Page 104 of The Disputed Legacy

“That we do.”

“Okay, what’s the hold up?”

He laughed at my tone.

“This is taking forever.” I leaned around to see up the aisle, wondering what was delaying it all. “Can you see Oscar up there?” He was taller.

“Yeah, he’s up there with Saul.”

“Does he look okay?”

Maxim frowned. “How else is he supposed to look?”

“I’m worried he might not be feeling well.”

He winced. “Didn’t a ton of kids have the flu at his school lately?”

I cringed. “Yeah.” These damn winter months were prime times for germs to be shared.

“What if he is sick and?—”

Maxim shook his head. “He’ll be okay. If he’s gonna puke, someone will catch it.”

I laughed once. “Your grandmother would never let me hear the end of it.”

“Eh. She’s never been happier. We’re all married. We’ve got heirs.”

I smiled, knowing that to be true. I couldn’t believe how well she’d taken to Oscar. They got along so easily, and I wondered how we could’ve been so lucky.

“Here we go,” he said, offering me his arm.

I smiled as we walked down the aisle, but I felt guilty because I wanted to admire all the artwork of the cathedral instead of making any eye contact with the guests. I didn’t know all these people. They were strangers. Already, my cheeks were aching from smiling this much.

“Uh-oh,” Maxim whispered halfway there.

“What?” I whispered.

“He does look a little green,” he said of Oscar, who tried his best to smile.

I sighed, wishing he would be able to enjoy this night.

The closer I got to the altar, I smiled in earnest at the former Tiny’s diner crew who were guests up at the front. Margo, Irene, Rosie, even Raul in a tux that had survived the seventies. Mr. and Mrs. Sonora from my old apartment building were there too.

Saul had to arrange for them to come, and I was touched that he’d try to bring people I’d known in as guests.

I grinned at my fiancé, excited to see him giving me that same secret little smile that he always saved just for me.

“Maybe hurry,” Maxim whispered as he brought me to the aisle. “No one wants the humiliation of puking in front of a crowd.”

I nodded, laughing once. He was such a good dad while still holding on to his gruffness as a big Mafia boss.

I hugged him then stepped up the altar steps. Pausing to hug Oscar, who was the ring bearer, I almost winced at how warm he felt.

Oh, no…

“Mama? I don’t feel good.”

I sighed, kissing his brow and feeling how warm he was with a mother’s natural thermometer of pressing lips to skin to better gauge a fever. “I know. We’ll make this quick,” I promised.