Four

I swallowed as I stared at the 6ft5 figure standing a few meters away from me and my thick-headed friend.

"Hello, Sir." I greeted politely with a smile trying to gain back his attention on the good side.

He ignored me and focused his steel blue eyes as cold as ice on us.

"If you had taken your time to read about the church history you would have known that a vestibule is meant for baptism and as Catholics say baptism..." He left the sentence hanging, fixing a penetrating gaze on Susie.

"Er... Family?" Susie gave him a coy smile.

I mentally slapped my inner mind for agreeing to let her come with me, she was an embarrassment to me and the church. I had to salvage the situation so not waiting for him to give an answer I butted in quickly, "Baptism is the door to the church."

He turned his cold eyes to me and nodded, "You're the bride."

"Yeah?" It wasn't a question, he said it like he was sure.

What gave it away?

"They all know what a vestibule is so they'd like to make a good impression so I just assumed unlike your friend who isn't trying at all," he stated coolly.

I nodded. "I'm Hailey."

If he heard my name he refused to acknowledge it. Who the fu...er...fiend is this person.

"Come on," I heard Susie's mumbled voice as she pulled me along. I noticed that the guy was moving already. I needed to get a closer look at him.

Finally, we were out in the open and I could get a better look at him. He was tall like I knew he couldn't compare with my 5ft4. He was...

"Holy mother of Mary have mercy on me!" I heard Susie whisper beside me. I glared at her and she shrugged. "Is this guy the priest 'cause I don't care at all imma seduce him?"

I gave her a pointed glare. "Shut up."

I took a closer look at him. He had eyes that looked like the clear blue sky but were aqua color right now. He had a pointed nose, a sharp jawline that could cut through glass, an oval face, and a muscular body. Despite the tuxedo he was wearing, I could tell that his chest was broad.

"Are you done ogling me right now 'cause I believe that the priest is waiting for you," I heard his sharp voice remark in a snarky voice.

"Wait, he's not a priest?" Susie embarrassed me in her excited perky voice.

I was thinking the same thing but I didn't say it out loud.

"Shut up!" I yelled in a harsh whisper.

"Mr. Lowell, you are here, sorry I left you for too long," I heard an apologetic voice as I looked around and saw the priest walking towards us. I knew this was the priest because he was middle-aged and wore his white apparel and because this was my church.

"It's alright Father Ryland, I just came to show these ladies the way to the pre-wedding counseling room," the hot...er...ordinary guy answered.

Oh damn it but the guy is handsome. My silly friend was drooling at him.

"Oh, Miss Parker." Father Ryland smiled at me, "Your grandmother said you would be coming with your friend so you must be Susie." He directed his gaze at Susie.

"Good day, Father," Susie greeted in her most polite voice. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

"God bless you, my child." Then he turned to...what was his name again?

"Sexy pants seem just fine!" I heard Susie whisper in my ears. I glared at her.

"I know you were trying to remember his name, I could see it in your eyes," she said, smirking.

I ignored her and saw the—ordinary guy stalk off towards a tinted black...What kind of car is this? It looked very fancy.

"That's a Porsche," Susie said in a snarky voice.

I rolled my eyes, "Duh! I'm not a car expert."

"This way, ladies." I heard Father Ryland say as he strolled forward while I trotted from behind, Susie ran to catch up with him.

"Father, hold up!" She panted breathlessly.

Father Ryland stopped looking amused, "Yes Susie?"

I rolled my eyes and quickened my pace though I knew what she wanted to talk about.

"Father, the uhm sexy hunk from before," she began and I gave her an icy glare. Father Ryland on his own was red in the face and his veins were almost popping out but still, Susie took no note of that.

"Who exactly is his father? I had thought he was a priest. That kind of priest would make women sin and I'll happily be among those women and go to hell a happy woman." She rambled on.

"No more!" Father Ryland beat me to it, "Who is this demoness that you have brought into this holy place?" Now I was faced with his piercing stare.

I swallowed rather hard and smiled at Father Ryland. She's the devil's younger sister, I longed to say but instead, I bit my tongue and said, "She's a joker. She doesn't mean anything she said. She was only trying to test you."

Father Ryland regarded us suspiciously then smiled. "But of course, you're only trying to test me. Hasten up, we don't have all day."

