Sandra and Eric knew each other since childhood. Eric had said in kindergarten that he would marry her when he grew up.
They were called that since childhood – the fiancé and the bride.
The school years passed in this way. Eric sometimes accompanied his childhood friend, carried her briefcase, treated her with sweets, flowers and all sorts of trinkets.
He took care of her like an older brother, even though they were the same age.
After school, their paths diverged, but they were destined to meet again.
Eric came to his native village on vacation.
He was twenty-five years old and handsome. He was working and came on vacation to his parents every summer.
For all the years after school, he had never seen Sandra. She studied and lived in another city.
Three years ago, Eric got married, but divorced six months later.
His wife wanted to be the wife of a rich man. It would take a long time for Eric to get rich, but she wanted everything at once.
Eric never married again after that, and more and more often he remembered Sandra…
– Son is here. Still without a wife. Or already without a wife, – his father joked when he saw him with bags on the doorstep, – Your bride is getting married tomorrow.
– Sandra? I haven’t seen her for a long time. I have to go and see her. And who is the groom? – Eric was surprised.
– A guy from the city. It’s a pity for the girl, such a beautiful, smart girl, and the groom is young, but nondescript. And yesterday she quarreled with her parents, we even heard it.
– Why? She didn’t like her son-in-law? – Eric asked.
– But Sandra’s father saw him with a friend. They hugged, kissed… She also came from the city, you know, and Sandra doesn’t believe it. She was not at home then. And tomorrow’s the wedding. Can you imagine?!
Eric froze in surprise.
– How interesting it is here… – Eric hummed and began to disassemble his things.
– I feel sorry for Sandra, and her parents, they are worried, – continued the father, – Where were you before? I remember as a child I used to say: “My bride, I’m getting married.”
– Why? Maybe I will. What time is the wedding?” Eric suddenly asked.
– Well, they’re getting married at three o’clock tomorrow. And by five everyone is going to a banquet at their house…
– Who’s working at the registry office now?
– Her friend, Tina, you all went to school together.
– Well, I have to go. I’ll be back tonight. I have things to do.
– What are you up to, son? – my father asked.
– Nothing. Everything is fine. Don’t worry.
Eric went to look for Tina. In the village it was not difficult.
She also confirmed what her father had told him.
Sandra herself ran to her friend, told her. She was crying, at first she was offended at her parents, and then at her fiancé.
And she does not want to get married anymore, and does not know how to refuse the wedding, her parents paid for everything, invited guests, spent a lot of money. It’s a shame. She even changed her mind about getting married…
Tina arranged a secret meeting for them so that no one else knew. Eric and Sandra.
– So, beautiful. Will you invite me to the wedding?” Eric asked.
– There’s not going to be a wedding. I’ll tell my parents. I feel sorry for them. All the guests are already invited, the café is paid for, – Sandra suddenly cried.
– Well, come on, it’s better than living with this later, – Eric hugged the girl, but she cried even more. – Well, well, stop it, everything will be fine. And parents will understand.
– No, they won’t. I will never marry again. Never! – cried Sandra.
– Never? – Eric smiled. – Will you marry me?
– Fiancé? That was just a childhood dream…
– You’re crying like a little girl. Will you marry me for the last time?
– You’re always joking.
– I’m not. Will you?
– What about this one?
– He’ll probably go home. What’s he got to do here? Let him go. We’ve wasted enough time. Will you come with me?
– I will, – Sandra started crying again.
– Why are you still crying?
– Well, what do we do?” Tina came in, “I see you haven’t wasted any time hugging. But we need to decide what will happen tomorrow. Stop crying.
We left when it was already dark…
The next day was the wedding. You can’t cancel the feast, people are waiting. Only the groom was replaced. They even found a wedding suit for Eric.
Tina and the newlyweds tried to pretend that the wedding was going according to all the rules. In fact, it happened only a month later.
Everything was fun, Sandra’s parents were surprised to see another groom, but it did not upset them, they knew Eric well. Some guests did not even know who the groom was, so they did not know about the substitution.
And where did the traitor groom go? They simply culturally asked them to go with the same bridesmaid.
Eric and Sandra after the wedding, when they were really married, went to work together.
Although first, of course, there was a honeymoon… In Italy.
They earned money and returned to their native village. They lived there until they retired. They built a house. They have two sons and three grandchildren.
Eric’s parents live nearby.
This is a love story from childhood. The fiancé and the bride…
