Wedding Party
Nina then palmed her forehead. “Sorry, I overreacted but Amar can not have sweets.”
“But why?” Denise fired back. “Is he allergic or…
“He can’t have sweets and that’s it.” Dominic spat.
Wales and Dona had resumed eating while Christopher’s eyes were still taking on Denise’s chest.
Isolde intervened. “The children can not have sweets until they turn fifteen so please don’t try to give them any. With time, you’ll be accustomed to the family rules.”
Denise’s eyes almost popped out of their sockets. “You gotta be kidding me.” She found herself blabbering. “Let me get this straight. Are they sick or is it some family tradition?” She turned to Isa and pointed at her. “Don’t tell me she has never tasted sweets before.”
Isa lowered her head.
Denise was shocked.
“You ask too many questions for a new bride,” Wales replied and turned to Dominic. “You should have consummated last night and I tell you if you had done your job well, she wouldn’t have had the strength to talk this much.”
“She should be nursing her thighs right now.” Chris chided.
Nina clenched her jaw. “Not in front of the children.”
Wales and Christopher broke out laughing.
Dominic dropped his fork and shoved his plate to the side. “Shut the fuck up both of you!”
Christopher and Wales ignored him and continued laughing.
“Enough!” Dona spat and silence instantly reigned. “Table manners!” He looked at Denise straight in the face. “In this house, we abide by rules and these rules have lived longer than us. No sweets until the children turn fifteen. It’s a part of the training. We tame their appetite to teach them resilience.”
Denise couldn’t believe her ears. When she turned and looked at the cold reaction on the faces of the children, she felt sorry for them because the looks on their faces proved that they wanted to have those sweets badly because even the absent-minded Isa was staring at the plate at intervals.
“Now, enough talk.” Dona continued. “Let’s eat. You’ll learn more of our traditions with time.” He said to Denise.
The bile that had risen in her throat prevented her from having the sweet she had picked. Denise carefully placed it back on the plate and motioned to Mara to come close.
“I’ll have some waffles and a cup of coffee.” She managed to say and shoved the sweet to the side.
Dona stared at the plate and raised his eyebrow.
“I’ll have them later.” Denise stated.
“I told you she’s a tough one.” Wales spat.
“We are having the wedding party this evening.”
“Dad I told you that it wasn’t necessary.” Dominic countered and reached for a napkin.
What wedding party? Denise almost asked until reality began to sink in. It was her wedding party they were talking about obviously.
“It’s tradition, Dominic. The party must hold.” Dona replied and turned to Nina. “See to it that Denise is in a perfect state tonight. Thank goodness she’s good-looking. At least, more stunning than you and Isolde so I won’t have any second thoughts about showing her off to the people I invited.”
“Of course,” Nina replied with a fake smile.
Show her off? Denise wondered. Was she some sort of property?
Dominic sighed and shoved his plate to the side. “I think I’m full.” He stood up. “I’ll wait for you in the car dad. We don’t want to be late for the meeting with Don Mario.”
He strode toward the boys and played with their hairs. When he got to Isa, she smiled. It was the first time Denise caught her smile. Dominic hugged her and left with a tightened jaw. His expression confirmed to Denise that he never wanted any of this. Not the wedding party or even the union itself.