Chapter Thirty Five

A few months after that, I stayed in the bride's dressing room. I didn't wear a long, elegant dress. I was too old for that shit. I wore a nice, but pretty, purple dress. The dress itself was plain, with a tank top cut. But there was this really pretty lacy part that went over it that really gave the dress it's flare, which was the same shade of purple as the dress part. This part had the sleeves, and shoulder pads, though they weren't really that noticeable. The heels were black, and only a couple inches high. I did my own makeup and hair, not wanting any stylists to do it. I've had enough of that. There was a soft knock on the door.

"It's open!" I finished putting my hair up as the door opened and Tommy, Bobby, and Crewe made their way in. I turned and looked at them. "Hey!" I smiled.

"Purple?" Tommy raised an eyebrow.

"Hey, if I wore white I would be a liar." I shrugged. "Or a really sad, sixty one year old woman."

Crewe laughed. "Well, you look beautiful. You really do."

"Thank you." I smiled and hugged him.

"Frankie's a lucky man." Bobby smiled. His moustache was coming back.

"Lucky? He's gotta put up with her." Tommy joked.

"Funny, DeVito. You're fucking hilarious." I smiled.

"I know I am."

I giggled and hugged him.

"Could you not cuss? You are in a church." Crewe teased.

"Psh." I rolled my eyes. "God knows I cuss." I hugged Bobby next. There was a knock on the door and Mary poked her head in.

"Just came by to see Tyler."

"Over here." I smiled. Mary squealed quietly and hugged me.

"You look so beautiful. We just gotta fix your hair." She pulled away from the hug and started to fix my hair. "Why are you wearing this up? Wear it down, it looks better."

"Fine, hair expert. Work your magic." I rolled my eyes.

"You know, you could do half up, half down." Crewe suggested.

"Really? Show me."

"Alright. It's really simple." Crewe made his way over and the two started working on my hair. I looked at Bobby and Tommy and signed "help me". At this, Bobby just kind of shrugged and Tommy looked confused. Obviously he had no idea of what I said. After a few minutes, the two finished.

"Hey, that looks great." Bobby smiled. "You look like Mindy McConnell."

"But, prettier." Crewe broke in. "Especially since she curled her hair and it's not straight."

"And because I helped work on it. At least the braid." Mary shrugged.

!

After we renewed the vows, we went straight into the reception. Jovanna claimed that she wouldn't have any sweets (she was trying to watch her weight but I don't think her method was working very well. She was trying, but she had gained about twenty pounds ever since she revealed she was pregnant—which was normal). Michael was dancing with Roxanne, the two happy as ever. Calvino sang from time to time. He was good, he was very good, but the poor kid's career just wasn't picking up. He worked at a bookstore and the pay wasn't great, but it was enough for him to live on. Nights, he played at nightclubs and got paid pretty good there, but he wasn't getting much publicity. I walked over to Crewe.

"Hey, Crewe?"

"Yes?" He took a drink of his champagne.

"If I give you the 3500, would you record a demo for Calvino?"

"Honey," Crewe smiled. "I'll do it for free. All you have to do is ask."

I beamed. "You're the best, Crewe." I kissed his cheek.

"Yes, I know." He chuckled. "Go get Calvino, we'll work something out."

I hurried over to Calvino, who was arguing with the DJ.

"I said play a slow song. Slow. You know what slow is, right?"

"Calvino—" I tapped his shoulder.

"I mean, do I have to give you a dictionary?"

"Calvino—"

"What?" he looked at me.

"Come here." I took him by the shoulder and away from the DJ.

"What is it?"

"I talked to Crewe about getting you a demo. He says he'll do it—"

"Mom, I don't have 3500 to spend just at a snap of my fingers—"

"Wait, wait, wait. Let me finish. He says he'll do it for free."

Calvino's eyes lit up. "Yes!" he grinned and ran over to Crewe, and the two started talking.

"He sure is happy, isn't he?" Frankie asked, walking up to me.

"Crewe's doing him a demo. Four songs. For free." I smiled.

"Really?" Frankie smiled.

"Yeah." I nodded.

"He deserves it. Calvino's worked so hard."

"I know." He put an arm around me. "It's his turn."

"I agree." I looked at him and put my arms around him. "So was this the wedding of your dreams?"

I shook my head. "It was better." I kissed him gently before pulling away. "I just wish Nicky could be here. He was pushing this."

"Well, at least he can see it." Frankie looked up. "You see this, you old bastard? We finally had a traditional wedding. Maybe if you hung on a few more years, you could've been here!"

I started laughing, and gently stroked his hair. "I love you, Castelluccio."

"I love you too, Hampton."

I smiled softly.

!

We walked out of the building where the reception was held and hurried down the steps. Mary shook our head as we walked by.

"I'm getting déjà vu." She joked. I saw Frankie roll his eyes. I got into the limo first, Frankie after.

"So where're you guys going?" Bobby asked as he held the door open for us.

"That's for us to know and for you not to find out." Frankie winked at him. Tommy leaned down, looking at us.

"Not even a hint?"

Frankie and I looked at each other and then I leaned forward.

"You hear the birds singing when you wake up. You're away from people, and it's just you and the birds and the bees." I winked.

"You're staying in a tent?"

"No, dumbass. We're gonna be in a cabin." Frankie rolled his eyes.

"But that's all we're saying and not a word more." I wiggled my finger at them.

"Okay, okay, okay. Have a good time, you two." Bobby smiled.

"But not too good a time." Tommy raised his eyebrows. We laughed as Bobby shut the door and we drove off.

"Finally, some time alone in how long?" I raised my eyebrows.

"About a day." Frankie smiled. I chuckled and rolled my eyes.

"Without people walking into the apartment."

"Well then..." He thought to himself. "Let's say twenty five years."

"I think you're right." I giggled quietly.