Sacred Ties
The grand hall room of the luxurious Echo Belle hotel was transitioned into a majestic wedding hall, with beautiful chandeliers and crystal sconces changing the soft glow of candlelight.
The walls are adorned with diamonds, a delicate arrangement crafted from rare white orchids, and red roses flowing down the sweeping staircase just like a waterfall.
Alexia stood before a mirror, her fingers trembling as the hair stylist adjusted the lace veil that framed her oval-shaped face. Her mermaid-strapless gown revealed her curves in all the right places. Alexia was nervous as her heart beat faster, her dark brown eyes scanned around the room, she closed her eyes to take a deep breath; her lashes fluttering like butterfly wings, still trying to remind herself of the reasons she had agreed to this marriage - her kids, a chance to escape the shadows of her past; Bruce and Alexia.
But as she opened her eyes, and met her, a woman staring back at her- Sonita stood at the door, watching her.
Sonita broke the silence first, rubbing her palms together. “Well, that was… a dream come true. My long-lost friend, I mean should it be congratulations? My beautiful Ex- friend, maybe? An enemy? Or should I say a friend, hunted by your appearance after several years?”
Alexia turned in her direction, with a dense glare. “Don't start, Sonita.”
“Start? Oh, I am just here to wish you the best,” Sonita said, “And I'm happy. Single mum, rugged life, struggle– should I say it will all end? This is becoming too much to track down.”
Alexia crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at Sonita, “And what exactly do you care?, “Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot that you are still a lady desperately looking for a man's attention. But wait, here am I, your mysterious nightmare-saviour, who makes everything so uncomfortable where I am.,” She tilted her head, the stylist quietly left the room, leaving both.
Sonita's jaw tightened. “It's not what you think about Joan.”
Alexia smiled, “manipulation, right there. Very classless,”
“Do you ever shut up and listen at once, ?” Sonita snapped out.
Alexia's smile grew colder as her lips were defined with anger. “Not when I know the kind of person you are.”
Sonita clenched her teeth tightly. “Focus, Alexia. Things around you. If I don't explain everything to you, you will be dragged away, and I'm ready to help you as a friend.”
Alexia sighed heavily, running a little touch on her face. “Fine. But I'm not interested. Old friend, you need help as well.
Sonita raised her eyebrows. “Help? C'mmon Alexia, you need to listen to me? Should I watch and see things go wrong for the second time?”
“Joan—,”
“I don't want to hear it. Not today or forever,” Alexia interrupted. “And whatever that concerns me, please stay out of it? Sounds like a plea, but it's a warning.”
Sonita moved closer to her, held her shoulders. “You need me, Alexia, especially now.”
Alexia moved away, feeling relented. “Many years ago, I needed you. But you were nowhere to be found, left my side, turned against me. And now, you want to help me—”
“Information you didn’t have,” Sonita guessed.
Alexia looked at her. “I will find it soon. I don't care, don't complicate things today.”
Joan leaned across the door, his arms crossed, and cleared his throat. “And shall we, my beautiful bride? The priest is waiting?”
“Joan, tell her the truth,” Sonita muttered. “You bargained with her, a deal to take her away from your long-lost brother!”
“A deal?,” Alexia pressed.
Sonita hesitated, her gaze fixed on Joan, then back to Alexia. “He swore… to use you as access to his brother.”
Alexia's eyes widened. “What kind of access?”
“Be smart. Alexia,” She said, moving closer.
“Let me guess: your naive, sluggish self won't allow you to see it.”
Joan's silence was answer enough for Alexia. She swallowed hard.
She knew it was her trick to destroy her day. “You really do have things to make this day a destructive one, don't you?”
Alexia clutched her hand with Joan's, “I didn't ask for your help or clarification.”
“No, I won't accept it and not today.” She said, gazing at Joan. “Shall we, let's not keep the priest waiting.” He nodded slowly, as they walked out of the room.
Sonita threw her hand in the air. “Alexia, you need to listen to me! This is all a deal against you.”
Joan smiled, his eyes still fixed on her. “You are so beautiful. I can't take my eyes off your beauty.”
Alexia's glare melted on him. “Don't admire what you can't have.”
“I'm trying my best.” Joan replied, smiling from chin to chin.
Alexia sighed, walking down the stairs to the aisle. “Alright, enough. We need to figure out her next move. Sonita will never stop hunting us, Joan.”
“By the way, you had a deal with her,” She said, smiling so hard as they walked into the grand entrance hall.
Joan held her hands tightly, “it does not matter, Alexia.”
Alexia raised an eyebrow, and looked directly at Joan.
“Joan, I'm just a pawn to your game, or am I wrong?”
She paused for a while,
“Can you give me your hand?,” The priest countered. They both looked at the priest, nodding slowly.
“Please, Alexia. I will explain later.” Joan whispered, but Alexia wasn't having it.
As they stood before the altar, Alexis and Joan seemed like two statues, frozen in time. Their hands clasped together in unity as the priest's hands wrapped theirs.
Alexia struggled to hold her emotion, her head filled with Sonita's words.
“Dearly beloved. We are gathered here today to witness the union of Alexia and Joan in holy matrimony.,” he said out loud to the crowd, seated in the hall.
He gazed at Joan directly, “Do you, Joan, take Alexia to be your wife, to love and cherish her, to be faithful to her, as long as you both shall live?”
“Yes, I do,” Joan replied, staring at Alexia profusely. The crowd clapped their hands together with happiness,
“And do you, Alexia, take Joan to be your husband, to love and cherish him, through all the joys and challenges of this life, and to be faithful to him, as long as you both shall live?”
Alexia remained quiet, lost in thought, looked around the crowd to see her little daughter, Rita smiling so hard. Still searching for Rhoda, but she was nowhere to be found.
She never wanted this, but for their sake, she needed it.
“Alexia?,” The priest called again, trying to bring her attention to the call.
“Yes,” She responded, her eyes were so watery as she fought not to spoil the little makeup on her face.
“Do you, Alexia, take Joan to be your husband, to love and cherish him, through all the joys and challenges of this life, and to be faithful to him, as long as you both shall live?,” he repeated once more, everyone's eyes were all fixed on her. The hall room was silent as she held the moment altogether.
She swallowed hard, closed her eyes, wanting to disappear from the hall room if she could. But she guessed it was already too late for that.
“Yes, I do,” She responded, putting the ring on his finger.
Everyone applauded so hard, as if they were waiting for her answer.
“By the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you, Joan and Alexia, husband and wife. You may kiss your beloved bride” the priest said.
Joan moved closer to her and kissed her on the forehead, before moving to her lips.
As their lips joined, it was magical. Alexia hadn't experienced the butterfly in belly dancing. He moved away, his smile was infectious as she smiled back at him.
“May your bond be blessed with joy and laughter, and may your love for each other continue to grow and flourish through all the days of your life. Amen.” He placed his cross on their hands.
After the joining of matrimony, everyone congratulates them
“Welcome to the family, Alexia,” her mother-in-law said, grinning dramatically.
“But just know that I can never take you as my daughter. Not even at my death,” She said loudly, walking out of the hall room angrily.
Alexia knew what she was about to face from the family; humiliation, maltreatment and now, but she was not concerned about them. It was a fake marriage between them, and once the deal is successful, she would definitely leave the country with her kids to start afresh. She smiled hard.