"Everyone knows that I'm not good with speeches, but I'll do my best on this.“ Jackson paused. "I am not one to believe in love, but I think I do now, thanks to Nicholas and Reign. Their type of love is the type that you have to admire, even though it makes you sick. But you can see how they look at each other. They gave me a new and perspective meaning to love." When Jackson finished, he raised a glass towards us then came off the small stage. After our reception and cheesy well wishes, Nicholas and I checked into the hotel we had booked weeks ago. "Looks better than the brochures." Nick said when our limo pulled up to the Marriott hotel. "Much better." I agreed. "Honeymoon suite." The receptionist smiled, handing us the keys. Nick carried me on his back the rest of the way to our room. With both of us still dressed in our wedding attire. "Oh, wow." I gazed around the room. All decorated in blue and white. With pink and red rose petals and chocolate in the shape of a heart o
Nick came rushing into the workroom the moment he got home."What's the emergency?""I'm freaking out!" I pulled at my hair, then began talking in French."Calm down, calm down. You know I don't fully understand English, much less another language."That got me to pause."Good, and you're smiling too. So what's the problem?""Rihanna asked me, personally, to make two dresses for a movie premiere for her. We shouldn't have gone on that extra honey moon, now all this work gave piled up."Nick placed a hand on his hip, obviously not understanding the dilemma or urgency."I don't even know how she got my number. That's not important though. What is, is that she called today and wants them by Sunday. This Sunday."Nick nod, then realisation dawned on his face. "Oh, that's so short notice, and you deserved that time off. You work so hard.""Exactly.""Don't worry, I'll help," he made a gesture with his hands.Together we pulled an all nighter, drinking maybe two gallons of coffee, taking no
Remember that part in the movie where Tom Hanks was playing Forrest Gump? He was sitting on a bench and talking to a woman. He said 'life is like a box of chocolate. You never know what you are going to get.'‘Well, he was right, with life you just never know what you are going to get.’"Ok, I'll see you guys tomorrow." I said to my store manager."One more thing before you go. Remember that the forty-year-old virgin has another dress fitting tomorrow.""I'll be here to assist with that." I told Franco.I looked at my watch, thinking that I was going to be late for my date with Nick."Bye.""Enjoy your date with Mr Fine." Franco called after me."I will." I called back.Nick and I did this thing once a month, going back to the cafe where we had our first date. Getting the same thing each time, it was our way of keeping our love alive.My phone buzzed with a message from Nick."Can't wait to see you."I sent him back a message, letting him know I was leaving now and would be there shor
I heard voices that caused me to swim in and out of consciousness.I opened my eyes to blinding bright lights, then immediately closed them. Only to have someone forcing both my eyelids open to shine lights in them.I tried to push the person away, but my hands and body overall felt heavy.I could hear intangible voices, then the feeling of being moved.I didn't feel like myself. It felt as if I was floating.I looked around the room to see where I was, then I remembered.Nick, oh God Nick.I tried to talk, to ask for him, only to find that a tube of some sort was in my mouth. One which wasn't there when I just came to the hospital.Tears burnt my eyes as I thought of the worst.'Like, why do I have a tube down my throat?''Was Nick ok?'I closed my eyes again, willing my tears to stop, telling myself that Nick was ok, he had to be ok.He can't just leave me like this. I can't lose him, not now.He's my sanity. I can't go through this again.Why does life have to be this cruel to me?
