"There's our Anastasia with the flowers !" Rachael chirps next to me.
The orchestra transforms its melody for the commencement of the ceremony.
All attention cascades upon the arrival of a little flower girl.
In her satiny pink dress, she appears nothing less than a fairy. Her shiny dark hair bounces in thick curls, embellished by pearls. A minuscule woven basket full of various flowers, gripped tightly by her tiny fists.
Timidly, the child peers around herself at the hundreds of guests.
The shy smile on her face enlivens as her gaze finally locates me. Those twinkling sapphire blue eyes, an inheritance of her father's.
This was my pride and joy, the apple of my eye, my daughter Anastasia.
I provide her a reassuring nod, coupled with a gentle smile. That's all it took for her to diffuse the remaining hesitation.
She skips along the aisle, her tiny fists casting away the flowers on her path. Emptying the basket, she wastes no time in dashing over towards me.
I haul her up into my arms, swiftly kissing her rosy cheek. "Good job, sweetie! You made mommy proud."
"Can I do it again??" She questions, excitement overtaking her features. "Please, mommy ?"
I shake my head in decline at the zealous child. "No, you'll stay with me while aunt Katie gets married to uncle Serge, okay?"
Without objection, she expresses docility along a nod. I absolutely adore my gentle natured daughter. Foreign to her was the inclination to misbehave or complain.
"There she is ! Aunt Katie!" Arielle squeals happily next to us.
Instantly, all attention directs at the much awaited arrival of the bride with Vladimir accompanying her down the aisle.
Katie truly bedazzles in her wedding gown of refined opulence as she beams a confident smile for all to witness. Everyone including the orchestra members and servers look on, gobsmacked by such splendor of beauty.
"Magnificent.." Rebecca whispers in awe.
Rachael dabs with a napkin at the tears welling over her eyes as she gazes at her younger sister. "Our Katherine fully inherited mother's beauty."
"Papa!" Anastasia cheers. She waves her little hand at Vladimir, catching his attention right away.
He offers her a warm smile of acknowledgement before his gaze aligns with mine. My heart expands with love as he provides me a glance full of ardor. He appears ever dashingly handsome in his business apparel.
"Check out Serge's face!" Bev smirks, wiggling her brows.
Our attention falls upon a totally stupefied Serge. His mouth parted in reverence, widened eyes glued to none other than his approaching bride.
Irrepressible giggles slip from our mouths. Next to him, Grigori rolls his eyes. He reaches out, gripping Serge's jaw and pushes it closed.
As soon as Vladimir has escorted Katie to the altar, we all await the arrival of the wedding rings to be carried in by Charlie. No less than a few seconds pass before the ten year old boy appears. A velvet cushion supporting the rings, carefully balanced in his out stretched palms. The rings glitter under the sunshine.
"Please don't mess this up.." Rachael entreats under her breath as she nervously watches her son.
Arielle leans over to her mother and whispers. "Charlie is walking so clumsily!"
"His shoe laces are untied again.." Rachael groans in clear agitation.
We continue observing the boy's stumbling gait, as his face turns beet red under the scrutiny of the wedding guests. Even after a month of practice, stage fright took precedence over him as if he had completely forgotten what to do. But I couldn't blame him for it, he had practiced without hundreds of eyes peering at him unlike now.
In an instant, Charlie loses his footing as he trips over his shoe laces. His arms flail the cushion upwards, flinging the rings away.
We gasp as a shocking chain of events unleash. Our mortified gazes trail after the falling rings. One descends upon the carpeted trail several feet behind Charlie.
The other however lands with a small splash in a drink held in aunt Margo's hand. She appears ever oblivious with a dull expression, her mind elsewhere. She raises the glass to her lips.
"Nooooo!!!" The rest of us swiftly object, as our horrified gazes watch her continue to guzzle down the entirety of the drink.
"Aunt Margo! Stop!" Bev shouts, rushing down over towards aunt Margo's table.
The mention of her name causes her to set aside the now empty glass as she blinks her eyes open. With curious boredom she peers around at all the gazes fixed on her. Her mood taking on an offended twist.
"What?" She abruptly questions.
All stares of disbelief are glued to her. A heavy silence descends over the area, even the orchestra has paused performing.
Then suddenly, aunt Margo emits an outrageously loud burp. It rumbles throughout the quietude like an approaching thunderstorm.
◆◆◆
"Aunt Margo, didn't you feel the ring in your mouth?" Bev questions with concern.
She drapes an arm around her aunt's shoulder as they both sit in the back of an ambulance with the doors open wide. Serge, Katie and I stood at the doors, peering at them.
Aunt Margo continuously burps as she forms a reply. "I couldn't tell—" *Burp* "The difference between—" *Burp* "The ice chunks or the ring—" *Burp*
"Bev, it's okay.." Serge assures them. "Forget about the ring, lets hope aunt Margo gets cured from these uncontrollable burps."
"Forget about the ring?! Um hello?!" Bev stammers wide eyed, pointing a finger at aunt Margo's stomach area. "The uncontrollable burps are from the ring and the friggin ring is in aunt Margo!"
"I think Serge is actually worried more about the ring.." Katie smirks as she pats her husband on his arm. "After all, it's his ring that fell into the drink...don't worry Serge..you'll get the ring after aunt Margo goes to the toilet."
Serge makes a disgusted face. "No need, the wedding went smoothly without it."
As soon as the ambulance departed the premises, I decided to retire early to my hotel suite instead of joining the after wedding party. Anastasia's custody was handed over to Rachael and Rebecca for the day for I was quite weary.
Vladimir had arranged luxury suites for all the wedding guests at the island of Santorini. It was Katie's favorite vacation destination.
I could most definitely see why. The view from the balconies of the whitewashed cliff side suites, was absolutely breathtaking.
And here I stood again at my very own balcony, gazing at the beauty of nature before me. The setting sun's rays glimmer over the azure blue Aegean Sea.
My mind wanders off into another direction. I thought over all the events that occurred in my life through out the past 6 years. It was only last year that baba finally forgave me. But Leila thinks its more the other way around. Baba had reached out to me when his now ex wife Naheed somehow got him bankrupted. Ofcourse Vladimir wanted to help his father inlaw right away.
Life is really going great for me right now. I have the most loving family I could ever pray for. Vladimir had retired from the mafia after catching Doucette. He knew how much I frowned upon the illegal trades the mafia ran. So he decided just to manage his billions of dollar worth corporations and hotel businesses instead. He also helps reunite victims of human trafficking with their families, like he did for Khalil.
Suddenly, strong arms encircle over my waist, as the familiar cool minty breath wafts over my neck. My chain of thoughts quickly dissipates.
"Finally..." Vladimir murmurs as he nuzzles my neck. "I have you all to myself.."
I chuckle as I twist my body around to face him. “Miss me already, huh?”
“You have no idea..” He sighs as we share a passionate kiss while he strokes my 3 week pregnant tummy. “I love you Sanam Nielsen, I’ll never tire of showing it.”
“Good!” I giggle, jumping up into his arms fully. “I love you back even more obsessively!”
THE END
/> Valencia Carmelita, Deviant Fixation
Deviant Fixation Page 76
