The wedding came to me in chunks so I could get all the details in but keep it from being too long—and this is the first chunk. It's the night before the wedding…

"So, tonight's your last night as a free woman," Maria said smiling.

"Leave it to my unmarried sister to put it just the right way," Krista replied, smiling tightly in return. She was sitting on the couch in her apartment surrounded by most of her female relatives, and some of Rizzo's, too. They were all making small talk about the wedding, commenting on the bridesmaids' dresses, how cute the happy couple looked together, and even picking out names for their children.

They were driving Krista nuts.

"Aunt Krista," her niece Shannon called, coming over with Anya, another niece. "You have to settle a bet for us."

She sighed quietly. Shannon was only three years younger than her aunt, and Anya just two years behind Shannon. They had been pestering Krista all night for intimate details about their new uncle. "Okay Shannon, what was the bet?"

"Anya thinks that Uncle Mike is really sweet and gentle in bed, and I think he's kinda wild. Who's right?"

"What!"

"Come on Aunt Krista," Anya chimed in. "We know you're not a virgin…"

"I'm not having this discussion," Krista growled, rising from the couch. Fortunately for her the phone rang at that moment.

"Hello?" she said, picking it up before anyone else could.

"Hey snowflake," Rizzo said. "Don't get excited," he continued quickly. "Act like I'm trying to sell you insurance or something."

She smiled, but smothered it before any of the relatives caught it. "Yes, this is Kristina Collins," she said into the phone.

"Are your relatives driving you crazy? Just answer yes or no."

"Yes," she replied.

"Then I have a proposition for you…are you interested?"

"Oh Krista, just tell the salesman no and get off the phone," her sister Isabel told her.

"Just a minute, Isa," Krista said to her. Into the phone she said, "Yes, I'm interested."

"You're too polite," Isabel commented, walking away.

Rizzo chuckled. "Ah, my future sister-in-law." Then he changed the subject back to the matter at hand. "Okay, do you think you can get away for a while?"

"Yes."

"Good. Meet me at our spot by the Harbor in about twenty minutes. If you can make it tell me you're getting married tomorrow."

This time she didn't hold back the smile. "I'm getting married tomorrow."

On the other end of the line, Rizzo smiled too. "I'll see you in a little while, then. I love you," he told her. Then he added, "But don't say it back…"

She bit the inside of her cheek. "Okay, thank you."

She hung up the phone and Isabel looked up.

"What was he trying to sell you?"

"Insurance," Krista said heading over to the refrigerator. "I'm almost out of milk—I'm going to run to the store for a few things…"

"The night before your wedding? Krista, you're not even going to live here after tomorrow…"

"But we need milk for breakfast. I'll go get some…" Before Isabel could stop her, Krista grabbed her keys and headed out the door.

Fifteen minutes later she was walking over to a bench she knew very well. She and Rizzo had spent countless hours sitting on it looking out over Boston Harbor, planning their future together. He sat there now, having arrived a few minutes before she did.

She crept up behind him and slid her arms around his shoulders. "I love you," she whispered in his ear.

He took her hands in his and smiled. "You've been waiting to say that since I called, haven't you?"

Krista laughed. "I have." She moved around the bench and sat beside him, kissing him hello. "It kills me not to be able to tell you I love you."

"I know," he said, still smiling putting his arm around her. "Me too."

She leaned her head on his shoulder. "That's how I knew you meant it in the beginning…'cause you'd say it in front of the boys in the middle of the bar," she smiled.

He laughed and kissed the top of her head. "I always mean it," he told her. "I love you more than anything else in the world."

She smiled softly, tracing a finger down his chest. "I know."

They sat in silence for a while, arms wrapped around each other, gazing alternately at the water and into each other's eyes. Finally, Krista broke the stillness.

"I should go back," she said reluctantly. "I told them I was going out for milk."

"I told the boys the same thing," Rizzo smiled. "But before you go, I have something for you…" He pulled a small box out of his shirt pocket and handed it to her.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Just a little wedding present," he said.

She took the box from him and lifted the top off. Inside was a tiny silver snowflake attached to a delicate chain. "Honey…it's beautiful…" She leaned over and kissed him softly.

"I thought you could wear it as your 'something new' tomorrow," he said, caressing her cheek.

"Of course I will." She kissed him again, and pulled a box of her own from her purse. "I have something for you, too."

He took the box from her and opened it, finding a pair of gold cuff links engraved with anchors and the initials J.P.C.

"They were my brother's," Krista said. "All the siblings pitched in, and we gave them to him when he graduated from the Naval Academy. My brother Tim thought you might want to wear them, but you don't have to…"

He stopped her. "I'd be honored to wear them," he told her quietly.

"You know, since my dad died when I was little, Joe would have been the one giving me away tomorrow," she said, cuddling up against Rizzo again.

"Well, he might not be giving you away, but he'll be there tomorrow, I promise."

She smiled a little and kissed his shoulder. "I really should go, now, before Shannon starts spreading rumors again…"

She rose from the bench and he stood with her, sliding his arms around her and holding her tightly.

"I wish you we didn't have to be apart tonight," he said.

"Well, after tomorrow, we won't," she said, her smile growing.

He leaned down and kissed her gently, and she giggled.

"What?"

"That's the last time you'll ever kiss Krista Collins," she said.

He returned her smile. "You're right, the next time I get to kiss you you'll be Krista Eruzione." He released her, and watched her walk toward her car. About halfway there, she stopped and ran back to him.

"One more," she said, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him passionately.

He laughed, sliding a hand down her back. "You know, if we don't go back now, we'll never make it to the wedding…"

She sighed. "I know…okay." She turned and started to walk away again.

He caught her hand and kissed it quickly before letting go. She smiled again and hurried to the car before she changed her mind again.

He smiled to himself as she drove away. "Good-bye, Kristina Collins."