Page 3 of Little Dark Deeds (Georgiana Germaine #12)

I t was just about time for me to step through the doorway leading to the sweeping gardens of the Luciana family estate, where friends and family were waiting for the upcoming nuptials to begin.

My niece, Lark, was standing a few feet in front of me in a puffy, taupe dress, her long, blond locks swept into a loose braid that dangled over her shoulder.

In her hand was a basket of white rose petals.

And ever since she arrived, she’d been counting down the hours until it was time for her to scatter them.

Lark looked over at my sister, Phoebe, eyes beaming as she said, “Mommy, is it my turn yet?”

Phoebe nodded, and Lark turned toward me, smiling as she reached into the basket and descended the stairs leading to the back of the estate.

Then it was Luka’s turn.

Attaching a ring inside a velvet box of my Samoyed’s collar that morning had been met with a fair amount of resistance, but in the end, he allowed it. Leash in hand, my aunt coaxed him out the door.

Moments later, the crowd went quiet.

The sound of rustling was heard, followed by a trumpet bellowing out the first few bars of Louis Armstrong’s “La Vie en Rose,” a song Giovanni and I had chosen for this magical moment. Translated, the song’s title meant “life in pink,” to aspire to see the beauty in each day together.

My mother leaned in close, kissing me on the cheek.

“Are you ready, dear?” she asked.

“I am.”

We made our way to the lawn, and I paused, taking in the smiling faces of all those who’d gathered for our special day.

We strolled by aisle after aisle, and as we neared the area the ceremony was to take place, my focus shifted from the guests to him —the one man who’d always made everything seem right.

With him, I felt safe, and loved, and seen.

And most of all free. Free to become the woman I wanted to be, despite my shortcomings.

As I looked into his eyes, a tear rolled down his cheek. He didn’t acknowledge it, made no attempt to wipe it away. His attention was fixed on me and me alone.

My mother gave him a wink, slipping her arm out of mine as I took my place in front of him. He stood a moment, then took my hands in his, leaning toward me as he whispered, “You’re an absolute vision, my darling.”

I felt the heat rising in my cheeks, and I smiled, squeezing his hands as we turned toward the officiant, Silas Crowe, a man who’d been a close friend and confidant of mine for many years.

Most days, he dressed like a laidback, surfer in board shorts, T-shirt, flip-flops, and his trademark messy, sun-bleached hair.

Today, he looked like a different man in crisp, coffee-colored linen pants and a cream-colored button-up shirt, his untamed hair twisted into a tight, sleek bun.

Silas looked at both of us and said, “Are you two ready to get your wedding on?”

We nodded, and he turned his attention toward our guests.

“Welcome friends, family, and loved ones,” he said. “Please be seated.”

I scanned the audience, taking in the smiles on every face, and felt a wave of love drifting through the warm summer air.

“Thank you for taking the time to gather on this charming summer evening to share in this special day with Georgiana and Giovanni,” Silas said.

“I’ve known Georgiana for several years now, ever since she was hired as a police officer for San Luis Obispo County in California.

We’ve been lucky enough to work together on many cases over the years, Georgiana as a detective, and me as the county coroner.

What started off as two associates working together to bring cases to a close, has now turned into a lifelong friendship. ”

He paused, thumbing at Giovanni, adding, “I’ll never forget the first time Georgiana told me about the new man in her life. I recall thinking to myself, ‘Who is this guy,’ and ‘Why was she so cryptic when I ask about his family?’”

Silas laughed as did many in the crowd, but a few of the older gentlemen on Giovanni’s side of the family crossed their arms, eyes narrowing at Silas like they questioned what he would say next.

I wasn’t worried.

Silas had a talent for bringing people together.

Today would be no exception.

“I’ll admit I’ve always been protective of Georgiana, wanting nothing but the best for her,” Silas said.

“About a year after they started dating, Giovanni bought a house in Cambria, and he suggested they move in together. I remember asking her if she loved him. She didn’t hesitate before telling me she did, and then she said something that shocked me.

She admitted she’d loved him for years, ever since their college days. ”

A piercing whistle rang out from the crowd, followed by clapping and cheers. Giovanni said nothing but tipped his head toward our feisty, rambunctious crowd.

Silas grinned, waiting for the audience to calm before he continued.

“As I was saying, the more I listened to Georgiana talk about Giovanni that day, the more confident I was that Giovanni wasn’t just some man from her past. He was the man of her future.

It’s been my privilege to get to know him, a man I consider among the most trustworthy, stand-up people I’ve ever met.

And Georgiana, or ‘Gigi’ as I often call you, I’m going to tell you and everyone else something most of you don’t know, something Giovanni gave me permission to say today. ”

I braced myself, anticipating what was to come.

“Right before you and Giovanni moved in together, I stopped by one day so we could have ourselves a little chat,” Silas said.

“You did not,” I said.

“I sure did, and I wasn’t alone.” He raised a finger, pointing out a few attendees in the front row. “Your mother was there, as was your stepdad, Harvey, and your Aunt Laura.”

My mother began shaking her head, her face flushed and tense, as if panicked she’d been outed. Harvey smiled, and as for Aunt Laura? She slapped a hand to her knee, belting out a hearty laugh, unfazed.

“Go on, then ... tell us what happened,” Giovanni’s sister said.

“I’m sure you can all guess why the four of us decided to speak to Giovanni that day,” Silas said.

“We wanted to get a better feel for the man who had fallen for the woman we care so deeply about. We entered Giovanni’s home not knowing what to expect.

