thank you so much!”

  After they’d finished this course and someone else was going around the table with their contribution to the meal, he leaned closer and said, “I’m going to have so much fun cooking for you.”

  “We need to find you that dream gas stove if you’re going to introduce me to delightful dishes like this one.”

  The thought of searching for their new home together gave him a sense of excitement. They had so much to look forward to in the years to come. This was only the beginning, but they wouldn’t have to wait a minute to start living together as a married couple.

  Who’d have thought Tony Giardano would be looking forward to settling down with one woman? But he’d found the perfect woman for him. Fortunately, he hadn’t blown it with her. He’d spend the rest of his life making her happy and keeping her safe.

  As he looked around the table, he couldn’t help but think how blessed he was. His blended family shared so much love for each other.

  Well, except that it would be nice if her mama would come over and offer her congratulations at some point. Carmella wasn’t going to be totally happy until that
fence had been mended.

  Mama avoided Carm after dinner when everyone stood around the Christmas tree and sang along to Dean Martin’s Christmas album playing on the stereo. The albums had belonged to Tony’s papa, and after being used in a juke box at daVinci’s pub for a while, they’d come back to Angelina as a wedding gift from Rico.

  Carm tried not to let Mama’s snubbing bother her, but it did. She was certain her mother would come around eventually but didn’t like the pall it had put on the beginning of their marriage.

  They still had more than an hour before they’d all head to town for midnight Mass. Tony said it was a must for his mother, and Carm’s parents would have been at Mass tonight too if back in Aspen. She looked forward to turning in afterward. This had been the longest day.

  “Hey, everyone,” Tony announced, “who wants to watch the video of our wedding?”

  Really, Tony? Do you think rubbing their noses in it is a good idea?

  But the chorus of those saying they’d love to see it drowned out any qualms she might have.

  In the media room, extra chairs had been brought in to accommodate those who didn’t get one of the comfy recliners. Tony and Marc worked out the mechanics of it all, and soon the Maroon Bells from last night showed on the big screen.

  Tony looked so handsome in his uniform. He came to where she stood in the back of the room and wrapped his arm around her as he narrated. “We wanted to make our vows as the sun was setting.”

  “You look so handsome in your uniform, A.J.” His mama sounded a little choked up, but she smiled as she watched.

  “Carmella, you look stunning in that dress and jacket,” Angelina remarked.

  “Thank you. We didn’t have much time to pull it together because we made the decision to do this on Saturday and the wedding was Monday. But I loved that I found that jacket and veil to go with my dress.”

  “The red was a perfect choice,” her new sister added. “It pops against the snow.”

  The words they spoke were fairly clear until that gust of wind came through and blew her veil into her face. At the same time, she noticed an orb of light almost dancing around her.