Lost Your Mind novel · Chapter 23 of 24

Chapter 23: The Real Wedding

On Saturday morning I stood in the cathedral vestry in white silk, and my father straightened my veil three times.

"Stop," I said.

"It's crooked."

"It isn't."

"Giulia." He let his hands fall. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

He looked at me for a long moment, and the corner of his mouth lifted.

"Good," he said gruffly. "I've already paid for the flowers."

"Papa."

"I'm joking. Mostly." He kissed my forehead, the way he had when I was six. "He's a good man. I watched him walk down that road. I'd have walked it myself, and I'm not as brave."

Then he went to find his seat, and I was alone with the vestry door, and a small box on the table.

Nico came in a minute later, in his black suit, with his cane.

He had shaved around the bruise.

He stopped when he saw me.

I watched his face change, the way it had in the fitting room, when he thought I wasn't looking.

"I'm not allowed to see you before the vows," he said.

"I don't care."

"Neither do I."

I picked up the box.

"Hold out your wrists."

He did.

The cuffs of his shirt hung open.

I took two small silver links out of the box and fastened them one at a time, my fingers not quite steady.

On the left, a G.

On the right, an N.

"Mine," I said.

He looked at the letters for a long time.

Then he took my hands in his and kissed the knuckles, one hand and then the other.

"I won't lose these," Nico said.

The vows were short.

I don't remember most of them.

I remember the church so full that people stood at the back.

I remember the Don in the front pew with his hand over his eyes.

I remember Benedetta in the second pew, with her hand on her belly, smiling.

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