Her Greatest Treasure II

Chapter 4:

I love that I'm barefoot at my wedding. I can feel the sand in between my toes as I walk towards my (almost) husband. Gosh he looks so handsome.

After about twenty minutes, it's time for our vows. Is it weird to be nervous about what he wrote?

"My girl. Where to begin? I've loved you since the day I met you, which was two years, seven months, and 21 days ago. You're the most stubborn person I've ever met, but also the most beautiful. I can't wait to start our lives together as a married couple; we have so much planned. God, I never cry, yet here I am getting choked up! I promise to cherish, love, and protect you until the end of time. I love you."

Since when is Christian so sentimental?

"Christian. My love, heart, and soul. I've never known a love like ours. We've been through so much together and for that I am so, so grateful because we came out stronger. I definitely didn't love you when I first met you, I actually thought you were quite annoying." I hear the audience laugh. "But I remember the first thing that I liked about you was how you wear

your heart on your sleeve, and I knew from then on I was smitten. Confused why you liked me so much, but smitten. I can't wait for whats to come for us, and I love you more than anything."

"Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may now kiss your bride."

Christian grabs either side of my neck and caresses my cheeks with his thumbs before kissing me gently. He gives me two lingering pecks before we face the audience and smile.

This is the best day of my life.

...

"My wife," Christian whispers into my ear as I lay down on our bed. "You looked absolutely beautiful today."

"And you looked quite handsome," I giggle as he places kisses on my neck. "I'm sorry we had to postpone the honeymoon, though. I just didn't want to be sick the entire time."

"Don't even worry about it. Second trimester, France here we come!"

"But you know what?" I whisper slyly.

"Hmm?"

"Just because we're not on our honeymoon doesn't mean we can't do this we would do on our honeymoon."

"You know, you're a smart girl," he chuckles as he kisses a trail down my neck and up my jaw line.

"My husband. We've come so far."

"And now we have this," Christian whispers as he places a hand on my belly before kissing me again, this time deeper and more meaningful.

Around a half hour later Lucky is passed out in his bed in the living room and Christian and I are cuddling watching TV on the couch. I know we just got married, and this might not be the extravagant getaway we had planned, but it's perfect to me. As long as I'm with him it'll always be perfect.

We hear a knock at the door and I'm startled. It's midnight, who could possibly be at my door?

"There's no one there," Christian tells me as he peers through the peep hole. "Wait." He opens the door and returns with a piece of paper and reads off of it.

Watch your back. That's all it says.

What in the actual hell...?

"Babe," I mutter as he wraps his arms around me.

"We gotta get out of here. Pack a bag. I'll get me and Lucky's stuff together, you just worry about yourself."

"I'm sorry," I sob.

"Sorry for what?" he asks hurriedly as he puts his finger under my chin to meet his eyes.

"It's our wedding night, and this shit is happening to us, and—"

"This is not your fault, Lonnie. I just want us to be safe. So are we heading to Whitney's?"

"We're heading to Whitney's," I confirm. I grab a bottle of water out of the fridge and freeze. "Wait."

"What is it?" Christian calls from the other room as he gets Lucky's harness on.

"This note. It's... it's Sabrina's handwriting."

"What?" he gasps.

"Look. She left this note about us having dinner on the fridge for us to see. When you compare is to the one we just got, it's the same bubbly, barely-readable handwriting."

"Lonnie, what are we gonna do?"

"We have to confront my father; see if they're working together."

"No. I'll go. He gets into your head every time you go there, and I can't stand seeing you so defeated after you're in there with him again. I just can't take it anymore."

"You can't take it anymore? I'm the one who's in there!"

"I know, baby, I know."

"I have to go. But I want you to come with me."

...

"Hi Mom," I choke out as she opens the door.

"Avalon, Christian! What are you doing here? You are aware usually you don't talk to your parents on the wedding night, right?"

"Very funny. We need your help," Christian tells her as I push through the doorway. "Where are the kids?"

"I-in bed, why? Christian you're scaring me."

"We got a threatening note from Sabrina."

"I'm sorry, Sabrina? The woman your sister's dating?"

"Yes."

"She's been very off since we've met her, and then we got a note telling us to watch our backs."

"Of course, I want to deal with it and confront her father alone, but she won't let me. She's literally growing a human inside of her and won't lie down for the life of her," Christian groans.

"Sounds like Avalon."

"Hey, I just want to be involved!"

"You haven't even booked an ultrasound or let me book one for you!" Christian yells.

"Keep your voice down!" I hiss.

"No Avalon, I won't. Sure, we have boatloads of shit going on right now, but can we just slow down?! For now, let's lay low, focus on our family, and then worry about the matter at hand. Only us three and Ken know where the gold is; they're not gonna find it, alright? And they're not going to find out that we're here."

He puts his hands on my shoulders to steady me as I feel my head spin. He's right, of course he's right. I've known I'm pregnant for weeks and haven't even gotten an ultrasound yet.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Whitney shuffling awkwardly in her pajamas. "I'm going to let y'all sort this out," she tells us as she heads up the stairs.

"I can't believe you just raised your voice at me in front of my mother!" I sneer.

"Well, I'm sorry, but how the hell am I supposed to get through to you?! I've been saying this for a week, Lonnie, and you never say anything! I want..."

"What is it you want, hmm?" I say, creeping up to his face.

"I want us to focus on our family. I know this wasn't planned but we have to embrace it. We've been doing the exact opposite."

"I know. You're right," I whisper against his lips.

"What was that? Did you admit I was right?!" he chuckles.

"Don't get all high and mighty on me."

"Wouldn't even dream of it. Let's go to bed."

"I'll call the doctor in the morning... about the ultrasound."

He smiles and kisses me. "Great."