The thought imprisoned her, paralyzed her. She would have died if that had happened. She knew from speaking to medical professionals that the delusions he was having could very well be a prolonged denial that would eventually subside.
And the truth was, her mother’s body was never found, so they weren’t lying overtly. It hadn’t even been a full year yet.
The fear of losing her father, too, was so great and painful. So much so that Arianna would do anything she could to make sure that he got the help he needed. She had seen therapists, when he wasn’t ready to go in the past, and talked to them about a “friend” who was going through delusional episodes after a tragedy. She had taken their advice and tried her best when not working to work with her dad in orienting him to reality as much as possible. At times, she would go along with him gently in order to not have him traumatized any further. She had spoken at great lengths to the doctor in Murumba who had initially treated him for shock when her mother vanished beneath the water. The doctor knew the truth since he’d seen her father before they left the island.
Thankfully, now her father would get the additional help he needed. Tiff had agreed to handle more responsibility so that Arianna could spend more time in Florida with her father while he went through his treatment.
Currently, Arianna had the wedding to think about, ensuring that the banquet department and event planning department had everything in place. The wedding was taking place soon.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
There was nothing more romantic than walking on the golden orange sand on the beach. It was Saturday morning and the guests were getting ready to enjoy a memorable beach marriage ceremony, with a sea of aqua in the background, enjoying the soft music playing. The bright sun shone in the cloudless blue sky, as the calming whispers of the waves washed up on the side of the beach shoreline. The white-painted wooden arch of the wedding gazebo was tastefully decorated with pulchritudinous yellow flowers.
Heated anticipation rushed through Arianna’s blood, thinking about Christian and how they would enjoy another passionate night after the ceremony. She just couldn’t get him out of her mind, for one minute of the day. She straightened out her cream-colored satin dress and took her seat near the front. She reached down and brushed some small grains of sand from the simple, strappy flats she wore. That was the thing about beach weddings, one had to make sure they had the right elegant foot wear so as to keep shoes from sinking in the sand. She learned that the hard way some few years back when she’d attended another friend’s wedding on the beach.
What a glorious, cloudless summer day it was to get married by the beach. Thankfully everything was in place. It had been a mad rush that morning getting last minute details together for the event.
Christian looked so hot and delicious as he stood in his tailored white tux along with his brothers and cousins as groomsmen in the wedding party. He always had a compelling presence, even in a crowd. Christian, with his radiant tanned complexion, smooth skin and devilishly handsome face, seized her heart every single time her eyes captured his.
Arianna sat beside Venus on the white satin covered chairs watching. She noticed Venus glancing up at Carl every so often. It was so obvious Venus liked Carl. Why didn’t she just admit it? Arianna smiled to herself. There were about two hundred guests present, mostly family members and close intimate friends. The Romeros were extremely popular but wanted to keep this a small—by their definition—and intimate occasion. She didn’t blame them. Two hundred guests? Family only? The family was massive on their own. What a close-knit group. She longed to have a large, close family just like the Romeros.
James Ingram’s beautiful, romantic soul ballad “Forevermore” played as Blue walked down the rose petal-lined aisle. Blue’s sister, Courtney, was her maid of honor. Arianna never heard this song being played as the bride walked down the aisle. It was a classic love song. If only she could walk down the aisle one day. This would definitely be her song to stroll right into the arms of a handsome man who loved her. Christian.
Blue looked so gorgeous and stunning in her elegant beach bridal gown, an A-line strapless chiffon chapel train wedding dress. Classy, magnificent, and Zack, oh, Zack looked so perfect for Blue, handsome in his white tuxedo. He, like his brothers, who were so tall they towered over the minister, lined up waiting for Blue to reach the altar.
An ache crept in Arianna’s heart for Blue that Blue’s father was no longer around. She wondered if Blue thought about her father as she walked down the sandy pathway alone. The flower petals placed strategically down the walking path, as Blue made her way down, looked so festive.