Page 25 of Time Served in New York
“Their father was a soulless bastard,” I said simply. “It wasn’t much of a loss on their part, believe me.”
“But still . . . They’re just gonna sit down to dinner with all that bad blood between them?” Blue asked.
“They’re in business together now,” I answered with a shrug. “Things have changed since Stamp, Paula, and I left home. If this were my wedding 20 years ago, there would have already been bloodshed.”
“They all just get along like nothing happened?” Brea asked in shock.
“For decades, the four families spent most of their time and money trying to one-up each other. They kidnapped women, killed men, married for convenience, torched neighborhoods, and ruined countless lives in the war between the families. But our ancestors made one huge mistake.”
“What’s that?”
“They assumed their hatred of each other was vehement enough to rub off on their children, but when we were all sent to the same schools and grew up with each other, we learned that our parents had been thrown into horrible situations by their own families just like we were. And yet, they weren’t any happier about their lot in life than the rest of us who’d lost so much.”
“And you and Paula became friends,” Jenn said in shock.
“I was raised to hate her, but half of the time, our families were allied. She and I were close enough that when things went south between the grown-ups, we just ignored it. Some of the others did the same thing. Turns out that the friends who treat you like family become the ones you trust more than the family that treats you like a pawn in some stupid game.”
“It’s horrible that you were made to feel that way, but I’m so glad you found each other.”
“Paula’s brothers were able to show her son a different way despite her dad and husband’s influence, and then Zach started school with Stamp’s twins. Vincente and Antonio sent their sons to the same school and encouraged their boys to befriend my brothers. Now they’re making history by working together.”
“And that’s why it’s so important that you have this blowout wedding here? To show everyone that you’re friends now?” Blue asked.
“It’s to show everyone that we’refamilynow. A Russo is going to stand with Christopher at my wedding, and a Moretti with blood ties to the Campanas is going to be standing with me. All four families will be officially tied together in front of the world.Thatis why we’re all here together.”
“Holy shit,” Blue whispered.
Jenn was just as awestruck. “I feel like we’re on an episode ofThe Sopranosor something.”
“Honey, the reality is so much grittier than what they can show on television,” I said sincerely, remembering all the vendettas I’d seen carried out and the bloodshed I’d witnessed with my own eyes. “But they’ve all come together for a changing of the guard. Paula’s brothers are now going to take a step back and be more of a balancing influence that ties the history to the present.”
“They’re willfully stepping down?” Jenn asked. “I didn’t even know you could do that.”
“Generally, you can’t, but they’re trying something new. They’ve already made the changes, and believe me when I tell you there are some that aren’t happy about it. But with the new pact in place between the families, they’ve been able to slowly, meticulously sort out the ones that make the most waves. It’s not going to go so peacefully when Vincente and Antonio make their announcement, but they’re prepared for that.”
“Is that why we have to have guards while we’re out and about?” Blue asked.
“That’s part of it. People in power don’t like to lose that power, and they’ll do whatever they have to do to keep it.”
“Including hurting you or Paula?” Brea asked. As if she knew I was thinking about her, Bernadette’s laugh floated across the expansive room and made us look over to where she was standing with Stamp’s arm resting across her shoulders. “Oh shit. Bernadette’s part of it now, too, huh?”
“She is,” I confirmed.
“Is that why she’s planning the wedding?” Brea asked.
“She’s actually enjoying it,” I replied. “She wants to open her own wedding and party planning business, and this is her trial run.”
“If she can plan a shindig like this, then the people of Tenillo won’t know what hit them,” Blue said with a bark of laughter.
“With this wedding under her belt, the state of Texas won’t know what hit it. She’s going to have one hell of a reference, complete with pictures taken by all sorts of news outlets and websites,” I assured them. “Believe me, Bernadette’s about to become an overnight sensation among wealthy brides all over the US, not just Tenillo.”
“I guess that’s one way to get your business off the ground,” Jenn said with a smile.
“As long as there’s no violence on my wedding day, I think she’ll be set,” I joked. When the women looked at me with wide eyes, I shrugged. “Hey, a girl can dream, right?”
8.
BERNADETTE
