The morning was beautiful for most, some more than others. Isn't that what you would expect on your wedding day? While some rose early, others lingered in bed, yet a few were awoken by a sour taste in their throat. However the method, Venice was especially beautiful this morning.
Among the early risers, were Aldo and Sarah. After all, it was the long-awaited white wedding. As the wedding planner, of course, she had to be at the church early to check on the decor, ensure that the priest had arrived and greet the early guests. She also had to play her role as maid of honor by checking on the other bride's maids and the groom's men too. She was doing quite well. Before long, the groom had arrived, Justino in a gray tux—clean shaven with a clean smile plastered on his face.
Upon his arrival, Sarah resigned the job of receiving guest to him and went to check on the bride who had been waiting in a room somewhere in the church compound.
"Nervous?" she asked when she saw Julia seated calmly, staring at her reflection in the mirror.
"A little, what if I throw up? Or the baby suddenly wants to pee. This is supposed to be my day, but this thing is threatening to steal it. " Julia replied, causing Sarah to burst out laughing.
"That 'thing' is your CHILD, Julia." Sarah said, shaking her head as she approached Julia. "Motherhood fits you perfectly."
"Oh please…" Julia said, rolling her eyes. "I've heard that a lot."
"Well, it's true girl, look at you. It has to be the hormones cause girl you are looking to take away, as in I could take you away. Your lips are plumper than ever and don't even get me started on those, you know what, peeking out of that dress. You are radiating mommy energy right now."
Sarah's remarks caused a smile to break the calm expression on Julia's face. "Thanks, love. You're the real love of my life." She said as she pulled Sarah into a tight hug.
"If Justin had wasted a little more time, it would have been our wedding, that lucky bastard." Sarah said and they both giggled as they remembered when they promised to marry each other if they were still single at 30. "Isn't your dad walking you down the aisle? Where is he?" Sarah asked once they had stopped hugging.
"Nope. I'm having Aldo walk me. He is intimidating and that's just what I need to keep the Canossa's in check."
"Oh my god, Julia. Why does everything have to be a power struggle with you?" Sarah said as she pressed her temples.
"Because it is important to be clear about the power dynamic in every relationship, no, Aldo?"
"Exactly, Julia. They better know who they are dealing with when they cross you." Aldo's voice resounded behind the girls, causing Sarah to turn around. She hadn't heard him walk in and was caught off guard. Julia, on the other hand, had seen him through the mirror.
"I'm here now, are you ready?" he asked Julia.
She took a deep breath and responded with several nods.
"You know, it's not too late to turn back now. Say the word and I'll send you away and deal with them myself." He continued.
Julia simply rolled her eyes, giving him a we've-talked-about-this look.
"Ok. Your choice", he concluded. He then got off his seat and strode towards the two ladies. He took Julia by the arm and they walked out of the oversized dressing room together.
The music was cued and the bride walked towards the groom, accompanied not by her father or brother, but by a distant cousin who also happened to be a man who instilled fear and awe into the hearts of onlookers. As she walked gracefully down the aisle, Julia felt reassured by the looks and subtle gossip of the people around her. That is how it should be, so no one can mess with her.
The groom, on the other hand, couldn't care less about who brought his bride over. All he could see was her, the lovely, feisty woman he'd fallen for. Nothing else mattered. If she wants power, then she could have all of it. He just wants her.
After a walk that felt like forever, Justino could finally take his bride's hand. The problem was, that the one holding it was reluctant to give it. Aldo's gaze was intense and his towering figure was very intimidating. He stared Justin down for a few seconds before Julia tugged at his arm, causing his expression to soften. He looked at her again and then gently placed the bride's gloved hand in the groom's palm.
The ceremony took a while, but the time came to say their vows. They two made the most heartfelt promises to each other. Sarah, who had been the godmother of this relationship, couldn't help getting emotional. She let a tear slip, Aldo handed her a handkerchief.
Before long, the ceremony was over, pictures had been taken and all that was left was the traditional flower toss. Unmarried youths gathered to try and catch the bouquet. Julia gave a toss, and it landed in the hands of the one person who wasn't trying to catch it.
Sarah, who had been busy trying to coordinate the photographers, was suddenly smacked in the face. She tried to hold on to the thing that attacked her and realized it was the bride's bouquet. She looked at it, slightly confused, and then at the many others who stared at her enviously.
Julia turned around and found that her bestie had the bouquet. "You are next sweetie." She squealed in excitement.
"Not if I don't keep it" Sarah replied loud enough to be heard by everyone. She raised her hand and waved the bouquet in the air. With a devilish smile she said "ladies and gentlemen, I got lucky, so can you. The flowers go to the highest bidder. Give me a price, come on."
"3 euros" one of the bride's maids yelled.
"We have 3 euros… do I hear five? 3 euros going once..."
"5" another bride's maid bided.
"5 says the beautiful lady. Five going once….. Going twice…"
"7 euros" a young man in the crowd yelled.
And so Julia watched with an open mouth as Sarah auctioned her wedding bouquet in the name of selling luck. Although the people were a bit uptight and felt too posh to participate at first, the more bids she got, the more interesting the little game became. Before long, it had become a conquest. Even Sarah was taken aback to see how her joke was causing so much commotion. Soon enough, even married people started bidding for the lucky bouquet.
The bids went up to 3000 euros. Sarah's throat was beginning to get sore from egging these people on. Rich people are so intense. Just as she was struggling, she heard someone say the most ridiculous thing she'd heard since she became a self-acclaimed broker.
"15 thousand,"
She quickly looked in the direction of the all too familiar voice with great shock. And there he was, leisurely reclined against a pillar, Aldo Accardi. While Sarah was surprised by how much he was willing to spend on some superstition, everyone else was wondering what Sarah had done to get him to participate in such shenanigans.
"15k. going once ….. Going twice…. Three times…and sold to the gentlemen in black. A round of applause, please." She concluded and walked over to hand him his lucky flowers. "I prefer western union. Bank deposits from abroad take forever. Do you need my ID?" she whispered to him.
"Isn't it dangerous walking around with cash?" he said with a raised brow.
"Where am I walking to?"
"Fair point"
"That's right" she said cockily before a smile broke the smug look on her face.
"Do you need a ride to the reception venue?"
"I need a ride everywhere. Seeing that walking is dangerous for my 15k." she replied, causing him to smile.