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Date Posted: 23:27:30 12/30/08 Tue
Author: Hannah
Author Host/IP: bas21-toronto12-1242431666.dsl.bell.ca / 74.14.0.178
Subject: Northern Woods, Chapter 165
In reply to: Hannah 's message, "Northern Woods, Chapter 160" on 21:00:37 10/28/08 Tue

Chapter 165

“Michael told me before the party that he happened to meet Veronique at a restaurant that he’d gone to with Willie, Chuck and his security chief.” Nikita replied.

“Chris Davenport?” Marie inquired.

“Yes, that’s the man’s name.” Nikita replied. “I’ve only met him once… he came to the penthouse and Michael introduced him to me.”

“And what happened at this restaurant?” Marie probed; focusing on the chance meeting at the restaurant that Nikita had just revealed.

“Michael said that he and the others were just about to leave the restaurant after their lunch when she accosted him.” Nikita revealed.

“What do you mean… ‘accosted’?” Marie asked.

“He says she rushed up to him and pressed her body up against him and kissed him.” Nikita replied.

“What?” Lakeisha said incredulously. “Right there in the middle of the restaurant?”

‘That doesn’t surprise me.’ Marie thought in disgust. ‘What a tramp! I’ll bet Chuck was disgusted too! He can’t stand her at the best of times.’

“Yes… and she told him that she *missed* him and that ‘his wife didn’t need to know if they resumed their relationship.’ ” Nikita revealed.

Lakeisha gasped. “What a tramp! How did he respond?”

“He says he told her that he didn’t want her and to stop acting that way.” Nikita said quietly. “When I realized that the woman standing in front on me in the reception line was *that* person… I stared directly into her eyes and told her I found their recent conversation very informative.”

“Nikita!” a giggling Lakeisha replied, amazed that her normally shy friend had been so forward.

“What?” Nikita asked as she noted her friend’s amusement. “Why shouldn’t I? I wasn’t going to let her get away with *not* knowing that Michael tells me things.”

“Good for you.” Marie said, finally contributing to their discussion once more. “That tramp needs to realize that Michel is committed to you and won’t be easily led astray.”

“Not ‘easily’ Marie.” Nikita said as she looked seriously into the Frenchwoman’s blue eyes. “Not at all. I know Michael loves me.”

“I can see that.” Marie said seriously. “I’ve never seen him act this possessively before.”

“So when you told her that, she became rude and refused to speak English… and to top that off, her ‘Daddy’ was trying to ask your forgiveness for her bad manners.” Lakeisha summarized.

“Yeah.” Nikita replied. “I wanted to forgive her.. but she wouldn’t talk *to me.* All I could think was… ‘does she have any manners?’”

Both Marie and Lakeisha giggled.

‘Oh I love her sense of humour!’ Marie thought appreciatively. ‘Accurate and blunt!’

“Adam’s much more polite that she was.” Nikita stated emphatically. “And he’s only five.”

Marie smiled again in appreciation of Nikita’s insight. “And Maurice was trying to apologize for her?”

“Yes, he was.” Nikita said simply.

Marie shut her eyes in sympathy with Veronique’s father. ‘Poor Maurice… Veronique definitely takes after her mother… she’s a tramp too!’

“Her behaviour went far beyond ‘bad manners’ if you ask me.” Lakeisha supplied once more.

“I agree… but even *if* her father or Michael had *made* her say the words, any apology she might have made wouldn’t be real…so what would be the point?” Nikita reasoned logically. “She’s childish beyond belief… I can’t believe Michael dated her. She must have driven him crazy.”

Marie nodded. Nikita was right. When Michel had been dating Veronique, she’d heard Chuck say just that on more than one occasion. Her childish behaviour as much as her greed had been major factors in Michel’s disenchantment with her.

“And the redhead?” Lakeisha replied.

“I think Michael said her name was Claire.” Nikita replied in a hushed voice. “She was frightening. I’ve never seen anyone so out of control. I feel sorry for her.”

“What?” a shocked Lakeisha replied as she stared incredulously at her friend. “That witch attacked you Nikita! Why would you say that?”

