Bed of Lies (ON HOLD)

II

"Are you alright?" The voice that queries me is soft and fuzzy sounding as if from a distance. I fight the somnolent feeling that has thoroughly enervated me only to wake to a detached face floating over my body.

Fetters of terror grip my insides, wrenching my stomach in fear and I almost let out a terror-stricken shriek until I realise it's not her.

Instead of my sister's weeping countenance, I behold a mirror of prominently displayed depths of worry, thickly etched between furrows and frown lines that accompany the agitated posture of the man sitting by my side.

"No. I'm not. My head aches like hell." I try hard to sit up on my own but my strength fails me and I am forced to accept the help he offers with a sheepish smile as apology. "Thank you."

"It's my pleasure." He holds unto my hand for a beat too long–which I find a little weird–until I gently pull it out of his grasp. "Tony is talking with the doctor, but he will be here soon."

"You'd expect him to be by my side when I regain consciousness." I murmur under my breath and I know Walter hears me as he arches a perfectly shaped eyebrow–for he has always been a man who takes his grooming seriously–in silent query.

"Anything going on I need to know?"

"Not at all." I answer so hurriedly that it certainly seems like I am hiding something.

"Hopefully so." His eyes squint into a half-line as if he does not believe me.

"What about the wedding?" I demand, finally voicing the concern that has taken precedence over my mind, reigning my thoughts away from the truth I wish to avoid by all means. "What is going to happen?"

He smiles softly at me, then hands me a glass of water on the table close to his reach. "Everything is well taken care of. It's a good thing there was no reception planned. The guests have already been dispersed with their gifts and all that is left is for you both to sign your marriage certificates."

"This is not helpful." I say after taking a long gulp of the cool liquid and groaning when my headache intensifies a tenfold.

"Stop drinking." He carefully retrieves the glass from my hand. "You'll be alright." His voice is warm and assuring.

"I know Walter. So when can I do that? Signing the papers that is."

"As soon as you are fit enough to do so, I suppose." He floats his hand into view so he can check the time on his smart watch. "It's just 1:29pm. You were out for about an hour."

"Oh..." I mutter then internally berate myself in anger. It's absolutely stupid that I fainted in such a situation, and worse, for someone who is already dead and has no business ruining my life.

Good job Cara. You've succeeded in throwing a wedge in the marriage yourself. Whatever happened to everything going without a hitch?

"Your mother informed us that she will be visiting later on and–"

"There will be no need for that." I cut him off before he dives into more useless details. "I will most likely not be here by the time she comes, so she'll have to be informed of that."

"Hmm. Alright. I'll let Tony know so he can get back to her."

"Thank you." I give him one of my dazzling smiles as I drink the view I have of him to my satisfaction. The man really was so dashing.

Unlike his formal dressing with the addition of a coat and tie in the church, now he's without a jacket and has lost the neckwear and rolled up his white dress-shirt, leaving his lean, beautiful arms exposed.