Contessa (101 page)

“
Alright,
”
he playfully concedes.
“
But will you wear this?
”
He reaches over to his
nightstand
and hands me a medium-sized navy Swarovski box.

“
Dad...
”
I sigh, opening it up. Inside is a beautiful crystal headband.
“
It
’
s so pretty.
”

“
I
’
m glad you like it. Mom helped pick it out.
”

“
It
’
s perfect.
”
He takes it out of the box and carefully places it on my head. I watch in the mirror, helping to put it in the right place.

“
You look like a princess,
”
he says, admiring my reflection. He swallows hard.
“
My little Contessa.
”

“
Oh, Daddy,
”
I tell him, my eyes starting to water.
“
I love you so much.
”

“
I love you, too, Livvy.
”
He hugs me tightly, and when he releases me, he hands me a handkerchief from his coat pocket.
“
You grew up too fast,
”
he says,
“
but you
’
ll never stop being my little girl.
”

“
I know,
”
I laugh over a soft cry, blotting the wetness from my eyes.
“
I
’
m the luckiest girl in the world. I mean it.
”

“
I feel pretty lucky myself,
”
he responds, embracing me once more.
“
I think I heard your date come in. Shall we make a grand entrance?
”
he says, offering me his elbow.

“
Sure.
”
My arm linked in his as he opens the door, I realize this is what it will feel like when he walks me down the aisle someday. I
’
m not ready for that, and have to release him before I start crying. I think he was thinking the same thing, because I can hear his sigh of relief. He lets me walk down the stairs first.

At the base of the staircase stands Jon, looking handsome, somehow older, and very nervous. He
’
s wringing his hands together, and looks in my direction as soon as he hears me walking toward him. I can see his sudden intake of air, and it makes me smile.

“
You didn
’
t hold back, did you?
”
he asks when I finally reach the foyer. His fingertips brush my forearm, bringing out quick
goose bumps
. His hair is pushed back neatly and he smells of nice cologne.

“
Is it too much?
”
I touch the necklace tentatively.

“
Absolutely,
”
he says.
“
Too much for me to take in,
”
he corrects himself, glancing to acknowledge my dad.
“
Hi, Jack.
”
He extends his hand to shake my father
’
s.

“
Jon, how are you this evening?
”

“
Great.
”
He turns his attention back to me, shaking his head slightly.
“
I have never seen a more beautiful woman.
”
He swallows, his cheeks turning a soft pink color.

“
Oh,
”
I hear Mom sigh softly behind me.

Dad clears his throat.
“
I hope you don
’
t mind,
”
my dad says,
“
but Anna tends to go overboard.
”
He holds something out and hands it to Jon. It
’
s a set of cufflinks, in the deep red color of my dress. I know that the stone in the center of each is a real diamond. I know my aunt.

“
Wow,
”
Jon says.
“
They
’
re very nice. I
’
ve never owned any cufflinks.
”
My mom steps in to help him put them on.
“
Thank you.
”

“
You
’
re welcome.
”

“
And they
’
re neutral enough that you should be able to get a lot of wear out of them,
”
Mom says,
“
for interviews or whatever.
”
She smiles as he looks at his wrists.

“
You look perfect,
”
I tell him, holding one of his hands in mine.

“
Thank you.
”
He leans in to kiss me.

“
Careful with the lipstick,
”
Clara says, and Jon pulls back quickly. It
’
s probably a good thing she interrupted us, because that could have turned into a very passionate, telling kiss. When I look into his eyes, it seems like they
’
re confirming what he
’
d told me last week: that he wants to
be
with me. My breath catches in my throat, my stomach tightening.

“
Okay, Aunt Emi, here
’
s your camera,
”
Lexi says.

“
Do we have to?
”
I ask, embarrassed.

“
Please, do,
”
Jon says.
“
I want to remember this moment years from now.
”
I want to roll my eyes, but I know he
’
s being sincere, and it
’
s so sweet that I start to feel weak on my legs again.

