by Keren Or
Saddened by having to let him go, but happy after sharing such an adventurous afternoon together, Eli went up to her house where her last days of being single were awaiting her...
The moment Eli had hoped for so long, and for which she had been preparing her whole life, finally arrived.
Lucas felt very relaxed after spending all day at a spa, swimming, getting massages and having lunch in the sun, thanks to a wonderful idea from his best friend, who was with him during those very important hours. Andy had been left in the care of his grandfather, so at least that day and for a few hours only, Lucas could pretend... that he was single.
Although not for much longer...
Half an hour away from Lucas was Eli. Wedding nerves were not allowing her to enjoy the beautiful, sunny spring day she happened to have, nor the company of her mother and sister, who were with her trying to ease the stress.
While Sofi was trying different methods to make Eli laugh, Eileen was attempting to put food into her mouth so that her “little girl” would not faint. Needless to say, neither of them... achieved a satisfactory result.
After a brief stop for a few finishing touches on her dress, the three arrived at the beauty salon, where they put on makeup, styled their hair and did their nails. Dressed and ready to go, Eileen and Sofi were waiting for Eli to come out of the dressing room. And when she finally appeared... she looked like an angel in white, a princess...
Standing in front of the mirror, Eli did not recognize herself, and she could not believe that her longed-for day had arrived.
When Samuel came in and saw his radiant little light in front of him, he changed his serious, distinguished appearance, unable to contain himself. Unfortunately for him, on occasions like this he had no escape. Emotion... always betrayed his repressed sensitive side.
Proudly, Samuel handed her the bouquet of pink and white lilies and carefully kissed her on the forehead... A tender, loving kiss... from an emotional father.
While walking towards the car at the door of the salon, Eli felt the stunned eyes and the smiles of the people passing on the street. More than once on the way, complete strangers whistled and congratulated her: one on a bicycle, others waiting for the traffic light to change and some who passed her decorated car and honked. For a few minutes... the world was revolving around Eli. Or at least that was how... she was seeing it, silently thinking that probably this must have been how a movie star, a president acclaimed by his people or a real queen must feel.
Entering the venue where the ceremony would be held, Eli immediately locked herself in a room where no one could see her —especially her future husband. Sitting still and almost without blinking, she could hear the voices of those arriving.
Her heart, now more than ever, was beating forcefully and emotional tears were threatening to burst at any moment. Every now and then the door opened and an impatient little head peeked in to spy: they were her nieces and nephews, most of the time.
“Five minutes to go,” announced Samuel, closing the door behind him.
“I need air,” said Eli, fearing that her legs would let her down.
“Relax, Eli; if you continue like this you’re going to faint...,” responded her mother, holding her by the arm.
“I’m going to cry... I can’t hold back any longer...,” said Eli, trembling.
“You’ll ruin your makeup... Hold it and take a deep breath,” instructed her dad.
“I just can’t believe that this day has finally arrived...”
“We know, Eli... But now take a deep breath and make the first step...”
With her parents steadying her, Eli began her journey to the rhythm of the music. Two huge doors opened towards her, presenting her to the audience, which suddenly fell silent. Conversations were suspended in mid-sentence, and even the trees stopped, honoring the moment. Lucas, hypnotized... gasped. The image of Eli dazzled the space...
Her hair, in a half-updo, seemed held in place with little diamonds, while the rest fell rippling like silky waves spread over her back. A pearl and crystal necklace sensuously caressed her clavicle, matching earrings... shaped like drops of water. Revealing her bare shoulders, her white, low-cut dress slid in perfect harmony, clinging to her slender waist and opening out fully as it fell... like a soft bell. It was not ostentatious, nor extravagant, but rather unique and simple, with an elegant touch. Finally, gloves completed her delicate look, and the sober but fine makeup emphasized her features, illuminating her face... and her entire person.
Eli stopped for several seconds, trying to contemplate the amazing scene. The sky shining clear above, the majestic red carpet laid out waiting for her, the candelabra and the torches lining both sides and the sacred altar by the lake.
Concentrating on remaining on her feet, firm and steady, Eli continued walking forward, or rather... floating on air.
Her breathing became agitated, and more so when she saw Lucas, but anchored to his eyes... she slowly crossed the distance.
“How… beautiful!” he said slowly, moving his head from side to side.
Eli wanted to respond, to say the same to him, or anything else... but it was either that or... to breathe, and therefore... she chose to breathe. However... her eyes were telling him what her lips could not, and for Lucas... it was more than enough.
Crossing a lighted wooden bridge, they reached a platform set up on the water, where the anticipated ceremony finally began.
Between the sky and sea... magic reigned.
When it was time to exchange rings, a small figure dressed in black and white suddenly appeared... It was Andy... in his new suit! Hair combed to one side, shy and sweet, he was looking excited and above all... charming. The people were clapping, encouraging him as they saw him come forward to perform his duty with conviction.
Carefully, Andy handed over the cushion on which the rings were resting.
