Shadows of Death

Chapter 2(Charlie section 1)

"Charlie section"

Third Time Zone: Queen of Peris

Local time: 12:30 p.m.

Monday – Tehran – Iran

A young girl sat next to Charlie at the restaurant table. She was wearing a black dress with blue jeans and a blue scarf. The scarf had little white stars, and it was very beautiful. With a laugh and an elegant voice she said: "Yes, you told me about this yesterday."

Charlie wore a brown coat and sat behind her. He said with surprise: "Really? I don't remember that!"

His eyes sparkled as he looked at the girl who sat beside him. Although Debra was nineteen years old, her face showed seventeen years or less. Charlie watched Debra's laughing face with surprise.

Debra said: "How many time can I say it?! Yesterday you told me your mother promised to hold our marriage ceremony in one of the best hotels in Tehran. Still can't remember?!" Then she laughed more, sweet and hot.

But Charlie replied with confusion: "It's terrible. I thought I didn't tell you. I just wanted to surprise you today."

Debra still tried to have a laugh on her lips, and said with a kindly tone: "I'm surprised! But yesterday! You're going to be a forgetful husband!"

Charlie's face was still confused. He still couldn't remember if he said anything about this issue to Debra yesterday! He took his eyes from Debra and then looked at the delicious foods on the table. They arrived at the restaurant just five minutes ago. They ordered meat soup first. The waiter took the soup away as fast as he could, agreeing that the main course should be on the table after serving the soup. The main course was fish and chips with walnut salad.

Debra looked at Charlie and said: "I want to ask a question, but you have to promise not to be angry!"

Charlie looked at her and with honestly said: "If you ask me a hundred questions I won't be angry!"

Both of them laughed.

After a short pause, Debra asked: "I just wanted to ask...the arrangements for a big marriage ceremony in a top hotel need a lot of money. Isn't that right?"

Charlie nodded his head and said: "Yes. I think so."

Debra continued: "How much?"

Charlie thought the real question was something else. So with a serious and strong tone he said: "Deb, you don't need an introduction. So frankly say what your main question is."

Debra muttered: "Okay...it's just a little hard for me." Then, with a worried tone, she said: "Your mother can afford this money? Renting a lux hotel for a marriage ceremony should be too expensive for her. Am I right?"

Charlie laughed, making sense of it, and said: "It's expensive. Too expensive. But you know my mother. When she says something she will do that. I'm sure my mother didn't tell me a lie."

Debra with a frightened tone said: "Charlie, I didn't say your mother lied to you. I just..."

Charlie interrupted: "You are just a little worried. I understand, but you shouldn't be worried about this kind of problem."

"Okay," Debra said. "Just help me stop worrying. Just tell me how your mother can collect this money?"

Charlie's eyes were dazzled with strong feelings. Maybe with this kind of interrogation she was trying to tell Charlie how important a wedding is for a girl.