Page 51

“When Love Gives You Lemons”

Fielder walks down the aisle arm in arm with Matty, as a live band plays an instrumental of a song called “The Way You Look Tonight.” It was Mom and Dad’s wedding song, and Sienna’s way to pay tribute to them during the ceremony.

I can’t take my eyes off Fielder as Mom and I start our slow march toward the arbor.

The linen shirt and slim slacks hemmed above the ankle, the brown Italian leather shoes, the blond hair golden in the sunlight.

A veritable Prince Charming. The golden retriever boy of those cute romance books about closeted royalty.

Except so much better because he’s no fantasy. He’s real.

“Don’t cry,” Mom whispers. “You’ll make me cry and ruin my makeup.”

“It’s so beautiful, isn’t it?” The blue sea and yellow sun with its golden rays as an epic backdrop, framed by lemon trees and a rustic Italian villa laced with ivy, surrounded by Sienna and Topher’s closest friends and family.

No stuffy suits. Just love. Though we’ve been here for nearly a week, it’s striking me now that Sienna is getting married.

My big sister. My best friend from birth.

“She deserves it.” Mom squeezes my forearm. “So do you.”

Mom’s flowy seafoam-green dress is borderline stuffy Easter Sunday attire, but the way her hair falls gently around her shoulders and the natural makeup that draws out the wonder of her eyes, she looks beautiful, younger.

“So do you , Mom,” I say as we stop before the arbor.

Hugging me, she whispers, “As long as my children are happy and loved, I’m happy and loved.” She hugs Topher and takes her seat as her words pierce my heart. There’s something so sad about that. I want her to be as happy as me and Sienna.

I shake Topher’s hand, but he pulls me into a hug.

I’ve never seen Topher so happy—he can’t stop smiling, and it’s bigger and bolder and brighter and further reaching than the sun. He’s swaying on his heels to the music.

Fielder’s eyes are glassy as he nods to me. Matty elbows him and winks at me.

The music softens to a twinkling before the notes switch to a familiar song. “I See the Light” from Tangled . Opening note and Fielder completely loses it.

Before Sienna emerges with Dad, I take a moment to look around at all the others who love her, who are or have become part of our family this week.

Monroe and Tyler holding hands next to Trav (who is not sitting next to Jenni Lee), Benny and his mom, Zia Fran, Mom, the Coven, and Nonna, who smiles sweetly at me, causing me to fight back unexpected tears thinking about Nonno and how much he would have loved to be here.

Sienna makes her entrance, looking ethereal in a simple off-the-shoulder Greek goddess-inspired gown that trails behind her, and takes Topher’s hands.

As they exchange vows and rings, the bond between them tightens.

How they look at each other is so pure, something I’ve never seen before, and as the priest proclaims them husband and wife and everyone throws wheat, a Sicilian tradition Nonno passed down to Dad at his wedding, Nonno’s words to me have never felt more prescient, and that’s exactly how I start my man of honor speech.

“Nonno once told me, when you love someone, say it, out loud. Never let those moments pass you by. I had to learn that the hard way.” I glance to Fielder and lose my breath.

“But not you two.” Don’t cry, Ricky! I take a deep breath, steady myself.

“Topher was doggedly persistent of my sister, and I give him credit. He knows a good thing when he sees it, and he wasn’t prepared or willing to let her go, even when time and geography and life got in the way.

He found his way to her, and her heart was open and ready.

Nonno also used to say, ‘Misurare due volte, tagliare una volta. Measure twice, cut once.’ Some of us aren’t as precise as Topher the first time, and have to cut a few times to find their Sienna, but once we do, trust me, it’s worth it.

Sienna, you’ve always been my protector and best friend, and you’ll always be my big sister, but now my big sister has given me a big brother, and together, you’ve taught me it’s okay to be vulnerable, to leap and take chances, but, most importantly, to love .

And if there’s one thing I know, it’s that when love gives you Lemons, you’ve been handed real-world magic.

” I grab Sienna’s hand, but it’s Fielder I’m speaking to; I can’t take my eyes off him.

He’s the only one I see. I pick up my champagne flute and lift it high in cheers.

“I know you said no gifts, but this is from me and Nonno. Cheers to you both.”

I reach around my chair and pull out the oak family tree, Nonno’s last project before he died, that I finished, adding the Lemon family into ours. Sienna’s reaction is instant: tears stream down her cheeks, nearly ruining her makeup.

She wraps me in the tightest hug.

For a few moments, I sit alone with Sienna and Nonno in silence.

Everyone is crying and clapping, even as the band leader starts the music.

The Coven and Nonna beckon everyone to the dance floor.

Everyone pairs up quickly: Topher and Sienna, Monroe and Tyler, Matty and his dashing Italian date, Nic Jr., Mom and Dad, Aunt Francesca and Vincenze (which is hilarious); Benny drags a lavender-clad Cam up to dance and elicits what looks like a smile from him; even Jenni Lee and Trav who haven’t done anything but fight since the yacht day are getting down.

Then I look up and see him.

Fielder Lemon, and it’s love at first sight all over again.

Is it possible to fall in love with the same person over and over again?

In one exquisite movement, he’s off his chair, and I lose him behind servers and family. I’m on my feet, searching for him, needing to get to him.

Where is he?

The crowd parts and there he is, radiating charisma beside the lemon tree arbor.

His nose grazes mine. I wrap my arms around his waist, like two lemon trees growing together, intertwined in each other’s branches.

“What’s next?” he asks as the music swells.

I spin him around on the dance floor and dip him backward.

Our lips meet.

Everyone cheers, and though it’s not for us, it feels like it is.