Brie Masters Love in Submission: Submissive in Love (98 page)

They walked out of the hospital without saying a word. Rytsar hailed a cab and they went directly to the airport. He said his goodbyes as soon as they entered the building.

“I’m sorry to leave so soon, but I must run if I am to make my flight.”

He leaned down and gave Brie a crushing hug. “I will see you in a few days,
radost moya
. Save a dance for me.”

He put his hand on Sir’s shoulder and grasped it tightly. “It will take time to adjust, but the worst is over,
moy droog
. Concentrate on the wedding, and deal with the lingering effects later. They aren’t going anywhere.”

“Sound advice, old friend.”

Sir gave him a hug that lasted longer than normal, causing several passing businessmen to stare. The two men slapped each other hard on the back before letting go.

It was difficult to watch Rytsar walking away—it felt like part of their strength was leaving with him.

“Come, Brie,” Sir said, handing her a plane ticket. She looked down to see if they were heading to Nebraska and was shocked to see the word “Italy” written on her ticket. Sir explained, “I thought it was important that we see my grandparents before we get married.”

“I think we all need that, Sir.”

“I agree, babygirl.” Sir placed his hand on the small of her back as he escorted her through the busy airport. The despondent look on his handsome face was enough to break a girl’s heart.

La Famiglia

B
rie was just as enchanted by the island as she had been the first time they’d taken the boat ride to Portoferraio. She could see the change in Sir as they drew closer to his father’s hometown. He faced into the ocean breeze coming off the water, a look of expectation and exhilaration on his face.

She felt it too—a sense of coming home.

Sir smiled and squeezed her hand as the ferry approached the port and docked. “It’s good to be back.”

“It’s been too long,” she agreed.

The sky was a brilliant blue and the sun shone down on them with its gentle warmth as they walked the narrow streets towards his grandparents’ home. Brie was captivated by the bright magenta flowers that graced the walls and fences of many of the buildings.

“What are these called? They’re absolutely beautiful, Sir.” She took a branch in her hand to smell it and quickly let go, surprised that the flowers had nasty thorns.

Sir laughed as he brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them. “They’re bougainvilleas. Beautiful to look at but painful to cuddle.”

She giggled, taking his arm as they continued their trek up the steep hill. “Have you ever considered living here, Sir?”

He stopped and looked towards the ocean. “Maybe when we’re older and life has slowed down for us.”

Brie snuggled against him. “Wouldn’t it be lovely walking these streets as a happy old couple?”

He gazed down at her and smiled. “Yes, it would.”

Sir led her to the apartment with the vivid red door Brie remembered well, and he knocked. From inside she heard the excited voices of numerous people. “It seems they’re expecting us this time.”

Sir’s Aunt Fortuna, whom Brie had met on their first visit, opened the door wide and grabbed him. “Thane!” A flurry of Italian words followed, which obviously meant she was glad to see him. She ushered them inside, directing the two upstairs.

At the top of the stairs stood Sir’s grandfather with his arms outstretched. “
Nipotino!”
There was excited chatter as other members of his family gathered around him, wanting to welcome Alonzo’s son home.

Brie scooted to the side, watching the excitement, hoping someday she would be greeted with the same enthusiasm.

“Brianna,” a gentle voice called behind her.

She turned to see Sir’s grandmother grinning up at her. Brie bent down to give the frail woman a hug. Brie was surprised by the crushing strength of her embrace. She might be tiny and old, but the woman was
strong
—so much stronger than the last time they’d met.

“It is so good to see you again,” Brie said. When she saw the look of confusion on the woman’s weathered face, she said hesitantly in Italian, “
Buongiorno
.”

The old woman smiled and grabbed her cheeks, kissing her on the lips. “
Buongiorno
.” His grandmother then made her way through the crowd to greet her grandson.

It was beautiful to watch, this apartment full of people who were thrilled to be in the presence of Sir. Not because of his reputation and many talents, but simply because he was family.

Brie and Sir were taken up several flights of stairs, all the way to the roof, where tables had been set out for a meal. Brie and Sir were directed where to sit, and the men of the family sat down with them while the women disappeared back inside. They returned a few minutes later with platters upon platters of food.

When all the ladies had set down the food and taken their seats, silence ensued.

Brie looked at Sir and noticed that his head was bowed. She did the same and listened to the beautiful sounds of his grandfather’s prayer. A hearty “Amen” followed from all, and everyone dug in. Unlike the dinner at Isabella’s, Sir’s family served themselves. It was much less formal and much more to her liking.

Although she could not follow much of the conversation, Brie kept hearing the word ‘
matrimonio’
thrown around. The word for wedding was being said with joy and excitement, but she noticed that Sir’s grandmother was
not
happy. It showed in the woman’s face and in her voice.

“What’s going on with your grandmother, Sir?” Brie asked.

He sighed deeply. “We’re at an impasse.”

