Chapter 37 Ariele

I was excited and nervous at the same time because I was going to meet Eric's parents for the first time. The cold weather in Italy made me choose a warmer and more comfortable outfit. I opted for a gray wool sweater, a black flared skirt, and dark tights. I completed the look with low-heeled black boots and a brown leather jacket.

As soon as I arrived at Eric's parents' house, I was greeted with a warm hug from his mother and a firm handshake from his father.

"This is my beautiful fiancée, Ariele," Eric said, smiling.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ariele," Eric's mother said, giving me a warm hug.

"The pleasure is mine, ma'am," I replied, smiling back.

Eric's father looked me up and down before saying,

"So, you're the woman my son wants to marry. I hope you're up to his standards."

I felt a chill down my spine, but I took a deep breath and replied,

"I will do my best, sir."

Eric noticed that I was nervous and pulled me closer to him.

"Don't worry, love, everything will be fine," he said, giving me a kiss on the forehead.

I felt my heart calm down a bit with his words. We spent some time talking with his parents, and I felt like I was doing well. Eric looked at me with pride in his eyes.

During lunch, we were served various traditional Italian dishes, such as bruschettas, pasta with fresh tomato and basil sauce, arugula salad with sun-dried tomatoes and parmesan cheese, and a delicious local red wine. I had never tasted so much delicious food in one place.

During the meal, we talked about our lives and future plans, while Eric's parents shared the history of the family and how they kept Italian traditions alive. I felt very welcomed and comfortable in that house.

After lunch, we went to the living room, and Eric's mother offered to help me with the wedding preparations. She seemed very excited about the idea, and I thanked her wholeheartedly. I was starting to feel like a part of their family.

At the end of the day, we were all happy and satisfied with the lunch. I thanked everyone for their hospitality and the delicious dishes. It was a very special day, and I felt like I had gained new friends and a new family.

The weekend had been perfect, and when Monday came, I arrived at my grandfather's house with a smile on my face, happy to spend time with my family. I found my mother in the kitchen preparing tea and hugged her tightly. She seemed different, more relaxed and happy.

While we had tea, my grandfather joined us, and we started talking about life, future plans, and how I was feeling. I was loving these afternoons with them, they were becoming frequent, and I was getting to know them better.

During the afternoon, my grandfather showed me the garden, filled with colorful flowers and exotic plants.

At the end of the day, we had dinner together at a table filled with delicious Italian food. We talked about my life with Eric, and my grandfather seemed happy to see that I had found someone who made me happy.

After dinner, my mother showed me photos of her recent trip to Europe and told me about the amazing places she had visited. It was a wonderful evening; she was retired but still lived in a chalet that was given to her by my father. Today, my grandfather understands why, but I felt grateful to have such a loving family. I had nothing, and suddenly, I had people who loved me and cared about me.

When it was time to leave, my grandfather gave me a strong hug and said he would always be there for me. I knew I could count on him and my mother to support me in everything I needed. I left my grandfather's house with a heart full of love and gratitude.

I woke up early the next morning, still a bit sleepy but excited to start the day. I chose a dark pair of jeans and a light pink long-sleeved blouse, feeling comfortable yet elegant.

When I entered the room, Toni was waiting for me with a frown on her face. I knew she was still upset about the wedding between Eric and me, and I couldn't blame her. I approached her and asked how she was, and she responded with a grunt.

I smiled and started helping her choose an outfit for school. She resisted, and I knew it was because of Cassandra, her mother, who still held hope of being with Eric.

I picked a green blouse she liked and began helping her put it on. While I adjusted her clothes, I continued the conversation about the situation with Cassandra. I wanted her to understand that Eric and I were together, and there was no room for anyone else.

I noticed that Toni still had a sad look on her face, so I knelt down to her level. I held her face in my hands and told her that she would always be important to me, even though I now had other responsibilities due to my position in the mafia.

I knew it wouldn't be easy for Toni to accept this new reality, but I promised her that I would always be present in her life and love and care for her as if she were my own daughter. She finally smiled at me, and I knew that, at least for now, she was okay.

In the afternoon, I was in the kitchen preparing dinner when Toni walked in, still upset with me.

"What's wrong now, Toni?" I asked, turning to face her.

"I don't want to talk to you," she replied, crossing her arms.

"This won't solve anything. What's bothering you?" I asked, getting down to her level.

"You don't care about my mom," she said, tears in her eyes. "You're always with Uncle Eric, and you never have time for me, and now you're going to marry him."

I sighed, trying to remain calm.

"I've been trying to be friendly with your mom, but she's been very difficult. And I'm always here for you, right?"

"But you're going to marry Uncle Eric and leave," she replied, her voice trembling. "I don't want you to go."

I approached her and hugged her.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'll still be here for you, even after I get married. And your mom will get used to the idea, you'll see."

Toni sighed and pulled away from me.

"I hope you're right."

I knew it would be difficult, but I was willing to do my best to help Toni accept my relationship with Eric and understand that I would still be present in her life. In our own way, Toni and I had become very close, and I didn't think she could be afraid of being abandoned by me.

Honestly, I didn't know if Eric planned to move to a new house, but I couldn't leave Toni behind. It was a matter I wanted to discuss with him. Even though we got along well, my eyes were opened in my last conversation with my mother.

"Ariele, you're too young to marry the first person who comes along. You've just left the convent and need more time to get to know yourself before committing to someone," my mother said, her face filled with concern.

"Mom, I love Eric, and I've made my decision. I can't just give him up because you don't agree," I replied, trying to stay calm.

"But Ariele, you barely know him. What if he's not the right person for you? What about your future? Where will you two live after marriage? With Eric's sister?" my mother asked with a worried tone.

"Mom, I know Eric is the right person for me. And I don't care where we'll live as long as we're together. We'll figure everything out together," I replied with confidence.

"But Ariele, you need a place of your own, where you can build your own life and family," my mother argued.

"Mom, I understand what you're saying, but it's not how I see things. I want to build a life with Eric, no matter where we are. I hope you can understand that," I said, trying to explain my feelings.

My mother sighed and seemed to think for a moment before responding.

"All right, Ariele. I just want you to be happy. If you think Eric is the right person for you, then I support your decision," she finally said.

"Thank you, Mom. I know I can count on your support," I replied, feeling relieved to have my mother's blessing.

These conversations with my mother made me see things from a different perspective, and it was good to have her advice.