¶Chapter Song- I get to love you¶
¶¶By-Ruelle¶¶

"You meant what you said?"

"Yes, I have thought about it. There is no problem if we get married. Even this way everyone will get what we all want, some way or other." He replied pampering the head of sleeping Cora in front of him.

"I didn't get you. Elaborate please," Hailey replied tucking the sheet around Cora.

"Don't you want a stable life for Cora? Like natural, normal, day-to-day life, like many of her friends might have." He looked at her with questioning eyes.

She looked at Cora for a while, recalling all those moments, Cora had to act sincerely more than her age, because she didn't want to trouble her mother.
She just nodded in affirmation, "yeah, like every day."

"I should tell you before it breaks on you like a shock."

"What?"

"That, this thought came into my mind because of Luke, Meril, and Dr. Jones."

"How do they become responsible for your decision?" She furrowed her forehead in doubt.

"Lily mentioned about it. That Mr. Jones was thinking us together." Hailey got more confused at his reply, it was visible on her face so he continued, "He wants us to be a couple and I'm sure Luke and Meril are part of this too as Luke used to avoid him and recently I found him chatting with him."

"Meril and Luke! They are too much, always living in a fantasy world. Just because we both are single and have been cheated. In life, they think we can't get married."

"What you got after going for the one you loved?" Arthur said abruptly without looking up.

"What?" Hailey didn't get what he wanted to hear in reply.

"I said if you think they are irrational then you tell me why one should marry? For Love? Which faded for both of us with time. For the first time in my life, I'm taking Luke's thoughts seriously."

He got a feeble smile at the thought of, how Luke never trusted Lily, and he never took him seriously.

"Don't tell me like my BFF yours too was against your choice of life partner." Hailey snickered at the thought.

"Not against but he wanted me to go slow. And I didn't pay heed."

"Seems like fools of our lives is smarter than us. Meril never approved Adam." She added.

"Certainly they are smart." He replied sitting in his chair for some rest.

"Hmmm..." She just hummed gazing at the ceiling of the room, lying next to Cora. "When?"

"When, what?" He inquired nonchalantly.

"When should we tell them? How? Is it convincing enough for such a big step? I mean, I'm not the girl, one might dream to spend life with." She started with an open heart.

"Neither, I'm the knight in shining armor. We all are mere shadows of imperfection, striving to achieve our best forms." He replied lost in thoughts. As when Hailey claimed to be undesirable, it reminded him of Lily's accusations. How he failed to fulfill her expectations.

"All I can ask you is to, don't give up or back down once Cora gets to know that we are marrying. I won't like anyone to hurt her, anyhow."

"Are you threatening me for my daughter?" She sat back to inquire him strictly.

"I didn't threaten you. I just told you that I won't be able to see her hurt, if you think that you won't be able to stay in this bond then back off now. A broken home can be more damaging for her than having no father." He clarified himself for the first time.

His hand reached for a cigarette as his proposal was making him tense. What if She backs out?

"I was about to ask you for the same." She said scrutinizing him, "are you going to smoke?" She inquired as he rose from the chair pulling the cigarette to go out.

He looked at her for a moment with surprise, as if he had been caught stealing something.

"I don't think Cora would like it." She remarked without looking at him.

"No..." Arthur cleared his throat to come up with an excuse, "I was just going to have a coffee." And he walked out pushing the cigarette back.

****

"Arthur, when you took such a huge decision?" Luke wondered, still unable to believe, adjusting the collar of Arthur's coat.

"You are asking the same thing from the last two days Luke. For God's sake choose some new words at least." Arthur turned around to check the room if he had forgotten anything.

"How to find new words when you have left me speechless? Even Mr. Jones was awestruck when I told him..."

"You called him." Arthur interrupted Luke in mid to make him realize that he was supposed not to be on talking terms with Dr. Jones.

"Ahm... Yeah. I had to. You gave us shock by announcing your wedding. He has the right to know." Luke tried to cover up.

