Chapter 40: Chapter 40

thomas

I look at the clock from time to time to see if I can go to the altar now. I still can't believe I'm getting married, and to a woman I still love. I always pictured myself walking down the aisle with some rich, high-society woman in a purely show marriage to keep up appearances. Rich marries rich, as they say. And they are not wrong. Now being here, nervous and anxious to see Cecilia dressed in a wedding dress was not in my plans.

I arrange my blue tie in front of the mirror, arranging what I have nothing else to arrange. I hear a light knock on the door of the room where I am. - In between.

'Mr Thomas, I have a problem. His fiancée is nervous and even threatened to give up on the wedding — one of the ceremonialists speaks after putting her head in the door.

- What? Why? Where is she?

The woman guides me with an expression of regret and I accompany her through the halls of the castle. Oh yes, my wedding couldn't be anything less than grand. Cecília tried to convince me that we shouldn't spend that much now that the company has managed to get back on its feet, that we should go slowly with spending, but I saw it in her shining eyes that she wanted that. I wanted her full princess moment, because she's the kind of woman who dreams of a fairy tale. And if she wants to be a queen today, she will.

Therefore, I spared no efforts to make everything work out. The Château de Chantilly, in France, will be the venue for the wedding of the year. At least that's what I hope.

I'm tense as I walk behind the ceremonialist. She looks familiar with the place because we take so many turns that I'm lost. That's because we don't have access to all areas for the reception, only the part intended for the public.

“We're here,” she says. “If tradition says that—” “I don't care about fucking tradition.

She nods and opens the door. When I enter the room, I see Cecilia sitting on the four-poster bed, her face in her hands.

“Crystal? What is it, my angel? Why are you like this?

She gets scared when she hears my voice, but soon comes to my arms.

“You shouldn't be here, Thomas,” he says and sniffs.

I pull her back enough to see her in an off-white dress that highlights the red strands that now curl down her lap.

“You look beautiful,” I say and smile. She reciprocates with a soft spot that worries me. - What it was?

“I need to tell you something,” he says and bites his lip. "That might make you not want to marry me anymore."

Weird, because nothing in the world would make me give up on her. I pull away to stare at her now tear-stained face and wipe it dry with my thumb.

“Nothing will make me give up on you, crystal. you are my bride

beautiful . I love you.

“Ah, Thomas, but you're going to think I did it on purpose and… I'm not prepared. She pulls away and starts talking to herself, pacing the room. “We're not even married.

- Cecilia... - I go to her and stop her. I hold her shoulders affectionately and smooth them so that she looks at me. "Breathe." Just talk to me. I am worried.

The full lips covered in a light lipstick tremble and more tears fall from her face.

“I… am expecting a child,” she says and I freeze momentarily.

Not much in this life has the power to make me speechless, but this does. I am silent and static.

I run my hand through my beard and then through my hair.

"You hated it, didn't you?" You think you wanted to hit before getting married. Thomas, I swear it wasn't...

I approach her and hold her face. I kiss her mouth voraciously, the way she learned to love too. I feel his body relaxing as I place him on mine. As soon as we pull away, she looks at me still scared.

- A baby? I'm going to be a father? I ask quietly. - Father…

I pull away again and process the information. Fuck, I'm going to be responsible for a kid. I turn to Cecília and see her fearful. I look down at her belly, with no sign of a child growing there.

“Dad,” I repeat softly to see if the information reaches my brain.

When she arrives, my eyes immediately fill with tears. I will have an heir with the woman I love. I hug Cecilia tight and pull away to crouch down in front of her. I touch her belly carefully and imagine a baby being born there. My son…

- I'm without words. I never imagined that I would be so happy to imagine myself being a father — I say excitedly in front of her belly and Cecília sniffs. He smiles weakly and places his hand on top of mine.

“Aren't you afraid? she asks quietly.

“I'm scared as fuck. And I'm never afraid - I confess. “The most important people in the world are here. I'm afraid of losing you and...

" Shh ..." She gently pulls me to my feet and cups my face. “You won't lose us, Thomas. Never. We're going to be a family.

I smile and wave. I touch her belly slowly, because right now I don't want to let go of her.

"Why did you think I was going to run away?" I ask, cocking my head to the side.

