Chapter 16 #5
“Henry, we love each other, but I know that's not enough for us to work.
If we're really going to try this, I want to be in your life and have a secure place.
I don't want you to stay in contact with your 'friends,' and that includes calls, messages, and sending photos.
I don't want to feel like I'm in the way when you meet with any of them, because that's how I felt.”
“That won't happen. Nothing will come between us. No one will have any doubt that you're my woman and that I'm yours, only yours, because you're going to be my wife.”
My mind went blank. What had he said?
“I wasn't planning to say it this way or while sitting in a car, but after everything, it doesn't matter how I say it or where we are.
What matters is what we feel. I want us to get married.
I want to share my life with you. You're the center of my world. I never imagined it was possible to feel what I feel for you,” he stated with a solemn voice and eyes shining with emotion.
“You make me happy, my Dalina, and I'll do everything necessary and more to make you happy too.
I promise to care for you and protect you.
Let's share our life, my love, let's enjoy all the good things and make sorrows more bearable by taking refuge in each other's arms. Dalina Dukart, would you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”
Fortunately I was sitting down, because otherwise my legs wouldn't have supported me. Get married?
“Henry, I love you, but I don't know...”
“Why do you have doubts, my love?” he asked, tenderly caressing my cheek.
“Isn’t it too soon?” was all I could say, because that was truly my biggest doubt.
“Is there some rule that establishes the right timing? Shouldn’t we consider the love we feel and our desire to be together as the reasons to take this step?”
“I suppose so.”
“So then...”
“I accept. Let’s embark on this adventure, because I’m certain you’re the best travel companion and by your side it will be wonderful. I love you and I choose you, Henry.”
“You and me, forever,” he affirmed, and sought my lips, kissing me with passion and love, so much love.
We arrived at the reception and it was obvious that everyone present turned to look at us. I was embarrassed, but Henry walked with his usual confidence and a smile on his lips.
At the table, my brothers watched us, but didn’t make any comments, and dinner proceeded peacefully.
My brothers invited me to dance, and I danced with both of them.
I was sure they would take advantage of having me alone to lecture me about my relationship with Henry, but to my surprise, they said nothing.
I also danced with Henry and with Niky, and the night ended up being fun, at least until the bride decided to throw the bouquet. At that moment Henry whispered to me:
“You shouldn’t go, leave it to the girls who still don’t know if they’re getting married.”
I couldn’t respond because Niky started tugging at my arm.
“Come on, Dali, maybe we’ll get lucky and catch the bouquet, with everything that implies,” she said, looking at her brother.
“Dalina doesn’t need that bouquet,” Henry stated.
Oh no! Please don’t say it now!
“Why not?” asked Niky, her smile changing to an expression of great curiosity.
“Because I proposed to her and she accepted,” he responded with astonishing casualness.
My pleas went unheard.
“Whaaaaaaat?” our three siblings said in unison.
“I know this isn’t the most opportune moment, but when you’re happy, you can’t wait to share the good news with your loved ones,” he said, looking at them with a big smile. “Dalina has agreed to be my wife, we’re getting married, and I hope it will be soon.”
I looked at my brothers who had been left paralyzed and speechless, and I prayed to all the saints that we wouldn’t cause another scene at this wedding. Surely we’d never be invited to another family gathering again, much less a wedding. After tonight, we’d become the black sheep of the family.
“Dali, is that true?” asked Bastián, with a calmness I was sure he didn’t feel.
“This man isn’t right in the head,” said Lolo, looking at Henry as if he were insane.
“Congratulations!” exclaimed Niky, hugging us and not giving a damn about my brothers’ frowns and bewilderment.
“Dali?” Bastián called.
“This isn’t the time, let’s talk about it when we leave here,” I pleaded.
“Is what he said true or not?” asked Lolo.
“It’s true,” I confirmed. “But I’m asking you to discuss this later.”
Bastián, always the most sensible one, looked at Lolo who was getting up from his chair and grabbed his arm.
“Dali is right, we’ll talk about it when we’re alone.”
Henry squeezed my hand as if to give me courage and continued looking at my brothers as if nothing had happened, and at that moment I would have given him a good kick for not keeping quiet.
Obviously, what little remained of the gathering was spent in a rather tense atmosphere.
