Fic: We Build Bridges (5&6/10)
a/n for chapter 6: the officiant’s speech and the vows are from the internet, i combined a few together and it’s all spaghetti and beans now. so are some of the quotes used in the toasts.
Chapter 5:
It was nearly 3 in the morning. Naomi was curled up on the couch watching the flickering yellow and blue flames in the fireplace, drinking her tea. The house was unusually quiet, with everyone pretty much gone off to bed whilst she’d been out in the backyard smoking her cigarettes and staring up at the night sky for hours. Without warning, the front door creaked open and the click clack of high heeled shoes on the hardwood floor echoed throughout the house.
Knowing it was Emily, and that she would have to pass by the lounge to get to her room, Naomi wondered whether she ought to pretend to be asleep. Before the debate even began in her head, Emily was peeking in from the hall, shoes in hand. “Hi.”
Naomi had to swallow the lump in her throat as she gazed over at Emily, even a drunken mess she was still beautiful. She rubbed her eyes feigning fatigue- god forbid Emily were to see the remnants of her tears. “No Clara?” she asked, taking care to remove the venom out of the query. She watched as Emily slowly smiled in what looked to be amusement and shook her head, swaying a bit and steadying herself against the doorframe. “Kieran’s sister and her husband are sleeping in my room with the baby. I would have brought my camping equipment had I known I’d be dropped on the couch.” she huffed.
She wasn’t sure why she was explaining all this to Emily. She should have just asked Effy for the spare key to her flat and slept there. Even if Effy was going through her ‘I’m shagging Cook’ phase, it would have been more comfortable to hear those two at it all night than sleeping in a house with a bunch of strangers again and her ex-girlfriend.
Emily just stood there quietly, looking at her, breathless. Naomi, by firelight, was the sexiest thing ever. The way the fire reflected off her blonde hair, off her eyes, off her smooth skin… It had been nine months of silence between them, a clean break to make it easier (for whom, she didn’t know), and the redhead wanted nothing more than to listen to Naomi’s sweet voice, be held in her arms, and just sit there with her like old times. She sighed, knowing she couldn’t think like that anymore, dropping her shoes on the floor. “They’re only here for a few days… Like you.” She unhurriedly walked over to the couch, sitting next to Naomi, “You all right?” she asked, knowing something was bothering her.
Naomi looked towards the fire, and away from Emily’s inquiring eyes. “I’m fine.”
“Naomi.” she pried, knowing the blonde was lying.
“Leave me alone, Emi.” Naomi whispered, trying to keep it together, cursing herself for using Emily’s nickname, “Please.”
Emily wanted to pull her face back towards her, she wanted to look at Naomi in the eyes, those deep, blue eyes that always unwound her. “I’m not going to leave you alone. I-” She paused, formalities be dammed, and began tugging at the blanket Naomi was using to warm herself, “…Tell me about Africa.”
Naomi’s gaze reverted back to the redhead. It had been a thing with them whenever Naomi would visit Bristol in between assignments: they would spend all day in bed, making love, and tell stories to each other, simply catching up. “It’s quite hot. South of Europe. It is its own continent even.” she said, dryly.
“Nomi.” Emily tugged on the blanket once more, requesting to be let in.
Naomi stifled a grunt as she rolled her eyes and opened up the coverlet. She knew she would hate herself for this in the morning but holding Emily close was something she was willing to feel guilty about. The redhead rapidly snuggled into her favorite position, her ear pressed against her chest, her right arm across her belly. Naomi tenderly put her arm around Emily’s shoulders and took in a deep breath. She could smell the herbal scented shampoo, mixed in with cigarettes and alcohol and Emily’s faint perfume.
“Tell me.” Emily pleaded.
“Oh, Em, you know simple words don’t do it justice.” She began to lovingly run her fingers though Emily’s hair.
“Try.”
“…The air is clean and crisp like it should be. The sunsets are otherworldly. The morning dew, it tickles your skin when you rise. The colors. Bright, bright colors everywhere. The sights, the smells, the cultures. The people are so nice and welcoming. Thomas’ stories didn’t do it justice, Ems.” Emily looked at her, their eyes connected. “It’s a lovely place.”
Yet Emily knew about the other side of Africa that haunted Naomi, changed her, she could see it when she would visit. It was draining- the dire poverty, the famine, the sadness when another human being died just because they didn’t have enough medicine or a government to protect them. Naomi wrote her all the time, sent her photos, and even digital videos when she got the chance. A part of her felt she’d been alongside her when a new school was dedicated, when a hospital was rebuilt, when a home was constructed for a refugee. Emily loathed being apart from her yet was so proud of what she’d helped accomplish.
“And Spain?” Emily could feel her heart beating along with Naomi’s rhythm, their breaths coming in unison as well. Naomi still smelled like Naomi and she smiled into her chest, adoring the familiarity of this.
Naomi couldn’t help but smile, “You’d love Barcelona.”
“Would I?”
“It’s pretty.”
Emily looked up to her and grinned, “And I do like pretty things.”
Naomi chuckled, “It’s a beautiful city. The architecture. The gardens.”
“Gardens?”
“Yeah, there’s this park, Guell, you’d love it.”
“Really? Why?”
“It’s gorgeous. Full of colorful plants and unusual structures. Lots of twisting pathways. It has so many different routes that you can explore it differently every time. Even though I’ve been going for years, I always get lost. Then, somehow, I find my way back to the beginning.”
“Sounds fun.”
“It can be… I do get lonely though. Sometimes.”
Emily sat up. She lovingly moved a bit of Naomi’s bangs to the back of her ear so that she could look into her eyes. They were teary. “Nomi, if I went with you to Barcelona and you took off on another one of your assignments then I’d be lonely, too. In Spain. I don’t want that. I want you with me. Otherwise, I can be alone here.”
Naomi looked away, “I wouldn’t volunteer to go if you were there.” she said, softly. “I’d get an office job or something.”
“Why can’t we be together in this country?” Naomi continued to stare at the fire, her brows furrowed. Emily was tiring of all this. “…I’m going to bed.” She began to shuffle out of the blanket.
Naomi’s faint voice stopped her, “Em?”
“Yeah?” she asked, without looking at her.
“They’ve asked me to go to Phuket. For a year.”
“Oh... Well, you’ve always wanted to go to Thailand.” She turned to Naomi and asked, “Does Effy know about Phuket?” A drunken, off comment Effy had made in the pub earlier that night was beginning to make sense.
