An objection

Kristina

Whoever said the bride was the most stressed on their wedding day had to be out of their minds!

The event planner IS the most stressed out.

I lift my dress from the floor, stuttering towards the kitchen as I curse under my breath.

“What do you mean the cake is not here?” I ask into the phone.

“Ma, the vehicle-”

“Look, I do not have neither the time nor the energy for this drama. Please, I beg of you, find a way to get that cake here in an hour. One. I am hosting sixty billionaires, and trust me, if that cake doesn't get here by ten am, you will be more than sorry.”

I end the call immediately.

As I walk into the kitchen, my nose takes an elegant whiff of the meals being prepared.

At least something is going right today.

“Everything looks good,” I whisper to the head chef.

He turns to me with a grim look on his face, “of course everything looks good! I made it happen!” He boasts

With gritting teeth, I smile gently. “You're right.”

I turn around, and am about to walk out of the kitchen when I hear a loud scream.

With perked up ears, I return my attention back to the kitchen.

A chef's hand is roasting as sizzling oil flows through it.

“Christ. What in the hell just happened?”

“The frying pan fell on my hand,” he grunts, holding his hand tight.

I turn to the head chef who is already making concoctions to help while the other is on the line.

Looking around, everyone seems coordinated. They know what to do.

I silently slip out the door.

My alarm rings, signifying I have two hours left for the wedding.

I look through my emails. Forty guests have arrived at the hotel. Twenty more. That is good.

I take a turn towards the bride's room. When I step in, I hear Lori giggling.

“Hey,” I say, as I walk closer. She is nowhere in the room. “Where is my sister?” I ask, with furrowed brows.

“I'm in here!” She giggles harder, “don't come in. I want to come out, and show my wedding dress to you.”

“Oh, that's right! I haven't even seen it.”

On the day Lori had decided to go dress shopping, I claimed to have gotten sick. I knew my heart wouldn't be able to help her shop for a dress to walk down the aisle with the man I loved.

I close my eyes, and then I hear her footsteps approach me.

She giggles with every step, and I can feel a tug at the edge of my lips.

“Open your eyes,” she says, and I obey.

Wow. Just wow.

“Lori…” I try to speak but the word fades off,

Her beautiful almond eyes shine bright at me.

“Your dress is…impeccable.” I gush,

Her dress is a classic floor length dress, hugging her hips delicately. Her tiny waist is accentuated by little crusts of diamonds that run up to the open cleavage of her firm breasts.

“Wow.” I say, again, as I run my hand through her dress.

“Do you know the best part?” She asks, with a wide smile, “the diamonds are real! And I get to keep them.”

“Aw,” I mutter, feeling the tears in my eyes.

I am genuinely happy for her. I wrap my arms around her gently, not wanting to stain her dress or smear her makeup.

“You deserve this grand wedding. You deserve every good thing of life, and as your elder sister, I bless your union. Truly, this will be your first, and last marriage.”

“Don't make me cry,” she responds, blinking back the tears.

My chest swells with joy. I take a step back, and nibble on my lower lip.

“You look stunning, I can't even lie.”

She does a little twirl, and I see her Jimmy choo shoes.

She is spectacular.

For the first time, I don't feel an iota of jealousy, just pure joy.

“Well, I need to go get dressed. I can't look tacky while walking you up the aisle.”

She smiled broadly, “go do that. I can't wait to be married!” She squeals,

I hug her one last time, then run out.

I am almost in my room when my phone buzzes again. It's from an unknown number.

“Need a date?” The text reads,

My heart hitches in my chest. Could it be him? No. I shake my head. He never reached out again after our dinner. I know he wants something, but I'm not sure he has decided what it is yet.

“Who is this?” I type in response,

His text comes in barely a second later, “Sergei.”

I clamp my lips shut.

“Re: No, I don't need a date. I already have one.”

“You know better than to lie to me, darling.”

I scrunch up my face in disgust, as I shove the phone into my pocket. I'll deal with my Sergei problem later. For now, the goal is to have a fantastic wedding as the sister, and acting mother of the bride.

It is exactly eleven am when the ceremony begins. Everything is set in place. The cake has arrived, the ballets are ready to offer their rendition. The music is soothing the hall, and everyone is sitting, waiting for the couple.

I look at Lori whose smile had faded. Her hands are shivering.

“Hey,” I call out to her, “what's wrong?” I ask,

She looks at me, and I can see the panic in her eyes. “I don't think I can do this,”

My heart leaps for joy, but then I bite back my words.

“No, no. Don't say that. You can do this. You've been waiting for this day for months, years even. You can't give up now.” I say, although I know deep down that it is not what my heart wants. My heart wants her to burst through that door, and nullify the entire marriage.

She closes her eyes, then heaves a deep breath. “That was stupid, I can do this.” She breathes,

“That's my girl,” I say, running my hand through her hair.

This should have been me.

The music starts to play. I grab her hand, and we walk up the aisle.

As we walk through, all eyes are on us. I raise my chin, trying to swallow up the tears in my eyes as we walk to Callum.

I look at him. Can he see the pain and desire in my eyes? Does he feel it too?

I am disappointed when I find him staring solely at Lori. He doesn't even spare me a glance. There is a bright smile on his face, and a tear drops from his eyes.

My heart cracks.

I want to scream. I want to run off. I want to run to Callum, kiss him, tell him I'm sorry for rejecting him. I want him to hold me in his hands, but I know very much better. He will not sacrifice his future for me, and that is why I never agreed to it in the first place. He is better with Lori.

I drop her at the podium, and then walk back to my front row seat.

The priest reads out his officiating line, then he looks up at us, “If anyone here knows of any reason why this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

We all hold our breaths. Me especially. I can feel my hand itching to rise up, but I bite back my tongue, and shut my eyes.

There is silence in the hall, and the priest is about to speak when a shadow appears at the door.

I turn around, and watch as he walks through the hall, heading towards us. My eyes widen in shock, and terror.

Sergei is here.

Surely, he would not reveal my secret just because I ignored his texts, would he?

Dear God…