"Options... I've ran out of Options..." (Book 3)

Chapter 33 - "Last Minute Freak Out..."

Chapter 33 - "Last Minute Freak Out..."

Clara's PoV

'You alright. Your sweating?' Richard said slightly worried.

'I'm fine. I'm fine I promise' John said closing his eyes and gripping to the podium. 'Actually I think I need some air' John said running from the church and leaning against a tree just outside in the church yard.

'John? John?' Richard scoffed running after John who was sweating in panic which didn't give Richard much confidence. 'What's wrong?' Richard asked. 'You two have been looking forward to this day for months...?' Richard said and John knew that Richard was right.

'I-- I'm not freaking. I swear I'm not' John mumbled.

'Well you are just a little bit' Richard pointed out.

'I just needed some air' he defended.

'What are you so afraid of? Your marrying your ex wife. She's hardly going to just abandon you?'

'I can't help it. It all just gives me reminders of the last wedding. I can't have another wedding like that' John said. 'I can't loose Clara. She's way more precious to me' John explained sitting on the bench as Richard handed him a packet of cigarettes.

'It can help with the stress?' Richard shrugged.

'I'm not stressed I'm just having a recurring sense of de ja vu' he said as he declined the packet kindly.

Clara would kill him if she knew he had been smoking so to save everyone's back - it's just easier if he doesn't.

'Come on mate. Don't freak out. As soon as you and Clara are married it will be fine' Richard explained.

Richard knew that Clara had wanted a Christmas wedding but she had to give that one up because it set John off.

She also wanted a church wedding but that set him off too. She had to make so many sacrifices for this day and Richard knew that John would have to be there. He just had to be.

'Let's take this one step at a time hey? Let's just get you into the church and then we can get Clara down the isle?' Richard suggested but John just turned around.

'I really don't think I can do this'

'What do you mean you can't do this?'

'I mean I can't do this structured wedding? I can't marry Clara in front of all those people in there because it reminds me way too much of Lucie and that wedding. I should have said earlier' he mumbled guiltily.

'It's too late now. You and Clara are getting married today' Richard scoffed. 'She'll be ready to marry you in less than an hour'

'Can you distract her? For like 20 minutes. I have a plan that might make this easier due me' John begged.

'You'd better not be freaking out on me?'

'I promise I'm not. Please?' John begged with sad eyes.

- - -

'How we doing?' Lilly grinned at the girls as they were unloading themselves out of the car.

We were getting married in the hotel that we stayed at last night but because they wanted time to get people in we went outside and we promised the girls a ride in their first ever limo.

So we loaded everyone in half an hour before we were due to marry and let them go for a spin.

My Dad was more than thrilled to be here with us because he never got to give me away last time so this time he got the full effect.

We just turned up on his doorstep one day and told him that we were married. End of discussion.

'You look beautiful hun' Dad said as Poppy jumped out of the car and Dad instantly lifted her into his arms.

She liked my Dad the most. She wasn't too keen about Linda but she did quite like my Dad.

'I'm pretty too' she scoffed.

'Yes. Yes you are' he chimed dropping her to the ground as Richard appeared in front of me.

'Hey Richard. What are you doing here?'

'Lilly get everyone into the church and get the girls in position to throw the flowers. I'll let you know when it's time' Richard explained scaring me a little.

'What's wrong?'

'Nothing. You just need to come with me' he said taking my hand.

'Huh? What about me?' Dad scoffed.

'Just let me do what needs to be done to get him down the isle' I begged at him knowing just what was happening.

I had no doubt that he was having a little bit of a last minute freak of and just needed some persuasion.

'It's bad luck to see the bride before they meet at the bottom of the isle' Dad grumbled.

'It's not 1920 anymore Dad' I yelled. 'Where are we going?'

'He's just round the back. He said he needed some air but he said he can't get married in front of this many people. He said he'll never manage but I think with a bit of encouragement from you - it'll work?'

'What will?'

'He needs your support. I mean he was a bumbling mess round there. Crying, hyperventilating - the lot' Richard explained.

My worst fears were all coming true. He didn't want to do this.

He was freaking out that life wasn't going to be the same. I wasn't worried that he doesn't love me. Because I k ow he does - it's just that when he gets into freak out mode there's no doubt back and after the whole lift incident last night he probably hadn't had enough time to recover.

'Richard you have to do something? Persuade him. There's too many people to cancel this and way too many people for me to send them home.

'Okay. Well maybe if we can get him down from the tree it might be easier' he mumbled.

'Richard for gods sake. I'm in my wedding dress' I growled.

'Just help him' Richard says rolling his eyes as we turned the corner and I saw him and I saw everyone else. What waited for me there was the most shocking thing.