Chapter 62: Epilogue- Gina's Pov

I examined the couture masterpiece thoroughly making one last spin in front standing mirror before taking five more deep breathes. I held onto my cramping abdomen for dear life. There was no pain and there shouldn’t be this early too. Maybe I was about to get nauseous? But I hardly ate this morning with all the excitement bubbling. I only had a cup of decafe and a biscuit. Then I’m going to faint I suppose. No. shut up, shut up!

Well, this is isn't helping...

I shook my crazy head. I'm a mess.

Sitting back down I looked over my make-up again the mirror. The dress is a too beautiful masterpiece of white silk and silver gems, when I first saw it I thought gosh this must be what princesses wore on their special day. The designer couldn't be thanked enough for such superb work. Dear sweet Jesus, am really going through with this?

To think one hot moment of crossing paths with a snobby stranger would eventually bring me here. There's nothing good you get out of a relationship other than just good sex, that use to be my fighting motto. Yet, my great force field and all my defences never saw Alexander Forester coming.

"You are fucking lucky woman."

Megan always reminded me.

And I am, all angels in heaven knows I am.

Love, was something I thought was oceans away from my reach. But now, I want to conquer it and let it consume me. My heart is no longer my own. Though I don't know what the future holds I'm not scared anymore because I'm too excited to live it to see it for myself.

Time check.

The piano will soon be playing.

Brushing my cheeks lightly with the cream fountain I noticed my brows were sweating a bit. Swiping two facial tissues I patted them until they were dry. Darn, where's my mother she should be doing this for me?

Here came another long exhale and another. Must stay calm, must cool down. Today’s the most important day of my life not simply because all eyes will be on me, but because I’m starting a new one. After today everything will change. I remind myself of this each day leading up the final moment. I know what I’m doing and it’s what I want. I want this, I want him, forever.

“Oh my god…”

Gina quickly turned and there was her mother standing by the door; covering her mouth with a white handkerchief that seemed she had been using for awhile.

Joline's eyes were red and teary she was always an expert at catching every drop so it wouldn’t fall into her mascara.

“Gina…you-u you look so radiant, honey.” She sobbed.

“Are you okay, come and sit down for a second.”

I held her elbows guiding her to the sofa.

“I’m fine, honey, really I am. I just still can’t believe this is happening.”

She took my hands in her and met the alluring green eyes she passed on to me.

“I know, mom, I know all too well. I even thought you would be the one here and I’d have to be showing you my support even though I wouldn’t be too thrilled.”

My confession made me let out a light laugh.

“I’m glad you got to know Richard better. He’s become not just a boyfriend, but an actual friend that I can talk to about anything like with you and Alex.”

She gushed, trailing the tip of the handkerchief around her eyelids.

“I can tell. I’ve watched you two closely. I’m happy for you I may not show it often, but I wish you two nothing but the best.”

“Oh, Gina,” she waved me off while studying my dress from front to back. “You’re my child,” she uttered curt, brushing some fuzzy stuff off the side of the fabric.

“I can see you've finally accepted Richard without you saying it.”

She took me in her arms carefully patting my head as not to ruin the lovely french twist.

“How are you feeling? Don’t be nervous, it’s all going be alright. Alexander is the ultimate. He's gonna make you the happiest woman on earth.”

I now felt my eyes getting watery and wasn’t just hormones.

“He already does, I’m so lucky, mom.” She lifted my cheek and stared at me serious as a judge. “He’s twice as lucky to have you, Gina. You’re an incredible girl never you forget that, understand?”

I nodded in response, but it wasn’t near good enough for Joline.

“Promise me.”

Another deep breath and gave her full attention. “I won’t.”

“I won’t let you ever anyways.”

She assured me with a smile hugging me one last time.

A sudden knock at the door made us jolt. “It’s Alex, no, no, no, what’s he thinking not before the wedding.”

I hid behind the curtains meanwhile mom was cracking up to my jitters.

“You have to get rid of him. Go and send him away.” I urged her desperately partly whining the whole time. “Calm down, sweetheart, I’ll take care of it,” Joline put her hands in air then rushed to obey the bride’s orders.

Yet another anxious exhale.

It was now one-thirty on the dot. I had everything checked. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. The veil was not too long just as I requested. Shit. The stupid clip got tangled in the rolls of hair.

I scowled bowing my head to try and undo it.

“Need some help?”

I snapped around to the much familiar manly voice.

“Dad, what are you doing here?”

A wide proud simper on his handsome face as he walked over to me. “I wanted to have a quick final chat, but looks like I’m coming to your rescue. Hold still.”

