Chapter 13
Sydney
Married .
Could it actually be possible? How had I managed to find a top-notch divorce and family lawyer in Hanover, who all the while was under Matteo’s influence? Heck, why had he bothered to initiate the divorce if it was all a lie? Was he trying to convince me it was over without actually going through with it? But why?
Geez. What if I had moved on? Married someone else. Would anyone have figured it out before I committed bigamy?
I slump into my couch, baffled again by my run in with my ex-husband—no, scratch that. Husband?
I tug at the ends of my hair, completely exasperated. This preposterous enigma of a man. Everything about him is a conundrum. “What had I ever seen in him?” I huff into the void.
My fingertips skate over my lips, remembering the delicious feel of his mouth on mine. The way my legs practically went weak beneath me at the taste of him.
Gah. I’m ridiculous. Ridiculous! I should hate this man for what he’s done to me. What he keeps doing to me. But the moment his lips touched mine, it was as if someone flipped the switch on a circuit breaker. My body jolted to life in a way it hadn’t in years.
Three and a Half Years Ago
“Matteo, why can’t we go to Italy on our honeymoon?” I pout. Glancing down at my engagement ring, I rock it to and fro, allowing the lamp light to cause colorful prisms to dance all around us. The ring really is spectacular. Far beyond anything I would’ve expected on an auto body dealer’s salary. Had it been an heirloom? Not likely given how little he mentions his family.
“Principessa, it’s not a good time for that kind of travel. Things are complicated right now. One day I will take you. But I don’t want to wait until then to have our honeymoon.” He winks.
I’ve been wearing his ring for almost three months now. We haven’t spoken of wedding dates or location, whether we wanted any specific family or friends in attendance. But given how the holidays went with my mother and father, I don’t suspect he’s anxious to repeat that.
When Matteo agreed to come home to New York City for Christmas, I was shocked. We rarely leave the confines of my home. But he knew it was important to me, and I appreciated the effort he was making. We’d only been dating for a few months at that point. Yet there was no doubt this man was it for me.
However, we were barely there a full weekend before it was clear things weren’t going as I’d hoped. Matteo was aloof but cordial. Never disrespectful, despite many of the obvious digs my parents made at his expense. Whether it was due to the language barrier or his love for me, against all odds, he restrained himself. Even when my mother attempted to introduce me to an eligible bachelor right in front of him. It was clear her intentions were to humiliate him. Yet he never took the bait. Finally, we packed our things and took the first train back to Ashland. It was unfair to keep him in such a hostile environment a moment longer.
Even without traveling internationally, Matteo holds his family life close to the vest. I’ve seen his cousin and brother, but have never actually had a true conversation with either of them. Plus, I’ve never met his sister or his nephew. You’d think he’d at least want to introduce me to her. While his excuses about Italy are likely related to the business, I’m starting to get a sense there’s something I’m missing.
“I love you. If it were up to me, we wouldn’t wait one more second to get married. And it’s summertime in Virginia. We could go and enjoy our honeymoon at the beach. So long as we don’t need to leave the room,” he teases before nibbling on my neck.
I bolt upright at his confession. “Are you serious? I thought we were taking our time to plan a wedding since you had family overseas. But you’d be okay eloping?”
His brows scrunch together, forcing me to rub my fingertip over the deep V developing there. “What’s eloping?”
“Get married. Just you and me.”
He playfully pulls at my wrist. “Hell, yes. Let’s go.”
“Slow down, Tey.” I giggle. “I’m pretty sure everywhere is closed for the night in this town. Unless you want to fly to Vegas.”
He pulls me to his side and nuzzles my hair. “I can wait until tomorrow.”
“Oh. My. God. You’re serious.”
“Yes.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Why not? Do you have surgery tomorrow?”
Biting down on the inside of my cheek, I attempt to slow the thoughts that are racing in my mind long enough to remember my schedule. “No. But, I’m on call.” Boy, that’s all I’d need. To get a call from the service in the middle of our vows that I’m needed for an emergent case.
The dejection that takes over Matteo’s features does something to me. That he’s so desperate to marry me tomorrow that anything less causes distress.
