Marrying Mr. Right (7 page)

Missy nodded.

Vinnie said nothing but the anger in his eyes was vivid. Missy hoped he would be quiet and not interject. He wasn’t good at this sort of thing.

“Anyway, when he got home, I was mad and hurt.”

“That’s understandable,” Missy said.

“Not to him. He told me to get over it, walked into the bedroom, grabbed some clothes and left. I had to clean up everything by myself. I’ve never seen this side of him before.”

Shooting Missy an, I’ll take care of this. look, Vinnie stood, then walked to Cara. “Couples have arguments all the time, honey. It’s completely normal.”

“What are you saying?” Missy asked.

He put up a hand to stop her. “I’ve got this.”

She pushed past him. “Who are you to give marital advice?”

He turned on her. “She is this way because of you!”

“Mom? Dad?”

Ignoring her daughter’s question, Missy zoned in on Vinnie with a shriek. “What did I do?”

“You spoiled her. Did everything for her. Christ, she never wanted for a thing.”

When Missy pushed one finger into his hard chest, he took a step backward. “That’s what a good parent does! Not that you’d know, since all your time was spent on the sofa!”

His mouth dropped open. “I was a good father.”

“And I was a better mother.” Something made her look to where Cara had been standing. Her daughter wasn’t there. Missy looked in the kitchen, and the dining room. Still, no Cara.

Vinnie opened the front door. “She’s gone.”

Missy glared at him. Despite all his claims to the contrary, he hadn’t changed. Sticking his nose in when he didn’t know what the hell he was talking about. “Are you happy?”

He ran a hand through his hair in a familiar gesture of impatience. “What are we doing?”

Missy sat at one of the small white tables. “Acting the only way we know how.”

His voice cracked. “No.”

She met his eyes.

“That was the old us.”

“We haven’t changed,” she whispered, “don’t you see?”

He shook his head. “Yes, we have. I know I have.” He paced. “Damn it!” He hit the wall softly.

“I’ll give her a little while to calm down,” Missy said. “Then I’ll call her.”

“Okay, you do that. Just like always.”

Vinnie closed the door behind him. The emptiness of the house closed in on her as hot tears streamed down Missy’s face.

“Why the hell am I crying?” she whispered. “For Cara and Dan whom I know love each other? Or for my idiot ex for disappointing me once more?”

****

Vinnie found Cara sipping coffee at Jake’s Java Hut two blocks from their house. He hesitated before going inside and, a moment later, stood in front of her table. The place was a hub of activity and the scent of cinnamon swirled around him. A large screen television played in the corner, tables were scattered about. There was even a coffee bar with stools and an oversized couch in the corner. Soft rock played in the background with the tinkling of the occasional cash register.

Cara’s glance darted around the café before she stared up at him. “This is a public place. You can’t yell.”

He nodded in acquiescence. “Can I sit?”

“Okay.” She gripped the coffee cup so tightly he thought it might spill.

“Relax, honey, I won’t embarrass you.”

Her shoulders eased and she sunk back into her chair.

“I want to talk.”

Cara nodded.

“I think you’re making a mistake to call off the wedding.”

When she shook her head, Vinnie raised a hand. “Please, let me finish.”

Cara blew out a deep breath.

“I admit your mother and I have argued our share in the past.”

She frowned.

“Okay, we fought a lot. But that’s over.”

“It didn’t look like it a few minutes ago.”

He steepled his fingers. “I know, and that was all my fault.”

She looked surprised.

“I should have let your mom talk to you and not interrupted her. She’s a smart lady and an excellent parent.”

Cara nodded. “Yes, she is.”

“I know.” He met her eyes. “I’ve always been envious of the way she juggled a full time work schedule and was still there for you and your brother.” He smirked. “Most of our arguments originated from my jealousy.” He shook his head in disgust. “I had a lot of growing up to do.”

Cara put her cup down and leaned in toward him. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Dad.”