I made sure all conversation ceased as I walked briskly in between Father and Susie.

~~~~*

"The success or failure of your marriage depends on how well you handle several personal issues. From the relationship itself to financial decisions, children, and intimacy, you both must know what to expect."

I watched Susie yawn before I ignored her and focused back on Father Ryland and the two deacons and deaconess present for my first interview. Father Ryland was explaining what marriage was all about and the things to be expected.

Susie yawned again. "Are we such a bore that you can't have the courtesy of excusing yourself?" I winced as I heard the sharp voice of one of the deaconesses.

All eyes turned on us instantly and Father Ryland stopped talking, fixing a stern look on Susie.

"I'm sorry I'm late," I heard my boyfriend's voice even before I saw him. Thanks for saving the day, babe but why is he here?

"You're late, Mr. Meade," one of the deacons designed to point out.

I rolled my eyes. Over-dramatic deacon.

"As I said, I'm sorry," he replied curtly before taking a seat beside me.

"I didn't know you were coming," I said to him.

"Neither did I know you would be here," he replied.

"You both are meant to be here, it's pre-wedding counseling," Deaconess one stated.

What? I don't know their names. No, they introduced themselves to me but I forgot.

"So we could have just arrived here together," Duncan gave an exasperated sigh.

"No, you both are not to know so you'd be taken unawares by the question and answer honestly," Deaconess two explained.

"So why am I here?" Susie asked.

"You're Miss Parker's witness, I'm yet to see your witness, Mr. Meade," Deacon one replied.

"I'm sorry, it's not easy driving back from here to the office and back here." I heard the sharp ice voice of the man from earlier as I saw him strode confidently into the room.

His aura was dominant in the room and his perfume was pure masculine. God, this man was pure perfection. I'm only admiring God's creation.

"Mr. Lowell, please have a seat." I noticed how the atmosphere in the entire room changed and the council members and the Reverend offered him a seat beside them.

"No, of course not. I can't sit there. I'm a witness to Mr. Meade," he dismissed them with a smile and took a seat beside Susie. I could still perceive his addictive perfume when he strode past me.

"Oh, you're acquainted with Mr. Meade?" Father Ryland asked.

He nodded, "Please proceed, Father."

Hurriedly summarizing the definition of marriage the deacons started the questions.

"What do you appreciate most about your partner?" Deacon one asked.

Duncan smiled at me, "Ladies first."

Father Ryland smiled at me, "A man is the head of the house, you go first Duncan."

"Well," Duncan began, "I appreciate her love for Christ and she upholds traditions and doing the right thing, it's taken us this far."

Awww, I was blushing inside as Duncan smiled at me. I guess it was my turn. What did I appreciate about him?

"I love the fact that he's hard-working and doesn't hide his feelings. He tells me everything." I heard a scoff as I finished my answer and I glared at the culprit but realized he was staring right back at me. I broke eye contact immediately.

"Are you both on the same page about having children?" Deacon two asked.

"Well, we will have kids. I mean it's one of the purposes of a holy union," Duncan answered.

I nodded, "Yeah, kids are a go."

"When do you want to have your kids?" Deacon two asked again.

"Right after the wedding, wedding night probably," Duncan replied with a smirk.

I shook my head. I want kids but not right after our wedding. I want to spend some quality time with my husband, travel with him before we get ready to bring in new people into the world and our lives. So no, I don't want kids immediately after the wedding.

"No, I want to have them after a few years."

Everyone stared at me. "Why do you say that, Hailey?" Father Ryland asked.

"Father I want kids but I also want to spend some time with my husband before we have them, so I want them after a few years," I answered truthfully.

"What do you think about this, Mr. Meade?" Deacon two continued his interrogation.

I noticed him run his hand through his head and he stared hard at me then suddenly—

"Shit is about to hit the fan right now!" Susie exclaimed, clapping excitedly on her phone right in front of us, she was doing a video!

"That is inappropriate language, Miss Susie."

I watched the red angry veins by the side of Father Ryland's neck and my boyfriend running a hand through his hair, my heart thumping even louder.

Shit is indeed about to hit the fan.

The only calm person in the room was the confident dick-head sitting beside Susie with a smirk like he was enjoying everything and right now I don't regret cursing at him.