Shifting in my seat, I reach up, cupping his cheeks with my hands. “You really love me that much? You’d want to marry me tomorrow?”
“Baby, I wanted to marry you the night we met.” His grin melts my insides.
That does it. “I can’t promise this will work, but give me a sec.”
Matteo sits up, his eyes wide as he follows my every move.
Grabbing my cell phone, I search my contacts until I find Broadie Weston’s number.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Broadie. I’m sorry to bother you so late.”
“It’s no bother. You okay?”
I chuckle nervously. “Better than okay, actually. I know it’s a long shot. You have such a busy schedule and it’s so last minute.”
“What do you need, Syd? You never ask me for anything. How can I help?”
My eyes connect with Matteo, who looks as if he hasn’t inhaled since I left his side. “My fiancé and I were. Well… we were thinking of going to the courthouse and getting married tomorrow.”
“No way! That’s fantastic. Congratulations. What do you need from me?”
“It’s a big ask. But I’m on call tomorrow.”
“Not anymore, you aren’t. You can’t be on call on your wedding day.”
Matteo must hear the conversation well enough from his spot on the couch that he stands and slowly moves to my side.
“As a matter of fact, let me look at the schedule first thing in the morning and call you then. Hopefully, we can get you covered long enough to enjoy the whole weekend.”
Matteo bends, wraps his steel arms around my thighs and lifts me into the air before spinning us around. “Thank you, sir. We won’t forget this. Anything you need, I’ll repay the favor,” he shouts toward the phone.
“You make our girl happy, and we can call it even.”
“Thank you, Broadie. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”
Matteo drops me down so I’m standing directly in front of him, kissing my entire face in his exuberance. “You’re going to be my wife. Tomorrow. Do you have something to wear?”
I bite my lip. “I think so. But I wouldn’t mind getting my hair done first.”
“You do whatever you like, mia caro. ( my dear ) I’ll ask Giovanni to help arrange a honeymoon spot for the weekend.”
“Oh, my god!” I start dancing in place. “We’re getting married.”
The following morning, I manage to secure an add on appointment with my favorite hairstylist after explaining we’re tying the knot at the Justice of the Peace. And that I’d pay her double.
I have a champagne silk spaghetti strap dress that reminds me of old Hollywood hanging in my closet I’d purchased years before but never found the right occasion to wear. It’s similar in style to the dress Carolyn Bessette wore when she married John F. Kennedy, Jr. While I haven’t had time to get a veil, I did pick up a small nosegay of miniature white roses.
When I call Matteo to let him know I am ready, he says he and Giovanni will pick me up within the hour. His cousin insisted on being his best man, even if Matteo didn’t want one. We do need a witness or two, right? For a half second, I contemplate calling Genni to stand up for me. But the thought of her trying to convince me to wait for a big wedding niggled at me. I wasn’t opening the door to that conversation. I was too excited to get this wedding underway.
Pacing back and forth, I worry I’ll leave a permanent path in the rug from my nervousness. In all of my years, I never imagined I’d be getting married this way. Would I regret not having the big wedding? Not having my girlfriends be a part of my special day? Maybe. But I don’t want to wait, and neither does he. I don’t want the stress of planning, and definitely could do without the family drama. And heck, what a spectacle my wedding would be in the hands of my mother.
Knock, knock.
Grabbing the handle, I stop to take a fortifying breath. This is it. As I swing the door open and Matteo comes into view, I have to blink away the tears. He’s wearing a black dinner suit, with a white shirt, and a black tie. He’s so handsome I can barely stand it.
“Sei un angelo.” ( You’re an angel ) “My angel.” It’s then I can see his eyes are watering too.
Stepping forward, I cup his cheek. “I love you. I’ve never been so happy.”
Taking my hand, he leads me toward a black town car when he quickly stops. “Wait. Do you have a suitcase? I plan to keep you naked all weekend, but you might want to wear something different when we come home.” He chuckles.
