The Bachelor's Desire

Chapter 3

~ 3rd Person~

“Meredith is just fine Ashton. She is almost ready and we will be coming out shortly. Tell him not to worry all is well.” Meredith’s mother said, giving him another toothy smile while touching his arm slightly.

When her mother turned from shutting the bridal suite door on Ashton, she realized Meredith was gone. Panic rushed through her like a tidal wave when she noticed the only window in the room was wide open now.

“Meredith! Where are you going?! Come back Meredith right now!” her mother said as she leaned out the window with the bridesmaids and maid-of-honor stood closely by.

Turning to them, “Go get my husband and Richard right now!” she commanded. Two of the girls left to come back shortly with Richard, Ashton and Meredith’s father Jerry in tow.

“What happened?!” throwing the door wide open as they hurried inside looking around hastily.

“Meredith’s gone.” she exclaimed. “What do you mean she’s gone!? Where did she go?” Jerry demanded in a concerned manner.

“We do not know for sure but, she jumped out the window when Ashton came checking on things.” she said as she pointed to the open window near the dressing station.

Richard’s eyes grew dark as his jaw clenched and his brows furrowed in anger. “We will find her son. Do not worry.” Jerry said as he patted Richard’s shoulder.

“Mother, which way did she go?” Jerry asked for some direction. “She just ran straight that way.” pointing in the direction she saw her last running to.

“Richard and Ashton you two ride with me to see if we can find her.” “Jane, you and the girls see if you can find her place she hangs out at.” interrupting him Jane spoke, “she doesn’t hang out anywhere.”

Rolling her eyes like she was annoyed with the task. “All she does is go to work and back home. She’s so lame.” murmuring the last part more to herself than for the others.

“Jane, take one of the girls and look for Meredith where she shops and works.” “Mary,” Meredith’s mother, “you take the other girls and look for Meredith in surrounding areas.”

After everyone had left to search for Meredith, the men explained to the Priest what had happened to see if he would break the news to the guests in the church. Once the priest agreed they left to do their own search.

Three hours later after searching everywhere, the mall, the grocery store, and her work they came up with nothing. They also searched in surrounding areas up to 10 miles out in each direction.

Nothing. Absolutely no trace of her at all. Everyone met back at the Downing’s home to rendezvous and discuss next steps.

Under his breath, “I’m going to kill her when I find her.” Richard sneered, his eyes dark as night with anger.

Ashton, seeing his state, put his hand on his shoulder as said, “We will find her man, don’t worry.”

Richard looked at his hand on his shoulder then up at him with hatred in his eyes that made Ashton abruptly remove his hand from him and back away slowly. Richard turned his head back to look straight into nothingness.

“Well, I am going to get out of this horrid dress!” Jane sneered as she rolled her eyes and turned on her heels to go upstairs and change.

Laughter rang out from the living room with her comment which made Jane cross her arms over her chest in disgust. “I’m so glad my discomfort is funny to you all.” she huffed as she stormed out of the room.

“Well. I’ll call the surrounding hospitals to see if maybe she is there?” Mary offered.

“Thank you, and I will go by the police station to see if anyone called in a woman running around wearing a wedding dress.” Richard finally said. Looking ever so calm, yet fuming with rage inside.