Chapter 177
Alcee looked at the group of women in the room and then noted Genevra standing nervously at the entrance. “Get in here.”
“I heard Bastiano out there saying it was a madhouse in here. Torq was supposed to be at the hotel with the guys, and he snuck out?”
“He did. It dawned on him that he doesn’t want me to harbor any kind of regret about our wedding day and wanted to ask me to my face if I wanted my Mariani family there.” She was glowing with the memory of the words he’d uttered. “He loves me.” She bit her bottom lip as emotions welled up in
her chest and she looked at Amal and Susana, “he said he loves me.”
“Oh, you can’t ugly cry now,” Susana laughed and flung her arms around Alcee and rocked her back
and forth in her arms.
“I can’t believe he loves me. He loves me, Sus and I never thought anyone could love me and he
loves me and –”
“What do you mean, you didn’t think anyone could love you?” Brunella rubbed her back, “of course
someone could love you.”
“When you live a life where your own family never gives you love, this is the result,” Amal said softly
to Brunella who gave a knowing nod. “Her whole life, other than us and Antero, love has always been
a transactional situation. Affection comes with a cost. She guards her heart tight, Brunella, locks it up and keeps her icy barrier around it to protect herself from disappointment and hurt when someone inadvertently makes her feel her love isn’t worth the price.” She brushed Alcee’s tears off her cheeks with her thumb, “Torq is the first man to ever tell her he loves her romantically.”
“What a sweet pre–wedding gift, huh, Alcee,” Susana squeezed her.
“Wait,” Genevra rudely interrupted the moment, “no man has ever said he loves you?”
Alcee shook her head as Lorita shoved tissues into her hand. “No.”
“Not your father or brothers or uncles or Amal and Susana’s father or uncles? Me around your entire life, none of them ever said you were loved by them?”
ou’ve been
“No.” She sniffed. “Well, Mercurio has but I’ve never believed him. It’s always said when he wants something from me. It’s why I tell Antero all the time he’s loved without prompting or transaction.”
“Your mother?” Brunella asked with a bite to her tone.
“Mama did tell me she loved me when I was quite young but by the time I was in school, no.” She shrugged, “the first time anyone other than my mom ever said they loved me, and I believed it, was
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Susana in middle school.”
“She gave me her chocolate milk.” Susana grinned at Brunella. “I was ready to put a ring on it.
Alcee giggled as she rested her head on Susana’s shoulder while Brunella made slow circles on her back. She was completely surrounded right now by the women in her world, and she felt loved,
Brunella exhaled a shaky breath, clearly emotional over these revelations. “You are loved, Alcee. You
are so loved.”
“We love you, very much,” Lorita whispered as she joined the group hug,
“I love you too,” Genevra grunted as she wriggled her way into the mass. “You’re very loveable.”
“I’m so grateful for all of you.” Alcee dabbed at her eyes as she basked in the center of their attention. She choked on her words, “I love you all so much. I feel so lucky to be surrounded by such strong, loving, kind women who keep me grounded and Hove you.” She wailed the last part out and
they all laughed.
“This is why bachelorette parties the night before the wedding is a bad idea,” Lorita said smugly, “some of us drank far too much last night to be in control of our emotions today. Not all of us though. Not me.”
“Says the woman who just tried to beat up her brother for sneaking a peak at the bride,” Brunella laughed at Lorita. “Come on. We have a bride to prepare.”
Brunella pulled Alcee back to the vanity and pushed her into the seat. She smiled down at her, “even with your puffy eyes and red nose you’re still stunning.”
“Torq would definitely do you even like this,” Amal nodded as she jumped away from Brunella’s
smack.
“Did you really agree to let the Mariani family come to the wedding?” Susana asked as Lorita ripped a packet open with her teeth to reveal undereye patches.
“Close your eyes and I’ll do your hair while these little beauties work their magic.” Lorita stuck them to Alcee’s skin and waved at her to answer Susana’s question.
“Torq said he doesn’t want me to regret it fifty years from now when I’m looking back at wedding pictures. I don’t think I will but one of us is not as hungover as the other, so I’ll defer to his judgement. Also, I realized it puts Mercurio in a catch–twenty–two, It’s an insult to be invited hours before the ceremony so he’s likely wanting to decline but he can’t because it would be an affront to the Lozano family. However, if he does come, it’s like he’s dancing to Torq’s tune. It kind of makes me happy.”
Brunella nodded, “would you want one of them to walk you down the aisle? One of your brothers.
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“Hell no.” she made a face. “Papa already said he would do it when I asked him and he the only one I can think of aside from Orazio and asking Orazio to give me away when he needs to give Amal and Susana away in the next month felt like overkill for the poor man. He’ll get blisters on his feet from all the walking.”
Brunella was blinking tears, “he loves when you call him Papà.”
“He is my Papa. He made it clear he’d defend me to the death, and I love him far more than I ever loved my own father.”
Alcee felt the squeeze of her hand as Brunella lifted it up to kiss her fingers.
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