Happily Ever Never (4 page)

Chapter 4

If there was one thing about Major’s life for me to complain about it would be his best friend Vince.

Even though I knew he owned the gym my fiancée frequented, I felt like he was a traveling nomad. He couldn’t stay in one place for a long period of time. In the two years I’d known him he’d gone through at least a dozen different women. He thought his shit didn’t stink, and that anything with breasts wanted to give it up to him.

I found him rude, arrogant, and shallow amongst other things.

Vincent Gallo wasn’t anything to write home about in my book. I’d witness him speaking of the type of women he went after. If it was just the fear of being tied down maybe I could give him a bit of acceptance, but the man knew how to rub me the wrong way. He was constantly hitting on someone, and more than one occasion that someone was me. Now, I’m pretty naive when it comes to knowing when someone is joking, but I swore his advances were sincere, while Major only laughed them off and told me not to worry about it.

Since I knew Vince would be in my life forever, I tried my best to keep the peace, after all, he did love my husband-to-be like a brother. Even though Major had three of them that were blood related, Vince always seemed to be the one to drop everything if he needed it. Above all he was his best friend. I couldn’t begin to compete with the level of friendship the two of them shared, and I wasn’t about to try to come between them. I respected that Major loved him, and knew he saw something in Vince that no one else did.

I awoke to the sound of voices getting louder, as if they were coming into the bedroom. Since I wasn’t dressed I pulled the covers up over my body. Major came into view first. “Bails, are you dressed?”

“No!” I answered loudly so Vince would get the hint.

He barged right in like he had every right to do so. “What’s up, woman? Do you mind if I kidnap your husband for the day?”

Was he kidding? We still had things to do – like a ton of things to do. “Um, can it wait until after the wedding?”

“It can’t,” Vince alleged. “This is necessary. He’s coming with me, Bails. I’m sure you can handle one day without him. I mean, I know he’s hung like a stallion, but come on, it’s just a dick.”

I rolled my eyes and gritted down on my teeth, attempting to refrain from jumping out of my bed naked to physically choke him.

When I looked over at Major his eyes were pleading with me. In that moment Vince wasn’t in the room. It was just the two of us. “Come on, Bella. I’ll be home before dinner. I promise to help you when I return. Okay?”

I nodded, but said nothing as he ambled over to plant a quick kiss on my lips.

“I’ll see you tonight. No worrying while I’m gone.”

The sound of the front door closing sent me falling back down on my pillow in frustration. How could Major think it was okay to duck out on me when we had so much left to plan and pack?

For a time I played on my phone, checking my messages, and making sure I had everything in order for my time away. Since it was a Saturday morning, I turned on the television and watched the History channel. By noon, I’d succumbed to the fact that I hadn’t gotten out of bed at all. Since I was determined to keep going, I climbed out from under the warm covers and began getting dressed into some comfortable yoga pants and one of Major’s old T’s. With one sock on and the other still in my hand, I heard the doorbell ring. Since I wasn’t expecting anyone, I hobbled out of my room to investigate who it could be.

Standing in the front yard were at least twenty women – some my friends, other’s Major’s family, and people I’d met since we’d been together. They all had gifts in their hands, and that’s when I realized exactly what was going on. “Surprise!”

I covered my face with my hands in shock that they’d had my bridal shower planned without me knowing. As flabbergasted as I was, there was still the fact that I wasn’t dressed for the occasion. Shawna was all smiles, as if she’d helped plan the whole ordeal. My mother-in-law
to be
snatched me up in a hug. “Are you surprised or did my son spill the beans?”

I pulled away and motioned toward my choice of attire. “Does it look like I had an inkling you were up to this?”

She laughed and patted me on the shoulder. “We brought everything with us. Go on and get changed while we set up.”

I shouldn’t have even cared about my choice of clothing since people were already snapping pictures. Since I knew I’d never hear the end of it, I made my way upstairs to find something appropriate. Before dressing, I snatched my phone off the nightstand and messaged Major.

