Gerard stood by the mirror, adjusting the cravat of his morning suit. Although now in his seventy-second year, his cobalt blue eyes still retained a glint of youthful exuberance, enhanced by the excitement at the joyful day ahead.
Emilia appeared in the doorway, resplendent in coral silk. 'Well dad', she said, glowing with maternal pride, 'what do you think of your grandaughter?'
Gerard gasped as Jocasta nervously entered the room. Happiness and anticipation shone from her flawless, angelic visage. 'Oh darling', Gerard said, 'you look divine. No bride has ever been so beautiful'. Gerard's eyes became misty for a moment as the years evaporated in his mind. 'Do you know, sometimes it seems like just weeks ago that I was waiting at the altar for my beautiful young wife to be'.
'Oh grandad', sighed Jocasta, clasping his warm hand to her own dainty digits. 'How long has it been now? Three months?' Gerard nodded, blinking back tears.
'And the police still haven't caught up with Sing-Wu?'
'No, disappeared into thin air, with 30 grand of my bloody money', snapped Gerard bitterly. 'And they've shut the bloody website down. I tell you this for nothing, that's the last time I shop online'.
