Chapter 252 252

Chapter 252 252
CATERINA

“Everything's all set.”

Tatiana comes flying into her room, a tablet balanced in one hand.

The past few days, I would swear that damn thing was permanently attached to her. It contains her many lists, phone numbers, email addresses, and schedules. There’s even a spreadsheet complete with a cost breakdown for Gianni to review.

I would never complain. She’s her old self again, vibrant and alive and bossy. Seeing her like this, hearing the strength and excitement in her voice, reminds me how much I’ve missed this side of her.

“You really should consider being a wedding planner.” I grin at her in the mirror when she finally looks up from the device and rolls her eyes. “I'm serious. You'd make a killing at it.”

“Eh. I don't know if I would care half as much if the wedding was for a couple of strangers.”
“I want you to know I appreciate all the work you've put into this. Seriously, everything you've put together in a week?” I'm still not sure how she did it.

Though I did overhear her bullying the hell out of some poor florist and reminding them of the rush fee they charged.

I guess she had a point. When you pay a rush fee, you expect results. And the results are stunning—I've only gotten a few glimpses of the archway they constructed on the lawn off the patio, but what I saw was breathtaking. Like our bouquets and boutonnieres for the men, there's an array of cream, red, orange, and yellow roses to fit a fall theme. My bouquet is entirely cream, while hers is red, and both are so lush and fragrant I can't help but take a sniff every time I get a chance.

“How are you feeling? The dress isn't too tight, is it?”

I run a hand over the bodice of my white satin dress. Its lace overlay conceals the fact that I've gotten a little thicker around the middle—I haven't popped yet, but I'm starting to put on a little bit of weight. “It's great. If we had waited another week, that might be a different story.”
Standing, I take in my reflection in the full length mirror behind the bedroom door. The sleek, sleeveless satin flows over my body like it was poured in liquid form. The overlay’s sleeves run the length of my arms and the entire piece features pearl and glass beads that shimmer ever so slightly when I move.

Tatiana adds another pin to the elaborate updo created by the stylists who came in earlier. It's studded with beads matching those on the lace, and it makes me feel regal.Me. Regal. “I swear, I keep thinking I'm going to wake up and this will all have been a dream,” I confess as she inserts the comb attached to a short, lace veil.

She then gently wraps her arms around my waist and grins over my shoulder. “I'll pinch you, if you want.Stepmom.” That is so strange to hear, and I know she only says it to tease me. I might technically be her stepmother once the ceremony is finished, but she’s always going to be the best friend who defended me against a bully the day we met. I’m just glad she’s not angry and would rather tease me over my new position in her life.

“No, thanks.” Turning, I can't help but admire how beautiful she looks today—and much healthier than I've seen her in a long time. I'm not going to fool myself into believing all she needed was something to take her mind off things. I mean, that could be true, but that would also mean that once the wedding is over, she could go back to her depression. I don't want to imagine that happening.
Instead, I’d rather take in how the burgundy A-line dress sets off her blond curls and makes her green eyes sparkle. “I think we have a problem.”
Right away, her brows draw together. “What? I figured everything out down to the last detail. Don’t tell me somebody decided to fuck with my plans.”

“More like you’re too pretty to be my maid of honor,” I giggle while she gapes in shock. “You’ll upstage me.”

“I could strangle you.” She appears to think about it, though, and shakes her head. “No, then this will all have been for nothing. And I’ve already threatened to strangle my father twice today.”
“How is he doing?”
She blows out a frustrated sigh. “Please. He wants to act like this is all no big deal, but he's been on edge all day and can’t stop double checking every single detail, like I’m suddenly an idiot.”

“Oh! I thought he was feeling relaxed with you in the driver's seat.”

She lifts a shoulder, sighing. “He wants everything to be perfect for you, just like I do, but he's not exactly, you know, skilled at sharing his true feelings.”

“No way. I'm shocked.” When we laugh together, it feels like the old days. Like I have the old Tatiana back. I hope that's true. I don't want to think of spending the rest of my life without her. It’s bad enough she’s running off with Roger first thing tomorrow morning–but she’ll be back. And we can be a family, finally.

The soft knock at the door sends her scurrying to stop whoever’s on the other side. “You can't see the bride before the wedding, Dad. We talked about this.”

