The Girl From Moldova by K J Tesar - HTML preview

Chapter Six. The Wedding Day

Antonio felt so excited. The big day had arrived, and it was such a sunny, beautiful day. The omens were, indeed, good. He had taken his time preparing himself, at home. He wanted to enjoy every minute of the process. After driving to the church, he walked down to the cemetery, to see Valeria. This time he didn't cry. He shared his happiness with her, knowing full well, that she would be happy for him. When it was time, he wandered up, slowly, to the church. He smiled when he saw the ribbons tied around the trees. Nastya was lucky to have such good friends. He entered the church, and looked around. There weren't many guests. Actually, those that were there, were mainly friends of Nastya. Antonio hadn't kept in touch with the old friends, he hadn't really even been living. When you are just surviving, you don't really make good company for others. He saw a couple of his neighbors, who waved out to him. There were a lot of eastern European looking women, Nastya's colleagues, he imagined.

'Hello, good looking!'

Antonio turned around. He couldn't believe his eyes. There was Paola, and little Alex, both dressed up to the nines.

'Paola, it's so good to see you! Thank you so much! Come up here, little man.'

He lifted up Alex, and gave him a big kiss. Poala smiled at him, and put her hand on his shoulder.

'We weren't going to miss this, for anything.'

'Does Marco know you are here?'

'Don't you worry about that, I'll sort him out later. You just make sure your day goes off well. You look great, Antonio. I have never seen you look so good. I'm sure you will be very happy with Nastya. She seems like an absolutely lovely person. You deserve this.'

'Thanks, I do feel good. It feels like I have been given a second chance. I am really going to make the most of it. I hope you will let Nastya be a part of Alex's life. She is a good person, she really is. I know what it looks like to a lot of people, from the outside, but it's not like that at all.'

'Don't worry, I trust your judgment. Of course, she will be a part of his life, along with you. What time is the ceremony supposed to start?'

Antonio looked at his watch.

'Typical woman! You lot always have to make us wait!'

Paola laughed, and took little Alex by the hand. Just then, Antonio saw one of the bridesmaids, waving him over.

'Looks like it's about to start. Thanks again, Paola, I hope we can see you after the ceremony, so Alex can meet Nastya.'

'Sure. Go! Enjoy it! This is your big day.'

Antonio went over to the bridesmaid, who showed him into a small room at the side of the church, where Nastya had been preparing herself. Nastya was in tears. She looked up at him, through her crying eyes, and said:

'Antonio, you no want to marry me, if you know what they done to me!'

'Of course I want to marry you. No one will ever do anything bad to you again, I promise you! I will never let anyone hurt you.'

'I never tell you what they done, never!'

'Nastya, our new life together starts today. I will never ask you anything about your past. If you ever want to tell me something, fine, but I will never ask, and you don't ever have to tell me anything. I love you, and you love me. This is the beginning of a new life, for the both of us.'

Nastya threw herself into his arms, and held him tight. In silence they both held onto each other. The sadness, and despair, that both of them had felt, was now in their past. This day would mark the start of a new beginning, for the two of them. A new, happy life, together. Two good people, who had both suffered in different ways, coming together, and looking forward to a new life. A life of joy.