WEDDING PARTY 2

       Faith went up as the people clapped their hands. Although she didn't know what to say, she took the microphone and flashed them her million-dollar smile. The silver jewellery Ethan had gotten her the other day shimmered in the light and made her kind of sparkle. 

      She huffed. "I'm going to keep it brief because I honestly don't know what to say. My friends have said it all. I met Nora in college and we have been friends for seven years and still counting. We have our differences but we settle alright. At first, I didn't like that I had a perky roommate. But with time, I fell in love with her personality. She became like a mother to me, she stood by me, showed me support and became my backbone and I never really did anything for her except make her worry to death because of my personality. 

      "But, I'm grateful that we stuck together, despite our differences in character, beliefs and upbringing. Thank you Nora Kings for being my irreplaceable friend. I love you so much." She dropped the microphone and was followed by a round of applause as she stepped down from the place. 

     "Alright," the emcee took the microphone. "The bride, the groom, the best man and the bridesmaid had given their respective speeches, now it's the time to shake it up. We are going to watch the man and his wife dance and we would join them soon to dance. 

       The Dj played Shania Twain's 'You're still the one' Danny held Nora's hand and led her out of the seat. They held their hands together and started dancing. People started to greet each other and Nora's mom walked up to Ethan and started chatting with him. Faith felt they needed a little alone time to get to know each other, so she went over to Charlie who was standing alone. 

       "Charlie," she called. 

     "Faith? I'm so mad at you right now." 

    He was wearing a black tuxedo, white waistcoat and black bow tie. He didn't button his suit. His pompadour hair was neatly styled as always. 

     "I know," Faith said, beaming with smiles. "Can I'm sorry, soothe you?" 

       "You are not even sorry yet, but you are already forgiven. Why are you so adorable and difficult to hate?"

      Faith smiled and walked up closer to him. "Because my charm is too much." 

      They chuckled. 

     "So, how are you and what happened? Where were you?" 

         "That's not important, what's important is that I am safe and sound right?" 

        "So, have you guys spoken yet?" Charlie asked and took two glasses of wine from the waiter and handed one to Faith. 

       "No thanks, I'm staying sober tonight."

      "Faith, it's just a glass of wine." 

       "I don't want my child to be a heavy drinker like me, so I am abstaining from alcohol this period." 

       "Oh, I see. I will drink the two glasses then. So, answer my question." 

        "Well, I'm sure my dear bestie, that if we were talking, I wouldn't be here with you because we won't be able to let go of each other." 

        "So, are you alright?" 

       "Yes, I am. I listened to his messages, he is sorry and is ready to talk about the baby, but I was still mad at him as of in the morning." 

        "But now?" 

       Faith shrugged. "I will have some water." 

       "But now, Faith?" 

       "Well, I guess I can't stay mad at him forever. I don't just want us to steal Danny and Nora's day, believe me, because Ethan can be so dramatic." 

        "So you won't talk to him until the wedding is over?" 

        "I will, but we would go somewhere quiet, maybe by the swing." 

        "That's fair enough," Charlie said and gulped down one glass in his hand. "I guess I don't want to be sober tonight." 

       "Where is Josh?" 

     "Oh, there he is." 

   Faith turned and saw Joshua coming toward them. Looking handsome in a black tuxedo, same as Charlie's only that he buttoned his, shaved clean, his hair spiky. She took a few steps backwards. 

      "I will be leaving now," she said to Charlie and started to leave. 

    But Douglas grabbed her forearm. "Angel, wait." 

      She stared at him in bewilderment. She couldn't believe what had just happened. Charlie stepped up. 

      "I think I would go get us some drinks," Charlie said and left the two of them. 

      Faith looked at the receding figure of Charlie and then turned to Joshua who was still holding her forearm. 

     "Are you alright?" Joshua asked. 

    "I am fine." 

     "Why did you leave home yesterday without telling anyone?" 

       "Why are you going to scold me and call me selfish?" 

      "No, no, Angel, I'm sorry." 

   Faith didn't think she got what he said, if she did, she concluded it was because she asked if he was going to scold her. "I'm fine," she said and made to remove her hand from his. 

       "How do you feel with the baby inside you? Mom was worried sick." 

       "Are you asking how I feel about being pregnant? I feel great. I have spoken with mom, she is no longer worried." 

      "I was worried too," he said, left her hand and looked down. 

       "What?" 

 He looked up at her. "Did he touch you? Was that why you left? I wanted to hear from you first, I didn't believe his story." 

      Faith frown. "No, no, no, he didn't beat me, Ethan could never do that." That was when Faith realised that Joshua was scared to death that Ethan had beaten her. He must have the memories of their father hitting their baby until she lost her baby. 

