Goodness gracias. I was freaking out. It was today. I sprang out of bed at six to notice people running everywhere, while I still felt like sleeping for twenty more hours.
"Oh, Mistress, don't wake up now, it's way too early." Elizabeth says.
"But Elizabeth, I am not used to being exempted from work. I can't sleep while all of you are working." I reply, clearly sleepy.
"But ma'am, Master Raul is like family to all of us. And you will bring joy to his life. We may not have much to give, but please accept our work as a gift and go back to bed." One maid said and everyone backed her up.
"Thanks guys." I say, sinking back into my duvet.
I know that this is a good day for me but I can't help but think of all the things that could possibly go wrong. Elizabeth notices comes to me,and takes my hand.
"Nervous much?" she asks, sitting down with me on my bed.
"Definitely. What if he changes his decision at the isle?" I ask, cracking my knuckles.
"He won't. He really likes you Iris." She replies, pulling my hands away from each other.
"Well I sure hope so." I sigh.
**********************************************
Elizabeth continues to make my face while Belle, the girl from the parlor deals with my hair and dress. After one hour, I was done.
I looked in the mirror and saw a queen. I saw a beautiful person staring back at me and I couldn't help but love her.
I was in a long, fitting black dress which literally swept the floor. Elizabeth had applied a dark themed make up on me, purple lipstick and all, but the most adorable part was that the black eye shadow highlighted my green eyes. The dress had a halfway laced chest and a slit that ran to my lower thigh. I had black stilettos on, and purple Mani, with a beautiful red pattern.
"Seriously, today, no man will have eyes for anyone except for you Iris. You look splendid, I would marry you if I could." Belle said and I thanked her. The final touch was a strong rose cologne and we were done. I covered my head with a black veil and they helped me to the car. As we were driving, I noticed that the path was oddly familiar.
"Wait, where are we going?"
"To a church, to get you married."
That was when I realized, we were going to my former residence. My church.
As I walked out I asked Elizabeth,
"Who suggested this place,"
"It was Master Raul. He said that he wanted to make you feel at home about the wedding so what better way than to get you married at home."
Just as I was about to say anything, mother superior walked in and Elizabeth left.
"Oh you " I say disappointedly.
"Well, Iris, I do understand if you never forgive me for what I did, but I am very sorry. Well, I just wanted what I thought was best for you. But now I see, your purpose, your life, is with Raul. He is lucky to have a girl, who is the complete package. Smart, loving, beautiful, curvious and God fearing. I am so happy for you." she says, opening her arms for a hug. I hug her so tight, and realize, she has been like a mother to me for thirteen years, since I was twelve.
"Well, if you want to show me you're sorry, then will you walk me down the isle?" I ask.
"It will be my utmost honor." She replies and takes my hand. In seeing this, Belle and Elizabeth high five and head into the church. She pats me and I sigh deeply and right before I could take a step, someone intertwined her hand with mine.
"You are going nowhere without me Iris." A soft voice says. It's familiar. Very familiar. I turn around to see a pair of hazel eyes smiling at me. I jump and hug her.
"Juan, I missed you." I say, really excited.
"Well Iris, we will have a lot of time to catch up, but now, you're late for your Wedding."
"You're right. " I say. Now, feeling more confident, we walk into the church. Everyone, even Raul was in white. I was the only one in black, and I loved the way I stood out.
As I look at the audience, I see Wallace holding hands with the lady they were with at the office. I smile at them and they smile back. Right then, Stefano takes my hand as Mother Superior and Juan let go, and he gets me to Raul. The father clears his throat and I look up.
I see a familiar face and smile. It was Father Agustus. As he starts the sermon, me and Raul look at each other with longing eyes as I lip say a thank you and he smiles. As the tension grew, I held on tightly to Raul's hand and he caresses them which makes me feel better. Finally I hear, it is time to take the vows.
"Iris Phaneah, what do you have to say to Raul Accardi." Father asks me.
"Raul, you are the most unsure, yet beautiful part of me. Many people say that love is treated more like a tree for it to prosper. But for us, it happened overnight. I promise to be loyal, to respect you and to love you for all my life, till death do us part." I say. A cute girl handed me a golden ring, and I put it on Raul's finger.
He then takes a deep breath and says his vows
"Iris, it has been a long time since I have felt anything other than hatred and anger. I loved my mother because I thought she was the only one who would love me with all my imperfections. But I met you. You have seen the worst side if me, but you never hated me. And being honest, I am afraid. I'm afraid that I will destroy your life, but I promise I will try as much as I can to give you what you deserve. I promise to be loyal to you and to respect you as my equal. I promise to protect you no matter what and to always stand by you. Till death do us part."
He puts the ring on my finger and everyone applauds . Father Agustus signals us to kiss. Raul opens my veil and freezes for a complete minute.
"You are a goddess. I can't believe you are only mine." he whispers.
"I can't believe you are only mine either." I whisper back.
He raises my chin and I put my hands on his cheeks, then he pressed his lips against mine. He quickly takes control and I move with his pace, our tongues moving in sync. Everyone applauds loudly as confetti frome nowhere rains on us. Raul then takes my hand ND we are about to leave when a gunshot is heard. Father Agustus and Mother Superior quickly take the children to the bunk while everyone else draws out their weapons.
Just then, a man, who looks like Wallace walks in. I could see Wallace and Stefano clenching their teeth and Raul pulls me behind him, putting on his blank expression.
"Oh boy!" The man says in a heavy Scottish accent. "You didn't tell me there was a wedding here."
"You are not invited Drew." Wallace says.
"So they teach you to talk to your father with an attitude ayy son?" Drew asks as a mockery.
"You are not my father. Get that through your thick skull." Wallace responds.
"Listen son. You are older than Raul, but he got married before you. Do you know what that means?"
"Well if you were there you would have known I had gotten married a long time ago." Wallace says, pure anger in his tone.
"Listen Drew, leave my son alone. And you are not invited to this wedding." Stefano says sternly. Now I can see where Raul's scariness comes from. He literally gave me chills. Drew was about to respond when he saw me. He then turned to me and smiled, exposing his golden tooth.
"Wow. You are indeed a goddess on earth. Iris init?" he asks. I nod and Raul holds my hand tightly.
"Take one step closer to my wife and I will tare you to shreds with my bare hands." Raul hisses. Drew takes a step back.
"I will come back for you goddess. You can count on that." He says and blows me a kiss, then leaves.
After he is gone, Wallace comes and apologizes and I accepted. We all head to the bunk to clear everyone. I for sure wasn't letting a man like Drew ruin my day. Just then, a worried Mother Superior rushes in.
"I can't see Juan where is she?"
I feel my heart race and the feeling that something is wrong overwhelms me. I tell Raul about it, and he assures me. that everything will be okay. Just then, I pick a letter up and read it out loud.
"Thank you for the gift. If you want this girl alive, then give us Iris. And Raul himself will deliver her." I say. Fear engulfs me and I look at Raul, in a questioning way. He just takes me into his arms and I cry uncontrollably.
"Why me Raul. Now I will have to give myself up for Juan..." I sob.
"No. I will protect the both of you. I promised to keep you safe and I will do so, even if it means I will have to kill Drew." He hissed.
"I'm with you on this one brother." Wallace says. I hug them both.