Page 15 of Mafia and Protector
“You’re too slow to get me,” challenged Nate to his sister, who responded by chasing him around the room.
“Okay, anyone under the age of twenty out of my room so I can finish getting ready!” I loved the twins, however you never knew if they were going to be getting on like best friends or fighting like arch-enemies.
When the door finally closed, shutting out the voices of the twins, it was just Gabriel and I left in my bedroom. I finished putting on my bowtie.
“You look good,” commented Gabriel, looking over at me.
My black tuxedo was edged with a thin trim of red, which went with the red roses I had sent this morning to Jessica for her bouquet. It was customary in Italian families for their groom to choose the bouquet as a gift to his bride.
“Thanks, bro,” I replied. “I think I’ll do.”
Gabriel raised an eyebrow at me. “Any nerves about today?”
I exhaled. “I just hope she doesn’t try to ignore me like she did at the engagement dinner.”
“She was probably just nervous.”
“I get that she is young and only eighteen years old, but we spoke when I gave her the ring and she seemed pretty mature then. I don’t want a silly, childish schoolgirl as my wife. We’ve got enough shit going on with the business and I don’t want to be coming back to immature dramas at home.”
“She’s always seemed pretty quiet to me,” remarked Gabriel.
“As if you’ve ever paid any attention to her. Your mind and eyes were always on Juliana.”
“That ship has sailed,” replied Gabriel curtly.
“Has it? How was it seeing her that night a couple of weeks ago when she came to see Jessica?”
“It was weird, I have to admit, but she’s gone now, so there’s no point discussing it further.” That was typical of Gabriel. He compartmentalized his life and even his feelings—nothing got in the way of the Società or business.
“At least Jessica won’t be able to totally ignore me today. She’ll have to talk to me to make her vows at the altar.”
“Unless she decides to refuse you.”
“And why would she do that? She knows how much her family wants this union.”
“She’d be mad to refuse you, but women are a strange breed.”
“Gee, thanks for the pep talk. Isn’t a groomsman supposed to bolster my spirits?”
“You’ll be fine, Raf. You know I’m always here for you.”
“Thanks, man.” We embraced each other and then it was time to drive to the church.
The twins insisted on coming in the same car as Gabriel and me, and we had to put up with them bickering all the way to the church. “Do you two ever stop?” I asked my younger siblings.
“He started it,” huffed Nancia. “He said that I look dumb in my dress.”
“Hey, Nate, that’s no way to speak to a lady,” I admonished.
“She’s not a lady. She’s just a girl.”
“Iwillbe a lady one day, so you should speak to me with the respect I deserve,” replied Nancia in a haughty tone.
“You don’t deserve any respect wearing a dress like that,” muttered her twin. “I deserveyourrespect as your elder.”
“You’re only older than me by seven minutes—that doesn’t even count,” disagreed Nancia.
I was glad when we arrived at the church. We all got out of the car, and Gabriel and I shook hands with various Underbosses and Captains before entering the historic church where we were met by the sight of a circus in full swing.