Page 3 of Love Him Like Water
A ceasefire in the form of a marriage contract.
I watched as the rings were passed to the priest to bless, then as he nodded toward Renzo, who turned to face me.
I didn’t seem to remember to offer him my hand, so he reached downward toward it, having to pry it away from my other one, the touch an electric current I felt all the way up my arm, though he seemed entirely unaffected.
“I, Renzo Christopher Lombardi, take you, Lore Ann Costa, to be my lawfully wedded wife,” he said, and the silence in the cathedral made me wonder if the congregation could hear the frantic hammering of my heart at those words. “To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, ‘till death parts us.”
Suddenly, I felt a shock of cool as the wedding band slid on my finger, caging in the engagement ring that had shown up at my father’s door the day after news got around that I agreed to marry Renzo.
The priest cleared his throat, making me jolt, realizing I was supposed to be taking the other ring from the priest.
I lifted my shaky hand, worrying that it might drop with all my trembling as the priest started to say the vows I was meant to speak.
I wasn’t even sure anyone other than the three of us could hear me, my voice so small and tinny as I repeated them back.
“I, Lore Ann Costa, take you, Renzo Christopher Lombardi, to be my lawfully wedded husband.”
In the pews, my family shifted uncomfortably, their jaws set tight, and I realized the priest had skipped over the part of the ceremony about anyone having objections. As if he knew half of the people in attendance would feel the need to stand and make their concerns known.
“To have and to hold from this day forward for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, ‘till death parts us.”
At the last second, I remembered to slide the ring up Renzo’s large finger, barely even paying attention to the priest, I was so focused on the task.
“You have declared your consent before the Church. May the Lord in His goodness strengthen your consent and fill you both with His blessings. What God has joined, men must not divide. Amen.”
He did not demand the groom kiss the bride.
And a moment I’d been waiting for and thinking of for longer than I would ever dare admit never happened.
Renzo’s hand merely grabbed mine, nearly crushing it in his strength, and pulled me back up the aisle I’d just walked down moments before, through the cathedral, and toward the intimidating wooden doors, then out into the crisp autumn air.
He said nothing.
And I was too busy choking on the heart lodged in my throat to do so either as he pulled me down the stone steps, then led me toward a waiting black SUV where a man stood near the open door.
Not sure what other choice I had, I climbed awkwardly inside, gathering my train just in time for the door to slam, closing me in, leaving me alone yet again as my groom climbed in the front with the driver.
There was no divider between the seats, but the men might as well have been a world away, not seeming to notice my presence at all as I watched out the darkened window to see my family emerge from the church, heads pivoting from side to side, trying to find me.
But we were already pulling away from the curb.
Tears stung my eyes, and I had no choice but to squeeze them closed to prevent them from spilling down my cheeks as the car swerved into traffic, making my jangled nerves scatter even more.
What had I been expecting?
That he might see me there in my wedding gown and suddenly fall in love with me?
This was a business arrangement to Renzo.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
He didn’t know…
He couldn’t, I reminded myself, cutting off those thoughts, knowing they would only make my efforts at stemming the flow of tears fail.
I had no idea what Renzo Lombardi expected from a wife.