It Had To Be You Read online

  With the dowel in place, there was really only one thing left to do. Rosa took the topper—a glorious bride and groom— and placed it on top of the cake. She grinned as she looked at it. “You know, I feel like that right now,” she said, pointing.

  “Oh?”

  “Yes.” She giggled. “I’m on top of the world.”

  I reached to give her a warm hug. “I have a feeling you’re going to be there for a long, long time, Rosa. Tonight is just the beginning of your happily ever after.”

  Rosa gave my hand a squeeze. “Finché c’è vita, c’è speranza, Bella Bambina.”

  Mama and I grinned, then spoke the words in unison: “As long as there is life, there is hope!”

  17

  Stardust

  About an hour before Laz and Rosa’s wedding, I slipped into my evening gown, ready for what would surely turn out to be one of the most spectacular nights of my life. I stood in front of the full-length mirror, mesmerized by the way the black satin gown made me feel. I couldn’t be sure if it was the forties theme or the dress itself, but I genuinely felt like I’d stepped into a Hollywood movie set.

  The flowing dress had a dramatic draped back and the prettiest rhinestone bow a girl could ask for. The front boasted a V-neck with princess seaming. My favorite part, though, was the skirt with its flared hem. I loved the fact that it was longer in back than front. Very elegant, especially with the lightweight satin swishing around my ankles. And there was something about a dress that had to be zipped up on the side that just made me feel like a Hollywood princess. Yep. I was a sucker for playing dress-up, even as an adult.

  I touched up my lipstick and pressed my feet into the black pumps I’d chosen just for tonight—a pretty number with an elegant but sensible heel—and headed to the wedding facility in plenty of time to give the room a final look before the crowd arrived.

  Once inside, I found Father Michael warming up on his trumpet with the band. Looked like Gordy had talked him into playing a number during the reception. Go figure.

  I noticed Gordy and Lilly slip in from the hallway with suspicious smiles on their faces. Hmm. I wonder what’s up with that.

  Gordy walked to the stage, turning back to catch Lilly’s eye. She gave him a little wave, then took a few steps in my direction. “Bella!”

  “Lilly, what’s up?” I asked.

  “I have news.” She pulled me to the side of the room. “It’s about Gordy,” she whispered.

  “What about him?”

  “We had a long talk the day Laz and Rosa were fighting, Bella, and he finally admitted that he’s been in love with me for months.”

  “Oh, Lilly!” I reached to give her hands a squeeze. “This is wonderful news. I’m thrilled for you.”

  “Not half as thrilled as I am.” She giggled, suddenly looking and sounding about forty years younger. “I asked him what took so long, and you know what he said?”

  “No.”

  “Fear. He was scared.”

  “Of what?”

  “Well …” She sighed. “He was married to his first wife for thirty-nine years, and she passed away after a long battle with cancer. Turns out he was afraid to love again, scared he might lose that person too.”

  “Oh wow. Well, I guess that makes sense.”

  “Yes,” she said. “But you know what makes even more sense, especially at our age?” When I shook my head, she said, “To risk it. To put everything on the line and take a chance. For love’s sake.”

  “Wow. That’s brilliant, Lilly.”

  She smiled. “I think so too, to be honest. And I’m willing to risk it all for love, Bella.” Her gaze traveled to the stage, and she gave Gordy a flirtatious wave. “He’s worth it. We’re worth it.”

  I threw my arms around her neck, overcome with joy. “You are!” I said. “And I know God is in this, Lilly. He is!”

  “Amen to that!” She giggled as she released her hold on me. Turning toward the stage, she wrapped up the conversation. “Of course, if I want to keep that man happy, I’d better get back to my seat. He’s never happy when a musician goes missing.”

  “You go on then,” I said with a reassuring smile. “I need to go check on the bride, anyway. But keep me posted, okay?”

  “You got it.”

  I took note of the time—6:30. By now Sal would be at the door, greeting guests. I still smiled as I thought about his insistence to do things the way they would be done in the Old Country. Making my way to the door, I saw him at work, handing out drinks to the men and women. For toasting, of course.

