Chapter 6 The Wedding

So even with all her nervousness, Sigrid, pulled along by Astrid who was excited, began to walk the halls of the mansion. Mrs. Cleuza went ahead to prepare for the bride's appearance. Flauber was already there. Gorgeous in his designer suit. Beside him was the lawyer, who was now also his friend. Only then did Mrs.

Cleuza think that she should have given Sigrid some tea to calm her nerves, but since she had had a difficult month, with pains all over her body and violent nausea, as well as dizziness, and her doctor had recommended that she not take any medication until the results of her tests were in, she hadn't thought that tea wouldn't do any harm. With some regret, she approached Erick and told him that it was time for him to meet Sigrid at the front door. The wedding would be held outside, where it was arranged with tables with six chairs, adorned with miniatures of the bride's cake and champagne, throughout the garden, a nave for the priest, and comfortable chairs for the guests.

But as for Erick walking his bride down the aisle, this was one thing that Sigrid did not like, but she gave in because of the constant pleading of her own mother and Erick, who did not want to be seen as a bad father by society. He went to pick her up. She really looked beautiful. He couldn't deny it. He looked at her belly, but could not yet tell that she was pregnant. Astrid asked them to wait a few minutes so she could take her place among the guests, because she had stayed only so as not to leave Sigrid alone, since she was very nervous. They complied, and Erick watched from a crack in the window as Astrid came up to where the guests were. The symphony of the orchestra that Flauber had hired began to play the wedding hymn and Ingrid came down the stairs and walked into the nave toward the altar leaning on Erick. When she saw Flauber, whom she had not seen for a long time, his beauty and the joy in his eyes made her almost fall, but she was held in time by Erick. They walked down the path together. People were throwing rose petals in front of them, forming a carpet that Sigrid would walk on. She didn't want to look away, because she knew that everyone was looking at her and that could cause her to stumble from nervousness. So she looked forward and kept looking at Flauber, who looked beautiful. She felt her eyes water. But she couldn't cry. She thought about her mother. Mrs. Cleuza was not fortunate enough to marry for love. But she was watching her daughter do it. She didn't have the pleasure of looking forward and seeing the man she loved at the altar, and just because of that, feeling secure. But Mrs. Cleuza would have her chance to be happy, she was convinced of that. Sigrid then finally reached her fiancé. He held her hand and led her to the altar, where they knelt together. But at that moment they lost focus of everything around them. They stared at each other and there were promises in their eyes. They only realized that they had stayed like this for a long time when the priest asked them to stand up to make their vows. And so it was done. When they had finished, they had a quick kiss at the request of the priest, who was tired of seeing the faithful sticking their lips together for minutes, and left the altar in the direction where the party had been prepared. Sigrid couldn't wait to take off that dress and leave on her trip with her husband, but she forced herself to stay and receive the greetings of people she had never seen in her life and sit down without appetite, while people talked about other matters, forgetting that it was a wedding party. As soon as the photos were exhaustively taken, Mrs. Cleuza came to get her daughter to change. It was time for her and her husband to go to the port. They would take a cruise to Europe and from there they would travel the entire continent. She took her small suitcase with only her personal belongings because Flauber had warned Mrs. Cleuza that she was not to take anything with her, because they would buy everything in a store on the way to the port. Sigrid hugged her mother and then Astrid. They both wished her a good trip, and Sigrid whispered in her mother's ear to get ready, because she would be back for her and Astrid. Then Sigrid went down the stairs of the mansion and towards Flauber, who had also changed. They went outside, where there were no guests. Just a lot of parked cars, and they got to Flauber's car without saying many words to each other. He took the suitcase from her hands and threw it in the back seat of the car. With a smile of victory, he waved goodbye to everyone and honked his horn. To Sigrid's surprise, the lawyer also got into the car and escorted them to the store. Sigrid had no trouble buying clothes in the store. They came ready made and it seemed that she was the standard for the clothes. Flauber also bought some clothes for himself.

