She would have no bridesmaid in attendance today. Their witnesses would be Claire and Nico’s best friend from college Mark who Carrie had met a few times. Sitting in the chair she let her thoughts wander when her make-up was applied. The pop of a champagne cork startled her. “Are you okay?” D’von asked.
“Yes, yes, I’m fine.”
Her hair was sleeked back and smoothed into bun. Two crystal combs slid into place and would secure the veil when she wore it later.
She shooed everyone out to step into the dress. Miniscule panties and once more the boning of the dress did not require any bra. Sheer thin stockings and a blue garter that Belle gave her were her something blue. Something old, the combs in her hair that were her mothers. Something new, her new jewellery. That just left the six pence for her shoe?
Another tap on the door, it was D’von to help with the final buttons.
“Oh, oh, oh Carrie. You are a vision.”
“Thank you D’von for everything, I will see you at the ceremony, now off you go and make yourself gorgeous!”
Time for the jewellery. She picked up the box and there underneath a shiny penny. So Rob was with her now. Giving her the ‘six pence’ only it was a penny for her shoe. She wouldn’t cry, she wouldn’t break down. For months the pennies had stopped. Finding this one was overwhelming. That was how her father found her a few minutes later. Trying to blot the little tears in her eyes. “A penny Dad, I found a penny”
“Carrie, I have never seen my daughter look more beautiful. Dry your eyes darling. Rob would be happy for you and that’s the sign you are looking for.”
She nodded and moved to check if her make-up was beyond repair. There at the window. A single yellow butterfly sitting on the iron bar. She stopped to stare at it. Then it was gone. The butterfly flew away. Rob would always be near and this was the sign for her.
“Thanks Dad, I’m just a little emotional I guess,”
“That’s perfectly alright, is this what you want? Because we can go home now if you don’t want this and call it off?”
Always her protector.
“I love Nico Daddy. I want to marry him,”
“Alright well just let me have a couple more minutes before we join them. It’s a bride’s prerogative to be late but I think it is a father’s to delay that just a little longer.”
Her father was dressed in his kilt, waistcoat and jacket. The full highland dress always drew attention and she knew her father would be a hit with everyone. Especially guessing if he were a true Scotsman or not!
The stylist returned to secure the cathedral veil and it was time.
Holding a beautiful bouquet of pale pink peonies and white roses she took her father’s arm as they walked down the grand stair case. Onto the flagstones and open through the large arched doorway into the courtyard. Slowly they walked along the red carpet that had been rolled out, scattered with rose petals. Her father kissed her on the cheek and took his place next to her mother who had taken the bouquet of flowers from Carrie.
Nico was breathtakingly handsome in his black suit that was tailored to sculpt his body. A pale pink tie and rose in the buttonhole. She felt the tears of emotion build already before a word had been said. “I love you” he whispered to her. “You look beautiful,”
The Mayor was presiding over their civil ceremony and he welcomed Carrie and Nico for choosing this location for their wedding. As part of the civil wedding in Italy the Mayor read out their civil wedding code. There were several articles that he read out and translated. Article 143 the obligation to fidelity, to moral and material assistance. Article 144 the address of the family home. The husband and wife will agree together on the physical address of their home and establish the family residence according to the needs of both. Article 147 duties towards children. Both the husband and wife share the duty of supporting, raising and educating their children.
It was now the Declaration of Content and their turn to speak.
“Does Mr Nico Vittorio Devanti declare to want to take as his wife Miss Carrie Reynolds-Davies here present?”
“Yes”
“Does Miss Carrie Reynolds-Davies declare to want to take as her husband Mr Nico Vittorio Devanti here present?”
“Yes”
“I declare in the name of the law that Mr Nico Vittorio Devanti and Miss Carrie Reynolds-Davies are united in matrimony. Now the exchange of the rings”
Mark passed the rings. Carrie hadn’t realised just how much her hand was shaking until Nico placed the ring on her finger. A beautiful band of diamonds and platinum. Nico’s a matching band.
The last part of the ceremony the marriage act reading.
The Mayor continued with his duties. He told them the documents had been read and filed in the register together with the documents produced for the posting of the banns. After examining the documents he could see no impediment to the marriage.
