Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 107756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
“Is there anything else?” I tried not to laugh at her.
“Yes, you—”
Knock. Knock.
“Come in,” Hathor answered even though it was my room. When the door opened, we saw the faces of Devana and Abena.
I sat up. “What are you both doing?”
“Can we stay with you?” Devana asked while Abena was already halfway onto the bed.
“Of course.” I laughed, shifting to allow Abena to situate herself in between Hathor and me.
Devana closed the door and also came to lie between Hathor and me.
“What are you two talking about?” Abena asked.
“How to lose you in the forest,” Hathor muttered.
“I already know how to do that. I would just leave food for her.” I laughed, making the rest of them, except for Abena, giggle.
“Or tell Mama she’s the one who ruined her favorite shoes. She would run for sure into the forest then,” Devana said.
Even in the darkness, I could see Abena pout.
“Why are you all picking on me?” she asked.
I hugged her tightly. “Because you are the littlest, and I’m mad at you for teasing Evander today.”
Hathor chuckled. “I cannot believe you mocked the duke.”
Abena gasped. “I did not.”
“Yes, you did,” Devana confirmed.
“All I said was that if he kept looking at Odite so hard, he would trip and fall on his face. And no one wants a face full of dirt for a wedding.”
“That is teasing,” we all told her.
She crossed her arms as we laughed at her. “Everyone always says I am teasing when I’m just talking,” she grumbled.
I understood how she felt.
“Talk less then,” Hathor suggested.
“I do not want to. I like talking.”
“We know,” all of us said in unison once more, which had us laughing and giggling. With the four of us in bed together, I nearly fell off the side but did not mind. Hathor was right. This was the last time we could be like this…the Du Bell girls. We would soon have our own homes, with our own families, and we would be mamas. It was so surreal to think that, but I was on my way.
We talked and talked, and I felt as if I had only just closed my eyes before I heard a terrifying voice.
“What is this?”
“Umm…”
“No,” Abena whimpered, turning away from the light, kicking me in the side.
“Ah!” I rolled.
“Hathor, Devana, Abena, get up now!” My mother’s voice was like a crack of thunder. “I sent her to bed early so that she might be lively this morning, and you all were in here playing!”
“Mama, I am fine—”
“Hush, you!” She pointed to me and smacked Abena’s backside. “And you, get up, little miss.”
“Mama, I am tired—”
“Then go to your room.” She leaned over and spoke directly into her ear. “Now!”
Abena sat up, holding her ears. “Mama!”
“Go. Your sister has much to prepare. I will not let you lot distract me today of all days.”
Grumbling, Abena hopped off the bed. Now my mother’s eyes were on me.
I smiled at her. “Good morning.”
She shook her head. “You should have kicked them out. Look at you, you’re so tired.”
I rubbed my eyes. “Mama, it was our last time together. I am fine. I am…” I did not have the words for what I was at this moment, because it was morning. It was my wedding day, and I looked at the dress waiting for me.
“And the wedding day nerves have arrived,” she said. “See why you needed rest? Nerves have a way of taking even more of your energy, and today you need all of it. Come now. A fresh bath shall help.”
I trusted myself to her because today was my wedding, and though I had said I was fine, a small part was very much not fine. I turned to my mother.
“Everything will be as I wished today?” I asked her.
“Yes,” she replied without hesitation.
“How are you sure? Last—”
She held the sides of my face. “Because I willed it so. Today will be everything you dreamed of, and tonight…” She paused, dropping her hands from my face. “Tonight, you shall be a wife.”
“What does that mean exactly?” Would it be like the shrubbery? Would it hurt? “Mama—”
“I will explain before you leave with him tonight. Now come, let us make you a bride worthy of your name.”
Nerves. They came suddenly and engulfed my very being. All I wanted—all I needed—was for the day to go as it should.
Please.
Evander
When I awoke in the morning, I stayed in bed for another ten minutes. I had not slept more than three or four hours because I was too anxious. I even prayed. Truly, I did.
Entering the church early, I stood there and prayed again.
It was only my sister and me, and she said not a word, sitting in the pew quietly. Damon arrived with Silva half an hour later, which was still an hour earlier than when our wedding was scheduled. I looked at the anger on his face.