As soon as they got back in the car, the lawyer took over and drove away while Flauber and Sigrid sat in the back seats. A two-hour trip and they arrived at the port and boarded. The lawyer, who only then did Sigrid stop to pay attention, was young. He must have been about thirty-two. No more than that. He must have graduated young and Harold hired him because he believed in his competence. Sigrid did not doubt his good character or his competence. Nor of his true friendship with her husband. While she was thinking about these things, Flauber pulled her from the railing and took her to their cabin. It was very luxurious, although a bit cramped. She looked at the bed and then at Flauber. He noticed this and took her on his lap and placed her on the bed with affection, where, over the rocking waves of the sea, they made love until Flauber felt hungry. He looked at the time on his pocket watch and said it was time for dinner and that they were the captain's guests. It wouldn't be nice to keep him waiting. Sigrid put on one of her new dresses and made her hair into a bun. Flauber put on a white shirt, where he left a few buttons open, and wore a pair of black dress pants. Sigrid thought he was the most beautiful man in the world. Flauber took her hand and together they walked to the captain's table. After introducing his wife and hearing the captain's many compliments on Sigrid's beauty, they sat down and had a nice dinner. This trip lasted about two weeks, until they disembarked. From there, a car was waiting for them and took them to a hotel. Sigrid and Flauber were unaware of many of the things they saw, but were happy to be discovering them together. Their room was huge. But Flauber did not want to be stuck in his room on the very day of their arrival and invited Sigrid, to visit London. Sigrid was feeling very tired, but she didn't want to take away the gleam of excitement she saw in Flauber's eyes and went with him through the streets of London. After a while they entered a bar. Sigrid was delighted with the place, despite the cigarette smoke. It seemed that everyone there was smoking. After drinking a few cocktails, they agreed by common consent to go back to the hotel to rest from their trip. And so it was that everywhere they went, they always took a quick walk and then returned to the hotel. When they were three days away from their departure, to pick up their mother and sister and take them back to Chicago, Flauber received a letter. He found it strange, as only the lawyer knew which hotels he would be staying at, and he opened the letter and read it with a look of growing concern on his face. Sigrid wanted to know the contents of the letter that made his face so gloomy, but he did not allow her to read it. He invited her for coffee, since they were already in Paris, promising that he would tell her everything there. Sigrid accepted without fear, for Flauber was a man who cared about details. So they left hand in hand and sat down in a café. After they had placed their orders, still frowning, Flauber took Sigrid's hand on the table and looked at her seriously.

"What's going on Flauber? You're making me nervous." Sigrid complained.

"Love... We'll have to go back to Texas tonight anyway."

"What's so urgent? You know I'm afraid of flying... Or does it already have a ship waiting for us?"

"No. Unfortunately there isn't. I rented a plane to take us while you changed to come here. A ship would take too long."

"What happened that was so bad that it can't wait a few more days?"

Flauber removed his hand from hers so the waitress could serve them.

"Sigrid... We found your father. The detective found him living in Rockford. The same state we're going to live in."

"Does he have family?"

"According to Rolfo, the lawyer, he has no family. He lives alone, with the company of only his employees. He is a talented doctor. A surgeon. Rolfo didn't give many details. But now we know where to find him, and we can talk to him about you and your mother."

"But this is good news. I don't understand the reason for this frown and this urgency to leave." Sigrid said happily, running a finger across Flauber's forehead.

"That's not the only news... The results of your examination have also come out."

Sigrid stared at him curiously waiting for him to continue. She realized that he lacked words, and that frightened her. But she waited for him to tell her what was happening. Unconsciously she ran her hands over her belly. She was afraid that there was something wrong with her child.

"Sigrid, you are sick. Very sick. We have to go back and take all measures to make sure that you get well. I'm sorry, but we'll have to interrupt our honeymoon."

"What do I have? Will it change if we take a few more days?"

"Honey, you have to start treatment immediately. I've already told the doctor in Texas to send your chart to Chicago. We have good doctors there. They will cure you."

"But what do I have anyway?" Sigrid asked a little impatiently.

Flauber looked at her with tear-filled eyes.