Chapter 8 - The Bartender Becomes Mrs. Bellini
Our wedding was small.
My mother came.
My father cried.
Dominic's closest friends stood beside him.
No suits that looked like weapons.
No hidden guns.
No crime families.
Just people who loved us.
The Sapphire Lounge closed for one night.
Joey gave a speech.
“Eight months serving this man drinks.”
He looked at Dominic.
“And one night she saves his life.”
Everyone laughed.
Joey continued.
“Then she marries him.”
Dominic whispered:
“Best investment I ever made.”
I rolled my eyes.
Our life became surprisingly normal.
We bought a house.
We adopted a dog.
Dominic learned to cook.
Eventually.
I opened a small cocktail school.
We created scholarships for chemistry students.
My mother's treatments were paid off.
My father became a consultant for the foundation.
The past never disappeared.
But it stopped controlling us.
One day, Dominic came home with an old bottle.
Woodford.
The same brand.
He placed it on the counter.
“You know what this is?”
“Yes.”
“The drink that almost killed me.”
I touched the bottle.
“And saved you.”
He smiled.
“Same thing.”
I laughed.
Then he poured two glasses.
We drank.
No poison.
May you like
No fear.
Just bourbon.
