Page 119 of Stronger Than Fate

“My brother isn’t doing well,” she said, with sadness in her voice. “I don’t know what’s wrong with him, but he doesn’t seem well and I don’t know how to help him because he won’t let himself be helped. His eyes reflect the sadness he feels and, besides, he continues living that crazy life that instead of helping him, sinks him deeper into a hole.”

“Niky, I’m really sorry, but I don’t think it’s because of what happened between us,” I stated.

“I convinced him to take a few days off and go on a trip somewhere.”

“I suppose that will help him calm down.”

She looked at me and made no comment. She changed the subject by showing me a design she was working on and then we continued talking about my cousin’s wedding, mainly coordinating how to meet there since she had to go with the bride to take care of all the details of the dress.

On Thursday Niky called to invite me to the movies because a film she wanted to see was premiering. We met at the door of a pizzeria a while before to grab something to eat beforethe late-night showing. We ordered a small pizza to share and had beer with it. I noticed she was very happy and that made me glad because it meant she wasn’t worried about Henry and, therefore, he must be doing better. I had thought about him a lot, actually there wasn’t a day I didn’t think about him, I missed him terribly.

“You seem very cheerful today and I love that,” I said.

“I’m working on something, and if it goes well, I assure you I’ll be much happier,” she replied with a big smile.

“Does it have to do with matters of the heart?” I inquired.

“You’re right about that,” she replied, without losing her smile.

“Are you in love?”

“Not yet, but well, you never know...”

“Why are you being so mysterious?”

“I’ll tell you on Friday, I need to work out a few more things.”

“Work out? What are you up to?”

“I already told you, matters of the heart, and I hope with all my strength that it works out.”

“If it makes you this happy, I hope so too.”

“Thank you.”

The movie was very entertaining, but it ended extremely late, so when we left the theater, we said goodbye knowing we would see each other the next day. When I got home, I was so tired that I went straight to bed, and it was one of those rare nights when I fell asleep immediately and deeply.

And then Friday night arrived, the day of my cousin Sara’s wedding. I paired the gold dress, Niky’s creation, with high-heeled black sandals and a black and gold clutch. For myhairstyle, I had left my hair loose with waves and swept to one side. They had done my makeup beautifully, with smoky eyes and the rest very natural.

My brothers and I had decided to go together in Bastián’s car because we knew that finding parking near the church would be very complicated. They were going to pick me up at the hotel at eight o’clock because we needed to be at Stella Maris Parish half an hour later. They arrived punctually and called to let me know they were waiting for me in the hotel parking lot. When they saw me approaching, they leaned out the car window and started whistling and shouting.

“Whoooo whoooo!” Lolo whistled, long and admiringly, after looking me over. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. My life is ruined. I know for certain that now I’ll only be dedicated to scaring guys away from my little sister,” he commented with a distressed face.

“Stop the clowning around,” I said, smiling.

“What he said is very true,” said Bastián, “but you’re not alone in this, little brother. I’ll suffer through it too.”

“Very well, then I’ll have to dedicate myself to scaring away all those women who swarm around you two,” I stated, now seated in the back seat of the car.

“Better get moving, Bastián, and let’s drop this subject right here,” said Lolo.

My brother joined the traffic, and twenty minutes later we were arriving at the parish. We met several relatives whom we greeted, and then we sat close to the altar so as not to miss any detail of the wedding.

A few minutes past the scheduled time, the bride’s arrival was announced and Wagner’s“Wedding March”began to play along with the wonderful voices of the choir that sounded loud andstrong. My skin tingled; weddings always moved me, and even more so with that music in the background.

Bastián leaned close to me and whispered:

“I hope someday I can walk you down the aisle. It will undoubtedly be the most emotional day of my life.”