Naomi nodded, “She was with me when I got the offer last month.”
“Oh.” she couldn’t think of anything else to say. She was too surprised. “…So that’s where she runs off to when she disappears for a week or two, eh?” she sadly smiled; now understanding why Effy and Naomi were better chums than ever before.
“She’s been a good friend. Nobody else visits.”
“Naomi, don’t.” It pained her to realize Effy, of all people, knew where Naomi lived, where she worked in Barcelona, were she spent her days. Even though it’d been settled years ago, she still couldn’t believe the girl that had almost killed her twin sister with a rock to the head was best friends with her girlfriend… ex-girlfriend. Actually, their friendship had been a source of contention between them the first few months they dated openly (during their last year of college). But, after her parents began to admit to themselves Naomi was not a passing fad and Katie finally acknowledging she may have contributed something to bring on the blow, Emily decided bygone were bygones and war lines were erased between all of them. Also, Naomi probably found Effy’s fucked up love life sadly hilarious and perhaps a cautionary tale as to how NOT to act when you were in love with someone.
“Well, then, what?” Naomi asked, “What do you want me to say?”
Emily stood up, her anger rising as well, “I’ve been waiting for you to come home for over three years now, Naomi. I miss you all the time. I don’t want three or four weeks a year and some random holiday to be able to kiss you and hold you and make love to you. I can’t do that anymore. I bloody love you. And you love me, too. I know you do. Everyone knows it. Why are you being so fucking difficult?”
Naomi just looked at her, biting her lip, her eyes teary again. It wasn’t fair. It really wasn’t. She hadn’t made the decision alone and Emily couldn’t just… Jesus.
Emily was too frustrated, and drunk, to deal with this right now, again. “Whatever. Good night.”
As soon as Naomi heard Emily’s door to her room close she let the tears fall once more.
*
“Something old, new, borrowed and blue.” Gina turned to Emily sitting across from her, “What do I have that is blue?” she asked, then sipped her morning tea.
Emily coyly smiled at a thought, “Well, I have a blue thong.”
Naomi almost spat out her coffee all over the breakfast table after nearly choking on a laugh.
“Eh. No. Thanks, love.” Gina replied, looking over at her daughter with a worried glance.
Naomi rolled her eyes, “You don’t have to wear it, mum.” She turned to the redhead, “Does she?”
“Of course not! I wasn’t suggesting such a thing.” Emily looked back and forth between Gina and Naomi, “And it’s been washed- Christ- various times.” She curved her lips upwards. It was nice all of them together again like this, she thought. Even if things with Naomi were still up in the air they were nonetheless acting civil with each other. “You’ll need a silver sixpence in your shoe, Gina.”
“Why?” Naomi asked, taking a bite out of her banana.
“Its part of the tradition. I read it on the internet.”
“But, I’m wearing open toed heels.” Gina mentioned.
“Oh!” Naomi stood up, abruptly. “I have something blue. Be right back!”
“Grab her a coin while you’re at it!” Emily yelled at the bolting girl. Her gaze turned back to table and, without thinking, grabbed Naomi’s unfinished banana and proceeded to eat it.
Gina smiled at the redhead, “So, how are you two getting along?”
“You should have told her I was living here before she arrived.” she groaned, slightly chastising Gina.
“Oh, pish posh.” Gina dismissed her with a wave of her hand, “You know that girl always needs a nudge in the right direction.”
“That was more like a shove off of the Dover cliffs, Gina. I’m surprised she’s still talking to the two of us. Me, especially.”
“Told her the truth then, eh, love?” Emily nodded. “What did she say to that?”
“I didn’t wait around for another excuse of hers.”
“I know it’s hard. I remember being your age and how tempting the wanderlust was. Getting pregnant with her made me less selfish and a bit more grounded.”
Emily scoffed, wondering what ‘more grounded’ meant to Gina exactly. “That’s not likely to happen. I mean, she’s an only child. She’s used to getting what she wants… I want to be selfish now. I’m tired of sharing her with the world.”
“She’ll come around. I’m sure of it.” Emily lifted her eyebrows and sighed, thinking ‘not bloody likely’. Gina looked over at some of the wedding stuff littering the dining room, “I remember when she was seven and told me the kind of wedding she wanted to have. That was before her father turned into a shitty prick, and everything went down hill from there, and she lost all hope in happy endings.” Off Emily’s horrified look Gina laughed, “Joking on the last part, love.” She drank more of her tea, “Back then she wanted to have a nude wedding.”
“Nude wedding?”
“Yeah, in the buff. Even the guests. Just flowers scattered everywhere. Now that I think about it she is a few eggs short of a dozen, isn’t she?” Or, it could have been the fact she was practically raised in a commune where clothing was optional.
“What-“
“Here we are.” Naomi interrupted as she ran in, oblivious to the conversation taking place. “I packed it so securely it took me ages to find.” She tenderly handed her mother a pale blue handkerchief, “Something new to you, borrowed from me and it’s blue.” She looked at Emily. “Are there rules for this sort of thing?” Emily shrugged her shoulders.
“Oh, Naomi, this is a stunner.” The dark blue, geometric patterns in the center of the kerchief were mesmerizing, “Where’d you get this?”
“It’s my Tammis Keefe handkerchief.” Emily answered, surprised. “I gave it to her.”
“Really?”
“It’s been everywhere with me. It’s my good luck handkie.” Naomi looked away, self-conscious.
Suddenly, Emily’s mobile began to ring- she could tell who it was by the ringtone, “It’s Clara. Excuse me.”
Naomi’s eyes followed her out as the redhead walked to the foyer and towards the front door for some privacy.
“This is beautiful, Naomi. I love it. Now for the something old.” She said, watching Naomi slink over to the door, trying to listen in to Emily’s side of the conversation. “Hello? Naomi? Nai-o-mee?”
Naomi was distracted, “Yes?”
“Dear lord. Give her some privacy. You’re acting like a child.”
She finally looked to her mum, “What? What are you talking about?”
“If she wanted you to hear her conversation she would have put Clara on the speakerphone. Now come over here and help me figure out this something old.”
Naomi huffed and sat down beside her mother, “You’re old. There.”
“Oi! I’m not that old!” she tickled her in the ribs. “At 45, I’m not too old to put you over my knee and spank you either.” She grinned as soon as Naomi smiled, “On the other hand you might enjoy it.”
“MUM!” Naomi blushed.
