After deliberations and weird self-chastisement, Ashley got herself to attend her mother’s wedding. Of course, Dave went with her. He hated the idea of attending the ceremony, but he said he needed to be there for her because she was yet to realise how big of a deal it was.

“This church is quite huge.” Ashley went on to study the empty spaces that were left after about thirty guests had taken their seats. “Do you think more people will come?”

“Ashley...” Dave groaned.

“What?”

“Just stop it already.”

“Stop what?” Her eyes flickered away from him and back to the congregation that awaited the couple for whom they had come. “I am just saying this place is huge.”

“Was the venue for your wedding as huge as this?”

“Why...?” Ashley could not bring herself to answer the question for a reason unknown to her. But when Dave opened his mouth to talk, she realised what the issue was.

Her wedding to Kevin was the simplest one with the smallest gathering. Only her mother and two of Kevin’s friends were around for their union. But, Kevin’s marriage to Francine was huge. There were a lot of people and it seemed as though Kevin was more proud to show off Francine as his wife. And that was something Kevin never did during their marriage.

“You are comparing, Ashley. For some reason, you want to feel good about your wedding and this one at the same time. But you keep on comparing the two situations because it still bothers you that your mother is getting married to your ex.”

Her head tilted to the side and her dejection grew. “Why do you always say the truth?” she murmured.

“Because…” He reached for her hand,

ran his thumb gently over her skin, and that alone made her melt inside. “I don’t like how you keep lying to yourself. For instance, look around. You don’t have any business here. The only business you have with your mum has been sorted out when you met her at the supermarket.”

“But I... I just feel...”

“Feel what?”

“I just feel like since it is my mother…”

Suddenly, Dave reached for her shoulders and made her face him. As processional music played from the front, Dave said to a startled Ashley, “Ashley, today, your mother will be getting married to your ex-husband.

Deciding to stay here for the ceremony will just hurt you because once you see the two of them on that altar, the past will come rushing and before you realise it, anger will take over you.”

“And, I might do something I would regret,” she completed his statement as the entire thing played out in her head. Further realisation followed when she raised her head to see the officiating ministers taking their places. After she wondered if the ministers knew the nature of the marriage they were about to officiate, Ashley grabbed Dave’s hand and they rushed out of the chapel before the incoming crowd could block their way.

They had already made it out of the building and had left more than half of the line behind when someone called Ashley’s name.

On turning, Ashley saw Kevin’s angry eyes boring lava into her body. Holding on to his arm was her mother who was wearing the off-white bouffant dress she wore for her first wedding.

“How dare you?” Kevin broke away from Francine’s hold and approached Ashley. “How dare you come here?”

Everyone had stopped to look.

Francine immediately ran towards the angry man. “Kevin, don’t start something stupid.”

“She is!” He wickedly pointed his finger at Ashley. “She is the one starting something stupid by coming here. Who gave her the right to attend my wedding?”

“What about you?” Ashley’s jaws clenched as she itched to scream at him as he was doing. But she maintained her calm because that was for the best. “Aren’t you the one starting something? All I am doing is attending my mother’s wedding ceremony. How and why should that make you angry? Or are you scared?” Her eyes narrowed at him as he gave a dismissing scoff. ” Are you scared I might tell the whole church what you did? What both of you did? Do you think they will buy your heartbreak story for long?”

Francine, who was already pale, travelled her gaze to the ground when her daughter made eye contact with her.

“You have no...”

“I have no right?” Ashley was enjoying the feeling that came with teasing Kevin. Having him sweat a little before tying the knot didn’t sound so terrible. “I have every right, Kevin. I was the one who got stupidly hurt so I have every right.”

“This is total bullshit. You have to leave now.” Ashley refused to budge and she returned his glares from where she was. With anger in his strides, Kevin moved closer and pressed his fingers into her arms. “I said leave!”

Dave intervened and snapped Kevin’s tight hold off Ashley. Kevin transferred his attention to Dave. After giving him a once-over with a glint of evil in his eyes, he asked, “What is this? Did you hire an escort? How crazy of you.”

