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Jamie and Dylan announced that they also had news. They looked at them expectantly and, after a quick glance at each other, exclaimed:
"We're getting married!"
"What?" Suzanne and Nathan said in unison.
They couldn't believe what they were hearing; it seemed unbelievable. How could they make such a sudden decision?
Dylan and Jamie were smiling from ear to ear, with bright eyes and a bit of nervousness as they gave the news to their friends, who were staring at them with their mouths open.
It wasn't that Nathan wasn't happy for them, but it all seemed so sudden, especially since just a few days ago they were fighting and at odds.
"It's a wonderful idea," Jamie said, taking a sip from her glass and glancing at Dylan. "We talked it over yesterday and we agree."
"I don't know what to say," Nathan looked at the couple. "It was very quick."
"This is the right moment," Jamie said, looking at Suzanne. "What do you think, Suzanne?"
"Well... if it makes you happy..." Suzanne smiled slightly, "you have my support."
"And when will it be?" Nathan asked curiously, and they looked at each other.
"Next week," they responded in unison.
Suzanne took a sip of her coffee, watching the couple with a slight smile.
"Well, I'm happy for you," she said. "You make a beautiful couple."
"I hope you know what you're doing," Nathan said, scratching his neck. "I understand that you love each other and all, but isn't it a bit too fast?"
"Well, each couple has their own timing," Dylan interjected, looking at Nathan with a grin. "It's what I've always wanted since I met my Jamie."
His love-filled gaze left no room for doubt.
"It will be something quite simple and private," Jamie said, and Nathan raised both eyebrows. "You'll be part of our wedding party, how about that?"
"Yes!" Suzanne said, excited.
"No," Nathan rolled his eyes.
"Is that a no?" Jamie was astonished and hurt.
"We'd be delighted to be part of it," Suzanne said, and Nathan gave her a tight-lipped smile, feeling uncomfortable.
She looked at him defiantly while smiling, not even lowering her gaze or being intimidated by his firm grip on her hand.
"What part of no...?"
"There's nothing more to add," she interrupted him, and the future couple looked at each other, not quite understanding. "As I said, we’d be delighted to be part of the wedding party."
After a few minutes, the couple left, leaving them alone. She took a sip of orange juice while Nathan kept staring at her intently.
"What?"
He sighed, unable to hide his excessive stress.
His grandfather was nowhere to be found, and that had already made him quite anxious, but he couldn’t tell Suzanne without affecting her.
He was anxious; Jarek's sudden disappearance was too suspicious, and despite hiring detectives, that old man had always known how to hide well.
He sat next to Suzanne, clenched his jaw, and made a fist. She kept smiling at him, running her hand along his chin.
"Didn't we agree?" she asked calmly. "No more secrets, Nathan."
"But how did you know...?" he asked, astonished.
"Please, don't underestimate me," Suzanne rolled her eyes. "Now tell me what's going on, or I'll start getting mad at you."
She was calm and smiling, but Nathan knew that was worse than her starting to yell and threaten him, so he decided he couldn't keep hiding something like this.
"You know I'm not one to back down," he swallowed, and Suzanne kept her eyes on him, not understanding.
"My... father, before he died, made a confession," Nathan found it difficult to speak; he didn't even know if he could handle it.
"What did he say?"
"He said the words 'she's alive,' and I know he was referring to my mother," Suzanne gasped, astonished. "The only one who can give me answers is my grandfather, but no one has heard from him in days, and I feel like I'm going crazy, my love."
Nathan hid his face in his hands and swallowed hard, trying to ease the lump in his throat. She wrapped her arms around him, kissing his forehead tenderly.
"Love, we are a couple," she spoke softly, caressing his hair. "You should have told me and not carried all this alone."
"I know, I'm an idiot," he laughed without humor, feeling like he might cry at any moment. "Can you imagine? What if it's true that my grandfather has been lying to me all this time? I wouldn't know if I could forgive him for that!"
"And I understand you perfectly," Suzanne made a discontented face. "What is your grandfather trying to do with all this? Where does he want to go?"
Nathan remained silent, unwilling to give any response, as he stared at the kitchen counter.
There was an uncomfortable silence, but he soon hugged his wife and kissed her eagerly, feeling at peace and comforted in her arms.
"Love, you know I support you," she whispered in his ear, holding the weight of his body as he regained his strength.
Suddenly, a sound alerted them. He received a message and looked at his phone with a frown, immediately tensing up at what he had just read.
"Everything okay?" she asked, but he just stood up and started pacing back and forth, making calls and cursing. "Nathan, honey..."
He stopped and approached Suzanne, caressing her cheek and planting a soft kiss on her lips, leaving her more confused than ever.
"Have I told you today that I love you?" he whispered with a broken voice, closing his eyes. "Did I tell you?"
"N-no... but you just did," she stood up too, taking his arm. "Love, what's happening?"
Nathan opened his eyes, and she could see the pool of tears there, about to spill down his cheeks. Her heart tightened into a knot, and she waited, feeling like the air was escaping her as he began to sob.
"Nathan? You're killing me with worry..."
"They found him," he whispered in a low voice, wiping his face. "He was... he was trying to flee to North America, with a woman... with... a woman with dark hair, fair skin, and green eyes.”
"Oh my God..." Suzanne whispered, her throat tight.
"I have to... to go there," Nathan sniffled, trying to control his emotions, though at that moment he felt like a small child. "I have to make sure they are held, I have to see her, Suzanne."
"I'll... I'll go with you," she began to say, but he shook his head. "Honey, but you need me..."
He gave her a sad smile.
"That's right, now more than ever," he spoke a bit more calmly.
"Then?"
"The babies are very small, and they need you more," he caressed her nose with his. "I need you to stay here and take care of our little ones, understand?"
She let out a sigh, knowing he was right and that their babies were now her priority, but she didn't like seeing her future husband that way. However, she conceded this time.
"Then go, but... don't take too long, okay?" Suzanne's voice broke before giving him a tight hug.
"And miss watching my babies grow?" Nathan half-smiled, kissing her hair. "No way, love.”