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“I beg your pardon?” Clara snipped disgusted. “I may not be a dressmaker likeSignoraMira but I know what’s proper for Catalina, and what’s expected of her from Don Battaglia.” She announced.

“Of course you do. I wouldn’t dare suggest you didn’t.” Fabiana put her arm around her. She guided the old woman’s steps toward the door.

“SignoraMira as you called her, is more than a dressmaker. Just as you find yourself qualified to orchestrate this wedding from your fifty years of experience, Mira finds herself qualified to dress a bride from her many years of experience. Experience that I might add produced a multimillion dollar company on dress making alone. Now why don’t we let her get to it?” Before Clara could counter the argument Fabiana opened the door and pushed her out. “We’ll let you know when we’re done!” she said smiling nicely and closing the door.

Catalina laughed. “Thank you! She is such a pain in the ass!”

Fabiana turned with her hands to her hips. “Tell me about it. Don’t you have any aunts or cousins that could help you with your wedding?”

“Yes, but they don’t really like me and Giovanni.” she said softly.

Mira glanced up and then made eye contact with Fabiana. She knew of the relationship Catalina’s parents shared. Tradition with the Sicilians must have made them outcasts within their own family. “It’s okay sweetie, because you got us.” Mira winked.

Catalina nodded, eagerly. “GrazieMira. I’m sorry for being a brat. It was weird seeing Giovanni with someone.”

Fabiana went back to the bed, sitting down. “Giovanni and Lorenzo never bring women home?” she asked.

Catalina shook her head. “Lorenzo had a sweetheart once, and everyone thought they would get married, but she broke up with him. She married someone from another family. This was before Papa died, but I remember it of course. Lorenzo was very upset.”

Mira lifted her eyes while working to see Fabiana’s face. She noted how tense her friend was and wondered again what had her on edge. “You okay?”

Fabiana nodded “I’m fine.”

Mira rose. “That’s it. Let’s get you out of this, tomorrow we will go to my store and get the things I need to redo the dress.”

“I feel like a porcupine.” Catalina laughed. “Can you get rid of the puffy sleeves too?”

Mira smiled. “That’s the first thing I plan to do.”

Fabiana shook her head. “There is no way in hell Donatella Versace designed that dress. I thinkSignoraClara is full of shit.”

“Fabiana!” Mira warned.

Catalina looked over to her, “Why do you say that?”

Mira began to work down her zipper. “Ignore Fabiana, she doesn’t know anything.” She reassured her. “Now go take this off.”

Catalina agreed. “Grazie,” she said rushing to the bathroom.

Mira turned on Fabiana as soon as the door closed. “Would you cut the wise ass remarks?”

Fabiana shrugged. “Please. You know that dress didn’t come out of the house of Versace. That woman is just controlling that child. She probably took one look at the dress Donatella sent over and the rest of her hair turned white. She replaced it with that tacky mess.”

It was what Mira felt as well. She could see where the inside label had been cut out. “I checked the inseam and material. It’s a store bought dress alright, which explains why it doesn’t fit. I think you’re right. Clara got rid of Donatella's dress and fitted her with that one.”

“Why the hell would Giovanni and Lorenzo allow the manipulating shrew near that girl?” Fabiana asked.

Mira shook her head, “She isn’t the only one controlling her.”

“What does that mean?”

“You heard her. She’s been given over to a matchmaker. Do they still arrange marriages in Italy? It’s almost 1990. They can’t be serious.”

“I think with certain families it’s a tradition. It’s none of our business. Catalina seems very excited about it. To suggest it’s barbaric or anything other than tradition is an insult to them. You remember that.” Fabiana cautioned.

“Catalina doesn’t want to disappoint her brother. You should have seen her reaction when I questioned her, and she couldn’t say she loved this Franco person, which to me….”

Catalina came out of the bathroom with the dress. “Okay here you go,” she said smiling, bringing it over. Mira accepted the dress. “Thanks sweetie, I will start on this first thing tomorrow.