“She threw wine all over my dress Lakeisha… that’s hardly an attack.” Nikita replied; trying to brush off the incident as inconsequential.

“No, Nikita.” Marie replied instead. “It *was* an attack. Granted you weren’t physically hurt..”

“Thank God.” Lakeisha breathed.

“Yes… merci le bonne Dieu.” Marie agreed, “However, it was an childish attack just the same. It was spiteful and malicious and I promise you that it is *not* reflective of how Michel’s friends think.”

Nikita just shrugged, but didn’t reply.

Marie paused, watching the hesitation that was clearly visible on the young beauty’s face.

“Nikita?” she probed gently.

“Are you sure Marie?” Nikita finally asked in a whisper. “After all, I’m English and younger than Michael. I’m also not from *high society*. Why wouldn’t Michael’s friends think I’m not good enough for him?”

Marie shut her eyes, amazed at the candor of the lady before her. “Michael’s friends cherish their association with him, I assure you Nikita. He’s a good man and they all know it. If Michel has chosen *you* then you can be certain that they will support him in that choice. Once they come to know you, I’m certain they’ll respect and admire you too.”

“How did they feel about Elena?” Nikita asked quietly.

“They hated her… but they tolerated her because she *was* his wife. They were all relieved when the marriage ended.” Marie said seriously.

“And why wouldn’t they feel the same about me?” Nikita asked quietly. “After all, I’m an outsider… I’m English… and I’m not from Quebec.”

“Nikita!” Lakeisha exclaimed, stunned at her friend’s candor.

“I’m not stupid Lakeisha.” Nikita replied.

“I never thought you were.” Lakeisha retorted. “What *will* Marie think of you asking something like that!”

“She’ll think Michel’s new wife is refreshingly honest.” Marie replied with a wry grin.

“I’m glad you think so.” Nikita replied as she gazed levelly at Marie. “I try to be honest. All I know is that there are many people… both in Ontario and Quebec that hate each other simply because of who the other is.”

“You’re right.” Marie agreed.

“I think that’s nonsense…” Nikita continued, “and that you should take people for who they *are*.. regardless of their appearance, their language or their beliefs. I also realize that is not how others think.”

“You’re right about that too, unfortunately.” Marie concurred.

“So are you telling me that none of Michael’s friends are going to react to me that way?” Nikita asked seriously.

“I would like to tell you they won’t Nikita, but I can’t predict that.” Marie said honestly. “I can only hope they won’t. I know a great many of them, and I believe they’re going to accept you; especially once they realize how deeply in love you two are.”

“I hope so.” Nikita said softly. “Michael told me once that he’d drop friends who took a dislike to me, but that’s easy to say that and difficult to do when it really happens. I don’t want to cause any friction with anyone. It would upset him and that’s the last thing I want.”

“I can see that.” Marie replied. “I also know that nothing I can say to you is going to convince you. I wish it could.”

“I’m sorry.” Nikita replied. “I’m just worried… I love Michael so much and I don’t want to come between him and his friends.”

“I know that… and I’d likely feel the same if I were in your place.” Marie replied warmly. “All that matters is that the two of you are happy.” ‘How could any of us hate this lady? It’s so obvious she loves Michel with all her being. If only Elena had felt even a fraction of what she obviously does for him!’

“I agree.” Lakeisha replied as she stared incredulously at her friend. “I don’t understand you girl. If someone attacked me like Claire did I’d be furious. And yet you feel sorry for her? Why would you say that Nikita?”

“She’s so full of hatred, Keisha. I could feel it rolling off her in waves.” Nikita gently explained. “I know I couldn’t understand her words… but I really didn’t have to. She’s an unhappy person and she’ll never be happy until she gets rid of her anger. It will eat her alive. I’ve seen it happen. That’s an awful way to live.”

Marie listened to these evaluations in wonder. Nikita didn’t know either woman, but she did. She’d dealt with both of them socially on several occasions in the past. The only thing that had kept them civil to her was that she hadn’t been pursuing Michel. Marie was impressed even more as she realized that Nikita hadn’t understood anything in the conversation that had led up to her assault, and yet… she’d just given a accurate description of both women.

