Chapter 26—The One Where They Tell The Family
That evening, they decided to tell the family about their engagement. "Pay up, Ron," Bill ordered.
"What was the bet?" Charlie asked.
"When you were going to tell us," Bill answered. "Ronnie, here, thought you'd wait a few weeks."
"How did you know?" Maya enquired.
"That ring isn't exactly small and dim," Ginny replied. "Congratulations and it's about bloody time."
"When are you going to do it?" George asked.
"We haven't set a date yet," Charlie replied. "But, as far as I'm concerned, the sooner the better."
"We'll let you know as soon as we decide," Maya promised.
They stayed in England for another few days before returning to Romania. When they returned to Romania, Charlie went straight to work while Maya went to the cottage. She had secretly bought a wedding magazine and started looking at dresses. She found one that she really wanted and resolved to find a shop to try it on.
When Charlie returned home that evening, they decided to set up a wedding date. "We should get married this summer," Charlie suggested. "I was thinking late August so that Ginny and Hermione could be there before going back to school."
"I think that would be lovely," Maya replied. "We'll owl our mothers and let them know the date, but I'm insisting on doing most of the planning myself. The last wedding someone else planned for me didn't happen."
"That's fine," Charlie said. "I was also thinking about moving back to England. There's a new reserve opening in Wales to deal with the wild dragon population there and I've been offered a transfer. And if we're living there, then you could go back to the stage if you like."
Maya was fighting back tears. "Do you mean that?" she asked.
"I wouldn't have suggested it if I didn't," Charlie replied. Maya said nothing further, but also wouldn't let Charlie say anything more. She leapt across the table and attached herself to his lips, kissing him fiercely. When they broke apart, Charlie joked, "If I had known that was the response I'd get, I'd have suggested it sooner."
"Funny," Maya teased. "Not hilarious, but funny."
"Cheers, love," Charlie said, laughing.
After dinner, Maya and Charlie each sent their mothers a letter giving them the wedding date that they had chosen, August 29. Molly sent a return owl the next day, offering to hold the wedding at the Burrow. Maya and Charlie readily agreed.
A few days later, Maya and Charlie got a letter from her mother, also offering to host the wedding. Grace was very disappointed when Maya and Charlie owled back that they had already agreed to have the wedding at the Burrow. Grace then insisted on helping Molly with the wedding as much as possible.
"Who are you going to have as your best man?" Maya asked one evening.
"I was thinking either Bill or George," he answered. "What about you? Who is going to be your maid of honor?"
"Maggie," she replied with finality. "That was decided years ago. But I'd like to ask Ginny to be in the wedding party. And either my Mum or Drew and Jamie will give me away."
"You're not inviting your dad," Charlie stated. He had known and he wasn't going to ask or suggest that she do anything differently. Maya nodded, looking sad. Charlie pulled her into a hug and said, "I understand."
"Thanks," Maya sniffed, wiping her tears on Charlie's shirt. "So," she added, looking up, "when do we move to Wales?"
"2 months," Charlie answered. "I had to give notice and everything here."
"And you're sure you want to go back?" Maya asked.
"I want to go home and I want to make you happy," Charlie replied. "I can do both with 1 move."
"You really are very sweet," Maya teased.
"Don't let anyone hear you say that," Charlie joked. "I've got a reputation to protect." Maya laughed and led Charlie towards the bedroom. "I've got a better idea," Charlie said, pulling her into the bathroom. "We haven't taken a bath together for a while."
"That sounds lovely," Maya answered. Charlie drew the bath while Maya grabbed some pajamas from the bedroom.
"You're probably not going to need those," Charlie teased as he settled into the tub. While they soaked, they planned their wedding, including the wedding party. Charlie decided to have George be his best man, if he was willing. He was also going to ask Bill to stand in as a groomsman. Maya was sticking with her plan to have Ginny and Maggie be her bridesmaids. They had also agreed that they wanted to hire a caterer for the event. Maya had commented that she didn't want to put Molly out too much.
