Chapter 102

After two weeks and after the doctor’s authorization, today Luz finds herself in front of the mirror, looking at that dress with a “V” neckline, tight until under her breasts and then falling to the floor widely, white in color. Her mother and Evangeline look at her in fascination, with a smile of absolute complicity and with hundreds of tears waiting to come out of her. – Daughter, you are very beautiful. “But the most important thing is missing,” says Evangeline. Lauren, a stylist who was recommended to her for this occasion by Abraham Collins, finishes placing her veil, attached to a small tiara of sparkling tiny diamonds and white gold. 1 -Now yes, you are a true queen – her friend tells her and hugs her- You are beautiful, very beautiful. -Who was in charge of the dress in the end, my love? -A very famous designer, but I forgot her name… I think it’s Alondra. In the end, where she was going to buy it, they did not want to make any more modifications and James’s wife recommended it to me. -Two weeks? – Asked her mother. She is tremendous. They knock on the door and Gerard’s mother appears, who had had a lot of changes in recent days, when she found out everything her niece had done. She had no choice but to beg forgiveness on her knees in front of Gerard, Charlize and Luz. “C-can I come in?” -Of course – Luz tells him, that she was not resentful when she saw true repentance-, -I brought you something that was mine, I used it on my wedding day and I would like it to be yours from now on, maybe one day you will pass it on to Charlize…-she takes a chain with an angel from a small porcelain jewelry box -. I stopped using it many years ago, but it will be perfect for you. Luz turns to let him put the chain on her and immediately falls in love with her. She immediately thinks that this chain will be for her Charlize, even if she has more daughters. What she doesn’t know is that this chain will be very important many years later for her beautiful daughter. 3 Georgia gives her a hug and with that the differences between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are settled. She herself goes out to see if everything is ready and returns a few minutes later to say that they are waiting for a bride. Luz takes a deep breath, her mother and Evangeline leave when her father arrives. The man is paralyzed by emotion for a few seconds and approaches her daughter, giving her a hug full of pride. “You look beautiful” she looks at his head and smiles. My princess will become the queen of a great king… -You have no idea what that man is, daddy, he’s much better than that. Her father leaves a kiss on her forehead, offers her his arm and they walk to the exit, where Evangeline waits to help him with the dress. At the door that leads to the garden, she waits for Charlize, who when she sees her she screams with emotion. -Mom, you are beautiful! -And you too, my princess!

– Both give each other a hug, Charlize stands in front of Luz and begins to walk – Nothing she saw in the romantic movies or what she read in her books prepared her for that moment, when her eyes finally met Gerard’s and she knew that this man was everything to her… but she was to him. it was a thousand times more than that. She loves fidgeting, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, she sees Dan smiling and patting her on the back. There is not a single glance looking anywhere other than at her. But there isn’t a single look she wants to cross, more than hers Gerard’s. Charlize is throwing white rose petals on the floor, which are confused with Luz’s dress and Gerard’s wish has come true, because she didn’t want anything white at the wedding other than her little Lucecita. When they arrive at the altar, Miguel hands Luz his hand and Gerard receives it, pats them and tells him with an emotional tone. -I give you the most precious thing we have in our family, the purest, the most beautiful. Take care of her and never make her cry, because she has two men who will defend her. -Three… because the first to punish me if she sheds a tear, will be myself-he looks at his Little Light and tries to make her words come out dry-. My queen-kneels in front of her and kisses her-her belly. My prince, I promise to take care of you and do everything for you, whatever makes you the happiest in the world. -Your love is enough for me, my love – she tells him going down to kiss him and everyone applauds -, The ceremony passes in silence, with some tears and the bride and groom unable to stop looking at each other. Until the officer asks them. -Luz Amelia Méndez, do you accept Gerard Ethan Finnick as your husband, to love and respect him in sickness and in health, in riches and in poverty, in happiness and sadness, from today until death? separate? -And for all eternity, yes, I accept. -Gerard Ethan Finnick, do you accept Luz Amelia Méndez as your wife, to love and respect her in sickness and in health, in riches and in poverty, in joy and sadness, from today until death? separate? -And for all eternity, yes, I accept. – By the authority that the law gives me, I declare you husband and wife… you can kiss the bride. Gerard throws himself for his Little Light and kisses it with all the joy in the world, while all the guests jump from their seats, throwing petals, clapping and shouting. Charlize runs to her parents and hugs them, Gerard picks her up and they leave her in the middle of a kiss, while a photographer immortalizes all those photographs that one day will adorn her house, along with Margaret’s. The whole party goes by happily, Gerard’s friends and his brother-in-law make sure that he doesn’t dance with the bride after the waltz, until Charlize kidnaps Matías and dedicates herself to dancing with him. -I see that you really like to dance, princess – Matías tells her when he manages to sit down on her and offer her a chocolate dessert-, “Not much, but I’m practicing for when you and I get married,” she tells him shamelessly, making Matías choke on the soda, “1 – You and I can’t get married, I’m much bigger than you. -Wait for me until I’m twenty and you’ll see that it won’t show anymore. While Matías decides that it would be best to get away from that house for a while, to dedicate himself to fixing his love affairs and to avoid misunderstandings with Gerard, the couple finally get to dance together. -You are tired? – Gerard asks, resting his cheek on Luz’s head. “Ten minutes ago, yes, but I took off my shoes and it’s over now,” she tells him, burying herself in her husband’s chest, to hear those rhythmic and reassuring heartbeats. -

Whenever you want, we can escape… But Dan walks over to them, his expression shaken. As soon as Gerard sees him, he hugs Luz protectively, because he knows that’s not good. “Sorry to break this news to you now… but not telling you would be worse,” he sighs and shows them a message from the detective in charge of Darcy’s case. They don’t know how he did it, under what circumstances, but he got bail and… Darcy’s free. 1