Pierre grabbed a large basin of fresh water and rinsed his face thoroughly. When he straightened up, he saw a face he hadn't seen in far too long. He was clean-shaven and had gone to the barber. He looked like someone again. He had cut himself in several places and had lost a lot of time because his old razor was no longer as good as it used to be.
These cheap razors weren't designed to last, which is why when buying them in supermarkets, people would get at least twenty of them. Of course, like everything from before the blackout, they were revalued, and almost nothing was thrown away. The razor Pierre used to get rid of his ugly beard would have ended up in the trash months ago if the world hadn't collapsed more than a year earlier.
He headed to his bed where a clean white shirt (more gray than white, really) was laid out and calmly put it on, although he was anything but calm. Today was probably the most important day of his life. He buttoned it up to the collar and, something he hadn't done in ages, tied a tie around his neck.
He then put on a suit jacket, the only one he had taken with him when he left Paris. Because he only wore it for special occasions, and this was one of them, it was still in very good condition. It was a high-end jacket, custom-made, and crafted in Italy. Although his physique had changed since the blackout, his size hadn't during that period.
Not much had happened in Saint-Pabu in the past few weeks and months. Every day was the same. Madame Le Gall, still the mayor of the small town, had married Yvon, which surprised no one. For the occasion, he decided to cut his ponytail, which had become ridiculous due to his balding. This change, coupled with his impressive weight loss, made a big difference. In a word, he was unrecognizable.
After many trials and errors, they had finally finished building the windmill on the outskirts of Saint-Pabu, which would allow them to grind the harvested grain and make flour in a few days. They could then make much better bread than those produced last year ground by hand.
The yield of the fields wasn't good, mainly because of voracious insects and diseases, but it was estimated that it would be enough to feed everyone and get through the winter.
Outside the fields, all the abandoned ones were turning into meadows. The weeds had grown so much that the tallest ones exceeded the height of a man. These places were teeming with life, a real paradise for small animals. The crickets were so numerous that you could hear them from the church.
Even with its windows closed, as it was already starting to get hot inside the house, Pierre could hear the noise this army of insects was making.
I feel like I'm about to go to La Défense, thought Pierre, contemplating his reflection in the large bathroom mirror.
A thin smile appeared on his lips.
KNOCK KNOCK
"Can I come in?" Yvon's voice came from behind the door.
"Yes."
"Wow! What a handsome man!" he exclaimed, entering the brightly lit room by the blazing summer sun.
Yvon had also spruced himself up. He wore clean clothes, had carefully combed his hair, and had even put on some cologne. This kind of relic from the past was almost no longer used, so it was no surprise to find some still in bathroom cabinets. This was also why Pierre still had shaving foam. However, it was only a matter of time before everything was used up and he had to content himself with trimming his beard with scissors or wait until they learned to make durable razors.
"Thanks, Yvon."
"Not too nervous?"
"Honestly? Yes. I'm afraid of messing up."
"Well, that's normal! Hahaha! It's not every day you get married! Turn around, let's see? Not bad at all! You can tell you're used to wearing suits."
"Don't make me laugh, I have farmer's hands and still have dirt under my nails. I tried to clean them, but…"
"Make you laugh? Ha! Ha! Ha! Not once in a whole year! The day you laugh, it'll rain shit! No way I'm missing that! Don't worry about the nails, nobody looks at that."
"Céline will see them when she puts my ring on."
"Yeah, well, who cares! You work in the fields, it's inevitable! Come on, princess! If you're ready, let's go! No way we're being late to the church!"
Yvon was very enthusiastic! When he had first seen Pierre, he thought he was looking at a cowboy with the friendliness of a brick wall. He had struggled, but thanks to his efforts, Pierre had gradually opened up to him and the other residents of the town. They had talked together, drunk together, and even sailed together! He had seen him change and had almost fallen over when Pierre told him one day that he had started dating a girl.
She had just turned eighteen, but what did that mean now? Majority? The right to drive? The right to buy alcohol and scratch-off tickets? All that was in the past! The important thing was feelings and, of course, the parents' opinion.
Céline's parents, Romain and Patricia Thomas, were initially against it because of the age difference. Pierre was indeed thirty-three years old. They eventually accepted their relationship, mainly because Céline was stubborn and extremely determined.
Just as Pierre couldn't say no to the young girl when it came to starting a relationship, her parents couldn't do anything to dissuade her from being with him. He had visited the Thomas' several times and had many discussions with them. Only after these numerous talks did they finally accept him.
Yvon and Pierre entered the church, filled with people. This event had been announced, and people had come to share this joyous moment with the couple. There were friends and also Céline's family. Messengers had to be sent to various towns in the region, up to Landerneau, thirty kilometers away to the southeast. Unfortunately, Pierre's parents, if they were still alive, couldn't be present.
