Draft version - Russian Roulette - Family secrets

Ch. 91: What's this?

Gareth stood in the judge's office looking out over the city. Nervously he checked his watch; she had 10 minutes to get there, there was no rush. Still, he felt nervous. From what he knew that was normal on one's wedding day, but maybe not because the groom was afraid that the bride would have changed her mind because he had given her a shit proposal and sad promises for the future.

The night he had spent at the hotel had been lonely. Which was strange because he was used to spending the nights alone, he had barely slept, that was normal, but he had kept having an unfounded bad feeling that Mackenzie would not show up. Gareth had wanted to give her privacy to get ready and room to think about her situation, she would be making a lot of sacrifices accepting him. Have to put up with some unimaginable shit from his side.

A life in danger, having to keep secrets on a daily basis from friends and family, his explosive temper, the drinking and working at all hours and no children. Mackenzie was made to be a mother, she cared so much, and he would have loved to see her glowing while their baby grew inside her.

Condemning her to be deprived of that tore at him.

Maybe she would still have time to fulfill that dream when he was gone.

"You look a little nervous there, Gareth?" Judge Petersen had come back into the office with the court clerk and Gareth's lawyer who would be serving as witnesses.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't," Gareth said with a little smile. He kept looking at the door waiting for Mackenzie.

Gareth had left her bouquet with the secretary outside, he had sent the car for her and prepared everything for their dinner and day together.

All he could do was wait and hope.

"If it helps, I can inform you that her car arrived not long ago and she's going through security check now."
"It helps!" Gareth sighed with relief.

Then he smiled. She had been right; she would drive him crazy. He would let her drive him crazy every day as long as she was there to do it.

They waited in silence; Gareth's eyes fixed on the door until it opened.

"I think we're ready out here, Judge Petersen." The secretary stood in the doorway waiting for them all to get ready before she sent in Mackenzie.

Judge Petersen made people stand in their respective places before he told his secretary to get Mackenzie. He smiled encouragingly at Gareth who finally seemed to relax a little. He had been antsy from the moment he had arrived, understandable really, Petersen had seen plenty of grooms in his office, Gareth had not broken the statistics in any way, though it was unusual behavior from the Gareth he knew.

He knew Gareth to be calm and collected. A pillar of control and nothing seemed to get to him. Getting married apparently got to the cold businessman. It was a little bit funny.

The secretary had kept the door open when she disappeared to get Mackenzie. Why were women so slow? The seconds felt like hours until she appeared in the doorway. Gareth had not known what to expect, whatever he had imagined it was not what appeared.

Holy fucking shit!

Sweet Jesus!

Spreadsheets. Sales reports. Building permits. Liquor licenses.

Whatever dull he could think of he needed to because she looked like what he imagined paradise would be, and he reacted violently to what he saw.

Head to toe, she was perfect.

Her hair had been pulled back from her face and looked to be pinned to the back of her head with something sparkly, hanging down her back with a few curled locks in the front over her naked shoulder.