The ceremony had gone as smooth as it was going to go. Romero had taken Manny and Max to shop for suits that didn’t make them look like pimps, but they’d insisted they all wear matching fedoras, and Romero gave in—only because he knew how much Isabel liked him in it.
They could think of no place more fitting to have their intimate dinner than Moreno’s. Since their guests consisted of only her immediate family, his uncles, and Aida and, of course, Alex and his family who were part of Romero’s extended family, they didn’t need a banquet room. But Alex and Sal still insisted on closing off one of the smaller dining rooms just for them. They set up small dance floor at Isabel’s request so that they could have their first dance as a married couple, and she could have her father-daughter dance.
Romero had done enough coaching before the dinner, telling his uncles to watch their mouths, take it easy on the burping and not talk with their mouths open. He planned on having Isabel’s family at one table and his uncles at a separate one. He even asked Sal to try and arrange it that way when everyone was seated. But somehow, things got goofed up. Since even Gina had shown up with a date, Max and Pat were the only two not paired up, so to Romero’s horror, they ended up sitting next to each other.
Dinner was going well until Aida’s snorting caught Romero’s attention. Apparently, his uncle, the comedian, was at it again. Isabel touched Romero’s hand. “Stop worrying. Everyone is having a good time.”
Angel and Sarah, who sat across from Manny and Aida, were laughing, as were Alex and Valerie who sat at the same table. It was hard to believe they were all married now. Alex was even expecting a kid. Kids were still a scary thought for Romero, but Alex was totally stoked about it.
Surprisingly, Sal, who was the oldest, had yet to get serious with anyone. Sure he’d brought a date to dinner tonight, but she was a different girl from the one he’d brought bowling with the gang just a week ago. He always said he had too many things going on to settle down any time soon. Personally, Romero thought he was just too damn anal to ever meet a girl who’d be perfect enough for him.
He looked over and cringed when he saw Max talking animatedly to Pat with a mouth full of food. There was clinking of a glass and Manny stood up. “I’d like to make a toast.”
Romero leaned over to Isabel. “Isn’t there a rule or something for when you do the toast? You don’t just get up in the middle of dinner and—”
“Shh … listen.”
“I still remember my first words to Moe when he came to me to tell me he was getting married. ‘Is she knocked up?’”
Don’t laugh at your own joke. Too late. He was already wheezing, his belly jiggling as he laughed. Aida’s cackling didn’t help either. But they weren’t alone, others were laughing too. Romero could only hope this didn’t encourage the comedic act to go on too long.
Romero smiled, trying to be a good sport and glanced over at the table with her parents. They weren’t laughing, but they did smile.
“Seriously though, I can’t say how glad I am that he’s found someone that makes him this happy.” Isabel slipped her hand in his and patted it. “I raised this kid. Me and Max did, along with his grandmother. God rest her soul. I’ve never seen him so happy. You two seem to be made for each other. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s like you said to me that one time you two broke up for a few days there. You’re broken without her.”
Isabel leaned into him. “You said that?”
Romero smiled, trying not to show his annoyance. Yeah, in complete confidence. He didn’t think he was going to announce his weaknesses in front of everyone here at his wedding.
“When you asked me and Max to be your best men ...” He put his hand on his chest, getting choked up. “I can’t tell you what an honor that was. I thought for sure you was gonna ask them pretty-boy friends of yours or that other one. What’s his face with their sister?”
Isabel laughed. So did everyone else. “No, really, huh, Max?” He turned to Max. “Isn’t that what we was thinking?”
Max nodded. “Anyhow, I just want to say I wish you and your beautiful wife, Izzy, a long and prosperous marriage. I know you’re gonna hold off on the babies, but don’t wait too long. Me and Max need another kid around, now that ours …” He choked up again. “Now that our kid has left the nest.” Manny lifted his glass unable to go on. “Salud!”
Feeling a little choked up himself, Romero lifted his glass and took a drink. Everyone clapped and began clinking their glasses. Romero leaned in and kissed his beautiful bride, the memory of the utter despair he’d felt when he thought he’d lost her coming to him. “I really am broken without you. Promise you’ll never leave me, Izzy.”
“I’m broken without you too. I promise. I love you.”
Romero kissed her softly, still unable to believe she was his forever. “I love you too, baby.” Then he stood up, taking her hand. Just like Manny, he didn’t care if this was the appropriate time or not, but it felt like it, so he was going for it. “Get me some music,” he said to Sal. “Time for my first dance with my perfect wife.” He lifted her hand in his for everyone to see. “Izzy Romero.”