Surviving Broken(2)

He extended his hand to JC. She glided toward him and clutched to Luca’s arm. Glancing back over her shoulder, she raised her eyebrows suggestively. Fanning her face with her hand, she mouthed, Oh, my God, he’s so hot.

“What are we going to do with her?” Tom muttered to Tracy.

JC’s nerves kicked in as they ambled down the corridor arm in arm. She inhaled deeply, blowing out a heavy sigh between pursed lips.

“Are you nervous?”

“Yes,” she admitted with a nod, staring into dark eyes. Talking in a whisper, she continued. “My sister’s a bit of a perfectionist. All the planning and everything she’s put into this wedding…I just don’t want to fall, trip, throw up. I want this day to be perfect for her. She deserves it.”

Luca tucked a loose caramel curl behind her ear, gently tracing her lobe. “You can hold onto me as tight as you want. I won’t let you fall.”

His warm breath tickled her neck, sending goose bumps skittering across her shoulder and down her arm. He pulled her close to his lean frame. The citrusy bite of his cologne flooded her senses.

Gaining control of her wits, JC snickered at his forwardness. “Italian men. You’re all the same.”

He countered roguishly, “Si. Bello, intelligente, molto buon appassionato.”

JC threw her head back, bursting in a hushed laughter at Luca’s self-portrayal of a handsome, smart, very good lover. “Si,” she admitted, taking in his square jaw and thick head of hair trimmed tight to his nape. “Very handsome.”

A dazzling smile broadened across his gorgeous face.

Reaching the end of the corridor, she heard squeals of delight. “Aunt JC! Aunt JC!”

JC’s older brother, John, tried to hush his twin sons’ excitement. “Shhh,” he warned, raising his finger to his lips.

Thomas cupped his little fingers to his lips, whispering out the side of his hand. “Aunt JC, you wook butiful.”

Richard tugged on her finger and pointed at a woman sitting at the end of a pew. “Aunt JC, see that lady in the red dress? She called me a flower boy.” He scowled in disapproval.

JC bent over and tapped her finger to his nose. “You mean the lady in the purple dress?” He nodded. “It’s okay, she’s kinda old. She doesn’t know being a flower bearer is the new in thing. We had to explain it to your daddy too.”

She folded her arms across her chest, giving her brother the I told you so look. Their sister chose a simple wedding party, consisting of the maid of honor and best man. When she asked John if his twin boys Richard and Thomas could serve as flower bearers, he snickered.

Richard and Thomas were all boy. At almost four years old, they could already ride a bike, swim, throw a ball, and there was no doubt John and his wife, Shayla, would teach them to snowboard over the winter.

Taking each of the boys by the finger, JC twirled them around, inspecting their tuxedos. “You both look so handsome.”

Richard peered down and pointed his toe, showing off his shiny black shoes. “Daddy says it’s for monkeys.”

John cautioned, “I can’t say anything in front of them anymore.”

Thomas pulled on her dress, peeking shyly at Luca with a slight frown. “Is he your boyfwiend?”

“No.” JC bent to adjust his tie. “How many times do I have to tell you? You and Richard are the only men in my life.”

John gave her a warning glance. “That’s real funny until they repeat it in public.”

Luca smiled, formally shaking their little hands. “My name is Luca. I’m Vincent’s friend.”

Richard stared up at Luca with a wrinkled lip. “You sound funny.”



****



Eighty guests attended the ceremony. Their mother, Tess, and step-dad, Tom, offered Tracy the wedding of her dreams. She could’ve had a celebrity-wedding planner, designer gown, and gourmet chefs. Hell, Tom could’ve pulled strings and gotten her favorite band to play at the reception, but this was the someday Tracy dreamed of. Her sister had no interest in an extravagant, lavish, formal wedding. Her dreams included the man she loved beyond words standing by her side, and their family and closest friends bearing witness to their intimate I do’s.

Although, Tracy admitted Maroon Five had been very tempting.

The cathedral oozed old-world charm. Stained glass windows, dark wooden pews, and intricate scenes created from colorful mosaic tiles covered the interior of the dome. Sweet scents from the bouquets of white roses and magenta Judas boughs masked the slight whiff of dusky aged timber.

Tracy’s elegant white dress was made of structured organza and tulle. The dipped neckline and corset bodice accentuated her petite voluptuous figure. Baby’s-breath and Judas pedals encircled the tight bun of rich dark hair at the nape of her neck.