Langour ・❥・Joost Klein・❥・

56.

Fenne insisted that she didn't care about the balaclava. She just asked that he took it off when they exchanged vows so that her parents could get at least one photo.

These were reasonable terms. It meant that the start of Fenne and Joost's wedding was traditional; the bride entered the church in a white dress and the groom stood at the alter in a black suit.

Joost wore a white, collared shirt, with his Looney Tunes tie. His bright hair was freshly cut, his cheeks were shaven and his moustache was trimmed. Joost chose to not wear his glasses on his wedding day. This could have been by choice, or by default from the balaclava that was waiting in his pant pocket.

Fenne's dress was simple with a fitted bodice and a flowing skirt. Pearlescent silk cascaded down to the floor and a white bouquet busied her hands. The front pieces of Fenne's hair were pulled to the back of her head and the rest was left to flow over her slender shoulders.

Hugo, Apson, Stuntje and Enzo wore matching suits and stood with Joost, while Hanna, Nanda and Teun's girlfriend, Evi, stood with Fenne. Nanda's husband sat with baby Ruben in his arms, while Annaliese threw handfuls of flowers as Fenne walked down the aisle.

Fabian was watery-eyed as he handed over his only daughter. Anna consoled the man as he shrunk into his seat. Members of their family sat behind them wondering how the Meer daughter found herself being married to the famous Joost Klein.

On Joost's side, the pews were full of familiar faces like Nathan, Teun, Daan and Aggu. The German had choosen to not wear his mask for the formal event. Instead, he sat towards the back where he could still see the ceremony.

Joost's tattooed hand ghosted Fenne's face as they kissed. Applause for the married couple echoed throughout the church and the guests stood from their seats. Fenne's side of the pews were blissfully unaware of the reception that was going to follow, while Daan, Teun, Nathan and Aggu exchanged looks with the best man and the groomsmen.

If Joost Klein was now a married man, that meant they had to celebrate in the only way they knew how.

'Was Hanna's wedding like this, Emma?'

'Similar, yes. Although I didn't see Apson in a balaclava.'

Anna Meer sat with Hanna's mother, Emma, with pursed lips. Their meals were left unfinished as they watched the dancefloor.

A bottle of champagne was being sprayed into the air, covering the men that crowded around the groom. In his black suit, Joost had pulled on the mask from his pocket and danced around with his friends. Flashing lights accompanied his own music, which hadn't been on the playlist made by the hired DJ. But it wasn't long until Teun and Stuntje had relieved the poor man and took control.

Aggu's ski mask had made its way over his eyes and the fountain of fizzing alcohol had been his doing. Friesenjung had played about four times already, leading to Aggu and Joost jumping around in the middle of the circle.

Hanna and Nanda ushered Fenne away from the dancefloor when they saw the champagne in Aggu's hand. Her dress had to be saved and the bride was forced to stand on the sidelines for the first part of the reception. She didn't mind, as it gave her time to welcome/apologise to some of the guests.

After a stern look from Hanna, Apson gave the signal to his friends up at the DJ booth. The music was cut and the flashing lights were replaced with less-epileptic-inducing hues.

'Your dad looks fucking pissed.'

'It was inevitable.'

Fenne had to lean close to hear Joost during their first dance. The pointy-eared mask remained over his face but Fenne wouldn't have it any other way. She was content with only seeing Joost's blue eyes through the fabric's holes. Not only was it because they never moved from her, but they showed enough of his crinkles to tell her that he was smiling underneath the balaclava.