I picked at my burger and fries, not feeling in the mood to eat anything. Even though I was hungry, I just couldn’t bring myself to consume the food.The only thing I managed to get down was the blue coconut slush."Do you want me to sleep over?" Nessa offered."No, I just need a little time for myself. I'll call you in the morning." I told her."Ok.""Remember to take your pills." Nessa said, pointing at the brown paper bag that was on the counter."I will."Nessa kissed my cheek, "see you in the morning.""Hang in there punk." Rickie said, ruffling my hair.When they left, I dumped the rest of my slush, then took my pills with some water.After that, I took a shower, had a long cry before putting on one of Nick's shirt and curling up in bed.I stared at his picture on the bedside table, praying that he will wake up and be ok.For the first time in so long, I was laying in my loft and in my bed alone.There was no warmth to search for, no heavy breathing or soft snoozes.I closed my
"Good morning." I said to Nick, even though he couldn't hear me.I placed fresh flowers on the table beside his bed, then kissed his lips."Jackson and Rickie are almost done with the houses. They didn't want to do them without you, but I didn't want the opening of the community to stall any longer. It has been years in the making."I took Nick's hands in mine, watching his motionless body.For weeks, I visited Nick, sitting by his bedside, day and night, hoping and praying, but there was no change in him.And even though I thought talking to him would wake him up, it didn't."I'll see you tomorrow." I said, kissing his lips before leaving.I went home to shower and get something to eat, but in my state, I had a hard time cooking. And an even harder time getting much down. Everything was bland to me and tasted like cardboard.I was just surprised that I wasn't throwing up.My phone rang, causing me to jump as it dragged me out of my daydream.I answered the phone, bracing myself, afte
The next day when I visited Nick, he gave me a strange look."Hey, good morning." I smiled at him.He raised a brow at me."How are you feeling?" I asked, placing down a duffle bag on the chair."I don't know you." He replied slowly.He looked me up and down and I could see him trying to reach for the call button."You don't remember me at all?""No, who are you?"I pursed my lips. "I'm your wife."His eyes widen."My what?""Wife.""My wi- wife, but what about-?" He paused to raise his hand, then examined the ring there."I'm married?"I showed him my ring. “We're married.""How?""Well, when two people are in love, they get together, then other things happen, which may lead to marriage."He looked at me in confusion, "did you do this while I was in a coma? Like an arranged or forced marriage.""Do I seem like the type to do such a thing?""Kind of."I cracked a smile, seeing that he hadn't lost his witty side."No, we have been married for a while now, a long while." I informed him,
"Good morning." I greeted Nick brightly."Good morning." Nick greeted back, but it was filled with uncertainty.Even after visiting him for four days in a row, I wouldn't say we were making progress.He still stared at me with skepticism in his eyes and asked me questions about his life I didn't have the answers to.Like boating events, polo club and things only my father used to do.On the fifth day, I laid in the waiting room, trying to get a night's rest.After seeing that there was no way of convincing me to go home, the staff let me be, offering me a pillow and blanket.Just as I was about to doze off, someone poked my arm.I jumped up to see that it was Nick. Our eyes locked as he stared at me."What are you doing?" He asked.I stretched and yawned. “Well, I was just about to go swimming when you stopped me. Good thing too, because the water seemed cold."He cracked a smile, then laughed, something I hadn't heard in a long while."Of course. Hmm, I'm hungry and I don't want to s
Just as I twisted my curly hair in the clip, Nessa's phone alarmed."Two minutes, then it is your time to walk down the aisle again." Nessa said.She came to hold me at arm's length, then hugged me."Feels like there is something between us," I joked."There is." She patted her four months stomach."Give them hell." I stoop down so I speak to her stomach."He already is, all the morning sickness. Mood swings and always sleeping. I miss eating bacon." Nessa began to cry.I allowed her the moment because I knew that it was just the hormones.Soon she was smiling at me again."Finish getting ready. I'll go call Lorain," she told me.I slipped into my white heals, then knotted my diamond studded tiara in my hair."Looking lovely," Lorain said, coming into the room. Complementing my simple mermaid dress.She picked up my flowers and hand it to me."Ready to give you away, Mrs Carter." She smiled.We walked down the aisle.When I didn't hear any crying, I looked at my left to see Mia and El
Due to some setbacks, Nick and I weren't able to move into our new house until I was almost due.And even though we were moving in, he didn't want me to lift a hand. So, I used my finger to instruct them on where the movers and our friends should put what."No, that glass table belongs in the living room. It goes in the middle. Does anyone not have vision?"I sighed, then sat on the sofa that was facing the fireplace that was below the TV."So we don't place the sofas in a straight line?" Jackson asked."No, this one faces the fireplace. While the other two face each other."Seeing that no one was placing the vases on the shelves that were on either side of the fireplace, I got up and made my way over to the boxes.I struggled to bend forward, while trying to bend sideways didn't work either.I puffed up my cheeks, trying to think of a way to get what was inside the boxes. I knew that if I should stoop down, I might not be able to get back up."What do you think you are doing?" I span
Nick came home early from work. He and his team were already halfway through with building our home."Hey you." He came over to kiss my forehead. "How are my girls?" He then kissed my stomach."Where is everybody?""Out back." I pointed with a chicken tender.I then dipped it in the honey-barbecue sauce that was sitting on my six months belly.Even though my baby shower was set to start in less than three hours, I was sitting in the living room eating junk food and pickles while using my stomach as a table because no one wanted me to do anything.They all were treating me as if I had suddenly become disabled.Shortly after, Nick came back with Jackson stirring him by the shoulders."You two just sit tight while we do all the work." He told Nick.I laughed at the look on my husband's face."Maybe massage her feet. I'm sure they are swollen." Jackson picked up a random bottle and threw it at Nick.Even though it was lubricant, it was for a different reason.With a cheeky smile, I placed
"Can I just take the blind food off? This is giving me anxiety." I asked."Not yet, just ten more minutes and I'll show you."I could feel the car coming to a stop, Nick getting out, then him coming around my side of the car."Ok, just trust me." He said, taking my hand.Instead of making me walk, Nick allowed me to climb on his back. After walking for a while, he stopped and place me on my feet."Ok, you can take the blindfold off."When I did, I noticed we were standing in a big open land."This is where our house will be." Nick grinned.I did a three sixty spin, to get a full view."So, it is a little bigger than I thought. The owner doesn't want it anymore and is willing to take any money from it, as long as I build a home. What do you think?""Have you done a survey to see what was wrong?""Nothing is wrong, just that there is a cliff at the back. But it is perfect otherwise.""And he is willing to take anything for it?""I mean, he is my uncle. So, yes.""I was also thinking tha
"I can't believe I'm doing this." Nessa said as Enzo applied her makeup."Look up,'' Enzo instructed."I hope you are not planning to run.""No, I can now say that I love him and if I should ever do that, I'm sure Rickie would cry.""Please smack your lips together?"After her makeup was set, I helped to zip her up into her mint-green and white dress, which I made exclusively for her.With its sweetheart neckline, and long flowing sheer skirting. I have to say that the dress represented her well."Time for the final touch."I stuck the flower crown in her hair, then let my hand rest on her shoulders."You look so beautiful," I told her.Nessa blinked back tears."Don't make me cry. You know I won't be able to stop." She tried to laugh.I gave her a hug, making sure to not smudge her makeup."I just wish daddy was here to see this.""Oh Nessa. I'm sure that he is smiling down at his baby girl."She dabbed at her eyes."I know, thank you Reign. I couldn't have asked for a better friend.
