Valentine Bonus- One ❤️

Valentine bonus- One ❤️


"Isn't it cheesy how your wedding is just before Valentine's day?" Tiffany asked as she brought out the box where my wedding gown laid.

I left the dresser and walked towards the bed. "Now that I think of it, you are right. We didn't even notice that when we picked the date."

"Oh, you lovebirds sure know how to do things that gave chills," she teased. "Have you tried the gown on again?"

"Why?" I grabbed a plate of cake which was just delivered by room service and dug in.

"What do you mean by why? What if you have gained weight?"

"Hey!" I complained as she snatched away the plate in my hand.

"No eating till you are officially married."

"Do you want me to die? Please, pass me my cake."

She dragged out the gown. "First try the gown on again. We can't have you being unable to fit into your gown tomorrow. That is disaster. It is the beginning of badluck."

I shook my head. "Don't be dramatic." But then, I reasoned it. It won't be funny if my gown rips or looks ridiculous because of a little weight gain. The almost perfect day would be turned upside down.

I won't even be myself at all. And I had already vowed to make sure nothing ruins my wedding ceremony as I wanted no moment to pass by me.

So, I got up and made for the thick beautiful gown. As I admired the bead work on its bust area and as I ran my hands through the niceness of the white material, I smiled.

Because I instantly saw Dominic in my head and it was a good sight. The gown reminded me that I was about to be married to him for as long as possible and that made me feel all happy inside.

I also felt a bit nervous to. The D-day is tomorrow and I am not certain of being as calm as possible.

I am freaking getting married!

"Can I come in?" A masculine voice said from the entrance.

"Uncle Stanley." I gave him a huge smile. Ever since Dominic united us, the man who was gradually approaching his sixties with a still fresh look has been more of a father.

And I am glad he was able to make it to Maldives where we were having the destination wedding.

I am more glad because I would have someone to walk me down the aisle. Someone from my father's side.

"You are looking calm." He walked into the exquisite room.

"Trust me, I am a kind of chaos inside right now."

"Hmm."

I offered him a seat by the dresser and grabbed one for myself. Tiffany was not in sight, so I grabbed a box of juice from the trolley of snacks carted in earlier.

"I know you don't fancy wine," I said as I poured him a cup.

"You know me well." Over the past years, I have learnt so much about my parents from him. "Your parents would be so proud of you. You have your own company and you are getting married. They will be so proud of their once little girl."

I smiled sadly. I might now know full details about them but I don't remember them at all. "I guess they will be. But I am glad I have you."

He dropped the almost empty cup on the dresser. "Grace, one thing I regret is not finding you on time. I owed my brother a great deal and taking care of you was the best way to do it. But I never found you."

And we have never really talked about that particular topic. "I eventually knew about you as I grew older. But I didn't look for you." I played with my palms while looking down at the deep brown polished tiles.

I continued. "For some reason, I didn't want to know you. I didn't want to find you." Then I looked up at his brown eyes which went so well with his hair whose silver lines looked sleek amongst the other black strands.

"Now, I feel terrible that I didn't try to look for you. I should have. That way I would have had a father even if not biological."

Giving a soft smile, he reached for my hand and patted it. "You have me here now, so don't feel so terrible or I would feel even worse."
I sniffed as tears had rolled down my cheeks silently. "Hey, don't cry."

"I am..." I chuckled amidst the small tears. "I am just so happy." My hand quivered as I made to clean them off my face. "I am just very happy."

"I am glad."

Then I laughed. "I am getting married."

"Feels unreal, yeah?" I nodded as a huge smile got planted on my face. "I don't intend to scare you, but when the whole marriage things really goes down, it becomes real, too real."

"Let me just enjoy the fantasy for now."

"You do that. Uh... I should leave you to do... you know, bride stuff. I will see you tomorrow," he said, planting a small kiss on my forehead.

"Goodnight." As he walked out stylishly, Ruby came running immediately."

"Grace!" She enveloped me with a huge hug.

"Hey you." I chuckled as she held me like I was about to depart for a faraway city.

"Daddy asked me to give you something." Dominic's face flashed through my head again and I smiled, a small party going on in my mind to celebrate the fact that I don't recall his face with difficulty anymore.

Ruby disengaged her hold and whipped something out of her pocket. "He says you should not read it till tomorrow."

"But it looks so tempting," I almost whined as I studied the purple card.

"He also says he loves you. And I also say, I love you."

"Aww Ruby." I could not contain my smile which expanded as hers did. As it was my turn to hug her, I pulled her closer and said, "I love you too."

"There is someone here to see you."

Don't tell me she managed to sneak Dominic past Janet who insisted the norm was that the groom can't see his bride before the wedding day.

I watched with amusement as she raced to the entrance and came back soon this time with someone behind her.

"Fiona!" I got up excitedly. Dominic had sent her an invitation with flight tickets but we were not sure she got them. "I am so glad you are here."

"Hello Grace. How are you doing?"

I hugged her. She looked a bit different from when last I saw her. Maybe a little bit slimmer?
"I am good. I am so glad you could make it."

"Honestly I was shocked to learn that you and Mr. Powers are a couple. But you make such a lovely duo, I can't help but smile and wish you all the best."

"Thank you." I guess I could be grateful to her. Had she not left to meet her husband, I don't think I would have had the chance to be in the Powers life.

Well, I can't say for sure the forces behind me meeting Dominic. But I am grateful anyway.

Fiona continued. "Ruby will finally have a mother who would take good care of her."

"Yes," Ruby excitedly said as I looked her way. "You will officially become my mom."

"Your mom?" Gosh, so many exciting stuff in the air.

"I love you mom." She made a cute face and I laughed as my heart warmed at her statement. If I didn't hold myself I would probably have started crying again.

"I love you too my little girl."

"Oh this is beautiful." Fiona said. "But I hope she hasn't been much of a trouble."

"Not at all. I-" Tiffany's footsteps cut my words shut. "What were you doing in the bathroom for so long?"

"Can't a lady use the bathroom without being queried?" she returned.

I smiled and shook my head. "Fiona-"

"Grace?" The door had violently swung open and Janet stormed into the room.

"Why do you look so angry?" I asked the charging woman who made for my plate of cake and dug into it. With others also watching her drama, I asked again, "Janet? What's up?"

"That woman..." Janet seethed as she stabbed the fork into the plate loudly.

"Which woman?" I hoped that didn't mean there was some kind of drama in form of a female.

"I can't believe she had the guts to come here. After all that she did."

"Who?" The suspense was killing me.

It was obvious Janet was trying to control her anger. And as her eyes met mine, she said, "Dominic's mother is here. Our mother is freaking here!" She stabbed the plate again.