“Oh, yes. Wait right here.” Tossing him my bouquet, I dart inside. Running as best I can in these heels, I throw some toiletry items, a bathing suit, some shorts and a T-shirt, as well as some new lingerie I’d purchased and hadn’t worn for him yet, into an overnight bag. Rushing back out to him, I trade the bag for the flowers before nervously swiping my hand down my dress. “Okay, I’m all set.”
Matteo grins, pulling my hand to his lips. We walk hand in hand to the car, and Giovanni steps out from the front passenger seat to take the overnight bag from Matteo.
Opening the back door for us, we slide inside, practically oblivious to anyone else around us. “Sydney, this is Anthony,” he introduces as the driver turns to nod in my direction. “He’ll be driving the two of you to your honeymoon after you’re married.”
“What?”
“You only have until Sunday. Why waste a moment?” As if on cue, a dark partition rises, giving us privacy on the way to the courthouse. The beach is just under two hours away. It might be nice to relax and let someone else do the driving.
“Do you know where we’re staying?”
Matteo kisses me. “G rented an oceanfront beach house with a private pool.” Kiss. “He also has a chef preparing our meals while we’re there.”
My mouth drops open in shock.
“I know. I told him that wasn’t necessary. I only plan to eat you while I’m there.”
I smack his arm, my face heating at the thought of him telling his cousin this.
“After today, you’ll be my wife. It’s important I take care of my wife’s needs properly. And often.”
Lifting the back of my hand to my cheek, I try to cool down the fire burning there. Something tells me this simmer will be here for a while.
Twenty minutes later, the car coasts to a stop in front of the stately red brick courthouse, and Anthony opens the back door for us. As we slide out and make our way inside, I feel my pulse start to quicken.
Holy crow. This is really happening.
Giovanni walks ahead of us, speaking with someone at the counter. Or flirting is more like it. He’s got that old bird blushing like it’s her big day. Suddenly, he turns, waving us over.
“Well, Mylanta. Would ya look at the two of you? Gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. Now you just fill out these forms so you two can get hitched.”
“Thank you, Gloria,” Giovanni says with a wink. These men sure know how to make a woman swoon.
Once the marriage license paperwork is complete and Giovanni and Anthony have formally agreed to be witnesses at our nuptials, we look around to see where we need to head next. Glancing down a long corridor, we come up short. The building is old with the slight damp smell of concrete you’d expect in a municipal building. Not sure this is a memory I want clinging to my special day. But, oh well.
Matteo gives my hand a squeeze, bringing my attention back to him. Pulling the inside of my wrist up to his mouth, he gives it another peck before Giovanni interrupts.
“Sorry, slight hitch. So, in Virginia, you can’t just walk into a courthouse and get married. You need an officiant.” He grimaces.
“What? I thought a judge did it or something.” I’m trying not to panic that this is all going to come to a screeching halt soon.
“No. You need to have someone licensed to perform a wedding ceremony in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” Gloria reiterates.
I can feel my lower lip tremble. Everything had come together so easily. Perhaps too easily. I can sense Matteo stiffen beside me.
“Don’t panic, cugino. I know how important this is. I’ve got a call out, and we should have someone here to get this underway in no time.”
“What do you mean, a call out?” I ask.
“Um, well, I know a guy.”
“Why does that sound worrisome? Like you’ve got a connection with a mob boss or something.” I snicker. My joke must fall flat as Matteo and Giovanni stare wordlessly at one another.
“Unca Teo!”
My eyes fly to a bright-eyed boy with dark curly hair rushing toward Matteo.
“Mimmo, what are—” Matteo looks up. “Luigi?”
“Thanks for getting here so fast, Luigi,” Giovanni greets.
“You’re ordained?” I giggle in shock.
“Of course you are.” Matteo shakes his head, bending to lift the young boy into his arms. “And what are you doing here?”
“I’m watching the boy. Maria had to take Luna to the doctor.”
Matteo freezes.
“It was a therapy appointment, nothing more. She’s good, Matteo.” Luigi gives his arm a reassuring pat.
Suddenly, Matteo snickers. “Hell, Luca will never let me hear the end of this. All of you here but him.”
