Chapter 31
Tristano
I never expected to be standing up at an altar in front of hundreds of people, waiting for a woman that annoyed me half-to-death when I first met her.
But here I am.
Capri is everything to me. And I’m fucking privileged to be on the other side of this aisle, waiting for her to be delivered in white.
Thinking about those hours she was trapped in Nicky’s dungeon still makes my chest tighten.
She’s safe, I remind myself.
Eyeing all these bright lights and endless eyes on me feels like some fucked up dream.
Not really my speed, if I’m being honest. The shadowy thoughts in my head run to our half-assed little wedding in Bumblefuck, Pennsylvania.
I can’t believe a part of me actually cherishes that frustrating morning…
Rays of sunlight peeking through the open windows at the church should probably be burning me alive right about now. God doesn’t have a plan for people like me. Too much blood on my hands. Thanks for letting me visit though, I guess.
One look around shows a crowd of long-forgotten faces.
Haven’t seen half these people since I was a kid, back when my mom was with us.
Mrs. Maruzo, John and Steph Boccelli – they all scolded me for misbehaving at one point or another.
Water under the bridge, I guess. At least over there in the first row, my dad seems happy about all this, even though he’s coughing up a lung.
My crew is beside me to soften the nerves – Mikey, Bruno, Snaps… and even my cousin, Castor, stand as my groomsmen. It’s all a big show.
Put me in a gunfight eight-against-one and I’d be more comfortable than I am right now. Fuck.
Whatever. I’ll stand tall and give all the reactions the crowd’s expecting. I’ll do it for her.
The last few weeks she’s been on edge, which tells me this means a lot. I get it, I guess. Some women grow up dreaming about this day, so if I have to grin and bear it for a few hours, fine .
“Lookin’ a little stiff up there, Capo.” Snaps hits my arm playfully, and I grunt at him to shut up.
The others laugh, and I can’t help but smirk.
Seeing Don Stallion – head of our Valentino crime family – sitting in the second row makes me realize I’ve finally made it. I earned my spot. The weird thing? I don’t give a fuck about it right now. It’s only my crew, my pops, and Capri that I’m thinking about.
It’s weird, but if Nicky never threatened her, I may have taken too long to understand what’s important.
One look over at my father makes it hard to swallow. Sure, he’s cracking jokes with the other old timers, but he has to hold onto the pew just to keep himself upright. His voice is going, too. I can pluck his wheeze out of a crowd of a thousand.
At least you don’t have to hide anymore, Pop.
My eyes drift to the aisle, where there’s a huge white carpet and ribbons tethering all the pews together. Usually I don’t recognize such frivolous shit, but Capri’s been yapping about decorations for so long I think she warped my brain.
“Oh, oh, here we go. Shut up, boys.” Mikey adjusts his jacket once the piano starts.
Why’d he have to say that? It’s making me all jittery.
We’re standing here like dumb bouncers at Star Dust waiting for the women to walk down the aisle. The first one is pretty, in a goofy sort of way. That’s her lawyer friend, Jacky. She’s all cheesy smiles, and isn’t nervous at all with hundreds of eyes on her.
I’m envious.
A few of Capri’s cousins I just recently met come down next. They were close when they were young, or something. And now our marriage rekindled their connection. Adorable… let’s move on. Where’s my woman?
Once the row to my right is full of champagne dresses worn by giddy women, the large double doors down the way close and the music stops.
The hell is this?
Whenever I’m invited to a wedding, I usually skip the church and head straight to the reception. This silence is torture.
There’s tension in the air by design, and it’s driving me crazy.
Watching the women beside me holding their chests and whispering makes me want to run off the altar.
I never expected something like this to have an effect on me.
All the planning she went through seemed so trivial – flowers, tables settings, seating arrangements?
I mean, who gives a fuck, really? But now that I’m staring generations of family and friends in the face, I get it.
This means something. It’s a celebration of something powerful.
Something my father could see and I couldn’t.
Bwoof!
The double doors bellow open again, cuing some traditional song to begin that makes my heart skip a beat. And when I see my beautiful bride walk up to the doors in a dress that would make any man kneel, I loosen my fists.
“She’s beautiful, boss.” Snaps nudges me again.
This time, I don’t grunt.
