Little Rose – Chapter 13 – Ending and a Wedding

Father gave Keith full permission to court me even though I have a curfew time of coming home before ten in the evening. The moment I was home, I was to give my full attention to father and Barry. No calls were to be accepted from Keith after ten o’clock. Surprisingly Keith was in agreement with father and father looked so please with himself. One day I went over to Angela’s place with father. I was afraid to look at my old stuff. I told father I may have my phone in my belongings and father could help to look for my picture. To my disappointment, I could not find my phone. Looking at my old clothing and my schoolbooks and Sister Cathy rosary, I started crying. Father consoled me and told me gently that it was time for me to move forward and to put my past behind. I donated all my old stuff to the orphanage. I only kept Sister Cathy rosary with me. Tim, Mary and the kids left for London after staying over for more than a month. Even though I was sad to see Tim leaving, I got his promise to visit us again.

Keith officially announced his engagement to me. Kim was the happiest and gave me her blessing. She said with a wink, “I knew something was up on Mr. O’Heir sleeve when he asked me to report your where about to him. I guessed you tame the “wild beast”. With these words, both of us started laughing and she hugged me again. Luckily for me, Keith has confided to me that he had asked Kim to do this favour due he remembered Rose playing the hide and seek game with him and leaving the cafe when no one was noticing or when someone was distracting him so that me (Rose) could leave the café discreetly. And Keith also told me in confidence that my new name was “the church mouse”. I laughed loudly and said, “Well at least I am “the church mouse” but you my dear is “the wild beast.” Looking at me with smoldering passion in eyes, Keith said, “I think I need to tame my shrew and started kissing me passionately.

I was into three months of courtship with Keith when he insists on seeing father. When I asked for an explanation, he kissed my forehead and said, “You will know soon.” I was puzzled but I belief and trust Keith. Three days later, father called me into his study. I walked over and hugged father and bend down to hug Barry too. “Sit down, Daffodil, father said. I looked at father with questions in my eyes. Finally father said, “Keith has asked my permission to marry. He assured and promise me that he will take care of you for life and he can no longer wait. He said he is in his thirties and its time for him to start a family of his own. He further told me in confidence that Bob has married Angela against his mother’s wishes but got his father’s blessing.” I was shocked. I saw Angela three days and she did not mention anything to me. Seeing the disappointment look on my face, father said wagging his index finger at me, “Daffodil, my child please do not ask Angela. It’s a secret between the three of them and Keith said that Angela wants to break the news to you personally when the time is right.” I nodded my head and smiled at dad.

Father look seriously at me and asked, “Your nodding is a permission to marry Keith or agreement not to ask Angela about her marriage?” I started laughing and jumped out of the chair. “Father, I asked. Did you give your permission to Keith?” Father nodded his head and I sat with a loud thud on the chair again and buried my face in my hands with embarrassment. Father laughed at reaction and said, “One day you will have to leave my haven so I gave my blessing to Keith willingly.”

I saw Keith in the office the following day. He called me in to his office and pulled the blinds down on the glass partition that separated our office and locked his office door. I looked around his office alarmingly. He beckoned me to come over. I stood rooted near the big sofa and shook my head. Looking at me with a smile on his face, Keith said, “I know what your thinking. I am not going to devour you, sweetheart.” He beckoned me again with a pleading voice and I moved one step, two steps, three steps and Keith reached over and pulled me right into Keith’s arms. Walking towards the glass partition with his arms around me, Keith pulled the blinds up. The office staff was in my office, holding a big banner in their hands. The banner was decorated with rose and daffodil petals scattered in the background and there were words written in bold letters “Will You Marry Me Rose Daffodil.” There were tears in my eyes and I nodded my head and bury my head into Keith chest. There were loud clapping and cheering in my office. The staff was giving me thumbs up and Kim eyes were beaming with tears.

I was ready to marry to Keith within three weeks of his proposal. I invited Angela over to the house to see my wedding dress, which Mary specially ordered to be sewn. Angela walked into my room when I was about to try on my wedding gown. Mary was there to help me too. Looking guilty at me, Angela said, “Rose, I got something to tell you. You must promise me not to be angry with me, okay?” I nodded my head, with a smile on my lips. “Rose, Angela said. I got married to Bob secretly. He was forever chasing and pestering me to marry him. His mother disagreed with our marriage due to my age. Rose, you know right? I am eleven years older than him and I am not getting any younger.” I laughed loudly at Angela. Both Mary and I hugged and congratulated her with a big kiss on her forehead and told her to help us with the wedding dress.

I chose to get married at the chapel near the orphanage and invited all the kids from the orphanage. Father promised me that there will be plenty of food for the kids to eat and any thing extra will be donated to orphanage. My happy day arrived and I was ready to walk down the aisle on father’s and Tim’s arm. Keith was waiting near the altar for me, talking to the new Mother Superior. On seeing me entering the chapel, Jimmy, Katie and the children started clapping their hands happily. Keith turned around to see me walking down the aisle with father and Tim. Keith and I took our marriage vows and the moment our vows were exchanged, Keith kissed me before the Father could bless us. Keith said against my lips, “I was dying to kiss you the moment you walked down the aisle.” I started to chuckle but Keith stopped my chuckling with his kisses again.

The children were running happily around the chapel. Barry was the center of attraction and he was wagging his tail in excitement. The children, Jimmy and Katie played “Fetch” game with Barry and he had a confused look on his face as so many children were saying, “Fetch, Barry.” “Fetch, Barry”. Barry refused to let go of the stick once it was in his mouth. Father started laughing and whistles to Barry over to his side and started playing with the children.

We excused ourselves and walked over to Sister Cathy’s grave. Keith solemnly bow his head and holding my hands in his, he turned to Sister Cathy’s grave and said, “Mother, I got married to your Rose today. Please bless us with your blessing and may our love for each other grow stronger and stronger as each year goes by. Mother I further thank you for preventing Rose to take her vow as a Bride to the Lord.” Upon hearing this, I hit Keith arm and told him stop being rude and impertinent or else mother would not give me her blessing. Keith was in a cheeky mood. He kissed me right in front of Sister Cathy’s grave and said, “If your angelic mother is happy, she will show us a sign.”

I told Keith to give me some private time with mother and I will meet him at the chapel. He nodded and left me alone with mother. The moment Keith footsteps faded away, I went on my knees. In my kneeling position started crying loudly and thanks my angelic mother for protecting and keeping me sane all these six years. I thank mother for sending father, Tim, Mary, Jimmy, Katie, Angela, Bob and above all Keith into my life. I apolgise to mother for not visiting her and promised to visit her with Keith whenever time permits us to. I do not know how long I was kneeling and praying until I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder. It was Keith. “Sorry sweetheart. I was getting worried about you”, Keith said and helped me to stand up. I nodded my head and said my good bye to my angelic mother, Sister Cathy. As we started walking towards the chapel, the clouds suddenly turned dark and gloomy. Thunder roared and lightening bolt. Suddenly it started to rain heavily. Keith entwined his fingers with mine and told me to run. Looking lovingly at Keith, I nodded my head. I knew there and then that my angelic mother has given me her blessing…

*Negative comments are rude. Please provide positive feedback and enjoy my unedited (raw) short stories.*