Chapter 41

Isabella

Em led me to the front step with his steady hand in the small of my back. The door opened and his mother welcomed me at the front door with tears in her green eyes. She wrapped her arms around me and tugged me into the house. “Eres un ángel enviado del Cielo.”

While I couldn’t understand her words, her welcoming intent was evident.

“Mama,” Em said, “this is Isabella.”

“Beautiful name for a beautiful girl. I was afraid Emiliano would never marry.” She clasped her hands together. “And tonight, he comes home, and my prayers are answered.”

“Isabella,” Em said, “my mother, Valentina.”

“Nice to meet you, formally.” I nibbled on my lower lip. “This is rather sudden.”

“Love doesn’t live by clocks.” She smiled. “You’re a good girl. I can see that. For the two of you to wed, you need a priest’s blessing.”

I nodded. “My parents would agree.”

“We will let them know your marriage is blessed. Sunday, if el Patrόn agrees, we will host a small wedding, so your parents won’t miss out.”

“If he doesn’t agree?” I asked, suddenly worried.

“Then it will be smaller, a full ceremony with a license nevertheless.”

I feigned a smile. “Thank you.”

“Come,” she looped her arm around mine. “Meet Emiliano’s father, Andrés, and Father Gallo.”

As we approached, moving farther into the house, it seemed as though Em and his father were in an intense discussion.

“Andrés,” Valentina said, getting his attention. “Meet Emiliano’s soon-to-be wife, Isabella.”

Andrés Ruiz dramatically bowed at the waist. When he stood erect, his dark gaze, similar to his son’s, met mine. “Isabella, welcome to our family.”

“Thank you.”

A man with a collar appeared. “Hello, Miss Luciano. I’m Father Gallo. May I speak to you and Emiliano for a few minutes?”

I turned to Em, who nodded.

“Yes,” I answered, unsure what this was about.

Em took my hand, and we followed Father Gallo deeper into their home. When I’d been here for Mia’s wedding, the house was decorated and filled with tables and chairs. Without all that clutter, it was stunning. Room after room of opulent décor. As we approached the back room, it extended the width of the first floor with a wall of windows looking out to the pool deck. In an abyss of darkness, the pool water glowed with changing colored lights. Beyond the deck, the sky was black and dotted with a million stars. The sound of crashing waves from the ocean below could be heard through the open glass door.

The large room had a fireplace at one end and multiple groupings of couches and soft chairs. Father Gallo motioned to one grouping.

Em and I sat on one couch and the priest sat on another facing us.

“Is everything all right?” Em asked.

Father Gallo smiled. “Of course. I’m not unaccustomed to being called in the middle of the night to marry members of your family.” He sat back. “When Mia called for Camila, I was satisfied with Camila’s desire to wed. I’d known Camila since she was young—her first communion—I believe.” He brought his stare to me. “Isabella, I don’t know you.” He turned to Em. “I do know you, Emiliano.” Back to me. “Isabella, before we proceed, I’d like to talk about you.”

I held tight to Em’s hand and replied, “Okay.”

“Please reassure me of your faith, your virtue, and your willingness to commit to Emiliano to be his wife.”

Inhaling, I sat tall. “Father, my faith is without question. I attended Saint Mary’s of the Woods throughout my twelve years of schooling.” I lifted Em’s hand and looked up at his handsome face. “I love Emiliano. It happened fast, but I believe it was meant to happen.” I turned back to Father Gallo. “I want to be his wife, tonight and until forever.”

The priest nodded. “Good answers. As the word of God tells us, a virtuous woman is worth more than rubies. The heart of the husband does safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need for spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. Are you this woman for Emiliano.”

Before I could answer, Em spoke up. “Father, I assume your next question will be about my virtue. I assume you will ask me if I am a virgin, if I’ve committed any sins…”

Father Gallo sat taller. “I’m doing what is right.”

“What is right,” Em said, “is to have faith that Isabella and I have had this conversation. If you’re so inclined to be told the answer, I suggest that as you say your bedtime prayers, you present the question to God. For he is all knowing.”   

Father Gallo swallowed and nodded. “Emiliano, what are your intentions regarding Isabella?”

“I love Isabella with all of my heart.” His dark brown eyes shone down at me as he grinned. “She’s beautiful.”

“Sí,” said the priest.

“But she’s much more than that. I can’t explain the way she makes me feel. My mother was right. I’d never thought much about marriage. It’s different with Isabella. I want to protect her, love her, and make her every wish come true.”

Father Gallo stood. “Then I think I have a marriage to perform.”