  Sal raised his glass and shouted, “Per cent’anni! For a hundred years!” and Phoebe and Bart Burton raised their glasses and shouted, “For a hundred years!”

  Sal followed this with “Evviva gli sposi! Hurray for the newlyweds!” Bubba, who happened to be coming through the door with a stack of cloth napkins in his hands, shouted, “Hurray for the newlyweds!” Ironic, in light of the fact that he was one.

  Watching Sal at work was a mixed bag. I was so proud of him for playing the role of host. But I was also a little sad knowing he would be leaving us soon, heading back to Atlantic City. He’d truly become part of the family over the past few days.

  Glancing at my watch, I realized I needed to get moving. With only twenty minutes till start time, I still needed to check on the bride and groom. I entered the bride’s room to check on Rosa just a few seconds later. I gasped when I saw her, and tears sprang to my eyes. Talk about a transformation. I had seen her in her wedding dress a few weeks ago, but back then it had required alterations. Today, as I looked at her adorned in white, it occurred to me—she was truly pure in every sense of the word. Sixty-plus years old, and never married. She could wear that white dress and wear it proudly. I didn’t know many twenty-year-olds who could do that, let alone a woman in her golden years.

  “What do you think, Bella?” She turned my way with a grin. “Do I look like I’m from the forties?”

  “Man, do you ever.” The sweetheart neckline on the lace gown was amazing. And those full-length point sleeves were divine. My favorite part, however, was the darling forties-style white hat with veil attached. I could almost hear “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” playing in the background now. Rosa certainly looked the part, and then some.

  “What about us?” I turned at Aunt Bertina’s cheerful voice. Mama, Bianca, and Bertina took my breath away. They all wore their hair in typical forties updos, curled around the edges, near to the face. Very Betty Grable–like. Or would it be Rita Hayworth? And those dresses! The gold gowns were reminiscent of days gone by, all glitz and glam. Straight off of a Hollywood set. I could hardly wait to see the ladies marching down the aisle with their respective groomsmen.

  And speaking of groomsmen … from what I’d been told, Pop, Emilio, and Sal would all be wearing double-breasted suits and fedoras. This I could hardly wait to see. In fact, I’d check on them right now.

  “Be back in a few minutes.” I offered Rosa a reassuring smile.

  She waved me off, and I ventured down the hall to the groom’s room. Rapping on the door, my anticipation mounted. Pop swung it wide, and I gasped as I saw the men. I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or stare in stunned silence. Mama mia! Did these fellows look the part, or what? Their suits were fabulous from top to bottom and definitely put me in mind of a different era, one where men didn’t mind a little flash and shine.

  Speaking of flashes, Joey was hard at work, snapping photos of the guys. “Perfect timing!” he said. “I was just wrapping up in here. I’m headed over to get some pictures of the ladies now. Are they ready for me?”

  I nodded and gave him a quick hug, never leaving my spot in the doorway. I wouldn’t dare enter the men’s sanctuary without invitation. “Thanks for all your hard work, Joey,” I whispered. “I’m sure the pictures are going to be amazing.”

  “Thanks, Bella.” He nodded toward me. “You look like you stepped out of a movie.”

  “Why, thank you!” I curtsied. “That’s
the idea.”

  After Joey left, my father drew near. “Is it almost time?”

  “No, we’ve still got fifteen minutes. I just had to see them with my own eyes. The suits, I mean. And the shoes.”

  Pop turned in a circle, and I whistled as I took in the high-waisted, wide-legged trousers and the long coat with its broad lapels. What got me most, however, was the fedora. He looked smashing.

  “Oh, take a look at these.” Pop pointed down to the black and white shoes on his feet. “Spats. Just for fun. And you’ve got to see Laz. You’re not going to believe it. He looks pretty dashing.”

  “Is it okay to come inside?” I asked.

  “Sure. We’ve been dressed for a long time. C’mon in.”

  I stepped inside, gasping when I laid eyes on Laz, who was dressed in a getup similar to the others, with the addition of a feather in his fedora. Did he look like a dandy, or what? He wore a watch chain that dangled from his belt down to the knee, then draped back to his side pocket. Unbelievable—he looked like something straight from a photograph! Clearly, the man had done his homework on the forties. Or maybe he just remembered them firsthand. At any rate, he had it right.