“I know you find it hard to believe that Michel’s friends will like you Nikita.” Marie quietly confided as she prepared to plead with lovely blonde. “Please give them a chance. Don’t judge all of us based on what those two did.”

“I’ll try Marie,” Nikita said sincerely as she looked up at her new acquaintance, “but it is difficult. All I know is that I don’t think a lot of either of them. They claim that Michael is their friend and then they act rudely. If they really *were* his friends, they’d be happy that he’s happy, wouldn’t they?”

“You’d think so.” Marie murmured. “Women like that are difficult to understand.”

“It’s really very simple.” Lakeisha interjected with a snort of disgust. “Those women were pigs. And guess what Nikita? You can’t reason with pigs. Reason only confuses them and makes them nastier!”

That got a giggle out of both Marie and Nikita. The very idea of equating the elegant society women to slovenly barnyard beasts was absurd.

‘I like Lakeisha too! She’s amusing and honest.’ Marie thought with a smirk as she recalled the creatures her grandparents had raised on their farm. ‘Calling those women pigs really isn’t fair… not to pigs anyway! Pigs have more manners!’

Lakeisha grinned, relieved that she’d found something amusing that would cheer her friend up.

“Veronique and Claire aren’t there now.” Marie said reassuringly after her giggles subsided. “The waiter brought us a message from Chuck. Whatever happened, both of them are gone.”

“Of course they’re gone. Michael said he was throwing them out, and I believed him. What a disaster! ” Nikita sighed. “My poor Michael! He must be so upset! He wanted this party so badly, do you know that? He even wanted us to renew our vows in front of everyone.”

‘Poor Michel? Not poor me because that witch was unkind to her and ruined her lovely dress? Chuck’s right, this girl *is* unusual!’ Marie thought.

“Aren’t you upset about everything that’s happened tonight Nikita?” Marie inquired softly.

“Only because of Michael.” Nikita replied quietly.

“What do you mean?” Marie probed.

“Michael wanted us to renew our vows in front of all of his friends, Marie.” Nikita elaborated. “I couldn’t have cared less, but he begged me to do this. It seemed to mean so much to him. I think he feels this is important.”

“I don’t understand.” Marie probed. “You were married in the church, correct?”

“Of course. It’s just that Michael wanted to make this a memorable night and it was important to him to *do* this in front of all his friends.” Nikita explained.

“Ah yes…” Marie said, as realization dawned. “Michel is like that. He’s a private man, but there are some things that even private people like to share with friends.”

“I think it was important to him because of how we got married.” Nikita revealed. “I think he feels that doing this is important to me… like if we don’t have this ceremony I’ll feel like I *missed out* later on.”

“I don’t understand.” Lakeisha replied.

“What I mean Keisha, is that I think Michael believes that years from now if we don’t have some sort of public ceremony that I’ll feel cheated.” Nikita explained patiently. “I won’t. We’re married and that’s all that’s important. I could care less about having a public display.”

“Maybe it’s important to Michel.” Marie interjected softly.

“That’s what he said, but I’m sure he was thinking about me too. He always does. You’ve known Michael longer than I have. Tell me why you’d think that.” Nikita asked curiously.

“Some people… even private people like Michel… feel that a wedding needs to be a *public event.* ” Marie explained. “That’s why most weddings have lots of guests… so that there’s lots of witnesses to the fact that a couple is married.”

“Like a public statement… is that what you mean?” Nikita asked.

“Precisely. Doing this in the public eye is a way of confirming to everyone he knows that this is real… and that he’s proud that it is.” Marie replied. “Michel’s lived here all his life. It’s only natural that he’d want to make that sort of statement in front of all his friends and business associates. He probably wants to show you off too dear… you *are* very beautiful after all.”

Nikita smiled slightly and nodded her head. “Thank you.”

“It’s quite likely that he also saw this occasion as a good way of making a point with all his old girlfriends.” Marie continued as she smiled slightly at the lovely blonde who sat before her. “You know… ‘I’m taken…this is *my* wife…. and you’re to keep your hands off!’ Men are like that… possessive and proud.”

