Wedding day
"My existence is a scandal" - Oscar Wilde
Mariana's POV
Alfie rolled in around 8. Later than expected but we spent the evening hastily planning a wedding
Choosing not to adhere to the age old tradition of spending the night away from each other.
"Todays the day dove" Alfie said, kissing my neck briefly as I looked out the window
The Shelby's were overrunning the street in their best suits
Ready for a wedding where they only liked one half of the couple
Tommy was stood smoking
Arthur and Linda were arguing
Polly was stood solemnly with Finn and Isaiah
And Dorothy wasn't even ready yet
"I'll see you there eh" he said, spinning me around to face him
"Yeah, did Aila get down here alright?" I asked
"Think so, she's in a hotel, her and the kids are coming to pick me up" he said
I nodded
"Then you need to get out, so I can get ready" I said
"Mm, last time I'll see you as a Cortez then eh?" He asked
"Mm, hopefully the name will die out" I chuckled
There were three women walking this earth with that cursed name. And hopefully two of them will be gone soon.
"Solomons suits you better anyway" he said
"Yeah I'm sure it does" I smiled
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"You look gorgeous" Dorothy said
"Dot" I smiled
"You do, granted I never pictured you dressed like this for someone like Alfie but you look perfect" Polly complimented
"Thank you?" I said, following them out onto the street
Mariana's Outfit
"Eh here she is, the blushing bride" Arthur said happily, leaving Linda to stew on the pavement as he walked away from their conversation
"Although I don't think you have a lot to blush about these days" he said.
"Yes thank you Arthur" I said, hoping he would shut up
"Me and Pol with you?" Ada asked
I nodded. And Dorothy
"You look lovely" Ada smiled
"Yeah, beautiful" Lizzie said.
"Thanks, we should get going" I said
Tommy was still smoking on the other side of the street
No effort made to talk to me
So I got in the car. And made my way to the registry office.
•
The ceremony was small. But perfect to me
Polly walked me in, and handed me off in her words
Then we got married before a side of Alfie's family. Well respected people in their community, do gooders all dressed up fancy
And my side of Shelby's and small heath people I'd known all my life
With happy expressions for me and bitter ones whenever the focus was on Alfie
But I loved him
And I was grateful they were here to support me.
•
Outside we stood to take photos
Which was a long and tedious task as many people here did not get along
Polly didn't particularly want to stand with Tommy
None of my lot wanted to stand with Alfie
And Alfie's family didn't want to even stand near the Shelby's out of fear.
"Michael should be here today" Polly said
"I know, I'm sorry he couldn't come" I said
"It's not your fault, you're not the one who sent my son away" she said, glancing over at Tommy
"John should be here too" I said sadly.
"I know. And he would have laughed at you for being so sad on your wedding day, smile, it's a happy day. And he's with us. Even if we can't see him" she said
"How's Arthur doing?" I asked, trying to change the subject in fear of crying
"He's about 4 away from slapping Linda I think" she said, as we looked over to them arguing once again.
"Can we have one of the groom with the women please?" The photographer asked
Polly abandoned me to stand beside Alfie, with Ada, Nala and Dorothy, they looked... strange stood for a photo together.
"Eden will give me the contact I want" Tommy said simply, appearing beside me as I watched them
"Oh, good, did you have to bed her for that information?" I asked, not out of spite, just curiosity for where we now stood in this deal
If he's bedded her then everything gets more complicated, because her feelings are involved
"No, I told you, we had dinner, what business is it of yours anyway Mar? You just got married" he said calmly
"Because Lizzie is stood over there not knowing where she stands with you" I said simply
"Can I steal my wife?" Alfie interjected, gaining both our attention
"Of course" I said, taking his hand
Tommy said nothing as Alfie led me away for a photo
"So, how do you feel Mrs Solomons?" He asked, standing waiting for the photo to be taken
"Like the happiest woman on earth" I answered
"Good, cause I'm the happiest man on earth right now dove, so it's only fitting" he smiled
A proper smile
One I had never seen him let out in public
Or in front of any Shelby.
•
We went to one of my bars for the after drinks, at around 1pm Arthur had drank most of the bar dry
Everybody seemed to have a good time and yet there were some faces that were easy to pick out
Tommy sat very stoic
Polly was upbeat and yet you could tell she was missing Michael
Alfie was holding Carter over by the bar, talking to Aila so I took my chance to get some air outside
Sometimes everything just becomes a little too much.
And I need little moments of silence
I craved to light a cigarette, but Polly's words that I may soon be pregnant swirled in my head
Her predictions weren't always right
But I think I was scared more than anything to go to the doctors and check
Alfie has an uncertain amount of time left
Was another kid what we really needed right now?
"Well don't you just look gorgeous?"
I looked up, seeing Irene stood by the back gate of the garden
"It's my wedding day" I said simply
"Yes?" She asked
"So fuck off?" I said, wasn't it obvious?
I was surprised we had made it this far without any interference from Luca
All the Shelby's in one place? And he hadn't done anything.
