Chapter Twenty-Five

University and some of the problems I came across over the last few years made me equipped to handle any stressful situation. But it clearly didn't prepare me for today, for when I needed to be my strongest.

On one of the biggest days of my life, I needed to be the strongest I had ever been as I listen to what George is telling me.

24th of April was the date that Nate was adamant on having this wedding. We fought for a whole week until I caved in and agreed to have the wedding on this exact day. So why is Nate suddenly gone, why has he mysteriously disappeared and leaving me to wonder, to panic.

"Gone, where? does he have any idea how much we still have to do before this evening." I said, not quite believing what George was telling me. Is Nate that inconsiderate that he would leave me alone on our wedding day.

Any other day and I would have not even cared if he was out of the country because he is a businessman in demand, I get that. But he promised me that he wouldn't touch any work on this weekend. Promising to give himself to me for our special day.

But today is not a day when he can just fly out to another country and do God knows what. I need him here.

"Loretta calm down he will be back in time," Tammy says coming from the room with my suitcase trailing behind her. we're moving into the suite at the hotel which is where were going to have our ceremony.

"In time! he needs to be here now!" I scream, not even caring about the people staring at me, like I was crazy. I didn't care because I had every right to be crazy.

I feel like I'm going to die right now, why wouldn't he tell me. I'm aware now that he's planning a surprise but fucking hell Nate at least tell me you're leaving.

"I swear to god your worse than me" she mumbles before turning around and walking back into the room. She could say whatever she wanted; I didn't care.

"I swear to god if he's late and he hasn't gotten the guys sorted I am not walking down the aisle, tell him that" I say before slamming the door leaving George and Nate's father looking rather nervous. That was obviously a lie, but they don't need to know that, if they had a brain, they would know that I wouldn't do that, I love Nate too much to ditch him, although it's very tempting since Nate is giving me serious heart palpitations.

I'm so thankful to have my mum here because I don't think I could get through today without her and dad, Me and Nate arrived here 3 days ago to finish off all the last-minute plans for the wedding. I haven't seen him since I kissed him goodbye as he left with the guys for the bachelorette party.

Over the last two days family and friends have been arriving in Italy, curtesy of Nate who managed all the flights for them to get here for the wedding.

I'm super nervous but also excited, I just hope everything goes smoothly since I've had enough of the crazy drama in the last few months. But I don't see it going smoothly unless Nate shows up in the next hour.

As I walk around my suite clearly stressed, I hear the sound of my mother and the affectionate little brother of mine. When Eaton spots me he claps his hands wildly before smiling, showing his big gums to me. I copy him because frankly, it's contagious. dad has a knowing smirk on his face when he sees the small interaction.

"Told you it would work" mum comes over handing a sweet to Eaton which he gladly accepts before leaving me alone completely. When dad sees this and sees the expression on my face his smile is long gone and now is replaced with a frightened one.

" I had no part in that I swear Retta" he raises his hands up surrendering to his daughter. I refuse to take part in this behavior, so I close my eyes and find my happy thoughts. two nights ago, Nate and I endured a romantic dinner at the new restaurant in London and it was amazing, the food was amazing, to say the least, it was Asian cuisine and it's known mine and Nate's favorite restaurant.

I don't think I have to tell you about what happened when we got back to his apartment, we had the chance to start speaking about our future and we even spoke about baby names. I'm not sure if that was too soon.

I nearly cried when he said that he was thinking if we had a boy, we would call it Lorenzo. It doesn't take a genius to know that it's a little twist on my name. I'm sure we would make a choice on the name when the time comes, hopefully sooner rather than later.

The feeling of a wet tongue wakes me up from my power nap and my eyes snap back open to see the cheeky devil of my brother looking at me with those big brown eyes.

"You disgusting little, monkey,” I say stopping myself from calling my brother a word that no child should be called. I also saw the warning look on my mum's face before I said anything else so that's another reason as to why I stopped. Luckily for me, Eaton just laughs before running away with those little chubby legs of his. he's so cute I think to myself as I see him wander out of the room with dad quickly at his side.

we all filter out of the plane and Angela quickly catches up to me.

"How are you feeling?" she asks carefully. I glare at her, but she quickly grabs onto my arm.

"I know him not being here right now is stressing you out, but you need to have your game face on. You're getting married to the hottest, sexiest, and most successful man. Don't mess this shit up." I gape at her. Okay, no need to come on to my fiancé and insult me all in one go, Angela.

"Sorry, sorry, I think I got ahead of myself just then." Yeah you think? I smile because I kind of needed this to distract my mind. her face changes once she realizes that she succeeded in making me smile for once.

"I'm going to go help Cameron set up for tonight, I'll be over soon to get ready" she reaches out and hugs me before running along to catch up with Cameron.

I watch her run away and link arms with him and he kisses her on the cheek. As I watch the exchange, I automatically miss Nate already and I just hope he has a good reason for not being here right now.

I mean he better have one. And a good one.

The dress was stunning. As soon as I put it on, I was just amazed at how much it changed the way I looked, I had the opportunity to get my makeup done by an amazing makeup artist.

He was well known with a lot of A-list celebrities, and he approached me a few days ago.

"You look sickening, Loretta. I'm not just saying that because this is my work but honestly,” Andy said once he finished applying a spray to my face to set everything in.

"Thank you. You’ve seriously made me look beautiful.” He waves his hand.

"It didn't take much trust me. That man of yours is going to die when he sees you."

