Page 45 of Resolution
“Seriously,” Enzo assures her.
“As I was saying…” Erin does her best to get control of this boisterous crowd. “I couldn’t be happier for the two of you. I wish you both the best of luck and love. So, let’s raise our glass to the bride and groom. Here’s to the happy couple.”
It was hard to sleep alone last night, but Sara insisted he sleep in her house the night before our wedding. Enzo only agreed because he knew he couldn’t sleep next to me another night without making love to me.
As I lie in bed contemplating the day to come, I can’t help but feel giddy. I’m getting married today. Sure, I’ve been here before, but this feels different. I get out bed, take a shower, and get dressed in clothes that can easily be slipped off, in place of my wedding dress later. Maddie, Frankie, and I are meeting Lexi at the hair salon to get our hair done in a couple of hours. Enzo melted my heart when he asked Declan if he would like to stay the night with him at his parents. He thought they’d hang out and get ready for the wedding together.
On the way to the salon, Frankie asks, “Mom, are you ready to get married?”
“I sure am, honey.” I flip my blinker on to turn at the light.
“Well, how do you know you’re ready?”
Maddie breaks in, “That’s a silly question, squirt.”
“No, it’s really not,” I defend. “I know I’m ready to marry Enzo because he loves me as well as you kids, more than life itself. He’s proven through both his actions and words that he’ll never do anything to intentionally hurt us and that he has all of our best interests in mind. There’s also this undescribed feeling of happiness when I’m around him. It’s been there from the start, and I doubt it will ever go away,” I answer honestly.
“But didn’t you feel that way with Daddy?” Frankie sincerely asks.
“Yes. I loved your dad.” Not that I want to talk about this on my wedding day, but I have to be as honest as I can with my kids. “We loved each other for a very long time. But eventually, we wanted different things out of life and it didn’t work out. If I’m being honest, a part of me will always love him. He gave me you kids.”
Maddie surprises me by joining in the conversation, “Are you ever worried that might happen with Enzo?”
Geesh… it’s not even nine in the morning and they’re already bringing out the big guns. I take a deep breath and think of how to explain. “It’s a possibility. But if I focus on the ‘what-ifs’ of life, I’ll never be happy. I’m older now and so is Enzo. We’ve both had a lifetime of experiences that have made us who we’ve become today. We also both know how things can go awry if you don’t have open communication in a relationship… I could get hit by a bus tomorrow, you never know. You just have faith and trust that love will get you through.”
“I guess that makes sense,” Maddie states and Frankie agrees. “I know that Enzo makes you happier than I’ve ever seen you.”
“Thanks, Maddie. That means more to me than you’ll ever know.”
19
Enzo
I’ve been waiting foreverfor today. Samantha will be my wife before the night is through.Wife. I never thought I’d see the day. If anyone had asked me a year ago what I’d be doing after retirement, I would have bet my last dollar it wouldn’t be this. That’s simply because I had yet to meet Samantha.
I’ve been up since before dawn, waiting to get the day started. I force myself to stay in bed until at least six, to keep from disturbing Declan and my parents. I haven’t slept in my childhood room much over the years, except while visiting on leave. As I look around, I realize Ma hasn’t changed it much. After enlisting, I either packed or took most of my personal belongings with me. Ma’s changed the bedding and added a few pictures to the walls, but for the most part, it’s how I left it over twenty years ago.
There’s a light knock on my door and I answer, “Come in.”
A second later, Declan’s bright eyes peer through a crack in the door. “Did I wake you?” he whispers.
“I’ve been up for about an hour. Come in.” I sit up and pat the edge of my bed since there’s no other place to sit in the room.
Dec looks around the room and spots a few pictures of me that Ma framed and put up over the years. “Is that you?” He stands to take a closer look.
He looks at a picture of me right before I went to the Air Force. My hair is longer, nearly to the tip of my nose in front and tapered to almost cropped in the back. I was scrawny, compared to how I look now. “Yep. It sure is. That’s taken right before I graduated high school.”
“Wow, you haven’t changed much. Well…. You’re bigger, but not in a bad way.” He shakes his head as a chortle escapes and bats his hand in the air at me. “You know what I mean… No offense.”
“None taken. I didn’t bulk up until after basic. Why are you up so early, anyway?”
“I couldn’t sleep… And I’m a little hungry. Granny Sara said she’d make breakfast and I don’t want to miss it.” He shrugs impishly.
“Trust me, Ma won’t let anyone miss breakfast. Let’s go to the kitchen and see if we can get things started.” I push back my covers and grab the shirt I’d worn last night, having slept in pajama pants. Ma keeps her house too damn hot to wear a shirt to bed.
We find Ma in the kitchen with her back to us, making coffee. I walk over and kiss her on the cheek. “Morning. Need any help?”
“Mornin’, love.” She turns and her smile widens as she sees Declan. “You two take a seat at the bar and visit with me while I cook. Did you sleep well, Dec?”
