Blue Smoke

knows this is her spotlight, and all eyes are on her.
    It no longer mattered that the bridesmaid dress was a little less than flattering. Here was another kind of fire, she realized. It was strong and bright and hot. It was her sister’s joy flaming through the air.
    So Reena wept when the vows were exchanged, and the rings given, knowing that this was the end of a part of their lives. And the beginning of the next part of Bella’s.

    T he reception was held at Vince’s parents’ country club where his father was some sort of officer or board member. Here, too, there were flowers in abundance, and food and wine and music.
    Each table was draped with the same shade of pink as Bella’s signature roses, sprinkled with white rose petals and centered with yet more flowers and glossy pillars of pure white candles.
    Reena was required to sit at the long head table along with the bridal party. She was grateful her mother had the foresight to seat Josh at the same table as Gina, who could be counted on to keep him entertained. She was nearly as grateful that Fran—as maid of honor—and Vince’s brother, who served as best man, were the ones who would make the traditional toasts.
    She ate rare prime rib, talked and laughed with the other members of the wedding party, worried about Josh. And when she took time to gaze around the big ballroom, wondered what kind of world her sister was now a part of.
    The two families were mingling, as people do at such events. But even if she didn’t know them, she’d have been able to separate them into groups. The working class, the upper class. City neighborhood, suburban wealth.
    The bride wasn’t the only one wearing diamonds, or draped in a dress that cost more than a week’s take at Sirico’s. But she was the only one of her blood who’d managed it.
    Probably, Reena admitted, the only one of her blood who could pull it off as if she’d been born wearing Prada.
    As if reading her thoughts, Xander leaned close to her ear. “We’re now the poor relations.”
    She snickered, then picked up her champagne. “Screw it. Salute. ”
    It was easier when she could escape the formal duties and find Josh. “You doing okay? I should be clear now, at least for a while.”
    “Fine. It was some wedding.”
    “Some wedding,” she agreed. “I didn’t know the pictures would take so long. I feel like I deserted you. And I wanted to warn you that—”

    “Catarina!” Her aunt Carmela swept up to envelop her in clouds of White Shoulders. “How beautiful you look! Like a bride yourself. But so thin! We’ll fatten you up now you’re home. And who is this handsome young man?”
    “Aunt Carmela, this is Josh Bolton. Josh, my aunt, Carmela Sirico.”
    “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Sirico.”
    “Polite, too. It’s a wedding, today I’m Carmela. My niece.” Carmela wrapped a strong arm around Reena’s shoulders. “She looks so pretty, doesn’t she?”
    “Yes, ma’am, she—”
    “Francesca’s the beauty, and Isabella, she has the style, the passion. Our Catarina, she’s the smart one. Aren’t you, cara ?”
    “That’s right. I got the brains.”
    “But today, you look beautiful! Maybe your young man will get ideas when you catch the bouquet.” She winked broadly. “Do I know your family?” she asked Josh.
    “You don’t,” Reena said quickly. “I know Josh from school. I need to introduce him around.”
    “Yes, yes. You save a dance for me,” she told Josh as Reena dragged him away.
    “That’s what I was going to warn you about,” Reena began. “You’re going to get a lot of that and some third degree. Who are your family, what do they do, what are you doing, where do you go to church. Everyone in my family thinks it’s their business to know. Don’t take it personally.”
    “It’s okay. Gina gave me the heads-up. It’s a little scary, but okay. And you do look beautiful. I’ve never been to a big Catholic wedding. It was something.”
    “And really long,” she said with a laugh. “Okay, I’m going to have to show you off to the uncles, and the rest of the aunts. Stay strong.”
    And it was okay, she saw as the party went on. Josh might have been peppered with questions, but there was so much talking going on he only had to answer about half of them.

    The music kept things lively with something for everyone, from Dean Martin to Madonna. She’d relaxed into the moment when she took her dance with the groom.
    “I’ve never seen my sister look