Eli smiled at him and Lucas hugged him... And the ceremony continued until the end... to the part most anticipated...
The kiss…
Under arches of white flowers and shining crystal, one of the most emotional ceremonies that ever existed came to an end.
The memory of Eli and Lucas’s wedding remained on the lips of those fortunate enough to have witnessed it for several more days—the dance of the bride and groom and their constant gaze, the joy and excitement of each moving moment, the suspense, the emotion, the fast heartbeats, the abundant, colorful buffet and its scrumptious, delicious taste.
A night... never to be forgotten...
“In prosperity and in adversity, in wealth and in poverty, in sickness and in health,” they vowed to be together forever...
And to love each other...
Until the sun stops shining... the birds stop singing...
Or the world... stops spinning.
“Until death do them part…”
Looking into her eyes, indeed… he saw her soul...
And in the case of Lucas and Eli...
A look is worth… a thousand words…
18
Despite the storms…
Unable to keep their eyes fixed on the road, every few meters Eli and Lucas got out of the car to relish what their eyes were seeing. Taking dozens of photographs, they tried to capture the stunning scenery, knowing that no memory could replace the true feeling of being there: the cliffs submerged in the blue-gray sea, the picturesque little villages along the coast, the narrow alleys leading to the beach, and the brilliance of amazing, colorful nature in the sun. A little piece of paradise... fallen from heaven.
On the way to the hotel, which they had booked online a few months before, the newlyweds stopped for lunch at a typical restaurant in the area. For the first time, they had all the time in the world at their disposal. Time to talk, to look into each other’s eyes, to walk on the wet sand and to embrace facing a sunset. Nothing out of the or
dinary... on the contrary, the things they were finding to do were simple and basic. Things that only in this land and in those circumstances they felt that they had been granted the right to do.
Entering the supposedly five-star resort, Eli stood paralyzed, a shadow falling over her eyes. The resort that should have been by the sea was suddenly two kilometers up a mountain. In addition, the hotel pool was under maintenance, in other words... closed; and in any case it belonged to another property ten minutes away. The furniture was worn and rather badly beaten up to be part of a first-class hotel, and the customer service was a disgrace: they had to wait more than half an hour for someone to attend to them as required.
They tried to maintain the excitement they had arrived with, or at least the calm, so as not to spoil the sweet taste of a wonderful day. Lucas... the more patient of the two, managed to do so. On the other hand, Eli was still struggling to cool the blood boiling inside her that was near the point of exploding.
After all that... on entering the room, which, according to the photos on the internet, should have been a spacious, well-equipped and decorated hideaway intended for honeymoon couples, they came to the disappointing conclusion that the hotel had “a cat in the bag”. The perfect destination to celebrate the most important time of their lives was far from perfect... or rather, did not deserve another minute of their precious time.
Eli looked at Lucas...
Lucas looked at Eli...
Then she saw that he was undecided about possible alternatives. Something... which made her become even more furious.
And Lucas, the typical average man... did not even realize the dangerous and explosive territory he had just entered...
“Do you intend to just keep your arms crossed?” demanded Eli.
“And where will we go at this hour, Eli? Everywhere will be full...,” replied a reluctant Lucas.
“I’d rather sleep on the street than stay here and pay these scammers. Neither is it so late... We still have a couple of hours before night falls.”
After a long and exhausting argument and a few threats to sue them for fraud, Eli managed to cancel their reservation paying only for that day, but that... was the least...
When they tried their luck at the other hotels, at first they both would get out of the car, still optimistic, asking for available accommodation, but in the end they took turns, gradually losing hope of finding a decent place with a vacancy. After two desperate hours, they finally found a single hotel with an available double room.
Along the dark corridors, Eli cautiously observed the stone walls and medieval soldiers with their armor and bronze axes. A shiver went through her body despite being sure that the soldiers were just statues. The candelabra, the drapery, the dim lighting and the medieval-style décor in general were fuelling panic in her.
However, the experience eventually turned out to be entertaining when looked at the glass as being half full. Each room was different from the other, as if it were narrating a legend through its antique furniture and its interior design.
Eli and Lucas opted for a fancy, eccentric room with a round bed covered in crimson satin. If they had already decided to take a chance... why not do so in a wild way, right?
High, wide picture windows offered a privileged view of a colorful virgin oasis. A place rich in history, charm and natural beauty, and it was still nothing compared to the impressive scenery that would be before them when they woke up...
Tired from running around and hungry after an action-packed day, the guests ordered room service for dinner. As they waited, they immersed themselves in the jacuzzi... and sampled some chocolates.
When the rolling table arrived with their two covered plates and a flower in the center, dressed in robes and bedroom slippers—courtesy of the hotel—they sat down to share their first dinner as a married couple. And in spite of the annoyance experienced a few hours before, now... they were happy and relaxed.