  “Laz, you look like a million bucks.”

  “Wish I had a million bucks,” he said with a smile. “Rosa and I would stay in Italy much longer than planned.”

  “Don’t you dare!” I said. “You’ve got to come back home to us. It’s going to be hard enough to do without you for a few weeks. A few months would kill us!”

  “True.” He shook his head. “I haven’t got a clue how you folks are going to survive without your favorite aunt and uncle. For one thing, what will you eat?”

  I gave him my best offended look. “Hey now. I’ll have you know that Rosa has been teaching me to cook over the past few months. I’m getting better all the time.”

  He quirked a brow, and we all laughed.

  “Well, I’m getting better, anyway,” I said. “So we won’t starve. And Mama can cook. She just rarely gets the chance to prove it.”

  “Good point. She will certainly have the chance now.” He turned once more, looking in the mirror. “You don’t think folks will mind that I’m not wearing a tux and tails? That was an option too. We just thought this would be more fun.”

  “Fun is good,” I said with a smile. “It’s your wedding, Laz. You make it what you want it to be. If I’ve learned anything during my time in this business, it’s that the bride and groom get what they want, not what others want for them.”

  “Another good point, my dear.” He gave me a tender look. “That’s why you’re the wedding planner and I’m not.”

  I spent a few more minutes giving instructions, then headed into the reception hall to check on the band and the singers. When I found Twila, Jolene, and Bonnie Sue, I couldn’t help but gasp. “Ladies!” I gestured for them to turn around, and they did, but not without setting off a shimmer that almost blinded me. I’d never seen so many sequins. And those little hats. Darling!

  “I saw this outfit in a movie once,” Twila said, gesturing to her dress. “Ingrid Bergman. Casablanca.” She fussed with her waistline and groaned. “Of course, hers was a size 2 and mine is a 22, but never mind all that.”

  I stifled a laugh.

  “My dress is cut from the same pattern as Ginger Rogers’s in Top Hat,” Bonnie Sue said. “I’ve always loved that movie.” She giggled. “Makes me wonder what my Fred Astaire is up to right about now.”

  “Fred Astaire?” I gave her a curious look.

  “She’s talking about Sal,” Jolene said, rolling her eyes. “We keep telling her he’s off limits, but she thinks she’s going to win him to the Lord by slipping on her dancing shoes and taking him for a spin around the dance floor. Tell her it’s senseless, Bella. Missionary dating is never a good idea, especially at a wedding.”

  I turned to Bonnie Sue, unsure of what to say. With a wave of her hand, she dismissed the idea altogether. “Oh, c’mon, ladies. I’m just having fun. I’ll behave myself, whether Fred and Ginger trip the light fantastic or not.”

  “What about you?” I asked, turning to Jolene.

  “Oh, Bette Davis wore this dress in The Man Who Came to Dinner.” She ran her hands along the edges of her broad hips. “Of course, some of us have had a little too much dinner, thereby leading to a larger dress size, but I don’t suppose it matters, do you? I mean, glamour is glamour, no matter a lady’s size.”

  “Amen to that,” Bonnie Sue and Twila threw in.

  “Well, you look gorgeous.” I gave them an encouraging smile. “And you’re going to blow the crowd away with your songs too. I can hardly wait for the reception.”

  “Same here!” Twila lit into the chorus of “Eight to the Bar,” and within seconds the women were singing in perfect harmony. I gestured for them to take their rehearsal into the hallway since guests were arriving. I slipped to the back of the room and adjusted the overhead lights, turning them down a bit. The twinkling Christmas lights gave the room a heavenly glow. Perfect.

  I happened to glance across the room, taking note of Earline. Excusing myself, I took a few steps in her direction. As I approached, she looked up from her music with a joyous expression on her face.

  “Bella!” She took my hand. “You look fabulous.”

  “Do you like my dress?” I spun around, showing it off.

