𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝑫𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒂𝒍

CHAPTER ONE

ChapterOne

It was an open secret that Stella has a minute idea of the man she's about to marry and vice versa. In fact, they have little idea on the personality of their soon-to-be partner. But, everyone's saying they're the perfect match for each other so the union must be perfect, right?

Her wedding dress and those of her bridesmaids have already been scrutinized and approved for use by the marriage committee of the church despite she created the styles and personally oversaw the process of their making. It didn't prevent them from going according to the dictates and standard of the church to inspect the dresses and ensure nothing was inappropriate.

Having fixed the date and made the big announcement in church, everyone was working towards the big day; fulfilling his or her quota to the upcoming celebration. Only God could stop that day from coming to pass.

"Okay, I'm going again. One, two, three, say cheese!" Paul, the photographer instructed.

They made their pose as the click sounds came alive. Paul took shots while crouching in weird styles. Usually, he claimed there were some angles to getting good photos. He let out a small smile as he looked at the pictures.

"The cameras love you," he assured the curious couple.

"So, can we see them?" Stella pleaded in her exceptionally mellow voice.

"Sure, anything for the bride-to-be. Please, follow me," he gestured that she follow in his direction. She was like a dwarf standing in the midst of two tall men.

The difference in height between both men cannot be easily identified but hers was obvious. However, what she lacked in the height department made up for her hour-glass figure which she always made an effort to hide.

He offered her a seat at his working table.

"Aren't you coming?" she said; referring to her fiancée who slacked behind.

"No, I do trust your judgement. Besides, I have to make a call," he raised his phone before excusing himself.

"Men!" Paul remarked shrugging carelessly.

"Fine, let me see the pictures." She said, taking their attention back to the task at hand.

*******

Next, they had the cake tasting. Adam dropped on the way and continued the journey to his company. So, Stella called Cynthia to help out.

"I apologize for calling you on such short notice," Stella started. She eyed the crazy jeans trouser her cousin sister was putting on and tried not to be bothered that it called for attention.

Cynthia always acted with a mind of her own. She barely cared what people thought of her. Stella recalled the time this hard-headed cousin of hers had a big fall-out with her parents in reason that she believed they were trying to control her life, so she moved out of the family house and began squatting with a friend. Such display of boldness was seen as huge disrespect in Okezie's family even though Nkem, her elder brother acted relatedly in the past. Thankfully, he'd turned a new leaf and was happily married to his best friend, they lived in the United Kingdom with their kids.

"Don't mind it. Anything for my baby sister, plus I wasn't really busy," Cynthia waved her cousin's apology aside. She enjoyed addressing Stella as the younger one even though she was only older by a few months.