Authors: Melissa Gaye Perez
“Actually Randle…I do understand. I wish I didn’t but I realize that if we don’t go through with this there could be severe consequences that neither of us would like to deal with.”
She had said it now as if they were a team. As if this was something they both had to do together just to survive. And in all actuality, she knew that was exactly what was happening here but what a price to pay she thought as she held his gaze firmly.
Randle lowered his head in shame as he looked away from her. Knowing that she did understand didn’t seem to make him feel any better.
“If you don’t mind I’m gonna go to bed,” she then stated as she rose from the table.
Randle watched as she made her way out of the dining room doors and back up to her room but stayed seated for a while longer and stared at the wall as if lost in deep thought.
Lia showered and dressed for bed. She felt like a zombie knowing her wedding was approaching much too quickly. But now she was trying to shift the mood and think positive things if at all possible. She kept telling herself that Thomas was a gorgeous man and treated her with nothing but respect and kindness when they were together in Vegas. And Randle assured her he was a good man as well and that she had nothing to fear being with him. Finally she was able to close her eyes tightly and fell asleep.
The next two weeks had passed far too quickly for Lia and now it was the eve before her wedding to Thomas. Nervously she was trying to ready herself for bed but Randle had avoided her purposely all day and she hadn’t even had the chance to plead for one last attempt to stop this madness. She spent the day before packing up as many of her things as she could and her bags were sitting all along the wall of her closet. Randle had already informed her he would have her things shipped to her new home immediately after the wedding except for the things she would be taking with her on the honeymoon.
The honeymoon she then thought as her eyes widened. How will I ever do this? How can I sleep with this man? Her head was beginning to hurt again as all these thoughts were clouding her mind.
Then just as she was about to climb into her bed she heard a light knock at the door and knew surely it had to be him. She froze a moment now almost afraid to open it but finally got the nerve and walked over and turned at the knob.
“Come on in,” she whispered out to him as he stood nervously himself outside the door.
Finally he entered the room and looked sullenly into her eyes. Then he placed his hands on the sides of her face and began to speak at last, not at all with his usual powerful and demanding voice, but much softer.
“Princess you know this isn’t what I wanted to happen either. Surely you know that,” he insisted.
She only nodded but couldn’t find any words. Randle went on. “I promise you will be fine. Thomas will treat you with as much respect as I have.”
“But he’s almost a total stranger Randle. And I have to admit for the first time, I’m scared. Even more afraid then having a gun to my head,” she finally admitted.
Randle could only pull her head to his chest and hug her ever so tightly. “You have nothing to fear my Princess. You will
always
be safe…I can promise you that.”
But to Lia she just couldn’t understand how he could be so sure of this. How he could actually make this promise and keep it? He would no longer be there with her to protect her and neither would Marc or James. She would be out in the world alone with Thomas.
“I guess I just have to trust you then, huh?” she muttered out.
Randle pulled her head back and used his finger to pull her up to face him once again. “Yes Princess, you can always trust me.”
Lia actually found herself tip toeing up and kissed him gently on the cheek. Randle smiled a little grin but the pain and agony in his face was evident. Finally he reached for the door.
“Good night Lia,” he then said just before disappearing from the room.
With that Lia had a cold chill running down her spine. “Lia?” she whispered to herself.
Then her mind wondered and she suddenly felt weak. Suddenly she realized that after tonight she would no longer be “Randle’s Princess”. She would become someone else’s wife completely and no longer tied to Randle Malcolm. But more confusion was setting in. Would this mean she would no longer be a target for Randle’s enemies to take out revenge against him? Would she at last be able to walk the streets of this world alone without body guards? The thought of it was almost intriguing but for some reason was of no consolation to her because she also felt powerless knowing she would no longer have this man watching over her.
She walked over to her closet and with both hands pulled the skirt of her wedding gown toward her and stared at it. Maybe I can do this after all she thought.
The next morning Lia was up early and nervously made her way to the dining room to eat what she knew would be her last meal ever in the house she had lived in now for so long. The wedding was scheduled for 2 pm and her nerves were getting the best of her. Much to her surprise Randle was already seated and waiting for her.
“Good morning,” he greeted without any facial expression at all. Lia could see his pain but only wondered if he could see and feel hers as well.
“Morning,” she mumbled back as she took her seat and began placing food on her plate.
Finally after a few minutes of silence Randle faced her. “I’ll be up promptly at 1:55 to get you,” he informed her.
Again chills ran down her body. “Okay,” she stuttered back without ever looking up at him.
The wedding was to take place in the main ballroom and Lia briefly looked over her shoulder when she heard noises behind her and could already see the decorators coming in with the flowers and chairs. Randle had taken care of all the planning knowing she wasn’t at all interested in helping out with this event. Her only duty was to show up and do as she was told.