“No. I have to. You see, sweetie, your mother taught me a great deal about what being a real grown up means, and because of her I’ve changed a lot over the past few months.”

“What did you learn?”

A waitress walked over to the table. “I’m not staying,” Vinnie said. She nodded and walked away.

When she was out of earshot, he continued. “Marriage is ninety-nine percent compromise. It wasn’t until we separated that I realized I never did any of that. Your mom was always the one to give in and I’m surprised she put up with me as long as she did.”

Cara’s eyes grew wide. “You still love her.”

Vinnie swallowed hard. His daughter was wise beyond her years, just like her mother. He nodded.

“Dad, you need to tell her.”

He put up his hand to stop her. “Today is about you and Dan.”

Cara heaved a deep, tired sigh, but her face was filled with hope. “I love him, Daddy.”

“I know you do. And he loves you too.”

“Really?”

He reached across and took her tiny hands in his. “I can tell by the way he looks at you whenever you enter a room, watches you the whole time you’re with him, and holds your hand when you sit beside him.”

The same way he felt about Missy.

“That is a forever kind of love you may not find again.”

She rummaged through her purse. “I have to call him.”

Vinnie nodded. As he watched his daughter walk outside to call her future husband, melancholy washed over him. He’d made so many mistakes with Missy. Rolling his wrist to check his watch, he paid his daughter’s check and strode out to his car. If he didn’t get a move on, he’d be late to walk his little girl down the aisle.

****

When Cara returned to the house two hours later, complete with honeymoon luggage, wedding gown over one arm and a big smile on her face, Missy thought she might do a cartwheel. After helping her carry everything inside, she hugged Cara.

“So, the wedding is on?”

Cara nodded. “I’m sorry for all the craziness, Mom.”

Missy closed the front door. “We’re all allowed to be crazy on our wedding day.”

Cara slipped out of her jacket. “Dad really knows what he’s talking about.”

Missy froze. “Huh?”

“Dad. He came and found me at the coffee shop.”

“He did?”

“Yup. He told me how important compromise is in a marriage, so I called Dan, who was just as upset as me, and we talked. He apologized for walking out and promised me he’d never do that again. We agreed to talk everything through no matter what.”

Missy slipped onto a chair. Vinnie talked to Cara about compromise?

Cara pulled up another chair and sat beside her. “He still loves you, Mom.”

Missy’s head snapped up. “What?”

Her daughter nodded. “Do you still love him?”

Missy’s mouth dried to dust. “Today is your day.”

Cara pressed her. “Mom. Please.”

“Yes.”

“Great. You’ll compromise and everything will be okay.” Cara turned toward the table where her wedding gown lay covered in a large white plastic bag. “Let’s take this upstairs to let any wrinkles fall out.”

Missy smiled. “Okay.”

They ascended the staircase.

“Mom! The banister looks beautiful! Did Linda call? What time is she coming to do my hair?”

“She’ll be here at noon.”

Missy followed Cara into her old bedroom, relieved her daughter was so caught up in the excitement of her day that she let the subject of she and Vinnie drop.

****

“Hurry, Mom. It’s five o’clock!”

“It’s tradition for the bride to be reasonably late.” Missy held her daughter’s train as they climbed into the sleek black limousine waiting for them at the curb in front of the house.

Cara inhaled from her bouquet. “These are beautiful roses, Mom.”

“I’m glad you like them.”

“The house looks perfect. I can’t thank you enough for pulling this together on such short notice.”

They hugged. “Now don’t go all sentimental on me. Besides, I want to save my crying for the church.”

Inside Saint Mary’s, the strong fragrance of dozens and dozens of pink roses filled the church. Ann and the girls from The Flower Box did a lovely job decorating the church. Huge baskets of flowers dressed the altar. The bridesmaid’s bouquet of white and yellow roses offset the dresses of light green voile perfectly and the miniature Calla Lilys for boutonnieres were a particularly nice touch. Simple and basic, but very classy.

