Fred came up. He noticed Lea sitting there but walked towards his study there. He behaved as if none was there. He was worries she might have heard what they were discussing.
"Fred ", she called. Now he must turn back. No other way.
" Why you are sitting here?, not yet gone to sleep?"
"I want to talk to you."
"Lea, can we do it tomorrow?. I am not in a good mood now and a bit sleepy."
She felt that he is afraid of what she was going to tell him.
"Please Fred, I need to talk now."
Fred sat on another sofa. "Tell me what you have to say?"
Lea: I don't want this marriage to happen. I cannot think of any other man in Micheal's place. I cannot love anyone else like I loved Micheal. If you marry me, you will have just a marriage certificate in hand and nothing more. Is it wise to go for a loveless marriage? You had Joan in your life and that ended up in divorce. Why can't you find someone else and marry. Leave me on my way."
She turned back and walked towards her room. "Wait, I was sleepy and still I heard you. Be the same to me. Now I want to talk." Fred said.
She came back and sat on the sofa. She was determined not fall into the trap of marrying him.
Fred: Lea, how much you love Michael.
Lea: That much that words cannot express.
Fred: When you started loving him?
Leah: From when I first met him.
Fred: You first met him at our bakery, right?
Lea: Hmmm.
Fred: Can you see that picture of me and him behind you?
Lea stood up and watched it.
Fred: Find who is who. This was a photo taken during the time you were dating him.
Lea pointed Micheal and caressed his image with her hands as if she is seeing him for real.
Fred: Ok Lea, now tell me how you differentiate me and him. It's not easy for everyone to find this out.
Lea: He has a black mole on his left chin which is visible when looked closely.
Fred: Hmm you are right, I don't have that. Come and sit here I want to continue."
Lea obeyed and sat down on the chair.
Fred: So you loved him when you gazed at the chocolates, you loved him when he gave you the chocolates, so you loved him when both of you went to your orphanage, you loved him when that little kid asked you whether he was your boy friend, you loved him when you replied that he is your friend, you loved him when he gave you the gift," the symbol of true love, Taj Mahal, you have that still with you?"
Lea: (memorising all those events) Yes I do have that.
Tears flow down her eyes.
Suddenly she realised that Fred is telling all these, "How come you know all these in very detail? Michel told you?"
Fred: No, but I have one more question to you. I don't want an answer from you. All I want is you to think about it. Whatever be your decision, tomorrow the marriage between you and me will be registered on the same date as yours and Michele's. In short, his name will be replaced by Fredrick. The same will happen to Hanna's documents too. She will be registered everywhere as my daughter. I don't want to hear any comments from you regarding this. You and Hanna are my priority and I am not asking you to love me back and here is my last questions. 'From that moment you met him at the bakery to the moment you two met at the pub, how many times you have seen that black spot in his chin?'"
He continued " You met him at the park where you two kissed forgetting everything. He always loved to hold you to his left side. He had many chances at that time to sleep with you, but clearly said that he believe in sex after marriage, he kissed you a lot many times and you two used to talk more about relationships. You loved that Micheal very much, right?. Many a times you told him that he is the one whom she felt as her own. You were always doubtful whether Micheal will betray you but he assured you that he belongs to you, hope you remember all these. Think. I know you will be confused. Don't worry when the time comes, I will tell everything in detail. I have a request, never hate me for your past."
He went inside his room.