“You…” Ashley adjusted her stance. “What are you even doing, Kevin? Are you trying to break my mother’s heart just like you did mine?”

“What?” He let out a chuckle. Facing her properly, he continued, ” I guess I never told you this Ashley, but, I married you because I wanted to get closer to Francine. It has always been her for me.” Apart from the rush that filled her head, Ashley felt her knees weaken. “Do you get it now? Huh? Is it clear now? Do you know why I did what I did now?”

She was hardly listening to him.

Her eyes travelled to her mother who looked like she was about to drop dead. Then, she looked at the crowd who had gathered to see what was going on. At intervals, they shared their thoughts and concerns through murmurs, and at a point, someone began to request the presence of a priest.

But all that noise soon became distant.

Ashley’s feeble legs staggered backward some more and she could feel herself falling if not for Dave’s familiar grip which caught her on time.

“I’ve got you,” he whispered into her ear and she rested in his hold.

As Kevin made to walk away with a satisfied smile, a voice called strongly from the crowd.

“Shame on you, Francine!” The woman who cried walked out boldly from within the people.

“Aunt Cherise....” Ashley trailed the woman, her surprise not hidden.

“How could you? How could you stand here and allow that bastard to speak to your daughter that way? Huh?” The tall woman who stood about a foot taller than Francine began to drop repetitive hits on the woman’s back.

Aunt Cherise was Francine’s younger sister who was hardly around due to her work. Even though she tried her best to be with Ashley shortly after the divorce, Ashley did not let her disturb her work plans. So, seeing her right there really meant a lot to Ashley.

But her manner of approaching the matter didn’t sit right with Ashley. So Ashley rushed to her side and pleaded with her to keep calm.

“What?” Cherise asked.

“You don’t want any drama? What your mum did is enough to film an entire movie. I can’t sit back and watch her get married to the man you were once with.”

“I know...” Ashley was starting to feel weary. “I don’t want to deal with this issue anymore, so she can get married to him if she wants.”

“No, no, no.” Aunt Cherise’s frustration abounded and the woman tugged at her short hair. “I am not going to stand back and let this happen.”

“Aunt Cherise, please. I don’t want to drag this any further.”

“You...” The woman was shocked.

“Please... Forget about this. Forgive my mother this once and let’s go our separate ways.” Ashley then became aware of the increased murmurings emitting from the crowd.

With a frown, Cherise let go of Francine’s arm and took a step back.

“How... How can you say that you want me to forgive... Have you forgiven her? Already? Please tell me no. This sister of mine hurt you.”

“Yes. And no. I am still confused. But please, Aunt Cherise just forget this once and let them get married if that is what they want.” Her eyes flickered from her mother to Kevin who looked dumbfounded then at Dave who walked towards her, reached for her hand, and walked her out of the heated scene.

Once they were in the car and treading the busy road, both of them elongated their silence in a way Ashley liked. She needed the silence and calming breeze that came as the car dashed past many structures.

After a couple of minutes, when they were on the road that led to Dave’s trailer, Dave stopped the car.

“What happened?” Ashley asked softly.

“I just forgot I needed to get some things at the supermarket.”

“Oh. You can just drop me here, I’ll walk to your place.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” She smiled and then reached for his face before engaging his lips in a manner that was gentle and yet needy. When she pulled back, she gave him another smile and got down while telling him to hurry back home.

The weather was thankfully still favourable, so Ashley began her walk, her mind purposefully tossing away saddening thoughts to make the walk even better.

Soon, she got to the trailer, but the sight of a woman standing by the door made her curious.

Dressed neatly in a reddish-brown shirt and black pencil skirt, her nude shoes blending with her light-brown and glowing skin, the woman acknowledged Ashley with a smile that tugged the sides of her pinkish lips in a pretty way.

“Ashley Steve?” Her accent was British.

Ashley adjusted the bag in her hand. “Yes, that’s me. You are?”

With another smile plastered on her face, she stretched her hand for a handshake and said, “I am Jasmine, Dave’s wife and mother of his child.”