        Two of the security didn't know when Noah stole up to them. He shot the other one first and he crashed to the floor with a thud, his colleague saw him fall and turned to fight whoever it was, but it was too late, Noah shot him in the chest and he fell back. He kissed his silencer and smiled at himself. The first mission has been accomplished, he was going to head on for the second mission. He dragged the dead bodies of the men and hid them by the carousel. He took their guns and took their name ID. He wore one around his neck and stuck the other into his pocket. 

       "Ethan, here I come," he said and wore the hat hid his face and headed towards the reception ground. 

       "Josh, I am fine, believe me, he is not like that. I am not hiding anything from you and I won't." 

        "He said he got upset that you got pregnant." 

         "Yes, but he has come around now. We would talk it over tonight." 

       Joshua looked at her, she stared back at him and realised she was looking at her brother very well for the first time in a long time. He still had that boyish face, the boyish face that had made her promise, he was still that little boy she knew. 

       "Angel, I'm sorry. I never knew you suffered like that. I was judging you all those times." 

       "I judged you first. I should have said it then but I will say it now. No matter who you are, you are still my brother, my big brother who protected me no matter what. I am sorry for ever saying those awful things to you. I'm really sorry." 

       "I know you are and I'm sorry for leaving without you, I failed the promises I made to you." 

      Faith reached for his face and stroked his cheek. "It was meant to be like that. Maybe we wouldn't have been this great if we have been together. It's fate. I love you brother." 

      "I love you sister," Joshua said and hugged her. They hugged tightly, shedding tears. 

      Two people watched them as they hugged. One of them was Ethan who was relieved and happy that they made up at last. The other was Noah, who was not sure who Faith was hugging was. He had really missed a lot in her life. He watched as Ethan looked at them and wonder why he was not reacting. He knew the bastard would do anything just to be with Faith, but that was going to end tonight. 

      Ethan took out his phone and texted Faith and started to leave the wedding party ground. Faith's phone buzzed as she hugged her brother, she took it out of her purse and saw Ethan's message. 

       'Let's talk by the swing, now, please. I'm heading there now.' 

      Noah smiled at himself as Ethan left. It was even becoming easier for him. He had planned to put some stunt at the party by now he was going to die in private and slowly. He stealthily followed him, making sure no one noticed him. Everyone was busy making merry and dancing and no one paid attention to anything. 

      Ethan walked towards the swing, he looked up at the starry sky. Maybe, he would start by talking about the stars. He paced around the swing wondering whether she would come or not. Was she still that mad at him? She had said they would talk later, this was the best time, and no one would notice their absence. The place was lit by the moon up in the sky. 

      He heard a footstep behind him and when he turned, he was surprised to see a revolver with a silencer fixed on it pointed at her. He raised his hands on impulse. "Who are you?" he demanded. 

     "No, no, no," the man with the gun said. 

     The voice sounded familiar and slowly the man removed his cap. Noah. He should have known. 

      Faith had seen the text and had smiled, she told her brother that she would be right back, she had showed him the text and he had smiled at her. She had hopped off, almost running to the swing. She decided to steal up on him and she was happy she made that choice because she saw what she never expected. At first, she heard two men talking, she hid at the back of the huge slides that were behind the swing and listened. 

       "Noah, oh, my God. You? What do you want?" she heard Ethan's voice ask. 

      "To kill you," Noah replied. 

    She clutched her mouth and peeped and almost screamed when she saw Noah with a gun, pointing at Ethan. She looked behind, she needed to go get help, she had to do something, but what was she going to do? If she sneaks back to get help, Noah might shoot Ethan and get away as she contemplated, Noah talked to Ethan. 

       "Let me tell you what I will do after killing you. I will win my girlfriend back and take her to all those places I have planned to take her and we would make sweet, sweet love while you rot in the ground. This here is a silencer, I will kill you and no one would find out who did it, because, by the time they must have found your body, I must have been long gone."

     "You are crazy," Ethan said. 

   Douglas wasn't comfortable leaving Faith alone there with Ethan. He was disturbed. He needed to see how he treated his sister in private. He followed Faith after a while that she left. He would just hide somewhere and listen, but he was going to respect their privacy if they start getting steamy. He stealthily walked towards the swing. He saw Faith hiding behind the slides and heard the voices. He started walking stealthily to know what was going on. 

       "You don't know?!" Noah yelled and pulled the trigger twice. 

       "Angel, no!" Douglas screamed. 

  But Faith had already dashed out, maybe her presence would make Noah change his mind but it was too late, Noah had pulled the trigger, she just hugged Ethan and the bullets hit her. 

      "Faith?!" Noah called looking surprisingly at her figure-hugging Ethan. 

    Douglas rushed to Noah and knocked him down, his gun fell away from his hand, and Douglas sat on him and punched his face until he was bleeding from everywhere.