Family

The moment he left the house, the two maids approached the bedroom and began to listen to what Celeste was saying. As it turned out, she was reading poetry. Her voice was soft and it seemed as if she was singing.

"She's so strange," Mathilde said, holding back the urge to laugh. "She screamed so loud last night. How is she not ashamed? I wonder how she'll look us in the eye?"

"Besides, they're not officially married. And they've already had their first wedding night. I didn't know Monsieur turned out to be just a man."

"But did you hear? She screamed for a very long time. Monsieur must be very good at his business. Not like other men. And also, Monsieur can endure this for hours on end. It's some kind of magic, isn't it?"

"He must have a magic wand in there," Mary said, and they both started laughing, holding their bellies. But as soon as the door opened and Celeste appeared before them, they fell silent. Celeste, in Adelard's robe and without that bruise on her face, looked like a real, beautiful swan today. And no one could have imagined that such a fragile girl with a well-mannered and intelligent face would shout so loudly, not hiding her shame. She looked at them with a blank stare. Mary and Mathilde did not know what to say. But they developed an envy that made their faces as red as a tomato. They were jealous of the beauty before them and that a simple girl like Celeste had captured the heart of a great man.

"Girls, what's your name?" Celeste asked, smiling and now putting on her mask of a kind woman.

The two maids looked at each other and then answered simultaneously, "Mary. Mathilde."

"It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Celeste."

"Nice to meet you too."

"I wonder where Adelard went!"

"We don't know."

"You work here for a long time?"

"Yes."

"I see. And how do you like it here? Is the house cozy? Warm?"

"Of course it is," Mary replied, sensing the strangeness around this girl.

And Mathilde just didn't hold back and said, "Next time I ask you, be a little quieter. You could be heard from the street."

Celeste smiled and said, "But you have no idea what Adelard and his magic wand can do."

Realizing that she had overheard their conversation, they tried to squeeze out a smile and said, "We should go."

"I'd like to sit and have tea with you. I think you and I will find common ground," Celeste said politely and heartily, closing the door in front of their faces.

"Where is Monsieur?"

"Adelard?"

"Who else! Yes, where is he?"

"He has a wedding today."

"I need him urgently," Jean said, nervous so much that he was beginning to feel pain in his heart.

"What happened?"

"What happened? I'm standing here in his place, in front of all of you. And you, keep getting lazy and waiting for the money. You, for instance, how's your land? Have you built anything?"

"Well? Have you found him?" asked the woman in the black dress and wide-brimmed hat with the big feather. "How long do I have to wait for him? Why am I even wasting my time?"

Almost kneeling down, Jean prepared to satisfy her every whim. Holding out a glass of fresh apple juice and at the same time a cup of coffee, he said, "Wait a little longer. I assure you, he'll be here soon."

"How will he come if he has a wedding today?" an older man asked who kept smoking in the corner of the room.

"He'll come as soon as he's finished."

"Finished? What is this? What are you talking about? Are you kidding me?" the woman asked, hitting the floor with her heel.

"No. Of course not. It's just that, you see, he's having a modest wedding. So right after they exchange the rings, he'll come to us."

"Monsieur Jean, come here for a second," Theo whispered from behind the door.

"What is it? Is he here?"

"No. But there's been some trouble. One of the employees got burned."

"What? So don't panic. Just call a doctor, that's all. She shouldn't find out about it. If she finds out, she'll cancel her order. And I don't want to lose that much money."

"You don't want to lose money?"

"I mean, you always need money. I mean, we pay you your salary. So, every client is very important. Now go and make sure no one makes a fuss. If you must, pay them a little."

"Monsieur, I don't think Adelard is coming today. He has an important day."

"This marriage will ruin him," Jean said and stopped his gaze on the green lawn where the tired workers sat. While the soap continued to be loaded into large boxes. And beyond those boxes, the golden packages, beyond those tall trees and the town, Adelard trembled with anticipation of feeling the greatest happiness in the world again. He stood and slowly died from the feeling that clutched his heart. His hands were shaking like those of a boy who had just learned that there was love in the world. His eyes were the eyes of a madman who had long ago lost hope of being normal again. His legs could barely support his weight and his whole being was forgotten by his own consciousness, which wandered somewhere among the stars.

He heard nothing that was said by the beautiful man with the book in his hands who was leading them in the true path of a righteous man. He heard nothing, not even his own voice that said, "Yes." Nor did he hear Celeste's response, who tearfully said, "Yes." He only saw a woman in front of him, a strong woman with a hard years on her shoulders and a confident future in her eyes. All he saw was a woman in a white dress that could be bought at any dress store. Everything was simple, easy and happy. There was no evidence here that they were really happy. There were no people here, who would go on to prove to the world that, yes, Adelard and Celeste are really happy. No, they were all alone here. And only those to whom this happiness belonged.

"And now you may kiss the bride," the man with the kind, tired, disappointed face said, sighing and giving his sigh a mystical meaning. Only now, Adelard could realize all that was happening. But instead of a kiss that made his lips ache, he hugged her tightly. All around him, everyone was silent. The trees, the birds, the grass, the flowers, Nicholas, Andre, Mary and Mathilda, they were all silent.

"Let's go home," Adelard said, kissing her hands.

"Let's go," she replied, holding back her tears.

"Why are you crying?"

"Because, I see an angel before me."

"Monsieur! I congratulate you!" Andre exclaimed.

"Thank you Andre."

"Well, now you're part of our family. Welcome. At first, we didn't like you. But it turns out you're a good girl with a good heart. I hope we can find common language and be friends," Mary said, hugging Celeste, who happily agreed with her idea.

"Of course sister. It's all in the past."

"So we're a sisters now!"

"Of course."

Looking at the family reunion, Nicholas forgot about those worries and when Celeste's pure face lit up like the sun, he smiled and said, "Welcome, Mademoiselle Celeste."

"My Mademoiselle Celeste Mars," Adelard said, enclosing her in a gentle embrace.

"It went so easily. This is not how I imagined your wedding Monsieur. Won't you even take a trip?" Mathilde asked.

Adelard looked at Celeste and replied, "Whatever my wife wants."

"We still have plenty of time to see the world. Don't we?!"

"Sure. But why don't we go to America, for instance?"

"It's too far away, after all. I just want to build our home here. But if you want to go there, I can't be against your wish."

"No. I'll do whatever you tell me to do."

"In that case, let's just be happy here," Celeste said, feeling Nicholas's suspicious look on her face.

"Your word is law to me," Adelard said, picturing before him his future in five years. Namely, children, pets, and Celeste.

"I thought Monsieur Jean would be at your wedding. But it turns out he's not such a friend to you," Mary said, looking back in anticipation of seeing him.

Adelard said nothing to this remark. Instead of words, he lifted Celeste up and swayed her in a gentle dance.

"I think we should leave them alone," Nicholas said.