GETTING MARRIED

' CHARLOTTE'S BRIDAL WEARS '.

   Gina's eyes glistened as she read the name written broadly above the large exquisite store before her.

     " Come on Gina", Jace growled. She hurried off towards him.

   Jace pushed the gigantic door of the store open. He walked in. 

  A thin framed woman approached them with a charming smile on her face.

"Welcome to Charlotte's Bridal Wears, Mr Salvador ", She said with an esteemed look on her face.

   Jace narrowed his eyes and looked over his shoulder. Gina stood behind him gawking at the store.

"Welcome Miss...." The woman drawled.

"Gina" Gina cut in with a small sweet smile spreading on her face.

"Is she the Bride?" She whispered to Jace.

  Jace scoffed and rolled his eyes, he sauntered to a chair and sat down. Gina followed him with her gaze.

"Come with me Darling", The woman motioned and walked through a double mirror door. Gina followed.

"I am Mrs. Quincy ,"The woman introduced, with a smile that stretched into her eyes. Gina nodded with her lips pursed.

"What type of dress would you like?" She quizzed.

  Gina was lost for words. Sparkling white wedding dresses filled the room. She didn't know what she wanted. The dresses all looked appealing and gorgeous.

"Hmmm.... I think this would suit you", Mrs. Quincy squeaked and drew out a trumpet wedding dress.

  Gina stared blankly at the dress. No thought ran through her mind, she just stood there, blank and mute.

" What do you say?," Mrs. Quincy beamed proudly. Gina tossed her bag on the sofa.

She shook her head.

  Since it was her wedding, it would be nice if she did the selection by herself. She ran her hands through the dresses. They were silky.

   She fixed her gaze on one of the dresses at the far end of the rack.

"What dress do you have in mind?" Mrs. Quincy pried and placed her hands on her shoulders.

    Gina gestured at the dress. Mrs. Quincy drew the dress out. It was a lace ball gown wedding dress.

"Try it on". She handed it over to her.

  Gina accepted the dress and walked into the changing room.

  She changed into the dress. She looked at herself in the large vanity mirror. Her neckline popped up beautifully. She looked skinny and thin in the dress.

  She ran her hands down her body. It was sleeveless, and it hung loosely around her shoulders. It had a sweetheart neckline and was designed with glittery beads.

    Her face held a gloomy look as she watched herself in the mirror. She twirled slowly.

"Darling, do you need help?" Mrs. Quincy's voice rang.

     She heaved and decided to go out.

" I'm sure she would be very pretty in her dress," She heard Mrs. Quincy squeaked.

   Who could she be talking to?

  Gina wondered. She finally stepped out of the changing room.

  Mrs. Quincy stood agape and wide-eyed when she saw her.

" Oh my.... Didn't I tell you she would look great?," She pulled her cheek softly.

  Gina's brows furrowed. 

   She looked over at Mrs. Quincy's shoulders, but there was no one there.

" What do you say, Mr Jace Salvador?", She belted, glancing over Gina's shoulders.

 " Jace?", She mumbled and turned swiftly.

  Her eyes widened. Her mouth hung slightly open. Jace sat behind her, staring at his phone.

   She slowly shut her lips tightly and tugged on the dress. Jace raised his head high and gazed at her.

His face was blank. He crossed his arms around his body.

"Hmmm.... If she loves it, then she can have it", He gave a terse reply and rose up. 

  Gina's gaze trailed him as he walked out.

"Do you love the dress?" Mrs. Quincy asked, raising her chin up.

  Gina lowered her gaze to the dress.

   The hands of the dress sagged, and she pulled it back.

" I think we need to adjust that", Mrs. Quincy smiled lazily and motioned her into the changing room.

   Gina changed back into her dress. She handed the dress back to Mrs. Quincy and went to stand by the door. Her thoughts drifted afar.

" Jace....", A huge voice called to him as soon as he had ended the call. He looked up with an uninterested look.

   A stout man with a full-grown mustache approached him with a broad outward smile.

"Mr. Edmund", He shook hands with him.

   A beautiful slender girl joined them. She waved at Jace with a pretty smile.

   Mr. Edmund was one of his father's business associates. He was the CEO of one of the leading manufacturing companies 'EDDY'S WORLD'.

"How is my good old friend?".

  Before he could answer, Gina had already walked out.

" Mr. Jace, We are done ", Quincy beamed.

" He is fine ..... I will see you around, Mr Edmund ". Jace shook hands with him again and stepped out.

  Mr. Edmund passed a suspicious glance at Gina as she left too.

  Gina walked into the car. He started the ignition and drove off.

  Gina heaved softly.

     The clouds began to darken. An eerie wind blew, tossing her hair. The thunder clapped and roared loudly.

  It seemed like it would rain soon.

  She was suddenly missing her home.   

  Back at home, whenever it wanted to rain she would always prepare a cup of hot lemon tea and, lay back on her bed listening to the sound of the rain drops on her window.

    "Can you take me to my family?" She requested impulsively.

   Jace was stunned by her request. He decelerated and looked at her.

" Why?" He asked her.

  She crossed her arms around her body and shook her head ," I miss my brothers and....father", She sniveled and looked in his direction.

  His eyes softened. He felt chills run down his body as he looked at her innocent, fragile face.

  He didn't say a word. He looked away and accelerated.

  Gina felt a lump in her throat. She felt a knot in her stomach. She stared at his face. It was blank and unreadable.

