Page 46

Micki

“Hello my lovelies, let me tell you, that was a...” My words get stuck in my throat when I see that it’s not my husband and daughter in the caravan. I’m happy to see those who are there, but...

“Where are Mathéo and Valérie?”

“Hello first, nice to see you, too.” Philipp takes me in his arms with a smile. That’s a good sign, isn’t it?

“What are you doing here?”

“Surprise! The other two are with élias and Adrien. You’re getting married today!”

“But we are already married…”

Nika rolls her eyes dramatically. “In front of the law, but not in front of your family. Not in front of us.”

“And we’re making up for that today. However, it’s up to you who can attend.”

I don’t understand anything anymore. “Seriously?”

Nika just looks at me, bored. “Do I look like I’m joking?” No, she does not. Damn it.

“I’ve got nothing to wear, shit, maybe I could...” I start opening cupboards frantically.

“Mathéo has picked something for you. Well, the fabric at least. Try it on.”

I stand in front of the mirror with tears in my eyes. The fabric is beautiful, lightly flowing and so soft on the skin, and the cut... I’ve never seen anything so perfect.

It is a jumpsuit with wide legs with a high slit and high waistband. The back is completely bare, the top is nothing more than two lush fabric straps attached to the waistband and tied as a halter neck, forming a large bow that falls over my back. I’ve never worn anything more beautiful.

“Thank you, this... this is gorgeous.”

“That’s enough. We have to get going.”

“What about shoes?”

“Flip Flops will do.”

We walk briskly towards the beach and I’m terribly nervous about what to expect. It’s still light, it’s still an hour until sunset, maybe a little more. Most people are having dinner at the moment, so the beach is pretty empty, apart from the large crowd of people that has formed around a beautiful white flower arch.

“Is that even allowed?”

“Adrien took care of all that and registered it. It’s all good. Relax.”

I walk slowly down the dune taking each step carefully, because my legs are shaky and I don’t want to risk falling.

The arch is still empty and I don’t see anyone else I know as my gaze wanders tensely. But there really are a lot of people and most of them have their backs to me. Is that ...?

“Are you looking for someone?” Everyone?

“They’ll come if you’re clever enough.” Suddenly there’s music and I turn around. Philipp has a speaker in his hands and is grinning. I know the song; Nika and Philipp have danced to it.

“Every potential guest in your close circle has picked a song for you. If you can guess who picked which song, they can come. Try hard, I’d hate to leave again.” Nika winks at me. Okay, I can manage that, I hope, and turn to Philipp.

“This is from you, isn’t it?”

Philipp clenches his right fist and a quiet “Yes!” leaps out of his mouth. Laughing, he takes me in his arms. “I’m delighted to be here.” Then he conjures up a beautiful red flower from behind his back.

“A fire lily! Thank you, I love fire lilies! How did you know...?”

“Mathéo.” Of course, who else. My husband. My heart is pounding.

My mother makes it easy for me with “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme” by ABBA, while my eldest sister, as expected, hits it off with the biggest romantic tearjerker of all and opts for “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston. While my middle sister gets the crowd singing with “I Want it That Way” by the Backstreet Boys, Nika shuts everyone up again just thirty seconds later with a hard metalcore song.

But it’s my father who takes the cake; apart from Mathéo, he’s the only person missing from my side.

That alone would have made me think of him, but when the first sounds of “Hells Bells” by AC/DC ring out of the speaker and my mother yells “Jürgen!”, everyone knows.

I laugh so hard that tears well up and are still running when my dad gives me the last fire lily. And then everyone is quiet.

A soft song with piano sounds comes from Philipp’s loudspeaker and I recognize it immediately. It’s our song. The crowd turns to face me and suddenly everyone is there. Friends, colleagues, soccer teammates, dance crew, everyone. I’m just about to start crying when I see him. Mathéo. My husband. With Valérie in his arms. Our girl. My family. The two of them stop under the flower arch and I can feel the soft sand moving under my feet.

I’m obviously walking towards them, but it all seems like in a movie. I can feel the tears running down my cheeks and the closer I get, the more I see Mathéo’s eyes glistening.

It all started two years ago, with this song. With Philipp and Adrien, Nika and élias by our side. Who would have thought back then that we would be standing here today.

I would’ve never dared to dream there would ever be an us, that this unapproachable, arrogant man would give up his entire life for me. That this beautiful man, who could have any woman in the world, would choose me with everything he has.

“Wow, you...” Mathéo swallows hard, blinking away two tears, “...you look amazing.” He gently brushes a curl from my forehead with two fingers and I lean into his touch. My hand reaches into his own mane of wild curls that now reaches over his ears, the longer hair just one of the many “fuck you’s” to his father.

“You’re not bad yourself.”

Mathéo smiles, then holds out his hand to me. “Forever?”

And my heart leaps as I answer. “Forever.”