Lost and Found

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Christmas Eve, 2008

Li looked beautiful, and would have without the pampering of the previous day. Initially she was keen on a traditional Chinese red wedding dress, but instead she had chosen an off white straight dress, trimmed and decorated with rich gold which was traditional, sexy and also exceptionally gorgeous. Li, petite, delicate and daintily featured, shone, and Amelia was captivated by the whole thing. Peter, Li’s adoptive father since the age of eight was giving her away, and the three of them travelled in a decked out Hackney cab from her home to the floating wedding palace.

Amelia felt a little out of place sat with the two who were so close, Peter worshipped Li, but it was the way that Li wanted it to be. Lots of last minute shoppers and drunken office workers waved as they made their way through London, arriving at four pm.

She followed the father and daughter down the aisle to the proud, pleased and overwhelmed Daichi, who looked devastatingly handsome in his dark suit. He’d decided against traditional Japanese wedding attire, but his parents stood in the front row looking traffic stopping in their elaborate traditional clothing.

The room was covered with dozens of tiny lights, and behind the registrar was a huge ornately decorated Christmas tree. It was a magical experience. After the service, Li turned to face her as a married woman, and Amelia couldn’t restrain the tears. In the deck below, tables were set out for the wedding breakfast, a delightfully modernised yet festive menu of sashimi to start, traditional roast goose dinner, and then a selection of Chinese desserts. The perfect mesh of their three cultures.

After speeches, where Daichi reduced the whole room to tears in his devotion to Li, and his such obvious pleasure at her becoming his wife, there was dancing!

As the only bridesmaid, she was in hot demand, firstly dancing with Tatsuya the best man, then both fathers, then many of the guests. Every time she bumped into Li, her friend was smiling, happy, and Amelia’s pleasure and relief doubled each time.

At nine o’clock, Li asked for Amelia’s help and they disappeared to a room deeper in the boat. Then Amelia helped Li change into the outfit she’d selected to fly to the Maldives. Turning to face each other Amelia once again felt tears well.

                “I can’t stop crying Li, but they’re happy tears I swear!”

Li smiled, “I know. And I love you for that.” Reaching in her bag, she emerged with a bag. “This is no way expresses how grateful I am for everything you’ve done.” Firstly she pulled out a small box, “this is to prove that, you haven’t lost your sister, but you’ve gained a brother!”

Amelia ripped open the paper to find wrapped in cotton wool, a brand new key. Looking up she smiled, “is this for your new home?”

Li nodded, she and Daichi were moving to a house after their honeymoon, “the spare room WILL be decorated in to your choice! Secondly...” She lifted out another small box, “this is to thank you for being the best friend a woman could ever ask for.”

Again Amelia ripped open the paper and popped the lid of the box. Inside were two identical necklaces, the charms engraved with each of their birthdates and names. “The thought is that we wear each other.”

Hugging her friend she blinked back more tears, “Li, you are the greatest!”

                “And this is the third gift.”

This time she accepted an envelope and inside was a card that said, ‘Merry Christmas to my Godmother’, confused her opened it and saw the ultrasound photo of a very small growing baby. Her hand went to her mouth as she swallowed the surprise, meeting Li’s eyes she was speechless. Eventually she mustered, “You’re...” When Li nodded she squealed then pulled her into her arms. “I cannot believe it Li wan Cheung, how did you keep that quiet?”