  “Do I!” She smiled. “That boy of mine is going to flip when he sees you.” Her brows elevated. “And I have a feeling you’re going to flip when you see him too. In fact …” She gestured for me to turn around, so I did. My heart leaped to my throat when I saw D.J. in his tuxedo. Wowza! I’d seen the boy in a suit before, but never anything like this. The black tuxedo and tails made me giddy. I felt like I’d walked straight onto a movie set. I wanted to rush to his side to tell him just how dashing he looked. To let him know he took my breath away. Unfortunately, the room was rapidly filling with guests. I barely had enough time to slip over for a moment or two.

  “Bella!” He whistled, and I felt my cheeks turn warm. “We’re gonna have a little chat about this getup you’re wearing when the night is through. You’re raising my blood pressure.”

  “Mine’s through the roof too,” I said, gesturing to his tux. “But I don’t have time for a medical condition tonight. Too much to do.”

  He gave me a gentle kiss on the lips, and I nestled against him, happy for even a few seconds alone with my leading man. The spell was broken when Sophia rushed my way to let me know that Jenna needed me in the kitchen. D.J. and I talked through a few last-minute instructions, and then I headed off to the kitchen to calm Jenna down. Turned out she’d misplaced one of the large salad bowls. I found it in a jiffy, and she dove into action, filling it with the luscious Caesar salad. Man, were the guests ever going to love this meal!

  Speaking of guests, I gave the hall another quick glance and realized they were arriving in force now. Glancing at my watch, I took note of the time—6:55. Wouldn’t be long now till we could get this show on the road.

  After tying up a couple more loose ends, I raced to the bride room to prepare the ladies. We could hear the strains of “It Had to Be You” playing in the reception hall. Gordy and the band sounded great. I could almost envision Jeho-shaphat and those Levites now, leading the way. Only this time, there were no enemies to fight. No, only friends and loved ones tonight. And a theatrical entrance for the world’s most anticipated bride.

  “You ready, Rosa?” I asked.

  She turned to me with a twinkle in her eye. “Oh, honey, you have no idea how ready. I dare you to try and hold me back!”

  “I wouldn’t think of it!” With that proclamation, I led our merry little band into the hallway. When we reached the entrance to the reception hall, I paused to make sure Laz was at the front of the room next to Father Michael. Talk about perfect timing.

  The groomsmen joined us in the hallway, and I could read the anticipation in their eyes. When I gave the signal, Sal and Bianca made th
eir way down the aisle first, taking slow, calculated steps. They were followed by Emilio and Bertina. I had to wonder what Francesca was thinking right about now. I caught a glimpse of her seated near the front. She dabbed at her eyes.

  When Emilio and Bertina reached the halfway point, Pop took Mama’s arm, and they made their way down the long aisle. For whatever reason, seeing my parents walk the aisle together almost did me in. I tried to imagine what they must be feeling, walking the aisle again after so many years as husband and wife. Were they reflecting on their own wedding day all those years ago?

  As the last couple of measures of “It Had to Be You” lingered over us, I happened to notice D.J. at the sound table. He gave me a little wink, and my heart fluttered. I found the moment strangely prophetic, almost as if God had arranged all of this just for the two of us. That song, with its nearperfect lyrics. The ambient lighting. That miraculous band. Yes, surely the Lord had gifted us with a moment of privacy in the midst of this very public celebration.

  I didn’t have time to ponder this for long. The song came to its rightful conclusion, and Earline joined with the band to play a forties swing-style version of “The Wedding March.” I’d never heard this particular rendition, but it certainly fit the theme of the night.

  I reached to give my precious aunt a kiss on the cheek before releasing her to make the walk down the aisle. The crowd rose and turned to face the back of the room, clearly anxious to see the bride in all of her glory. Rosa gave me a little nod and then took her first step. And her second. I smiled as I watched her make this journey alone. She had her reasons. This I knew from a prior conversation. In fact, I could almost hear her words as they replayed in my mind now: This is going to be my last walk without a man leading the way, Bella Bambina. Let me enjoy it.

  Oh, but Someone was leading the way. In fact, he’d led the way from the beginning till now. Tears sprang to my eyes as that truth nuzzled its way into my spirit. He had led Rosa to America. Led her to our hearts. Led her to Lazarro Rossi. And he would continue leading her into a thousand dazzling tomorrows.