GET ME MARRIED

Her husband's return

“Don’t you look dashing,” mom Leona started the very moment she saw me. I allowed her to pull me into a hug and gave her a genuine smile, at the very least.

“You look nothing less than beautiful,” I complimented. She always looked that way, beautiful, rich, and bossy.

“Come on.” She moved aside, and I got into the car. She followed behind me while we waited for the guards to load the luggage into the trunk.

“How was Paris?”

“It was splendid.” I smiled.

“The culture, the people, the food, oh the food….” She smiled.

“You had a lovely time.”

“I did.”

“I expected you to stay longer.”

“I am a married woman in a city where love, s*x, and luxury precede with no husband by my side.”

“I didn’t think it to be a wise thing. You were not picking my call, and I needed to know what was happening in person.” I responded, and she sighed.

“You must be angry, frustrated, and confused.”

“I am feeling a lot of things, way more than that. But let’s leave that aside.”

“Is he back?”

“No.” my heart fell.

“Has he called?”

“No?”

“Where you able to reach him?”

“No.”

“Has he been declared missing?”

“No.”

“Then what is all this?” I snapped.

“I understand how frustrated you…”

“No, you don’t.”

“We are tracking him as we speak. He will be home soon.” She added. That did not help the way I was feeling. How long was a business trip supposed to take? And if it was going to take so long, why not call me and why can’t no one reach him? This was bigger than that and I was having a terrible feeling about what this all meant.

I remained quiet the whole way. I did not know where we were going to and I did not care. I was more concerned about what my life was turning to. What this all meant and where my thoughts were heading. And trust me, they were bad, terrible and harsh.

We arrived at a gate and I watched as it was opened and our car drove in. Walls of flowers rose high from both corners like the perfect fence and they were all beautiful, leaving a paved road in the middle, where we drove through. Then we arrived at a large mansion with a fountain in the middle of the compound. I spied what I thought was to be a flower maze at the extreme end of the house. Guards in suits and comms surrounded the house and at the entrance were women, on similar apron all standing in two straight lines.

“Where are we?” I turned to mom Leona, feeling quite intimidated by the environment. It looked like I just entered the house of someone with lots of power and wealth.

“Your new home.” She smiled at me.

“Before Jordan’s grandfather died, he passed his wealth and most of his properties to his grandson.”

“But not all of them were accessible. His will stated that he needed Jordan to be married and whatever marriage that was should last for five years. That was the only way he could get those properties. Jordan had ignored it then because he did not care much for it, but the government and some people in our family have been trying to convert these said properties. If nothing was done, his birthright would have been taken away just like that and so quickly, without much of a fight.”

“Your marriage to him made this all possible. This house was one of the properties of that will. This very place will be your home, where you and husband will live in love and raise your kids together.” I was not supposed to, yet my heart warmed up at the very thought of children and love and a happy home. The very thought took away the annoyance and frustration I was feeling and all I wanted to do was to see the house that will be my home. I alighted from the car and watched as guards and maids bent their backs and bowed their heads.

“I believe you know who she is already.” Mom Leona began addressing everyone. Her voice was powerful, intimidating, yet classy. I wondered if she intentionally wanted to intimidate them with the way she raised her chin and shoulders.

“This is Genesis Chase, the wife of Jordan Chase, and this will be her home. I trust you to take care of her as you would my son, to see her as you would see my son and to keep her safe as you would my son. I am keeping her in your care now. I trust you would do everything to make her happy, comfortable, and safe.”

“Welcome ma’am…” they bowed once more and I let out a nervous smile. Everything was definitely different. Having so many people under my command, in such a big house and with so many expectations and troubles that might arise was burdening. We did not waste any more time and stepped into the house. It was bigger and more beautiful. With expensive chandeliers hanging at each corner and beautiful marble floors. Expensive furniture, tiles and decors. It was beautiful. From the sitting room, I could see the dinning. Further back, I could see the door that led to the kitchen. We didn’t go too far and headed to the stairs first. At the top, I realized that there were two hallways going to the right and left. She turned to the right, which I followed and realized that the walls had fantastic designs and inscriptions of drawings that looked like large wings. I was awed by the beauty of it, and the very knowledge that this house was my home made me wanting for absolutely nothing. It was perfect and beautiful.