“I’m a dad, but not that one.”

She throws the door open, laughing. “Oh, that's okay, then.” She whistles in appreciation, giving Dad a thumbs up. “I have to say, you look good in a tux, Mr. Cole.”

He chuckles and brushes invisible lint off his shoulder. “Thank you, Tatiana. You look very nice tonight.”

She steps aside to give me a full look at him, and right away my throat clogs with emotion. He does look good—very good, almost like the young man from his wedding pictures. He’s come a long way from the mess he became. Pride swells in my chest when I think of how much it must take for him to look as genuinely happy and hopeful as he does today.

His breath catches when he sees me, and right away his eyes start to water. Tatiana clears her throat, offering me a meaningful look before saying, “I'd better get outside. God only knows how things might fall apart if I'm not around to keep everybody in line.”

That leaves Dad and me alone. “How do I look?” I whisper, doing a full turn for him.

“Like a princess,” he chokes out. “I told myself I wouldn't get emotional, but that was before I saw you in that dress. You're so grown-up, and stunning.”

“Thank you.”

“I'm only telling you the truth.”

“That's not what I meant. Thank you for being here. Thank you for loving me enough to care as much as you do—even when I've disagreed with you, I know you were coming from the right place. I need you to know I understand that.”

“And I need you to understand I'm always going to care first and foremost about you. I see how happy you are today and I know this is the right thing. This is what you need. I'm just glad I get to be a part of it.”
He makes a move like he wants to give me a hug, but holds himself back. “I don't want to ruin you.”
“I don't think you could.” I wrap him in a tight hug, eyes closed, hoping to hold this moment for as long as possible. No anger, no resentment, no fear. Just the two of us together one last time before I become an official Rossetti.

“Are you ready for this?” he asks and he lets me go.

“Very.” And I mean it. I mean it with all my heart, with every fiber of me. I'm ready to be Gianni's wife. I want the world to know we belong to each other, that I'm by his side no matter what.

It's nearing seven o'clock, go time. I touch up my makeup once more before Tatiana hurries into the room. “Everything’s ready. Are you good?”
I only hand over her bouquet. “Let's do this.” Dad takes my arm once we step into the hall outside Tatiana's room, and with her leading away we walk through her wing to the exit closest to the backyard. It was either this or go through the kitchen, but that seemed like a bad idea with Sheryl finishing the wedding dinner we’ll eat after the ceremony.

At first, I stop short of stepping out into the night. “Whoa.” It's like something from a fairy tale. I knew Tatiana worked miracles, but I didn't expect this. There are white fairy lights strung in the bushes and trees. A white runner starts at the door and leads to the arch, flanked on both sides by flickering pillar candles on stands. There are rose petals strewn the runner's length, leading to the spectacular floral arch and the dozens of lights and candles arranged around it. The sun is setting, the last streaks of pink and purple on the western horizon, and altogether the effect is breathtaking.

It’s all beautiful but there’s nothing more breathtaking than the sight of the man waiting for me under the arch. I've never seen him look as handsome as he does in his black tux with its cream rose to match the flowers in my bouquet. Roger stands behind him, and even he is smiling in a way I've never seen before. Like a genuine, happy smile. Yet another miracle.

It's Gianni I can't take my eyes off of as Dad walks me down the makeshift aisle. This is it. Everything's been leading up to this very moment. It might feel inevitable now, but I can't pretend there weren't moments when I wondered if we'd ever reach this place. So many reasons why this moment might never have come—close calls, fights, lies. Maybe that's what makes this so sweet now, the sense of our happiness being earned. We both fought hard to get to this place.

I wonder if Gianni is thinking the same thing as we approach slowly while the wedding march plays through a speaker hidden somewhere. I wonder if he's thinking back how far we've come. Either that, or he's reflecting on how he knew all along that this was where we would end up. That's the thing about him. He always knows exactly what he wants and stops at nothing until he gets it.

How lucky am I that it was me he decided he wanted? Dad says I look like a princess—I feel like one, too, practically floating over the rose petals under my feet. I almost want to look down to make sure I'm even touching the ground.

This is it. No going back now. Not that I want to. Not when I finally know exactly where I need to be, now and always.