The Hopeful Bride

Gabriella

"Fuck you." She said taken aback by his dismissal. "Whatever this personality disorder is? No."

At that she stood.

His eyes widened, "Where are you going?"

"To pack my things."

"Gabriella, Comeback here."

"Don't hold your breath."

She made her way back to the room in a blind fury. The nerve of him. To think he could just treat her like some kind of appliance he was all too willing to return if it malfunctioned in the slightest.

There were many things about this situation that already made her nervous. Being away from civilization, living in this strange new place, starting over. Her hands were shaking almost violently.

How was she gonna get out of this? She had no more money of her own. She pulled open the bathroom door and placed her hands flat on the vanity sink. The clinking sound of her ring hitting on the marble caught her by surprise and she quickly moved to remove it from her finger.

The feel of it suddenly cutting off circulation. Like a collar of some kind. Once it was off she placed it on the other end of the counter. The size of it winking at her.

Leaning over the toilet she emptied the little of dinner she had eaten. This wasn't an overreaction. This was a lot all at once. Troys idea of replacing his dead mother stressed her out, like, pretty hardcore. And then she realized this place was some kind of creepy dead animal zoo. Her heart began to race, how could she possibly look at those beady eyes gremlins everyday?

It's a hunting lodge. We hunt.

What was she going to do now? He was prepared to just send her back. Back to what? She had given up everything to come here. She had nowhere else to go.

After ten minutes of retching into the toilet she leaned back against the wall. Bringing her knees up to her chest trying to relax. Trying to remember what she was doing here.

And she was mildly annoyed that her husband-to-be didn't come after her. Wasn't he worried about her at all? Concerned about well being?

There was a knock at the door and she stiffened. Then relaxed when Taylor peeked her head inside the bathroom.

"Hi."

Her shoulders fell. "Hi."

"Water?" She offered a glass.

Gabriella nodded as she stood and reached for the offer.

They were both quiet as she sipped. "So, how much do you all hate me?"

Taylor's features fell, "no one hates you. We don't even know you." She lifted a hand to her belly gently rubbing the small swelling of life there. "I can't even begin to imagine what you're going through. I think you're brave. A little crazy, but brave."

A huff escaped Gabriella before she brought the water glass up to her lips. "Well, I feel foolish."

Taylor shifted, "if you don't mind my asking," she said a little hesitant. "What made you sign up for this kind of thing?"

Gabriella shrugged, "I needed an out. My life got hard and I just..." shifting her weight she leaned against the vanity. "I just wanted something to be easy for once. And trading in all of my problems for living somewhere else and being someone else sounded like an adventure."

Taylor nodded. "Well, Troy is a good man, if he says he's gonna do right by you. Then you best believe he's gonna care for you like family. You've only just met, emotions are high and I think there's a lot of pressure on you both because of expectations." She shrugged. "Maybe take the rest of the evening and just think things through before the priest comes tomorrow."

Gabriella nodded. "Do you know if there's another room available?"

Taylor nodded, "I'll go get my keys."

"Thank you."