Love, Simply - Chapter 27：Because I love you

“A happy marriage is about three things: memories of togetherness, the forgiveness of mistakes, and a promise to never give up on each other,” Surabhi Surendra.

***

“In relationships, sometimes, love only is enough. Sometimes not, but everyone’s ‘love’ is unique and comes with complications, difficulties, obstacles, and tragedies. Do these apply to us? I don’t know. Maybe, maybe not. Only God knows for sure, but I am happy that I met him. I am glad that we had met each other. The future? I don’t know.

There are no ‘perfect’ couple or relationship in this world. I know that we’re going through trials and—everything, it’s all going to depend on how ‘we’ handle our problems.

“Mmh! For me, communication and understanding are as significant as—anyhow, I will be tolerant, respect—”

Louise set the pen down and sighed, “What am I doing? Ugh, this is so difficult.”

“What are you doing?” Lyms asked, snatching the paper off the desk.

“Oh? You can—directly tell Cyrus how you feel. Why write them?”

“I don’t know,” Louise answered, dribbling on the notebook. “It’s not easy to talk about things like this. They are all nonsense.”

“Will I be like this if I fall in love?” Lyms wondered. “It’s scary.”

“What is?”

“Loving someone. You love Cyrus so much that I am scared for you.”

“I can’t answer that—”

“Would you suicide if he dies?” Lyms asked solemnly.

“Do you think we’re Romeo and Juliet?” Louise rolled her eyes, “What kind of question is that?”

“Would you?”

“I wouldn’t! Stop talking about this.”

“But, I am happy that you are happy,” Lyms smiled, “Keep writing! I am going to work.”

“Aren’t you off today?”

“A doctor called off.”

“Sucks to be you.”

“Nah, I don’t need to share my bed with anyone,” Lynn yelled back.

‘That jerk!’

~~~

“How much was that?”

“What?”

“The ring!”

“Can I not tell the price?”

“Tell me!”

“Four hundred!”

“Four hundred?” Lisa snorted, “Isn’t that too cheap to give to my grandniece?”

‘Oh, you don’t even know,’ Gregg shook his head.

“Where’s the inheritance your father left? Show off. Do you even have anything left? What will you feed my grandniece and nephews with?”

“Aunt! You should know more than anyone what your niece wants from him. His faithfulness, love, respect, loyalty, honesty, understanding, and care, that’s what my sister wants from him. And all the rest that comes after.”

“What else do you want from him? Dowry? He gave the land his father left him to Louise. Their children will also get grandpa and Louise’s last name. What more do you want from him? And that’s a promise ring. You should know that your niece didn’t give him a chance to propose.”

“And? Who told him to be slow? Poor excuses. Why didn’t you give her an engagement ring after that?” Lisa glared at Cyrus.

“Aunt, I am sorry. It’s just that—”

“What?”

“Aunt Lisa! Scold him after the wedding. Cyr, don’t you need to pick up my sister?”

“Do I?”

‘Hurry up, let’s leave,’ Gregg mouthed.

“You! Gregg, he’s about to become your brother-in-law, you’re defending him already.”

“Excuse me, aunt. I am going to pick up Loulou,” Cyrus smiled.

“I am coming too,” said Gregg, “Aunt, I’ll se you later.”

“Don’t come back, unfilial nephew!”

~~~

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“No matter what I said, aunt Lisa would still have found faults with me,” Cyrus sighed. “I must have done something to her.”

“She’s not a bad person. Don’t mind her.”

~~~

“Hey!” Louise enthusiastically threw her hands around Cyrus’s. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming to pick me up? Is there anything?”

“Huh, your brother needed a ride home,” Cyrus said, holding her face and kissed her on the forehead.

“You met aunt Lisa?”

“Yeah, you resemble her a little.”

“Did she give you trouble?” Louise asked, frowning as she waited for his answer. “Tell me!”

“No,” he lied. “We talked, that’s it.”

“Oh, I thought she was still giving you troubling because you had rejected her grandaughter,” Louise said.

“I rejected her granddaughter?” Cyrus asked, “What are you talking about?”

“Mina!”

“Mina?”

“Yes!”

Cyrus laughed, “That friend, mom had told me about was your aunt’s granddaughter? Had I known this, I’d have met her.”

Louise snatched her hand back, sulking. “Had I known she was my cousin-in-law. Oh, the look of jealousy.”

“I am not jealous!”

“You’re not. But, you look jealous—”

“I said, I wasn’t!”

“Aww, it’s okay, you need to sulk and pout too sometimes, so cute,” Cyrus pulled Louise’s cheeks. “I won’t make you jealous, that’s childish and irresponsible. I won’t do that to my wife.”

“Thanks, cherie,” Louise smiled. “Asier?”

“Kate has him.”

“Again?”

“He likes going there because of Willa. He doesn’t have anyone to play at home. It’s understandable.”

“Mmh! Massage my feet when we get home,” Louise said, her eyes slowly closing.

