180DAYS
XXVIII

GINEVRA P.O.V

5TH NOVEMBER 2003

Autumn 5:11

I stare at myself in the glass mirror seated by the dresser of my large brightened room. I am no longer the Ginevra I had known for 25 years, I have grown to become a beautiful and bold girl. I was a girl with shattered dreams three years ago but I was given a second chance. This day marks a new life, a new day, a new chapter, a news story, and a new wedding. I was once betrothed to a man that I never loved but now I am going to spend the rest of my life with the world’s best man I have ever known. Vincenzo De Luca. He is more than a million, when I thought I wouldn’t be complete, he played the role of stitching my life back. I was told three years ago on a day like this to bring respect to the Esposito’s and make them proud, but that was in the past, I was forced into a marriage that I knew would not bring laughter to my cheeks or confidence to myself. I walk out of the past through a door and here I am smiling at a prosperous future ahead o me.

“Are you ready Gine?” Ophelia walked into the room looking so dazzling. I guess choosing the color rose gold made a lot of sense, the color speaks of its beauty and royalness. Her hair was tied up in a neat bun, leaving some curls down her face to make a cute front bang.

“I am so nervous Ophe,” I said shaking. She touches my hands, rubbing them down to the bottom and then to the top.

“It’s alright to be nervous Gine, everything will be fine, just smile, show off your white teeth and cute dimples, I promise you, you will be fine.” She places my crown on my hair carefully.

“Ok,” I sighed. “Ophe, do you think Vincenzo wants to marry me?“I stared at her face through the mirror.

“Yes Gine {She turns my face to look at her’s} I see the way he looks at you Gine, any lady in your shoes will die to be looked at like that, he loves you, he adores you, He does” I smiled at her reply, hugs me tightly before we heard the knock on the door.

“Vera, darling, are you ready?” Aunt Mirabella walked into the room, dressed in a flower dress gown stopping below her knees. She had her scarf tied in a loose bow around her neck. She looks so much like my mom.

“Yes, Aunt.” I smiled back at her.

I take a last look at myself in the mirror before stepping out of the room, I walked slowly and did not forget to put a smile on my face while walking down the stairs behind Aunt and Ophelia. People smiled while others didn’t stop whispering. Ophelia walked straight into the church, standing beside the other bridesmaid. I glance through the church, crowd! That is what kept playing in my head.

“Hey, Vera, look at me calm down, I will walk you down to the alter, before I hand you over to your husband, ok” I nod my head in agreement with Aunt’s words.

The sound of the church piano harmonized with the other instruments. The priest picks up the Microphone preparing the bride to walk in.

“We are gathered here to celebrate and acknowledge the joint of Ginevra Esposito and Vincenzo De Luca in the unity of marriage. There are no obligations on earth sweeter or more tender than those you are about to assume. There are no vows more solemn than those you are about to make. So let’s welcome the Bride to the Alter”

My Aunt’s arm is linked with mine as the music starts playing. I am about to live a life of a princess just like every fairytale did. My gaze hovers on my Aunt and she gives me a cheerful smile, receiving a flush as we begin to walk down the aisle. She looks at me in awe, as I stand beside my to-be husband. Vincenzo takes my hand slightly as we stand to face each other.

“Sembri così affascinante, principessa” {You look so attractive, princess} I blushed at his compliment.

“Sembri sorprendente, marito.“{You look striking my husband} He smiled at my accent. I know, I am trying.

“If any man or woman is against the joining of this couple, speak now or forever hold your peace”

The church hall became quiet as the people looked around to see any imposter, before the priest could speak, there was a loud bang in the air. It was the sound of a gunshot. Vincenzo and I turned around immediately to see where the noise came from. The noises of the guest filled the room as children, mothers, wives, and older men lay on the floor to protect themselves from death. At the front of the church door, was a man in black, holding a gun at me, then at Vincenzo. Who is he and what does he want. He kept on walking closer to the alter, with every step he takes, my heart kept pounding, I could feel the uneasiness In Vincenzo, he squeezed my hands, the fear of losing him would be a story I will not be able to tell. The man in black stopped as soon as he got to the front of the altar, he points the gun down to my chest, pressing it. Vincenzo pulls me to his back for safety, but why would someone want to kill me on my wedding day?

“Get out of my way, it is Ginevra I want, I have no business with you” His voice sounds so familiar. But where have I heard this voice from? I peep through the back of Vincenzo who kept his stance and refused to back down. Immediately the mysterious man pulled off his mask and that is when my jaw dropped at the face of my Ex-boyfriend. How come? What is he doing here? How did he replace me? I kept on shaking behind Vincenzo.