Did you have this planned? – B

He replied almost immediately.

I don’t know what you’re talking about ;) – M

I snickered to myself while responding

I’ll forgive you. Love you. – B

Have fun. Love you too. – M

I chose a romper covered in a floral pattern since I knew I’d be comfortable. After putting my now long brown locks into a messy bun and slapping on makeup, I made my way back downstairs to join the festivities.

Shawna has taken a chair from the dining room and set it up in the corner of the den. Hung from it were balloons with bride and shower written on them. I was escorted to sit in the said chair while they arranged themselves around the room. Decorated packages were shoved on my lap one at a time, while Shawna sat close recording every gift I opened.

Even though Major and I had accumulated a house full of belongings, we were gifted towels, dishes, china, and even a few throw pillows someone had handmade. We received a ton of gift cards, and even a few checks with little notes stating they were to help with the costs of the wedding. The last gift I was presented with was in a bag. My future mother-in-law handed it to me and winked. “This one comes from Sicily originally. We didn’t want to wait until you arrived there to give it to you.”

I reached into the bag and pulled out a very old blanket. It was obvious it had been used. Parts of the edging were frayed and the print was worn. I looked up at Major’s mother wondering what it was. She handed me a card but said nothing to explain.

Dear Bailey Ellis – Future bride of Major Antonio Valero,

This blanket has brought our family many children. Put this on your bed and it will fill your womb. God bless.

Grandmother V.

It was a pregnancy blanket. I was never superstitious, but knew it was important to follow their traditions. I knew they were accepting me when many Italian families still wanted to arrange marriages. Since I wasn’t Italian there was no chance I’d ever be chosen, not that Major would ever let it happen.

I smiled and hugged the soft material. “Thank you. I’ll put it on our bed tonight.”

With the presents all opened, the crowd of people made their way to the kitchen to fetch plates of food that everyone had prepared and brought with them. I mingled within the crowd, hoping to make sure I thanked everyone for being a part of my special day. Late afternoon came quickly. We’d played games and talked about our upcoming ceremony. Everyone was insistent on giving me marriage advice, even though I somehow knew Major and I would do just fine on our own. Ever since the day I’d met him we’d been in sync. Nothing anyone said could deter our relationship.

Just imagining things that could possibly go wrong made me think about Vince and what the guys could have been up to for such a long time. When the last guest left I headed upstairs and called Major.

The background music was loud and I could hear a female speaking to them followed by someone cheering.

“Can I call you back?” Was how he answered.

“I’m only checking on you. Is everything okay? Where are you?”

Before Major was able to give me an answer I heard Vince’s voice on the other end of the call. “I told you he was in good hands, Bails. Calm your tits and let the man sow his last oats. He’ll be all yours soon enough.”

“Soon enough?” My blood was already boiling. “He’s already mine. Where are you? You better not have him at some sleazy Baltimore strip club letting those dirty women paw all over him.”

“Trust me, we’re not downtown. He’s fine.”

“I want to talk to Major. Put him on the phone, Vince.”

“Sorry, no can do.” I noticed it had gotten quiet, which only told me he’d left the loud room. “I’ll return him once we’re done. It’s his bachelor party, Bails. Just release the ball and chain for a few more hours. He needs to cut loose, otherwise he’ll regret it and stray later on.”

“What? Who thinks like that? You’re as asshole. I want to talk to Major.”

“Like I said before, he’d indisposed and unavailable. I’ll return him tomorrow morning. Goodnight, Bailey.”

When he hung up I was so angry I felt like I could reach through the phone and murder him. I wasn’t upset about Major getting a bachelor party. I trusted my fiancé. It was his best friend who I didn’t. If Vince had his way he’d give one last attempt at convincing Major that marriage was a terrible idea. The fact that he’d mentioned Major wouldn’t be returned home until the next morning left me an emotional mess. Even though she’d probably just walked in the door at her home, I called Shawna to come back. If anyone could keep me from freaking out it was her.

