Retreat then Restore...Revisiting the Past

She went away, and now she's back...but how does she explain the fact that she wasn't dead, and didn't kill herself?

Just a word of warning to all...My exams start this month and there's going to be a lot of pressure on me work wise until the end of June. So posts may be sparse.

'So that's sorted then, we'll have a beautiful Ghanaian wedding,' announced Diane.

'Indeed,' replied Ric, pulling her closer to him and hugging her gently.

Several months later, in December, Ric, Diane and Cassie set off to Ghana for the wedding, after uprooting Abra and Kyla and begging them to come to Ghana for a while for the wedding.

'You know that we can't technically have a traditional Ghanaian wedding?' asked Ric.

'I know,' replied Diane. 'I researched it. My parents would have to be there, you'd have to give them some payment, and I would've had to research you to see if you have illegitimate children or have been married before.'

'I spoke to Kumi, and he said that we could have a ceremony with a blessing, the whole white dress thing on the beach, we'd have to go and register our marriage and then there'd be a feast,' said Ric.

'Sounds good,' said Diane.

'To be honest, that's as much as I know,' admitted Ric. 'I have no idea what Kumi's planned.'

'I know that your mother has helped to make my dress, from what I've seen, it's beautiful,' said Diane.

'She always was a talented seamstress,' replied Ric.

There was a comfortable silence between the two of them as they contemplated their futures.

'I can't wait to marry you,' said Diane, squeezing his hand.

'Me either,' replied Ric.

'Once we're back in England,' said Diane. 'Will you adopt Cassie? Will you make her a Griffin?'

'Oh Diane,' he said, pulling her close. 'I'd love nothing more than that.'

'All three of us with the same name,' said Diane quietly.

'Yep,' replied Ric.

'I can't wait to get rid of my surname,' said Diane. 'I've no attachment to it anymore. Especially after what happened.'

'I shouldn't have made you go back and see them,' said Ric. 'I never thought that his reaction would be like that.'

'He couldn't help it,' said Diane. 'He's always been a bit of a bigot, but Mum kept him grounded. Now that she's dead, there's no one to hold him back.'

And she thought back to that day...

'You're alive!' exclaimed Oliver Lloyd, hugging his daughter closely. 'And I have a grandchild!'

'Yes Dad,' she replied. 'I am. Long story, but I was never dead.'

'It broke your mum's heart to hear that you'd died. Her heart didn't last too long, after she heard,' replied Oliver sombrely.

'Oh Dad,' she said softly. 'I never knew.'

'What's he doing here?' growled her Dad, noticing Ric.

'We're getting married Dad,' said Diane proudly.

'My daughter is not marrying a black man old enough to be her father!' he exclaimed.

'Dad, I love him, just be happy for me,' begged Diane.

'Would you choose him over your family?' demanded Oliver.

'Yes Dad,' she replied.

'Well then you're no daughter of mine,' he stated cold heartedly. 'You're still dead to me.'

'Dad,' she begged, tears flowing from her eyes.

'Just leave,' growled Oliver.

'A lot of shocks came that day,' said Ric. 'But don't think about it. We're getting married soon, just think about that.'

'I am,' replied Diane. 'Knowing you'll always be there for Cassie and I keeps me alive.'

'I'll never go,' stated Ric.

'Good,' said Diane happily, snuggling into him.

The Wedding...

All of Ric's family, joined by Abra and Kyla and some friends from the village of both Ric and Diane's made up the wedding congregation.

Diane was a vision in white silk, gathered together to make a fitting dress, her headdress reflecting the sun's rays. Ric wore a suit made of white material as well, and both of their feet bare against the sand.

O, God, by your power you have made everything out of nothing. In the beginning you created the universe and made us in your own likeness. You gave man the constant help of woman so that man and woman should no longer be two, but one flesh, and you teach us that what you have united may never be divided.

O, God, you have made the union of man and wife so holy a mystery that it symbolizes the marriage of Christ and his people. O, God, by your plan man and woman are united, and married life has been established as the one blessing that was not forfeited by sin. Look with love upon this woman, your daughter, now joined to her husband in marriage. She asks your blessing. Give her the grace of love and peace. May she always follow the example of the holy women whose praises are sung in the scriptures. May her husband put his trust in her and know that she is his equal and the heir with him to the life of grace. May he always honour her and love her as Christ loves his people.

Keep them always true to your commandments. Keep them faithful in marriage and let them be living examples of Christian life. Give them the strength which comes from the gospel so that they may be witnesses of Christ to others. And, after a happy old age, grant them fullness of life with the saints in the kingdom of heaven. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

'Amen,' said Ric and Diane in unison with the rest of the congregation.

After registering their marriage at a local registry office, the sun was setting, and an ethereal twilight had replaced the sunlight. Fires were lit, and the feast was set up, adorned with flowers.

Smiling at the amazed look on Diane's face, Kumi said, 'Ghanaians do weddings in style. So, Kobina and Amma, take to the sand for your first dance.'

'Why is he calling me Amma?' asked Diane.

'He asked me when you were born,' explained Ric. 'I said a Saturday, and so, in Ghana, Kumi will call you Amma, like he calls me Kobina, which means born on a Tuesday. It's a Ghana thing.'

'Oh, right,' said Diane. 'Well, shall we dance Mr Griffin?'

'Of course Mrs Griffin,' he replied, taking her hand and leading her into the cleared space.

When I was on the verge of breaking down,
That's when you came on around,
Held me up from the ground, it was, you, you, you, you,
I've been to many places and I've seen so many faces but
None of them can come close to you, you, you ,you ,you,