35.

The next few days I busied myself with planning Maria's wedding. It had been days since I'd seen him. He avoided me and so did I. He better realize that two could play a game. If he didn't care, why should I? Despite my pride, deep down I did care. I'd ask Andrew for updates on Leo's health. And, when he'd assured me Leo was recovering, I felt at peace.

"What did my daughter say about the dress? Did she like any of them?" Maria asked me when we were finalising the colour schemes.

I hid away my phone. Maria's yonger daughter had refused to attend this wedding and refused to be involved in it. She said it was shameful for her to get involved in it.

"She... ummm...." Before I could mumble, Deigo blurted out.

"They think it is wrong for you to marry." He sighed. "I didn't want you to know because you'd feel hurt."

"Agreed." Valeria said joining in. "Maria your daughters are being very immature right now. If they can't accept your happiness, they don't deserve to be with you."

Maria's face looked downcast. "But they're my daughters."

"Guys we can't just ask her to forget about her daughters. I mean she's their mom for god's sake."

I sighed and shook my head. "Let's try one last time. I'm going to the city to meet them."

#

Leo came to my room just when I was about to head out. I glared at him.

"I came here to borrow my toothbrush." He said awkwardly.

I rolled my eyes. "This is the fourth time you've come here asking to borrow your toothbrush. Why don't you just admit you miss me?"

"Fine." He crossed his arms. "You shouldn't go to the city. DeLuca's men are there and its unsafe. At least let me accompany you." He said.

"Not happenning, Leo." I said. "You're recovering, I can't let you risk your life again."

"Nor can I let you risk yours." He looked at me with his puppy-dog eyes. God, he could be so convincing and cute if he wanted to.

"Leo I have to go." I said. "I know you're concerned about me but it needs to be done. Maria is relying on me and I have to try for her sake."

Leo sighed and left the room. Great, he'd just tried to mend things and I'd again brushed him away coldly. I just wish I could communicate properly with him. There's been so much gap between us. I had almost gotten ready to leave when Leo came in again.

"I've set up a video chat with Maria's daughters Estella and Elena." Leo said sheepishly, running his fingers through his hair. "I couldn't let you risk it."

I smiled gratefully at him. This was really sweet of him.

"Thank you." I said.

"Alex is waiting with the laptop." Leo said. He avoided meeting my gaze and left hastily.

I got down the stairs and saw Alex with the laptop. Estella and Elena, two identical looking girls were on screen. I chatted with them for a while. I learnt that both of them were studying in a university. They both spoke unexceptional english and sounded pretty friendly. After I was sure they'd warmed up, I gently broached the topic of Maria's marriage.

"I hope you don't mind me asking this but why are you so against your mother's marriage?"

Estella, the older one with short hair, sighed and shook her head. "It's wrong on so many levels. Diego is like few years just older than us." She said.

"Yeah and it's weird to see your own mom marry." Elena said. "We'll be a laughing stock amongst our extended families."

"And the church doesn't accept remarriage." Estella said.

I tried my best to be polite but I couldn't help myself.

"Your mother broke out of an abusive relationship and escaped with you. She singlehandedly raised you two, provided education and supported you. Her entire life was dedicated to you and now that she's trying to live her life and you're trying to discourage her? Shame on you!"

I took a deep breath and continued, "The people that you talk about were the same people who ridiculed your mother for dumping your abusive father. What if she'd have thought the same way and stayed with him? But she left despite the opposition because she was concerned about her daughters. And what did she get in return? Two girls who slut-shame her and ridicule her. You aren't any better than those people who teased you in school for not having a father."

Estella slammed the table angrily. "You don't know a thing about us!" She snarled.

Elena calmed her by placing a hand on her arm.

"I agree Estella, I do not know you or your family. I've only known your mother for a short while and in this time I've noticed that she and Diego love each other deeply. And as for the age gap, Elena, aren't you engaged to a man seven years older than you? Well, why is your case any more acceptable than Maria's? Why do we find it easier to accept an older man's relationship with a younger woman but never a younger man's relationship with an older woman?"

Elena pursed her lips awkwardly. "You have a point there." She said. Estella simply glared at her sister.

"Look, I'm not trying to criticize or preach. I just called you up to convince you to join the wedding. It means a lot to your mom. She'd be happy to see her daughter at the ceremony. I just hope you'd think over my words and maybe, it'd be enough to change your minds." I sighed.

