A SMILE IN A WHISTLE

Chapter 15. A Fool's Paradise

It was time for Sam to pick out his suit for the ceremony. He had already spent one whole hour in the wedding shop, had read the entire Tuxedos and Suits Guide, and been through all the brands and colors. He still couldn't choose one. Buying clothes had never been easy for him. He usually went out in jeans and a basic t-shirt. If it were only up to him, he wouldn't even buy a suit. He'd just rent one. But Josephine had insisted he buy one, as she was going to do so for her wedding dress.

Sam was about to give up his search when help finally arrived... Carl, his best man, rushed into the shop. He was thirty minutes late. He apologised half a dozen times then got to work immediately: in no time, three suits were selected for the groom to try on.

"The things a guy has to do to walk down the aisle in style!" said Carl.

"You sound just like the seller who tried to help me twenty minutes ago!" laughed Sam.

"Have you thought about your honeymoon destination yet?"

"God, no! It feels like we just arrived here. I'm not leaving straight away."

"Are you sick of travelling?"

"No, I love it! But I would like to do it differently next time. Maybe get a sailing boat..."

"Really?" asked Carl, startled. "I thought you would never set foot on a sailboat again..."

"Me too, but I thought about it lately, and I changed my mind."

"Good for you, mate! What made you reconsider?"

"Erm... Nothing in particular..." said Sam, trying to act casual although Sarah popped into his mind at that very moment.

While Sam tried on a suit, Carl had a little look for one himself. He was shorter than the groom, had blond hair just like his sister Josephine, and always wore a little round golden earring in his left ear. He had been Sam's friend ever since they were roommates in Sweden, and they enjoyed hiking together from time to time.

In the changing room, Sam tried on a black Venti Tailcoat suit. He looked very dashing. And twenty little lights on both sides of the gigantic mirror made the suit look smashing! When he stepped out to show Carl, his best man had already chosen his.

"Right, got mine!"

"What? I was in here for two minutes! How could you have already found one?"

"I guess I know what I'm looking for," winked Carl.

"So, what about this one then?"

At that instant, the seller passed by.

"Sir, if I may, that is the same suit you tried on earlier."

Sam sighed with frustration.

"Oh!" he groaned, embarrassed. "See, I don't see the slightest difference between all these suits!"

Carl suggested taking a break for a little while. Sam agreed, returned to the changing room and put his jeans and t-shirt back on. When ready, they walked across the street and sat outside a little pub. Carl went over a couple of details for the wedding... whilst Sam struggled to follow. He didn't like the way he had been feeling over the past few weeks. He had made a promise to Josephine that he wasn't sure he could keep. He was upset with himself for having doubts. And Carl's briefing wasn't helping...

"Most invitations have been sent off, but Josephine told me that you didn't get round to asking Mister and Mrs Danton..."

"No, I didn't."

"Why's that?"

Sam gulped down his beer to hide his awkwardness. It also gave him time to think of an excuse.

"Would you like me to send an invitation to them?" continued Carl.

"Erm..." mumbled Sam.

"Do they have children? Should I invite them too?"

Sam remained silent. How could he ever say "I do" to Josephine whilst Sarah was in the crowd? His feelings were getting out of hand, and his thoughts, more and more reckless.

"No. No invitation for the Dantons," he decided.

"Okay, one less family to feed!" chuckled Carl.

He hadn't noticed how it hurt Sam to have to answer his questions. His ignorance was probably for the best.

"By the way, Josephine also told me what a lovely dinner you had with them. Sounds like they have a very nice house. She was impressed by the dining room. Big and welcoming, she said. I wish I had a dining room... I can barely fit a table in my apartment!"

"Yes...very nice...house..." Sam commented, distracted by the memory of Sarah in that flary red dress.

"She also said it was the best curry she had ever tasted! Maybe you should consider Mister and Mrs Danton catering for the wedding!" he added, humorously.

Sam laughed mechanically, not really listening to his friend. Still absorbed by his memory, he began to imagine a different version... Sarah was walking down the narrow stairway of the Danton's house, wearing that same dress. Nobody was around them. No Josephine, no Patrick, no Katherine. No food. Just Sarah and Sam. With a tender smile on her face, Sarah stopped right in front of him, at the foot of the staircase. He put his hands forward, caressed her back and began to undo her dress. As he could see it fall off her shoulders, a sudden noise of breaking glass woke him up from his fantasy... Carl had dropped his pint of beer on the ground.

"Oh, shit!" he cursed. "I'll get a waiter to help me clear this up."

Sam sat still on his chair, seriously wondering if he was just panicking before the wedding - like some men do. He knew he wasn't his usual self. Caring for two women at once was torture! Would he be happy with Josephine now that Sarah was in his life? A part of him was saying "Stop playing games! Get married! Honor your commitment! Stop daydreaming about Sarah!" Another part was saying "Marrying Josephine could mean living in a fool's paradise."