Her son, Nick, met her in the back of the church. Missy smiled at the young man who was a duplicate of his father in looks only. “I didn’t think you’d make it.”

“I came directly from the train station and changed here. Father Timothy remembered me.”

She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Of course he did.” She looked around. “Have you seen your Dad?”

“He’s in the back with Cara. I think he thought you were coming earlier.”

“Why?”

Nick shrugged. “Said he needed to tell you something important.”

“I’ll be right back.” She slipped through the crowd of people and in the direction of the Bride’s Room.

A moment later, she almost collided into Vinnie. The black tuxedo fit him to a t and her knees weakened. He grabbed her arms to prevent her from falling backward. Heat rushed through her. This man had a hold on her she feared would never go away. “I’m glad I found you.”

“Me, too.” He slid his arm through hers and pulled her over to an alcove. “I need to tell you something.”

She found it hard to swallow. “Me, too.”

Like two teenagers, they both laughed nervously.

He ran a thumb up her neck and cradled her chin in his hands. “Missy girl, what are we going to do about us?”

Her stomach flipped. She lost herself in the deep brown eyes she’d gazed into longingly after so many love-making sessions over so many years.

Vinnie leaned in closer to kiss her, but was interrupted by Antoine, who swept down the hall clapping his hands. “Places, places, everyone.” Not a hair out of place, black tuxedo, no doubt custom made showed off the man’s tiny waist. Upon further inspection Missy couldn’t tell, did he have mascara on?

Organ music filled the cathedral. “Mrs. Modesto, you must get in line. Your son is waiting to seat you.”

Missy nodded, never taking her eyes off Vinnie who mouthed, “I love you,” as Antoine turned away to ride herd on the rest of the wedding party.

Nick took her arm to lead her down the aisle toward the front of the church. “Ready, Mom?”

As a numb, almost tingly feeling raced through her, all she could do was nod her head. Vinnie still loved her.

She hadn’t been imagining it and she hadn’t been alone. Truth was, she had never stopped loving him.

Nick stopped walking and Missy stood at the entrance to the pew where she was expected to sit. She kissed her handsome son on the cheek before he took his place beside Dan at the foot of the altar.

When the wedding march played, her eyes burned. Remembering the tissues, she strategically placed in her jacket pocket, she blotted her already dripping eyes.

As Vinnie and Cara walked down the aisle, Missy didn’t think she could ever love two people more. The way he smiled down on his daughter more than warmed her. Adoration and love for her filled his eyes just like the day the doctor handed him his baby girl in the delivery room. Vinnie had broken down and sobbed. Coming from a family of all boys, this little girl meant the world to him and from that very moment she had him wrapped tightly around her little finger.

They reached the altar a few minutes later, and Vinnie lifted Cara’s veil and kissed her cheek. At that moment, Missy couldn’t fight the feeling that they were both losing their little girl.

Vinnie stepped back, all the time watching Cara take Dan’s arm, then slid into the pew beside her.

Father Timothy said, “Dearly Beloved,” and a hush fell over the crowd.

Vinnie took Missy’s hand in his.

She gazed into his eyes and almost forgot where they were.

“About those divorce papers…” he whispered.

Missy leaned in and kissed his cheek. The musky scent she’d loved for over two decades relaxed her. “What divorce papers?”

Vinnie smiled a smile that almost undid her. He held onto her hand and kissed her fingers. There would be no divorce—Vinnie and Missy would be together forever—because their love was meant to be.

A word about the author...Cathy Tully

A member of Romance Writers of America, The Liberty States Fiction Writers, and The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Cathy published a children’s non-fiction book titled
Nebraska
for Kidhaven Press in 2004.

A believer in happily-ever-afters, one year later, Cathy turned to writing romance and has been hooked ever since.

Born and bred in New Jersey, Cathy lives in the central part of the state with her husband, Joe, and their two daughters. The proud author of her first sweet romance novel, she is hard at work on her next project.

Cathy can be reached at

via email @
[email protected]

or on Facebook.

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