He confirmed that the newly marriage couple had been read the Italian civil code numbers 143, 144 and 147. He had asked the groom if he would take the bride and asked the bride if she would take the groom. Having both answered ‘Yes’ of their own free will and before the witnesses present, he had declared them united in matrimony.
“Uniti in matrimonio”
“You may kiss your bride,”
It was a tender but passionate kiss full of promise for later. Cheers of congratulations and clapping broke out as they kissed.
Their interpreter continued to translate and read out the act it was time for the signatories.
Whilst they signed the register with their witnesses and the mayor the photographer discretely took their official pictures. They received their family record book containing the marriage act. They were now husband and wife.
In a rush of exchanges of kisses and hugs from their guests. Carrie saw her mother brush a tear away. “Congratulations Carrie Reynolds Davies Devanti, now that’s a mouthful” Claire exclaimed.
“Thanks Claire but it’s just going to be Carrie Devanti. Not a peep out of Daniel, I think he slept through the whole service.”
“Oh Harry did well, I did think at one point he was going to play with his toy cars on the red carpet”
Harry ran over hearing his name dressed like a mini me of his father and grandfather in a kilt. “Tantie, tantie,”
Carrie picked him up as she always did and kissed his cheek. As soon as he saw his Uncle he wriggled down. “Eco,” His new favourite person.
Nico took her hand and brought it to his mouth but his eyes were promising much more then he picked Harry up. His grandmother was at his side.
“Welcome to the family Carrie,” Nico’s grandmother still had the burr of her soft Scottish accent. “Thank you Nona, I’m very happy to join it,”
“You’ve tamed a playboy, how does that feel?”
“There was no taming involved but truth be told he saved me,”
They walked back towards the house as Carrie wanted to remove the veil and freshen up. At the steps of the large arched doorway a shout was called out. They both turned and looked over their shoulders. Click. It was the perfect shot for the photographer.
Later with their permission that same photograph would be used to announce their wedding. Social media went into meltdown as the picture was tweeted and re-tweeted as it was shared. They had kept their secret but now it was time to share their news.
Nico Devanti
@nicodevanti
Today with family and friends I am thrilled to announce I married my beautiful bride Carrie.
It was tweeted with an instagram link to their doorway picture. The Devanti PR team who were notified in advance were ready for the avalanche of requests for interviews, pictures and exclusives.
Standing on the terrace they shared a toast with their guests.
“Carrie and I feel privileged to have found each other. Carrie has taught me the one thing I didn’t know I had and that’s patience. We’ve had to learn to compromise and rack up lots of air miles but everythi
ng has been worth that for today.
I’d like to thank Carrie’s parents, Kate and Dan, and my parents Dorothea and Gino for their support. Thank you to everyone who has travelled far afield to join us today and all of you for keeping this day a secret. Especially Chiara for holding off updating her location on all her social media sites!
Thank you most of all for Carrie for agreeing to become my wife. I know life will never be boring with you at my side and I promise never to make you want to ‘malkie’ me.
A final, special thanks goes to Charlie for giving Carrie directions to the beach that day and bringing her into my life.
So please raise a toast to my beautiful wife Carrie”
“To Carrie and Nico”
Clinking glasses and Carrie was crying. “Happy tears, remember,” she whispered to him.
“Did I tell you I love you Mrs Devanti?”
“Oh I eh, think you might have but do you care to remind me?”
“I love you Mrs Devanti”
“And I love you Mr Devanti. Thank you for the lovely toast you gave. Let’s make a promise to come back here every year for our anniversary if we can”
“I think we can manage that, we might even be back sooner than that. Remember the article from the ceremony 144 the family home.”
“Yes, I remember, why?”
“I made the owner an offer on this place. I could see how much you love it here and it will be a great place to work on article 147 – children! Beau will love it here too”
“Nico! We can get started on article 147 anytime,”
“We can start on 147 as soon as we say goodbye to our guests! But I just want you to have a home with me, by my side. Does here feel like home?”
“Home is with you Nico,”
THE END
BUTTERFLIES FLY AWAY Page 42