And now this bitch turns up
"And you don't want your step mother here?" She asked
"You are nothing to me" I said
"At least the feeling is mutual" she smiled
"Leave Irene" I said
"Oh believe me I don't want to crack open the champagne with you darling" she said
"Go on then, what do you want?" I asked
"Personally. I want you dead" she said
"But we don't think in the long run that would be good for business" she said
"Losing patience Irene" I said
"You know, your dad, if you can even call him that, he used to mention you and... the boy every now and again" she said
"David" I corrected her
"See we were open with each other. I knew all about the little... family he created over here" she said
"And?" I asked
"And he always thought one day he would come back for you both, and make you into something" she said
"Course I never let that happen" she said
"Yes I'm sure you called all the shots" I said unimpressed
"Well I do now" she said
"Because he's dead?" I taunted
Her face tightened
"It's your fault he is dead" she said
"Yes. It is. An achievement I am so proud of" I said
"ne obizhaysya na menya, devochka" she said
Do not get disrespectful with me girl
"You are disgusting. Killing your own father" she said
"Then I guess the apple doesn't fall far does it? A man who killed his own sons" I spat back
"Mar?" Alfie called out, appearing at the door
"Is there a problem?" He asked, shifting his gaze to Irene
"No, Irene was just leaving" I said, heading to the door
"Was I?" She asked
"Yes, go home Irene, go back to America, Russia I don't fucking care" I said.
•
"Every thing alright?" Alfie asked
"Yeah, she's nothing, nothing could bring my mood down today" I smiled
"Why's that?" He asked, grabbing hold of my waist
"Because I married the perfect man" I said, pecking his lips
"That's good then ain't it?" he said
"Why?" I asked
"Because if it wasn't me then I'd have to kill the 'perfect guy' wouldn't I?" He said
"Stop it" I laughed
"Dorothy's leaving in a minute, that's why I came looking for you" he said
"Okay, she still alright to have Carter for the night?" I asked
"Yeah, think Arthur will be going home soon as well" he said
"Why?" I asked
"Cause he's fucked darling" he said
Oh... great.
No one's POV
Tommy sat outside, smoking his tenth cigarette of the day, trying to convince himself he could stay
That he could handle the rest of the day.
Before he was joined by Polly
Who stood before him with a bored look on her face
Bored of his attitude today.
"You not coming back in?" She asked
"I'm having a smoke" he said
"Seems that's all you've done today" she commented
"What's your point Pol?" He asked
"Who said I have a point?" She asked
"Because you don't bother me unless you do" he said, blowing an air of smoke out
"You need to support her" she said
"Everyone keeps telling me that Pol, I've told her I'll look after her, she doesn't need to worry about money but just because she has my kid it doesn't mean I need to commit her" he said defiantly.
"I wasn't talking about Lizzie" she said
He looked at her, finally catching on that she meant Mariana
"Support her through what?" He asked, confused but unwilling to show it.
"She's a married woman now. Marriage comes with new boundaries" she said
"And what are they?" He asked, uninterested in the conversation
"That you need to let her go" she said
"I have" he said
"You haven't. You haven't let her go since the moment you had her. She's a grown woman Thomas. She's married. She's not a stupid teenage girl you can control anymore" she said
"I never controlled her" he bit back
"No, you played her" she said.
"I thought you weren't talking to me anymore?" He said simply, trying to rile her into walking away.
"And I thought you had actually got past this, move on or bury those feelings Thomas. Because they are long gone for her and she's finally happy" she said.
"Anything else?" He asked her, ready for her to leave him alone.
"Yes, Arthur needs to go home" she said.
Mariana's POV
When everyone had finally had enough, we began packing up to go home
Alfie was driving Aila and her family back to the hotel so I was left alone in the house for a while
Without him or Carter I just felt... alone. The house felt empty
I couldn't wait for him to get back. To actually celebrate together just me and him.
I was in the process of going upstairs when the door went
And Tommy stood at the door
"Yes?" I asked when he had said nothing
"I uh..."
"Tommy what is it?" I asked, this dress was getting irritable now and I just wanted to go to bed
"I just... you looked beautiful today" he said, looking anywhere but me
"Um... thank you" I said unsure
"Is that all or..."
"Yeah I just... I forgot to tell you so" he said, before walking off down the street.
"Tommy? Tommy!" I called after him, following him out onto the street
"Everything okay?" I asked
"I don't know. I honestly don't know" he said
"Why?" I asked
"Changretta hasn't done anything today. No move whatsoever. Why?" He asked
"I don't know" I said. I had wondered the same thing
"And that's the problem. If none of us know then we have no hope" he said
"I'll see you tomorrow" he said simply
"Tommy. Get some sleep" I said
He was too stressed.
The fight was a positive thing for us all
A day out
A step forward for us
It was our territory, Luca wouldn't get us there.
I went back inside. Heading upstairs to change and wait for Alfie.
Alfie's POV
"They'll do" I said, looking over the two men
"They'll do?" Luca asked, seemingly insulted
"Yeah, they'll do, I'm sorry did I stutter? I know the language must be difficult for you" I said
It was my fucking wedding day
I was supposed to be with my wife
Not checking these two pricks out for tomorrow.
I would love people's thoughts and Merry Christmas!!
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