Chapter 13
WEDDING DAY
ACE
There she goes walking down the aisle. Gina is really beautiful in her wedding gown, she looks like a goddess. She looked so amazing and she’s taking his breath away. He thought she would never come to their wedding, but here she is now, walking towards where he is.
In a few seconds his bride was in front of him. He first kissed Gina’s mom and then took her hands, gripping it tightly in his hands. “Hey, your tuxedo is new now.” she whispered to him.
Of all the things Gina could say, that was what went into her head. “What do you think, that I’m going to wear my uniform to our wedding?” He said sarcastically, but when he looked at her, he noticed her watery eyes, so he felt guilty for his response. He sighed and tried to smile at his future wife. “You look like a goddess now.”
Gina smiled at his compliment. “Thank you for the beautiful bouquet.”
The Judge made them silent and indicated to begin. “If we may begin.”
GINA
The ceremony seemed endless to her, but the truth is that the civil wedding ceremony was fast. They exchanged their wedding vows, then played their wedding song (Love of a Lifetime) while the hired singer sang it. But she didn’t care about those around her because she just focused her full attention on Ace. She looked at him again. He was wearing a black tuxedo blended with the black and blue brocade of his vest, and the pristine white of his shirt. He’s really the look-a-like of Jensen Ackles.
Ace has always had a good scent, especially now, which is why she is addicted to his scent. She only realized that Ace was holding her cold hand and he’s now putting their wedding ring around her finger. Looks like everything went to a blur, and it looks like she really wants to cry. She wanted to remember it all. The confusing, overwhelming emotions, the huskiness of his voice, the fragrance of him and the flowers. She wanted to hold and hug Ace infinitely. She wanted him to treat her like more than a friend. But she just hopes they feel the same way.
While Ace’s attention was still focused on the speaking Judge, she was just staring at him. She just realized what the Judge told them when he said, “You may now kiss the bride.”
Suddenly her chest throbbed with excitement. That was the part she was waiting for the most, the signal of the end of the wedding ceremony. She can finally feel his kiss.
When he faced her, she looked into his eyes with anticipation. He lifted her small veil. When she felt his face approaching hers, she closed her eyes. She slightly puckered her lips and waited for his kiss. But he did not kiss her on the lips but only on the side. It was as if his lips barely touched her skin.
She was hurt inside, nevertheless, she regained her smile. She did not want to feel sad on that special day just because he could not kiss her.
I promise Ace, you’re going to want to kiss me soon.
Then somewhere through it all she heard Janice called, “Maaaa… sis… I think my bag of water broke.” her sister called crying, while she saw her boyfriend was immobilized.
—–
JANICE
A few moments later, they boarded the van to where she would be taken to the hospital. “You should have stayed there, sis.” She said. “You should have celebrated today at your reception.”
“The wedding ceremony is over, that’s what’s all important.” Ace told her. “The reception will continue even without us. I know your sister wants to be here next to you. If you want, we’ll be with you all night.”
“Thank you Ace, the truth is I’m really scared because I’m only seven months pregnant, I’m afraid the baby will be premature.”
While her sister and mother were praying quietly, and from what she could see, her nerves were also shaking. Payton, on the other hand, was also driving quietly, she knew he was also nervous. So only Ace always talks to her.
They arrived immediately at the nearest hospital. Payton and Ace got out of the car and assisted her into the Emergency Room. It’s even fun to look at them because they’re all in tuxedos and gowns. So all the eyes of the people in the hospital were just staring at them.
“My stomach is contracting, I think I’m going to give birth.” She told them.
“Don’t make fun of me babe, I’ll call your doctor first.” Payton told her.
Payton, on the other hand, looked at Ace as if he would help him figure out what to do. Since then, Ace is the only one who has remained calm in this situation. It’s only now that he can’t read the emotion on his face.
ACE
He used to be calm, but now he seems to be affected by Gina’s nervousness. Earlier, her hands were shaking as they held hands.
“My goodness, why are you wearing those? Are you from the wedding?” said the elderly nurse who was shocked.
“I need to push…” Janice gasped through gritted teeth.
“Ops, ops, ops, not yet, darling” said the elderly nurse. “We will wait for your doctor first. Who is your husband? Come here and help your wife while we are still waiting for the doctor.”