I disconnected the call and took a deep breath, collapsing in the sofa. That was emotionally exhausting and draining task. I took my phone and skimmed through the last minute preparations for the wedding. There were only a few days to go for it and I had to make sure everything was perfect.

#

The day of wedding had arrived. I was heading to the beach to arrange for the decorations and make sure everything was set right. It was late afternoon when I slipped on a knee-length mint coloured dress and some wedges and an oversized straw hat. Since the wedding venue was at beach, the dress code was semi-formal. Valeria, Emily and I left while everyone else was getting ready.

By the time we reached, the seating arrangments were made. A beautiful arch as made of wood and decorated with sheer white fabric and whimsical fairy lights. The pathway to the altar was made with slabs of wood. I went to the appetizers and drinks counters to check them—everything looked perfect. The pathway was lit with tiny electrical candles. During sundown those lights would look perfect. While making sure about all the arrangements, I almost lost the track of time.

"Meg!" Emily called out to me. I walked to her where she was staring at the ocean peacefully. "We've really outdone ourselves this time." She said, staring at the decorations.

"Maria deserves her dream wedding." I said. I noticed Valeria ushering some guests to their seats.

Amy and Alex arrived, hand in hand, looking quiet the pair. They'd sorted out their issues and Amy told me they were giving their relationship a second chance. I waved at Amy who was wearing a mint dress with pink floral print. Pastel shades really flattered her rich skintone. Alex was dressed in a casual linen shirt and khaki pants.

Nico and Andrew arrived a little later, dressed in a similar outfit like Alex. I saw Gigi walk up barefooted, her strappy heels in her one hand while her clutch in the other. All the girls had decided to wear mint, cordinating the colour scheme while the guys decided to stick to the traditional guayaberashirts. I noticed Andrew approach Gigi and Gigi push him away. Lately, I'd noticed that things between them did not seem so well.

I saw Leo and boy was he looking hot. I thought formals were his thing but strangely he looked sexy in something effortless. He like the other guys was dressed in a guayaberashirt and khaki pants, with rolled up cuffs. He topped off his attire with a fedora which somehow made him thousand times more attractive than what he normally was, and Leo was always handsome. A few women turned to check him out as we walked. He looked straight at me, and noticed me eyeing him. Suddenly, I remembered that he was no loner my boyfriend. We had broken up and I had no right to look at him like that. Fuck it, I am going to talk to him.

I approached him and he trailed his eyes all over me. Real smooth Leo, so much for we can't be together.

"You're looking handsome."

"Don't I always do?' He asked smugly.

"No, you don't." I answered, crossing my arms. "Not since you had that silly idea to break up with me."

"Just because I choose to be distant doesn't mean I love you any less." Leo sighed. His expression unreadable due to his dark sunglasses. "I'm doing it for your saftey."

Great, that same stupid logic again. Why couldn't he understand that I am not a fragile piece of porcelian to be protected, I am a woman who wishes to stand by his side and face everything together.

"I choose to stay with you and whatever happens will be my responsiblity." I said.

Leo sighed. "Meg, why don't you get it? I am not strong enough to protect you. I feel so helpless and weak and..." He trailed off.

So this is what everything was about. Leo felt weak and inadequate when he is unable to protect me. In his world there is no space for any kind of weakness because weakness usually means death.

He took a deep breath and continued, "The point is you make me feel vulnerable, Meg. And I do not know how to deal with it. I'm sorry for lashing out on you." He said.

"As much as I hate it I know that your actions come from a place of love." I said.

He smiled gratefully, "At least now you know why I worry about you so much. I want to protect you from my world, Meg. It is not a good place to be and I'm afraid."

Suddenly an idea hit me.

"There is a saying that goes... if you give a man a fish you feed him once but if you teach him to fish you feed him for a lifetime. If you want to protect me you must teach me how I can protect myself."

Leo arched his eyebrows.

"I'm with you for the long haul Leo. And if I'm going to stick by, I better learn to pull my weight." He still looked amused. "Think about it."

"I will Dolcezza." He said. "But right now, there's someone else is asking for you." He pointed at two girls. I gasped with happiness when I saw Estella and Elena. The sisters not only arrived but they wore matching mint coloured outfits to go as the flower girls.

Both of them approached Leo and I.

"I'm sorry." Estella said. "I was so blinded by what people said I forgot the most important thing, which was my mother's happiness."

"We wanted to apologize to you. We were so rude to you." Elena said.

I flashed both of them a smile. "Now that you're here, everything is cool."

All of us quickly took our seats as we awaited Maria's arrival.

#