I felt like it took forever, but finally she arrived equipped with two pints of ice cream. “Tell me all about it. Is it the blanket?”

“No.” I let out an air-filled laugh. “He’s out with Vince for his bachelor party. I find it funny that none of his sisters mentioned their husbands being invited to such an event. I’m pretty sure it’s just the two of them. Vince says they’re not downtown at a strip club, but I don’t believe him. Why Major is friends with such a douchebag is beyond me.”

“He is good looking. I’ll give that to him. Vince is a ladies man,” she added.

I shoved her. “Seriously, Shawna, you’re married, and ewe. He’s disgusting to me. I hate him. I know it is a strong word, but it’s true. Vince Gallo is the devil.”

“It’s not like it’s the end of the world. Do you really think Major would let him sway his decisions? He loves you. He’s not going anywhere. Woman, you are the luckiest person I know. Look around. You’ve got the perfect life. Your man is amazing, and he’s crazy about you. You’re going to have beautiful babies with your dream guy. Chill out and let the boys be boys.”

She was right. Major couldn’t be influenced by Vince. He wouldn’t put himself through that. I had to calm down and get over my fears. Nothing bad was going to happen. When he returned we’d get back on track with packing and making the final arrangements for our service. Everything was going to turn out perfect, especially our future together.

Chapter 5

Last minute double checking was setting Major crazy.

“Don’t forget the folder with the information. We’re going to need that to pick up the flowers.” I was ordering Major around left and right to avoid losing it in front of him. Our plane was set to leave in three hours and I kept feeling as if I was forgetting something. I went over my list three times, checking off everything I knew was already packed in the car.

“Bails, take a deep breath. We’ve got this, and if we forget something we’ll make do. The only two things we need to make this wedding happen are me and you.” He took me into his arms and ran his fingers through my long hair, tucking it back behind my ear. “I know you’re nervous, but there’s no need to be. We’ve got this. I told you before, nothing will keep me from marrying you.”

I knew he was right, but ever since the bachelor party, and his not returning home until the next morning, I couldn’t shake feeling like he was hiding something from me. Long story short, Major had come home nursing a hangover. He’d told me Vince had hired a private dancer to come over to his house. From what he said, Vince asked her to stick around and hang out once her working hour was over, but Major swore he wanted nothing to do with her. Instead he claimed that he passed out early and Vince kept her entertained. At any rate, I didn’t like it. Vince was a bad influence. It made me feel like he was still grasping at straws to try to come between us. For that reason I cringed at the idea of him being with us every waking second during our trip to Sicily. I think it also rubbed me the wrong way that his family overseas knew Vince and treated him like blood, while I was still worried that I wouldn’t be accepted due to their traditions.

It had become clear to me a long time ago that Vince would be in our lives for the long haul. I just loathed the idea of him remaining a terrible example for, not just my husband-to-be, but also our future children.

“We need to head out if we’re going to get through security in time after checking all the bags. Are you ready?”

I shrugged. “I suppose.”

“Then let’s go get married. I’m tired of waiting. The sooner we all get there the faster we get hitched.”

“I’m ready for that. I’m just worried something will go wrong.”

“It’s normal,” he reassured me. “Come on. I’ll make sure it’s perfect. Don’t you worry about anything, bella.” I love when he referred to me as beautiful in Italian. The way it rolled off his tongue was tantalizing. It made me want to jump his bones.

An hour after we left the house we were walking through the security gates at the airport. We both recognized familiar faces of family and friends that were all on our same flight. Sitting at a bar next to our gate was Vince and Major’s two older brothers, Tony Jr. and Victor. In front of each of them was a draft beer. I wasn’t bothered that they were celebrating. I wasn’t even annoyed that Vince was flirting with someone sitting next to him. What concerned me was that it was nine in the morning and they’d already started. Since I knew they’d be drinking on the plane I worried about the condition they’d be in once we arrived, but since no one else was making a big deal out of it I kept my opinions to myself. The last thing I wanted to do was get into an argument with an Italian woman. If their wives were okay, then I would be too.