“What do you mean?”

“My grandmother wants us to get married in church. She’s not happy about my decision to have a civil ceremony.”

This was the first Brie had heard anything about the wedding, and she pressed. “Civil ceremony, Sir?”

“I see no point in getting married in a church when neither you nor I are believers. Hell, I’m still on the fence if there even is a God.”

His grandmother started talking, the tone of her voice expressing her anger. Sir’s grandfather started in, and then the entire family began adding their two cents. It seemed they were very passionate about having a church wedding.

His grandmother looked at Brie and said in disbelief, “No God?”

Brie didn’t know how to respond but nodded her head. “I…believe there’s a God.”

“Church?” the grandmother asked plaintively.

Having never gone to church other than attending other people’s weddings or funerals, Brie could only shake her head no.

His grandmother’s eyes grew wide and she started back on lecturing Sir. He stood up, his eyes flashing with anger as he argued with the tiny woman. Brie was shocked to see Sir react in such a way to his grandmother.

What was supposed to be a joyous occasion seemed to be causing nothing but a terrible rift between them.

“Sir,” Brie said quietly. When he didn’t respond, Brie said more loudly, touching his arm, “Sir.”

He sat back down and took her hand in his. “What is it, Brie?”

“If it would make your grandmother happy, I wouldn’t mind getting married in a church.”

Sir sighed. “I appreciate the sentiment, babygirl, but you don’t understand. We are not allowed to get married in my grandparents’ church unless we are practicing Catholics.”

Brie grinned, the tension in the air momentarily forgotten. “Does that mean we’re getting married
here—
in Italy?”

He kissed her hand. “Yes, Brie, it does.”

She broke out in a smile, looking over at his family, bursting with love for them. Without explanation, she got up and hugged each and every one, saving the last hug for Sir. “We’re getting married in Italy!”

The family was unsure how to react to her joy in the midst of a heated argument. Sir explained. “They had no idea you didn’t know.”

Brie smiled at them all, throwing together Italian words she knew, trying to express her joy. “
Grande famiglia, ti amo.
” She hoped it meant “Big family, I love you,” but their silence was disconcerting.

His grandfather stood up and put his arms out to her. Brie grinned as he enfolded her in his embrace. The conversation started up again, but with a much more loving tone. Brie looked over at Sir, her eyes brimming with happy tears.

After the meal, Sir sat down with his grandparents, pulling out some papers from his suitcase and handing a set to them and to Brie. He told her, “Read it over carefully. This is what will be said at the ceremony. There’s nothing romantic about it, simply a dry list of what makes up a marriage. The government requires that it be recited in Italian, so I want you to read over the English version now so you understand what is being said.”

His grandmother spat at the paper in disgust, handing it back to Sir, highly displeased.

Brie looked the paper over and was surprised that it sounded more like a list of rules than wedding vows. “Are there any other scripts we can choose from?”

“For our marriage to be legal, this is how it must be.”

Brie looked through it again. There was only one point in the whole ceremony where she was expected to speak. “How do I say ‘I do’ in Italian, Sir?”

He smiled. “
Lo voglio
.”

All of the women in the room let out an audible, “Awww…”

Brie blushed, repeating it several times until she had the pronunciation right. “So that’s all I need to do, just say ‘I do’ and we’re married?”

“For a civil ceremony, yes.”

She looked sympathetically at his grandmother, better understanding her displeasure. “Tell her it’s the love of the couple, not the ceremony that matters.”

Sir translated her words.

“How do I tell her it’s okay?” Brie asked.

“
Va bene
.”

She smiled at the old woman and said with passion, “
Va bene
.”

His grandmother shook her head sadly, patting Brie on the hand.

“Well, that went well,” Sir joked when they left hours later.

“I love the idea of getting married here, Sir. It’s worth the discord with your family.”

“We’re not getting married here, Brie.”

Brie turned to face him. “No?”

“No. I have something very special in mind.”

“The island where you and your father used to treasure hunt?”

He chuckled loudly. “No—that would have been a challenge to pull off.”

“Where, then?”

“You’ll have to wait and see, Miss Bennett.”

They strolled down the street towards the dock in silence.

“Sir, does your family know what happened to your mother?” Brie asked.

“No, and I don’t plan to tell them. At least, not for now. She caused my father’s family too much grief as it is, and I don’t want it tainting our wedding in any way.”

She took his hand. “I’m sorry you’ve had to carry that burden alone.”

“I’m not alone, babygirl,” he said, smiling down at her.

Sir walked Brie to a small house on the beach. She was surprised to see it was full of people. “Your friends, Sir?”

He shook his head as he opened the door. “Not my friends—
our
friends.”

“Surprise!” everyone shouted.

Brie looked at the group in shock, stunned to see her dearest friends. “I can’t believe you’re here!” she cried as she ran to hug Lea.