Protector from Afar ✔️

Chapter 16. Just a wedding

Chapter 16
Just a wedding

October 2024

"I think I forgot something at home."

"Don't act like that, it'll only take a second."

Bright colors swirled in the portal and the longer it remained open, the louder it whirred. Michelle's complexion was like chalk, and she looked like she was going to pass out at any moment.

At half past nine in the evening, we were both in the kitchen, ready to leave for Australia. Philippa's wedding would start in just a few hours. Traveling via the portal had one advantage: symptoms of jet lag were much milder. I just hoped Michelle saw it that way too. It was her first time today.

Michelle shouldered her duffel bag and gave me a half-hearted thumbs up. I grabbed my own bag and with an arm around Michelle's waist, we entered the portal. Lights formed into a narrowing tunnel; I held Michelle tightly so I wouldn't lose her as we were pulled forward. Just a second later we landed in a meadow, the grass crunching dry under my shoes. Michelle swayed.

"Where is the nearest bar?" she choked out, supporting herself on her knees.

The sudden brightness of the day blinded my eyes. I blinked and then looked around. A hilly landscape stretched in all directions, thin trees and dense bushes lined the main road, a narrower, fenced street branched off from it, the roller shutter was half open. On a dark red sign with a white frame was the name 'WESTWOOD' and below it the address to which the street led. Bows and colorful balloons swayed back and forth in the gentle breeze.

"And we're supposed to go all the way up there now? Couldn't you have zapped us closer?"

"You'll survive. And besides, it's only just before eight o'clock and the wedding doesn't start until ten. So come on, hop hop!"

Groaning, Michelle started moving. God, why is she so grumpy?

I recognized the property behind a few bushes and the closer we got, the stronger the typical horse smell became. We passed a large pond and I sensed that there was something slumbering in it.

Snow-white pavilions stood out prominently against the green landscape, laughter and lively music filled the atmosphere with a good mood. Michelle and I stood there, somewhat awkward, as we looked around. Until a massive woman with a massively large straw hat set her sights on us.

"Good heavens, that's not possible! Seraphina, darling! Welcome, welcome! Come here and let me look at you!" Using all her weight, she pulled me into a terribly tight hug. Her breath smelled of feces and strong alcohol, causing my head to turn away in disgust. "Oh, how big you have become! How are you doing? What's your father up to, that old warhorse?"

Finally, she let go of me. The tight-fitting, horizontally striped dress placed unnecessary emphasis on her bosom, and her red-spotted face and watery eyes gave me the impression that she was on the verge of crying. What a caricature of a woman. I didn't even know who she was.

I increased the distance between us. "Uhm, this is Michelle, my best friend."

The woman shook Michelle's hand so hard that Michelle vibrated. "My pleasure, Miss Michelle. I'm Paula, Seraphina's mother."

I froze inside. That is supposed to be my mother? I grew up without her; my father raised me alone. He never talked about her; Except for that one time when I was little because school said I had to write something about my family. Shortly after being baptized, she disappeared and my father took me from Vienna to South Korea.