The two newcomers were immediately applauded by the crowd. As they walked in, Pierre nodded to everyone with that slight smile that grew progressively as he approached the heart of the church. There were the mother and grandparents of the bride-to-be. He stopped for a moment in front of them, kissed them, and held the hands of his in-laws, moved to tears.
Yvon then guided him to the center of the church and stood to his right.
"And now?" Yvon asked in a low voice.
"I'm terrified, Yvon. Do you have the rings?"
"Wait, let me check."
Yvon pretended to search all over himself, causing the groom's blood pressure to spike.
"Yvon," he said in an icy tone, barely above a whisper. "Don't do this to me."
"It's fine! Here they are, haha!"
He was clearly happy to play a trick on his friend. Yet, he had been in the same state of stress when it had been his turn a month earlier. The priest smiled generously, seeing so much joy and camaraderie. He had confessed Pierre Marchais more than once and knew about his efforts. He knew where he started from and how much he had progressed.
After the groom and his best man, it was the turn of the groomsmen, the bridesmaids, and the flower girls. Among them were Cécile's younger sister and her cousin, who had come from another town for the occasion.
And then she arrived. Cécile, in a beautiful white dress, though very simple, entered the church on her father's arm. She was radiant.
Oh my God, she's so beautiful!
Pierre froze, stunned by her beauty. He felt like he was seeing her anew. Her smile was the same.
When he arrived in front of Pierre, Céline's father warmly shook his hand before going to sit next to his wife. Pierre, who hadn't seen the dress or his wife while she was getting ready, couldn't help but whisper a compliment in her ear, causing the young woman to blush even more.
"Dearly beloved," the priest began, "we are gathered here on this glorious day to celebrate the union of Pierre Henri Charles Marchais and Céline Charlotte Françoise Thomas in the sacred bonds of marriage."
The priest's voice resonated clearly throughout the church without the need for a microphone, but Pierre couldn't hear him even though he was right next to him. All his senses were focused on one person only. Like a machine, he followed the priest's directions and sang with the guests when necessary. When the priest finished reading his excerpt from the Gospel, he invited the groom to take his vows.
"In the presence of God, who is the source of your love and will always be by your side, in front of all those who wished to share this moment with you, exchange your vows."
Pierre swallowed hard and looked at Céline, whose eyes were now teary.
"I, Pierre Henri Charles Marchais, swear to be faithful to you for the rest of my days and beyond, to love and cherish you until the end of time, to respect you and... um, to accept all my responsibilities as a husband and parent in our home."
"Do you do this freely and without reservation?"
"Yes!" he replied in a voice that was a bit too loud and tense.
Pierre's face turned red when he realized his mistake. That last part should have been said at the beginning, but everything seemed natural. The priest turned to the bride, who was terribly nervous.
"I, Céline Charlotte Françoise Thomas, swear to be faithful to you for the rest of my days and beyond, to love and cherish you until the end of time, to respect you and to accept all my responsibilities as a wife and parent in our home. I do this freely and without reservation!"
Everyone applauded as the two protagonists of this event tried to regain stable breathing. Although it was cool in this church, they felt like they were suffocating.
The rest of the ceremony went without major incident, and the two spouses exchanged rings.
In accordance with tradition, there were prayers, blessings, and hymns.
Then, one by one, they signed the priest's register to keep a written record of their marriage.
The guests exited first and showered them with a multitude of wildflower petals when it was their turn to leave the house of God. Céline's parents took her in their arms before doing the same with Pierre. He had a hard time thinking. He was having difficulty realizing what had just happened.
His mother-in-law whispered emotional words of congratulations to him, while his father-in-law commanded him to take good care of their daughter. All he could respond, but it was the only possible response, was a small "yes."
But the celebration was not yet over. After this very emotional wedding, all close friends and family were invited to a banquet. Despite the absence of Pierre's family, it still represented about fifteen people. They gathered at his home, which was now also Céline's home.
They gathered in the large garden, where the grass had been freshly cut and several large tables covered with cloths and wildflowers had been set up. Céline had taken care of the decoration with her mother and sister. Pierre had taken care of the meal. For this grand occasion, he had bought a pig from a farmer, which had been roasting on a spit for nearly five hours.
The delicious smell, carried by the wind, wafted through the entire street, making everyone who could smell it salivate.
Because it was midsummer, the weather was splendid. A few small white clouds drifted with the winds in a deep blue sky. Pierre was surrounded by people he liked, even though he had only been in Saint-Pabu for just over a year. This could be considered quite short, yet they treated him as if he had always lived there.
Céline's family was also very kind. They had even brought vegetables and fresh fish for the banquet. There was an explosion of joy when Pierre, who had disappeared at some point during the meal, returned with a bottle of red wine from a great Bordeaux vineyard.
"Enjoy it, it's my last bottle!"
The guests savored it to the last drop, and some even shed a tear at the thought that they would no longer have the opportunity to drink wine. Céline's father was among them.