“I think I’m done here,” she stated as her stomach was churning and she couldn’t force down another bite. She pushed her chair back and rose from the table. Randle’s eyes followed her every move and he looked as if he so badly wanted to tell her something. She glanced at him for a moment as if waiting for him to say it. To suddenly announce that he had figured out a way to stop this…but it didn’t come. He was struggling too she could see and for the first time reality had hit her and she knew there was no way out.
She retreated back to her bedroom not wanting to ever come out again. She sat on her bed holding a pillow firmly in front of her and stared at the clock. In just a matter of hours she would become Mrs. Thomas Bransford.
Finally she found the strength to rise and take a shower. Time was nearing far too quickly. She dried her hair and in only her robe and undergarments she again walked to her closet and brought out the dress then unzipped the bag and pulled it from inside. She carefully laid it across her bed and stared at it.
Then she made her way to the window and pulled back the drape for a quick look. Cars were lined all the way around the driveway and a few parked out on the street. The guests were arriving and awaiting the big event. Dropping the curtain she made her way to the bedroom door and slowly and as quietly as possible pulled it open just enough to see down into the ballroom. People were stirring everywhere chatting amongst themselves without a care in the world and for the first time she saw the ballroom completely decorated. There were rows of white fabric covered chairs in the middle of the room with an aisle down the center with a red carpet runner waiting for her to make her descent down it. A gift table was set up on the back wall and just a few feet in front of it a huge white wedding cake. And again servants were working the room handing out drinks and hors d’oeuvres.
Then just as she was about to shut the door she saw him. Standing to the front of the room speaking with the minister was her future husband…Thomas. Only this time he didn’t see her. He was busy speaking with the minister as if giving him final instructions and was smiling and laughing as if he were the happiest man in the world. Lia just couldn’t feel his sentiment.
Her eyes scanned him entirely in his black tuxedo and bow tie and his white dress shirt and a white boutonnière pinned to his left shoulder. Again she tried to close the door but found herself pulling it back open again for one last glimpse of him. He turned his head to greet another guest and Lia couldn’t help but to think again what a handsome man he was indeed with his perfectly groomed black hair and sparkling brown eyes. Maybe I
can
do this she found herself thinking.
Finally she was able to close the door and look at the clock again. She had about twenty minutes before Randle would come and get her. And again she thought it all rather ironic. The man who had always kept her as his own possession all these years was the same man who now had to give her away to become someone else’s wife. Then she suddenly began feeling sorry for him. What will he do now? How will Randle cope with losing me? He has loved me for so long and now he is being forced because of his own mistake and transgressions to give me away.
She stood in front of her mirror now and began carefully making up her face. Realizing now there was nothing else she could do, she had finally made up her mind to make the most of it. She would make this wedding a beautiful event after all.
“Perfect,” she announced to herself looking over every detail of her face. Then she finally turned and picked up the dress and stepped into it. She managed to get it zipped on her own then slid on her shoes and picked up the veil. Making her way to the wall length mirror she slid the veil into her hair and slowly swirled in circles. And finally a tiny smile bestowed her.
This man is gonna be proud to have me as his wife she thought now. And I intend to do my best to make this work…for both myself and Thomas. And who knows, I might actually be happier living somewhere else with this gorgeous stranger.
Then her body jerked again and she spun around hearing the knock on the door. Her eyes fell on the clock…1:55 pm. It was time. The door slowly opened and Randle made his way inside, he too dressed in a black tuxedo looking to Lia to be more handsome than she had ever seen.
“Well, I guess this is it?” she asked meekly looking his direction.
He stood totally stiff for a moment as his eyes took in every inch of this beautiful woman standing before him. The woman he had dreamed would one day become
his
wife.
“You look stunning Princess,” he finally exclaimed almost breathlessly.
Lia was just happy to finally hear it from him once more. Princess. It meant so much to her now. “Thank you,” she replied quietly.
Randle then walked over to her and reached up over her head and pulled the thin lace veil to cover her face, then turned with his back facing her and put out his left arm. Lia stepped up to him and took it gently with her hand. She reached over to the dresser and picked up her white rose filled bouquet and grasped it firmly.
“Well, let’s do this then,” she finally ordered to him.
Randle didn’t reply. Only opened the door completely and led her out onto the balcony to face the stairway. Slowly they made their way to the top of the stairs and looking down it now seemed like the tallest stairway Lia had ever seen. The organist began to play the bridal march and she could now hear everyone come to stand and with a solid face she looked straight ahead purposely not turning to look at the crowd that awaited her arrival below.
But for some strange reason she found herself not as nervous as she had thought she would be. Actually she was more anticipating what lie ahead of her. Where would she live? Where would they honeymoon? She couldn’t wait now to get this over with so she could be alone with this man at last and get all the answers she so desperately needed to hear.
Before she knew it she and Randle were now standing at the end of the aisle and she was facing Thomas and the minister head on. Thomas was staring directly into her eyes smiling so sweetly she found herself now trying
not
to smile back. She could still see and feel Randle’s pain and was now trying not to hurt him any further.