WEDDING PARTY

       The wedding party was set in the evening, in a park with beautifully lit lights, round tables decorated with nice blue and white materials, and a bouquet of white tulips sitting on each table. The tables had different things on them, canapés and drinks. Waiters walked around with trays of drinks and slow music played in the background. A seat and table were arranged in front of the place for the bride and bridegroom. It was an elegant wedding, the one Nora had dreamt about and Danny couldn't be any happier that he was giving her that wedding she wanted. 

       "Thank you for giving me this wedding. I can't believe that we are finally married," Nora said. 

    "Thank you for agreeing to be my wife, thank you for standing by me. It couldn't have been someone else." 

      "Look how happy our parents are, see them chattering over there," Nora gestured with his head. "My father didn't believe we would last this long." 

      Danny shrugged. "Looks like we made it." 

      "Yeah, he said we are going to get bored with each other and move on from each other." 

       "Maybe, we proved him wrong." 

       "We did. Do you know what he said to me today? He said, so this Danny boy was real after all." 

      Danny guffawed. "He said that? I'm the most real guy he can see in this world." 

       "No doubt," Nora said looking into his eyes. 

      "Let's say, the theme of our wedding is based on Shania Twain's You're still the one." 

       "I will tell the Dj to play that for us when we hit the dance floor," Nora said. 

     Nora's father had not liked Danny when Nora had introduced him to them. It was her mother who had adored Danny. Her mother adores everybody. Her father's animosity towards Danny had been for a very funny reason. He had said Danny was too handsome and wasn't going to love Nora. Little did he know that Danny was a quiet, shy guy who almost choked on his braces once when the first girl he ever crushed on talked to him. Her father had never really liked anyone, at first sight, it was only Faith he had adored from the beginning. 

      The emcee took up the microphone and cleared his throat, drawing the attention of the guest. 

      "Alright, welcome you all to this ceremony, a blissful union of two wonderful people Mr Daniel Kings Jnr and Miss Nora Hills who is now Nora Kings, of course..." 

     Faith sat with Nora and Danny's parents, while Ethan sat with Axel and Camelia a few seats away, looking at them. Douglas and Charlie sat at a table. Ethan's attention had been focused on Faith all the while, he was restricting himself from going there and taking her away from those old men and women, who must be boring her with their bad jokes. 

      But she seemed happy. He blamed himself for allowing that to happen. If he had not acted up, maybe they would be sitting together now, or doing some other things by now or maybe it was for the best that they weren't talking because they just might have stolen Danny and Nora's party. But he know he was going to have to apologise to her before the party ends because he won't let her go back to wherever she was staying. 

      "We would call on the groom to say a speech of thanks," the emcee announced and it was followed up by clapping and cheering as Danny stood up, all smiles and walked up to the emcee. 

      He cleared his throat and smiled. "Well, I don't have much to say, only that I am really happy." 

       "Baby girl, you don't want to show me who this man is, do you? I got one man staring at you all day long," Nora's mother whispered to Faith. "He is behind, Danny's best man, you could make a good pair though." 

      Faith smiled and slowly turned to see Ethan's eyes on her. She stared at him for a while and what kept ringing in her head were his statements. 'Do you even love me at all?' I will prove it to you that I love you, someday, she thought and turned to face front, placing her hand on her tummy. 

      "Looks like y'all are smitten," Mrs Hills said. 

     Faith smiled. "That's Ethan Floyd, my fiancé." 

      "Oh, my good Lord!" Mrs Hills exclaimed a bit loudly, causing her husband and in-laws to glance at her. She pretended she was wiping drink on her dress until those people stopped looking at her. Faith almost toppled over in laughter, but she just put her hand over her mouth and smiled. 

      "Are you alright?" Mr Hills asked her. 

      "Yeah, sure. I just spilt this drink on me. Go on listen to Danny." The man turned to face Danny again. Nora's mother leaned closer. "He looks like a demi-god. Look at those green eyes." 

       "Yes, those eyes charmed me at first, they are beautiful." 

       "I always you have the eyes for the best. You and Nora, grab the best things." 

      Faith chuckled and glanced at Ethan. Later, she would tell Ethan what they were discussing with him. His eyes were still on her and her heart began to melt again. She would have to talk with him after their speech. But now, she needed to concentrate and hear what Danny has to say. 

     "But, I want to thank my best man, Ethan Floyd, especially. He is one of the reasons today came to reality. He was there when I needed help the most. The good Lord used him to come to my rescue. I hope he is happy and successful in whatever he does. He is a good man and the most humble person I know. I want to also thank his fiancée, Faith Prescott, for standing with my beautiful wife... "

     Mrs Hills turned to Faith again. "But, why are you two not talking?" 

      "We had little lovers fight." 

      "Oh, I see. You two make sure you make up tonight and take the blessings of this wedding home. Whatever is the cause of your fights." 

     "We will." 

   The emcee took the microphone from Danny as people applauded him. "We invite the bride to come over and make her speech. A round of applause for her please." 

      The guest clapped and cheered as Nora stepped up and took the microphone from him. 

      "Thank you everyone for being here today, for honouring me and this special day. My heart is filled with gratitude. My husband had said it all. I wanted to thank my parents for bringing me into this world." She paused for a moment and looked her parents' way. "My mom, for always being the best mom ever." She chuckled. 

       Her mother placed a hand on her chest. "Oh my, this is going to be so emotional." 

       "My dad, for always looking out for me, even though it was so annoying, but I appreciate it." People laughed. "When I first introduced my husband, my father never liked him, guess what he said? He said he was too handsome to be committed to me." The people guffawed, and her father smiled at her. "He had good intentions for me, but I didn't notice, even though his instincts failed him woefully." Another round of laughter. 

       "I also want to thank my friends, my besties, Faith Prescott is my day one baby girl, Charlie Anderson/Foster is my amiable colleague and best friend and Ethan Floyd acquired me as his bestie. I love Faith the most and love the two guys equally..." 

       "What?! We started first before you even met Ethan!" Charlie called from the floor. The people laughed and turned to look at Charlie. 

      For the first time, Ethan grinned and looked at Nora. 

     "Oh, my, y'all have tight friendship bonds over here. It's a good thing, you know," Mrs Hills said to Faith and wiped her eyes. 

     "...right from college days, Faith had stood by me. She always says to me. Thank you for tolerating my nonsense, but I should be the one thanking her for tolerating my loudness. She is a very quiet and reserved person and I always, always intrude on her privacy, I was always a handful and she still stuck with me. I thank everyone else who has made this day special, to my other colleagues and my superiors who are here, I thank you all and wish you all happiness in all your endeavours. I would have shed some tears while giving my speech, but mom said there is nothing to cry about since it was a happy day. 

      "There is one more person, I would like to thank, although, she is no more, she still lives in our hearts and those that knew her knew she was a 'positive vibe' as Faith would always call her. She brought so much joy and happiness to our lives in the short time that we met. Her name is Charlotte Hernandez, she died of cancer, may her sweet soul keep resting in the bosom of the Lord. I will like to give her a minute of silence."

    Everyone rose to their feet as they observed a minute of silence for Charlotte. Talking of Charlotte always makes her teary. Faith dabbed at her eyes to wipe her tears. 

    "Thank you all very much," Nora said when a minute had elapsed.