The Promise (The 'Burg #5)(132)

A variety of “here here’s” and “To Cal and Vi’s” were shouted as we all grabbed our drinks and took a sip.

Except Violet, who got up from her chair, walked with red cheeks and shining eyes to her father-in-law, wrapped her arms around him, and shoved her face in his neck.

And I sat there thinking I loved that. I loved that emotion from Vi. I loved that she was the kind of person who could take something possibly awkward, but knowing the players, understand it would end up stunningly beautiful.

And I sat there looking around, seeing Cal give his attention to Kate and Keira, both overwhelmed with emotion from their grandfather’s speech, both not his by blood but his all the same. I took in Vinnie and Theresa, who were there not only as relations but also because they’d earned their spot there, being the only real mother and father Cal had his whole life.

And then there was me. Loving one brother who was killed and, years later, loving another one because he was everything a man should be and he gave all that beauty to me.

And I sat there thinking that what was in this room was it.

This was life.

This was family.

This messy, strange, awkward, crazy conglomeration of people that totally fit when they shouldn’t. That could make beauty like Gary’s speech, even through the heartbreak of knowing they were there because their son was not.

This was what I’d always wanted.

And this was what I’d always had. Maybe mine was messier, stranger, more awkward, and definitely more crazy.

But this was family.

And sitting beside Benny Bianchi, surrounded by family, I knew without any doubt there was no place on the planet I’d rather be.

* * * * *

I stood at the panoramic window of Benny’s and my cabin, staring at the dark lake.

The hotel had seventy-five rooms and a string of cabins along the lake. Benny had checked us into one for the whole weekend. So after the festivities tomorrow, Ben and I would have nearly a whole day to ourselves surrounded by beauty.

Before that, though, tomorrow, Ben, Kate, Kiera, Feb, and I were going out on the lake in Colt’s boat that he’d brought down. We were going to tube and water-ski.

Cheryl and Vi were going to the hotel spa to get a massage, facial, and polish changes before having hair and makeup done.

I’d been invited to the spa, but I didn’t need any of that. I’d had a mani/pedi yesterday and I could totally do my own hair and makeup.

What I needed was time with Benny and time in a speedboat on a beautiful lake with two gorgeous girls, a cool chick, and a nice guy.

Ben had walked up to the hotel from the cabin for the rehearsal so he drove me and my Z back down.

He was taking my bag into the bedroom.

I was staring at the lake, thinking I’d never felt the feeling I was feeling. I didn’t know what it was because it wasn’t just happy.

It was more.

I was thinking I felt like how Vi looked that night (when she wasn’t crying due to Gary’s speech).

Serene.

“Thinkin’ that Cal didn’t think it out when he demanded they get hitched so close to Angie comin’ into the world,” Ben called as he walked into the room. “Girls are goin’ up to Chicago to spend the week with Bea and Gary. But Angie’s goin’ with Vi and him down to Virgin Gorda. So I’m not sure the honeymoon will be all it can be.”

“Cal’s determined to do something, I figure he’ll make it work,” I told the window.

“Yeah,” Ben answered, then asked, “Fridge is full, baby. You want a drink?”

“No, I’m good.”

And I was good.

Better than I’d ever been.

Two seconds later, I got even better when Ben fitted his front to my back and slid his arms around me.

I felt his face in my neck and got even better when he whispered, “My baby’s quiet.”

“Your baby’s happy.”

His arms gave me a squeeze.

“Thank you for givin’ this to me, Benny Bianchi.”

He heard me. He got me. And he knew what it meant to me.

I knew this when he growled, “Jesus, Frankie,” into my neck, his arms going super tight.

“A while ago,” I said to the lake, “you told me you love me.”

His arms didn’t loosen, but his lips slid up to my ear. “Yeah? When was that?”

Like he didn’t remember.

Still, I told him, “The day Angie was born.”

“Well, I didn’t lie.”

He remembered.

I closed my eyes so I could fully feel the magnificence of those words sliding through me.

“You never said it again,” I noted.

“Showed it,” he replied.

He did do that. Constantly.

“Yeah,” I whispered, gliding my hands along his arms where he was holding me and settling them there. “Do I show it?”

“Tesorina.”

He said nothing more.

“I want to show it,” I said so quietly I could barely even hear myself, but I felt my words trembling with the feeling behind them. “I want to know I show it. I want to know you feel it. Even when you’re away from me. I want to know you wake up every morning knowing you have my love and you go to sleep every night knowing the same thing.”

“Never said it, Frankie.”