Previously:

As soon as they were out of sight of the others, Luck pulled over and parked. He turned to face Charlie, and found she'd had the same idea as him when she pressed her lips to his and threw her arms around him. Luck held her back and kissed her. Neither one of them could wait. That polite kiss in church hadn't been enough. It had only sparked off a need for more.

Tap-tap-tap!

Someone rapped on the half-open window, and they pulled apart just enough to look and see what the source of the sound was.

It was a policeman. He was leaning down looking through the window at them with a frown on his face.

Charlie turned completely red in the face when she realized they had an audience. Luck was glad he hand't tried to get her clothes off.

"Couldn't wait to get to your room, huh? Don't you two realize you're still in public?"

"Sorry, officer," Luck said with a straight face. "We'll find someplace more private."

The policeman stood there with his arms crossed, watching as Luck started the car again and pulled back onto the street.

After a few minutes, Luck started to laugh.

"It's not funny."

Charlie was still red-faced. But as Luck continued to laugh, she broke down and joined him.

"I can't believe he saw us!" she said.

"Well, we were right by the sidewalk. It's probably a good thing he stopped us. We're already going to be late for the reception."

Chapter 17: The Reception

"How are you late? You left before us!" Randy said when Luck and Charlie arrived at Coraggioso.

Keith and Berga had taken care of letting everyone in and getting the party started. All of the wedding gifts were already piled high on top of and around a table in the corner. There was a whole mountain of them. Even people who hadn't been invited had sent them presents.

"Only by a few minutes. I took a shortcut that didn't work out."

"A likely story."

"Charlie, he may be your husband, but if tries anything funny, slug him," Pezzo said.

"Will you two calm down?" Firo said, coming over. "It's not like Luck is some creep."

"Thanks, Firo."

"Couldn't wait to get started, huh?" Kalia said with a smile, also coming over.

Charlie did her best not to blush and said:

"No comment."

Kalia laughed.

"Well, the guests of honor are here. Let's go."

Luck and Charlie took their places at their table and the party really started.

Still acting in place of the father of the bride, Keith stood up to give a toast.

Everyone held their breath. You could've heard a pin drop.

"… To the happy couple."

"To the happy couple!" Everyone cheered and drank to them.

"He actually said something..."

"So that's what he sounds like."

"He can talk?"

A few people could be heard murmuring, but they quickly stopped when they realized the room had gone quiet again.

Berga stood up and raised his glass to Charlie and Luck.

"I just have one question. What took them so long?"

Everyone laughed, and Charlie and Luck looked at each other and smiled.

"With that bad-guy mug of his, I was worried he'd never get a wife."

There were a few chuckles.

'I don't want to hear that from you, Berga,' Luck wanted to say, but he swallowed it down. After all, Berga had already managed to marry Kalia.

"Then Charlie came along. I thought she had better sense than to get involved with guys like us, but I guess love makes you stupid."

'I don't want to hear that from you, Berga,' Charlie thought, though she kept smiling, albeit a little wryly.

"But thanks to that, we gained a sister. Eventually."

"…..."

Keith gave Berga a get-to-the-point look.

"Ahem. As I was saying… Welcome to the family, Charlie."

Charlie smiled as everyone clapped. She was glowing with happiness. She loved her adopted mother and father, but she had always felt like a guest in someone else's home. Never quite belonging. Now she was married to the man she loved, and she finally had her own family. With Luck, Keith and Kate, Berga and Kalia.

The reception party kicked off and everyone had a good time. The food was fabulous, and the band was playing softly in the background so everyone could hear each other talking.

"It was a beautiful wedding, wasn't it?"

"Yeah. Almost makes me want to have one."

"This is delicious."

"Where did the food come from?"

"I heard it was Angelo's."

"Where's that?"

"It's in this neighborhood."

"Too bad we don't have any wine."

"In broad daylight?"

"This is jazz hall, not a speako."

"Maybe we should've had it at our place."

"Nah, she's married into the Gandor Family. It's better to have it on their turf."

"I can't wait til they cut the cake."

