Page 34 of All About Christmas

“You look so glum .” Maggie is already the fourth person tonight to say something along those lines to me.

The lace of her veil falls around her wrinkled face.

The makeup artist has powdered her nose a bit and dabbed blush on her cheeks, giving her a fresh look.

There’s a minuscule coat of mascara on her lashes because the moment the brush came near her eyes, Maggie blinked as though she were looking into a sandstorm.

I fiddle a little with her veil and straighten the fabric, without really responding. After all, I’m not really sure what to say.

She wears a white satin dress with long sleeves and an open neckline. On her chest shines a necklace full of pearls.

“It’s the bridge gentleman, isn’t it?” says Maggie softly then. She looks at me questioningly, but in a sweet, warm way. Not as if she’s trying to pull out the latest gossip.

“The bridge gentleman?” I repeat in surprise. “Who is the bridge gentleman?”

Maggie tilts her head a little and looks at me meaningfully.

“That handsome man who wanted to talk to you about bridge when we were in the office,” she replies.

“That man who looked at you as if he,”—she briefly slaps her hand in front of her mouth and giggles—“would like to do more with you than just play bridge.”

“Mom!” Laura looks at her mother sternly. “You can’t just say things like that.”

Maggie chuckles. “Why not? It’s true, isn’t it?”

Laura shakes her head disapprovingly.

“Well?” she insists. “Is it the bridge gentleman?”

I bite my lip and then lower my eyes. “Yes,” I mutter. “It’s the bridge guy. He—” I wave my hand. “Doesn’t matter. This isn’t about me. You’re getting married and...”

Maggie frowns. “What did he do?” she asks.

I puff my cheeks and blow out the air. “He, um... He screwed up big time.”

Maggie looks at me compassionately. “Oh, dear, what a shame.”

“Oh, well, it doesn’t matter,” I say with an insincere smile. “That’s life. We didn’t actually fit together at all anyway. He wears Armani suits, and I—” I blow a tuft of pink hair out of my face. “don’t.”

Maggie’s wrinkles deepen as she frowns. “But that doesn’t really matter, does it?” she says. “Sometimes you just fall for someone because they’re all the things you’re not. Do you know how boring it would be if you always agreed on everything?”

I smile. “You’re one to talk. You found the love of your life.”

Maggie waves away my argument. “Ah, like that was love at first sight,” she says sarcastically.

“Wasn’t it?”

She chuckles. “No, of course not! Well, for Olaf, yes. I found that out later. But certainly not for me. I found him irritating and arrogant. He got under my skin.” A warm look appears in her eyes as she thinks back to their younger years.

“But you’re probably familiar with the phrase ‘tease a girl for a kiss,’” she continues.

“And I found out that he was much more than a jerk who tied my shoelaces together under the pews.”

I bite my lip to keep from bursting into laughter, remembering the saying being used to explain why young boys would often tease the girls they like.

“Yeah, you laugh,” Maggie says when I fail to keep a straight face.

“I had quite an egg on my forehead when I tumbled forward and landed against the armrest.” She shifts slightly.

“Olaf felt so guilty, too!” she giggles.

“He did everything for me. I made him buy me hot chocolate and those yummy sugared gumballs from the drugstore. I perhaps exaggerated my injuries a little, because gradually I wanted him around me. We fell in love.” She breathes a satisfied sigh.

“And now we’re getting married. In the same little church.

Life can be strange sometimes, don’t you think? ”

I smile. “That’s definitely true.”

“Holly?” Pippin pokes his head around the corner of the door. “We’re ready.” He casts a glance at Maggie, who suddenly sits up a lot straighter in her wheelchair. Her walker, which holds her bouquet of red roses and holly leaves, is right in front of her. “You too?” he asks.

“Certainly, dear boy.”

Maggie gets up with difficulty, and Laura helps her to her walker. Her wrinkly hands grip the handles.

“Well, let’s make an honorable woman of me, shall we?” she says, chuckling.

Laura takes the brake off the walker and, step by step, she guides Maggie down the aisle.

I peek around the corner and watch the cameras capture Maggie’s walk to the altar. The live band plays the beginning notes of “All I Want for Christmas Is You” as the choir sings the first verse.

Christmas wreaths of holly and other decorations hang on the sides of the pews.

Candles are lit all over the church, their warm flames creating a romantic atmosphere.

The huge Christmas tree reaches almost to the roof and shines with its white and blue ornaments behind Gabriel, who looks at Maggie, touched.

But Gabriel’s gaze is dwarfed by Olaf’s. He looks at Maggie as if she’s the most beautiful thing he has ever seen. As if galaxies could crash into each other, but all that would pale in comparison to the woman slowly approaching him.

“What a beautiful couple, huh?” says Pippin, standing behind me.

I make a sound of agreement as Maggie comes to stand in front of Olaf and puts her trembling hand in his.

“Of course,” I say as I watch Olaf put a second pair of glasses on his nose so he can read his vows.

“Today we stand here, after a journey of more than three-quarters of a century, to seal our love,” Olaf begins when the song has finished, and a hush falls over the crowd.

I can’t help it. Tears are already rolling down my cheeks. All of this is just so incredibly beautiful.

“We were only fourteen, but our hearts found each other in this sacred space...”

“He really didn’t know, you know,” whispers Pippin behind me.

I turn around with a jerk. “What did who not know?” I ask, though I already know the answer to that question.

Pippin looks at me compassionately. “Olivier. That you weren’t really in the running for that promotion. I caught a few snippets when you were arguing on the street a few days ago. Me and the rest of Hilversum.”

I cross my arms and look at him angrily.

