Silence prevailed for a moment. “I do,” Armand spoke straightaway without holding any element of surprise. Everyone seemed to have expected his response and no one showed any surprise. “Then Miss Gordon, will you, take Mr. Bernie as your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until you are parted by death?”
Everyone all paid their attention to Theresa. They were still unsure of her response. Dolores seemed to look nervous too and she inevitably clenched her fists. Matthew held her hands gently and did not look at the two people who were going to get married at the front. To him, no one was more attractive than her. Armand seemed all tensed up too. He was afraid that she would suddenly change her mind.
Time seemed to stop flowing. The old lady became apprehensive too. She kept on waving her hands on Theresa, urging her to consent. Armand turned his head around with slight uneasiness. Just then, Theresa also turned her head too. Their eyes met and Armand who was initially apprehensive became calm from her level gaze. He held her hands and his promise sounded genuine. “I’ll treat you good for the rest of my life.”
She let out a smile and her eyes were smiling too. Her eyes seemed to glisten with tears. She said, “I do.” The emcee once again took his microphone and said, “Marriage is the end of being single, the process of romance and the beginning of happiness. On this exceptionally delightful day, may you who have tied your knots enjoy wonderful love and live happily for the rest of your life while overcoming difficulties together!”
The old lady clapped her hands with exhilaration and countless ribbons slowly fell down from the ceiling amidst the monotonous applause. It looked like a rainbow rain, colourful and romantic. “The groom may kiss the bride.” Armand took Theresa’s veil off and without letting her have some mental preparation, he stooped and kissed her. Theresa widened her eyes and was not able to respond at length.
“Oh.” Simona exclaimed while covering her eyes. She opened a gap between her fingers. Matthew glimpsed at her and covered the gap between her fingers. Simona’s line of sight was blocked and she immediately glared at him. “You’re naughty daddy. I want to see Uncle Bernie and Aunt Theresa kissing.”
Matthew took her into his arms and said, “Do not look at nor listen to what is contrary to propriety, okay?” Simona did not understand and she blinked. “What does that mean?”
“That means don’t look at anything that you shouldn’t look at and don’t listen to anything that you shouldn’t listen to,” Samuel spoke listlessly. He shook his head as he faced his sister’s innocence and ignorance. “Mommy should have let you go to school, now you know nothing.”
He did have a point. Samuel and Simona were now five. Samuel was capable enough to enter AC School but Simona did not go to school. Children their age had already finished one year of kindergarten in the country. Matthew planned to seek for a kindergarten for both of them next year to let them experience the joy of going to school. He did not want them to achieve anything, it was just that he thought the process was necessary for their age.
Dolores did think of letting them go to kindergarten. She was not worried of Samuel as the knowledge taught in kindergarten was a piece of cake to him. She had sought for kindergarten for him in Country A, but he refused to go as he thought the programme was too childish and shallow. She realized he had the talent for maths afterwards and after letting him sit for the AC exam, it turned out he had actually passed the exam. He then became the youngest student of AC School.
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