The reception ended and, after saying goodbye to the newlyweds and our relatives, we headed to the parking lot knowing that, for us, the night wasn’t over yet.
If Henry hadn’t opened his big mouth, we could have been heading to the hotel and enjoying the rest of the night, together and alone, but now a long talk with my brothers awaited us.
“Woollardy, let’s all go to the hotel so we can talk calmly,” Bastián stated with determination.
“Bastián, can we talk tomorrow? We’re all tired,” I pleaded.
“I’m not tired. Are you tired, Lolo?”
“Not at all, I’m super wide awake,” the aforementioned replied.
“I’m not tired either. We’ll see you at the hotel,” Henry affirmed, and pulled me along toward his car.
“And what about me?” asked Niky.
“You come too, apparently it’s a family meeting and you’re part of the family,” said Henry. “We’ll see you at the hotel.”
And so, in a line, one car after another, we all headed to the hotel. God help me!
On the way, Henry was quite quiet, so I assumed he was thinking about what awaited us, though I doubted there was anything that could intimidate him.
“What are you thinking about?” I asked.
“I’m thinking about getting married as soon as possible. I want you all to myself, day and night, without having to explain myself to anyone.”
“You’re saying that because of my brothers.”
“I can understand them because I’m quite protective of Niky, but I won’t deny it breaks my balls a bit having to give so many explanations. We love each other and want to get married, why do they have to make such a big deal out of it?”
“We didn’t have an easy start, and I think that’s why they still don’t trust you much.”
Henry looked at me but didn’t say anything.
When we arrived at the parking lot, my brothers were already waiting for us next to Bastián’s car. Niky arrived right behind us.
“Let’s go to the suite,” I suggested.
As soon as we entered, I asked them to sit in the living room. Henry sat beside me and took my hand, and without delay, he took the lead in the conversation.
“Well, as I already said, I’m in love with Dalina, she’s everything to me, and I’m lucky enough to have her love me back.
I know we’ve had many ups and downs in our relationship, and the vast majority of them, if not all, were my fault, but I can assure you that I’ll fight to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
We have no doubts about what we feel or what we want.
We love each other and want to be together, to share our lives, to build a family.
I commit to doing everything in my power to make her happy, to care for her and protect her, with my life if necessary.
She is... she is my world,” he said, looking at me with those beautiful eyes that at that moment were overflowing with love.
“I love him too. I know not everything will be perfect, and we’ll have good days, not-so-good days, and bad days too, but I want to experience all of them with him.
Life is a balance between joys and sorrows, but with him, I know the joys will be more exciting and wonderful, and the sorrows more bearable.
That’s why I want to spend the rest of my life with Henry. ”
We looked at my brothers, but both were taking a moment, I suppose to reflect. Finally, Bastián broke the ice.
“So, this is serious. Dali, you love him,” he stated.
“With all my heart.”
“Very well. Henry Woollardy, you are the luckiest man on this planet because you’re getting a wonderful, beautiful woman with a big heart.
If my sister loves you and she’s sure about this decision, I have nothing to say, except what I told you before: if you deliberately hurt her, you’ll regret ever getting involved with this family. ”
“Are you threatening me, Dukart?” Henry asked seriously.
“Take it however you want,” he replied.
“And I second my brother’s words,” Lolo said. “If you love each other, we won’t stand in the way of your happiness, but don’t forget that this wonderful woman has two brothers who will always be there for her and will also protect her from anything.”
“For that, now she has me,” Henry said.
“May I speak?” Niky asked.
“Of course, Niky,” I affirmed.
“I’m happy. Knowing you’ll be part of my family makes me incredibly happy.
I love my brother, and I know he deserves the love you feel for him.
He might have been a bit confused, but I assure you he loves you with all his heart, and now that he’s cleared up his doubts, he’ll live to make you happy.
You deserve each other. Fate may have put many obstacles in your way, but the love you feel, and a little help from yours truly, was stronger. Congratulations. I love you both.”
“Thank you,” I said, and stood up, moved, to hug everyone.
“Congratulations,” Lolo said, though I knew he wasn’t entirely convinced yet.
“Congratulations,” Bastián repeated.
“Thank you very much,” Henry said, emotional.