With a ton of attention directed toward me, my focus was diverted for the time being. When we boarded the plane I was thrilled to have been upgraded to first class while the rest of the family remained in coach.

This gave Major and me some time to reflect on our upcoming schedule. We ordered two drinks after takeoff and sat back enjoying the comfort of our seats. Major played with my hand while he held it. “This is nice. I might even be able to get some shut eye before we land.”

“Well, how about we discuss what we have to do once we arrive? I know your mother wants to help as much as possible, but we still have a lot to do.”

“That’s true.” He leaned over and whispered in my ear. “As long as it includes some alone time I’m game.”

“You know that’s going to be difficult with everyone around us. Just because we’re all spread out in one hotel doesn’t mean they won’t come and find us. Let’s face it, this might be as close to being alone as we’re going to get. Have you even considered all the outings the family signed us up for?”

Major smiled, displaying his sugar-bowls. “Yeah, I know. How about we agree to only do half of them? I don’t think I want to spend every waking second with my family. Besides, your dad will only be there for a couple days. When he arrives I know you’ll want to have time to yourselves. I’ll break the news to everyone once we’re settled.”

“I don’t want to give them reasons to hate me,” I reminded him.

He looked at me like I had three heads. “They aren’t going to hate you, Bails. They’ll love you, just like I do. Stop fretting. It’s all going to be fine.”

“Our wedding is in a few days. Let’s get past that and I’ll start to relax,” I promised.

He chuckled quietly. “It’s a deal. Just know that if you need to talk about anything, you come to me. We’ll figure it out together. If my grandparents make you feel uneasy I’ll take care of them too.”

I pictured an old Italian woman chasing me down a Tuscan alley with a large wooden rolling pin, her hair up in a silk scarf, while she yelled profanities in her language. I don’t know why the image was so vivid, but it was enough to alarm me.

In all honesty I didn’t know what to expect. I’d seen pictures and talked to them on the computer. I’d celebrated holidays with his family in the states and they’d filled me in on their traditions. Major assured me every time that no matter what we’d still get married. He told me their blessing wasn’t a deciding factor for him, yet I couldn’t bring myself to be okay with that, not when I knew they’d forever resent me. For the time being I’d have to try to remain optimistic, at least until I could stand in front of them and read their reactions.

After our brief conversation, we both sat back and relaxed for bit. Major turned on a movie and we shared headphones so we could watch it together. I never expected Vince would sneak his way to the front of the plane and interrupt us, but there he was, sticking his head in between us like a giraffe to fresh greens. “What the…”

“Calm your tits, Bails. I’m just saying hello. The shitter is full in the back.”

I looked around the small first class area and noticed quite a few people giving him the stink eye. Thankfully I spotted a stewardess heading in our direction. I crossed my arms over my chest and waited for him to be reprimanded. “Excuse me sir, but you can’t be up here. I’ll have to ask you to head back to your seat now,” she requested.

“I’ll see you later, Buddy. I’ll come back to chat in a bit,” Major told him.

He pointed at Major, and his next words made my skin crawl. “You better. Madison wants to say hi. Can you believe she came along with me? That shit is unreal.”

I waited for Vince to leave before addressing the situation. Since I’d seen him earlier flirting with a young looking blonde I could only assume he’d brought her along as his date. “Who the heck is Madison?”

Major sighed and looked at me with concerned eyes. “Do you promise not to get angry?”

I shrugged. “Why in the world would you have to ask me that? If Vince wants to bring a date he’s entitled.”

“It’s probably better if I tell you now in case he gets drunk and starts running his mouth.”

Now I was definitely becoming curious. “Spill it then.”
“Madison isn’t just his date. She was the stripper from the bachelor party. He’s been seeing her apparently.”

“What?” I could hardly contain my frustration. “You’re telling me that asshole brought a stripper halfway across the world to attend our wedding, and this is the first I’m hearing about it? My God, you’ve recently seen her naked. Did you ever think how awkward it would be for me? What kind of girl takes her clothes off and then lingers around, reaping the benefits?”