We passed by a couple of doors and finally stopped at a double handed door and it was the largest so far. She opened the door rather dramatically to reveal a large bedroom.

“This is the master’s bedroom.” She announced as I walked in. The bed was huge, definitely for two and more. A cushion was on the left and a table before it. While the bed sat opposite it. By the side of the bed was a large wardrobe and by the side of the wardrobe was a chair accompanied by a mirror. That was definitely for me. Walking deeper into the room, I found the door that led to the bathroom and I could not help but check it out. It was well equipped, with a shower, bathtub, toilet sit, sink, and a lot more space. I stepped out, feeling satisfied, as if it was everything I needed.

“You like it?” she smiled at me, seeing through me almost immediately.

“I do.” I responded.

“I knew you would.”

“But before you do,” she turned to the large black curtain that draped the wall to the floor. I had thought it was a wall. With a lot more energy, she pulled it aside. I gasped at the sight of a balcony filled with flower vase of roses, roses of all kinds. I opened the glass door, finding that space to be heaven itself. I shrieked and heard her chuckling behind me. It had a round table and two seats, seats that I could imagine Jordan and myself sitting with a cup of coffee at evenings or early hours of the morning. I could picture it, taste the coffee, and see the laughter in the air and the happiness that could come from that very place.

“I love it.” I turned to mom Leona. Who knew that she would know what my preference was?

“I know you do.” She smiled and came closer. We relaxed against the railing and I saw it all from there. The flower maze, the gate, the guards as they moved back and forth. The fountain. It was beautiful. I loved every bit of it.

For a moment, we said nothing, and she allowed me to bash in the very presence. To picture my life, to breathe in the air, the see my life and what could come from there. It was perfect. It was everything I dreamed of and hoped. I could have a happily ever after.

I turned to her and found her watching me. A smile on her lips. A satisfied one and something else in her eyes. Something I could not quite put my fingers on. I had seen that look in her eyes more times than I could say. But once again, I was drawn away from the thought of it when we heard the sound of a car riding in and turned to the gate. My heart skipped at the sight of it and I wondered just who it was, yet I was very hopeful.

“Is that….”

“Your husband picked a perfect time to return.” She answered before I could even finish my question. A smile danced on my lips and my heart warmed up. Butterflies danced in the pit of my stomach as I anticipated what our reunion would be like. I waited and watched as those legs stepped out of the car, with a lot more finesse than expected. He stepped out graciously and flipped his jacket open. My heart skipped at the sight of his handsome face, his hair, and how his suit looked on him like it was made for him alone. He was perfect, and he astounded me. I turned around, unable to hold myself. I wanted to see him, to yell, to hug him, to check if he was fine, all at once. But Mom Leona grabbed my arm before I could make my way to the door.

“What is it?” I turned to her, but she wasn’t staring at me. She was looking down at her son. I followed her gaze and realized that he wasn’t alone. I could see the shadow of the figure sitting on the other side of the car. He went around and she stretched her hand to his. He took it, gently. She stepped out. My heart skipped and the pit of my stomach tightened on a knob. He pulled her into a hug, and she hugged him back even tighter. Something fell to the pit of my stomach as I watched. ‘But it could be nothing. He could hug whoever, it was simply a hug.’ I told myself. Then they pulled away, but his hands were still wrapped around her waist affectionately and their bodies pressed against each other.

“What? What is going on?” I spoke, but I could barely hear my voice against my beating heart. Yet, I wanted to keep it under control. However, they kissed and my world went dark.