Haunting Past

Chapter 2 - Proposal at the reception

Fiona's POV

I had chosen a trumpet gown with a shade of white and sea blue giving an impression of waves in the sea. I matched it with my new pearl set. Helen is getting ready in her room. It took me one and a half hours to get ready. I came out wearing my matching high heels. I know it's going to hurt as I haven't used such high heels for a long time. It's my best friend's reception and I have to look nice for her. I had to wait for another half an hour for Helen. She had chosen a red knee-length beaded dress and complemented it with a diamond necklace, earring and bracelet. She chose to wear silver high heels and a silver sling bag. That's when I remembered that I forgot to take my clutch bag. I hurried back to my room and came back with my white clutch. I made sure that I have everything in the clutch. We left for Martin's apartment in a cab. Both of us couldn't drive the car wearing high heels. So Martin offered to give us a drive to the hotel and back to the apartment. But he was already late and was getting ready and so asked us to reach his apartment in a cab.

He was waiting for us near his car and so we left for the hotel straight away. We arrived just after the Dumont family and the Dickins family. Megan joined us shortly leaving her family. Rose and Ryan will come only after the guest arrives. Within a short while, guests started to flow in.

Ethan, the second brother of Rose, has always been friendly to me. He considered me just like Rose and gave me brotherly love. Her parents, especially her mother, treated me just like a daughter. I never felt the need for a family after my experience with my parents. Both the Dumont family and Dickins family never made me feel like an outsider. Even Helen's parents were really nice to me.

Ronald, Rose's first brother, was different. He is the most perfect combination of a man. He is the best son, loving brother, honest friend and caring employer to all his employees. He who is the most down to earth person one could ever meet. He never treats people on the basis of economic status, race or creed. He always takes care of the wellbeing of his employees just like a family. I always wished to see him like a brother but my heart never gave me permission. Today he looked dashing in his custom made blue suit at the wedding. My eyes searched for him the moment I entered the venue of the reception. I was talking with Megan when Ethan came and joined us.

"You look gorgeous dear." Ethan second, giving me a side hug.

"You look handsome too." I said

"Why do you have to lie, Fiona? He looks just rubbish." Megan said, making a face.

"See who is saying. What a lovely dress but it's useless now because you wore it." Ethan slithered.

"Why do you both always have to fight? If you can't be nice to each other just behave like strangers not enemies. This is an important day for both of your brother and sister. Don't make it a mess." I said and walked away from them. It's always been like this. They start fighting even in the middle of a family feast. Rose and Ryan always try to keep them away.

"I am sorry for Ethan." Ronald came from nowhere and apologized.

"It's their usual row. I'm just worried that they will create a mess here. Please take care of Ethan and I will try to keep Megan away from him." I said

"Don't worry they will not mess up because they love the newly wedded couple more than their fight. By the way, you look beautiful." My heart skipped a beat. He just praised me.

"Thank you. You too look great." I said.

He is wearing a blue three piece suit which just enhanced his aura. He is a man every girl would dream of. But I am not worthy to dream about him. He will get a suitable match.

"I will just go and meet other guests." I made an excuse and literally escaped. I don't why my heart pounds whenever he comes near me.

I heard someone saying that the newly wedded couple had arrived. I hurried towards where Helen and Megan were standing. We have actually planned a grand welcome for the newlyweds.

"Is everything ready?" I asked Martin who just joined the group.

"Yes, we will start with the showering of flowers." He said

All the guests started cheering when Rose came holding hands with Ryan. She is wearing a red ball gown and Ryan is wearing a custom made black suit. As soon as they entered, flower petals started to fall on them. They walked elegantly towards the stage. Next was cutting the wedding cake. Rose and Ryan had chosen a five tier wedding cake but we had planned to shock them. The hotel staff are with us to prank Ryan and Rose with their cake. Two of the hotel staff came in pulling the trolly with the cake. Suddenly one of the staff lost his balance and fell on the cake making everyone scream. The dummy cake falls off to the ground, making Rose and Ryan gasp. When everyone was busy watching the show, two other staff pulled the cake from another door. Ryan and Rose had their back to the real cake. Rose was about to cry, when we all laughed, making her confused. That's when she noticed the real cake behind her making her laugh. After the cake cutting, they tossed announcing the feast to be started.

Our next surprise was on the way. It was a video made on both of their lives. We had already collected the childhood photos of both from their parents. We got photos of Rose from her birth to age five. Martin went to the orphanage in Arizona to collect her photos when she lived there. They had already known from the media about Rose and her family. Rose's parents even went to the orphanage to personally thank them for taking care of Rose. They made a huge donation for the education of the girls of the orphanage. When Martin went to get the photos they were happy to help. The only photos he got were mostly group photos taken on occasions like Christmas and Easter.

Well the reel started to play on the screen and both of them were surprised. Martin and Helen had gone to many places to collect all the photos. Both of them were speechless after watching the entire video. They just hugged each of us, making all of us emotional.

"This is the best gift we could ever get." Ryan and Rose said in unison.

Finally, the newly wedded couple started the couple dance, slowly all the guests joined. I was standing in a corner when Ronald approached me to ask to dance with him. I wanted to say no but my heart gave away. He took me to the dance floor and slowly we moved in sync. I was so involved in the dance that I didn't realize when we reached the middle of the floor. The middle of the dance floor was two feet higher than the rest of the floor on which Ryan and Rose were still dancing. Suddenly, Ronald took my hand and pulled me up to the middle. Seeing us, Rose and Ryan at once got down. They had stopped dancing. They just stood hand in hand watching us. I wondered what's going on. Suddenly the entire room fell silent and started looking towards us. That's when I noticed Ronald. He took something from his pocket and went to his knees making me stop breathing.