His Punishment
Page 25
He waited for her along with Christian.
He saw her enter the church with much elegance in her long-sleeved, off-shoulder stretchable lace with sweetheart neckline. Her long veil covered her face and entire body. It was hard for him to see her face but he secretly hoped that she was as excited as he was.
After walking like a five-mile long aisle because of suspense, she was finally handed over to James by her parents and he led her to the altar with him.
She knelt down beside him in front of the Bishop that would seal their matrimony. He couldn’t help look at her and saw through her veil and gasped.
“Surprised?” Rhea asked.
He stood up and shouted to the top of his lungs.
“James! James!” Christian tried to wake him up.
“Shit dude! I had the worst nightmare.” He was panting when he woke up.
“That happens when you’re too excited.” His best bud in his tux was laughing at him.
“Goodness. I am so glad I’m awake now.” His nightmare was horrible and he couldn’t breathe while dreaming. The scene was so vivid and it felt so real.
Christian was still laughing at him as he opened the limousine’s door.
“Get out.” He patted the groom in the arm before he went out of the car himself.
The church is slowly being packed by their relatives and friends. And he slowly got out of the car to greet them while waiting for her bride to arrive.
“The entourage march is starting in ten minutes.” He heard the coordinator tell him once he approached his parents who is talking with her.
“But where’s Tara?” he looked around for the white Chrysler 300C they rented for their wedding.
“She arrived a couple minutes ago and they are parked two minutes away from here for no one to see her yet.” It was Tara’s mom who offered the explanation.
“Are you sure she’s here?” he couldn’t hide his worry after his horrible nightmare.
“Oh yes son, don’t worry, she won’t run away from you.” Her dad patted his shoulders.
His parents laughed at her dad’s assurance.
He smiled a bit at his father-in-law’s remark.
“We should start lining up inside the church for the procession.” The coordinator spoke again as they were led inside the church with the entourage.
Just before the church’s main door was closed, he saw the wedding car park right in front of the entrance.
He sighed in relief to know that she is already there, but the tension from his nightmare was still catching up with him. He was sure the apprehension will only be gone if he sees Tara in front of him while exchanging vows.
The pianist and violinist started playing Brian Crain’s version of Canon in D as they were informed that the march is about to start. The two little boys walked as they held onto the bible and their rings and followed by Christian as his best man and then followed by his parents.
He looked across the church nervously seeing it packed with their guests. He can feel his tiny arm hairs rising from the setting. The music that his bride chose for the processional was perfect to create a very solemn and romantic atmosphere.
He started walking towards the altar in genuine smiles that he found so peaceful. Finally, it’s his day. Yes, it is his day, the start of his wonderful life with the woman he loved dearly and exceedingly more than he loved his life.
They only had two sets of Principal sponsors who were dressed in their ecru colored long gowns with a bouquet of yellow Holland tulips and their partners in black coats and golden yellow tie.
They had twelve beautiful flower girls dressed in yellow sleeveless dresses that reached the floor and with a three inch orange belt, that were matched with orange gerbera daisies as head pieces. They all carried baskets full of yellow and orange rose petals that they scattered down the aisle as they walked. Most of the little five year olds were their nieces and some are daughters of their parents’ friends.
The little girls were followed by three couples for their secondary sponsors all wearing yellow chiffon A-line/Princess halter with a sweeping train that flows freely as they walked with their respective escorts in black suits and orange ties. The lovely ladies’ single long stem Ecuadorian rose were even bigger than their fists and matched the elegance of their make ups.
Lyn, of course is the maid of honor and was wearing her strapless beaded mermaid cut long gown that made Christian’s eye bulge as he sees his girlfriend wearing a lavish gown for the first time. Since what she wore at the graduation ball was very simple, his eyes are definitely popping out at the now captivating sight.
Her parents followed the procession and were both beaming happily for the crowd watching them, as if they are not giving away their only daughter in a few more minutes.
