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“Yeah, yep, you bet,” is all they chime in to say.
“What time is it, Ren?” I turn my back so he can look at my watch. He has to twist and contort his body, but eventually, he comes up with an answer.
“Ten to ten.”
“Fuck.” I stomp my feet repeatedly in the back of this police truck where we’re all sitting in handcuffs. “Why did I let you assholes talk me into this? There’s no way we’re getting there by eleven.”
“Have faith, Don De Luca,” Pop says with a smile. “Your wife is a very understanding woman.”
“No, no, she is not. She is not understanding. She is violent and will use me as her punching bag because for the first time in my entire adult life, you assholes have made a liar out of me. I’ve never lied to her. Ever. I said I’d be at the church by nine. It is now fifty fucking minutes past nine. Do you know what’s supposed to happen in an hour?”
“Relax,” Jenkins says with a sigh and a yawn.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Jinxy. You were on a roll. I’m sorry that we had to pull you away from the poker table.”
“I still have that knot in my sock.” He nods with a grin that gets a laugh from Rossi.
“Don’t laugh, Dad. Because need I remind you that Evelyn is Zena Rossi’s child too.”
He frowns and grunts back into silence while I continue to spiral about being late to my second wedding. The real wedding. The wedding that Evelyn painstakingly planned down to the menu as a debut for her catering company, and she is going to ring my fucking neck.
Just when I think all is lost, the doors open to the morning Atlantic City sun. Dimitri’s standing in a tux that matches the rest of the groomsmen as we’re allowed to step out of the police truck. The state trooper takes his time, snarling under his breath as he takes the handcuffs off all of us.
When he gets to me, I can’t help but think about my love. “Can I keep mine?”
“Get the fuck out of my state.” He bristles and walks to the front of the truck.
“Come on, guys, we’re catching a ride.” Dimitri beams with delight as he leads us to a popular casino resort with a helipad on the roof where our ride home is waiting.
Forty minutes later, and a taxi ride from the FDR helipad to the church has the entire groom’s party walking into the church at 11:30 in the morning where a fiery redhead is there to greet us.
“You all have some nerve. Sandy, this had better not have been your idea.” Lara points a finger at my father as he steps smoothly to her, wrapping an arm around her waist and swaying from side to side. She slaps him on the shoulder. “Don’t woo me, I don’t want to be swept off my feet right now. I want to see my son and daughter-in-law get married.”
“How’s Leo doing?” I ask her.
“Sitting with his Nan. A perfect little gentleman, your baby. I wish I could say the same about the men in his life.”
We all line up at the altar to the laughter of many guests so I can marry the love of my life, again.
5 YEARS LATER
EVELYN
When I roll over onto my side at eight in the morning, the last face I expect to see is Shana Rossi asleep in the bed next to me. Waves crash on the beach outside my window that gives me amazing views of the Atlantic from our South Hampton home.
“Coffee?” Shana asks with her eyes still closed and arms folded across her chest. Just like her boy.
“On it,” I tell her with a yawn and push myself up.
The bubblegum pink chef’s jacket was her idea for our event planning and catering company where she wrangles clients from all walks of life.
“Don’t forget we have the food and coat drive tomorrow. I promised the Boys’ and Girls’ Club cupcakes.”
“You’re delirious, Shay. That’s what we finished making this morning. Get some sleep. I’ll get coffee and the kids. I’m sure Less let them party their little hearts out.”
She grunts and turns over, returning to her slumber. Having the full support of La Familia when she told the FBI about all of Peter’s crimes shrank her stint in prison from ten-to-twenty to time served.
My body aches as I walk through our eight-bedroom house kicking toys and clothes out of my pathway into the living room where the most heartwarming scene greets me.
