The Home - 32. Chapter 32

In January, school resume, and our routine returned to normal. Normal as possible with a wedding facing me and Amo learning English.

I hired a tutor for Amo, I student from the University who was working on his Masters’s degree in education specializing in languages. It seems there is a need for teaching languages at the high school level. Maybe America is beginning to recognize the importance of language besides Latin. I always thought it was odd they teach Latin, a dead language rather than a language that one could use in commerce on an International scale.

Amo spent his free time reading the books in the Library. I thought it was interesting as he was learning my history, more or less. He would come and ask me questions about what he was reading.

“Tony, where can I find more information on Italy in the early 1800’s?”

“You mean besides what is in the Library?”

“Yes, there are references to relatives in Italy. Wouldn’t it be funny if we were related.”

I hadn’t thought about that. I doubt it but is it possible? Now he had me thinking I might need to do more research on the 1700’s leading up to the 1800’s.

The more I thought about that, the more interested I became in those years. For a history professor, I should be able to obtain writings of that period, a summer project for me.

The week before finals, I was busy developing reviews of the material we studied during the semester and final exams. Amo asked if he was going to have a final exam. I told him Brad and Tom would give him his final exam. “Then I’m sure to pass.” Laughing, he went to find them

Finals were over, and the semester was over. Now I had time to worry. I worried about the wedding and the possibility of something going wrong. Brad and Tom had fun teasing me, “Tony, how are you going to spend your last days of freedom?” “Tony, are you going to use the carriage?”

I thought about that, and it wasn’t a bad idea. “Brad, Tom, I want the carriage cleaned and decorated for the wedding. I want Amalia delivered to the church in the carriage. And you are to be dressed in tuxes as well as Amo. You will be in my wedding party.”

What do you think they said, “We don’t have tuxes, how about a suit?”

“No, tuxes, and I’ll pay for the rental of them.” This wedding had to be as formal as possible. Amalia was marrying into the Carignano family.

The week before the wedding, the family started to arrive. The men stayed at my place, and we had to use the bedroom in the attic. The priest arrived, and he stayed with the local priest.

The day before the wedding, we had a rehearsal. Mom prepared dinner at my home for all of the guests who would attend the wedding. I had Luis and Gene be ushers, Brad and Tom would stand with me, and Amo had the rings.

The meal Mom prepared was an Italian feast. I think Mom pulled out every recipe she had. Uncle Angelo and Aunt Katy helped.

Arriving back home after the rehearsal, the smells alone made this a special night. The food was unbelievable. Brad and Tom kept asking what this is and what that is. I was sure when they went to bed that night, they couldn’t eat another thing.

The morning of the wedding, Charlie had the horses ready to pull the carriage. They had wreaths of flowers around their necks. The carriage had flowers as well. I smiled as I saw it. Dad drove us to the church. For the first time in my life, I was nervous and apprehensive that something would go wrong.

Entering the church, we were escorted to the office. We would wait there until the wedding was to start. “Tony, relax. You’ll wear out the carpet.”

Brad was laughing. “Tony, Tom, and I have rings. I know we can’t be married, but would it be alright that we exchange rings when you do?”

I felt bad that these boys were denied that one thing that would make their relationship legitimate in the eyes of the world. “Brad, yes, that would be fine. Repeat what I say to Amalia and have Tom repeat what Amalia says to me. In my eyes and the eyes of God, you will be married.” I wasn’t sure about God, but if He is the God of love, how can he not recognize these two. Maybe someday they will be able to be married legally.

Then we heard the music start, the priest came and led us to the front of the church before the altar. As the maid of honor, Camilla, walks down the aisle followed by two young ladies who came from Italy with Amalia’s mother and father.

Then the traditional wedding march and an angel with golden hair started down the aisle accompanied by her father. I couldn’t help but smiled. If there was any doubt, it was gone now.

Joining me in front of the altar, the priest looked at me and smiled. He also recognized what beauty is all about. He couldn’t help but not to. A beautiful woman was standing before him.

With the words “I do” we were married and received the blessing of the priest. I heard the boys say “I do” as well. I smiled at them.

I had a gold band for Amalie. Mom gave it to me, and it was Nonna’s wedding band. I used the ring that was my grandfather’s with the crest on it.

Walking out of the church, there was the carriage all decked out with a just married sign on the back. Charlie drove the horses through town. Amalia and I rode up on the driver’s seat with Charlie. The wedding party rode inside.