"You both have the right. After all the idea popped up in your mind only." Arthur taunted.

"No, what are you saying?"

"Stop lying. I'm not accusing you. I just reversed your surprise on you. Lily came here." Arthur paused to decide if he should disclose her deed to Luke or not. "She disclosed Mr. Jones's thoughts about Us, and it was clear for me why all of a sudden you are getting along with him." He chose to conceal the event for Mr. Jones.

"Us? I'll say that is a great start when you address yourself with Hailey." Luke pointed at his choice of words.

"Let's move, we will have to reach there on time." Arthur avoided his words.

"Should we take Cora or she is coming with her mother?"

"You get the car ready, I'll be there with my princess." Arthur declared with a bright smile.

"Is My princess ready?" He stepped into her room with one of his brightest smiles.

"Daddy!" Cora giggled with joy running toward him.

Arthur picked her in no time. In her baby pink Princess gown, she was looking like some Disney Princess. Arthur kissed her forehead softly out of affection.

"My baby, looking so pretty."

"Thank you, Daddy. I thought no one will call me pretty as Mom is looking so beautiful today. I'm not getting jealous but I should get attention too. Isn't it?" She questioned looking into his eyes.

"Yes, as you are the reason for everything Baby." His eyes got misty at the thought of her operation scheduled the very next day only.

"Are you crying, Daddy?"

"No. Just got emotional to see my beautiful baby."

"Why are you like Mommy. She said the same when I asked if she was crying. I thought she got hurt because I denied going with her." She kept informing while Arthur reached the car.

"You denied to go with her?"

"No, I just said that I'll come with Daddy. After all, we are going to the same place." She grinned.

Arthur sat at the back seat of the car while Luke took the seat next to the driver.

"Cora," Arthur was feeling nervous as their destination was getting closer, he held her hand while setting her hair, "baby, after today, no matter what anyone says. Just remember one thing. Daddy loves you. Whatever I'll ever do, you will be the reason."

Luke looked back at him as he felt his fear. Fear of losing his child again. They talked about it too but Arthur was eager to take the chance as he had nothing to lose after this at least he will have a family. So what if it's coming with uncertainties, insecurities yet he was ready to take the chance as the reward of all these was greater than the fear.

"Cora, what do you think? Who is looking better today, Your Mom or Dad?" Luke inquired Cora to lighten his friend's mood.

"I'll not tell you how Mom is looking. I'm not getting trapped Uncle Luke." Cora giggled at his question.

Arthur laughed at her reply while Luke just wondered at her quick wit.

After a few minutes, he was standing at the alter, trying to look composed while his mind was racing at the highest of its speed. All memories
o

f the past, the moment he had stepped in the same Church but to be with someone else. Someone, he had spent half of his life, someone, he had shared his dreams, his fears, his feelings. Someone, he always thought to be his forever!

And here he was standing again waiting for someone, he met just a few weeks ago. Someone, whom he hardly knows.

He was lost in his thoughts when something dragged his attention, as if the atmosphere had lightened up. He had to turn around to look behind as everyone including the Priest was looking at the entrance.

There, She was walking in a off-white gown, simple yet so elegant. For a moment his brain stopped working. All echoes from past, all images faded away, all Arthur could feel was his own breath.

"Daddy! How's Mom looking? Pretty, isn't she?" Cora squealed with joy running toward him.

"Yeah, ... Very pretty," Arthur replied, gaining his senses back. He picked Cora in arms and turned around to look ahead to avoid looking at Hailey.

He looked at the priest who was smiling at him. It made him blush that the father had caught his expressions.

"I hope you are still confident about this." Her soft voice compelled him to look at her, standing by his side.

"I don't back down. Tell me about your." He replied looking into her eyes.

"I know one thing that I'm bad at decisions. So this is going to be for Cora." She replied with calmness looking at Cora.

"For Cora." Arthur said with the same calmness and extended his hand.

"For Cora." She added as held his hand.