After the toast, Clifford, together with his parents, went down from the stage. Once again, he rummages around the hall for Ingrid, as if he needs to see her to check on her activities, who she"s talking to. But to his dismay, she is nowhere to be found.Then another couple approached their family.
"John, Rose I am so glad you"ve made it..." Clint greeted the couple. "I thought the invitation I sent to you could not reach on time."
"I will surely not miss this for the world, Clint. By the way, are you and Helen are back in each other"s arms again?" the man teased and Helen giggled just then Clint placed his arms around her shoulders.
"As they say, love is sweeter the second time around." Helen said demurely. "..Rose, you look lovely as ever." The two women greeted in a cheek-to-cheek kiss.
"But you look so stunning even more, and more blooming now, Helen." Rose said admiringly.
"Where"s your daughter? I thought you brought her here, just so I can introduce my son to her." The man winked at the couple. "..by the way, this is my son, Clifford."
"What a gorgeous son you have here, Clint." Rose said. Clifford just smiled at the woman"s forthright remark.
"Where would he inherit, of course?" they all laughed.
"So where is she?" the couple stared at each other with sadness in their eyes.
"It"s a long story, but maybe in any moment, she"ll be her if this is the right time for her to see us." John is teary eyed upon saying it.
Clint and Helen looked at each other. Then Helen spoke,
"I believe, whatever you"re family is going through, there will always be a right time to settle a matter. Whether you have to wait long enough or it could happen overnight, or even tonight." Rose shed light tears.
"Oh, let"s just enjoy the night first before we talk about it..." John interrupted upon seeing her wife"s tears.
John and Clint were high school friends. They went to the same school from high school till college, and parted ways only after they graduated. After that they would just occasionally meet, however it became less after they have their own families. John"s family was originally from Vierra.
Rose and Helen were also friends that it happened that both of them met John and Clint in the same university. Clint courted Helen, while John courted Rose and they build their own families.
After Clint and Helen got divorced, they had never gathered together again.
...
"Excuse me, Miss Howard." She slowly turned to where the voice came from.
"Yes, Mr. Lance McNaught? Need any help?" she was puzzled as to why this man appears to her once more.
"Actually, there are two people who have been longing to see you for you for so long." She creased her brows.
"Who?"
"Could we go over there? They were talking to Mr. Briggs." She looked to where Lance McNaught pointed.
She saw a couple but did not see their faces because they were facing Mr. Briggs. She hesitated in going to them because that would mean she would also come face to face with Cliff again.
"Would you like to meet them?" Lance voice was gentle and charming in her ears.
She stared at him blankly and did not move. However, little did she knew Lance right hand was already in his middle back, urging and a.s.sisting her to walk to the couple"s position.
Upon noticing Lance" hands on her back, she again straightened her back to avoid the him. As gentleman that he is, he pulled his hand an inch away from her back. Ingrid then rolled her eyes in exasperation on Lance gesture. She decided to just let it slip thinking that Mr. McNaught is a guest and need to be shown proper courtesy.
While only a few steps remains, suddenly Ingrid came to a halt, her knees feeling weak and she swayed a little when she has a closer look at the couple. Hurriedly Lance supported her by gently taking hold both of her arms, his face almost touching her left ear as if he"s whispering to her in a sweet stance.
It was then where Clifford landed his eyes after several minutes of rummaging the hall looking for her. Cliff felt so annoyed on what he saw.