4: Ruined Wedding 3

“Who invited them to the wedding?” Brian mumbled but Leonard heard him.

“We will find out,” he squeezed his hand and encouraged him.

The visitor held the twins in her two hands, walked to them in the foyer, and greeted the couple whom she was seeing for the first time, “Good morning, Ma'am. Good morning, Sir.”

That voice. His name on her lips was a dagger to his chest.  

Leonard’s face drained of color.  His eyes switched from the woman to the children.

“Good morning, Young Lady,” Frederick and his wife responded simultaneously with a questioning expression.

Afterward, she faced Brian. Though he had changed but she recognized him the moment she saw him.

“Good morning, Brian,” she said, her British accent crisp.  

Like everyone, he was shocked to hear his name from a melodious voice.

He looked into her eyes and responded, “Good morning, Young Lady. How may I help you?”

“I'm Valerie Miller and these are …”

Leonard had never met her but he had heard the name over a million times. At that point, he shuddered and looked intently at her.

Now, Brian had recognized her. He interrupted her and screamed, "Valerie? My Valerie?”

She fought back her tears and locked eyes with him. Nevertheless, Brian was euphoric and never bothered to stop his tears of joy from flowing.

“Yes. These are our children,” she said and looked at the children.

Brian could not process many things at that moment but Leonard could.

“Ha!” Leonard ever quick, exclaimed and snatched up the twins with genuine cheer

Instantly, the  babies giggled and were happy to be lifted at once.

“What is going on?” Mr. Garfield asked while his wife was puzzled.

Brian walked to Valerie and attempted to pull her to his bosom but she resisted him, still angry with him for taking advantage of her.

“Your grandchildren, Mr. Garfield. You have grandchildren,” Leonard announced cheerfully and even the inquisitive security men heard him.

Mr. Garfield looked at his wife and they were both confused.

“Children, meet Grandma and Grandpa,” the excited Leonard said and handed the boy to Charity.

Whatever, such children could not be resisted and they collected the babies from him.

“Grandma,” the little boy looked into her eyes and called out while Charity was dumbfounded to hear a child address her with the title she never dreamt of having soon.

She looked at the boy again and saw a replica of Brian when he was two years old.

“Yes, my dear,” she answered and held him closer to her chest.

Brian’s knees nearly buckled. “Valerie? My Valerie?”  

Her eyes glistened, but her voice was steel. “Yes. And these…” She  looked at the children in her grandparents' hand. “These are your children.”  

The world stopped.  

Charity gasped as the little boy peered up at her. “Grandma?”  

The word shattered her. This child his face was Brian’s, decades younger.  

Frederick staggered and asked again, “What is happening?”  

But Brian wasn’t listening. He dropped to his knees, hands trembling as he reached for Valerie. “Please ”  

Valerie took a step back, her expression unreadable. The pain in her eyes was unmistakable, but so was the resolve.  

Brian’s voice cracked. “Valerie, I ... I thought you were gone ..." The words were too heavy in his mouth and he stopped. "I searched for you everywhere.”  

She swallowed hard, her grip tightening on her purse. 

“You searched for me? Or you moved on so quickly that you didn’t even notice I was gone?” She asked, looking into his wet eyes.

Leonard, still holding one of the twins, shot Brian a sharp look. “You didn’t tell them?”  

Brian’s throat worked. “I—I didn’t know about this.”  

Frederick’s voice boomed, cutting through the tension. “Someone explain this right now!”  

Valerie straightened her shoulders and began. “Three years ago, my sister, Jane brought me to  work as a cook for Brian and ..."

"Excuse me, Young Lady. Are these my grandchildren?" Frederick asked anxiously. 

Charity’s face paled. “Are these are our grandchildren?”  

"Are they.  Kindly speak, Young Lady."

Valerie fougth back her tears, gave Brian a hate look and faced Frederick, “Yes, Old man. Their names are ...”  

The atmosphere fell silent. Frederick’s stern expression softened.

"Come in, my daughter.  You need to sit down," he said and moved.

His wife followed and Brian looked at Valerie who seemed reluctant. The twin in Leonard’s hand giggled and stretched her hand to Brian.

“Papa,” Leonard said pointedly, shifting the child forward. “Your daughter wants you.”

Brian’s breath hitched. The baby’s innocent smile cut through the storm inside him.  Without words, he reached out and took her with surprising tenderness.

He faced Valerie, locked into her eyes and pleaded, "I beg of you, my parents and your parents inlaw are innocent. Kindly meet them."

Her heart softened. She looked at Leonard and he pleaded as well, "He is right. They wished to hear you out."

Valerie hesitated for a moment, her fingers tightening around the edge of her shawl. The weight of the past still lingered, but the sight of Brian holding their daughter so gently, so naturally - stirred something deep within her.  

"Fine," she said at last, her voice quiet but firm. "I'll meet them."  

Relief washed over Brian's face, and he adjusted the baby in his arms, pressing a light kiss to her forehead before stepping closer to Valerie. "Thank you," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. 

Soon, they were in Valerie’s parlor.  The memories of her one night with Brian flooded back as she glanced around the familiar room. The couch where she sat with Jane that day before Brian dismissed her and sat beside her. She could almost hear the faint echo of their laughter, the whispered promises that had seemed so real at the time.  

Brian cleared his throat, shifting the baby in his arms. "Valerie, welcome to your home - our home."

She smiled softly and looked at her parents who were already sitting. 

"Sit down, My dear," Frederick said. 

"Thank you father," she said and sat down. 

The boy crawled from his grandfather's legs to Brian and he carried him happily. He sat  down and Leonard did the same. 

Frederick cleared his throat and rested his back on the couch.  The guest at the registry, temporarily forgotten. 

He faced Valerie.  "Tell us everything, my daughter."

Charity leaned in and focused on her. Her alleged perfect daughter-in-law at the registry seemed to be history.  This wasn’t just a ruined wedding.  It was the beginning of a new chapter.  

Valerie wished to speak but a lump formed in Valerie’s throat. Her gaze falling to the twin and then to Brian.

'Will she say all that we did that day?' Brian asked himself as she began.