~~~

“Mama!”

“Let me sleep,” Louise mumbled, turning on her side.

“Mama,” Asier said, patting her face. “Mama!” He started to cry. Asier pressed his lips against Louise’s cheek, trying to bite his mother awake.

“Loulou!” Cyrus whispered in her ear as Asier continued with his quest. “Darling, wake up. S’il Vous plait.” (Please)

“Say something else in French,” Louise said, her eyes half-opened. “It sounded pleasant.”

“Je t’aime.” (I love you)

“Good morning!”

“Hi!” Cyrus smiled and kissed her cheek.

“Hi, baby,” Louise smiled, seeing her adorable baby, “You’re biting mommy? That’s not nice. You look happy, seeing me.”

“Shower. Dress up! Tara will do your hair.”

“Ah,” Louise groaned, “Why?”

“Hurry, the photographer is waiting.”

Louise checked the time, “Oww, the time. I am two hours late. Why didn’t you wake me?” She said, rushing into the bathroom.

‘I knew she was going to blame me. Let’s wait for mommy in the garden.’

~~~

“The pictures look so great. Thanks, Mai,” Louise smiled, staring at them in admiration.

“I am sorry about my wife. I will pay you for taking up two hours of your time,” Cyrus hand-signed.

“It’s okay. Your wife is my friend too. Thanks for the job. I wasn’t doing very well. Thank you for thinking about me, “Mai hand-signed back and smiled. “Congratulations!”

“Thank you!”

~~~

When Louise got up the next morning, she heard music coming from the garden. It sounded so beautiful and pleasant. It lightened up her mood as she listened to it— Louise felt something on her forehead and found that sticky note was left there.

“Come out after you finish,” it read. “By the way, your snores woke me up.”

“I snore? Impossible.” She hurriedly went to the bathroom to get ready.

From her bedroom to the garden, there were daffodils and lilies scattered on the floor. Louise didn’t like roses since she did not like the color red. There were also little notes written and attached to objects as she made her out to the garden.

“J’allais proposer.” (I was going to propose).

Louise moved on to the next posted note attached to the wall.

“Mais tu as ete plus rapide et m’ as battu.” (But you were faster and beat me to it).

“Je Suis lente et j’aime trop reflechir.” (I am slow and like to overthink).

Louise laughed in agreement.

Je veux juste te dire que Je t’aime. Merci d’etre venue dans ma vie.” (I want to tell you that I love you. Thank you for coming in my life).

“Merci pour L’Enfant que nous avons. Et ce que nous aurons an l’avenir. Merci de m’avoir choisi pour etre ton mari. Merci pour ton amour, ton affection, et ton Coeur.” (Thank you for the child that we have. And those we will have in the future. Thank you for choosing me to be your husband. Thank you for your love, your affection and your heart).

“Oui, Je veux t’epouser. Je suis content que tu m’ as demande en premier. J’avais du mal a trouver les bon mots. Merci encore.” (Yes. I want to marry you. I am glad that you asked me first. I was struggling to find the right words. Thanks again).

“It’s not romantic. Before our wedding, I wanted to tell you how I feel and express myself.”

“He’s so cute,” Louise said, her smile reaching her eyes. “So simple, yet, making me love him more.”

Cyrus was waiting for her with a bouquet of lilies in hand.

“When did you know how to speak French?” She asked, taking the bouquet from him. “Thanks,” she kissed him.

“Lyms helped. I wanted to impress you,” he grinned, “Were you crying?”

“How can I not cry when you’re like this?” Louise sniffed.

“It’s nothing!”

“It’s everything. I love everything about it.”

“I didn’t give you a ring. You stole my time.”

Louise gasped, seeing the diamond ring in front of her, “When did you buy this? It’s beautiful!”

“I told your dad about it three months ago.”

“You must have spent a lot on it. Ah! Why did I propose first?”

