Page 84 of The Vow
Carmelo cleared his throat. “I mean, we have plenty of plans, first thing’s first, Lena’s going to finish her last semester at the university-”
Jovan went to open his mouth but Carmelo plowed on firmly. “Yes, and that will give me time to give notice on my apartment, and find a new place for us to live. Then by the time she graduates she can come back here, live with me, run the North Cali operations-”
“It will need to have enough space for all of her clothes, hmm?” Camilla arrived on the scene, embracing and kissing Lena delicately and then coming in to greet Carmelo in the same way. She kissed inappropriately close to his lips and her hands lingered on his lower back longer than necessary. Cool, batting away advances from the mother-in-law, a new challenge for Carmelo to manage on top of everything else, he thought to himself with a wry grin.
“Yes, we’ll find somewhere nice-”
“With security?” her father prompted.
Lena waved her hand, swatting away their concerns. “Yes, of course, all of that. Don’t worry.”
Pina then peered around them all mischievously. “God, I’m jealous! When do I get a husband to find me an apartment with walk-in closets and a concierge?”
“Er, I didn’t agree to walk-in closets-” Carmelo tried to say but Jovan spoke over him.
“Arpina, since we’re all here together, now seems like the perfect time to tell you…” Jovan paused, and wiped his mouth on his napkin. Everyone waited with bated breath.
Pina lost her patience first. “Yes? Tell me what? What is it?” she snapped.
Jovan took his sweet time, clearly enjoying making his impatient, impulsive daughter wait a little.
“Oh Jovan, you are a tease.” Camilla cracked, too, swatting him lightly.
“Tell me what?” Pina said again, on the edge of her seat.
Jovan cleared his throat. “I’ve found you a husband.”
Everyone blinked.
“What?” Pina said, shakily, caught off-guard.
“Yes, my darling, you have been hounding me to marry you off and I think I have found an excellent match for you-”
“Really? Me? Getting married, a husband?” Pina looked ecstatic. “Is he rich, is he handsome?”
Camilla chuckled and tucked a loose strand of hair behind Pina’s ear. “Oh my darling, you are happy?”
“Yes!” Pina exclaimed.
Carmelo tossed a glance at Lena, who looked horrified. “Isn’t she a bit young for this?” Lena hissed.
Camilla scowled at her oldest daughter. “Just because you weren’t ready, doesn’t mean she isn’t.”
Jovan held up his hand as Pina began to jump around whooping. Like a little girl being told she was going to Disneyland. Huh, Carmelo almost laughed out loud at the irony.
“I’m getting married! I’m getting married!” Pina whooped in a singsong voice.
Someone in the MC whooped back.
“Don’t worry Lena, we are planning a long engagement, a period of courtship if you will, six months this time before the actual wedding day itself…”
Carmelo gulped, six months was not nearly long enough in his opinion, he was thinking more like six years was a better length of time, until Arpina was mature enough.
Pina stoppedjumping. “Six months?”
Camilla took over, she was clearly very excited about whatever plans her and Jovan had cooked up.
“Yes, my darling, we have rented you a condo so you can be nearby, it is in Las Vegas-”