8. THE WEDDING

 Right now my nose is red from sneezing so much; my mother and mother-in-law ordered an enormous bouquet that reaches almost to my knees, and not only that. Every wedding arrangement includes these flowers.

 Thankfully, my grandmother changed the bouquet and had all the others removed from the decorations with Luis's help, who wants to get in their good graces. When she told him I was allergic to those flowers, he agreed to remove them all, despite the furious faces of my mother-in-law and my mother. So I felt relieved when my grandmother gave me a new bouquet. One that she had ordered, made of orchids that don't affect me and is much more beautiful. She also placed them in the floral arrangements with Luis's help.

 My grandmother is the only one excited about this wedding. She hugged and kissed me, with tears in her eyes. My grandfather doesn't want me to get married. He keeps telling me he's only here for me, clearly annoyed. He doesn't like the groom and looks at him as if he wants to kill him.

"Bella, there's still time. You can run away with me!"

He whispers in my ear repeatedly, visibly uncomfortable with this wedding. I know him well; I know he doesn't want me to marry Luis. The last time he came, about five minutes ago, I hugged him tightly and gave him two kisses on his cheeks, trying to calm him down and prevent him from doing anything.

"It's okay, grandfather, in three years I'll be free, and I'll go live with you both." Grandfather released himself from my embrace when he heard me and looked at me seriously.

I immediately realized I shouldn't have said that. But I had already done it, I could only try not to give myself away completely.

"What do you mean by that? Aren't you in love with Luis?" he asked, trying to read my mind. "Isn't that why you're getting married?"

"Shh..., I'll tell you, but don't say or do anything," I whisper in his ear. "I'm only doing this to help Dad."

"What? How do you have to help him?" he asks surprised. "If it's to make a family alliance and not because you truly love him, I don't agree with you getting married! You don't have to make this sacrifice for that, daughter, I can free you!"

"No, grandfather, it's not just that. I want to do something for Dad, so later they can't reproach me for anything. Do you understand?" He keeps looking at me seriously with narrowed eyes, so I add while hugging him, "Please grandfather, don't do anything."

"It's not necessary Bella, let him handle it alone!" He repeats, visibly uncomfortable with the situation.

"Grandpa..., please..., I need you to support me in this, please grandpa..., well..., and I like Luis," I add almost in a whisper to see if I can fool him without looking into his eyes. "Let me try grandfather, if it doesn't work, then I'll ask for your help. Okay?"

 He takes my face and looks directly into my eyes, I hold his gaze while holding my breath. I've never been able to deceive my grandfather, I'm terrible at lying, but I look at him pleadingly and he agrees. He gives me everything I ask for, he has never said no to anything. He releases all his air while kissing my forehead and accepts.

 "Alright, but don't forget that at the slightest problem that good-for-nothing Luis gives you, you'll let me know, promise it and I won't say anything else."

 "I promise you Grandpa, I promise!" I hurried to say, hugging him very tightly again, how I wish I could go with him, but I hold back for Dad.

 And so, I'm walking with a fake smile, holding my father's hand who is very serious and walking very slowly, as if he didn't want us to reach the altar. Dad also surprised me, before entering, he stopped and looked at me very seriously, then he asked me.

"Do you really do this Isabella, because you love Luis?" My mother had already warned me before that if he asked, I should say yes.

"Yes, yes, Dad, that's why," I answer, avoiding his gaze.

"Are you sure?" he asks again as if he wanted me to say no. What's happening, does he want me to get married or not?

"Yes, Dad," I tell him, giving him a hug, thinking that for him I would make any sacrifice, I truly love him. He returns the hug very tightly, as if he doesn't want to let me go. "Everything will be fine, don't worry, let's go now."

 He stared at me for a moment, then hugged me again very, very tightly, and we separated to position ourselves at the entrance. Could I refuse? No, Mom told me he was in serious trouble, that if I didn't marry Luis, he would go bankrupt. Come on Isabella, it's just three years of sacrifice to save your beloved dad.

I took a deep breath and here we go, walking slowly to the altar, where Luis awaits me with a hypocritical expression of emotion that everyone believes. Everything happens very quickly. The ceremony, the party, the farewell, the plane, Paris.

 My husband accompanied me to the hotel and took me to the room, so I wouldn't get lost, and disappeared. Not that I care, but it scares me a little to be alone in this big city. I spent the first two days in the hotel, on the third day I risked walking to a plaza, two blocks away. To my good fortune, I found a library. And needless to say, I spent the rest of my honeymoon at a table in that place.

On the last day, Luis. He accompanied me to the stores to buy gifts for the family. He looked very upset.

“I can't go on with this Isabella, you figure it out on your own," he said suddenly and disappeared.