Wishful with a disaster...Chapter five [Finale]

The day everyone had anxiously long awaited had finally come, with the church fully covered and decorated with beautiful fresh white roses, and the altar in matrimonial colors. As was customary, Femi stood on the right hand side of the Priest dressed in his white attire composing of a tuxedo and jeans. Femi had decided to go with the new generation design, instead of the usual black and white worn by the grooms in the past. Behind him were his three best men all dressed in white, but unlike him they had a touch of black on their attire, besides them were Femi's family and friends all sitting on pews, with Chinonye's family and friends sitting on the left hand side of the priest. Femi had arrived on time, but Chinonye had been no where to be found.

Femi checked his wrist watch several times in anxiety, then he took his handkerchief, wiping his forehead of the sweat that lingered.

"Are you in that much of a hurry to get married? Calm down guy" Kayode said from behind.

"See as e dey sweat under all this AC" Tunji joked, letting out a chuckle joined by the rest of the guys.

"No be that one dey do me now, Where this girl dey na?", Femi asked, staring at the entrance of the church but she was still nowhere in sight.

"Young man, don't worry about things like this, it's very uncommon for the bride to stand up the groom on the wedding day" Father Julius said, trying to calm him down.

Just like magic, the atmosphere changed as the pianist began to play the entrance tune making the congregation rise from their seat. Chinonye's black gown left them all in awe, although she was pregnant, it seemed that pregnancy only made her more beautiful. Kayode tapped Femi's shoulder to remind him of his mouth left wide open. The flower girls threw white and red roses on the floor as the bride with her veil on, her arm in her father's, and her bridesmaids walked the aisle.

Femi approached them, exchanging pleasantries with her father, and then took her hand leading her to the alter.

"What took you so long?" Femi asked.

"I'm sorry, the girls took longer than expected" she said pointing at the bridesmaids.

"Are you ready?" Father Julius asked with a smile on his face.

Both nodded in agreement.

"We all have gathered here today to bear witness to the union of this man, Femi Adeola, and this woman, Chinonye Azike, before the eyes of God Almighty in the sacrament of Holy Matrimony. We are also grateful for his blessings in our lives, and pray that he bless this union with many fruits, we ask this through Christ our lord", he said and then proceeded to take his seat on the alter.

The mass went on for hours with the readings, the homily and the sacrament of Holy Communion, then finally came the exchange of vows.

"Do you, Femi Adeola, take Chinonye Azike to be your lawful wife, to have and hold, from this day forward for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish till death do you part?", the Priest asked staring at Femi.

"I do" Femi consented.

With a smile in his face, he turned to Chinonye and repeated the same vow.

"I do" she said smiling.

"The rings", the priest motioned for Kayode to come over.

Kayode did so, and as the priest began to bless the ring, his phone rang turning everyone's attention towards him.

"Sorry", he said taking out his phone and left the altar to answer it, which was not like him.

The priest continued on, handing over the ring to Femi, who places it on Chinonye's finger. Then he motioned for the chief bridesmaid to present the ring, and did the same thing with Chinonye, this time she placed hers on Femi's finger.

With both of them saying, "I take this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit".

"With the powers bestowed upon me by the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, I here by pronounce you man and wife, go in peace the mass is ended, you may share your very first matrimonial kiss" the Priest proclaimed.

Femi and Chinonye leaned in to share their kiss, but as they were about to make contact the police came through the main door interrupting them. Majestically they walked down the aisle towards the newly weds, causing murmurs in the congregation as they stared in earnest of what was happening.

"Mrs Chinonye Adeola?" The inspector asked.

"Yes she is, and what may we do for you?" Femi said.

"She is under arrest", the inspector said flashing his badge.

"Under what charges?" Femi asked annoyed at the words that the inspector had said.

"Under the charges of armed robbery, assault and fraud" he answered.

"What? Where is your proof?",

Kayode took out his phone and showed Femi a video showing the conversation Chinonye had with the thugs some days ago, confessing to all the crimes earlier mentioned.

"Where did you get this?" Femi asked perplexed by what he saw with eyes.

"Your errand boy, Chike sent this to me minutes ago, he had long informed me about his suspicions but we couldn't do anything without proof" Kayode said.

"No Femi, my love, that's not me" Chinonye yelled as the officers walked her out.

"You have the right to remain silent, whatever you say or do can and will be used against you in the court of law" the inspector said, hearing those words Chinonye slumped and began to bleed.