Page 24 of Wicked Oath
Mom and Grandma called in every connection of theirs to plan the wedding. They took me dress shopping, and I found my dream dress right away. Despite the short notice, the wedding planning went off without a hitch.
It’s like the stars are aligning over James’ and my marriage. It just speaks to how right this all feels.
I can tell, though, that Grandma has questions about the bumped-up wedding date, but she doesn’t ask me once about it, and I don’t offer any extra information. I know what James and I did wasn’t wrong, and yet I have to keep it a secret.
Everyone would be scandalized if the bride and groom had sex before the wedding. Good Irish Catholics just don’t do that.
When the actual day arrives, I’m ushered to the church where our wedding will take place. As I wait for the guests to arrive, I’m sitting in the vestibule where Mom, Grandma, and Lucy are all fussing over me.
“You look so beautiful, honey,” Grandma comments.
“So do you.” She’s in a stunning silver gown. Grandma’s always held onto her figure, and she takes the chance to flaunt it whenever she can.
She waves a hand. “You flatter this old woman.”
“James might pass out when he sees you,” Lucy teases, winking at me. She’s kept my secret, too, and I’m so appreciative of that. Lucy is someone who loves being in on all the knowledge. I know she’ll take my secret with her to her grave.
“Let’s hope he doesn’t,” Mom says. “He has a duty to perform to you.”
“As well as tonight.” Grandma winks.
“Grandma!” Heat spreads across my cheeks.
“Honey,” she says, sitting beside me and patting my knee. “You do know what will happen tonight, yes?”
Lucy and I share a glance before I turn back to her. “Maybe?” Do I say yes and make her suspicious, or play dumb? Playing dumb seems the smarter choice.
Mom chuckles as she sits across from us. “It’s nothing complicated, sweetie. You two will have sex, and it might hurt the first time, but then it’ll hopefully get better.”
“It’s supposed to hurt?” Lucy blurts out.
I want to tell her that when James and I made love, it didn’t hurt at all, but I can’t exactly say that in front of my mom and grandma.
“It can,” Grandma says. She pats my knee again. “Just don’t be surprised if there’s blood.”
I jerk. “Blood?” I don’t remember bleeding at all.
“It’s normal to bleed your first time,” Mom explains. “It might even end up on the sheets.”
My heartbeat quickens. “What if there’s no blood?”
Grandma chuckles. “Then that boy knows what he’s doing. But I know the men in our family check for blood on the sheets the next morning as a sign of your virginity. If there’s none … well, they get stupid and assume you weren’t a virgin.”
I gulp. “But you said there doesn’t have to be blood.”
“And realistically, there shouldn’t be, but you know how outdated these men are. If there’s no blood on the sheets, it could ruin a mafia wife’s reputation.”
I look at Mom. “Is this all true?”
She shrugs, taking a sip of her glass of wine. “It was for me.”
Lucy and I look at each other. She tilts her head, matching my panic.
“Is there a problem, honey?” Grandma asks.
“No,” I say way too quickly. “No problem at all. Um … can I speak to you alone?”
“Of course.”
