74. Family Ties & Weddings (Part 5)-1

Francesco was walking alone around his grandfather's property breathing in the scent of roses in the gardens and fresh rain on the ground and soaking up the sun. It was a beautiful day. He couldn't ask for a more beautiful day on his wedding. But his thoughts were too occupied to enjoy the variation of scenery on his grandfathers' property. Francesco was thinking about his wedding and how it was going to proceed. Many thoughts came to his mind. Was this wedding good enough for Adele? He hoped so. But his angel had given him her approval. Francesco admitted to himself that he didn't mind the wedding in Sicily either. If someone had asked Francesco where he preferred to have his wedding he would have said anywhere that didn't have too many bad memories attached. When he came to think of it, a wedding in Sicily that Adele had agreed on was in some ways fitting since he didn't have any bad memories from Sicily that he didn't want to revisit. His Sicilian family had never done anything to change his family's life. They had never taken a step to make his family's life better but they hadn't made it worse either. They hadn't stopped the divorce and hadn't picked on how violent Paulo Rosario could get with his family if he was displeased. But they hadn't thrown obstacles in Francesco's life either. So he felt at peace. There were some fond memories he had of this place he could recall. Francesco was smiling as he was walking past olive trees planted around a beautiful path that lead to a water fountain as though walking through memory lane. This used to be the spot where he hung out with boys his age. There was a pool around the fountain down the path that was massive enough to swim in. When his father was doing business with his allies, Francesco used to hang out with sons of those men his father did business with. The boys used to dive into the water and enjoy the sun for hours and hours splashing water around. Francesco smiled at his memories of the summer holidays at this property. He used to love getting his expensive clothes wet alongside others and run or cycle with his peers to the near by town buying gelato and pastries while their clothes dried under the heat of the Sicilian summer sun. They used to eat any sweet delicacies in town that couldn't be found elsewhere and raced back to the property only to skip meals and Mama Adriana to complain why the boys weren't eating enough. Those were good moments and none of them included his father. Francesco's father was almost always in meetings when he was at the Don's mansion and when he was not, he never even bothered to do what other fathers did. He never bothered to play baseball or football with Francesco or Costanzo like how other fathers did. There used to be teams of sons against their fathers playing ball and Paulo Rosario was never one of those fathers preferring drinking with his brother Piero in the shade while other fathers were playing and women were having picnics. Paulo Rosario was a cold father, a dangerous father, a controlling father, a father that Francesco despised, a father that Francesco wanted to have nothing to do with and of course Paulo Rosario was a father who Francesco wanted to never resemble in any way in terms of how he treated family. He was determined that when he started a family he was not going to be like his father. Francesco so badly wanted to make his father realise what he had done to his family was wrong. He wanted to marry Adele and live a prosperous life alongside her. He wanted to raise his children with care and love proving his father wrong that he was nothing like him. He wanted his wife and children to truly feel loved by him and never fear him or feel threatened by him. He wanted to make sure his father saw what he had lost amongst other plans that were forming in his mind. Once Francesco reached the fountain, he stopped and stared at the water sparkling under the sun. He closed his eyes and pictured himself in a few years time with Adele living a happy life with children who were loved and felt loved.... It was his dream. It was a dream he was eager to achieve above anything else he ever wanted. Francesco then opened his eyes as he heard O'Neil's voice from behind him calling out "Francesco, here you are. I have been looking for you..." Francesco kept looking at the fountain as he spoke with a firm voice " Where have you been? You have kept me waiting on my wedding day. What kind of best man are you? Maybe I should demote you." O'Neil reached Francesco and laughed as he wrapped his arm around Francesco's shoulder " Oh, if you demote me I would wrestle you into this fountain right here. Come on. Who will you replace me with if you demote me from my position as your best man? Will you replace me with that indecisive, stubborn, love sick brother of yours? Really? Him? Or will you pick your traitorous cousin who is not leaving his dear father's side acting as his bodyguard. Is that his new job? Guarding his father? Lets face it, your family is messed up. I am all you have when you want someone to rely on with your ring that you want to put on Adele's finger." Francesco sighed and mirrored his friends action putting his hand on his shoulder " I know that..." He then walked away from him to the fountain. Francesco sat down at the edge of the pool facing O'Neil. He took out a velvet box from his pocket and offered it to O'Neil " Don't lose it." O'Neil walked to Francesco and sat down next to him as he took the box " I will guard it with my life." He then opened the box and nodded " Wow. This is a nice ring. You have good taste in rings just like your good taste in women. You just choose a woman who is one of a kind and this ring is one of a kind too. I have never seen a ring like this before." He then closed the box and put it in his pocket. Francesco spoke " Is everything in order? I have checked the security that the Don and my uncle Pietro have put in place. It all seems perfect. Did you find any weaknesses anywhere?" O'Neil shook his head " No. I haven't found any weaknesses. Your grandpa has military men working for him. No one will get past the layers of security he has put in place. So you can enjoy your day and you will not need to be worrying for any security issues. You will enjoy your day. Right? Promise me you will." Francesco looked at O'Neil " What do you think? Of course I will enjoy today. Nothing will ruin today for me." O'Neil spoke carefully " Really? Are you sure about that? How are you holding up? You can tell me the truth. You are marrying Adele today but I know you have so much on your mind. Tell me what is on your mind right now?" Francesco sighed " Read my mind." O'Neil spoke " Alright. If you insist. But you can't object if the truth hurts. I don't sugar coat my words often. You know me.... I say .... you are feeling .... betrayed right now...." Francesco raised an eyebrow as he spoke in a sarcastic tone " Really? I am shocked to hear you think that..." He then laughed to himself " Go on."