"Yeah, it's beautiful."

"What bakery did they use?"

"Esposito's."

"Where's that?"

"It's in this neighborhood."

"I'm gonna have to come to this neighborhood next time I'm hungry."

"Where's the pepper?"

"Right here, Boss."

When everyone had finished eating, Luck and Charlie went over to the cake, and everyone gathered around to watch them cut it together. A cheer went up as they sliced the first piece. That piece was put on a plate and passed to their closest guest, Firo. Firo passed it to Ennis, who was standing next to him. They continued to pass out pieces of cake until everyone had one.

"This is the best cake I ever had!"

"I'm not sure you can call this 'cake', though."

"It tastes even better than it looks."

"This is a millefoglie."

"Good choice. Traditional."

"Except for it has both fruit and chocolate."

"I think it tastes good."

"I never said it didn't."

"I wonder if the bakery did that or they asked for it?"

"They probably asked."

"Yeah, I've never heard of that before."

"It was a good idea, though."

"Think I can get seconds?"

"I've finished my cake. When does the dancing start?"

The last question was soon answered. As everyone began to finish their first slice of cake, the band began a new song, and they played louder than before. Some of the tables were moved aside to make room to dance. Luck and Charlie began the first dance together. It was a slow song, almost like a waltz, but it was still jazz. They moved to the rhythm of the song. As the tempo picked up and became livelier, so did their dance. Luck spun her away from him, keeping hold of her hand, then pulled her back. Charlie grinned. Her eyes shined with excitement and joy as she and Luck continued to dance.

At first, everyone else just watched them, smiling. Then some of them began to join in. Randy and Pezzo helped themselves to more cake while Molsa, Yaguruma, Ronny, and Maiza sat in chairs on the side, watching the dancers. One of the Gandor Family's men who hadn't brought a date asked Lia to dance, and one of the Martillo executives asked Seina to dance.

Another Gandor Family man who didn't have a date looked like he was about to ask Ennis to dance, but thought better of it when he saw Firo's glare. He didn't want to start anything during Luck's wedding. Firo tried to work up the courage to ask Ennis to dance, but he couldn't seem to get the words out. Charlie looked over and saw this. She smiled wryly. He was so awkward.

Charlie whispered to Luck. "I'll be right back." She left Luck for a moment and went over to Firo and Ennis. "Come on, y'all. It's a wedding. Come dance." She grabbed Firo and Ennis by the hand, led them onto the dance floor, and arranged them so they were in a position to dance with each other.

"I don't know how to dance."

"That's all right. Firo can lead."

"I, uh… I can't dance either."

Firo blushed. He was nervous. One of his hands was holding Ennis' and the other was on her waist. Was that okay? He was touching her without permission. Was Ennis okay with that?

"Then just move in a small circle. Or make it up as you go along."

"Make it up, are you crazy?"

"Well, if you're not going to dance with Ennis, why don't you let someone else show her how it's done?"

Firo went beet red.

"Th-that's just… I-I-I..."

Firo looked at Ennis, who was looking at him with concern.

"A-a-all right! Fine. F-follow me, Ennis… I'll figure something out..."

Firo held onto Ennis and began to slowly revolve on the spot with her in a small circler, being careful not to step on her toes. It was a dance that could be danced on a pie plate, but at least they were moving.

Charlie smiled. "That's not so bad, is it?" She left them to it and returned to Luck, who was watching her handiwork with a smile on his face.

"You didn't..."

"Someone had to."

"Well, you're right about that."

"You think he'll dance with her for more than one song?"

"Depends on how shy he is."

Charlie looked up at the band and signaled for them to drag the song out as long as they could.

Luck smiled and shook his head.

As Firo danced with Ennis, there were cheers from the Martillo wallflowers. Randy and Pezzo set their cake aside to whistle at them. They were all glad to see Firo finally dancing with the girl he was so obviously in love with.

"It's about time."

"Charlie's a genius."

"You can't refuse the bride on her wedding day."

"Like I said, she's a genius to take advantage of that."

"That's another fine couple, don't you think?"