“Come on, Bails. This is our wedding. Vince is Vince. He’s harmless. Just let him have some fun and he’ll stay off our backs.”

“I’m not okay with this,” I reiterated. “Not at all.”

“I know.” He reached over and rubbed my leg. “Just try to ignore it. It’s what I do.”

I sighed and looked out the window at the clouds we were flying through. “I wish you could admit how much of a prick he is. How you’re still friends with him is beyond me. You’re nothing alike. He’s like a child in a grown body. Does your mother know his date is a stripper?”

“I don’t know. She won’t care. This trip isn’t about Vince. My family is here for us, and so is Vince. I know he makes you crazy, but he’s my brother. You can’t change family, you just have to accept them for who they are.”

I still refused to look in his direction. “I choose to have no part of that man and his antics. I’m not trying to be a prude, but he’s a male slut. He probably hired the girl for you to sleep with.”

Major actually laughed at my comment. “She’s got nothing on you, bella. Relax. You’re the only woman for me. Besides, if I wanted someone else I wouldn’t stoop so low. I’d sit you down and let you know we weren’t working. I’d be decent about it. Come on. You know me. You know how I was raised. Vince can’t help himself. I’m nothing like him.”

“I know.” I did. Major had morals. He was a kind and generous man. It was the reason I fell in love with him so quickly. “Let’s change the subject.”

“Good idea.” He brought my hand up to his lips and kissed it tenderly.  “You’re going to be my wife in three days. I can’t wait to call you Mrs. Valero.”

Just hearing it made me smile huge. The idea of finally being married, after always assuming I wasn’t meant to find my Mr. Right. Growing up I’d been the girl with her head in a book. I didn’t have a date to the prom; instead I went with a few girls from the math club I was a member of. College was much of the same scenario. I didn’t pledge a sorority. I focused on keeping my GPA high to enable me the opportunity to advance into a good job after graduation. I’d worked hard to have my career, and even though I’d just begun prospering from it, I felt like it was worth the struggles.

I’d dated a few people. I’d even had sex. None of it ever amounted to anything serious. For lack of a better term I was only experiencing things to say I had. Meeting Major changed my life. It wasn’t about being forced into going on a blind date. I’d met him on my own, and he’d asked me out without being persuaded. When he told me he loved me a month later I felt like I was dreaming. I’d never expected someone as handsome and successful to come into my life. He made me feel important each and every day, and I vowed to be the best wife, mother and friend in return. Since my mom had passed away, I wanted to spend every waking second with my children once they were born. We hadn’t decided on a number, and I don’t think it would have mattered anyway. If God graced us with ten kids we’d raise them with love.

Imagining being a mom made me think of my father. Since I’d moved out of the house he’d been distant. I know I’d broken his heart, and a part of me hated myself for that. I think in a lot of ways my dad liked the little nerdy girl he assumed would never leave home. It took a while for me to be okay with moving away. I knew he wasn’t ever going to have home-cooked meals, and I had to accept that. My mom wouldn’t have wanted me to waste my life away. Still, I’d always felt like leaving had ruined my relationship with my father, and I hoped that when I had my first child he’d come back as the loving grandfather I imagined he’d become.

With Major by my side I simply leaned my head on his shoulder. “If you’d like to practice saying that some more, I’m all ears.”

I could feel his body rumble as he chuckled. “Soon enough my dear. Nothing will stop us. I knew in that grocery parking lot that you were meant to be my wife. I think I dreamed of you in my past. You’re the reason all my other relationships failed. I was just warming up for you to walk into my life, or stumble if you want to get technical.”

I patted his arm and laughed to myself. I knew he was kidding with me, but Major’s seriousness was also shining through. He might not have been a nervous wreck, but he was determined the wedding would go off without a hitch. That gave me a sense of peace I desperately needed. People say all the time that wedding jitters are normal. Mine weren’t jitters. I was absolutely terrified something would occur to prevent it from happening.