“I was scared you thought it was a scam, you know…

- Never my Love. That phase of our life has been over for more than six months. Now all I care about is you and this baby.

She smiles, beautiful and perfect for me.

- Oh my God. I messed up my makeup and you saw me as a bride! It will be bad luck.

"It won't, Crystal. We make our own luck. - I give a kiss on her lips lightly. — I'll let you finish getting ready, because I can't wait for you to be completely mine.

I pull away smiling and leave her there. My heart is fluttering in my chest and I am very scared. For the first time in my life I'm afraid of making mistakes, of not being a good father to our son, of not being a good example of a man. I don't want my son to grow up like I did, alone and without a family. I'm going to give the world to this child and to Cecília.

I find another ceremonialist, who guides me towards the place where the ceremony will take place. On the way, I cross with César. He seems to be waiting for me, because he approaches me when he sees me.

"Can I speak to you for a moment?" he asks and frowns.

The woman steps aside to give us privacy and I turn to the man.

- And then?

“I…” He runs his hands through the red strands, indicating he's nervous. “I know you'll never forgive me for what I did. I understand you. But now that you're going to marry my daughter, I thought—” “I forgive you, Caesar,” I interrupt.

Her eyes widen in surprise.

- What?

"I…" I start and smile weakly. — I'll never be able to hate you like I used to know that you're the father of the person I love most in the world. It is for her that I forgive. Nothing will be like before and I still want you away from my company, but you will be my son's grandfather.

“Okay,” he says. "Wait, what?"

I smile from ear to ear, because with every second that passes, the feeling sinks deeper into my heart. I'm going to be a father.

— Cecilia is pregnant — I say and her eyes almost pop out.

“I'm going to be…grandfather. But she is so young.

“I'll take care of her.

He nods and I clap him on the shoulder before finally heading towards the ceremony. The place looks beautiful, I must admit. The night is coming and the lighting of the castle stands out even more. I greet several people along the way, most of them relatives of Cecília's that she made a point of bringing in a jet rented exclusively for this purpose.

When I position myself to wait for her, I let out a sigh. It takes a while for her to show up and I realize that this is the only way for me to endure the delay. As long as she my crystal is with me for the rest of my life, I'll wait for her as long as it takes.

When the wedding march starts playing, I straighten my jacket nervously and I see her. Even having seen her a few minutes ago, it still takes my breath away. I think I'll always lose.

Your face is already completely recomposed and a beautiful smile is there.

She shines like a crystal. Like my crystal. My most precious possession that appeared in my life in the most unexpected way. I almost want to thank Cesar. Almost.

She walks the long yards that separate her from me and her body shivers as I fit my arm around hers.

I can't pay attention to anything else as I have her by my side. My gaze wanders to the sky as the justice of the peace performs the ceremony.

“Now is the time for the votes.

I stand in front of her and look into her teary eyes. Cecilia takes a little puppy breath so as not to spill them before speaking.

— I've always been the type of girl who dreamed of Prince Charming, of perfect love, free of drama, of a happy family. And you definitely didn't fit into any of that. ’ Everyone laughs, and I crack a smile, because it’s true. — It was when I met you that I discovered that love doesn't have to be perfect, it doesn't have to be one hundred percent correct. You are the perfect person for me, Thomas. Even though you were angry, stubborn, bossy, and stubborn, you opened your heart to me and let me take up space there. He let us occupy. I love you lots.

I hear the noises of surprise when she touches her belly lightly. One of those cries is his mother's. I rub her belly too, still smiling. What was rare for me before became automatic when having Cecília like that in my life.

“Your turn, Thomas,” the justice of the peace says.

“I always thought love was a weakness before I met you, and even after that. I thought I would lose control of everything if I gave myself to someone. I never wanted this, but I never had to worry because I never felt anything like what I feel for you. I've always been a man with many flaws, Cecilia, and the biggest mistake of my life brought you to me. So I would do it all over again if we got here. I love you, crystal.

She dries her eyes with her fingertips and bites her lip.

The man says a few more words before reaching the moment I've been waiting for months since I proposed.

I take the discreet white gold ring and fit it on her fingers, leaving the small word that will change my whole world. I follow yes to my little woman.

- You can kiss the bride.

I pull her against me, put my hand in her hair and kiss her with all my heart, with the best in me, which only exists because she's in my life.