“If it is for you. I don’t mind,” Cyrus said, kissing her hand after putting the ring on her.

“Next time, I will let you propose first,” Louise teared up. “Damn pregnancy hormones.”

“I love it. I get to see you like this. Remember your words.”

“Ah, my love, you’ll be my end. I love you.”

“I love you.”

“Why did the music stop?” Louise wondered. “It sounded nice.”

“I was playing it,” Cyrus said.

“That was beautiful,” Louise praised, “I love it.”

“Thank you,” Cyrus said shyly. “Thank you for everything.”

“Don’t thank me like this. Spend the rest of your life, loving me.”

~~~

“I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

~~~

“When did she started dating? Who is he?” A user on IG asked.

“She betrayed us all,” another said. “Show us the groom!”

“Here he is,” Kate laughed, moving the phone on Cyrus, “Say hi!”

“Hi. I am sorry for keeping Cahir from you all,” Cyrus waved at the camera. “She’ll be back. I promise.”

“He is handsome.”

“Well, I can see how you got Cahir hooked. Those lips don’t lie.”

~~~

“Loulou, are you okay?”

“I am fine, but I want to take this damn dress off, but we have to go meet the guests.”

“I am sorry!”

“About what?”

“The priest.”

“Oh,” Louise laughed, “I thought God had finally come. I am ready. How do I look?” She came out of the dressing room.

“As beautiful as ever.”

~~~

“She pursued my cousin. I couldn’t have done it,” Kate said, “Louise is everything my cousin needs in his life. It isn’t because she is my friend, but I am grateful that they both find each other. I can see how much they love each other. I hope you guys stay married for a long time.”

“Cyrus was so timid and insecure. Every time he met with her, he always had to come to my house for a session. I had never seen him struggled so much. I always tell him to embrace and accept her love. He was so happy and lively. I hope you guys have a healthy and stable relationship,” Peter said. “Thank you, Cahir, for not giving up on him. I know how he likes to overthink.”

“The first time she cried over a guy. My thought was, ‘I want to kill this man’ for making my little sister cried. In the months, I stayed with him. I realized that he was a simple guy who only wanted the happiness of my dear sister and to have a good relationship. He’s not flawless, but if my sister chose him, he must be perfect in her eyes. I like you, brother-in-law but if my sister complains about you. I won’t only give you a few punches. Be happy, guys! Marriage is a challenge. I believe you guys can make it,” Lyms said. “Thank you, Cyrus, for accepting her as she is.”

“My dear niece. My nephew-in-law. I only hope for you guys to be together for a long time,” Dianne said, briefly.

“My granddaughter is everything my wife and I lived for after our children passed away. My wife and I only hope for you guys to respect, support, and be there for each other. Marriage is not simple. Communication and understanding are the keys. May you guys be happy and bring us a lot of great-grandchildren. We’ll be waiting.”

“I love you, darling,” Cyrus said, Louise waved at him in return and mouthed I love you back.

“Can I pursue you was her first question? She stunned me. I didn’t even realize when I fell for her, it happened. Cahir—she just came into my life and said, I am going to be here for you. I am going to love you, and I am going to take care of you.”

“I don’t have a lot to tell you, honey. Thank you, baby, for coming into my life. I don’t think I will ever have enough words to tell you how much I love you and how grateful I am to you for becoming my wife. I will cherish our love. I will respect and trust you. I will laugh and cry with you. Je t’aime.”

~~~

“I believe in miracles, I do. Just when I gave up on Cyrus, he turned out to be my best friend’s cousin. I had one thought, ‘seize that opportunity. Don’t let him get away, but don’t corner him.’ Thank you for giving me the chance to be a part of your life. Thank you for loving me.”

“I love him. I don’t know. Sometimes, you fall in love with someone for no reason. I fell in love with him, and that’s that. Darling, you are amazing. You’re not the man I can live with, but you’re that person I cannot live without seeing. I love you so much. And I will remind you every day how much you mean to me.”

“I choose you to be my husband in life, my one true love. I will love you, unconditionally, faithfully, sincerely and forever. Whatever may come. I promise to always be there for you. I love you today; I will love you in the future, and perpetually. Thank you for choosing to be a part of my life. Thank you for being the father of our children. May our marriage be peaceful and stable.”

~~~

I don’t know where life would bring us or what life will bring to us. We will make the most of it, and love each other the best we can. I love my wife, and I am happy that she came to my life.

(To be continued)