Page 45

Mathéo

We got married quickly after the proposal. Quickly and secretly, to be precise. We wanted to get everything sorted for Valérie as fast as possible, so we drove to Alsace on a cold Saturday morning with Valérie and her three aunties.

In Germany, I would have had to provide proof that I spoke German well enough to understand the legal aspects of the marriage. I would’ve never gotten this paper. For Micki, a wedding in France was no problem at all with his fluency in French.

For exactly two minutes we had considered going with just Valérie, then Micki remembered that his sisters would probably kill him if they weren’t there, and we didn’t want to risk that.

Now, more than half a year later, we are finally on our honeymoon and the question of where to go was easy to solve. We wanted to go back to ?le de Saint-émile and show our daughter the place we have come to love so much together.

For the first time, we are not traveling with friends, but as a family. And although we’ve both been here before, everything feels new and exciting again. Like a brand-new book that you’re just starting to read.

Valérie and I went straight back from the beach to our pitch. We bought a caravan and it’s great with the big bed being a fantastic play area for our daughter. Micki took a quick detour to the little shop at the campsite, while I got back getting Valérie settled, when suddenly there’s a knock.

“Là! Quoi?” Excited, Valérie points towards the door. “Pap!”

It can’t really be anyone else, but why would Micki knock? Maybe he just has his hands full. But when I open the door, it’s not my husband, but his two best friends and their husbands.

“Hey asshole!” I can’t get rid of that nickname, and I grin at the tall, dark-haired woman, who beams at me from piercing blue-grey eyes.

“Nika! Language! The baby!” Shocked, élias presses the flat of his hand over his wife’s lips, but I laugh anyway.

“What are you doing here?” This is a surprise. Unexpected, but still nice.

“Revenge.”

“Nika!” This time, Philipp tries to correct Nika’s choice of words. “Let’s not call it revenge. We’re giving you a chance to make amends.”

But Nika just rolls her eyes dramatically, takes me in her arms and pushes past me without hesitation. “ Wo ist meine sü?e Maus? ” Nika always speaks German with Valérie, with no care in the world that I still don’t understand most of it.

“Nini!” There’s a squeak behind me and I know that Nika is about to blow the world’s biggest raspberries on my girl’s belly. The others also greet me with a hug but stay outside.

“When did you arrive?”

“Last night. We’re here for a reason.” I turn around in surprise and see that Nika has sneaked up with Valérie on her arm. “We’re a bit disappointed...”

“You are disappointed. I think it’s up to each couple to decide for themselves how they want to get married. I’m only involved because I think it’s a cool idea.” Adrien raises his hands defensively and élias agrees. “Me too.”

As if choreographed, Nika and Philipp’s mouths drop open and their eyes widen in mocking horror. “Okay, our relationship crisis will have to wait, we have an event to get going.”

Event? I think I’m scared. “What are you planning?” My gaze wanders nervously back and forth between Philipp and Nika, who is still messing around with my daughter.

“We don’t want to wait any longer. You’ve had eight months to take care of this reception you promised us and nothing has happened in those eight months. That’s going to change today,” explains Philipp. “But only if Papa and Paps can manage to complete their tasks. Otherwise, you will end up swearing eternal love and partying alone in sweatpants.”

Tasks? It’s getting better and better and... “I have nothing to wear for a reception.”

Nika’s not only speaking with her eyes, she’s telling novels with just one glance. This time I read that I shouldn’t make such a fool of myself and that she has of course taken care of everything. I don’t ask if that’s true and assume that I’ll look absolutely fabulous because hopefully élias and Adrien have chosen my outfit.

“Enough talk, we have to get going. Micki has to get to the village, but we need to be gone before he’s back.” Adrien taps his watch nervously and Philipp gets going straight away.

“Okay, the rules of the game. Each of you gets ten questions and with the ten questions you can win something for your party. Your clothes, decorations, guests. Valérie and you go with Adrien and élias, Nika and I will wait here for Micki.”

“Who’s brilliant idea was this?” My question is met with raised eyebrows, although I can guess the answer. I get it in the form of a bored “Seriously?” look. Nika. I love having her as a friend.

“Shall we get going?”

“Can I say no?”

