Melina laughed and Cynthia joined her as she fidgeted with Melina’s veil, making sure it was perfectly in place.
“Well, when you put it like that,” Melina admitted.
“See. Now no more tears.”
“I’ll say. You’d better not be messing up my makeup job, Melina.”
Victoria entered the room, clutching a bouquet of white tulips. Her gaze went suspiciously back and forth between Melina and her mother.
“Leave her alone. This is an emotional day for all of us,” Cynthia said.
“I realize that, Ma, but someone has to keep it together. Everyone can’t be a blubbering mess.”
“I’m fine, Victoria. Really.”
Mac’s sister came closer and gave her face a quick glance. “No, you’re not. Ma, what did you do?”
Victoria quickly put down her bouquet before she ushered Melina back to the bench seat in front of the vanity.
“I didn’t do anything. I was just giving her some words of encouragement,” Cynthia said.
“Well, her mascara is running and now she has tear trails down her foundation. It’s good I came to check on things.”
Opening up the three stacked make up case, Victoria went to work re-touching Melina’s makeup.
“I appreciate this Victoria,” Melina said.
“You can appreciate me more by not ruining your makeup again,” Victoria scolded.
Melina pinched her lightly. Mac’s sister had a rough exterior, but deep down when she cared for you it meant everything. Today Melina just wasn’t marrying Mac, she was gaining a sister, and for that she couldn’t be more grateful.
A knock at the door drew the three women’s attention.
“Who could that be?” Cynthia asked.
She went to the door and opened it, sticking her head out. “Yes.”
“Delivery for Melina,” a man’s voice said.
“From who?” Cynthia asked.
“Your son, ma’am.”
Melina waited as Cynthia closed the door and came over to where she and Victoria were. She was holding a large rectangle-shaped, black velvet box.
“Here,” Cynthia said. She handed the box to Melina.
“Hurry. We only have five minutes,” Victoria urged her on.
“All right, Miss Bossy.”
With trembling hands, Melina lifted the lid of the box and gasped. He didn’t. Yes, he had. Nestled inside the lining of velvet was a four-strand diamond choker.
“It’s beautiful,” Cynthia said.
“No one can ever say my brother doesn’t have style,” Victoria said.
“I can’t believe he’d buy something like this. It’s so … so …”
“It’s you, Melina,” Victoria finished for her.
“What makes you say that?”
Victoria pointed. “This is a piece of jewelry that a queen would wear and you carry yourself as a queen in every sense of the word. This is just Mac’s way of giving you a little extra bling to cement your status as his new queen.”
“My daughter finally says something that makes some sense. Today is truly a day of miracles.”
“Very funny, Ma.”
Melina lifted the choker from the box and held it out to Victoria. “Will you do the honors?”
“Absolutely.”
Melina held her veil out of the way so that Victoria could fasten the jewelry around her neck. It fit perfectly.
“Every inch a queen,” Cynthia said softly.
“Yes, now let’s get this queen to her king,” Victoria said.
Melina rose and allowed Victoria to flip her veil down to cover her face.
“This is it,” she said.
“No turning back now. You’re stuck with us,” Victoria said.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
And Melina meant every word of it.
The sounds of organ music filled the air, loud and strong. Even standing behind the massive wooden doors that would lead inside the sanctuary, Melina could hear the music clear and strong. She clutched the bouquet of white tulips tight in her hands as she waited for the doors that separated her from the interior to open. She was really about to do this. When those doors opened, there would be no turning back and it was exactly what she wanted.
Slowly, the massive doors opened and Melina walked through them. Everything was decorated so beautifully. From the white and silver ribbons that twirled elegantly from the Cathedral ceiling, to the large arrangements of white tulips. Not to mention the covered white altar at the very front of the church.
For a moment, she was momentarily stunned. St. Matthews was filled with people and she didn’t know even a third of them. As she gathered her composure and walked down the long aisle that lead to the man she loved, she dared to risk a glance at the people who stood and watched her pass. These had to be members of la famiglia out and in numbers to show support and respect to one of their own.