He gently slid out the knotted clip and adjusted it properly in my hair. Rubbing my shoulders while gazing at me in the mirror. “My little princess,” dad muttered in awe.

His palm flattened to his shaking face. Seeing my father get so emotional made me feel a sense of completion. I knew he got that way out of joy. He was happy about everything since he returned. My relationship, even mom’s didn’t seem to irk him and above all, he liked Alex.

Emilio was a new man. He finally had his life together again.

“You can’t imagine how proud I am of you, sweetheart.”

I cupped the sides of his jaw, letting him know that I was even more of him and always was too. His dashing Italian features clearly hadn’t crumpled with age. He was a quite a sight to see as ever.

“I hope you find somebody who’ll love and take care of you one day, papa.”

Carving a genuine smile which made my face lit up. “Maybe I will. I’m very positive these days thanks to those teaching trips.”

I winced.

“Oh, yeah, I should remind if you ever let me worry like that again. I’m gonna make my husband’s own detective track you down then make his hired muscles drag you back here.”

I slapped his chest before giving him a massive hug.

He chuckled, flinging his arms around me. “I guess I can’t apologize enough, huh?”

“No.”

“Okay, I’ll bring a telephone with a good satellite dish with me next time.”

I tugged the veil over my head once I heard Megan and my mother calling for us.

“That’s right and you better not miss a call."

"Come on, it’s time.”

***

Richard’s little niece was adorable dangling the basket of flower petals. Sara went down the aisle first I could bet she had no arguments with the line-up.

Donna sauntered next, followed by Megan then my mother. Joline persistently urged me to let her picked out the bride maid gowns. Iliac-colored, classic, elegant and of course didn’t out-show the bride’s dress. I was relieved and hasty give her Carte Blanche over the whole wedding details. Lord knows that wasn’t an area of my expertise. After great consideration I went with a Mediterranean garden venue. It was perfect for me because it brought back the feel of Tuscany to my mind when I saw this property.

Sara and Joline wanted to send out some crazy invites but I said hell no. I wanted only close friends and family. Alex couldn’t have agreed more. He didn’t want to use this day as a social get-together for business associates whose names he couldn’t even remember.

“My best man, Pat and my mother are only people that really matter to me.”

He told me plain and straight.

Lilly Forester was a gem of a lady, so kind and compassionate. It wasn’t hard to see why Alex adored so much. We were beyond happy when her doctor told us she was strong enough to attend the ceremony. He never talk about his father at all since James Forester had been arrested five years ago in Texas and found guilty of money laundering from a new Oil company he was reportedly managing. Though sometimes I felt I should ask him about it. He could visit him while he was in prison at least. I decided to wait till the time was right.

There’ll be no mention of that man today. Today’s solely for us. And so will be our honeymoon, he insisted on that.

The pianist begun playing.

I swallowed trying to control the insane tickles I felt inside.

I sauntered down the aisle moving graceful, like a swan, clutching the white rose bouquet tightly. I asked Emilio if wanted to give me away but he said it was unnecessary. He already gave Alex his blessings just as Lilly gave me hers.

Rudy, Tyler, Billy, Cameron. Luis and Josh Stern, the mysterious P.D. I finally met, stood gazing from the front row. Left of the priest, Sara and Megan were exchanging whispers and giggles while glancing at Patrick at every minute. I wonder what Sara’s husband thought of that. We would probably find out later. My mom and dad stood together as Richard seemed slightly worried from the front the row.

I smiled wide catching their doting gazes.

Ahead, in front me, I went up two steps his hand held my wrist and I turned to face him. Burning sapphires of my heart. Alexander looked at me as if there was something he couldn’t contain.

“Hold on,” He signalled to the priest while I was handing the bouquet to my mother.

“I need a moment,” I gasped as he said that, closing all the distance and taking my hands in his. Our temples connected. He whispered what he only wanted me to hear.

“I can’t believe it. Do you remember the cookie fortune I told you about awhile back?” I nodded, not sure where he was going with this.

“It’s you. I’ve seen you cry when your eyes are filled with tears they turn from emerald to a kinda jade colour. You’re my jades in water, you’re my destiny.”

Tickles.Tinkles. Tinkles.

I looked at him awkward before regaining my smile.

“And you are mine?”

I placed his palm on my bump on my stomach.

This time he gasped overwhelmed coughing out in shock. “Are…are you serious?”

“Surprise,” I murmured nodding softly to him.

“Oh my god,” He hoisted off my heels into his arms.

My eyes went shut as he kissed me deeply.

The sounds hand claps and cheering came from every direction. I opened my eyes to see a flock of white doves flying over our heads. "I love you, Gina."

The End