Luigi points in the distance. “Better late than never.” His brother jogs toward us from the parking lot.
Matteo throws his head back in laughter before looking at me. “I’d tell you we can wait until you reach out to your family, but...” His eyes are pleading with me to let him off the hook. I know full well Matteo wants no part of having my parents here. And my friends are all at work. And I’m okay with that.
I slide my arm through his. “Let’s do this.”
Luigi points to a gazebo to the left of the red brick courthouse. “Is this okay?”
We both nod and Matteo places Mimmo on the ground beside Luca. As we move into the pretty wooden structure, Giovanni, Luca, and Mimmo stay by the steps.
Luigi stands before us, grinning like a proud poppa. “This is going to be short and sweet. Did you two write any vows?”
We both look at each other blankly. I assumed the Justice of the Peace had a script to go by. We shake our heads.
“Rings?”
Man, we really didn’t think this thr—
“Yes,” Matteo interrupts.
I’m shocked. “You do?”
“Yes. I bought them when I purchased your engagement ring.” He pats his breast pocket. His satisfied smile nearly takes my breath away.
“Well, let’s get you two married.”
“Matteo, do you take this beautiful woman, Sydney, to be your wife?”
“Yes.”
“Do you, Sydney, take this grumpy Italian to be yours to take care of for the rest of your days? Sydney, you’re allowed to take some time to think this over.”
“Luigi!” Matteo chuckles.
“Yes!” I laugh out loud.
“Do you have the rings?”
Matteo digs into his pocket, retrieving two platinum bands. I have a fleeting moment of wonder. How can he afford this jewelry on his auto body salary? But the thought is stopped short by Luigi’s next words.
“Okay, son. You repeat after me. With this ring, I pledge to honor, love, and protect you.”
Reaching for my hand, Matteo slides the band onto my ring finger. Looking into my eyes with an intensity I’ve never witnessed from another person, he says, “With this ring, I make you my wife. I pledge to love and protect you for the rest of my days.”
I blink up at him, speechless.
“Sydney?”
“Oh. Yes.” I take the ring from Luigi’s hand and push the heavy band onto Matteo’s ink-covered finger. The sight of it making my hands tremble. “With this ring, I pledge my love. I’ll honor and cherish you for the rest of my life.”
Matteo cups my face in his hands, pulling me in for a passionate kiss.
“Don’t wait for me or anything,” Luigi mumbles, our witnesses all cackling around us. “I now pronounce you husband and wife.” Clapping and cheers erupt behind us. I barely notice, I’m so swept up in this kiss from my husband.
Husband .
“I think my job here is done.”
Matteo pulls back from me, resting his forehead on mine. “I love you. Will always love you.” His low voice stammers under the weight of his unusually public display of emotion. A slight hesitation gives me pause at his demeanor. It’s odd. Why would I have the slightest moment of unease with this man who has swept me off of my feet, begging to be forever committed to me? You’d think I’d be more concerned if he continually wanted to put off this day.
My eyes hold his and the reverence there calms my uncertainty. “I love you, too. More than I ever dreamed possible.”
“Anthony, get the car.”
“Hell, what’s your hurry, Matteo? We don’t even get to kiss the bride?” Luca jokes.
“Do not get your lips anywhere near my wife,” Matteo snaps as he pulls me to his side. “Excuse us. We have a honeymoon waiting.”
“You don’t want to stop by the restaurant for a slice of cake or some Tiramisu?”
“No!” Matteo bellows.
“Don’t be a stranger.” Luigi slaps Matteo’s shoulder before taking Mimmo’s hand.
“Unca Teo, are you gonna have a baby now? I want someone to play with.”
My hand flies over my mouth in shock.
“Dominico,” Matteo scolds in a teasing manner. “Make some friends at school.” He chuckles, lifting my ring-clad finger to his lips.
Tears trail down my face faster than I can wipe them. The memory of that incredible day floods back as if it was yesterday.
My heart aches for days gone by. All the joy. All the love. Was it all a lie? I meant those vows. Hadn’t he?.
How could things have gone so wrong?