“I never thought of that.” Nikita admitted quietly. “You just might be right.”

“I understand.” Lakeisha interjected. “That makes sense.”

“I don’t understand something else.” Marie probed further.

“What’s that?” Nikita replied.

“You keep saying “poor Michael”. You were the one attacked.” Marie said quietly.

“No, my dress was ruined Marie, but really it was Michael who was attacked.” Nikita replied patiently.

At Marie’s puzzled look, she continued, “The person who did this claims to be Michael’s friend. What kind of a friend does something like that to someone you love? She obviously wasn’t his friend… and this only proves what Michael has thought all along about those women…. both of them were only interested in his money.”

“That’s right Nikita. Neither of them are his *friends*.” Lakeisha replied bluntly. “Those two witches were jealous. They both wanted him, but you won.”

“Lakeisha… no! It wasn’t a contest.” A horrified Nikita protested.

“Of course it wasn’t… not to you anyway. You didn’t know he was rich when you married him. However, it was a contest to them.” Lakeisha said astutely.

“I did know Lakeisha… it just wasn’t important.” Nikita replied quietly. “My husband is a wonderful man. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. I could care less about what he owns.”

“I know honey…” Lakeisha replied. “You haven’t got a mercenary bone in your body.”

“Lakeisha’s right. You love Michel… they see him as some sort of ‘financial catch’… like a prize in …qu’es con dit…? Ah yes, like a prize in a carnival.” Marie confirmed. “To women like Veronique and Claire… gaining that *prize* is the first step in accessing his wealth. Sad, but true.”

“That’s not only sad, it’s sick.” Nikita said, shuddering. “Michael’s a man… a human being. He’s *not* a carnival prize. If that’s how they think of him, then they’re totally overlooking his thoughts and his feelings. That’s a despicable way to think of another person. How could they possibly live with themselves and think that way?”

“A decent person wouldn’t… but I don’t think they are. It’s hard to understand women like that and I don’t care if I do. However, I don’t understand something else something you said earlier.” Marie replied again.

“What’s that?” Nikita asked.

“You said earlier that what they did hurt Michel. You were the one accosted.” Marie said.

“Wouldn’t you be hurt if someone attacked your husband Marie?” Nikita inquired. “Especially if you felt it happened because of you… and you had to watch it happen?”

“Yes, I suppose I would.” Marie conceded quietly.

“Michael loves me.” Nikita said firmly. “I’m certain it hurt him when he saw how they treated me. That shouldn’t have happened.”

“I see.” Marie replied, marveling at the lovely blonde’s attitude.

‘She really *does* love Michel! She’s putting his feelings above her own!’

“Don’t you see?” the lovely blonde continued. “My point is, that I’m not important and neither is the red dress. If those women really *were* Michael’s friends, then both of them should have been happy that he was happy. Instead, what they did was act like spoiled children.”

“I agree Nikita.” Lakeisha replied.

“So do I.” Marie chimed in.

“If they’d been mature, they would have politely welcomed me, even if they hated the sight of me.” Nikita replied.

“However, they’re not.” A grinning Marie replied. “Trust me, I know both of them.”

“Poor you.” Lakeisha giggled. “They’re brats.”

Marie smiled. “I totally agree with that!”

“Money or not,” Nikita continued seriously, “Michael is a wonderful, loving man. How could they attack someone he loves and think it was right? How could they treat him that way and think of themselves as decent human beings?”

“I don’t know. You’re very wise, my dear.” Marie said softly. “Michel’s lucky to have you.”

“No, I’m lucky to have such a wonderful, selfless man Marie. I know him. Right now I know that all he’s worried about is how I am. I hope he’s okay.” Nikita replied.

“And what makes you think that you two can’t renew your vows now?” Lakeisha interrupted impishly. “You heard Marie. The troublemakers are gone. On with the party I say!”

“But Lakeisha!” Nikita objected; staring at her friend in amazement. “What would I wear? I understand now why Michael wanted me to buy that dress! The other women’s clothes were amazing! I certainly don’t have anything else that would be appropriate.”