“What? These walls aren’t that thick, darling. Really.”
They were still laughing by the time Emily returned.
“Alright, Emily?” Gina asked.
“Not all right. Clara is feeling a bit shit and called to excuse herself. She tried to keep up with us last night at the pub but you know how that goes.”
“Yes. You lot will be beautifully preserved for ages with all the alcohol you consume.” the bride-to-be smirked at the redhead and then at her daughter.
“She did ask me to extend her congratulations.”
“Well, thank her for me next time you see her.”
“Yeah. I will.” She glanced between the two, and back to the mobile in her hand, “I should go. I need to head to the chapel and help Debbie with the arrangements. Everything good here?”
Naomi stopped herself from rolling her eyes. “We’re good. Thanks.”
Emily knew the blonde was miffed about something but didn’t know what. “Ring if you need anything.” Emily awkwardly waved at Naomi after kissing Gina goodbye on the cheek.
Naomi rolled her eyes for real once Emily’d left. “Green don’t look good on you, girl.” Gina told her daughter.
“I’m envious?”
“I think you miss having a home. And I’m not just talking about the kind with four walls neither. Oh, look at the time-” Naomi was about to yell at her she didn’t even own a watch and the wrist she pretended to glance at was bare. “I should go pick up the dress. Only got six more hours until I am Mrs. Kieran MacFoeinaiugh. I’ll be seeing you later, my little sunflower.” She kissed her on the top of her head and lovingly pinched her nose.
Naomi looked over at her curiously finished banana and strangled a scream.
Chapter 6:
Naomi had never thought of the possibility of her mum marrying again. She didn’t know why but it just hadn’t seemed something she’d do for a second time after the first go at it ended up so… disappointingly. Maybe it had to do with the fact she’d met her dad on some random beach in Thailand and gotten married after only two days of knowing each other. Hell, she didn’t even know if they’d been legally wed in the first place.
But, here she was, at a quaint chapel for the small service sitting next to Effy who’d actually managed to wear a dress that not only went past her butt but also wasn’t ripped to pieces. She glanced around at the invited guests as they waited for the ceremony to begin. Kieran’s large Irish clan was sat on the left of the isle and her mum’s gaggle of outsiders to the right. “Oh, Jesus!” she cried out, quickly turning back to the front of the chapel. Even the fucking wannabe Messiah was here.
Pandora and Thomas sat next to Effy with JJ (who’d spent three nervous minutes telling her Emily had helped pick out his man suit and, even though she’d been inside the fitting room with him, it was all innocent) and Cook (laughing all the while). After smiling at Pandora’s happily dorky wave Naomi looked down at her wedding program. Besides introducing the bride and groom and explaining certain traditions they would be upholding and how the flowers were being donated to a hospital and blah, blah blah, she noticed the back cover of the paper had a fragment by Sappho:
“Beautiful bride,
to look at you gives joy; your eyes are like honey,
love flows over your gentle face.
Aphrodite has honored you above all others.”
Lucky bridegroom,
the marriage you have prayed for has come to pass,
and the bride you dreamed of is yours.”
She wondered if that too had been another one of Emily’s ideas as her eyes sought out the redhead.
“Your eyes still light up when you look at her.” Effy stated, wistfully in a way.
“What? No.” Naomi disagreed. She was about to make some comment about the mood lighting in the room when Effy cut in.
“They do.”
“They don’t.”
“Get off it already, Naomi…” Effy’s blue eyes pierced, “Does it bother you?”
“Does what bother me?” Once in a while, the way Effy started a conversation bothered her. However, she was pretty sure that wasn’t what the brunette was talking about.
“She up there. You down here.”
Naomi looked over at Emily again, busy chatting with the non-denominational minister by the altar. “She’s up there because she’s the wedding designer or something.” Effy carefully lifted one eyebrow. “She is. She did all this.” She couldn’t stop herself from glancing around at the gorgeously decorated chapel again. If only Rob and Jenna Fitch could have seen this. They would have been so proud of Emily. Lamentably, they were in Edinburgh taking James to uni (where apparently Freddie, funnily enough, promised to keep him out of trouble. Yeah, right.).
Emily, as if she knew they were talking about her, looked over at Naomi a second and warmly smiled.
Effy smirked, noticing the fleeting look. “Because she loves you.”
“She loves my mum.” Naomi turned back to Effy.
“Why can you just accept it?”
“Oh, shut your gob. It’s starting.” Naomi hissed as piano music began to reverberate throughout the space. Pandora squealed in excitement, clapping silently.
There were no other wedding ceremony participants apart from a young flower girl and a little ring boy before Kieran and Gina walked down the isle hand in hand. Her mum’s radiant smile and quick wink at her made Naomi grin. She winked back, mouthed a silent ‘I love you’ and quickly rolled her eyes, biting her lip to stop from laughing out loud.
“We are gathered here today to witness the coming together of two people whose hearts and spirits are entwined as one,” the officiant began once the bride and groom reached the altar. “When you love someone, you do not love them all the time in exactly the same way, from moment to moment. That is impossible. It is even a disservice to pretend it is possible. We insist on permanence, on duration, on continuity.”
Naomi and Effy looked at each other, quizzically. She was pretty sure they weren't the only ones thinking, ‘What the fuck?’.
“But,” the man continued, “the only continuity possible in life, as in love, is in growth, in fluidity and in freedom, as dancers are free, barely touching as they pass, but partners in creating the same pattern.”
This time, Naomi and Emily’s eyes met. The blonde couldn’t bare the intense stare and so she lowered her gaze to her lap, her heart pounding against her chest. How was it Emily still made her react this way?
“I speak now to Gina and Kieran of love, in which, the trust and freedom of the other person becomes as significant as the trust and freedom of one's self. I speak to them of generosity, which gathers the beauty of earth for riches and the kindness which turns away the wrath of foolish men and women. I speak of all our hopes for their continued growth through patience, one for the other. May you both keep the vows made on this day, in freedom, teaching each other who they are, what they yet shall be, enabling them to know that, in the fullness of being, they are more than themselves and more than each other, that they are all of us and that together we share joyously the fruits of life on this Earth, our home.”
The guests all said ‘Amen’.
The minister smiled, “Now, please, imbue Gina and Kieran with positive energy and love as they say their vows.”
Gina cleared her throat before commencing; Naomi could sense her mother was silently crying. “My friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not know yet, in all the ways that life may find us.”