"Maybe we'll have another wedding soon."

Meanwhile, Luck and Charlie continued to dance. By the time the song ended, they and a number of other couples who had been dancing from the start decided to take a break.

Unfortunately, so did Firo.

Luck and Charlie sat next to him and Ennis.

"What's wrong?"

"I-I'm just not cut out for dancing."

Firo thought his heart was going to explode from being so close to Ennis and touching her.

"Can I ask, what is the point of dancing?"

Ennis was genuinely curious.

"It's a way of expressing yourself. It can be fun, when done right."

"It certainly seems so..."

Looking around at all the smiling faces, Ennis supposed Charlie must be right. Even Seina was cracking a smile. Ennis wondered if she should try again, but looking at Firo, she thought better of it. Firo seemed distressed about something, and she didn't want to bother him.

Once Firo got over the shock of his first dance with Ennis, he started to look forward to another. But Ennis didn't ask, and he couldn't bring himself to either.

Luck didn't have that problem. He stood up and offered Charlie his hand.

"Ready, Charlie?"

"Ready," Charlie said with a smile, and she took his hand and stood up, returning to the dance floor with him.

Firo sighed heavily. He looked back at Ennis.

"Yes?"

"Uh, uh… I was wondering i-if you… you… wanted another piece of cake?" He gave up on asking her to dance halfway through and picked a safer question.

"Oh, yes. It was delicious."

She smiled, and for Firo that was always a good thing, so he gladly went to get her another piece of cake.

Randy and Pezzo, who were watching, shook their heads.

"What's he doing?"

"He should be asking her to dance again."

"Well, they've had one dance. We should let them move at their own pace."

The one who spoke was Maiza. He smiled as He watched Firo and Ennis together. Ennis had smiled, which made Firo smile, and they were now happily eating cake together.

The party went on for some time, until it was starting to get dark. The food was all gone, but still no one wanted to leave.

"All right, everybody," Luck said, getting all the guests' attention. "We're only going to feed you once, so if you want dinner, you'll have to get it somewhere else."

There were some chuckles and a few "aw, man"s. They all began to leave, making sure to say goodbye to the bride and groom and wish them well on their way out. As they left, Charlie and Luck passed out little gift boxes of sugar-coated almonds.

"You kids take care of each other."

"Great wedding."

"That cake was the best."

"May your life be like good wine: tasty, sharp, and clear; and like good wine, may it improve with every passing year."

"May the years ahead be filled with lasting joy."

"You make a beautiful couple."

"Take good care of Charlie."

"Here's to a long and happy marriage."

"Best wishes!"

"Have fun, kids."

"Remember not to be too rough, Luck."

The last comment made Charlie go red, and Luck gave her a reassuring smile. She didn't really think there was anything to worry about, but she had been caught off-guard by such a direct reference to what would happen on their wedding night. Which was fast approaching.

Charlie was still a little nervous thinking about it. But she trusted Luck.

"What do you want to do with all your presents?"

When Berga asked this question, Charlie looked over to see that Berga and Keith were looking at the presents.

"I guess we'll take them, but they won't all fit in the car in one trip," Luck said.

"We could take some of them for you."

It was Kalia who made the suggestion.

"And we can take the rest," Kate said.

"Three cars worth of presents… that's a lot of 'thank you' letters," Charlie said wryly.

"If I give you hand, do you think we'll be done in time for our trip to New Orleans two days from now?"

"New Orleans? We're going?"

Charlie got excited and smiled.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Luck smiled.

"I wanted it to be a surprise. I know you miss it down there sometimes. We can only be away for a few days, but I figured…"

"Oh, thank you!"

Charlie hugged him.

"But I hope you realize, it's going to be sweltering hot. And the humidity is so thick it hits you like a wall."

"Are you trying to talk me out of it?" Luck asked.

"I just want you to know what you're getting yourself into."

"Will you two get over here and help us load your presents up?"

Berga and Keith had begun sorting through the presents.

"Coming."

Luck and Charlie went over to help them.

Kate and Kalia smiled as they watched.

"They did well."