“Is that right?” Lakeisha said with a mysterious twinkle in her dark eyes. “Well, I think you’re wrong.”

“What do you mean?” a frowning Nikita asked curiously as she noted the odd gleam in her friend’s eyes.

“Michael left a surprise here with me for you.” Lakeisha said with a soft smile. “At some point in the evening he wanted me to bring you up here and convince you to change.”

Marie began to smile. She was sure she knew where this was going. ‘Michel and his *arrangements*! He’s made some kind of back up plan… he always does! I can’t wait to find out what it is! That’s what he does in business… and why wouldn’t he with this lovely lady he loves?’

“Change? You mean into another dress? Why?” Nikita asked; perplexed. “What was wrong with my red dress?”

‘Michael liked my dress… I could tell by the way he looked at me in our room! What’s going on here?’ Nikita wondered.

“Not a thing baby girl.” Lakeisha said quietly. “It was elegant and made you glow like the angel he calls you.”

‘Oh… isn’t that *sweet*?’ a smiling Marie thought happily. ‘After Elena I *can* see why he’d call this girl that… yes, I do see it!’

“And don’t worry about your red dress, Nikita.” Marie said reassuringly as she leaned over and gently touched Nikita’s arm once more. “I’ve gotten red wine on dresses before and club soda always takes it out. We’ll soak it for a while, and then let it air-dry. It will be fine.”

“But not for tonight.” Nikita said sadly.

“No, not for tonight.” Marie agreed. “I am sorry.”

“So am I.” Nikita said with a sigh.

“So you did like it?” Marie asked with a gentle smile. She really liked this girl. It was obvious that she adored Michel and that made her very happy. Her ‘brother’ deserved this devotion.

“Of course I did Marie. I’ve never owned anything that beautiful before in my life. That still doesn’t make it more important than Michael.” Nikita replied seriously. “I liked the dress Marie, but I love my husband. I respect his feelings and it upsets me when he’s hurt.”

Marie smiled in delight and impulsively hugged the young woman before her. ‘Wait until I tell Guy about this girl! He’ll be so impressed by how she’s reacted tonight!’

“Merci Nikita.” She whispered in Nikita’s ear.

“For what?” Nikita asked curiously as she accepted Marie’s embrace and smiled at her shyly. The fact that Marie was an old friend of her husband’s and that she and Chuck were as close as they were to him, made her feel like she’d entered a family of sorts. “I love Michael. Why wouldn’t I feel that way?”

“You feel that way because you *do* love him. I’m so glad he’s found you Nikita. He’s needed you. He’s been alone for a long time.” Marie said as she smiled lovingly at Nikita. “Both of you are part of our family now. Never doubt it!”

“Thank you Marie… I’m honoured.” Nikita said with a soft smile and then she hugged the Frenchwoman back.

“And don’t be sorry, Marie. Michael…..” Lakeisha began, “like the doll he is, wanted Nikita to have special memories of tonight when the two of you renew your vows in front of all his friends.”

“When?” Nikita interrupted. “What are you talking about Lakeisha? How…”

“Apparently,” Lakeisha continued, undeterred by her friend’s puzzled interruption, “my dear modest friend told Michael once that not having a ‘wedding gown’ didn’t matter to her. Am I right?”

“Yes, that’s right.” Nikita said firmly. “I still feel that way.”

“You did? What did you wear for your wedding Nikita?” Maria asked quietly.

“We both wore jeans, Marie. The priest’s housekeeper and handyman were our witnesses.” Nikita said, smiling in remembrance.

“But why?” a slightly shocked Marie asked. “I just assumed the two of you had a traditional wedding in Mississauga … you know… with your family in attendance.”

“My uncle is my only family… aside from Anna and her family.” Nikita admitted quietly. “We were married up north in the village church near Michael’s hunting cabin. He promised me we’d get married the minute he could find a church… and we did. That’s all that matters.”