The orchestra changes the music to the instrumental version of “As the Deer” as the big wooden church door opens and the sight of the bride in her body hugging Chantilly lace bridal gown is welcomed. The v of her neck was covered in precious stones and small south sea pearls up to the top of the thin strap. Her veil covered half of her front and was as long as the three meter train of her gown.
Tara eyes no one else in the cathedral but the man she is about to marry. She smiles nervously as she leisurely paces down to her chosen music. She feels like she is in a timeless dream and lost in a cloud of heavenly bliss.
She can see him staring at her down the long aisle she is treading. She was not sure if the glitter in his eyes were forming teardrops or just a reflection of the well lit altar surrounded by very beautiful yellow and orange tropical flowers.
She clutched on her bouquet of yellow stargazer lilies as she walked anxiously excited to reach her destination. She was calm but also excited to stand in the end of the aisle and start the beginning of her happy ever after with her soul mate.
She finally reached him and gave her parents and his parents kisses and she was ultimately handed by her parents to James.
He can see her through the thin veil and he was relieved to see beneath it was the girl of his dreams and not some impostor.
He smiled at her gladly with loving eyes that she now knew was really teary.
They went straight to the altar and the ceremony was started. After a couple of “I do’s” and exchanging of their rings, their proclamation as husband and wife was stated by the Bishop. They turned around and receive a very warm applause from their guests.
Cameras were flashing at them as he raised his veil to the top of her head and lounged the remains of it at her back.
“I love you Mrs. Aguilar.” He sweetly told her as he touched her in the bare skin of her neck and lovingly kissed her with slightly parted mouth.
She kissed him back charmingly before saying she loved him too.
After the pictorial with their family and friends, they all started the recessional and James’ hands never once left their intertwined fingers.
“I’m so excited to spend the rest of my life with you. I can’t hide my happiness that you are now my legal wife. ” He stared at her as the other guests were walking out of the church and they were left at the base of the altar.
“Me too, Mr. Aguilar. I knew since I met you that in the end, I would be standing here at the beginning with you.” She stared back at his handsome husband.
“Too confident huh?” he joked his wife.
“Yes. And wasn’t I right?” she teased him back.
“You were definitely right,” he paused, “I’m sorry it took long to realize though.” He kissed her once again.
They started walking out of the church and were greeted one more time at the exit with a shower of yellow rose petals and dozens of butterflies released that flew freely as they are now.
They arrived at the colossal garden reception area not far from the church and started partying with their friends and families.
They were both happy that from this day on, there will be no more villains and villainesses that would break them apart. And they will be
together forever.
She was about to kiss him when they heard the fireworks starting above them. The attractive vibrant colors of multicolored peonies transforming into clusters of silver titanium flowers and colorful star-forming Crossett’s and dahlia cores occupied the sky and caught their attention and their guests’.
He tugged her closer to him and kissed her hungrily on the lips. He knew she loved fireworks and he was definitely determined to give her her own set of fireworks even with her eyes closed.
“I promise to love you more and more with every tomorrow you share with me than I did every yesterday.” He told her with his eyes still closed and their lips still touching each other.
“I will hold on to that promise sweetheart.” She murmured between their lips before she kissed him again. “And I promise to keep giving you back the same love you give me.”
“I’m so happy to show the world you’re now mine. “
She still didn’t release him from their embrace.
“This moment is magical my dear husband.” She told him as she rested her head on his chest.
He stroke her bun fixed hair clasped with the floral diamond set.
“Every moment with you is exotically magical.” He kissed her head and they looked up the remaining last shots of the fireworks above them. “Say you’ll always love me.” He looked down at her.
“Not just always, but forever.” She lifted her head to kiss him again.
The fireworks have officially ended leaving a big white mist of smoke in the starry sky, but their own fireworks has just started and they are eager to welcome the fountains of happiness and rockets of surprises in their life together.
Epilogue
“Mom! Mom!” Tara’s little boy, Tommy was screaming when he entered the room.
