Found Along The Way

Chapter thirty

When Anya thought back, forty years later, she didn't regret a thing. From the moment she awoke, to the second she fell asleep, she was satisfied with how she came to live her life. With so much love in every corner of her home, hope within each crack in the walls, and doubt drifting away on the soft whispers that would play in her mind forever.

"Good morning beautiful," Lucas whispered, stroking Anya's arms as the winter sunlight peered through the gap in the curtains, causing her engagement ring to sparkle.

"What time is it?" She mumbled, burying her head into the bed covers, trying to avoid the sun.

"Nearly ten, Lina's getting your dress from the dry cleaners so we thought we'd let you sleep in."

"Thank god for Lina." Anya sighed. She had far too much on her to-do list today, entirely focussed around their engagement party. They didn't plan on having one originally, but Lucas's mother insisted. She was overjoyed at the news of the engagement and booked a small church hall to hold a quiet celebration.

"We should get down to the church and start decorating soon Anya, but first, breakfast." Lucas said excitedly, jumping up from the bed and holding out his hands to get Anya up with him.

Not two minutes into breakfast, his phone rang. It was his mother for what could have been the twentieth time that day, checking up on progress, and asking for timings of the party that evening. It was getting a little tedious to say the least.

"Lucas, I love your mom, but she's more of a helicopter mother than mine today." Anya laughed as he put the phone down after yet another call. "Let me take the next call." She offered, hoping to give him a break.

"Please." He sighed, shaking his head and continuing to enjoy his breakfast. "If this is what she's like with the engagement party, I can't bear to think how she'll be on our wedding day."

"Oh lord, don't remind me. My mother will be just as bad."

"Maybe they'll get along then? They can bond over their matching personalities." Lucas laughed. Anya simply smiled and rolled her eyes.

"Maybe." She said. "I hope so. They can entertain each-other and leave us alone."

The day moved swiftly from breakfast onwards. Lina came over with Anya's pastel yellow dress that her mother had bought just for the occasion, and they gathered everything they'd need before driving down to the church hall to put up the decorations and arrange food. Anya's nerves were bubbling quietly in her chest, and she fidgeted with the buttons on her coat as she walked into the small venue. It was a local church, the one Lucas's mother attended, and they visited on Christmas and Easter. Anya wasn't raised religious but respected Lucas and his religion, embracing it when it mattered.

They balanced on ladders, stringing up lights and pale yellow bunting. Pale yellow seemed to be a colour scheme they decided on for the party, even before Anya received the cute matching dress from her mother. Things were falling into place, and excitement built as they admired the cutely decorated space they'd created.

"We should head back home, Taya is waiting to do my makeup with Lilly and Caleb." Anya said, noticing the time. A huge bonus of going to art school meant that her friends were not only talented on canvases but also faces, and Taya always looked stunning because of that.

"We have two hours now that we're all decorated, so let's go!" Lucas beamed, holding Anya's slightly shaking hands. "Are you okay honey?" He asked sweetly, moving her hair away from her face to look at her properly.

"Yeah, just nervous..." She smiled,

"Don't be. Everyone loves you Anya."

"Don't be nervous, it's only thanksgiving, my family love you." Daniel told her.