Chapter 45 - Jitters
A/N: So in the chapter ahead there will be paragraphs and dialogue in italics which means that Ashley is having a flashback to what actually happened therefore the writing is in present tense.
Enjoy!
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I can do this. I can do this. I can do this. I chanted to myself as I stared across at the woman in the mirror. She was dressed in her pyjamas and had a horrible bedhead. A cup lay on my table and it contained warm milk in it.
Tomorrow was the big day for me. I was no longer going to be just Ashley Hayes, I was going to be Ashley Hayes Hawthorne.
I was nervous as hell and although I felt like a complete wreck, Lina, Melanie, Melissa and even Perla and Claire wouldn't allow me and Brandon to see each other which greatly annoyed me. I was missing him and I hadn't seen or spoken to him in a week. It felt like centuries and although I'm exaggerating quite a bit, I truly missed him a lot.
I sipped my warm milk and continued to look at myself in the mirror. I marvelled at how fast the month and a bit flew by. We'd spent most of it with wedding planners who helped us get everything planned for tomorrow.
We'd gone to, wine tasting, cake tasting, cake designs, dress checks, hairstyle choosing, make-up trials, flower choosing for the church and for the bouquet I was to hold. We'd also gotten professional people to design the invitations and send them out, Perla had also helped with the designs as she was very good at graphic design.
The girls had also planned our engagement evening where Brandon and I announced our engagement to the world. There were tons of paparazzi that appeared.
"I'd like to thank all of you for being here," Brandon began as he clutched my hand tightly, "Today my beautiful girlfriend and I would like to make a very important announcement. We're engaged and are going to get married!" He told the world and I smiled at him as he pulled me into a small side-way hug.
"When's the date?"
"Is this a business arrangement?"
"What about Miss Sophia Lancross?"
The reporters yelled.
"Yes we are in love," I said, finally gaining the courage to speak to the hounding reporters, "And no this is not a business arrangement. We're marrying for love." I said and looked at Brandon's dreamy blue eyes.
Brandon escorted me off the stage and to our seats. At our table sitting with us, we had: Evelyn, Richard, Hunter, Claire, Alessio, Melanie, Lina, Melissa, Perla, Nicholas, Zoey and Angelo.
All of them were Brandon and I's friends. My friends had made sure that I was the only one dressed in midnight blue as the other guests were requested to wear white, peach or any pastel colour of their choice. Brandon had bought a suit that matched the colour of my dress along with a very cute bow tie that was wrapped snugly around his neck.
My dress was chosen by Melanie, who'd returned from her honeymoon. Alessio had taken her to Madagascar, an island just off the coast of South Africa. Of course, Mel loved it there.
The dress was beautiful and showed very little cleavage. It was a floor-length gown that was tight and reached the floor puffing out with a mini train behind it. It was basically a mermaid tail dress and Melanie had a big obsession with it. I was wearing silver sparkly heels to match, along with the expensive jewellery set that Brandon had given me seconds before we left for the event together.
Our engagement evening was very nice. I had been shocked when Richard extended his warmth and welcomed me into the Hawthorne family, I saw in Brandon's eyes that he was also surprised.
"You know Ashley, I enjoy tormenting Brandon's girlfriends and trying to make them run away," Richard began talking to me making my jaw drop and hit the ground, "You're perfect for him because you never gave up on my son even when I was harsh to you. I welcome you my daughter into the family."
"Oh thank you, Mr. Hawthorne!" I said happily as I glanced at Brandon, his blue orbs were filled with shock yet happiness.
"You can call me Richard or better yet Dad." He cracked a smile.
Since that day I've been calling Richard Hawthorne 'dad' and I've met a side to him that was hidden from the world. The side only his family saw and it made me happy that he had accepted me wholeheartedly.
Zander, Brandon's personal doctor was also surprisingly invited to our wedding. Brandon was quite keen on murdering him but I didn't allow him which made him even more furious.
"You went on a date with my doctor!" He yelled tossing a few images on the desk between us.
"It wasn't a date, Brandon. We were discussing your health!" I insisted.
"Do you know how embarrassing it is to me when I have a wife that can barely control herself around other men!" He spat.
"Oh please! I do exercise control, I'm not the one who ogles at women that isn't the one I'm betrothed to." I yelled back.
"Don't your dare turn this on me, Ashley!" He yelled.
"Don't you dare ogle at another woman!" I yelled back.
"Whatever! Did you or did you not kiss him?" He yelled.
"Who?" I yelled back.
"Zander! Dr. Zander that's who!" He yelled slamming both fists on a table.
"I don't have to tell you anything!"
"Of course she did! You know you liar, you always say you'll only have your first kiss on the wedding day yet here you are kissing other men as you please."
"You don't trust me? That's not my problem. But I can happily say that I didn't kiss him or anyone else for that matter." I hissed.
"I'm going to kill him!" Brandon roared, "How dare he talk to you when he knows that you are mine!" He hissed glaring at me.
"You can't kill him!" I yelled.
"Look! Now she's defending him." Brandon laughed without humour.
"I'm not. You can't kill someone for asking your fianceè out to the Cafè to discuss your own health!" I yelled.
"He asked you out?" He grimaced, "And you accepted!"
"I said yes because he wanted to tell me how to look after you better. If it didn't cross your mind I'm no doctor or nurse!" I yelled.
"I'm still murdering him!" Brandon screeched.
"No, you're not!"
"Stop defending him, Ashley. Move dammit!"
"No."
"What are you doing up?" Lina said as she walked into my room.
"Just remembering a few things. Plus I can't sleep." I told her.
"You look half dead," She said.
"I'm just really nervous. I guess this is it, I'm tying the knot."
Lina smiled, "You'll be okay. When I married Matteo I was also very nervous. When he was killed I felt like I lost my whole world. I miss him, Ash. My only advice is: You should treasure your time with Brandon as you don't know the capacity of your love for someone until it's gone and you can't get it back."
"I understand. I'm sorry about Matteo." I told her.
"You don't have to apologise about Matteo again, Ashley. He wasn't your fault, it's the drunk driver's fault." Lina said as tears glistened in her eyes.
"I'm sure it was." I smiled at her.
"I think you should head to bed. I want you to look perfect for Brandon tomorrow. Drink your warm milk and off you go!" Lina said and I smiled at her.
"Thanks, Lina, your words really helped."
"It's the least I can do," Lina shrugged and left the room.