Chapter 21: Chapter 21

ELEANOR

It’s been a little over a day since I claimed my rights in Xavier’s closet. Since then, he’s been a bit grumpy.

I had to attend a naming ceremony today, so I decided to wear a pastel green dress.

~Knock, knock. ~

I looked away from the mirror and saw Xavier standing near the doorway.

“Samuel won’t be able to attend the naming ceremony. So, we both might have to go together,” Xavier informed me.

I felt a thousand butterflies fly inside my stomach. Xavier might not be enthusiastic to come with me, but I think I have started enjoying his company.

“Sure, I’ll be done in a minute,” I told him.

The ten-minute walk to Jasmine’s house felt endless with all the tension simmering between us. Xavier didn’t say a word, and I didn’t dare be the one to break the silence. I may have come to terms with liking him, but I don’t know how he feels about me.

When we arrived at Jasmine’s house, I stepped forward and lightly knocked on the door.

A few minutes later, the door was opened by a man who was wearing a purple shirt and a pink bowtie, who bowed at both of us.

“Please come in, Beta Costa,” the man gestured. “Miss Amato,” he said, and he stepped aside.

“Congratulations on having your firstborn,” Xavier told the man.

“Thank you so much, Beta Costa. It’s like my life just got brighter after my baby girl was born,” the man said, his eyes sparkled with mirth and love.

“I’m happy to hear that,” Xavier said.

Both of us walked inside.

After the man closed the door behind us, he led us to the living room, where Jasmine was seated on the sofa with her baby girl cuddled in her arms.

“Miss Amato, I thought you wouldn’t be able to make it,” Jasmine exclaimed when she saw me.

“I wouldn’t miss a party, Jasmine,” I told her as I made my way toward her, took a seat, and peered down at her bundle of joy.

Jasmine had dressed her baby girl in a cute purple and pink frock that had a net skirt.

“Have you thought of a name?” I asked her, and her face lit up with a beautiful smile.

“Of course, I just can’t wait to reveal it to everyone,” she said as she stared at her daughter.

“Great, oh, and this is for the baby,” I told Jasmine as I handed her my gift. “I know it is not much, but I hope you like it.”

I saw a look of surprise on her face. “You didn’t have to do this, Miss Amato. But thank you so much for this,” Jasmine said, and I nodded my head.

“Darling.”

Both of us looked up to see the man who opened the door standing near the doorway.

“Shall we start the ceremony?” the man asked her.

She nodded her head and got up from the sofa, and I did the same.

“Oh, I completely forgot to introduce you. This is my husband, Walter Sandro,” Jasmine said.

“It’s nice to officially meet you, Mr. Sandro.”

“Likewise, Miss Amato. But please call me Walter,” he insisted.

I nodded my head, and we began walking out of the living room.

“Where is Xavier?” I asked out loud when I realized that he was not with me.

“Beta Costa is in the backyard with the other guests,” Walter answered.

We walked out into the backyard through the huge glass door, and I was in awe at the decorations.

Purple, pink, red, and orange flowers and balloons were used to decorate the place, and there was a table placed at the forest edge.

Simply put, I think I did a great job with the decorations.

“I don’t think anyone could have done the job as perfectly as you, Miss Amato,” Jasmine exclaimed, and this made a blush appear on my face.

“I was only doing my job,” I told her.

“And you have outdone yourself,” she praised.

“Thank you,” I told her.

“Shall we begin the ceremony?” Xavier asked the couple as he came and took his position beside me, and they nodded their heads.

“Okay, let’s first finish the ceremony, and then, we can start the party,” he said. Then he walked toward another table.

On the table was a golden hardcover. Next to it were two small vials with an orange and blue liquid respectively, a pink quartz crystal bowl, and a pair of scissors.

“What are you doing standing there, Eleanor?” Xavier asked me, breaking me from my trance.

“You want me there?” I asked him, and he nodded his head.

I walked and took my position beside him, and soon Jasmine walked toward me and extended her baby for me to take.

“I…I have never held a baby before,” I told her, shaking my head.

“I didn’t know how to hold a baby properly a few days ago either, Miss Amato,” she said gently. “But I realized every woman has a motherly instinct in her. Just follow your heart. You’ll know what to do.”

Even though I didn’t want to take the baby, I nodded my head, walked closer to Jasmine, and carefully took the baby in my arms.

My heartbeat increased when I felt an unknown emotion fill my heart.

“Let’s begin the ceremony,” Xavier spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.

I walked closer to him while he opened the book. I looked closer to see that the book was in Latin.

Gradually, Xavier began reading the verses in the book, and every word that flowed from his perfect lips was like a melody to my ears. I momentarily closed my eyes and basked myself in his voice.

“Eleanor.” I opened my eyes to see that Xavier was closer to me, and he had the pair of scissors in his hand. “Hold the baby carefully,” he warned me, and I nodded my head.

He stroked the baby’s face before he cut a small piece of hair, walked back to the table again, and put it inside the bowl.

He added a few drops of both of the liquids and recited a few more verses. I saw puffs of blue and orange smoke coming from the bowl.

“The baby’s initiation ceremony is done,” Xavier said, and then everyone who was there began cheering and congratulating the new parents.

I looked down at the baby, and a smile appeared on my face.

“Please announce the name, Jasmine,” I heard someone ask.

“Okay, everyone, come toward this board,” Jasmine said as she walked toward a circular board that was covered with a purple cloth.

“On the count of three.”