That's if he does see me. It's 1 hour until the wedding and he still isn't here. Before I was the one overreacting. But now George is practically having a mental breakdown.

"I swear to god once I get my hands on him Retta,” George makes this weird expression with his face that I find very confusing.

"Babe calm down he will be here soon,” easy for you to say Tammy.

"But what if he isn't,” I interject. We all look at each other and we all have a little bit of panic. Some more than others.

I gentle knock can be heard on the room door. Tammy goes over to open it and I see my mum walk in with Eaton in tow. After much deliberation, she finally decided to wear this dress. She didn't want to wear it originally because she wanted something simple, but I was going to have that. she is my mother and I want her to look beautiful as well. I don't plan on getting married again.

she could fool everyone else but my mum loves being in that dress. Nate bought it for her when we went to Paris to buy all the dresses. he was adamant of buying it for her and she couldn't say no to him. I mean I can't even say no to Nate.

The dress is a grey elegant long gown and has little details that cascade down the dress. it helps to make it more unique, from the simple dress that she originally picked.

My mum still has a great body considering she is in her fifties. I know that dad appreciates it.

"Girls let's give them some time alone" Andy grabs his stuff and leads the girls out of the room to which I mouth thank you.

Once the door is closed Eaton runs over after hiding behind my mum, he reaches his arms out and I smile at him before bending down and carrying him in my arms.

"you're a dapper boy aren't you" I say fiddling with his cute bow tie. I don't think I've seen him look any cuter. "Mama dress me" he mumbles swatting my hands away from his little suit. Oh, sorry little man.

I didn't realize how much my little brother made me smile, but I was relieved to have him here with me.

"I can see that but only you could pull this off" he smiles proud of the compliment. Eaton is at that stage we could just about talk he's going to be very clever I can already tell.

He's now walking, unsteady but it's something.

"You look beautiful Loretta," mum finally says walking towards me. We look forward into the little mirror and the three pairs of brown eyes stare back at us.

"Thanks mum. You too." I can honestly say that dad is a lucky man. She laughs before reaching behind her and grabbing the vale that she brought in with her.

"One last thing," she says, walking closely behind me. Eaton looks on in curiosity. It's quite amusing. Probably wondering why I'm having a white sheet being placed on my head.

"There," she says letting go. I look and finally realize what the big deal was. The veil was the finale. I never understood why brides loved having the veil but now I understand.

"Thank you, mama. Is there any news?" I ask her. I haven't asked anyone in an hour, and I'm scared that I will receive some bad news. If he isn't going to turn up in time, I will have to cancel the ceremony.

"I haven't heard of anything; Dan and Michael are currently out looking for him whilst George is leaving messages for Nate." I can only imagine the kind of messages that George is leaving.

"Why would he just disappear? Do you think he has cold feet?" I mean, it's not an insane thought.

She shakes her head frantically. "That could not be the case Loretta. Nate loves you. I truly believe there's a valid reason as to why he isn't here.”

My mum is too kind I think to myself as she leaves the room to finally give me some time to myself. My dad on the other hand, he's not happy and that makes me even more stressed.

It's been ten minutes since Tammy started banging on the door that I locked shut after hearing rumors about Nate. I should be walking down the aisle right now, but I am not because my fiancé decided to go into some funk and leave me alone.

"Loretta you're wasting time," she says with a hint of irritation in her voice.

"Look at the time, Tams. At this rate I might as well take this stupid dress off and just go home," I say, sitting against the door with a sigh. My dress laid out around me.

This was humiliating. What is everyone going to think of me? Ditched at the altar…I can already see the headlines.

"No. Don't you bloody dare Loretta." As much as I'd hate to take this stunning dress off, I kind of have no choice.

I didn't say anything for a while, but Tammy's next words make my heart rate pick up. I don't think I've ever got up so fast in my life. I stumble as well, not realizing how heavy this dress was on me.

"Fucking hell, finally!" Tammy's voice shouts out before it sounds like she's walking down the hallway Leaving me alone, or so I thought.

Heavy breathing could be heard from the other side of the door, and I instantly recognize it. How could I not recognize the sound of my fiancé’s breath?

"Loretta baby," I hear his deep husky voice say. I should be angry, hell, even furious, but I'm just glad that he's finally here. That he came.

"I don't want you to open the door because I want to see you walking down the aisle towards me and I want to challenge myself and see if I can control the burning desire."

I giggle at the little comment.

"It's so good to hear you laugh. I'm so sorry for leaving you, but I promise I am not getting cold feet or having second thoughts. I want this more than anything and I have a reason for leaving at such an important time. Trust me." As much as I'd love to say everything was fine. I could hear sadness in his voce, not the normal Nate I have learnt to love.

"Nate are you okay you seem"

"I'm okay" I think we both know that wasn't believable at all. He sighs from the other side.

"I was at the prison "he suddenly says, surprising me completely. Did he get arrested I mean that would be a reasonable excuse for not being here.

"I don't want to say much but it was about my brother, and I had to, I realized it was idiotic of me to not leave a message and I will hate myself forever for putting you under such stress darling"

I keep my lips sealed.

"But I'm here now and I swear to god if you're not walking down the aisle in 10 minutes I'll come in here and get you myself. We can talk about this after but right now I want nothing more to say my vows and seal the deal with a kiss," he says, his tone much lighter.

Let's be honest here he wants more than just a kiss and I am willing to abide. 

"Okay" I whispered as I placed my lips on the door. I felt a slight knock on the other side as he whispered back.

" Okay Amore, let's get married"