75. The Wedding (Part 1)-1

Adele was feeling nervous as she was looking at her reflection in the mirror. She was looking at herself in a white dress that she didn't think she was going to wear that soon. The dress was beautiful and her hair was looking perfect after the finishing touches of a stylist. There was only Adele, Georgina and Anna in the room. They were her bridesmaids whom were now standing at either side of her with their beautiful golden dresses explaining to her slowly what was exactly going to happen when they walked down the stairs. It was almost time to leave the mansion and get into the cars to drive away to the church. Adele was trying to pay attention and listen but it was hard to focus. She turned around and looked at them smiling and nodding but inside her there was a battle. She was listening but her mind was elsewhere. She had never felt this way before. It was a strange feeling. She felt excited but she was scared too. She was going to be married that day. She knew a lot was going to change for her. To start life with Francesco as his wife was going to be different and she was petrified but she couldn't wait for them to say their wedding vows. She had doubts and fears but they did not suppress how happy and excited she felt. Suddenly the three women were startled as a knock came on the door and Francesco's voice boomed "Adele, are you in there? I need to talk to you." Anna walked to the door and unlocked it. She opened the door half way and spoke "Hi cousin. You must wait at the church. She is coming in the next car." Georgina walked behind Anna and spoke "Yes sir, you need to take your leave." Francesco looked past Anna at Georgina " Is that so?" Georgina gulped and felt Francesco's stare intimidating her making her lose the will to talk back. Anna sighed "Look. It's tradition. I am sorry." Francesco turned to Anna "You and Georgina go down stairs now. I did not say I need to see her. I said I need to talk to her... alone." He emphasised on the word alone leaving no room for arguments. Anna sighed and turned to Georgina "Let's go." Adele watched Georgina and Anna leave as she was frozen in her spot. Her heart was ponding in her chest. What if Francesco came inside? She didn't want Francesco to see her. She wasn't superstitious to think it was bad luck but she just wanted Francesco to see her for the first time as she walked down to him at the aisle at the church. It felt right to do it that way. As the girls left. Adele heard Francesco "Adele, are you alright?" Adele walked to the door slowly and stood behind the half open door as she whispered "Yes, I am fine." She heard him take a deep breath from where he was behind the door. "Do you still want to marry me?" Adele couldn't help laugh and her words came out in a shaky tone "Of course. I have lost count how many times you have asked me if I am sure, this week. Why would I not want to marry you? I am suspicious. Have you found another girl you want to marry and trying to get rid of me?" Francesco leaned to the door handle and spoke "Sweetheart, I am serious. It is not too late. If this is not what you want, you can cancel this wedding. I would wait as long as you need. I will wait patiently and try to make you love me enough to marry me. I know I want this more than you do. You can't deny that." Adele took a deep breath "I want to marry you. I know once I marry you, life as a couple would be treating us differently but I want it. I want to share my life with you Francesco. I don't ever want to walk away from this marriage." Adele could feel Francesco relaxing as the door handle was let go off and Francesco sighed in relief "You mean it sweetheart? I hope you do. I could never let you go. I want you by my side for eternity. I love you so much .... but I love you enough to give you time to adjust to me. I need you to be sure......." Adele cut him off as she leaned to the wall next to the door looking at the ceiling "I am sure. You have proven to me that you trust me to be faithful to you and you have proven that I can trust you to be faithful to me. Trust and having faith in each other is all we need in this marriage beside love." Francesco spoke cautiously "Are you telling me you have no doubts at all?" Adele sighed "I don't have doubts. Do you?" She was worried about the answer. It was Francesco's turn to laugh "Sweetheart. Why would I have doubts? I have dreamt of this day ever since I have met you. The thought of marrying you brightened my darkest moments. Now, today is not a dream any more. It is real.... I wish you could read my mind and see how much you make me happy by returning my affections. You are just so perfect. I feel like I am dreaming. How can I be hours away from starting married life with you?" Adele bit her lip " It's less than an hour...." Francesco asked " You sound worried sweetheart. Are you nervous?" Adele couldn't hide the truth " I am. Marriage is not a normal convenant. What if I become a bad wife or a bad mother? I don't want to fail." Francesco spoke " Don't be scared sweetheart. You will be an amazing wife and a wonderful mother. I know you will be. Whatever happens we will move forward together." Adele spoke shakily " What if we face tough situations we can't deal with? What if we can't withstand all the hurt..." Francesco spoke reassuringly " There will be times that our marriage would be tested. There will be hurdles, grief, betrayal of friends and more just like how there would be happy days too. But we will remain faithful to each other and will hold one another's hand through the tough times and the joyful days. There will be plenty of pain. Life is full of pain but sweetheart, we will stand together. No matter what happens we will always have each other until death comes but even then our children will have god parents. O'Neils and Agostinis are on our side. I can't guarantee that there won't be threats and pain but I can assure you I have done what I can to put measures in place to reduce the damage to our family. I will protect our family until my last breath with all I have. We can do this Adele. Together." Adele had taken a step closer and was now standing next to the door knowing Francesco was inches apart from her at the other side of the door. She could hear his breathing. Adele then spoke " Thank you Francesco. I don't know why I am nervous. I can't help it. But your words do reassure me more." Adele then saw a velvet box appearing through the door way. Francesco held the box up through the door "I want you to try on this necklace. I am not sure if you even want to wear any jewelry at the wedding but I thought I present this to you either way." Adele smiled and took the box. She opened the box and gasped "Wow, it is so beautiful. When did you get the chance to buy me a necklace.?" Francesco spoke from the other side of the door "I did not buy it. It was given to me... by my mother. This is a family necklace passed down through generations. My mother received it from her mother and her mother received it from her grandmother. Mothers pass it on to their daughters at their wedding days. But my mother of course has no daughter so she wants to give it to her daughter in law. You don't have to wear it. But you can. I know you said, you don't like to wear jewellery today because you want the engagement ring and wedding ring to be all you wear but I thought I pass this on.... I just went to see my mother now and she gave this to me." Adele caught on the sad tone in his voice "Francesco. What else did she say except giving the necklace to you?"