Marie wasn’t sure how to respond to that, and so she continued to probe about the lack of a traditional wedding. ‘Michel didn’t provide a proper wedding for this lovely lady?’ she thought, somewhat outraged and slightly horrified that the social niceties hadn’t been seen to. ‘What *had* he been thinking?’ “Didn’t you want a nice white wedding?”

“Not really Marie.” A gently smiling Nikita replied seriously.

“But why?” an amazed Marie inquired. “Michel can afford it… he could have…”

“Marie… I know that.” Nikita said gently. “I didn’t want a big show.”

“I don’t understand.” a puzzled Marie replied. “Why wouldn’t you want a nice wedding?”

“We *did* have a nice wedding.” Nikita replied simply while gazing levelly into Marie’s blue eyes. “I married the man I love. We got married in the church… we had witnesses. The rest doesn’t matter.”

“I’m sorry… you got married in jeans and you say you had a *nice* wedding? Explain this to me.” Marie probed, wanting to understand the amazing woman seated before her.

‘Michel could have given her the most lavish wedding Montreal has seen in years… he’s a billionaire for heaven’s sake!’ Marie thought incredulously. ‘Why wouldn’t she want that?’

“What’s more important?” Nikita reasoned. “An extravagant expensive dress that I’ll only wear once in my life, or the fact that I had found a wonderful man and that he wanted to marry me? To me, the dress will always come second place in that equation. That’s why it wasn’t important to me what we wore when we got married. In my opinion, our love and commitment to each other will always be more important than anything I could wear. I also told him I didn’t care what other people thought about white weddings either. I meant it too.”

“Why is that?” Marie asked quietly. ‘Wow! Most young girls dream of a white wedding and gush over the details. For someone her age, she certainly has her priorities straight!’

“Why? I know what I feel for Michael… and I know what he feels for me. It’s real.” Nikita replied seriously.

Marie listened intently while gazing into Nikita’s serious blue eyes.

“What do you mean… ‘real’?” Marie inquired in a puzzled voice.

“We don’t need to prove that we love each other by having a big expensive display or ‘show’ as I call it.” Nikita replied seriously.

“Like a big, expensive, traditional white wedding?” Marie inquired.

“Precisely.” Nikita replied. “Just knowing he loves me and wanted to marry me is enough. The rest doesn’t matter.”

“But…” a slightly horrified Marie began to object.

“Marie… most people think that if you spend a lot of money for an event like a wedding, then their marriage will last.” Nikita replied gently, as she took note of the outrage on the Frenchwoman’s face.

‘She thinks Michael *should* have given me a big show! In fact, she’s slightly horrified he didn’t!’ Nikita thought, slightly amused in spite of how seriously the woman before her seemed to be taking their conversation.

“I know what you mean.” Marie replied. “It’s as if they think that the sheer elaborateness of the event will guarantee their happiness.”

“My point exactly.” Nikita replied, nodding her head as she appreciated the fact that Marie understood her point of view. “They act as if the amount of money they spend on an event like that is a magic talisman of sorts that guarantees a happy marriage. That sort of thinking is ridiculous! The reality is that people like that are more interested in being ‘Cinderella’ than they are in focusing on the seriousness of the commitment they’re about to make!”

“You mean they’re more in love with the display of things surrounding them than the person they’re marrying or the seriousness of the vows they’re about to take?” Lakeisha asked.

“My point exactly.” Nikita replied. “It’s ludicrous! All that fuss and expense for just one day out of your entire life! I don’t understand it! It’s a wasteful display that isn’t important.”

“So,” Marie inquired, testing to see what the lady before her would say, “What’s important?”

“When a couple is making a commitment like marriage,” Nikita immediately replied, “what’s important is their love for each other and their dedication to making their relationship work. And it *is* work! The way they love each other… their sacrifices and dedication to each other and how they live out their promises to each other every day of their lives from the moment they get married to the day one of them dies is what marriage is all about.”

“That’s so true.” Marie murmured.

“But can’t you have all that and still have a traditional white wedding too?” Lakeisha asked, wide-eyed as she listened to her friend expound on the subject.

