The Wedding

3

I woke up to the sound of someone moving around my house. My first thoughts went to an intruder but as the smell of toasted bread reached my nose, I remembered that my caretaker sister was around. I checked the time and saw that it was already 9:30. I hadn't slept this good in weeks and I felt relaxed and well rested. I took a quick shower and when I got out, the small traveling box reminded of the agreement I had made with my sister. I quickly dried off and picked a comfy jean and a small top. I packed my braids that needed to be gotten rid of and made my way to the kitchen. I saw my sister grooving as she set a plate of toasted bread and a cup of tea in front of me on the dining set in the kitchen. I sat and began to eat the food that I didn't realize I had. Pretty sure she went to the supermarket this morning. By the time we were done eating, it was already past 10. I thought I had a little time to relax before we left for the airport but it turns out my sister had other plans. Before I could sit, my sister came in and dragged me out.

"we have one more thing to do before we leave for the airport" I looked at her skeptically and asked " what is it"

"don't worry, you'll see" she said with a sinister smile. I didn't know what she was up to but knowing Alex, she wasn't going to do anything stupid. I got in the cab she she had called up and we started on our way. We drove for a while until we stopped at the gate of a beautiful estate. It seemed peaceful and elegant and I wondered why I'd never been there before. We were put through and we dropped for about a minute before we stopped a one of the apartments. Alex made a call and in 2 seconds, her friend Diane was already out. Diane and Alex had been friends for over 12 years and they were so inseparable, people started to believe they were twins. While Alex was the jovial, outgoing all round party girl, Diane was the quiet and reserved one who we all knew had a crush on my brother. Opposites attract right?. I

got out of the cab to give her a hug and she held me so tight I had to tap her to let me go. I figured she knew what was going on but thankfully, she looked at me with determination and a thirst for revenge. Totally different from the pity looks I was sure I was going to receive when the news got out. We got in the cab and headed to the airport. On our way there, I shot my parents a quick text confirming I was alive. I was going to tell them, but I was going to wait until after the wedding. In the mean time, I decided to call my brother who I knew was definitely pissed at me. I dialed his number and after ignoring me the first three times, he finally picked

"my love" I started with sweet words to soften the tension

he wasn't having it "you do know that if you were not my sister, I would have found you and strangled the light out of you right?"

"i know love and I'm deeply sorry"

"i know you're sorry sis, you must have had a very good reason to drop off the grid like that. I know you, it just doesn't happen. Are you ready to tell me what happened?"

"well, I found Richards wedding card"

"WHAT?!. What do you mean you found his wedding card Steph" I went ahead to tell him everything and boy was he furious

"Do mum and dad know about this?" he asked me

"no, they don't and I would like to keep it that way until I get back."

" that lying bastard. To think that I was starting to like him. If I get my hands on him, he's going to regret it for the rest of his life"

I knew that was not an empty threat. At 31, my brother had a high rank in the army and friends in even higher places. I also knew that if my brother got a hold of Richard, he would either end up dead or in an emergency room and I didn't want

that to happen. I hated the guy didn't mean I was going to turn a young woman into a widow even if the thought had crossed my mind. I had to placate my brother