Kieran gave her a cute kiss on the cheek before saying his own vow, “By the power that brought from heaven, mayst thou love me. As the sun follows its course, mayst thou follow me. As light to the eye, as bread to the hungry, as joy to the heart, may thy presence be with me, oh one that I love, 'til death comes to part us asunder.”
“And now the rings.”
Emily guided one of Kieran’s youngest nephews to the altar. The little boy had looked confused as to where to go and what to do with his ring pillow. Those gathered couldn’t help but find it comical, especially the future husband and wife.
"Would you like to be buried with my people?" Kieran offered his ring to Gina.
There were plenty of chuckles from the onlookers with that declaration as another of Naomi’s famous eye rolls eked out. Of course he’d go the traditional Irish way- he was even wearing an Irish kilt, for fucks sake.
“I do.” Gina grinned as she held out the ring to Kieran, "Would you like to hang your washing next to mine?"
Naomi covered her face with her hands, groaning. Everyone laughed out loud again, including Effy who’d nudged her in the ribs. God, she was so embarrassing, even in her own blasted wedding.
“I certainly do.” Kieran replied, kissing the bride before the officiant could declare them married. The chapel erupted in cheers and applause anyway.
*
“You really should thank me.” Effy declared, holding a cigarette on one hand and clutching a flute of champagne with the other.
“What for?” Naomi puffed on her own ciggy. She and Effy were off to the side, leaning back against the wall, their second glass of champagne almost finished. It was a great vantage point to do what they loved best: watch people.
“I dared Clara to have that last shot of absinthe last night. Guess she couldn’t handle the third one.”
“You what?!” Naomi yelled at her a bit too loudly. Good thing the party was in full swing and the guest were all entertained- dancing, eating, chatting. Even a group of Kieran’s friends were noisily singing wedding songs and playing traditional instruments they’d brought with them.
Effy smiled, motioning with her head someone was heading towards them. “I like gateau. Cheers.” After saluting Naomi with her drink, she retreated to find Panda and Thomas. Cook, and by default JJ, had already been kicked out of the party after an incident involving a shoe.
“Where she going?” Emily wondered aloud, walking up to Naomi and stealing the cigarette out of her fingers. She smiled at the blonde as she inhaled.
Naomi chortled at the familiar behavior. “I don’t know. Fucking Houdini that one.”
“I’m starting to think maybe it’s me.” She offered the cigarette back to its rightful owner, personally placing it between Naomi’s lips before taking a drink from her wine glass.
“No, you know Effy. All mysterious and what not.”
Emily was about to retort that, yeah, they were two of a feather. Instead she looked over to Kieran and Gina now drunkenly singing the Irish Wedding Song with their friends. “It’s funny.”
“What is?”
“Had he not inappropriately kissed you at college we wouldn’t be here today.”
Naomi grumbled, “Right, lets never bring that up again, ever. Thanks.” Naomi didn’t even know if her mother knew. She sure hoped not. She’d told Emily about it that night in the woods. The first time they…
“I can’t believe it’s over. It all went by so fast.” Emily sighed, leaning against the wall next to Naomi, their arms softly brushing.
“Yeah.” She looked over at Emily, her brown eyes peacefully closed. “It really was beautiful. You did a beautiful job. Must have taken ages to plan.”
“Yeah,” Emily nodded, “Six months.”
“Six months?!” Emily turned towards Naomi, her eyes nervous. Naomi couldn't believe it, “Why didn’t anyone tell me? I would have helped.”
“How? You were in Kenya until last month. And Tanzania before that. And Mozambique before that.” Emily paused, “I had to call Oxfam in Barcelona to get your schedule. Gina wanted to make sure you would be on holiday when she married.” She softly shook hear head remembering what an ordeal that had been, “They wouldn’t give me any information for security purposes so I lied and told them I was your partner.”
“Sorry you had to go through all that trouble for me.” Naomi said quietly, pensive.
“No trouble.” She fibbed, “But, apparently, I’m still your emergency contact so they bought it.”
“Emily-“
Emily breathed a sigh, looking earnestly at Naomi. “I get it, Naomi. I always have.”
“Get what?”
“You. Let’s just enjoy tonight, yeah? It’s your mother’s big day. Take two.” She winked.
“Hop along, everyone.” One of Kieran’s brothers called out, interrupting their conversation. “Gather around the bride and her groom. Time for a toast.”
Kieran stood up on a chair, a bit unsteady, as he looked out at all his invited guests. He raised his goblet, "Friends and relatives… I… Oh Christ, I’ve forgotten the fucking words.” Without prompting, Gina was beside him holding out a piece of paper. He carefully bent down and kissed his wife, “This is why I married her. I need a personal assistant.” Gina playfully slapped his arse as laughter filled the banquet hall.
Kieran cleared his throat and read out loud, “Friends and relatives, so fond and dear, 'tis our greatest pleasure to have you here. When many years this day has passed, fondest memories will always last. So we drink a cup of Irish mead,” He raised his goblet once more and then nodded to Gina, “champagne for my new wife, and ask God's blessing in our new life."
Everyone hailed and drank from their cups. A few others not yet completely sloshed gave toasts as well. Some sang, told embarrassing Kieran or Gina stories and jokes, others danced in their honor.
Naomi watched, puzzled, as Emily walked to the center of the room, “May I say something, please?”
“Of course, love.” Gina was delighted by the request.
“Gina and Kieran, you both mean the world to me. When I needed a friend you were there. When I needed a home, too. May your troubles be less, and your blessings be more and nothing but happiness come through your door. I love you.”
Shouts of “Here, here!” and “I’ll say!” murmured though the gathered, as Kieran and Gina enveloped Emily in a hug.
Gina gazed over at Naomi, standing a few feet from them, wondering if she was going to say something as well. Naomi looked at everyone staring at her in anticipation. “Yes?”
“Would you like to say a few words, Naomi?” Kieran asked. To everyone he added, “Never one to shut up, this one. Should have seen her debate in my politics class.”
“I…” Naomi didn’t know what to say. But, once a smiling Emily was besides her, touching her arm in support, Naomi was able to utter, “Eh… There’s a saying in Africa ‘Where there is love there is no darkness’. Mum, Kieran, may you be blinded by light.” She raised her glass, “To the oldyweds!”
Everyone erupted in laughter again.
“Oi!” Gina mock glared at her daughter.
Emily looked at her, amused, and squeezed her hand. She began to grin like a madwoman when Naomi lovingly squeezed back.