“Can we also go inside the delivery room? So we can cheer her up?” Gina asked the nurse.
The nurse laughed at Gina. “It’s strictly forbidden here in the hospital, but it also depends on your doctor, usually if anyone is allowed, only the husband can enter. You have a waiting area, maybe you’ll just wait there because we’re going to bring her into the labor room.”
They now put Janice in the labor room and they were left outside. He noticed that Gina was still restless, so he thought of talking to her first. “Just calm down Gina, Janice will be fine inside.”
“I hope so, I hope my sister and nephew are both okay. Ace, can you come with me to the ladies room? I’ll just want you to help me to adjust the straps behind me, because I’m not comfortable with the gown anymore.”
When they got to the ladies room, she immediately closed the whole room so that no one else could enter, because the people there might be surprised. Then he immediately turned Gina around and began to loosen the straps. “Can you take a deep breath, Gina,” he said. “I won’t fix it if you don’t cooperate with me.”
“Can you just hurry up Ace, maybe the doctor will come.”
“Okay, here it is, I’m in a hurry.”
“If Janice really gives birth today, I hope she and her baby will be okay even if it’s premature.”
“Let’s just pray that they will be okay.”
But when they suddenly heard a knock, they were both startled.
“Are you feeling relaxed now?”
“Pretty loose, thanks.”
They were already out in the ladies room and from behind Gina, he could see her strapless bra because of the loose tie on her gown. He could say Gina was perfection. She has killer legs, well-toned thighs, a flat abdomen, perfect curves front and back. All in all, she is mouthwatering. And he’d been stupid enough to deny himself the right to enjoy it all.
He just shook his head. “I’ll just wait for you in the waiting area.”
“Come with me. Janice also wants you there, and I think Payton also needs moral support. Did you see how nervous he was a while ago? He’s scared to death.”
“Maybe that’s just the reaction of the father-to-be.”
“All right, I’ll go with Mama Joy outside the labor room. Just don’t go around the corner so it’s easy to find you in case we need you.”
He just nodded to her and noticed that the people they met were looking at them. Maybe because Gina was wearing a gown and he was wearing a tuxedo.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
As they walked, he turned to Gina, and he could see the depression on her face. But even so, he still admires her stability. Even with her sister Janice, he also admires her courage, and also their mother’s calmness. He didn’t realize that he still followed Gina outside the labor room. And speaking of her mother, for the first time he heard her call him.
“Ace, your just following me?” Gina said in shock, because she thought he was just in the waiting area.
“Ace, can I talk to you for a moment?” Gina’s mother said.
“All right,” he replied.
“You know, I’m happy because you and Gina found each other. I’m happy to see that my children are happy with the one they love.”
“Mama, here you go again… of course Ace and I will meet because we work together.” Gina interrupted them.
“Shut up, Georgina. Ace, thank you because you chose to join us rather than have fun at your reception. I am even more confident that my daughter married you because I know you will never leave her.”
“It’s nothing, thank you for your trust, Ma.”
He saw that Gina just stared at him.
While Gina’s mom held his hand. “I’m really happy because my daughter married you. And I also see that you will be a good father to your children, Ace.”
Their conversation was interrupted when the doctor arrived and immediately entered the labor room. He also noticed that Payton was sweating profusely and was uneasy as if he was in labor.
The doctor came out immediately and told them that Janice had to give birth through caesarian section, because apart from the fact that her bag of water was already broken, her blood pressure also rose.
Payton was then asked by the nurse to sign a waiver that he agreed as the father of the child that Janice would undergo a caesarian section.
GINA
More than three hours had passed, her sister’s caesarian section was finally done. The nurse informed them that the baby had been taken to the nursery room to be incubated immediately, so they hurriedly went there.
“Look at the baby, he’s very small, but he’s really cute.” She said tearfully. “Your grandchild is a boy, Ma.”
“Yes, my grandchild is a boy.” Her mother said in tears.
Here was the miracle. Janice survived her childbirth and her nephew is a survivor as well. She turned to Ace and she couldn’t seem to read the expression on his face. Love bloomed inside her, but she was aware that she’s not loved by the man whom she married, and their marriage was only in name because they would also separate eventually. The fact that she’s marrying a man without any promise of love or commitment or children. A man who saw her as a responsibility. And a liability. Will she ever change that?
*****