The Arrangement

Chapter 5

I see the workers, caterers, waiters, etcetera running up and down the hallway as I peaked through the crack of the door in my dressing room.

My mom, Lorenzo's mom, Giuliana, Elisabetta, Jade, Catie, Alison, Serafina, and Isabel were in the dressing room with me helping me change in to my wedding dress. While the make up artist and hair stylist were packing up their stuff getting ready to leave, they bid me goodbye then wished me good luck with my marriage.

My wedding dress was completely impossible to get, but being engaged to Lorenzo Caro, basically means anything is possible. Wedding dresses take months to get fitted but it only to me a few days, luckily.

The dress was white-obviously- it was strapless with a sweat heart shaped neckline. It was straight down to the floor, and it had lace over the silk. I wore white high heels along with my hair in big curls. The front of my hair was pinned up and my veil stuck to it.

Saying I was nervous was an understatement. Major understatement.

I turned around and looked at myself in the full length mirror when my dress was fully on. Everyone around me gasped and I got teary eyed. Even though I wasn't marrying the love of my life, I was still getting married today so I needed to make the best of it.

Elisabetta was holding Sera in her arms, explaining to her again that she has to throw the petal down the aisle when she walks.

Catie was doing god knows what. She was in the corner of her cell phone that Mom gave her back yesterday. I'm praying her and Carlo have no tricks up their sleeves and don't ruin anything today. Lorenzo has spent a lot of money this passed way for today and I just want everything to be perfect. It's my only wedding day. I deserve at least that with the crappy week I've had.

Jade and Alison were trying to zip up Giuliana's maternity dress. I had to stifle a giggle that wanted to come out when I saw them through the mirror.

My mom was fixing the ends of my dress that may have wrinkled at the bottoms. Teresa say at the vanity with Isabel on her lap. She was putting the Rose petals in her white basket and I smiled looking at Isabel's curled blonde hair and her beautiful white dress. She looks so adorable.

Teresa saw me in the mirror staring and she grinned. I turned around and my mom stood up and walked out of the dressing room- I have no idea where she went- I walked to Isabel and Teresa.

I leaned over and was now eye level to Isabel. She beamed when she saw me and it made my heart flutter, "Now. We talked about this last night. You're going to be a good girl for me and Daddy today, right? You're not going to throw another fit when you walk down the aisle with Sera. Capice?"

Last night at the rehearsal dinner Isabel and Sera were practicing throwing the rose petals and she started to have a tantrum saying she didn't want to do it. Obviously, I didn't know what to do at that moment. I wasn't going to disciplin her, but luckily Lorenzo carried Isabel out of there and had some sort of talk with her in another room.

She bobbed her head enthusiastically, "I be good girl for Dada and Rosie. I pwomise."

I ran my finger down her cheek and was glad that she understood now, "Good girl." I leaned over and placed a quick kiss on her forehead then stood up straight.

Teresa's eyes glistened and I heard her sniff. I looked down at her as she grabbed my hand into hers.

"I'm so glad you are in Lorenzo and Isabel's lives now. They both need someone like you. Someone strong, courageous, and selfless in their lives. Someone who won't leave them and we'll be there for them. Always."

I didn't know exactly how to respond to that. I didn't really want to marry Lorezno. I didn't really want to be a mother figure for Isabel. But here I was, doing exactly that for basically two complete strangers.