TBC
Chapter 5:
It was nearly 3 in the morning. Naomi was curled up on the couch watching the flickering yellow and blue flames in the fireplace, drinking her tea. The house was unusually quiet, with everyone pretty much gone off to bed whilst she’d been out in the backyard smoking her cigarettes and staring up at the night sky for hours. Without warning, the front door creaked open and the click clack of high heeled shoes on the hardwood floor echoed throughout the house.
Knowing it was Emily, and that she would have to pass by the lounge to get to her room, Naomi wondered whether she ought to pretend to be asleep. Before the debate even began in her head, Emily was peeking in from the hall, shoes in hand. “Hi.”
Naomi had to swallow the lump in her throat as she gazed over at Emily, even a drunken mess she was still beautiful. She rubbed her eyes feigning fatigue- god forbid Emily were to see the remnants of her tears. “No Clara?” she asked, taking care to remove the venom out of the query. She watched as Emily slowly smiled in what looked to be amusement and shook her head, swaying a bit and steadying herself against the doorframe. “Kieran’s sister and her husband are sleeping in my room with the baby. I would have brought my camping equipment had I known I’d be dropped on the couch.” she huffed.
She wasn’t sure why she was explaining all this to Emily. She should have just asked Effy for the spare key to her flat and slept there. Even if Effy was going through her ‘I’m shagging Cook’ phase, it would have been more comfortable to hear those two at it all night than sleeping in a house with a bunch of strangers again and her ex-girlfriend.
Emily just stood there quietly, looking at her, breathless. Naomi, by firelight, was the sexiest thing ever. The way the fire reflected off her blonde hair, off her eyes, off her smooth skin… It had been nine months of silence between them, a clean break to make it easier (for whom, she didn’t know), and the redhead wanted nothing more than to listen to Naomi’s sweet voice, be held in her arms, and just sit there with her like old times. She sighed, knowing she couldn’t think like that anymore, dropping her shoes on the floor. “They’re only here for a few days… Like you.” She unhurriedly walked over to the couch, sitting next to Naomi, “You all right?” she asked, knowing something was bothering her.
Naomi looked towards the fire, and away from Emily’s inquiring eyes. “I’m fine.”
“Naomi.” she pried, knowing the blonde was lying.
“Leave me alone, Emi.” Naomi whispered, trying to keep it together, cursing herself for using Emily’s nickname, “Please.”
Emily wanted to pull her face back towards her, she wanted to look at Naomi in the eyes, those deep, blue eyes that always unwound her. “I’m not going to leave you alone. I-” She paused, formalities be dammed, and began tugging at the blanket Naomi was using to warm herself, “…Tell me about Africa.”
Naomi’s gaze reverted back to the redhead. It had been a thing with them whenever Naomi would visit Bristol in between assignments: they would spend all day in bed, making love, and tell stories to each other, simply catching up. “It’s quite hot. South of Europe. It is its own continent even.” she said, dryly.
“Nomi.” Emily tugged on the blanket once more, requesting to be let in.
Naomi stifled a grunt as she rolled her eyes and opened up the coverlet. She knew she would hate herself for this in the morning but holding Emily close was something she was willing to feel guilty about. The redhead rapidly snuggled into her favorite position, her ear pressed against her chest, her right arm across her belly. Naomi tenderly put her arm around Emily’s shoulders and took in a deep breath. She could smell the herbal scented shampoo, mixed in with cigarettes and alcohol and Emily’s faint perfume.
“Tell me.” Emily pleaded.
“Oh, Em, you know simple words don’t do it justice.” She began to lovingly run her fingers though Emily’s hair.
“Try.”
“…The air is clean and crisp like it should be. The sunsets are otherworldly. The morning dew, it tickles your skin when you rise. The colors. Bright, bright colors everywhere. The sights, the smells, the cultures. The people are so nice and welcoming. Thomas’ stories didn’t do it justice, Ems.” Emily looked at her, their eyes connected. “It’s a lovely place.”
Yet Emily knew about the other side of Africa that haunted Naomi, changed her, she could see it when she would visit. It was draining- the dire poverty, the famine, the sadness when another human being died just because they didn’t have enough medicine or a government to protect them. Naomi wrote her all the time, sent her photos, and even digital videos when she got the chance. A part of her felt she’d been alongside her when a new school was dedicated, when a hospital was rebuilt, when a home was constructed for a refugee. Emily loathed being apart from her yet was so proud of what she’d helped accomplish.
“And Spain?” Emily could feel her heart beating along with Naomi’s rhythm, their breaths coming in unison as well. Naomi still smelled like Naomi and she smiled into her chest, adoring the familiarity of this.
Naomi couldn’t help but smile, “You’d love Barcelona.”
“Would I?”
“It’s pretty.”
Emily looked up to her and grinned, “And I do like pretty things.”
Naomi chuckled, “It’s a beautiful city. The architecture. The gardens.”
“Gardens?”
“Yeah, there’s this park, Guell, you’d love it.”
“Really? Why?”
“It’s gorgeous. Full of colorful plants and unusual structures. Lots of twisting pathways. It has so many different routes that you can explore it differently every time. Even though I’ve been going for years, I always get lost. Then, somehow, I find my way back to the beginning.”
“Sounds fun.”
“It can be… I do get lonely though. Sometimes.”
Emily sat up. She lovingly moved a bit of Naomi’s bangs to the back of her ear so that she could look into her eyes. They were teary. “Nomi, if I went with you to Barcelona and you took off on another one of your assignments then I’d be lonely, too. In Spain. I don’t want that. I want you with me. Otherwise, I can be alone here.”
Naomi looked away, “I wouldn’t volunteer to go if you were there.” she said, softly. “I’d get an office job or something.”
“Why can’t we be together in this country?” Naomi continued to stare at the fire, her brows furrowed. Emily was tiring of all this. “…I’m going to bed.” She began to shuffle out of the blanket.
Naomi’s faint voice stopped her, “Em?”
“Yeah?” she asked, without looking at her.
“They’ve asked me to go to Phuket. For a year.”
“Oh... Well, you’ve always wanted to go to Thailand.” She turned to Naomi and asked, “Does Effy know about Phuket?” A drunken, off comment Effy had made in the pub earlier that night was beginning to make sense.
Naomi nodded, “She was with me when I got the offer last month.”