Rocco looks like a pig in shit escorting her onward. He’s come a long way from that day in his backyard.
But Capri. She looks incredible. Her dress is form-fitted and tight. Is it fucked up I want to rip it right off of her and take her in one of those confessionals? Can’t help it. That thought was spawned by my cock, but the next are all genuine.
I’ll be the man you want me to be. I can respect this wedding bullshit.
As if reading my thoughts, she smiles bashfully under her veil.
This woman is a goddess – literally sparkling from head-to-toe. I’m just as excited as the first time she surprised me as ‘Misty.’ Though this one is different. Back then it was all lust and early crushing. Now?
This is the woman I’m going to spend the rest of my life with.
As she approaches the altar, I step down and give Rocco a big hug, then offer my arm to my bride.
“I’m shaking,” she whispers to me.
“What for? We already got married. Remember?” I try to calm her.
“How could I not. Those crusty mustardy walls… yuck.” She giggles.
“I miss them, actually.”
We turn to face the priest, and I squeeze Capri’s hand to tell her it’s alright and then lean over. “You look beautiful, by the way.”
She squirms in place, batting her eyes at me.
The priest holds up his hands for silence in the audience. “Welcome, everyone. Friends, family, loved ones. We are gathered here today, to celebrate the loving union of Tristano DeMatteo, and Cipriana Dotelli, in holy matrimony.”
He goes on for a few minutes, telling some allegory I don’t give a damn about. The only thing I’m paying attention to is Capri’s nervous hand clasped with mine. I want to crack a joke about her being able to dance on a poll in front of a bunch of horny men, but breaking for this?
I’m the same, actually.
I’d much rather be roughing someone up in Star Dust than suffer the gaze of family members who probably washed my ass as a kid.
I put my arm around her and rub her back as the priest talks to the audience. When she rests her head on my shoulder, all is right in the world.
“And now, I’d like to call up Stanzo DeMatteo for a brief reading—”
My neck tightens, and it feels like a centipede is running down my back. Pop can hardly walk…
Capri and I turn to watch. This is unexpected. When the hell did he talk to the priest and get this approved?
Dicey bastard.
“Excuse me, hunnie.” My father slowly makes his way out of the pew. He laughs and slaps five to one of his old friends. “My time to shine.” He coughs uncontrollably just as he makes way onto the aisle, folding forward with a red face.
I grit my teeth watching him. The way his limbs shake from the quakes of his illness…
The man next to him gets up to help, but Pop waves him away with his handkerchief. “I’m fine. Fine—” he wheezes. “Allergies.”
The row laughs sadly, and I shake my head.
He winces while straightening, then flaps his suit to close one of his buttons. Pride runs deep in him. He’ll stand tall just for a moment so everyone can remember. And it works… it’s sticking in my head, flashing back to the strong man he once was.
As he takes a deep breath eyeing the altar, I wonder if that looks like the steepness of a mountain to him. Poor bastard should’ve just stayed in his seat.
I catch him mumbling to himself as he takes a hesitant step. It’s hard to watch such a powerful man struggle to walk. Hardly a year ago we were carrying out jobs together. He was even taking point.
My fists clench again. Every part of me wants to run off the altar to help him along. But that’d be the end of his dignity, and I know how important that is to my father.
Thinking back to our times together flash through my head – going to Stonelli’s Deli to get chicken parm heroes.
He’d cut the line while holding his hand on the back of my neck, and no one dared say a word.
The manager would give him a double-kiss on the cheek and hand over two piping hot sandwiches wrapped in tinfoil.
“You see how you’re treated when you do favors for people?” he’d say with a sly grin.
We’d sit outside and he’d tell me about the owners of each of the establishments across the way. He beat this guy in poker, saved that guy from getting evicted. The stories were endless… and entertaining. I’m afraid though…
I’m afraid they’re coming to an end.
These moments are eternal. Women have hands over their mouths as Pop limps toward us. What else can I do but stand tall and give him an encouraging nod?
Every muscle stiffens when I notice him pause again holding his handkerchief. Is that blood on it?
My God.
Capri squeezes my arm. I think she noticed it too.
He takes his first step up toward the altar – leg wobbling.
C’mon, Pop.