“Mr.Marco, you were not invited and I made it clear that I never want to see you near my wife and me again.” He said angrily, this was the first time I have heard him speak like this.

“Mr. De Luca so you do marry your Patients? Because I can recall asking you for a pass to see Ginevra but you declined my offer, so you give me no choice, choose is either I kill you or kill your wife?” My eyes shot wide open at his insults. What gave him the mind to insult. I step out from behind Vincenzo and stood at his front to address Marco.

“There is no way you will come to my wedding and ruin it for no goddamn reason. Marco, I am not your girlfriend anymore, I belong to the De Luca’s so do us a favor and walk out of this church” I shouted with so much pain inside of me.

“Ha ha ha, you are so funny Ginevra, I never thought you will be this wild, hmm ok I will go and leave you two in perfect peace” You better do, he turned to leave, but the moment I turned to hug Vincenzo The was another shot heard, I froze looking in my spot as I look at scan through Vincenzo’s body for any sign of blood, there were no stains. Vincenzo searched my whole body for the part that bled but still no stains. We both turned to see Marco’s bloody body lying in the center of the church ground. Did he kill himself? I doubt that I raise my head to see four men in black standing at the corners of the church.

“It’s ok Ginevra, my men got him, he is not dead” Vincenzo plants a kiss on my forehead.

🕖🕖🕖🕖🕖

It is five hours away from the incident that had occurred in the church, the guest was seated quietly and the priest stood at our front pleading for the commotion. He smiles before giving us a nod to reading our vows.

“Mr. De Luca, Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?” Vincenzo smiled as he replied to the priest’s words. “Yes, I do” The priest faces me before reading out his creed.

“Miss Esposito, Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?” I blushed showing off my white teeth. “Yes I do”

“Now you can read your vows...” The priest instructed.

Vincenzo smiled happily before reading out his vows.

“I didn’t fall in love with you,

I walked into love with you

with my eyes wide open,

choosing to take every step along the way,

I do believe in fate and destiny,

but I also believe in

we are only fated to do the things

that we’d choose anyway,

and I’d choose you

in a hundred lifetimes,

in a hundred worlds,

in any version of reality,

I’d replace you

and I’d choose you.

Today, I take you to be my wife

and vow

to help create for us a life of honesty,

Fidelity,

trust,

and love.

To love you,

not as some ideas of you, but as you truly are.

To grow with you,

learn with you,

and to live out our days

hand in hand.”

As soon as he finished saying his vows, the whole guest in the church clapped, and tears dropped from his eyes. I can’t believe someone will love me this way.

“Miss Esposito, your vow?” The priest said cleaning his teary eyes with a white napkin. He also feels Vincenzo’s vow, it means a lot.

“Three years ago I could never have imagined I would be in this place. A place where I look into the eyes of the man that saved me from death and pledge to you my love.

You are the sweetest, most loving, caring, and kind person I have ever known, and I do not doubt that you make me a better woman, wife, and mother.

you believe in me and have shown me how to love with unconditional acceptance and every day you reaffirm that you are my soul mate.

Today we are unbreakable pairs, bound by our love.

I’m not sure that a lifetime is long enough for me to return all that you have given me, but I promise to spend the rest of my days by your side. To inspire you, laugh with you, cherish you, share your dreams and grow with you.

I believe in what we are and I will always love you with every beat of my heart.”

Now the tears rolled down his eyes as he rubbed my hands in soothing circles. I can never be more grateful than this second life I was given.

“I now pronounce you Husband and Wife...” He announces. “You may now kiss the bride” The priest finishes. My husband leans in close to me and I feel his lips take in mine, his tongue sucks the tip of my tongue, savoring the taste of my lips... Ohh someone is getting steamy in here. I giggled in between the kisses. People cheered as we danced out of the church with our hands entwined together. “The reception is behind the church, the food is ready to be served”. Thea, Vincenzo’s mother announces later and the guest starts dancing out of the hall. We depart from each other going to our various rooms to get changed to our reception attires. I put on my rose gold Gown that has a slit from the top of my right thigh. It had diamond stones from the waist. I take off my veil and place my crown on my hair before walking out of the room. When I reached the backyard, I am immediately engulfed in a big hug, making me stumble a little at the unexpected closeness.