“Will you be doing the ceremony on Sunday afternoon as well?” I asked.

“Yes, unless either of you have an objection.”

Em let go of my hand and stood. “I think we’ve cleared the air.”

Father Gallo held his hands together and bowed his head toward me. “I did not mean to offend, Miss Luciano.”

“As Em said, the air is cleared.”

“The marriage license?” Em enquired.

“I have a contact with the county clerk. The license will have today’s date—Saturday. It is tomorrow already.”

Valentina and Andrés joined the three of us. “Out on the pool deck?” Valentina said. “It’s a beautiful night.”

Em furrowed his brow. “Maybe on Sunday. Tonight, we can stand near the open doors.”

Valentina didn’t question. I suspected his answer was because of all that had happened last night. His mother handed me a bouquet of fresh flowers, their stems wrapped in white ribbon. “They’re from my garden. Sunday, you may have whatever you’d like.”

Inhaling their sweet scent, I smiled. “Thank you. They’re beautiful.”

She went to Em and placed something in his hand. When he shook his head, she closed his fingers. “It’s symbolic.”

“Are we ready?” Father Gallo asked.

Em took my hand, and we turned toward one another.

The priest’s voice echoed through the cavernous room. “Isabella Luciano and Emiliano Ruiz, have you come here to enter into marriage without coercion, freely and wholeheartedly?”

I stared up at Em’s handsome face.

“Yes,” he replied.

My throat tightened. “Yes.”

“Are you prepared, as you follow the path of marriage, to love and honor each other as long as you both shall live?”

Em squeezed my hand as we both answered affirmatively.

“Since it is your intention to enter into the covenant of Holy Matrimony, keep your right hands joined and declare your consent before God and His Church.”

We repeated Father Gallo’s declarations.

Em was first. “I, Emiliano Ruiz, take you, Isabella Luciano, to be my wife. I promise to be faithful to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you, cherish you, and honor you all the days of my life.”

Next, it was my turn to commit to the vows.

“I, Isabella Luciano, take you, Emiliano Ruiz, to be my husband. I promise to be faithful to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, to love you, cherish you, and honor you all the days of my life.”

I concentrated on the man before me, not on the absence of my family.

Father Gallo spread his arms to his sides. “May the Lord in his kindness strengthen the consent you have declared before these witnesses and graciously bring to fulfillment his blessings within you. What God has joined, let no one put asunder.” He turned to Em. “This is the time for the giving and receiving of rings, but that can wait until Sunday.”

I looked down. “I’m sorry, I don’t have a ring.”

“I have one,” Em said.

The priest looked at me. “The ring is symbolic. The marriage is still covered by God’s blessing.”

I nodded and handed the bouquet to Valentina.  

Em retrieved from his pocket the band that his mother had given him and reached for my left hand. It may have been the ocean breeze or my ongoing swings in emotion. Whatever the cause, my hand trembled.

I concentrated on Em’s calming gaze as he lifted my left hand, gently turned it, and kissed my palm. “Breathe.”

It was like the first day at the apartments. I was staring into the same hauntingly beautiful dark brown eyes. I inhaled and exhaled. He turned my hand back over and slid a golden band over my fourth finger. To both of our astonishment, it slid easily over my knuckle and fit almost perfectly.

“Isabella, receive this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

I held on to his left hand. “Emiliano, I don’t have a ring. All I have is me.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed.

“Receive me, my body and my soul, my future and my past. I give you all of me as a sign of my love and fidelity. In the name…”

Father Gallo lifted his hands. “In the sight of God and these witnesses, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Emiliano, you may now kiss your bride.”

His warm palm cupped my cheek as our lips came together.

“May I be the first to introduce to you, Señor and Señora Ruiz.”

“My wife,” he whispered.

My heart fluttered within my chest. “My husband.”

“Go in peace,” Father Gallo said.

Valentina hugged me again. “You and Em decide what you want about wedding rings.” She lifted my left hand. This ring belonged to my abuela. When she and my grandfather married, they couldn’t afford rings. They made rings out of string. Many years later, my grandfather surprised her with this band. She treasured it all of her life.” She touched the band. “The filigree is worn. And inside, in the right light you can see the inscription.” Her smile grew. “You will not hurt my feelings if you want Em to get you something new and shiny. I’ve had it in my jewelry box. I don’t ask that you wear it forever, only that you treasure it.”

I nodded. “I will. Thank you.”

“It’s late,” she said to both Em and me. “Andrés and I will walk Father Gallo out to his car. We will see you both in the morning.”

I looked up at Em.

This was real.

I am Isabella Ruiz.