When they climbed out of the tub, they wrapped themselves in towels and scurried to the bedroom. They spent the next hour making love before passing out in a blissful stupor.
The next day, Maya enlisted Rose's help in going to a bridal shop to find the dress she wanted, since Rose spoke Romanian and Maya did not. Maya found her dress in the third shop they went into. It was the dress that she had seen in the magazine and when she put it on, she knew it was meant for her. She ordered the dress and had it shipped to her mother in England. Then, she sent her mother an owl that the dress would be arriving.
Once the dress was purchased and shipped, Maya sent a letter to Drew and Jamie, making sure to invite them to her wedding and to let them know that she was moving back to England with Charlie. They were thrilled and agreed to keep her posted on any possible roles for her to audition for.
Charlie also owled George asking him to be the best man. George was flattered and agreed, mainly because Charlie and Maya were the only family members that didn't annoy him with constantly asking how he was. He was grateful for Charlie's acceptance that he wouldn't be o.k. for a while, and for Maya's insistence that he would be o.k. at some point.
Two weeks later, Charlie and Maya were traveling to England to find a house in Wales. They had decided to wait until they saw their families to tell them they were moving home. "Mum," Charlie called when he entered the Burrow. Molly was in the sitting room, working on knitting some sweaters for Christmas.
"Charlie," she called back. "I wasn't expecting you so soon. Where's Maya?" Charlie had joined Molly in the sitting room.
"She stopped by her mother's," Charlie answered. "She'll be here soon. How are you? How has everyone else been?"
"We're all surviving," she answered, looking sadly at a burn mark on the rug. "It's about all I can promise just yet."
"It's o.k. to be sad, Mum," Charlie replied, pulling her into a hug. "But remember, Fred would want you to be happy too."
Molly wiped her eyes on her apron and went toward the kitchen to make a pot of tea. She was setting the cups on the table when Maya arrived. She hugged her and offered her a cup. "I'd love one, Molly," Maya said.
"Dear, you look really good," Molly commented.
"Thanks," Maya replied. "I'm incredibly happy." She winked at Charlie who smirked back. "Where's everyone else?"
"They'll all be here for dinner," Molly promised. "George and Ron are at the shop, Percy and Arthur are at work and Harry, Hermione and Ginny are in London for the afternoon. I think they're planning to help George and Ron at the shop for a while."
For the next hour, Molly caught up with Maya and Charlie and they worked on wedding plans. Molly was beaming that Charlie and Maya seemed so happy together. She watched them carefully as they openly flirted across the table.
When dinner arrived, the Burrow was a flurry of activity. Bill and Fleur had even come by for coffee and dessert. While the coffees were being served, Charlie stood up and said, "We have something to tell everyone."
"When is she due?" Ron asked. Hermione and Ginny each smacked him.
"Funny, Ron, but Maya's not pregnant," Charlie replied. "We've decided that a change of scenery is necessary and we're moving away from Romania."
"Where are you going to live?" Molly asked, fearing that they were moving further away.
"They're opening a new reserve and I've been offered a position there," Charlie answered.
"Where is it?" George piped in. "America? China?"
"Cardiff," Maya replied.
"You're moving to Wales?" Arthur asked. Charlie and Maya nodded in unison. "You're coming home?" Again, they nodded. Then, cheers erupted around the table. Molly burst into tears, but promised everyone that they were happy tears.
"The move is official in another month," Charlie replied. "We're going house hunting tomorrow."
Charlie and Maya stayed for 2 more days and were able to find a suitable house in Wales. The house had 3 bedrooms and a nice yard. It was also close to the reserve, the muggle train station, and an apparition point for Maya. They agreed to purchase the cottage, which they named Green House, due to the proximity to the Welsh Green Dragon Reserve. They were going to move in just a few weeks before their wedding.