“Of course you can.” Nikita replied with a smile. “I’m just saying that the visual things that most people associate with a traditional wedding were never important to *me*. I believe that your main focus should be on your relationship and the fact that you’re entering into a serious life-long relationship, rather than on a love of things and putting on elaborate ‘shows’.”

“And if a couple doesn’t have that commitment?” Marie asked quietly as she thought of Elena and the havoc that witch had wrought.

“Then neither person is truly committed to their relationship and maybe they shouldn’t even get married.” Nikita replied firmly.

“You’ve thought about this long and hard, haven’t you Nikita?” Lakeisha said.

“Yes Keisha, I have.” Nikita said honestly. “Oh, not that I ever applied these things to myself before I met Michael. I didn’t. I never thought I’d find someone I *wanted* to be married to.”

“Then why did you think these things about marriage before?” Marie asked.

“I’ve seen so many of my friends get married.” Nikita said with a sad sigh, “and the *weddings* themselves were fantastic… wonderful fantasy productions….”

“Yeah” Lakeisha said with a sad smile. “I know what you mean. All the ‘perfect’ dresses and tuxedos… all the elegant arrangements… all the fuss and pomp…”

“And the marriages didn’t last.” Nikita said with another sigh. “It’s so sad when that happens.”

“You’re right.” Marie replied. “It is.”

“I think that’s because they failed to understand that a couple’s commitment to each other should be their main focus for the rest of their lives.” Nikita said seriously. “Things like white dresses and flowers are not what marriage is all about. They’re frivolous and temporary.”

“You’re right.” Marie replied again. “They are.”

“Without the necessary love and commitment that a life-long marriage requires, those things are nothing more than window dressing… a ‘show’.” Nikita said seriously, “and given a choice, I’d rather have a simple wedding like we had *with* that commitment than an elaborate one without it.”

“I see what you mean.” Marie said, marveling at the wisdom of the young woman before her.

“But Nikita.” Lakeisha objected, “Michael loves you and you feel the same. You two *have* that commitment. Why didn’t you want the ‘show’ to go with it?”

“I didn’t see the need.” Nikita said seriously. “Michael wanted to marry me… and I wanted that too. Besides you know me… I’m a simple person really. Crowds and fuss make me nervous!”

“But you deserve that sort of wedding!” Lakeisha exclaimed. “And Michael could have given you that. I’m sure he wanted to.”

“He did.” Nikita said softly as amusement now coloured her tone. ‘I *deserve* that? Why? No one *deserves* that sort of extravagance!’ “I know Michael was surprised, and I love him even more for thinking that way. The point is Keisha, is that it’s not important. What’s important in a marriage is what comes *after* the wedding. It’s not important to be ‘Cinderella’. That’s not real… and it certainly has never been my ideal or focus when it comes to marriage.”

“And what is your focus?” Marie asked quietly.

“My focus? My focus is on our commitment to each other, not what we wore that day or anything as temporary as that. I know I love, trust and respect Michael more than I have any other person I’ve ever known.” Nikita replied. “That’s what’s important.”

‘Wow!’ Marie thought. ‘This girl is completely right! None of the fuss that goes with a wedding *is* important!’

“Is that how Michael thinks too?” Lakeisha inquired.

“I believe so, yes.” Nikita replied. “At least he knows that’s how I feel, and it didn’t seem to bother him that I *didn’t* want that fuss.”

‘He was probably amazed that she expected so little for her wedding after dealing with Elena!’ Marie thought cynically. ‘I know Michel… he’s a generous man…. I’m sure he *wanted* to give her that ‘show’ but she refused! I’m sure he was surprised because most women would expect those things!’

“Wow!” Lakeisha exclaimed. “You believe that?”

“I do.” Nikita said simply. “Anna taught me that. She’s a wise person.”

“Yes, she is.” Lakeisha replied softly.

“How very wise, my dear.” Marie said. ‘Elena was like that… always interested in ‘shows’ and things. Temporary things that were meaningless and frivolous! Oh how glad I am that woman is gone and Michel’s found this wise and delightful young woman!’ “I just have one more question.”

“Yes?” Nikita prompted.

“Who is this Anna?” Marie asked curiously.

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