“Oh.” she couldn’t think of anything else to say. She was too surprised. “…So that’s where she runs off to when she disappears for a week or two, eh?” she sadly smiled; now understanding why Effy and Naomi were better chums than ever before.
“She’s been a good friend. Nobody else visits.”
“Naomi, don’t.” It pained her to realize Effy, of all people, knew where Naomi lived, where she worked in Barcelona, were she spent her days. Even though it’d been settled years ago, she still couldn’t believe the girl that had almost killed her twin sister with a rock to the head was best friends with her girlfriend… ex-girlfriend. Actually, their friendship had been a source of contention between them the first few months they dated openly (during their last year of college). But, after her parents began to admit to themselves Naomi was not a passing fad and Katie finally acknowledging she may have contributed something to bring on the blow, Emily decided bygone were bygones and war lines were erased between all of them. Also, Naomi probably found Effy’s fucked up love life sadly hilarious and perhaps a cautionary tale as to how NOT to act when you were in love with someone.
“Well, then, what?” Naomi asked, “What do you want me to say?”
Emily stood up, her anger rising as well, “I’ve been waiting for you to come home for over three years now, Naomi. I miss you all the time. I don’t want three or four weeks a year and some random holiday to be able to kiss you and hold you and make love to you. I can’t do that anymore. I bloody love you. And you love me, too. I know you do. Everyone knows it. Why are you being so fucking difficult?”
Naomi just looked at her, biting her lip, her eyes teary again. It wasn’t fair. It really wasn’t. She hadn’t made the decision alone and Emily couldn’t just… Jesus.
Emily was too frustrated, and drunk, to deal with this right now, again. “Whatever. Good night.”
As soon as Naomi heard Emily’s door to her room close she let the tears fall once more.
*
“Something old, new, borrowed and blue.” Gina turned to Emily sitting across from her, “What do I have that is blue?” she asked, then sipped her morning tea.
Emily coyly smiled at a thought, “Well, I have a blue thong.”
Naomi almost spat out her coffee all over the breakfast table after nearly choking on a laugh.
“Eh. No. Thanks, love.” Gina replied, looking over at her daughter with a worried glance.
Naomi rolled her eyes, “You don’t have to wear it, mum.” She turned to the redhead, “Does she?”
“Of course not! I wasn’t suggesting such a thing.” Emily looked back and forth between Gina and Naomi, “And it’s been washed- Christ- various times.” She curved her lips upwards. It was nice all of them together again like this, she thought. Even if things with Naomi were still up in the air they were nonetheless acting civil with each other. “You’ll need a silver sixpence in your shoe, Gina.”
“Why?” Naomi asked, taking a bite out of her banana.
“Its part of the tradition. I read it on the internet.”
“But, I’m wearing open toed heels.” Gina mentioned.
“Oh!” Naomi stood up, abruptly. “I have something blue. Be right back!”
“Grab her a coin while you’re at it!” Emily yelled at the bolting girl. Her gaze turned back to table and, without thinking, grabbed Naomi’s unfinished banana and proceeded to eat it.
Gina smiled at the redhead, “So, how are you two getting along?”
“You should have told her I was living here before she arrived.” she groaned, slightly chastising Gina.
“Oh, pish posh.” Gina dismissed her with a wave of her hand, “You know that girl always needs a nudge in the right direction.”
“That was more like a shove off of the Dover cliffs, Gina. I’m surprised she’s still talking to the two of us. Me, especially.”
“Told her the truth then, eh, love?” Emily nodded. “What did she say to that?”
“I didn’t wait around for another excuse of hers.”
“I know it’s hard. I remember being your age and how tempting the wanderlust was. Getting pregnant with her made me less selfish and a bit more grounded.”
Emily scoffed, wondering what ‘more grounded’ meant to Gina exactly. “That’s not likely to happen. I mean, she’s an only child. She’s used to getting what she wants… I want to be selfish now. I’m tired of sharing her with the world.”
“She’ll come around. I’m sure of it.” Emily lifted her eyebrows and sighed, thinking ‘not bloody likely’. Gina looked over at some of the wedding stuff littering the dining room, “I remember when she was seven and told me the kind of wedding she wanted to have. That was before her father turned into a shitty prick, and everything went down hill from there, and she lost all hope in happy endings.” Off Emily’s horrified look Gina laughed, “Joking on the last part, love.” She drank more of her tea, “Back then she wanted to have a nude wedding.”
“Nude wedding?”
“Yeah, in the buff. Even the guests. Just flowers scattered everywhere. Now that I think about it she is a few eggs short of a dozen, isn’t she?” Or, it could have been the fact she was practically raised in a commune where clothing was optional.
“What-“
“Here we are.” Naomi interrupted as she ran in, oblivious to the conversation taking place. “I packed it so securely it took me ages to find.” She tenderly handed her mother a pale blue handkerchief, “Something new to you, borrowed from me and it’s blue.” She looked at Emily. “Are there rules for this sort of thing?” Emily shrugged her shoulders.
“Oh, Naomi, this is a stunner.” The dark blue, geometric patterns in the center of the kerchief were mesmerizing, “Where’d you get this?”
“It’s my Tammis Keefe handkerchief.” Emily answered, surprised. “I gave it to her.”
“Really?”
“It’s been everywhere with me. It’s my good luck handkie.” Naomi looked away, self-conscious.
Suddenly, Emily’s mobile began to ring- she could tell who it was by the ringtone, “It’s Clara. Excuse me.”
Naomi’s eyes followed her out as the redhead walked to the foyer and towards the front door for some privacy.
“This is beautiful, Naomi. I love it. Now for the something old.” She said, watching Naomi slink over to the door, trying to listen in to Emily’s side of the conversation. “Hello? Naomi? Nai-o-mee?”
Naomi was distracted, “Yes?”
“Dear lord. Give her some privacy. You’re acting like a child.”
She finally looked to her mum, “What? What are you talking about?”
“If she wanted you to hear her conversation she would have put Clara on the speakerphone. Now come over here and help me figure out this something old.”
Naomi huffed and sat down beside her mother, “You’re old. There.”
“Oi! I’m not that old!” she tickled her in the ribs. “At 45, I’m not too old to put you over my knee and spank you either.” She grinned as soon as Naomi smiled, “On the other hand you might enjoy it.”
“MUM!” Naomi blushed.
“What? These walls aren’t that thick, darling. Really.”
They were still laughing by the time Emily returned.
“Alright, Emily?” Gina asked.