“No!” That answer came quickly from all four of them at the same time. Fantastic. “First question for you. What are Micki’s favorite flowers?”

Phew, I’m relieved, that’s easy. “Micki doesn’t have a favorite flower, but he prefers natural flowers to ornamental varieties. He likes the white roses in his mother’s garden and fire lilies.”

“Perfect, the bouquet is secured. One more question, then we have to go.”

Adrien rummages in his pants pockets before pulling out three scraps of white fabric. A white tulle fabric with embroidery, a heavy solid brocade fabric with golden ornaments, and, last but not least, a soft, light fabric that slips through my fingers. He asks, “Which one do you think Micki will love the most? We have outfits for him in each of these fabrics.”

I can clearly envision Micki in front of me, the last fabric wrapped around his narrow waist and playing around his hips in layers.

“This one. But not as a dress! Micki doesn’t wear dresses!” I state, running the fabric through my fingers.

“Don’t worry,” élias gently puts his arm around my shoulder, “the two of them have thought of everything. Now grab Valérie and what you need for her and let’s go, okay?”

Separating my girl from Nika is more difficult than I would have thought, I even briefly toyed with the idea of her just staying with Nika, but I find it hard to leave her. I’m very glad Micki takes her to nursery every morning.

I completely underestimated what such a little creature can do to you. To think I thought I never wanted kids. I wouldn’t give Valérie up for anything in the world.

When her little hands rub my cheeks, giggling, and she calls out “Papa, gatt!” She means “Papa, gratte!” Papa, scratchy!

“Where are we going?” We aren’t going anywhere quickly because Valérie wants to walk by herself and stops every three steps to pluck a snail shell from a fence post.

“To our mobile home. But you could answer the third question. What is your song?”

The question is easy to answer and then again it’s not, because I know which song, but I don’t know what it’s called, nor do I understand what it’s about.

“The song we danced to at your wedding, the choreography with the chairs.”

“’Ja sagen’ by Hava. Have you ever googled a translation of the lyrics?” élias’s gaze is soft, and a gentle smile plays around his mouth as he asks me the question.

I shake my head uncertainly. Should I have done that? It just sounded so beautiful and every time I hear it, I think of Micki and how incredibly lucky I was that we happened to meet at that wedding. I love him, Papa, and you didn’t manage to ruin that for me. He’s with me, we’re a family. We are happy.

“Do you want to understand what’s it about?”

Do I? “No, I’m happy with the way it feels.”

An hour later, I’m wearing a perfectly tailored dark blue suit with a bright red pocket square.

“How did you know my size and what cut I like to wear?” Adrien smiles quietly to himself, but élias just shrugs his shoulders innocently.

“Haven’t you noticed that one of your suits is missing?” I have so many, I thought it was at the dry cleaner’s.

“Nika?”

“Who else?” Yes, of course, who else?

Valérie is getting frantic at Nika’s name. “Nini? Nini?”

“Nika will be back later.” In his usual calm manner, Adrien reaches for our little whirlwind, who is trying to turn on the gas stove, and takes her in his arms. He tenderly strokes her wild curls, which Micki cherishes like his own.

“Shall we see what your Papa has picked out for you to wear?” I laugh quietly to myself, because clearly I haven’t picked out anything. I’m just along for this wild adventure.

“Who are all these people?” Confused, I stop on the dune and look at the crowd of people in front of me down on the beach.

“Your guests.” élias and Adrien grin at each other with satisfaction.

“But I don’t know any of them.”

“Look closely.” With these words, élias pats me on the shoulder and continues towards the beach.

Then suddenly there’s movement in the crowd and I see them. Micki’s work colleagues, my team, a few guys from soccer, Micki’s crew, my friends from school and there’s Tom with his girlfriend.

“Where is Micki’s family?” They are the only ones missing.

“They’re here, but Micki still has to do something so they can attend.” Yes, of course, why didn’t I think of that myself?

“And... sorry, but this looks all incredibly expensive. How...?”

Adrien silences me with a dismissive movement and an evil grin, that’s so not like him, that I have to laugh. “You remember what I told you about my father? I’m sure it’s entirely in his interest for me to financially support the gay wedding of two of my best friends with his money.”