Canon in D began to filter through Oheka Chapel.
From the window I could almost make out the cemetery just beyond the footbridge, where Grandma Lucie was buried.
The two families gathered in the bride’s room listened with downcast eyes as the premiere DeLune Academy Orchestra continued to play in the next room, just for me on my wedding day.
Peter held my hand firmly and stood with me like I knew he always would.
“But Clara, you look so beautiful in your grandmother’s jewels and your wedding gown”, mother said, her Italian accent coming across as she smoothed the large white dress, “And that Morrati Heirloom”
She pointed to the jewels that adorned my head.
“I know, Mother”
“Clara, I know what this is about”, started Clarice
“No you don’t”, I started to cry
“Peter—“started his mother in English so I would hear, “What is this happening?”
“Clara”, interrupted my father, “Today is your wedding day, stop with this nonsense. I know you’re upset because Grandmother isn’t here—“
“I’m sorry, I just can’t.””, I turned towards Peter, “I’m sorry Peter”
“It’s fine, Go”, he said
We embraced quickly and before anyone could stop me, for the first time I ran away.
+2+
I opened the door to the church and kicking off my dreadful heels I ran, I ran along the soft earth across the foot bridge, the hideous crystal studded roses in my bouquet fell in petals along the bridge.
I kept running t
oward the cemetery. Grandma Lucie’s grave
was the largest it was white marble and
just as lovely as she was. I put the remaining flowers on it. She would like
them
“Pretty little things”, I said
I kneeled soiling my white dress, everything about my family I had believed in had been crushed in one night, that didn’t even seem real.
I wondered then and there that if I could wait 50 years for anyone.
The sky around me darken and I looked up to see I was shaded by an umbrella, next to me stood a pair of shiny black shoes. I looked past clean pinstripe slacks, white shirt and dark vest.
“Oh, God”
His pallid complextion frightened me in the eerie setting.
“I’m seeing things.”
I got up from my knees and touched him, it was too real.
“You look different”, I said
“As do you”
I pondered this for a while, his skin was a white and clear as I remembered and even against my own hand there was something strange and different that I had not gotten used to.
“You’re alive”, I said, “We’re alive.”
He nodded
“I am sure Sovereign Prince Peter Morrati of Genoa is waiting for
you.”
“No”, I protested
“Believe me, I have read enough book s to now the princess always married the prince, Ms.—Princess.”
“Yes, well you’re forgetting I’m not princess” I took off the tiara.
He turns toward his beloved Lucie’s grave, and places a bouquet of familiar Juliet roses on her grave and reaches for the marble, but doesn’t touch it.
“Here is the deepest secret no one knows. Here is the root of the root... and the bud of the bud... and the sky of the sky of a tree called life... which grows higher than the soul can hope... or mind can hide. It is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart. I carry your heart. I carry it in my heart.”
“She does not deserve you.” I said, “You heard me at the door didn’t you ? And you didn’t open. You really will love her to the very end.”
I turned away when he held my hand and unbuttoned two buttons on his shirt and pressed my hand flat against his bare skin.
He held my hand firmly.
“I carry your heart. I carry it in my heart, Ms. DeLune”
I stepped on my toes, and touched my nose against his.
A wave of unwanted fear crept over me as an unsettling wind blew through my dress.
“Ms. DeLune. . .”
“Yes, Mr. Fierro”, I looked away from the grave.
“Kiss me”
“Yes, Sir”