“Not all right. Clara is feeling a bit shit and called to excuse herself. She tried to keep up with us last night at the pub but you know how that goes.”
“Yes. You lot will be beautifully preserved for ages with all the alcohol you consume.” the bride-to-be smirked at the redhead and then at her daughter.
“She did ask me to extend her congratulations.”
“Well, thank her for me next time you see her.”
“Yeah. I will.” She glanced between the two, and back to the mobile in her hand, “I should go. I need to head to the chapel and help Debbie with the arrangements. Everything good here?”
Naomi stopped herself from rolling her eyes. “We’re good. Thanks.”
Emily knew the blonde was miffed about something but didn’t know what. “Ring if you need anything.” Emily awkwardly waved at Naomi after kissing Gina goodbye on the cheek.
Naomi rolled her eyes for real once Emily’d left. “Green don’t look good on you, girl.” Gina told her daughter.
“I’m envious?”
“I think you miss having a home. And I’m not just talking about the kind with four walls neither. Oh, look at the time-” Naomi was about to yell at her she didn’t even own a watch and the wrist she pretended to glance at was bare. “I should go pick up the dress. Only got six more hours until I am Mrs. Kieran MacFoeinaiugh. I’ll be seeing you later, my little sunflower.” She kissed her on the top of her head and lovingly pinched her nose.
Naomi looked over at her curiously finished banana and strangled a scream.
Chapter 6:
Naomi had never thought of the possibility of her mum marrying again. She didn’t know why but it just hadn’t seemed something she’d do for a second time after the first go at it ended up so… disappointingly. Maybe it had to do with the fact she’d met her dad on some random beach in Thailand and gotten married after only two days of knowing each other. Hell, she didn’t even know if they’d been legally wed in the first place.
But, here she was, at a quaint chapel for the small service sitting next to Effy who’d actually managed to wear a dress that not only went past her butt but also wasn’t ripped to pieces. She glanced around at the invited guests as they waited for the ceremony to begin. Kieran’s large Irish clan was sat on the left of the isle and her mum’s gaggle of outsiders to the right. “Oh, Jesus!” she cried out, quickly turning back to the front of the chapel. Even the fucking wannabe Messiah was here.
Pandora and Thomas sat next to Effy with JJ (who’d spent three nervous minutes telling her Emily had helped pick out his man suit and, even though she’d been inside the fitting room with him, it was all innocent) and Cook (laughing all the while). After smiling at Pandora’s happily dorky wave Naomi looked down at her wedding program. Besides introducing the bride and groom and explaining certain traditions they would be upholding and how the flowers were being donated to a hospital and blah, blah blah, she noticed the back cover of the paper had a fragment by Sappho:
“Beautiful bride,
to look at you gives joy; your eyes are like honey,
love flows over your gentle face.
Aphrodite has honored you above all others.”
Lucky bridegroom,
the marriage you have prayed for has come to pass,
and the bride you dreamed of is yours.”
She wondered if that too had been another one of Emily’s ideas as her eyes sought out the redhead.
“Your eyes still light up when you look at her.” Effy stated, wistfully in a way.
“What? No.” Naomi disagreed. She was about to make some comment about the mood lighting in the room when Effy cut in.
“They do.”
“They don’t.”
“Get off it already, Naomi…” Effy’s blue eyes pierced, “Does it bother you?”
“Does what bother me?” Once in a while, the way Effy started a conversation bothered her. However, she was pretty sure that wasn’t what the brunette was talking about.
“She up there. You down here.”
Naomi looked over at Emily again, busy chatting with the non-denominational minister by the altar. “She’s up there because she’s the wedding designer or something.” Effy carefully lifted one eyebrow. “She is. She did all this.” She couldn’t stop herself from glancing around at the gorgeously decorated chapel again. If only Rob and Jenna Fitch could have seen this. They would have been so proud of Emily. Lamentably, they were in Edinburgh taking James to uni (where apparently Freddie, funnily enough, promised to keep him out of trouble. Yeah, right.).
Emily, as if she knew they were talking about her, looked over at Naomi a second and warmly smiled.
Effy smirked, noticing the fleeting look. “Because she loves you.”
“She loves my mum.” Naomi turned back to Effy.
“Why can you just accept it?”
“Oh, shut your gob. It’s starting.” Naomi hissed as piano music began to reverberate throughout the space. Pandora squealed in excitement, clapping silently.
There were no other wedding ceremony participants apart from a young flower girl and a little ring boy before Kieran and Gina walked down the isle hand in hand. Her mum’s radiant smile and quick wink at her made Naomi grin. She winked back, mouthed a silent ‘I love you’ and quickly rolled her eyes, biting her lip to stop from laughing out loud.
“We are gathered here today to witness the coming together of two people whose hearts and spirits are entwined as one,” the officiant began once the bride and groom reached the altar. “When you love someone, you do not love them all the time in exactly the same way, from moment to moment. That is impossible. It is even a disservice to pretend it is possible. We insist on permanence, on duration, on continuity.”
Naomi and Effy looked at each other, quizzically. She was pretty sure they weren't the only ones thinking, ‘What the fuck?’.
“But,” the man continued, “the only continuity possible in life, as in love, is in growth, in fluidity and in freedom, as dancers are free, barely touching as they pass, but partners in creating the same pattern.”
This time, Naomi and Emily’s eyes met. The blonde couldn’t bare the intense stare and so she lowered her gaze to her lap, her heart pounding against her chest. How was it Emily still made her react this way?
“I speak now to Gina and Kieran of love, in which, the trust and freedom of the other person becomes as significant as the trust and freedom of one's self. I speak to them of generosity, which gathers the beauty of earth for riches and the kindness which turns away the wrath of foolish men and women. I speak of all our hopes for their continued growth through patience, one for the other. May you both keep the vows made on this day, in freedom, teaching each other who they are, what they yet shall be, enabling them to know that, in the fullness of being, they are more than themselves and more than each other, that they are all of us and that together we share joyously the fruits of life on this Earth, our home.”
The guests all said ‘Amen’.
The minister smiled, “Now, please, imbue Gina and Kieran with positive energy and love as they say their vows.”
Gina cleared her throat before commencing; Naomi could sense her mother was silently crying. “My friend and love, beside me and apart from me, in laughter and in tears, in conflict and tranquility, asking that you be no other than yourself, loving what I know of you, trusting what I do not know yet, in all the ways that life may find us.”
