Ch.14

Glorianna trembled as she walked down the isle. Her hands were sweaty and she was glad for the veil that hid her puffy eyes. She glanced at her father who beamed happily beside her, And why shouldn't he be happy? He's getting out of his gambling debts and gaining a rich son in law out of all this…and all he had to do was sell his daughter, She thought bitterly, her mouth curving in a bitter sneer.

They reached the end of the isle and Glorianna's father took his place behind her. Beside her she saw Mr. Walker. Bulging stomach protruding out of his tuxedo coat. Her eyes followed up to his puffy, red stained, swollen cheeks. Painted always red by the alcohol he consumed on a regular basis. Sweat gleamed on his brow, his white, combed over hair, glistening with nervous sweat as well. He raised a handkerchief to his forehead to wipe away some of the offending sweat, but it trickled still, slowly down his temple.

The preacher was saying something…was she supposed to speak now?

"I…uh…" She felt Mr.Walker's hand squeeze her.

"I do!" her father hissed behind her.

"I do…" She whispered softly, her voice cracking. It hit her then…I'm marrying this man! Really marrying him… OH GOD! Mikey! Spot! Where are you?

"I do." Mr. Walker repeated beside her.

"…speak now, or forever hold your peace." The preacher continued.

Her eyes widened, she looked behind her. All she saw was her father's beaming face. She swallowed bile and nervous panic.

"Then by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife…you may kiss your bride."

Kid Blink, Spot, and Jack entered the church to see a large older man push Glorianna's veil back hastily, grab her by the shoulders, and pull her into a harsh, lingering kiss.

"Miss Priss…" Spot whispered, "No…no…I'm too late…"

"Glori…" Kid Blink said, his face clenching in pain and anger.

Tears were streaming down her cheeks as they turned to leave the church.

Glorianna's father's ice blue eyes filled with shock surprise when he saw Kid Blink, "Michael…" He said softly, "What are you doing here?"
"Well…I thought it was kind of rude that you didn't invite me to my own little sister's wedding, father. How rude of you." Kid Blink answered harshly, his voice completely without the "street accent" it usually held.

"I…I…"

"How could ya sell your own daughter like dat? You're worse den Pulitzer…least he only sold out complete strangers." Jack yelled.

"We do not have time for this, Huffington, my new bride and I have a honeymoon suite to check into and a cruise to catch tomorrow morning," He said, his eyes gleaming with barely contained impatience and lust, "Why don't you take your family reunion somewhere else, and this riff raff with you…" Mr. Walker finished and began grabbing Glorianna by her arm and dragging her from the church.

"Wait! Um…dear…um…please…let me say good-bye to my brother…I'm never going to see him again…" Glorianna whispered to her new husband softly, her teary eyes pleading.

"Oh…alright…But I'll be waiting right outside those doors, so don't take long. Come on, Huffington, give them their moment." He called to Glorianna and Kid Blink's father. With one last glance at his son, their father followed out the door behind the hulking mass that was Charles Walker.

Glorianna stood staring at the three boys. For one of the first times in her life she found herself at a loss for words.

Spot stared at her, her tears streaked cheeks, her beautiful blonde hair curling about her shoulders. She looked so incredibly beautiful…but she was married now.

"Glori…" He whispered.

"I'm…sorry…" She said softly, staring down at the white roses she held in her hands.

"Sis…let me get you outta heah!" Kid Blink exploded suddenly, his shock at all that had happened wearing off. His voice slipping back into the street accent he'd been using for so long.

"No…no, Mikey."

"Why not!? You can't go t'rough wid dis…do you know what goes on during honeymoons?!?"

Glorianna broke into sobs, her whole body shaking. Spot rushed forward and pulled her into his arms, "Glori…Glori…my Glori…" He murmured, "Don't you want to leave this. We could run away, Glori…I promise…I'll never let anythin' happen to ya again…"

She continued to cry in his arms, "I can't Spot…don't you understand? I'm married now…he owns me…he'd hunt you down…"

"Dat don't mattah, Sis! We'll run away! We'll run at da west, like Jack wanted to do! Anythin…" Kid Blink broke in, his voice passionate.

"No…I won't put you at risk…I'm sorry…I had to do this…I love you, Mikey…but I can't leave with you…" She answered, pulling from the haven of Spot's arms, and giving her brother a tight squeeze.

She turned to Jack and smiled wobbly, "Thanks for everything, Jack," She said softly, hugging him, "Take care of him…" She whispered in his ear.

"I will, Glori…" He said softly.

She turned to Spot then. He stared at her, his eyes full of pain, "Priss…"

"I'm so sorry, Spot…I'm sorry about the note…I just didn't want you to follow me…I…"

Spot shook his head, "Yeah…ya really laid it on harsh dere, Priss…I almost hated ya…almost."

Tears trickled down her cheeks, "What stopped you?"

"Stopped me?"
"From hating me?"
"God, Priss…" He said, his chest heaving, "Don't you know? I love ya too much to hate you…God Priss, I love you so much it hurts…" Tears welled up in his eyes and he squeezed them tightly to keep the tears from falling.

"Oh, Spot!" She said, throwing her arms around him, "I love you too…" Her smile died then, "Oh…oh god…it's too late for us…" She said softly, "I have to leave…"

He shook his head, "Good bye…den…Priss."

She kissed his cheek softly, "Good bye, Spot…"

The two men who loved her watched her walk away from them, her back stiff, always the lady, her hands lagging at her sides. She dropped her bouquet, opened the door, and left them.

((this isn't the end…more to come…))