“Yes darling?” she scooped him up after she removed her apron. She was trying to bake cookies for her twins and husband.
“Janice is crying mom.” Her six year old is squealing.
“Why? What happened?” she saw her husband enter the kitchen with Tommy’s twin in her daddy’s arms.
“She wouldn’t say, sweet.” James kissed her on the lips and on the tummy.
Their third baby is on its way as she is already six months pregnant. They would have had more kids if they didn’t plan their family.
“What’s the matter honey?” she frowned as James placed Janice to sit on the counter top in front of her mom.
The little girl was sobbing while trying to speak. Her dad’s hand was at her waist still waiting for her to speak and her mom’s hands were on her lap doing the same as her husband.
“It’s . . . Rob.” She was still sobbing as she spoke the words.
“Who’s Rob?” Tara looked at James.
Her husband just shrugged as he had no idea who his daughter was referring to. He picks them up from school every day but he never knew anyone named Rob.
“It’s her crush.” Tommy answered for them while he dunks his toast in the strawberry jelly in front of him.
James and Tara looked at each other with open mouths. Their six year old little girl has a crush already. He held his daughter in a quick embrace and smiled at her.
“What did Rob do to you?” she lowered her head to meet her daughter’s eyes but she was still crying and covering her face.
James took a glass of water and made her drink to calm her down. She started sobbing less.
“He . . . told me . . .” she paused a while, “he . . . doesn’t like . . . me.”
“Awwww,” was all Tara could say and hugged her little one to comfort her. She knew how being told off felt and it really hurt.
“How did he tell you?” James was curious how a six year old breaks a little girl’s heart.
“He told her to stop following him.” Tommy spoke again.
“Do you really follow him Janice?” her dad asked more curiously.
“Sometimes.” The little girl has now completely stopped from her cries.
“Like?” her mom asked for her to keep going.
“When we go to school I wait for him at the hallway. And when he eats every break, I sit at the bench near him and his friends. And I play with him at the slide before we go home.” She narrated.
James looked at Tara and smiled widely.
“You forgot to tell mom and dad that you call their home phone but you don’t speak.” Tommy butted in. “You just want to listen to his voice.”
“Oh my!” Tara covered her mouth as she blushed in front of her family.
“What exactly did he tell you baby?” James asked his daughter again.
“He told me to stop stalking him and get lost.”
James bit his lip and looked at Tara. She was still covering her mouth but not her face. Her cheeks were flushed and she looked like an overripe tomato.
“Go up first and change clothes then come back here for your cookies.” She asked James to put Janice down from the counter top.
“Let’s talk later honey.” She kissed her daughter before sending her off upstairs.
“Of all the traits you could pass to your kids, stalking?” James was teasing his pregnant wife.
“Shut it! Look who’s talking!” she pinched a little flour in front of her and threw it at him.
“I didn’t stalk you!” he said defensively.
“Want me to elaborate on that?” everything was still fresh to her as if it didn’t happen seven years ago. She threw a hand half full of flour on her husband again.
James didn’t reply but moved towards the bowl of melted chocolate and streaked some on his wife’s face with his three fingers.
“Stop it! Stalker!” she squealed and tried to dodge away from him as he continued to streak her face with chocolate.
He held her close and cupped her face after putting the bowl down to lick on all the mess on her face. “You taste good mommy.” He whispered to her as he continues cleaning her cheeks and lips with his tongue.
She streaked his lips too and whispered teasingly, “I want to check if daddy tastes good too.” She licked and kissed him before they both laughed.
“Of course I do, stalker!” he teased her again.
“Dad?” they heard Janice back in the kitchen and rushed to hug her. In a few seconds they were joined by Tommy for their tight family hug.
Tara was so happy and she can feel that James is on the same boat as hers. She feels complete now. She bowed her head down to stroke Janice’s hair. She looks so much like her and she can’t believe her baby is so much like her too.
It’s her stalker daughter.
Table of Contents
Copyright
Note from Pia
Synopsis
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Epilogue