Chapter 41
FORTY-ONE
Madi
“ S urprise!” I’m shocked when I step out onto Sam’s back porch. Zoe’s here, like John promised, but beside her is Lana with her arms thrown up in the air and an excited look on her face. Behind her is Naz, holding a drink in his hand with his own smile, though he’s looking at Lana and not me.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, still too stunned to fully take in the moment.
“Sam called last night. He said it was safe to come home.”
Safe to come home. I hear those words for what they really mean. Damien, Lana’s father, is dead. I want to ask about her mother, but I don’t want to ruin the moment. Instead, I move forward, wrapping my arms around my cousin and best friend and holding her tight.
“I’m so happy to see you!”
“I’m happy to see you!” She squeezes me back. “Where’s Adrian?”
Immediately, I feel the tears welling up in my eyes at hearing my husband’s name. “He’s-” I’m choking on the words, not knowing how to express them to Lana.
Zoe comes over, wrapping her arms around me. “It’s gonna be okay, Madi.” Both of my friends hold me tight.
“Don’t cry, cousin.” It’s Sam’s voice that has my head whipping around. He walks out onto the back deck, Adrian following behind him. Sam pats my husband on the back and Adrian moves forward, stealing me from my friends’ grip.
“It’s gonna be okay,” he whispers softly as he pulls my body against his.
“I don’t understand.”
“I’ve forgiven him,” Sam says cooly. “We’re not grieving today. We’re celebrating.”
I can barely process the words after I’ve forgiven him. “What?” My voice comes out shaky as I look up to my husband, who nods in confirmation. “It’s over?”
“It’s over.” Adrian leans down and kisses me deeply, passionately, ignoring that we’re not the only ones on the patio.
Tears well in my eyes as I wrap my arms around my husband. We’re safe. It’s over. Warmth floods my entire body.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” Adrian whispers as he holds me close.
“If I can interrupt…” It’s Sam’s voice that pulls me from my moment, and I look over at my cousin. The six of us are gathered on the patio, all eyes on Sam. “We’ve come a long way,” he says solemnly. More blood was spilt than any of us would have wanted, especially my father.” He pauses. “But we’re all here now, the next generation, and I believe we can do better than our fathers and mothers did. I believe we are better. Tomorrow, we’re going to rebuild this family. Better than it’s been before. Stronger. But for today, we’re going to celebrate.” He raises the mug in his hand and his eyes find Lana and Naz. “Are you ready?”
“Absolutely,” Naz says certainly.
“Then let’s have a wedding.”
“What?” I shout, and Lana giggles as she unzips the white dress hanging in Sam’s spare bedroom. “Were you planning this?”
Zoe pours us each a glass of champagne and hands one over to me. I chug it down, my brain still reeling with all the things that have just happened.
My husband is not dying today.
And my cousin is getting married to the love of her life.
What. The. Fuck.
“We knew this mess was going to end eventually, and we figured when it did, we’d get married.”
“That’s so fucking sweet.” Zoe sighs, sitting on the edge of the bed.
Lana pulls the simple white dress from the hanger and holds it out to me. “Help me get into this?”
I nod, holding the dress open as she steps in. The last time I did this for her, the circumstances were far different, and I’m pretty sure both of us were crying. She was about to marry a man she hated, one who bruised her and made her miserable before he even got her down the aisle. And now, it’s completely different. There’s nothing but love and joy in her gaze as she slides into the white garment.
“What about your mom?” I ask, the words come out quietly.
“Oh, fuck her,” Lana says, spinning to look at herself in the mirror as I zip up the dress. “She can rot in hell, for all I care.”
I laugh. “Same, bestie. I hope Caterina joins her.”
Lana smiles and spins, wrapping her arms around me. “We’re safe now.” The words wash over me. She’s right. We’re finally safe. No longer pawns in a war our families created.
“Don’t make me cry,” I say, pulling back and wiping at my eyes. “Come on, let’s get you ready to get married!”
Thirty minutes later, Lana is dressed and Zoe made up her face. She looks stunning as we lead her down the grand stairs in Sam’s house. He’s waiting at the bottom, dressed in a suit.
“You look amazing, Lana,” he says, holding out his arms to embrace her. “Now, you sure you want to marry him? Say the word right now and he’s gone.”
She laughs, playfully smacking his chest. “Stop that. You know I want to marry him!”
Sam shrugs. “Just checking.” He leads us to the patio doors. “I did the best I could on short notice.”
One look outside shows the backyard now has a white runner down the patio and to a small arch that the men must have set up. There are flowers entwined in it and vases on the tables that were pushed to the side.
“It’s beautiful.” Lana smiles. “Thank you.”
He nods. “See you out there, cousin.” With one last grin, Sam pushes open the patio door and goes to the end of the aisle where Naz is waiting.
“Congrats,” Zoe says before she exits to join John in the seats that have been lined up.
Music begins to play, and I walk down the makeshift aisle first, waiting at the end as the music changes and Lana opens the door. Naz gasps upon seeing her in the simple white dress, and then he’s dabbing at his eyes as she makes her way to him.
The priest Sam hired goes through the whole spiel and my cousin commits herself to the man she loves. But my focus is on Adrian, who sits in one of the white chairs, his eyes glued to mine.
We made it.
Everything is going to be okay.
The priest pronounces them husband and wife, and Lana and Naz kiss, the group of us cheering.
Afterwards, we celebrate, popping open champagne bottles and enjoying the meal that suddenly arrives, courtesy of Sam, I assume.
Everything feels calm and peaceful as I look around at the group of my family that actually matters to me. For once, I don’t feel ashamed to be a part of this family.
Not when I feel surrounded by love.