My cousin hands Jon my corsage, and I take the boutonniere from my mom. Anna made both of them to match my dress, using deep red roses and camellias, my favorites. She
’
s adorned them with black and white ribbons decorated with crystals.

“
How do I do this?
”
Jon asks, holding the flower up to my strapless dress. I hold my wrist out to him, and he realizes there
’
s a band attached to it.
“
That makes more sense,
”
he mumbles to himself, slipping it on as my mother snaps pictures. He squeezes my hand and gives me another amorous glance. I can
’
t wait to be alone with him.

“
Here,
”
I tell him as I pin the boutonniere onto his lapel. My hand lingers on his chest.

“
Just a few more pictures,
”
my mom says, leading us into the living room by the fireplace. She takes multiple pictures of me and Jon before my dad steps in, telling Mom to take a couple of me and him. Jon stands across the room, admiring me, as my dad and I stand closely to one another. It
’
s safe to say I
’
ve never felt closer
to Dad than I have the past week
.

“
Okay, then,
”
Dad says when we
’
re finished posing for the photos.
“
Livvy said you were taking her car?
”
he asks Jon.

“
If that
’
s okay, yes. I swear, I
’
m a very safe driver.
”

“
It
’
s fine,
”
he says, opening the front door. I quickly hug Clara and Lexi as Dad ushers my Mom and Jon outside.

“
I put a bag in the trunk,
”
Clara whispers to me.
“
Just a few things I thought you might want.
”

I smile and blush, embracing her once more.

I get outside just in time to hear my dad start to lecture Jon.
“
I just want your word–both of you–that if you have any alcohol tonight–
”

“
And you can
’
t, by the way–
”
Mom interjects, turning around quickly.

“
We won
’
t,
”
I stop her as I put my hand on her arm.

“
If you do, though,
”
Dad continues,
“
I just want your word that you will not get behind the wheel. Even if it
’
s just one drink.
”

Jon stands squarely in front of him, looking at him directly.
“
I promise, Jack. We won
’
t do either of those things.
”

“
Thank you.
”
He hands Jon the keys to my car and puts his hand on Jon
’
s shoulder.
“
Just remember that you
’
ve got my only daughter with you.
My
Contessa. No matter what she may become to you in the
distant
future.
”
He pauses and shoots a playful warning glance to each of us,
“
She
’
ll always be my princess first. And there is no one in the world quite like her.
”

“
I have to agree,
”
Jon says.

“
She
’
s my
sixteen
-
year
-
old
princess. Got it?
”

“
Yes, sir,
”
Jon smiles back.

“
It
’
s Jack. We
’
ve been over this.
”

He simply nods and answers respectfully,
“
Yes, sir. Good night, Jack.
”
They shake hands once more as Jon opens the door for me.

I look up at my father.
“
Night, Daddy,
”
I tell him, stepping into the car. Jon walks around to the driver
’
s side, and Dad leans over and kisses my cheek. His tie slips out of his coat jacket, hanging loosely in front of him. All of a sudden, I feel like that three-year-old girl he met in a hospital hallway so many years ago. I tug on his necktie gently. He smiles warmly, and I have no doubt he
’
s remembering back to that night, too.

“
Good night, Contessa.
”
He looks away quickly, but I
’
m sure I saw his eyes begin to water. When he shuts the door, I have to take a few deep breaths to keep myself from crying.

“
Are you ready?
”
Jon asks after starting the car. My dad puts his arm around Mom
’
s shoulder and leads her back into the house. They turn around
to wave once more
just before going
inside
. Mom blows me a kiss, and I return the gesture.

“
I think so,
”
I tell him. At the same time, we lean into one another to kiss. It
’
s a careful one, though.

“
Alright,
”
he says with a sigh, pulling away from the curb.
“
Promise me something tonight.
”

“
What?
”
I twirl the ring around my finger nervously.

“
Please don
’
t dance with any other guys tonight.
”

“
Well, that
’
s an easy promise. Of course I won
’
t!
”

“
Because they
’
re going to ask, and I couldn
’
t bear to see anyone else
’
s hands on you.
”