SHIMMER'S POV
I took a number of days off wok in order for me to spend more time with Arianna. I felt that she needed my presence as her mother. Recently, I had sent over a million dollars to help buy food, clothes, medication and school supplies for children in need. It was my way of sending gratitude to God, for saving my grandchild's life. On the day that I served the poisonous tea to my child, while in the car, I had prayed to God and begged him for a miracle to save my grandchild. In the prayer, I asked God and said please, if you save the child for me, I will also do something to show my gratitude. It was in desperation, and after the child was indeed saved, I felt compelled to fulfill my words. That was why I decided to donate the millions of dollars. Roderick was shocked and happy at the same time; because ever since we stopped donating to Olga, we had not donated to anyone else.
Already engaged to get married, Pete and Arianna were busy with their wedding plans. We were sitting in our underground TV room, and I was discussing with Arianna issues about her wedding. I had ordered for Iris to download videos and pictures of modern dresses, venues, wedding set ups and all that. Arianna and I were watching that, and she really seemed to be enjoying every moment. Pete had previously sent a message stating that he was going to pass by and bring over some fruits and vegetables for his fiancé, and so we decided to watch our videos while we waited for him.
"So Arianna, are you planning to settle on the first of next month for your wedding? It's just about twenty-three days away, you need to make up your mind." I told her.
"Yes, Pete and I want the first of the month, but then we really would have wanted Dylan to agree to this. He can't stop us, I know, but we just need that blessing from him as my brother and Pete's best friend." Arianna brought her hands up and rested her head in her palms. She really looked puzzled. I could not understand why Dylan was being that tough. I had tried many times to talk to him but he stood his ground, stating that Pete had betrayed the family.
We heard footsteps and assuming that it was Pete, Arianna stood up and rushed towards the door. In came Dylan. Arianna froze in her tracks, and gave Dylan a blank stare. They were both silent until he spoke first.
"Do you love him?" Dylan asked. "Tell me the truth, Arianna? Do you love him?"
"Brother, I love him with all my heart. He is everything I have ever wanted in a man." There was sincerity in her voice.
"Do you feel stuck because of the pregnancy? If the pregnancy was not there, would you be with him?" the brother continued to ask.
"Yes, I would be with him. I love him. My happiness is in him." Arianna spoke with a shaky voice. I knew she was about to cry.
"Then I won't stand in your way of happiness, my sister."
Dylan pulled his sister into a warm hug, and she sobbed softly in his arms. The sight was very touching to watch. Footsteps were heard again, and in came Pete, holding two grocery bags in his arms. His eyes landed on the two, and he quickly put the bags on the floor and rubbed his hands together, seemingly nervous.
"Dylan," he called in a low voice.
Dylan slowly let go of Arianna and him and Pete hugged. "Brother-in-law" I heard him muttering.
"Brother-in-law; did you just call me brother-in-law?" Pete was shocked.
"I have." He smiled at his friend.
"Brother-in-law, before we go further, let me make the request I have been withholding for too long now. Will you be my best man?" Pete said.
"Of course I will. Even if you had not asked, I was going to give myself that position!" he smiled brightly.
"Really, Dylan! This has to be one of my happiest days! My best friend, who is a brother to me; soon to be my best man, if also my brother in law. What more can a man want?"
***
Everyone was happy, well...except for me. I felt defeated. The feeling of defeat had long stayed with me ever since Anisha came into Dylan's life. Initially, Ciera had been wise enough to know that Anisha was not worthy of being Dylan's girlfriend, but later on she changed her mind and started to warm up towards Anisha. That just drove me mad. I felt betrayed by my own daughter. But the sharpest and deepest pain came when Arianna told me that she had chosen Anisha to be her maid of honour. I could not believe her. Why? How? Where there no other people? Her friends from university, maybe? Her childhood friends? Or daughters from other families in our circle? I tried my best to bring it all to Arianna, but she insisted on Anisha. I had no option but to give in. Arianna was getting seriously emotional; crying easily. Upsetting her was the last thing I wanted.
My heart wretched in great painful anger when I saw that girl Anisha wearing a lovely dress, walking down the aisle as part of the bridal team. Oh I swear I could have thrown up. But then, I had to act happy and pretend to be happy. I was the mother of the bride, for crying out loud. The wedding was very beautiful, if we remove the fact that Anisha became an important part of it.
Pete and Arianna's wedding was not as big and flashy as I would have wanted it to be. I was dreaming of a huge event, something where the whole of Lakeworld would know about, but the couple agreed that they wanted it to be private. Arianna's argument was that she got tired too easily, and so she really needed the rest. She could not managed to sit for long hours. Pete agreed to what Arianna had said, and so their wishes wee fulfilled. The wedding was held in one of the best hotels in the country, with an after party held at the de Milo mansion rooftop. It was all as per Arianna's wishes. Of course the journalists caught wind of it, and all the headlines that I had dreamt of, and even more, flashed in any and all news channels for some days. People commented online and lots of congratulatory messages were sent to us.
Since childhood, Arianna had always spoken about her wish to run a high school. Unknown to her, Roderick and I had already bought land where the school was to be built, and so on her wedding day, we let her know of that. Ciera and Keith Junior offered to find the best architect to start working on the building plans, and when it comes to the building part, everyone wanted to contribute something. Roderick and myself had planned to build the whole school, but Dylan said he too wanted to offer his hand in it. Hayden Rockridge, Pete's father, said he also needed to be involved. In the end, it was like the building of the school was auctioned, and Hayden won. He promised that the school was going to be ready in the shortest time possible.
Hayden shocked everyone when he announced that he had secretly acquired a huge mansion which he had always dreamt of handing over to his son one day, and he was allowing Arianna to go and turn the place into a home. In his talk, Hayden stated that although the place was beautiful, he was sure it lacked a feminine touch, and so Arianna was the one to add that touch. Arianna was asked by Hayden to go online and if she wanted any furniture from places out of Lakeworld, she could choose any and all of the items. Hayden paid for all the furniture and to have it shipped in at the earliest time possible.
Everyone was happy. The young couple had their honeymoon fully paid for, friends and relatives brought cars as gifts, holiday vouchers and many other good gifts.
The thing that touched most people the most was the speech that Dylan gave, directing it to the couple…
"Pete, you know how sweet Arianna is. There is nothing I can tell you about her which you do not already know. You have found yourself a good woman, a beautiful girl who is ambitious and will make you life's journey worthwhile.
Arianna, Pete is like a twin brother to me. I know him well, and I can assure that you have found yourself a good husband. The best that there is, actually. This is a man who will stand by you through thick and thin. I am not speaking about heresy, I am speaking what I experienced. Pete Rockridge stood by me in all situations of my life, the good and the bad. If he did that much for me, then I am sure that he will do even more for you, his wife.
Pete is the type of friend that you can call at midnight and say I need help, and soon after the call, he will be knocking at your door. He is the type of friend that will believe in your judgment, and not look down on you. While he gives you room and freedom to be yourself, he always stands up to correct you, should he feel that you're going astray. Pete is that type of friend who will leave everything to come to your help, if you need him. This man here walked with me through the journey of life. He travelled with me since the time we were young boys, and he understood me better than any other person could have understood me. Sometimes I feel like I take him for granted; that is how great of a friend he is. He is that friend...the one you either read about in a book or watch in a soppy movie, and think that no such person exists. But he does. Such person does exists. His name if Pete Rockridge, and you are more than blessed to have him as your husband. Sister; you are in good hands."