The wedding
Nana gave me a lengthy hug before leaving the room with my mother and Alessia. Trust Nana to smother you to death with hugs.
It took a moment before I could get myself to look at my friend. “I know what this looks like Daisy baby, I wish I had a good explanation for this, but I don’t. This whole thing is just…”
“I know, Hollis told us everything.” Daisy said and my heart skipped a beat.
“He did? My mum, she didn’t invited you over?”NôvelDrama.Org © content.
“No, Hollis did. Listen U. U, it’s your wedding. Fake, real, whatever. I need you to be happy, alright. He told Brett this was the easiest way out. Both of them tried looking for other ways, but they would all involve you being on the run for most part of your life and I know you wouldn’t want that.”
I felt my tear ducts getting filled, but I held it in. “You should have told me about your mother’s surgery.” She scolded gently.
“I wanted to, but when I got that money, I figured I didn’t have to bother you.” I shrugged. “You’re here alone?”
She smiled. “Brett’s at the church.” I rolled my eyes. “Your mother-in-law passed the vibe check. She knows something about everything. She’s a class of her own, damn. Fake mother-in-law.” She corrected when she noticed my stare.
I shook my head, reminding myself that the wedding was a real one. “I’d prefer you refer to Nana as a temp.”
“Yeah, she’s too real to be called fake, I agree.”
“You’re going to be my maid of honor?”
“You bet baby, your temp maid of honor.” We laughed at the sound of that.
Nana, my mother and Alessia came in a few minutes later and joined us. “How do you want your hair?” My mother asked.
“I don’t know, I was thinking I could let it down. But the traditional…”
“Screw tradition,” Nana said and my mum turned to her in shock.
“Language.” She cautioned like she was talking to a child instead of the wife of a Quadrillionaire.
“Sorry.” Nana whispered and winked at me. “I like your hair down, Ugo. It’s daring, and you know, that’s what you are.”
I smiled, this woman keeps winning my heart always without doing too much.
“Are you sure that’s what you want?” My mother asked kindly.
“Yes.”
I turned and saw Daisy and Alessia already busy, arranging my purse, bouquet, and jewelry. I looked around, and my heart was filled with joy. I had the two most important women in my life right beside me, offering their support and cheer and that alone gave me the hopes that the day would be amazing.
Turning to my mother, I arched my brow in silent question and she shook her head. My father didn’t come. I wasn’t expecting him to come anyway, but I had one little flicker of hope that his wife might succeed in convincing him.
“You’re so beautiful my baby.” My mother kissed my ring finger and I smiled even wider.
Nana brought out a box and handed it to my mother. “We bought this for you.” My mother said.
“You… as in the both of you?” I asked and they nodded. “How? When did you meet?”
These two women giggled like kids. “A couple of days ago.” Nana replied.
Overwhelmed with certain feelings I didn’t have any name for, I opened the box and my eyes widened ever so slightly. There was a bracelet in the box. Made of all pearls and pendant with the letter U embedded in it.
“We had them customize it for you.” My mum said.
I was over the moon with joy as I placed it on my wrist. “Thank you, so much.” I replied, and for the first time it hit me. I was getting married today.
“We should get going. the guests are waiting,” Daisy said.
“Who’s going to walk me down the aisle?” I asked the question that was tugging on my mind all along.
“My husband will.” Nana replied and I froze for a second.
I searched her face and all I saw was a reassuring smile. It was definitely going to happen.
‘Jesus! Nana is my role model, I swear it.’
I want to wield that sort of power. The power to bring a strong man to his knees.
**********
HOLLIS
We were called into the church, towards the altar by one of the wardens. “The fuck is taking so long? She only had a dress and shoes to get into.” I grumbled, checking my watch with Maxine on my tail.
“Patience, mother is here already.” Maxine whispered.
The news could only mean that Ugo had arrived too, since Nana and Mrs. Chike left for the house to help her get ready. I breathed out a sigh of relief.
“What about my father-in-law?”
“No sign of him yet.” Max replied.
“Lexington?” I asked, certain that a roll call had been made and Maxine had been told of the people present.
“He’s present, with his wife.”
“It will take a lot of work to win my father-in-law over.” I murmured.
“You can’t blame the man, we messed up and he’s got pride.”
Before I could reply, music rang throughout the church and the door opened slowly making my heart rate quicken. A vision in white stood beside my father with a bouquet of navy-blue tinted roses in her hands.
“Here we go,” Maxine said. “Damn!”
I almost cursed the veil for covering my bride’s face. Seeing my father with Ugo in his arms and a cheerful look on his face, I was overwhelmed with emotions. Such that I’ve never felt before.
Ugo was beautiful, deadly, stunning, and all mine. When she reached me, she stopped and kissed my father on the cheek before taking my hand.
Dominico Genovese surprised us when he returned her kiss with a heartwarming smile. ‘The devil is a Christian.’ I almost exclaimed.
When my bride stepped up to me, I looked into her eyes. I saw a twinge of sadness, and it pained me to my core. I squeezed her hand, not to hurt her, but to tell her that I saw and I didn’t like it.
I wanted her to be happy. I would keep trying to win her father over. That would be one of the best things I could do for her.