“Ifsheisnothere,shemustbesomewhereinthegarden”answeredNovel.“Don’tworry.Shewolost.She’llturnupsometime.”SamanthawalkedoverfromtheotherendofthelivingroomandsaidtoNovel,
“ThismAishasaidthatweshouldgiveawelingpartyforCharina.Since,mostofusarealreadyherewithonlyAishaandMegginnmissing,whydon’twegivethepartytoday?”
“Why,that’sjustwhatIwasthinkingabouttoo.There’snodayliketoday.Let’sdoit…”ThenturningtoCharinashesaid,“Wewilllbegoingupstairstotryonourweddinggowns,leavingyoualoneheredownstairs.Ihopeyoudon’tmindandwon’tfindusginhospitality!”
“HowcouldI?”repliedCharina.“NowweareallmembersoftheKingdomofDreamsandascloseassisters.Don’tbeoversensitive.OfcourseIdon’tmind.”Thenlookingtowardsherhandbagonthesofa,sheadded“Ibroughtmycameraalongtodaywiththeiionofbeingyourphotographer.Iwanttotakepicturesofeadeveryoneofyou.Ifyoudon’tmind,mayIalsotakesomeofthisluxuriousandcssiclivingroom?“
“Ofcourse”repliedNovel.“Pleasedoasyouplease.”Thecha-chadanded.Amaliaantingalittle,herforeheadcoveredwithslightperspiratioiredbutstilletedandispirits.Everyoheredaroundherandapaniedhertothesedfloor,wheretheytoowenttotheirownroomstotryontheirweddinggowns.AllofasuddenCharinawastheonlyointhergelivingroom.
Thisluxuriouslivingroomwasofcssicdesignandrgeenoughtoeasilyaodateahundredguestswithoutanyonefeelingcramped.Itwasbrightlyilluminatedaedanimpressionofserenehappiness.ItwasonlythenthatChariofeelfreeofayandaleisurelycalmdesdeduponher.Sheexamihearrasanddecorationsintheroomandwanderedfromonefurnituregrouptoanother,eachdifferentinageandnationality.ThePersiancarpetunderherfeetwasthidsoft,extremelyfortabletothetouchofherfeet.Herattentionwascaughtbythemarblefishpondtowardsthesouthwesteroftheroom.Shewalkedoverandsawfoot-long,multicoloredcarpsswimmingaround.Inthemiddleofthepoolwereextremelyrealistiiaturemountainsdottedwithopehroughwhichaperturesspringwatergushedout,providingfreshwaterforthepool.Ifthosefishhadfeelings,theywouldbeextremelygratefultohavebeenchosentoliveinsuchapamperedenviroheonlyfwinanotherwiseperfectsettingwastheywerenotabletoswimfreelyintheirnaturalhabitat.Charinawalkedonandcametoabarstockedwithfamousliquorfromaroundtheworld.Thesurfaceofthebarwasextremelyandshonelikeamirrorandthebaritselfwasexquisitelymade,witheveryerroundedandpolished.Itlookeddenseandheavy,madeofsomeunknown,highqualitywood.Attheedgeofthelivingroomhegardenwasasmallroomwhosedoorwasleftslightlyajar.Therewasacrucifixhangingonthewall.Justbeloredieuafrontforprayerbooks.Charinalookedinandsawsomeonedressedinawhiteweddinggownkneelingonthepredieu,handsfolded,prayingfervently,argeBibleopenedinfrontofher.Charinawasmoved.Shehelduphercameraandtookapictureoftheprayingbride.Unsatisfiedwithonlyo,shesoftlypushedopenthedoorandtiptoedintotherooheinterioroftheroomwasratherdark,whichtriggeredthefshlightofthecamera.Thesuddenstrongfshstartledthebride,whoslowlyturnedaround,pushedasideherveiltolookattheintruder.Asmilelighteduphercalmfaceasshesaid,
“AlthoughIhaveneverseenyou,IguessyouareCharina,thememberdomandits25thbeauty.AmIright?”Charishyanduneasyasshemurmured,
“…yes…yes…IamCharina…Iamsosorrytohaveinterruptedyourprayers.Itwasreallythoughtlessofme.ButthesightofyouprayingferventlywassomovingthatIfeltagreaturgetocapturethemomentaforeverasaportrait.Iamsosorry…sosorry…Ihopeyouwillfiveme…”Fromthepurplepassionflowerembroideredonherveindhem,Charinaknewshewastheex-nunel.el’sfaceretaiscalmsmileasshesaid,
“Don’tbmeyourselftoomuch.IhaveeoutofmyreverieandhavereceivedGod’srevetion,somyprayersareatanend.Youdidnotinterruptme.”eltriedtogetupasshespoke,butbecauseshehadbeenkneelingforalongtime,herlegswerecrampedandshecouldnotdoso.Seeingelputtingherhandonthepriedieutohelpherselfup,Charinarushedtoheraidandsaid,
“Really?YouhavereceivedGod’srevetion?Wouldyoubewillingtoshareitwithme?”elstoodup,movedhercrampedlegsaroundandsaid,
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