Delighted with her round bed, Eli waited for Lucas to come join her. The truth of the matter... was that the bride was not only waiting for her fantasy wedding night, but also, and above all... to join forces and create together a new life. But the tiredness from having been driving all day, the stress, the hot water in the jacuzzi, their full stomachs and who knows what else... were the sum total of Lucas’s excuses for not being able to do what would be required to achieve her goal.
Situations like this, with many expectations, were fertile ground for failure.
Unfortunately, whenever that happened, it was not just Lucas’s problem, but a problem for both, which left them frustrated and impotent when faced with the situation.
Withdrawn on the couch in front of the picturesque window, Eli burst into tears as Lucas, consumed with guilt, clutched his head. This was not how they had dreamed of the most anticipated night of their lives. But in addition, the injustice of having so much love and passion to give and not being able to do so pierced them inside. And the night ended... like so many others... without Eli or Lucas having anything to do.
The next morning the sun rose and with it the hope of a new day. Lying on the lounge chairs facing the pool and beside a private beach, they tried to dissolve the clouds that were threatening to cover the sun—an activity that Lucas had learned from one of his many spiritual books. That is how Eli learned that if she stared at a cloud with the aim of dissolving it... within a few minutes an opening would be created that would grow and grow until the cloud disappeared completely.
Surprisingly, the exercise seemed to have the desired effect... because in a short time the sun reigned again in the sky above, and Eli... regained her energy.
Taking advantage of the beautiful afternoons, when the sun was shining less intensely, the sea breeze gently wrapped around them and the noise of the children in the pool had died down, Eli and Lucas took possession of a magical corner surrounded by flowers, sea and nature. A feast of colors captivated their eyes... the blue of the sky, the turquoise of the sea, the green of the leaves and a few splashes of red, pink and violet flowers. Facing this image, they lay under the shadow of a white sunshade. Then Lucas was reading a book aloud, while Eli, resting on his chest, absorbed his words and warmth. It was one of the many things that Eli loved about Lucas—his way of reading and telling stories. His boundless knowledge simply amazed her, since she did not consider herself to be as well-educated as he, and in fact… she did not like studying at all. Eli always believed she had innate wisdom and emotional intelligence, more than anything else, and it was almost a miracle that she had finished her degree with so little motivation.
They could have stayed for hours in that state, resting from their strolls through the towns and villages after examining the various galleries and walking through the romantic alleys. It was a time... when the world around them would disappear, and there were only them... and no one else.
After a week exploring and touring the area around the surrealist hotel, Eli and Lucas continued with the original plan. Crossing the ocean on a ferry, they reached port in less than an hour. While traveling on their way to their new destination in the small rented car, they decided to take a break and calm their stomachs, which were roaring impatiently by then. But all they found at that time—passing through an old, forgotten village—was a simple, modest kiosk facing the beach and which had two little humble plastic tables with umbrellas. Sitting at one of them was a married couple with their son. Eli sat down at the other, while Lucas bought the ice cream.
At first glance, there was nothing else being served; but in a minute... a toothless old woman came out holding two plates of pasta with lots of tomato sauce. Without thinking twice, Lucas ordered the same for the two of them, and until the order arrived... they tried not to drool or stare at the other customers.
After indulging to the point of cleaning the plates completely, the old lady, the owner of the kiosk, kindly invited them to come back another day. Ap
art from the pasta with tomato sauce, she made a bolognese sauce, tomato sauce with aubergine and spicy tomato sauce.
Apparently, she had a tomato orchard behind the kiosk and made the most delicious and scrumptious pasta Eli and Lucas had ever tasted. That is why they promised to return soon and left satisfied and happy. No doubt, as that experience showed them, sometimes appearances... are deceiving.
After taking a walk around the hotel and examining its amenities, they sat on the terrace to have a cup of hot chocolate and share an apple pie.
Amazed by the scenery, Eli and Lucas... almost did not speak. The colors, the aromas and a sacred tranquility accompanied them silently, and any comment... was unnecessary. And after contemplating that perfect moment when the sun was slowly disappearing amid the lights illuminating the sea, they went out for a spin and to enjoy the nightlife.
In a bus provided by the hotel, minutes later they arrived at the gates of the city. The main street was in full motion, packed with businesses of all kinds and eating places. Strolling through the shops, Eli got the idea of taking Andy a gift for each day that they had not been with him, which would be fourteen gifts. Although he had been left in the care of his grandfather, who was spoiling him totally... it probably was not easy for him to be away from his father for so many days. Actually... Eli was not sure who was finding the separation harder... Andy or Lucas, since even on their honeymoon the father kept his son in mind all the time.
Loaded with bags, they sat down to dinner in front of the main square, where a band was playing. Eli, uncharacteristically, ordered a light meal, afraid that when returning they would not let her get on the plane because she was overweight... Also, knowing her weakness for those hot, buttered complimentary rolls they served everywhere, Eli knew she would probably be full before even the main dish arrived... And in fact, that is exactly what happened... But at least this time, Eli returned to the hotel happy and with less of a guilty conscience.