THIRTY THREE

"This church is quite big," her eyes went on to roam the empty spaces that were left after about thirty guests had taken their seats. "Do you think more people will come?"

"Ashley..." Dave groaned.

"What?"

"Just stop it already."

"Stop what?" Her eyes flickered away from him and back to the congregation that awaited the couple for whom they had come. "I am just saying this place is huge."

"Was the venue for your wedding as huge as this?"

"Why...?" Ashley could not bring herself to answer the question for a reason unknown to her. But when Dave opened his mouth to talk, she realized it.

"You are comparing Ashley. For some reason you want to feel good about your wedding and this one at the same time. But you keep on comparing the two situations because it still bothers you that your mother is getting married to your ex."

Her head tilted dejectedly to the side.
"Why do you always say the fact?" she murmured softly.

"Because," he reached for her hand and ran his thumb gently over it and that alone made her melt inside.
"I don't like how you keep on lying to yourself. For instance, look around. You don't have any business here. The only business you have with your mom had been sorted out when you met her earlier."

"But I... I just feel..."

"Feel what?"

"I just feel like since it is my mother-"

Suddenly, Dave reached for her shoulders and made her face him. As the processing music playing from the front, Dave said to a shocked Ashley,
"Ashley, your mother will be getting married to your ex- husband.
Deciding to stay here for the ceremony will just hurt you because once you see the two of them on that altar, the past will come rushing and before you realize it, anger will take over you."

"I might do something I would regret," she completed as it all played out in her head.  Realisation followed when she raised her head to see the officiating ministers taking their places.
Without  second thoughts, she grabbed Dave's hand and they rushed out of the chapel before the incoming crowd could block their way.

They had already made it out of the building and had left more than half of the  line behind when someone suddenly called Ashley's name.

On turning, Ashley saw Kevin's angry eyes boring lava into her body and holding on to his arm was her mother who was wearing the dress she apparently wore for her first wedding.

"How dare you?" Kevin broke away from Francine's hold and approached Ashley. "How dare you come here?" Everyone had stopped to look.

Francine immediately ran towards the angry man. "Kevin, don't start something stupid."

"She is!" He wickedly pointed his finger at Ashley. "She is the one starting something stupid by coming here. Who gave her the right to attend my wedding?"

"What about you?" Ashley's jaws clenched as she itched to scream at him like he was doing. But she was going to be calm, it was for the best.

"Aren't you starting something? All I am doing is attending my mother's wedding ceremony. How and why should that make you angry? Or are you scared?"
Her eyes narrowed at him as he gave a dismissing scoff. " Are you scared I might tell the whole church what you did? What both of you did?" Francine, who was already pale looked away at the ground when her daughter made eye contact with her.

"You have no..."

"I have no right?" Ashley was enjoying the feel that came with teasing Kevin. Having him sweat a little before tying the knot didn't sound so terrible. "I have every right Kevin. I was the one who got stupidly hurt so I have every right."

"This is total bullshit. You have to leave now." Ashley refused to budge as her eyes fought with his strained ones from that distance. Kevin got even angrier and moved closer. "I said leave!"

Dave immediately snapped away Kevin's tight hold on Ashley's arm. Amusedly, Kevin looked at the man who just interfered. "What is this? You hired an escort? How crazy of you."

"You... What are you even doing Kevin? Are you trying to break my mother's heart just like you did mine?"

"What?" He let out a chuckle that could not help but have a sinister feel to it. Facing her properly, he continued, " I guess I never told you this Ashley, but I got close to you, I  married you because I wanted to get closer to Francine. It has always been her."
Ashley felt her legs stagger a bit.
"Do you get it now? Huh? Is it clear now? Do you know why I did what I did now?"

She was hardly listening to him.
Her eyes travelled to her mother who looked like she was about to drop dead.
Then, they landed on the crowd who had gathered to see what was going on. From a distance, she could hear someone calling for the priest. All that noise became distant the next second.

Her legs went back even further and she was about to fall when Dave's familiar grip caught her. "I've got you," he said quietly into her ear as she rested into his hold.

As Kevin made to walk away with a satisfied smile, a voice called strongly from the crowd. "Shame on you Francine!"
The woman who cried walked out boldly from within the people.

"Aunt Cherise...."

"How could you? How could you stand here and allow that bastard speak to your daughter that way? Huh?" The huge, tall woman who stood about a feet taller than Francine began to beat the woman who had already broken into tears.

Aunt Cherise was Francine's younger sister who was hardly around due to her work. Even though she tried her best to be with Ashley after the divorce, Ashley did not let her disturb her work plans.
So, seeing her show up that way, right there really meant a lot to Ashley.

But her way of approaching the matter didn't sit right with Ashley. So Ashley rushed to her side and pleaded with her to keep calm.

"What?" Cherise asked unbelievably.
"You don't want any drama? What your mom did is enough to film an entire movie. I can't just sit back and watch her get married to the man you were once with."

"I know..." Ashley was beginning to feel weary. "I don't want to deal with this issue anymore, so she can get married to him if she wants."

"No, no,no. I am not going to stand back and let this happen."

"Aunt Cherise please. I don't want to drag this any further."

"You..." The woman was really shocked.

"Please... Forget about this. Forgive my mother this once and let's go our separate ways."
Ashley then became aware of the murmurings the crowd had been emitting.

With a frown, Cherise let go of Francine's arm and she took a step back. "How... How can you say that you want me to forgive... Have you forgiven her? Already? Please tell me no. This sister of mine really hurt you."

"Yes. And no. I am still confused. But please, Aunt Cherise just forget this once and let them get married if that is what they want." Her eyes flickered from her mother, to Kevin who looked dumbfounded then at Dave who walked towards her, reached for her hand and walked her out of the heated scene.

Once on the road, the both of them were yet to say anything and Ashley liked it that way. She really needed the silence and the breeze that came as the car dashed past the environment.

After a couple minutes, they were on the road that led to Dave's trailer. Suddenly, Dave stopped the car.

"What happened?" Ashley asked softly.

"I just forgot I needed to get somethings at the supermarket."

"Oh. You could just drop me here, I'll walk to your place."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," she smiled and then reached for his face before engaging his lips with hers in a manner that was gentle and yet needing.
When she pulled back, she gave him another smile and got down while telling him to hurry back home.

The weather was thankfully still favourable, so Ashley resumed her walk, her head dropping off saddening thoughts  to make the walk even better.

As she got to the trailer, she noticed a woman standing by the door. Dressed neatly in a shirt and pencil skirt, her nude shoes really blending with her brown, glowing skin, the woman acknowledged Ashley with a huge, pretty smile.

"Ashley Steve?" Her accent was clearly British.

Ashley adjusted the bag in her hand."Yes that's me. You are?"

With an even prettier smile, she stretched her hand for a handshake and said, "I am Jasmine, Dave's wife and mother of his child."