I was glad when the Dr Lynch said Nick could go home, but what made me even happier was that he remembered, he truly remembered.I couldn't help my smile as we left the hospital.I noticed Nick putting on his seat belt without me telling him to."I will never not wear this again," he said.I reached over to kiss him."You better, or else I will kill you myself."Nick gave a nervous chuckle. "I believe you."Before I could drive away, I saw Alba coming out of the hospital."What are you going to do about them?""I won't say anything to my sister, that's for sure. I don't see the reason for breaking up what she and Johnathan have because, from what Alba said, the two of them slept together before he and Christenna were together. As for my mother. Well, she just reminds me of why I left home, it had aways been her. And now she has no one because of her ways."I held his hand."Just know that no matter what happens, I will always be here for you."''I know, thank you."When we got home, t
By sometime after midnight, I got a call from the hospital, but all I could do was think about all the worst things, because I knew you only get bad news at this time.I took up the bag I had prepared for Nick, and as I drove to the hospital, I held my breath.I wasn't counting on him remembering who I was, even though the nurse on the phone assured me that everything was fine. But that was what they told me the first time, that he was ok when he wasn't.When I got to the hospital, I sat in the car for a while. My hands were shaking, and it felt as if I would pass out myself.I eventually built up the courage to go inside. I had to take deep breaths to carry on."Hi, I'm here to see Nicholas Carter.'' I said to the male at the reception."And you are?""His wife, Royal-Reign Belmont-Carter." I rushed.His eyes widen. "No freaking way. My fiancé is obsessed with your designs. I'm here putting in the extra hours so I can afford the dress she wants.""Oh, hmm. Congrats.""Yeah, your husb
Christenna took her husband's hand in her. "Well, Johnny. Looks like you will never be coming back here when our honeymoon is over. I wouldn't want my mother to try and kill you or get me pregnant in my sleep."They both get up, but neither made a move to leave.Michael was on his phone making calls."You will be hearing from my lawyer Gloria-Lyn, and so will you Alba." Mr Carter got up to walk out of the dining room.Nick stopped him. "Dad, even though I have no memory of that day, I want to apologise for holding a grudge against you."Mr Carter pulled him into a hug."Son, I have no hate for you. I never understood why you left so suddenly until I was fed lies by your mother. She told me you left because you went to Africa." Mr Carter then laughed. "I was just a gullible fool for believing her, not knowing she used my name."Micheal turned hateful eyes to his mother. “That's all you do. Tell lies. I went to see Sabrina after she had my son. When I asked you who the child really belo
"Oh, for the love of God," Michael said, then got up from the table.Alba huffed, but didn't fully enter the dining room."Did you request my presence?" She asked."Yes, that lie you told on me. I wish for you to clear my name," Mr Carter said, cutting into his pancake."Oh, that. See, I was drunk and my mouth just said what my drunken brain told it to.""A drunk mind always reveals a sober mind," I piped up. "And you wishing for Nick's death and our divorce clearly isn't something you came up with on the spot.""I was about to say the same thing. At first, mother was fine with what you had to say until the end of your statement. If I didn't know any better, that push was meant to either kill you or knock you out." Christenna said. "My reception was a shit show because of you." She added.Alba touched her forehead where a welt was. "Take it up with your mother.""This has much to do with you as it does with me," Mrs Carter said.Mr Carter hit his hand on the table. "Enough of the back