"Just because you both live in the same house, doesn't mean you have to leave together. André can just suck it and come to my place to pick you up!"

Lily rattled off in my ear, making me sigh for the hubdredth time. Why was this woman so demanding?

"Lily, could you shut up for a second and let me speak?" I asked her sardonically.

"Yeah, what?" She barked.

"Fine. I'll come. I'm coming to your place to get ready for my engagement. Happy now?"

She chuckled. "Perfect. You should have just said that earlier."

I sighed again. "Right, I should have."

But she was unstoppable. "So, what does the dress look like? You didn’t even take me with you, so that I would have forced you to buy a sexy number. You just came back with some dress that covers all of you, right?"

I smiled at her antics. This was the reason I didn't bring her along, and she knew it very well. Although it hadn't been long, she seemed to be too invested in the friendship. It's not like I minded, the sight made me warm. I just never knew I too would accept her as a part of my life so readily.

"Its a really nice one. Elegant, yet something that would make me stand out. I hate to stand out, but I know it's necessary. Anyway, this is all for the description. You're gonna see the rest of the dress very soon."

My engagement was just a day away, and things were more hectic than ever. My soon to be mother-in-law didn't even want to face me, while André was out partying every time I wanted to talk to him, and Madison had been sending me glares every time she saw me in the company.

According to me, it was the perfect premise for a wedding.

I was called back to the conversation when Lily replied, "Alright, if you say so. But if the dress isn't upto my standards, we're changing it right then. Promise me."

"Alright, I promise," I said, feeling it was easier to shut off this topic if I'd just agree with her.

After I cut the call, I opened the back doors to the garden and stepped out into the silent night. The sound of crickets were the only sound I could hear, apart from the sweet tinkling of the water fountain. It soothed my nerves and reminded me of Chantilly, so I'd made it a habit of visiting this garden every once in a while.

Although I liked to sit in this garden during the day too, the ambience at night was unmatched. The stillness and emptiness of the place called out to me, and watching the soft moonlight glow from under the trees was an experience I never wanted to forget.

But today, I realized that I wasn't alone. A silhouette appeared behind the fountain. He was standing with his hands behind his back, observing the stars in the night sky. I instantly recognized his grey hair, and knew he was Florian. Finding him in the garden wasn't shocking, since this was his home.

"This is the first time I've seen you here," I said as i approached him.

He turned to look at me, eyes full of an emotion I couldn't recognize. Was it sorrow? Nostalgia? Relief? Or guilt? I didn't know, but he didn't seem to be his usual positive self.

"I've heard from Clara that you visit this place often."

I smiled and joined him. "Yes. This place strangely reminds me of Chantilly. It makes me feel as if I'm in my hometown. You've created a beautiful garden."

At this, he smiled. Although it was a half smile, it was still something. He turned his attention to the handful of stars we could see in the polluted New York sky, and sighed.

"She was the same as you. Whenever she couldn't visit her hometown, she would come and sit here. We would spend all night just staring at the stars in the sky, and we would still feel so content."

My brows furrowed. Who was he talking about? Not able to contain my curiosity, I asked him, "Whom are you talking about?"

"My first wife. Elise was extremely fond of trees and solitude, just like you. She was the one who made me appreciate the little joys of life. She was the only light in my life."

So, this was what he was feeling. Nostalgia, along with grief. He missed his wife a lot, I could tell. I'd never lost someone dear to me, so I'd never know what he was feeling in this moment, but I could still sympathize with him. It was hard to cope with the loss of someone you love so dearly.

"You must miss her a lot," I said, not knowing how to console him.

He sighed. "Not just a lot, I miss her everyday. I might have remarried, but she's always in my heart. On nights like these, I miss her a lot more, but there's nothing I can do now. We can't bring the dead back."

It was the first time I was sensing sorrow and regret in his voice, and it surprised me. Florian was so good at hiding his emotions that I'd never realized he was hiding such a great pain in his heart. Of course, he had spent all his life gaining all sorts of experiences, but he was an expert at stashing all his emotions away in a faraway box.

Just like me.

When I didn't say anything in return, he spoke up again, "Her son will come to the engagement, that's when you will know what a gem he is."

I nodded, understanding the pride he had for his other son. It wasn't that he didn't love André, but his love for his first son was of a different intensity. It was more of respect than love, and I already liked the other son.

Florian spoke up again, this time it was related to me. "Are you fully prepared for tomorrow?"

I gazed at the twinkling balls of gas in the sky, marveling at their beauty. "I don't think I'll ever be ready for it. But I'll manage myself. With all the people I've fooled since the last month, it won't be difficult to fool some more."

Although I hadn't said those words sarcastically, he must have thought so himself. "I'm sorry dear. I know it was selfish of me, but I couldn't help it."

I looked at the sincerity in his eyes, and nodded. He might have not said those words, but I could also sense the desperation his eyes. The need to see the full potential of his child. The need to give him the absolute best in the world. And this was why I believed he loved both of his sons equally, perhaps André a tad bit more.

"You don't need to be. I'm still getting a lot more out of this deal than you are. The circumstances might be tough for me, but I know I could have never reached here on my own. So, let's call it even."

I stared at him with determination to end the resentment I'd brewed for him, and the guilt he'd fostered for me. After a silent moment, he finally nodded. Smiling, I turned to look at the night sky, before a thought occurred to me.

Everything was just a thought away. If one wanted, they could hold a grudge against someone all their life, and ruin their own enjoyment and serenity instead. If they wanted, they could forgive that someone readily, and live the rest of their life in peace.

There were sins that were unforgivable too, but what Florian had done was far from it. He was only looking at his son, just as I was only looking at mama. In a way, we were both quite similar to each other, so I didn't really have the right to judge him for his actions.

A forgiving stance was the only thing that could let me walk away from this family in the span of one year, I'd decided.

♣︎ ♣︎ ♣︎