Chapter 28

We returned to the cafe where I showed Boris and Benthe my new suit and they applauded the wooden shoes. A moment later, the man who had been talking with Lana approached me, carrying a bundled cloth. He motioned me to sit.

“Vader Dekker, wilt u alstublieft voor mij vertalen?”

“Father Dekker, will you please translate for me?” The man asked, and he agreed.

“Het zou me een eer zijn als je deze klompen op je trouwdag zou dragen. Het ontwerp van de windmolen aan de bovenkant is met de hand gesneden en geen twee zijn hetzelfde.”

“I would be honoured if you’d wear these Klompen on your wedding day. The windmill design on the top is hand carved and no two pairs are alike.”

As he unlaced my boots to put on the shoes, I placed a hand on his shoulder. “I would be very honoured to wear them.”

“Ik zou zeer vereerd zijn om ze te dragen,” the Father said.

You couldn’t tell the shoes were made of wood with the formal black colour that made the windmill carving look more three-dimensional.

Placed on my feet, I hesitantly walked a few steps, the gathered group laughing lightly at my faltering steps.

“Danke ju, thank you.”

“Father, can you ask Lana what she’ll be wearing on our wedding day?”

“Hij wil weten wat je aan hebt.”

“He wants to know what you’ll be wearing.”

“Iets dat een beetje traditioneel is, dat je nog nooit eerder hebt gezien, waarvan ik zeker weet dat het je in het oog zal springen, en dat helaas iemand kan beledigen die denkt dat ik zo brutaal ben.”

“Something a little traditional, you’ve never seen before, that I’m sure will be eye catching to you, and may unfortunately insult some who may think I’m so brazen.”

I took Father Dekker aside to talk about what my responsibilities maybe for the wedding. I’m not in Canada, so there is very little I can do.

He said a Dutch wedding is very similar to a Canadian wedding. The ceremony, reception and food, wedding cake and celebration. He suggested I look for a hotel for our wedding night.

Lana knew she couldn’t hide her pregnancy from Father Dekker, and taking him aside, confessed her situation to him.

“Is dit waarom Richard met je trouwt, omdat je zwanger bent?”

“Is this why Richard is marrying you, because your pregnant?”

“Nee, dat denk ik tenminste niet. Hij vroeg me ten huwelijk voordat hij hem vertelde dat ik zwanger was van zijn baby.”

“No, at least I don’t think so. He asked me to marry him before I told him I was pregnant with his baby.”

While I saw Lana talking with Father Dekker, I ushered Boris outside. “Hotel?” I asked.

“Ahh, hotel.” At least that word meant the same in both languages. “Je wilt een kamer die privé is, zodat je je huwelijk aan Lana kunt toewijden, ook al ben je al met dat plezier begonnen.”

“You want a room that is private so you can consumate your marriage to Lana, though you’ve already begun that pleasure,” he smiled.

He held up two fingers, “Straat.” And pointed. “Hotel De Prin.” I understood two streets over. I thanked him and hurried my pace, even wearing wooden shoes so Lana wouldn’t wonder where I’d gone.

The trees in the town center had been destroyed or cut down for firewood, now only had stumps remaining. One glimpse of peacetime was the numerous tables and chairs outside for the cafe and restaurant.