Kieran gave her a cute kiss on the cheek before saying his own vow, “By the power that brought from heaven, mayst thou love me. As the sun follows its course, mayst thou follow me. As light to the eye, as bread to the hungry, as joy to the heart, may thy presence be with me, oh one that I love, 'til death comes to part us asunder.”
“And now the rings.”
Emily guided one of Kieran’s youngest nephews to the altar. The little boy had looked confused as to where to go and what to do with his ring pillow. Those gathered couldn’t help but find it comical, especially the future husband and wife.
"Would you like to be buried with my people?" Kieran offered his ring to Gina.
There were plenty of chuckles from the onlookers with that declaration as another of Naomi’s famous eye rolls eked out. Of course he’d go the traditional Irish way- he was even wearing an Irish kilt, for fucks sake.
“I do.” Gina grinned as she held out the ring to Kieran, "Would you like to hang your washing next to mine?"
Naomi covered her face with her hands, groaning. Everyone laughed out loud again, including Effy who’d nudged her in the ribs. God, she was so embarrassing, even in her own blasted wedding.
“I certainly do.” Kieran replied, kissing the bride before the officiant could declare them married. The chapel erupted in cheers and applause anyway.
*
“You really should thank me.” Effy declared, holding a cigarette on one hand and clutching a flute of champagne with the other.
“What for?” Naomi puffed on her own ciggy. She and Effy were off to the side, leaning back against the wall, their second glass of champagne almost finished. It was a great vantage point to do what they loved best: watch people.
“I dared Clara to have that last shot of absinthe last night. Guess she couldn’t handle the third one.”
“You what?!” Naomi yelled at her a bit too loudly. Good thing the party was in full swing and the guest were all entertained- dancing, eating, chatting. Even a group of Kieran’s friends were noisily singing wedding songs and playing traditional instruments they’d brought with them.
Effy smiled, motioning with her head someone was heading towards them. “I like gateau. Cheers.” After saluting Naomi with her drink, she retreated to find Panda and Thomas. Cook, and by default JJ, had already been kicked out of the party after an incident involving a shoe.
“Where she going?” Emily wondered aloud, walking up to Naomi and stealing the cigarette out of her fingers. She smiled at the blonde as she inhaled.
Naomi chortled at the familiar behavior. “I don’t know. Fucking Houdini that one.”
“I’m starting to think maybe it’s me.” She offered the cigarette back to its rightful owner, personally placing it between Naomi’s lips before taking a drink from her wine glass.
“No, you know Effy. All mysterious and what not.”
Emily was about to retort that, yeah, they were two of a feather. Instead she looked over to Kieran and Gina now drunkenly singing the Irish Wedding Song with their friends. “It’s funny.”
“What is?”
“Had he not inappropriately kissed you at college we wouldn’t be here today.”
Naomi grumbled, “Right, lets never bring that up again, ever. Thanks.” Naomi didn’t even know if her mother knew. She sure hoped not. She’d told Emily about it that night in the woods. The first time they…
“I can’t believe it’s over. It all went by so fast.” Emily sighed, leaning against the wall next to Naomi, their arms softly brushing.
“Yeah.” She looked over at Emily, her brown eyes peacefully closed. “It really was beautiful. You did a beautiful job. Must have taken ages to plan.”
“Yeah,” Emily nodded, “Six months.”
“Six months?!” Emily turned towards Naomi, her eyes nervous. Naomi couldn't believe it, “Why didn’t anyone tell me? I would have helped.”
“How? You were in Kenya until last month. And Tanzania before that. And Mozambique before that.” Emily paused, “I had to call Oxfam in Barcelona to get your schedule. Gina wanted to make sure you would be on holiday when she married.” She softly shook hear head remembering what an ordeal that had been, “They wouldn’t give me any information for security purposes so I lied and told them I was your partner.”
“Sorry you had to go through all that trouble for me.” Naomi said quietly, pensive.
“No trouble.” She fibbed, “But, apparently, I’m still your emergency contact so they bought it.”
“Emily-“
Emily breathed a sigh, looking earnestly at Naomi. “I get it, Naomi. I always have.”
“Get what?”
“You. Let’s just enjoy tonight, yeah? It’s your mother’s big day. Take two.” She winked.
“Hop along, everyone.” One of Kieran’s brothers called out, interrupting their conversation. “Gather around the bride and her groom. Time for a toast.”
Kieran stood up on a chair, a bit unsteady, as he looked out at all his invited guests. He raised his goblet, "Friends and relatives… I… Oh Christ, I’ve forgotten the fucking words.” Without prompting, Gina was beside him holding out a piece of paper. He carefully bent down and kissed his wife, “This is why I married her. I need a personal assistant.” Gina playfully slapped his arse as laughter filled the banquet hall.
Kieran cleared his throat and read out loud, “Friends and relatives, so fond and dear, 'tis our greatest pleasure to have you here. When many years this day has passed, fondest memories will always last. So we drink a cup of Irish mead,” He raised his goblet once more and then nodded to Gina, “champagne for my new wife, and ask God's blessing in our new life."
Everyone hailed and drank from their cups. A few others not yet completely sloshed gave toasts as well. Some sang, told embarrassing Kieran or Gina stories and jokes, others danced in their honor.
Naomi watched, puzzled, as Emily walked to the center of the room, “May I say something, please?”
“Of course, love.” Gina was delighted by the request.
“Gina and Kieran, you both mean the world to me. When I needed a friend you were there. When I needed a home, too. May your troubles be less, and your blessings be more and nothing but happiness come through your door. I love you.”
Shouts of “Here, here!” and “I’ll say!” murmured though the gathered, as Kieran and Gina enveloped Emily in a hug.
Gina gazed over at Naomi, standing a few feet from them, wondering if she was going to say something as well. Naomi looked at everyone staring at her in anticipation. “Yes?”
“Would you like to say a few words, Naomi?” Kieran asked. To everyone he added, “Never one to shut up, this one. Should have seen her debate in my politics class.”
“I…” Naomi didn’t know what to say. But, once a smiling Emily was besides her, touching her arm in support, Naomi was able to utter, “Eh… There’s a saying in Africa ‘Where there is love there is no darkness’. Mum, Kieran, may you be blinded by light.” She raised her glass, “To the oldyweds!”
Everyone erupted in laughter again.
“Oi!” Gina mock glared at her daughter.
Emily looked at her, amused, and squeezed her hand. She began to grin like a madwoman when Naomi lovingly squeezed back.
TBC