And when we left, we looked at each other, and we were all of one accord.

I stand before you today, speaking from the heart, and I can say with certainty—we all knew that day that Giovanni and Georgiana were meant to be together. ”

More clapping and cheering followed.

When it quieted down, Silas began our vows, starting with the usual, “Do you take Georgiana to be your lawfully wedded wife ...”

Giovanni agreed.

I did the same.

Silas moved through the rest of the traditional vows with one exception.

At my behest, he left out the “’til death do us part” part.

I never wanted to part, not in life, and not in death.

If I had my way, when the day came for us to leave this earthly life, I hoped we’d find ourselves on another plane, or another time, or in another existence.

If there was a way back to each other, we’d find it.

The ceremony concluded with Silas saying, “And now, as we celebrate this amazing relationship, the couple has each written vows they’d like to share. Giovanni, why don’t we start with you?”

Giovanni glanced at me, clearing his throat as he took in a deep breath in.

“Georgiana, I remember the first time I laid eyes on you. You were sitting beneath the grandest tree at school, dressed in a gingham skirt and a black cardigan. You were barefoot and running your toes through the grass. Your dark hair was pulled into a loose bun, and you were reading a book, paying no heed to the world going on around you. I stood there staring at you for some time. I had no idea why I was so taken aback by you. All I knew was ... I was besotted. I decided then to find out who you were, and once I did, I made some changes to my college schedule. The fact we ended up having a few classes together may have seemed like a coincidence, but it was not. One day, I overheard you telling a classmate that you were looking for a roommate. I stepped in and put you in touch with my sister. The two of you moved in together, and our friendship began. It wasn’t long before I started feeling something more.

I wanted to tell you. And now, thinking back on it, I . .. I ... I should have ...”

His voice cracked as he struggled to find the words he wanted to say.

He cleared his throat, then continued.

“Five years ago, when you reached out to me, I was given a rare second chance to make something more of my life. The chance to do what I should have done the first time around. And though we hadn’t seen each other in many, many years, being in your presence again, it was like no time had passed, and we picked up right where we left off.

Our love story began, and today we turn the page on our new chapter, the chapter of our future.

You are everything to me, cara mia , and it is my privilege to be by your side, a place I promise to remain forever. ”

He closed his eyes, shedding a few tears, and I reached out, brushing them away.

Silas gave the moment the time it deserved, and then said, “Beautiful words from a beautiful man. And now, Georgiana, I’ll turn it over to you.”

In my lifetime, I’d been known to speak my mind.

But public speaking in front of an eager crowd, ready to cling to my every word wasn’t my forte.

The same could be said for sharing sentimental feelings.

But I saw today as an opportunity, a chance to push myself out of my discomfort to pay respect to the man I loved.

Our eyes met again, and I began. “Giovanni, I remember the first time I knew I loved you. We’d decided to play hooky one day, and the two of us drove to Coney Island.

I couldn’t believe I’d been living in the area all that time and never thought to go there before.

We were walking on the beach, talking about our families, and you looked over at me and smiled.

You didn’t say a word, but it was obvious there was something on your mind.

As we finished our walk, you mumbled something under your breath, something you may have thought I didn’t hear, even though I had.

You said you’d always wondered whether there could have been something more between us.

It was something I felt like I’d been waiting for you to say, and I spent the next few days trying to sort out my feelings.

There was so much I wanted to say to you.

I pictured myself grabbing your face, blurting out my love for you.

But in the end, life had another plan for you at that time, and I couldn’t bring myself to do it.

I moved on, and you moved on, and hey ..

. it was only a short twenty-four years before I said to myself, ‘Maybe it’s about time I tell the guy how I feel. ’”

A wave of laughter rolled through the crowd, laughter I was hoping for when I’d decided to include that part. It was the perfect interlude, lightening the mood just enough without taking away from the sentimentality of the moment.

Daniela cupped a hand to the side of her mouth, shouting, “Well? Did you tell him?”

I shot her a wink. “We’re getting married today, aren’t we?”

“Good for you!”

It was good for me, and so was he.

Turning back toward Giovanni, I said, “At this stage in my life, I’d reconciled myself to the fact that true love, the kick-you-in-the-gut kind of love, wasn’t going to happen for me.

And then there was you and me and a perfect dinner date, a night that changed our lives forever.

Because of you, I’ve learned how to be vulnerable again.

Because of you, I’ve learned to trust. Because of you, I’m no longer content going through life on my own.

You’ve made me a better person, a happier person, the person I’m always striving to be.

I love you, Giovanni, and I want nothing more than to be your wife. ”

As my declaration of love came to an end, many wedding attendees were overcome with emotion. The sentiment meant everything to me, knowing the message I’d waited so long to deliver had resonated in the way I’d intended.

Rings were exchanged, and then Silas wrapped it up.

“As I stand before you today, officiating this heartfelt ceremony between two people destined to be together, reunited in the love they have for one another, I’m proud to declare Giovanni and Georgiana husband and wife!

Let us stand, showing our support to a couple we know and love.

Giovanni, it’s time for you to kiss your bride. ”

Everyone shot out of their seats, clapping, whistling, and cheering, and Giovanni swooped an arm around my back, dipping me back as he went in for a kiss. Then he took my hand, and we walked together between the aisles.

Looking around, we nodded, thanking guests for their well wishes as we passed. A moment later, I found myself distracted, scanning the crowd for the familiar face of a friend—a friend who was nowhere in sight.