Planning the Wedding

“How long have you known Ruth?” Alex asked as Christine settled back into her seat. He knew he should have let her leave but something in him couldn’t let her go like that. There was something about her that made him feel at peace with himself. There was an aura of calmness that he just couldn’t put a finger on.

Christine took a stray hair of her hair behind her ear before replying in a subtle voice, “I have known her for five years now but it feels like we have known ourselves all our lives.”

A waiter came around the table and took their orders. Christine used this time to take in the dashing man in front of her. She couldn’t understand how Ruth could ever get bored of someone like Alex. He was calm and understanding. Handsome and alluring. Yet, Ruth had decided to leave him for her ex-boyfriend. If she were in Alex’s position, she would have gotten mad at Ruth, because why would my date not show and send her friend instead?

It was outright rude.

“Christine…” Alex called and Christine felt a shoot of heat crawl over her skin at the sound of her name leaving his lips.

“Yeah,” she replied. Her cheeks were starting to heat up and she quickly picked up the glass of water on the table to hide it.

“I love Ruth and I want to marry her but I don’t know if she wants the same,” Alex said. He wasn’t one to go through a long courtship. He didn’t have the time for such things. Since he loved Ruth, he would just tie the knot as soon as possible.

Christine nodded and clapped her hands together as she dropped the glass of water on the table. “She feels the same way about you. She didn’t stop talking about you all week,” she added with enthusiasm even if she knew deep down that Ruth didn’t care.

She was certain this crazy reaction she was getting from him would go away when he legally became Ruth’s. This was why she had to push them toward one another as hard as she could muster.

Alex smiled and Christine froze.

This guy was too good-looking for his good!

He had creases in both cheeks and as he smiled, they deepened increasing his beauty. Christine felt a butterfly come alive in the pit of her stomach as she found herself also smiling.

“If that’s the case then you will have to help me with the preparations. I want a surprise proposal and a small engagement party afterward. But before then, she will have to meet my dad,” Alex said.

Again, Christine nodded at his suggestions. She was certain Ruth was going to be excited about the development. Ruth might not have been head over heels in love with Alex but she certainly wanted to marry him, this should make her happy, Christine thought.

The rest of the evening was spent in small talks centered mostly on Ruth and the things she liked and the ones she didn’t. After the meal, they said their goodbyes and Christine was grateful to finally be able to control her body again. Sitting with Alex felt like she was under an enchantment. He was all she saw and she couldn’t bring herself to stop it from happening.

By the time Christine got home, Ruth wasn’t there yet so she took a shower and went to bed. The princess would return in the morning as always.

 “Chris!”

Christine pried her eyes open to find Ruth hovered above her. “There is a text from Alex asking about my mum! What did you tell him?”

It took Christine a few minutes to understand the scenario in front of her. She sat up on her bed and sniffled a yawn. “That was the lie I had to tell yesterday to cover up for you,” she said.

“You told him my mum was sick?” Her brows were pulled together into a tight line as she spoke. Christine just shrugged unable to give her a befitting answer.

What did she expect her to do? That was the closest she could come to a perfect lie.

“That’s not even the big deal, he attached a love emoji at the end like we were in love, what did you tell him?” Ruth screeched again.

“He wants to marry you and you are to meet his father next weekend.” Christine dropped the bomb and got up from the bed.

Ruth’s eyes almost dropped from her sockets as she glared at her friend. “He did what?”

Christine was heading to the bathroom, she stopped moving and turned to her friend, “He is a good guy Ruth and I think your mum will be proud of you.”

“But I am not ready! I can’t get married! What about Michael?” She joined Christine at her position by the bathroom door and held her by the hand. “Can’t you see this is going to be a disaster?”

Christine slapped a hand to her face as she tried to comprehend what went on in Ruth’s head. “You have been screaming about A.P. for weeks now. I thought you will be happy that he wants to marry you-”

“I know. I know!” Ruth repeated as she started pacing. “He is a rich guy and all but marrying him is a long shot, what if it doesn’t work out? Chris, what will I tell Michael?”

“I seriously do not know why you keep mentioning that guy,” Christine said with disgust on her face. “Wasn’t last night a breakup sex, or whatever you called it?”

Ruth rolled her eyes, “I can’t completely put that bastard off. He has his perks and you –my dear, won’t understand because you have refused to get that hole of yours drilled!”

“Can we stop talking about my sex life and focus on your marriage?” Christine bellowed.

“Ooh!” Ruth whined. “I really have to think about this. But I am not seeing his father next weekend. Michael and I have plans,” she said wiggling her brows suggestively at Christine.

Christine saw her movements and shook her head. “I am not seeing his father for you, Ruth! What sort of a bride will you be if you don’t see your father-in-law?” Christine cried out in disbelief.

“Oh please, I will see him. Just not next weekend,” Ruth said with a wave of her hand as she returned to the bedside. “Tell him to postpone the date with his father. I’ll call my mum for so long, she will be thrilled!” she said excitedly.

“I should tell him?”

Ruth turned around and gave her a hard glare. “Yes, you, who else made this arrangement in the first place?”

“He is in love with you and not me,” Christine reminded her in case she had forgotten. She was looking for ways to avoid the dashing young man yet Ruth kept pushing him toward her.

“I know, I am the bride here but you are the bride’s best friend which makes you the maid of honor. Therefore, you have to do all of these small things for me,” Ruth said with a small pout.

“You call visiting his father, a small thing?” Christine asked in disbelief.

“Huh-huh,” Ruth said as she dialed her mother’s line and placed the phone to her ear.

“Hey, mum!”

“My princess, how are you?”

“I am perfect! Guess what?”

“You found a new dress in your car?” her mum asked and Ruth rolled her eyes as a smile sat on her face.

“No mum, I have met Alex Pencraft and I think he is in love with me!” she squealed.

“Alexander Pencraft as in Peter Pencraft’s son?” Her mum asked as excitement brewed within her.

“Yes mum, the Alex Pencraft!” Ruth squealed on the phone.

“That is wonderful news, my princess! You should stick with him. If he decides to marry you, your father will be so pleased. Imagine the contracts we will gain just by being the in-laws to the Pencraft,” Rhoda Davies fantasized.

“Oh mum doesn’t worry, Chris tells me he wants to marry me. I am meeting his father next weekend,” Ruth informed her mom proudly.

“Chris? Who is that –you mean Christine?” Rhoda’s voice changed the moment she heard Christine’s name.

“Yes, mum.”

“Why is she the one informing you about things? I don’t understand…”

“Oh, I sent her on a date with him. I had to catch up with something so she covered up for me-” Ruth was explaining but her mother cut her off.

“Are you stupid? How can you send that gold digger to Peter’s son? Do you want her to snatch him away?”

Christine could not follow through with the entire conversation but from what she got, she didn’t know if she was doing the right thing by pushing Ruth to Alex. Sometimes it felt like Ruth wanted him, other times, she just wanted to have fun. But the ball has been set rolling and she couldn’t stop pushing them now.