What the hell! In a second, Leo was already striding towards me, and he was clearly not satisfied with something. When he approached, he looked into my soul for a few seconds (I was so shocked that I couldn’t even avert my gaze).
— Stop looking at me with those eyes, — I saw his jaw clench, as if he were barely controlling himself.
— What? With what eyes? — I became as nonchalant as possible, examining him and noting how a smile gradually appeared on his face...
I stepped closer to him so that no one could pass between us:
— And you stop making those damn dimples! — I poked a finger into his chest.
— Which ones? These? — he deepened them further, and in his eyes danced devilish sparks.
Is he really the devil with what he’s doing to me? Just when I wanted to speak, he interrupted me:
— So why were you looking like that? Are you jealous of me again for little Rose? — he made cat eyes, sending shivers down my spine.
— In your dreams, darling, — I said, raising my chin proudly.
— I have only one, dear, — the blonde looked at me from top to bottom.
I wanted to argue with him somehow, but I was interrupted again:
— Excuse me, are you the newlyweds? You make a wonderful couple, — a very pleasant female voice addressed us. — And in how many minutes will the ceremony start?
Leo and I simultaneously turned to a plump woman with gentle brown eyes, standing arm in arm with a small man in pince-nez, dressed in a light green dress that matched the theme of the wedding.
— No, you misunderstood, we aren’t a couple, and definitely not the newlyweds. Philip and Lelía are over there, — I pointed to the loving couple standing by the table with champagne, accepting gifts and congratulations.
— Oh, who knew. You’re just dressed like the bride and groom, — I really was in an ivory-colored dress, and Leo looked like a beautiful groom. — I’m sorry, I don’t remember the last time I saw you with your brothers, — she wasn’t addressing me. — Leo, dear, I really mistook you for Philip; you all look alike! What a beautiful family, right George? — her husband nodded.
— Thank you, Miss Merly.
— And you, young lady, are very beautiful and young! — now she was addressing me.
— Oh! Just like you! — I broke into a smile, and the woman laughed, floating away with her husband towards the true newlyweds.
At that very moment, Nick appeared, arm in arm with Ella, in an almost black suit with a green sheen and a shining white shirt.
— Hey, Dell, the ceremony is about to begin, let’s go, — my friend called to me.
— Wait, I’m coming with you, — I didn’t want to continue the conversation with Leo.
The three of us exited onto the wide path leading to the gothic white church. Nick kept complimenting us and gazed at my Ella in a way that even I felt butterflies in my stomach. Inside, it looked like an incredible fairy tale: along the rows were bouquets of white peonies and orchids, along with beige flowers that resembled bush roses (maybe they were bush roses). Wherever possible, pieces of beige and green fabric were hung. A dark runner spanned the floor, and the stained-glass windows, which seemed gray and unremarkable from the outside, played with green, yellow, red, and purple colors inside.
Ella grabbed me by the elbow, pulling me from gazing at this beauty, and dragged me forward. A few people had already taken their seats, and I noticed with surprise that some of them were praying. Not even five minutes had passed before the guests finally began to take their seats, and I suddenly realized how timely we had settled in the second row. To our left, right in front of us, sat two elderly women with men and Lelía’s mother, whom I had seen earlier. Obviously, the bride’s family.
After a while, Loretta joined them and looked at me indifferently before smiling at Nick and Ella. My friend reassuringly patted my hand, but it was unnecessary — I was already accustomed to Miss De Ville's reaction to my presence.
People were whispering among themselves, and I was tracking the progression of events. Marco ran in from the side entrance, without a jacket or tie, and began whispering something in the ear of the priest, who was dressed in gold and white. A few seconds later, he dashed back out the same door and closed it behind him. From the opposite entrance, dressed in dark suits, appeared two men and four women; they climbed the stairs somewhere up. I turned around. The people in black took their places in the orchestra box and picked up instruments. Before I even had time to turn back, soft music started to play. I was willing to bet that the authorship belonged to Vivaldi.
For a time, people continued to enter the hall to take their places, but when the flow of guests tapered off, the music grew louder. At some point, fabric rustled from behind, and even the smallest conversations quieted down; everyone present began to turn.
Isabel approached the entrance. The Eastern beauty in a beige gown looked very unusual. Arm in arm with her was her husband, who now didn’t look so lost and wore a jacket similar in color to Nick's suit. As soon as the couple took their places on either side of the priest, everyone turned their gaze back to the entrance. There, Kem walked in arm in arm with an unknown girl with light brown hair gathered in a braid, dressed in an outfit similar to Isabel's. They also took their places. The groom, who entered right after the witnesses, looked confused but incredibly happy. I immediately noticed details of his appearance: a designer suit, sharp-toed shoes, and interestingly rolled-up cuffs. The music finished one piece and began another. From these sounds, one felt like twirling rather than staying seated. From behind, the fabric rustled again, and hesitant footsteps were heard. The bride entered the hall. I witnessed the change in gazes: from curiosity to genuine admiration.
Arm in arm with the bride walked Leo, and I concluded: Lelía didn’t have a father. However, that didn’t prevent her from looking better than ever. Her dress exposed her back and seemed to consist entirely of lace and something feather-like. Behind the girl trailed a long and incredibly beautiful train, while the sleeves completely covered her arms, leaving her shoulders bare. The veil, with lace at the bottom, matched the length of the dress train and had the same champagne color. The bride's eyes seemed like they were going to sparkle, they shone so brightly; for a moment, I even thought I saw Philip reflected in them. My world completely collapsed when Lelía stood in front of her beloved, and I focused on his gaze.
He looked at her the way Nicolás looked at Elizabeth. With hope and love.
Incredible, immeasurable love.
I don’t fully remember what happened next. The couple exchanged vows that almost brought me to tears, and from the front row, the sobbing of one of Lelía’s grandmothers and, to my deep surprise, Loretta could be heard. Kem presented the rings after the sermon, and in a second, they sparkled on the fingers of the newlywed couple. But the newly minted wife first turned to her family, kissed her mother and grandmother, then, with tears of joy in her eyes, approached her husband. And then they kissed. I had never seen anything like it. People jumped from their seats and began to applaud madly, while the newlyweds simply smiled and waved. I couldn’t hold back and, clapping in unison with the others, felt a hot tear rolling down my cheek.