The unthinkable happens.
Pomf!
He collapses to one knee, evoking an auditorium of gasps.
I rush down to help him up.
“Fine. I’m Fine. Little leg lock, that’s all,” he scowls.
When I see Capri rush to his other side to help heave him upright, a tear escapes my eye. The care in her. She respects and loves my father. What a lucky fucking man I am.
I shoulder the tear away quick.
“C’mon, Pop, you’re alright,” my voice is hoarse with emotion.
“What I wouldn’t do for a cigarette right now.” He cackles. Once we’re a few feet away from the podium, he kisses Capri on the cheek. “I knew you were a good one.” He taps her face lightly, then turns to hesitantly bow for the audience.
I can’t believe it. The old timer gets an ovation. He’s even got me clapping.
The space around my eyes is all wet.
What a fucking disaster.
Capri slides her hand into the loop of my arm as we move back to center stage.
Pop adjusts his mic. “Couldn’t help myself. Had to make it all about me,” he rattles, and the audience laughs.
“He’s good with a crowd.” Capri raises her eyebrows. “Would’ve made a fine lawyer.”
I scoff. “Don’t ever say that in front of him. We don’t need his head any bigger.”
“ Padre , I hope you’ll forgive me.” Pop shuts the bible in front of him. “I know I said I’d be reading an excerpt from Luke, but a dying man has some words for his son and daughter-in-law.”
The priest holds an endearing smile, bowing his head for Pop to go ahead. “Just please keep it kosher.”
The audience chuckles again.
“I’ll do my best.” Pop brushes his shoulder, then faces the crowd. “My family and friends.” He extends his hands toward them. “It’s a good day. Just look at them. I don’t think I ever saw a more beautiful couple in my life. Let’s give them a round of applause, shall we?”
The praise feels good. It being directed from my father makes it even better.
It is a good day.
“Capri, you’re just too good to be true. I knew it from the first time I saw you as an adult. Like an angel that fell from the sky.”
The crowd ‘aws’
“It’s true. She makes my kid better. Lord knows his looks, that stupid hair, the gym, all that shit was getting the better of him.
Oops . ’Scuze, me, Father.” He bows to the priest for his foul language, then shakes a finger at me.
“He’s a peculiar one, that Trino. Always making his bed and washing the dishes right after he uses them.
Cleaning the granite over and over again.
Weird. Tightly wound like a stripped screw.
Not anymore, though. Capri shook this guy loose.
She even gets him to smile once in a while.
Look, he’s got a freakin’ dimple. I completely forgot about it ’til she came around. ”
I throw my hands up, saying ‘what the hell is going on,’ while exposing that dimple he’s talking about. Capri squeezes my arm tighter as she laughs.
“Is this our wedding or Stanzo’s comedy hour?” I say.
“ Shh!” She slaps me, and I’m at a loss.
“Tristano, my boy .” He knocks the podium for my attention, our eyes locking.
“Your mom is looking down on you with pride . Hear me? You grew up to be a fine businessman, and an even better husband. When I see her again, soon, she’ll tell me—” He chokes up.
“She’ll tell me about how blessed she was to have such an incredible son. ”
Fuck. Why does he have to—
“ You two remind me of me and her,” his voice chokes further, and it hits me like a lightning bolt to the gut. “It’s all I ever wanted for you. Your mom made me better, Trist. And I know Capri will make you better.”
His cough on the last word makes me twitch. And it doesn’t stop there. He turns away from the microphone and wheezes into the bloodstained cloth.
My insides are twisted into knots.
This is too painful to watch.
Pop holds up a finger. “Sorry. One more thing.” He looks up to the ceiling. “If you’re watching over us, angel, please , bless these two and guide them. Because I’m afraid I won’t be able to much longer.” He does the sign of the cross with tears in his eyes, and everyone follows.
The rest of this parade went by in a haze. Thoughts of my pops, Mom, and the future. Cipriana . Sliding that diamond on her finger hit me more than I could have ever imagined. I got the gold band tying me to her too.
Staring into those gorgeous big blues of hers, Pop’s wheezing words are on repeat in my mind. All he ever wanted, huh? Well, Pops, guess you were right again. That kiss after we said I do … that’ll live on forever in this black heart of mine.