Chapter 7: St. Patrick's

On Saturday morning, a car from the family's fleet took me up Fifth Avenue instead of the driver Tobias had promised.

I wore a dark red dress, not white, with my grandmother's watch on my wrist.

The bandage under it pulled with every step.

Stefano walked beside me up the cathedral steps in a suit that fit him for once.

"Last chance to go to brunch instead," he said.

"No."

"I'll pay."

"You always say that, and then the family pays."

He grinned and opened the door.

Inside, St. Patrick's was full.

Four hundred guests sat in rows of flowers and silk, and the organ was already playing.

I walked in the side door and stood at the back of the aisle.

At the altar, Tobias stood in a black morning coat with his hands folded in front of him.

Dominic stood beside him as best man, and he was smiling.

In the front pew sat Colette in pale blue, one of the bridesmaids' dresses I had helped choose.

She turned her head and saw me.

Her smile stayed on, but she stopped moving.

The organ stumbled and stopped.

Four hundred people turned around.

I started walking.

It was a long aisle, and I let every guest see me come.

Some of them had been at the party on Thursday.

I saw the banker who had chanted for cake, and the heir who had filmed it.

Their eyes dropped as I passed.

Tobias came down off the altar steps to meet me halfway.

"Allegra." He said it quietly, with his whole face open. "You came."

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