  She thought she had made him furious. She felt a pang of guilt deep down in her. She rubbed her arms.

"I'm...." She bit her tongue. She exhaled slowly and shut her eyes ," I'm sorry", she mumbled.

  She heard loud shrieks as the car's tires rolled harshly on the road. She froze and held her breath.

  Her eyes grew wide in panic. The car finally came to a stop.

  She fell back on her seat and released her breath.

   She was still struggling to steady her hitched breath, she looked ahead and saw her father's house.

  She gasped and looked in his direction.

" You can go.... Don't keep me waiting", Jace dictated sternly.

   Gina didn't wait for a second command. She got down and ran for the door.

  Ding Dong !!!!!!

  The doorbell rang, echoing across the walls of the house. Cornel, the third son of the family whose room was some meters away from the door, sprang towards the door.

  He opened it up.

"Cornel" Gina beamed and threw her arms around his neck. She hugged him tightly.

  Cornel returned the hug.

"Gina" Cornel called her, kissed her forehead when he had released her from the hug. Her cheeks were wet with tears -- Tears of Joy.

"You have grown so big" Cornel checked her out. Gina giggled tearily and hit his arms playfully. 

"Where are the others?" She asked and walked into the house.

 " Father is at work... Vincent is in his room, while the gamer boy ". He winked and she chuckled.

"He is obviously at the game house" he shrugged.

"And Lincoln?" She asked and flung her bag on the couch.

   She watched his face change color. She peered at his face. He chuckled awkwardly and scratched the back of his head.

  He averted his gaze," He is... Erm... Erm .. In his room." 

"Cornel, Is everything alright?" She asked and held his hands.

  Cornel sucked his cheek and smacked his lips, "Yeah".

    Gina wasn't satisfied with his reply, she rather bolted for Lincoln's room.

"Gina..." Cornel yelled, but she had already entered the room.

   Her eyes widened. Her heart rose high in trepidation at the state of her brother.

" Li.... ncoln, " She called shakily and squatted next to his bedside.

  Lincoln was her favorite sibling. He has always cared and looked out for her since they lost their mother. He automatically took the position of a mother in her heart.

"You are burning." She felt his temperature. His head burnt like the scorching sun. His skin was pale.

"Gina, you are here", Lincoln smiled weakly and raised his hands to her face.

  His touch was cold and left shivers on her skin.

" Cornel, what is wrong with... Him? " Gina asked in fear.

  Cornel waved his head, "He is running short of blood Gina....".

" Is Father aware?" She asked and palmed his face. Her eyes gleamed with warmth and affection.

  Cornel nodded sadly.

" There is no money Gina.... The business is losing money as the day goes by", Cornel complained with bitterness.

  Hot tears slipped off her eyes when Cornel released a dry cough. His chest rose high as he coughed.

" I am afraid, Gina.... I don't want to lose another family", Cornel bawled lowly. He sniffed.

" You will be fine, Lincoln",Gina assured him and placed a kiss on his forehead.

   She needs to get married to Jace. This isn't a matter of her choice anymore. Lincoln shouldn't die because of her choice.

  If she must sacrifice her desires and choice for Lincoln to live, then fine she will.

" G.... Gina,"Lincoln called weakly and patted her head.

 " I will be back," Gina gave him one last look of care before leaving the room.

  She picked her bag from the sofa in the living room, she gave Cornel a hug.

"Take care Cornel". She bade him and left.

••

  Jace was getting worried and tense. He checked the time again. Gina wasn't back.

   Was this her way of returning back to her family?

  He picked up his phone to give her a call. He tightened his fist when he recalled that he had never had her contact.

     He turned on the ignition. He inhaled sharply and tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

  He saw her running towards the car. She opened the door and sat down.

  Her face was wet. Her eyes were red and puffy.

 Why is she crying? He wondered and peered at her face.

  She was lost in thoughts. Jace's heart was filled with pity. His lips trembled. He tried to say a word to her, but he sighed and drove off.

  As soon as the car's engine went off, Gina stepped out of the car without uttering a word to Jace.

    She ran all the way to her room. Christine was in the living room when she ran past. She stood up and walked out of the house.

  Then, Jace was about strutting in.

"What's wrong, Jace?" Christine asked and hung her hands around his neck.

    Jace released a deep breath, he rubbed his eyes.

"I don't know". He wrapped his hands around her waist.

"Come on.... I made something for you", Christine chimed and pulled him into the room.

 ••

   Gina was restless even as she walked out of the bathroom wrapped in a blue bath robe. She wrapped her white towel around her wet hair.

     Her thoughts always returned to Lincoln, who was sick back at home.

    She reached for her phone on the dresser. She went through her contacts and tapped on her father's number.

   " Father", she called calmly into the phone.

" Ah!" Mr. Washington exclaimed".

"I was about to call you, Gina."  

Gina forced a smile on her face and sat at the edge of the bed. 

"Father.... I visited home today", Gina started slowly, placing her hands on her chest.

" Yeah, I heard that. " He paused. "Lincoln is ill ", he informed her. Gina felt a lump in her throat when she heard that.

  Gina took a deep breath and shut her eyes before saying,"Father...." Her breath became hitched and contracted. Tears filled her eyes, her heart throbbed.

 " Father, I will get married to him", She said at once, tears finally escaped through the corners of her eyes.