First Love Only Love (The Life 2)

It took more than an hour, but I sat transfixed as she made fat ringlet curls in her hair before attacking it with gem-colored pins. The back of her head looked like an enchanted garden with the many spirals and twirls held together with about a million pins and baubles.

“Let me see.” I walked around to have a look. “Very nice. I’m leaving now. If you people are going to put that gook on her face, go light.” I kissed her before I left for my room to get ready for the evening since she was getting ready with the women of my family.

GIANNA

I saw my dress for the first-time minutes before I put it on and almost refused. “That’s for me?” It looked too elegant, too pretty, and way too grand.

“Yes, Gabriel chose it, don’t you like it?”

“But, the girls.” In my mind, I couldn’t imagine that there was another dress more beautiful, and I’d hate to upstage them.

Mrs. Russo smiled and kissed my cheek, “don’t worry, their dresses are gorgeous as well.” I let myself be talked into putting on the prettiest thing I’ve ever worn. “Gabriel bought this?” I looked through wet eyes at the vision in the mirror. He was right; my hair did look better this way with the princess gown.

I took it all in. The yellow satin and tulle gown that flowed around me, white gloves that came to just above my elbows, and matching satin evening slippers in daffodil yellow. I looked like a whole new person, and my first thought was that I wished my mother could see me.

It’s been hard keeping my mind off things and focusing on tonight, and as horrible as it makes me feel, I’m glad it’s almost over so that I can move forward with what needs to be done. Gabriel hasn’t said anything since the day I put mom’s portrait back in its place, but I know he hasn’t stopped thinking about it either.

Every once in a while, I’d roll over in bed to find him sitting in front of his computer, looking deep in thought. He always shuts it down once he realizes I’m awake and sways my mind with talk of other things when I ask too many questions. It always works until the next day when I remember and question him, but he’s the master of deflection.

He’s the one who’s been taking care of Greta, making sure she remains safe. Every evening I’d see her for a little bit, learning more about my mom and the woman she’d been. The more I learn, the more disgusted with myself I become. Here I am feeling sorry for myself and the way I’d been treated, and my poor mother had lost her whole existence to these monsters.

I won’t rest until Becky spends the rest of her life behind bars, but so far from all the research I’d done, without evidence, there wasn’t much I could do. My hope is that Greta’s testimony would be enough, but even Gabriel doesn’t seem to think so, though he hasn’t come right out and said it in so many words. I know he’s been trying to come up with something all this time; at least that’s my answer for why he’s not touched me in days.

I didn’t notice it right away since I still sleep next to him, we still talk long into the night, and he’s still his same overprotective self. But once you’ve grown used to something, it’s hard not to notice when it’s gone. I’m too embarrassed to bring it up to him, but without the distraction of the party, I’m sure I would’ve been stressing over the sudden change in his behavior. It’s hard to blame him, though, since he’s being so sweet in every other way.

I got distracted from my thoughts by a knock on the door and turned to see Gabriel standing there. I always thought the phrase tongue-tied was meaningless drivel, but it took me a minute to find my voice. He looked like a model. The black dress shirt with the top buttons undone, with matching slacks that fitted him like they’d been made for him, took my breath away. And I’d thought he couldn’t look better than he had in his tux.

“Don’t you look handsome?” His mom kissed his cheek and left my room where I’d gotten dressed, leaving the two of us alone staring at each other. “You’re staring.”

“I’m sorry, you look, whoa!” My cheeks heated at my gauche response, but I was literally without words.

“What’s that?” I’d only just noticed that he was carrying something in his hands because we’d both been staring at the other without talking for what felt like minutes.

“Come!” He walked me over to the mirror to stand in front of him before opening the velvet case and putting it down on the bureau. Inside, two sparkling diamond earrings looked back at me while he hooked the matching necklace around my neck. “This looks…” My hand trembled as I reached up to touch the cold gems.