“Oh, you deserve all the happiness Ginevra” Aunt Mirabella gushes in my ear and then parts ways. I search the whole room for my groom. “Hey, Mrs. De Luca, your dress is so astonishing.” I jumped at the sudden voice of my husband. My mouth drops halfway, taking in the sexy look of my husband. How many times will I say my husband, it’s catchy and I am getting so used to it.

“You look so, hmm cosi sexy” My cheeks turn crimson red at the thought of looking real sexy in his front. “I love you, wifey” His lips tickled my neck, making me giggle like a baby.

" I love you too, Hussy” We both laugh at our chitchat.

“Such a lovely couple, an” Ophelia and Aunt Mirabella coed at us.

“Take care of my best friend, please,” Ophelia tells him and he nods giving her an assuring smile.

“You have nothing to worry about Ma’am,” He says.

Aunt and Ophelia get distracted by the guest, leaving Vincenzo and me alone. He sighs before leading me to a group of men and women dressed in expensive suits like the one Vincenzo owns.

“Mr.Rolberto, I would like to officially introduce you to my wife,” Vincenzo says drawing the attention of the group. The man gives me a look of disgust rather than a greeting. But the lady by his wife, I assume to be his wife stretches her hands to shake me.

“It is nice to finally see the beauty that caught our Bos’s heart. ” She smiled gracefully.

“Thank you so much Ma’am” I replied with a sweet smile. what is wrong with that man anyway. I brush out the thoughts, I don’t want anyone spoiling my day for me. We walked to another group of men, but this time these men looked so young and hot like my husband. But my husband is sexier. I admit, Vincenzo knows a lot of people, that is what makes him famous.

“Alberto, Carlo, and Cosimo, I would like to introduce you to my lovely wife” Vincenzo smiles giving them a friendly hug. I realized immediately that these men were either his friends or cousins but he once told me he has no brothers. One of the tall men, in the middle, looked at me before taking my hand and placing a kiss on my knuckles as I give him a friendly smile.

“It is very nice to meet you, Mrs. De Luca, I am Alberto, this is Carlo my brother {he points to the man at his left, wearing the same shade of blue suit Vincenzo was wearing} and this is Cosimo { He finally points to the other man at the right, in the same blue attire they all wore} ”

The man at his right spoke up, Carlo or Cosimo? I think he said Cosimo, he walks up to me and drags me into a hug.

“Feel at home, we are your husband’s friends” I was dragged out of the hug gently by Vincenzo who didn’t like the way his friends were hugging me.

“Rule number one Bro’s, no touchy with my wife, Rule number two, you shouldn’t hug her or hold her hands more than how many seconds. Rule Number three..” I kissed his cheeks before speaking

“It’s ok Babe, I am yours ok” He kissed me back, agreeing to my response. Meanwhile, his friends stared at us and laughed. The other guy spoke up.

“Finally our Boss has finally gotten himself a wife that can calm his nerves down” We laughed at his remarks. Alberto whispers beside me before laughing. “Your man is a puppy beside you, please always come to work with him.” I laughed at his comment.

“What is that supposed to mean Alberto?” Vincenzo grinned

“Nothing” We all laughed. I had just known these men for a minute and I feel free with them.

Vincenzo leads us to the front table. He pulls out a chair for me and I settle in. A waiter offers us a glass of champagne before I could take a sip. Vincenzo’s mother speaks out loud with her glass of wine in her left hand raising high above her head.

“Let us make a toast to the newly wedded couples in Italy, Vincenzo De Luca and Ginevra De Luca” The guest hailed, going ahead with their toast. I pick up my glass from the table and faced Vincenzo giving him a toast before going ahead to sip my champagne.

“I would like the bride and groom to come on stage for their first dance.” The MC announced.

He offers me his hands and I take them as we make it to the dance floor. A slow song played, Vincenzo keeps his hands on my waist, pulling me closer and I look into his hazel eyes, His whole confident composure made me feel so small under his 6′3 height.

“Congratulation My love, you are now married!” He gives me one of those one-in-a-million smiles that could send a girl trembling at his feet.

“Thank you Hun” I smile at him.

“I have my plane waiting for us, we leave for Paris in two hours” He informs me.

Paris! What is happening in Paris?. I stare at him in confusion.

“Honeymoon” He smiled. Oh my, I slap myself mentally, how am I so stupid to forget our honeymoon.

“But, I don’t have any clothes to wear?” I tell him and he laughs.

“You have no worries about that, I already got your clothes” I jumped up to hug him.

I am now a De Luca, Mrs. Ginevra De Luca Esposito.