The Ponmo Debacle Episode 8 – Finale
THE PONMO DEBACLE
PART 8
The lace applique on the gown was stunning. It had tiny ivory beads around the hem that made the gown look like it was floating. While the arms were sheer, the bodice was inlaid with a cool satiny material that shimmered as the wearer turned around. It was a stunning wedding gown and I had fallen in love with it at first sight as had everyone who saw it. The full skirt made the wearer look like a Hollywood star on an award night. It was beautiful, amazing.
The makeup artist’s concentrated look made me giggle a little as she applied bronzer to my cheeks. Juliet and Anna giggled in unison with me. Today was a happy day and we were allowed to be happy, carefree and silly. A wedding always brings out the best in everyone and we were no exception.
The wedding planner, Mrs. Williams, bustled into the room and hurried everyone up making flapping movements with her hands. She was a serious minded woman whose successful wedding ceremonies spoke volumes about her ability to org-nize and execute.
“Time to dress up all of you, including you” she pointed at me and the three of us stood up sharing secret smiles about how far we had come and the good things that had come our way since then. It was as if the tables had turned finally and we were at the receiving end of good tidings for once in our lives.
Juliet and I had become closer since that fateful day at the restaurant where I learned that she had been keeping in touch with Magnus while I poured out my fears and pain to her.
That had been of much importance to me than Magnus’ proposal. Juliet was my very close friend and if she was hobnobbing with the enemy, then things were not cool at all.
“Babe, I am sorry” Juliet had apologized when she noticed that I was ignoring Magnus and instead fastened reproachful eyes on her “I know how much you love Magnus and how much he loves you too. So when he reached out to me for a way to woo you back, there was no way I could say no. Being that it was supposed to be a surprise, I had to pitch in and do my part while keeping mute about it. You know I love happy endings” she was imploring me to talk to the man who still knelt patiently by my side.
I turned slowly towards Magnus. I really hated being the center of attraction and now with everyone looking, I was going to have to give him a favorable answer and l still had that niggling doubt that he was ashamed of me after what happened at his mother’s place and I didn’t want him to be forced or coerced by his mother or anyone into marrying me or thinking that he could make up for that by marrying me.
More importantly, I was not going to change for anybody. In as much as I planned and will work towards less boisterous reaction to food (and meat) in public, I was still a foodie and I was not going to spend the rest of my life with a man that I would have to hide myself from.
Shared on whatsapp by Martino
Who was I kidding? I loved Magnus and nothing would give me joy than to wear a symbol of our love and have children with him.
What to do? I needed to talk to him first before accepting his proposal. I needed to know if (God forbid) something like that happens again, if he would have my back. His quiet voice brought me out from my indecision and brought tears to my eyes again.
“I made a mistake two weeks ago when I let you walk out of my mother’s house without letting you know how much you mean to me and how badly I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I was not angry with you. I know you love food and it is one of the things I love about you. I was confused that my planned proposal had gone south too quickly” at my sharp intake of breath he smiled ruefully and shook his head when I tried to get him off the floor “Yes. I was to propose to you that day. I had already told my mother. She is the most important person in my life apart from you and my plan was to propose to you in front of her. Then Aunt Maria had come unexpectedly and things went downhill from there. I reached out to Juliet when it seemed as if you were not going to forgive me for that lapse in judgement and we planned to surprise you here. Please say yes. I love you Leticia and I want to spend the rest of my life with you”
I was in tears by now and I so wanted to say yes. I still had the mystery of the girl that was with him and Duke to solve. If Juliet already knew Magnus was going to meet me here, why did she drag Duke here and who was the girl?
I sighed quietly cleaning the tears on my cheek and nodded to Magnus, stretching my hand for him to put the beautiful ring on my finger. The applause and muted uproar that followed my acceptance was like a confirmation that I did the right thing.
“I love you too Magnus and I will be honored to make an honest man out of you” I murmured just before he took my l-ips in a scorching k-ss that curled my toes in my black pumps.
The sound of the cool waltz coming out of the speaker brought me back to the present. It had been a beautiful wedding filled with love and laughter. You could see the love between the couple and the happiness of the faces of their guests for them.
I looked up as Mama, Aunt Maria and Sylvia walked towards us. Yes, Sylvia is my husband’s cousin and Aunt Maria’s daughter. She is also the fair skinned young lady whose presence with Magnus took my breath away that day in that restaurant where I had gotten engaged. Magnus had called her for moral support and she had been the one to help him chose a beautiful ring for me.
“You have been standing too long” Mama said solicitously as she came close to me, rubbing my distended stomach. Aunt Maria and Sylvia smiled their consent and I sighed.
I was being spoiled rotten and I basked in it. It has been like that for two years now and I prayed for the love to never stop. Aunt Maria has been visiting frequently ever since my body changed.
“Yes my child, it’s time to go home and eat your regular plate of ponmo” Aunt Maria said rolling her eyes “how your own pregnancy craving would be ponmo meat is beyond me but as long as you and the baby are healthy, I am fine with it” we all laughed at her statement. She had been very helpful with this pregnancy.
“It’s time to go home alright but not before Sylvia meets someone that has asked after her severally” I said dragging Sylvia to my side as Mama and Aunt Maria nodded their consent while Sylvia rolled her eyes to the accompaniment of Magnus’ laughter.
While we waited for my colleague who desperately wanted to meet Sylvia, we all watched with joy on our faces as Juliet’s new husband, Duke, waltzed her around the dancing floor. She looked like Cinderella in her beautiful wedding gown.
THE END.