Mozzafiato

Peaceful.

Veronica.

-

Peace, that's a rare feeling to come by in my life. Being the heir of my grandmother's bridal fashion label, peace is the last thing on my mind. 

I inherited Mozzafiato & co bridal when my grandmother retired three years ago and I've been working 24/7 to make a name for myself and my label. But through all the late nights and blood, sweat and tears, I wouldn't change a thing.

 Ever since I was a little girl, I'd visit my grandmother at her office, running my hands through all the silks and tulle, admiring the dresses that were more like works of art, dreaming for the day I would be old enough to wear them. 

Mozzafino got its name from my grandfather, Antony. It was a nickname they both would share, mozzafino in Italian means 'breathtaking', and that's what they were to each other, breathtaking. 

But, as I lay here in my silk sheets, taking in the beauty of the harbor outside my window as my Beagle, Elk groans at the light, I'm at peace.

-

My thoughts were interrupted by a swift knock at my door, startling me a bit. "come in" I say, my voice still soft from sleep. Slowly the dark oak door opens to reveal my nanny, Marie. Marie has been with my family since before I can remember, and when I moved out, she came with. "good morning dear, its time to get up. You've got a busy day ahead of you" the silver-haired lady says lovingly as she sets my coffee on my bedside table. 

"Good morning Marie, you know you don't have to make me coffee, right?" I reply, giggling while watching her bustle around, grabbing my laundry basket out of my closet. "Oh don't be silly, I've been getting you your morning coffee since you were little." With my mouth full of coffee, I nod my head in reply, I roll out of my silk sheets, stretching and slowly placing my feet on the soft carpet that covers the cold hardwood floors. 

"Now, your nonna called and she will be over in an hour to talk to you about next week." Says Marie as she shuts my door, leaving me to my normal morning routine. With the mention of next week, my groggy demeanor quickly changes to wide awake. You see, next week is fashion week which means our spring line will be on full display, the first of our collections solely designed by me. 

Sighing to myself, I pad over to my bathroom and turn on the water to my claw foot tub and take in my lovely morning appearance. My long, curly brown hair is a mess of volume on my head and my silk night shift shifted in the middle of the night, leaving me exposed to the cold air of my apartment. Moments after I lower myself into my bath, taking in the smell of my amazing grace bath bubbles, I hear a knock at my door followed by my grandma calling my name. 

"In here!" I squeak, my skin slightly burning from the hot bath water I neglected to test before I got in. "Ah, there you are, love." My grandmother says, taking a seat on the small quilted stool that sat outside the closed bathroom door. 

"Hey, what did you want to talk about?" "I came to see if you needed help from your old lady for next week at all?" My grandma questions. I can hear the floor squeak slightly as she stands, making her way to my walk-in closet to, most likely, pick an outfit for me. 

"Oh, of course! You should come by the office tomorrow to help me go over final prep" I say, opening the drain to my bath and standing up, wrapping myself in my white silk robe. "Anything you need, I will do. That's what grandmas are for." My grandma says, stroking my cheek with her hand as I enter the closet, and Elk moans, look for some attention for himself. 

"And of course anything for my great grandson!" Nonna exclaims, making her way over to the lazy beagle.