Page 5 of Little Dark Deeds
“Right before you and Giovanni moved in together, I stopped by one day so we could have ourselves a little chat,” Silas said.
“You did not,” I said.
“I sure did, and I wasn’t alone.”He raised a finger, pointing out a few attendees in the front row.“Your mother was there, as was your stepdad, Harvey, and your Aunt Laura.”
My mother began shaking her head, her face flushed and tense, as if panicked she’d been outed.Harvey smiled, and as for Aunt Laura?She slapped a hand to her knee, belting out a hearty laugh, unfazed.
“Go on, then ...tell us what happened,” Giovanni’s sister said.
“I’m sure you can all guess why the four of us decided to speak to Giovanni that day,” Silas said.“We wanted to get a better feel for the man who had fallen for the woman we care so deeply about.We entered Giovanni’s home not knowing what to expect.And when we left, we looked at each other, and we were all of one accord.I stand before you today, speaking from the heart, and I can say with certainty—we all knew that day that Giovanni and Georgiana were meant to be together.”
More clapping and cheering followed.
When it quieted down, Silas began our vows, starting with the usual, “Do you take Georgiana to be your lawfully wedded wife ...”
Giovanni agreed.
I did the same.
Silas moved through the rest of the traditional vows with one exception.At my behest, he left out the “’til death do us part” part.I never wanted to part, not in life, and not in death.If I had my way, when the day came for us to leave this earthly life, I hoped we’d find ourselves on another plane, or another time, or in another existence.If there was a way back to each other, we’d find it.
The ceremony concluded with Silas saying, “And now, as we celebrate this amazing relationship, the couple has each written vows they’d like to share.Giovanni, why don’t we start with you?”
Giovanni glanced at me, clearing his throat as he took in a deep breath in.“Georgiana, I remember the first time I laid eyes on you.You were sitting beneath the grandest tree at school, dressed in a gingham skirt and a black cardigan.You were barefoot and running your toes through the grass.Your dark hair was pulled into a loose bun, and you were reading a book, paying no heed to the world going on around you.I stood there staring at you for some time.I had no idea why I was so taken aback by you.All I knew was ...I was besotted.I decided then to find out who you were, and once I did, I made some changes to my college schedule.The fact we ended up having a few classes together may have seemed like a coincidence, but it was not.One day, I overheard you telling a classmate that you were looking for a roommate.I stepped in and put you in touch with my sister.The two of you moved in together, and our friendship began.It wasn’t long before I started feeling something more.I wanted to tell you.And now, thinking back on it, I ...I ...I should have ...”
His voice cracked as he struggled to find the words he wanted to say.
He cleared his throat, then continued.
“Five years ago, when you reached out to me, I was given a rare second chance to make something more of my life.The chance to do what I should have done the first time around.And though we hadn’t seen each other in many, many years, being in your presence again, it was like no time had passed, and we picked up right where we left off.Our love story began, and today we turn the page on our new chapter, the chapter of our future.You are everything to me,cara mia, and it is my privilege to be by your side, a place I promise to remain forever.”
He closed his eyes, shedding a few tears, and I reached out, brushing them away.
Silas gave the moment the time it deserved, and then said, “Beautiful words from a beautiful man.And now, Georgiana, I’ll turn it over to you.”
In my lifetime, I’d been known to speak my mind.But public speaking in front of an eager crowd, ready to cling to my every word wasn’t my forte.The same could be said for sharing sentimental feelings.But I saw today as an opportunity, a chance to push myself out of my discomfort to pay respect to the man I loved.
Our eyes met again, and I began.“Giovanni, I remember the first time I knew I loved you.We’d decided to play hooky one day, and the two of us drove to Coney Island.I couldn’t believe I’d been living in the area all that time and never thought to go there before.We were walking on the beach, talking about our families, and you looked over at me and smiled.You didn’t say a word, but it was obvious there was something on your mind.As we finished our walk, you mumbled something under your breath, something you may have thought I didn’t hear, even though I had.You said you’d always wondered whether there could have been something more between us.It was something I felt like I’d been waiting for you to say, and I spent the next few days trying to sort out my feelings.There was so much I wanted to say to you.I pictured myself grabbing your face, blurting out my love for you.But in the end, life had another plan for you at that time, and I couldn’t bring myself to do it.I moved on, and you moved on, and hey ...it was only a short twenty-four years before I said to myself, ‘Maybe it’s about time I tell the guy how I feel.’”
A wave of laughter rolled through the crowd, laughter I was hoping for when I’d decided to include that part.It was the perfect interlude, lightening the mood just enough without taking away from the sentimentality of the moment.
Daniela cupped a hand to the side of her mouth, shouting, “Well?Did you tell him?”
I shot her a wink.“We’re getting married today, aren’t we?”
“Good for you!”
It was good for me, and so was he.
Turning back toward Giovanni, I said, “At this stage in my life, I’d reconciled myself to the fact that true love, the kick-you-in-the-gut kind of love, wasn’t going to happen for me.And then there was you and me and a perfect dinner date, a night that changed our lives forever.Because of you, I’ve learned how to be vulnerable again.Because of you, I’ve learned to trust.Because of you, I’m no longer content going through life on my own.You’ve made me a better person, a happier person, the person I’m always striving to be.I love you, Giovanni, and I want nothing more than to be your wife.”
As my declaration of love came to an end, many wedding attendees were overcome with emotion.The sentiment meant everything to me, knowing the message I’d waited so long to deliver had resonated in the way I’d intended.
Rings were exchanged, and then Silas wrapped it up.“As I stand before you today, officiating this heartfelt ceremony between two people destined to be together, reunited in the love they have for one another, I’m proud to declare Giovanni and Georgiana husband and wife!Let us stand, showing our support to a couple we know and love.Giovanni, it’s time for you to kiss your bride.”
Everyone shot out of their seats, clapping, whistling, and cheering, and Giovanni swooped an arm around my back, dipping me back as he went in for a kiss.Then he took my hand, and we walked together between the aisles.
Looking around, we nodded, thanking guests for their well wishes as we passed.A moment later, I found myself distracted, scanning the crowd for the familiar face of a friend—a friend who was nowhere in sight.