“I promise to support and cherish you no matter what the future holds...” Olaf continues, but as much as I want to hear his vows, they become loose fragments.

“How can you be so sure?” I ask tensely. “Because if he said that, then...”

“Well, first of all, after your very public altercation, he seemed really sad and defeated. He just stood there in the snow until there was a layer on his shoulders so thick I could have written my name,” Pippin interrupts me.

A stab of guilt shoots through my chest. I swallow.

“And besides, he resigned. So yes. I’m pretty sure.”

“What?” I look at him, bewildered. “When?”

Pippin fidgets with his belt and loosens it a notch. “Those chocolate wreaths will go right to your hips,” he explains when he sees me watching, then continues, “Right before the meeting this morning. Norbert was not at all amused.”

“But...” My gaze flashes to the old couple. Maggie has begun her vows. The ground sinks beneath my feet. I didn’t believe him. He said he didn’t know, and I didn’t believe him. Even though he’d shown his vulnerable side. Despite his sweet gestures, his warm words and looks...

“Shit,” I mutter.

“Yup,” Pippin nods. “You screwed up big time.”

I give him a punch in the shoulder. “Pippin.”

“Well, sorry, but it’s true, isn’t it?” he says, rubbing his arm, a tad offended.

“I now declare you husband and wife,” I hear Gabriel say emotionally. I look up and just barely see Maggie and Olaf slip a gold ring on each other’s finger and kiss with such passion that I hope the grandchildren are looking the other way.

When they separate, wheelchairs are quickly rolled toward them so they can sit, but they do not let go of each other’s hand, beaming even brighter than the tree behind them.

They smile broadly, and then there is the sound of a bottle of champagne popping, after which everyone begins to clap.

Waitresses suddenly appear from every nook and cranny with trays full of delicious appetizers.

“Okay,” says Pippin and he looks at his watch. “I’ll head toward the Oudegracht canal, then.”

I look up. “Um, yeah. Okay. Good luck.”

He taps his forehead obligingly with two fingers in a salute, pulling his coat on and his hat over his head. He then opens the wooden church doors, letting in a flurry of snowflakes.

The door closes shut, and I bite my lip.

I feel restless. I need to do something.

Tell Olivier that I’m sorry. That I should have believed him when he said he really didn’t know.

How could I have even thought that? He’s the one who reported the abuse happening on The Love Farm .

Surely that can’t be the same person as the man that I’m running away from solely because of his supposed ego?

I walk over to the celebrating crowd and grab a glass of champagne from the tray.

I toast with people I don’t know and receive thanks for giving their loved ones such a beautiful wedding in their old age.

When I reach Olaf and Maggie, I hug them tightly.

Maggie presses her body close to me. “Thank you, honey,” she whispers in my ear.

“It was more beautiful than I could have ever wished for.”

“You’re welcome,” I say, smiling and leaning back a bit. Maggie presses her bridal bouquet of holly and roses into my hands.

“Here,” she says.

I take it, frowning. “Can’t manage to hold it for a while? I can also...”

Maggie shakes her head and waves her hand. “No. I’m not going to be able to throw the bouquet. My joints aren’t cooperating much anymore, you see. So, I’m giving it to you.”

I look at the perfect flowers and my heartbeat quickens. I have some idea where she’s going with this. “To me?” I repeat.

“Yes. Do you know where he is?”

“Him?” I know damn well who she means. I bite my lip.

“The bridge gentleman. Do you know where he is?”

“Um, yeah.” I swallow. “In the centre of Utrecht. Near the Oudegracht canal.”

Maggie nods. “Go to him. Talk to each other. Life is too short to hold grudges. Of course, I don’t know exactly what happened between you, but I do know that pride will not make you happy.

” She looks briefly at Olaf who smiles encouragingly at her.

“But love does. And my dear girl, you are in love.”

I lower my gaze. “But the wedding... I still have to—”

Maggie shakes her head. “No, we can manage here, really. There are plenty of people. Go on. As a wedding present to us. Right?” She taps Olaf’s arm, who nods in agreement.

“Yes, dear,” he replies.

Maggie chuckles. “He’s already mastered the two magic words that guarantee a good marriage.”

Olaf bursts out laughing. “Really, Holly, it’s fine. Go.”

I don’t know whether it’s the Christmas atmosphere that suddenly puts me in a sentimental mood, or the two people who found each other again in their old age.

I straighten my shoulders. “All right,” I say. “I’ll do it. I’ll see you soon!”

“Woohoo!” Maggie claps her hands, and I turn around.

“If I had been younger, I could have worked for the show, don’t you think?” I can faintly hear her say to Olaf.

“Yes, dear.”

With quick steps, I hurry to the hallway where my coat hangs. I wrap my scarf around my neck, zip up my coat, and pull my thick hat over my ears.

I open the door. It seems to be snowing even harder than before.

I squint my eyes in an attempt to see better, then step outside and hurry to the bus stop.

The thick powdery snow crunches under my heels and glitters in the light of the lampposts.

Flakes stick to my coat, and I curse myself for putting on tights instead of leggings today.

I walk across the bridge over the Vecht river to the bus stop, and when I look at the sign with the digital travel information, I curse loudly.

Shit. Of course there’s nothing running on Christmas Eve.

I zip up my coat a little further and heave a deep sigh. Just when I want to make a grand, romantic gesture, public transit doesn’t cooperate. This isn’t how it works in the movies. There, they always reach their destination with tires skidding.

I turn around and walk back toward the little church with lead in my shoes. I should have just ridden with Pippin. When he left, I already knew what was going on, damn it.

When I’m almost at the door of the church, a familiar voice suddenly calls from behind me.

“Hey, neighbour! Need a ride?”