Liam's Letters • Part 2

5

Sébastien and Renée stood in front of the Justice of the Peace, alone on the beach with the sand on their feet in Victoria Garden City, Nigeria. Sébastien always wanted to get married in Nigeria.
And he always wanted to get married in traditional Nigerian wedding clothes.
Sébastien dressed in a golden silk woven long tunic that hung mid-calf, with white silk pants under the tunic.
He wore an African groom's headdress in that matching gold and white. Similar to a large stiff band wore around the head, the edge of it, just above he eyebrows. The band ten inches wide. He had the most beautiful mocha skin. This gold and white wedding ensemble looked magnificent on him.
She wore a white satin long dress with a long train. The dress embellished with the same gold fabric as Sébastien's wedding ensemble. The gold fabric inlaid at the front that came to a 'V' pointing at her midriff. And again another 'V' shaped piece at the end of her train. With the flat part of the triangle at the end of her train and the point going upward towards her body. The train, just trailing behind her slightly. She carried a gold fan in her hand. She had flowers in her hair. Beautiful tiny white orchids with rich golden centers, that matched her dress perfectly. The smell was intoxicating.
The sky shone the bluest blue. The ocean as blue as Renée's eyes. With white crests crashing, making everything feel fresh and clean. The palm trees swayed in the wind, as if they were waving a 'congratulations.'
Sébastien's dream came true. He could not believe what had happened to him.
"Sébastien, do you take Renée this day and forever, to love honor and cherish?"
"Yes, I do!"
"Renée, do you take Sébastien this day and forever to love, honor and cherish?"
"I do!"
"By the authority vested in me, by the government of Nigeria, I declare that you are husband and wife. What God has yoked together let no man put apart. You may kiss each other."
They wrapped their arms around each other and kissed from the heart.
Just then, as they were kissing, the baby leapt, inside Renée, for the first time.
Renée smiled inside Sébastien's mouth. He smiled too and asked, "What? What happened?"
She said, "Right this second, the baby moved."
Sébastien, very touched by that. He bent down and kissed the baby and whispered, "Congratulations baby, we are a family now."

And the waves crashed!

•••••

After the wedding they visited with his parents. Sébastien had been raised in France and therefore his parents would accept his modern ideas about the way that he wanted to get married. It was certainly not a traditional African wedding. They wanted to be alone.
They ate a meal with his parents but no mention of the baby. Renée not showing yet. But it would be any day now.
They spent their wedding night in the Victoria Garden City Hotel, Nigeria. The Bridal Suite superbly lovely. They had fresh tropical flowers placed all over the room.
She had purchased a beautiful negligee.
While she was in the bathroom she was very anxious. Talking to herself in the mirror. 'Well, I know that you are not ready, but force yourself. Everything will be fine.' All she could think about was Gareth. She felt unfaithful to him. Her heart felt unfaithful to him. 'Stop it! Gareth is gone. Sébastien is here. You are legally married to him. Everything is fine. You know that you love him, so what is the problem? Just get in there and get it over with.' Finally, she came out of the bathroom. Sébastien in bed waiting for her. When he saw her, she didn't see lust in his eyes, she saw love, admiration, reverence. She was exquisite. Every man should think that about the woman that he married. Sébastien did.
She was loveliness. And more beautiful because she glowed with pregnancy. He loved that and told her so. She got into bed smiling and she snuggled up to him. He put his arm around her and hugged her to him.
"You are so beautiful. I love you." Then without letting her respond he continued, "This has been a glorious day. You have made me so very happy. All of my life-long dreams have been fulfilled, thanks to you."
Then he kissed her on the forehead and said, "Good night, Chérie, sweet dreams."
He turned and laid down on his side with his back to her and by all appearances went to sleep.
Renée sat there dumbstruck. 'What is this? He isn't going to make love to me? I don't understand.' Completely confused by his conduct. She opened her mouth and out came,
"Sébastien?"
No response.
"Sébastien?"
No response.
She laid down on her back and looked up at the ceiling for a while and then when she started to feel sleepy she turned on her side facing his back and fell asleep.
When Sébastien was sure she was sound asleep, he then turned around and laid facing her and just watched her sleep. He loved seeing her sleeping.
He whispered,
"I am not going to make love to you until you 'really want me.' I want you to crave me with every inch of your being. I will wait until you are ready. Sweet dreams my love. Thank you for making me the happiest I could possibly be. I love you."
He kissed his fingers and touched her soft lips with them.
Then he slept soundly.