ISOLATED

c h a p t e r 1

Chapter 1

The organ starts playing, if Genesis wasn't about to walk down the aisle to the man she's never met and who she's about to marry. What if he's ugly? What if the man has a long beard that reaches his chin – and not a well-taken care of the beard, what if the reason he's not taken yet is because he's ugly?

"Dad, I'm scared." The whisper sounds almost like a cry. Robert squeezes his daughter's hand and he turns to her. "You're brave," he answers. He wishes his daughter could've met the man before this moment, but Gael wasn't interested in meeting the girl before this moment.

Genesis's chest heaves and she blinks nervous tears away. "Thank you for doing this for me and your mother," Robert answers. She didn't have a choice and she isn't doing this for herself. "When will you move?" Her stomach sinks.

The hospital treating her mother is in Washington State. That's the other side of the country. She marries a stranger so that her mother can live with her dad a little longer. She won't be able to enjoy the presence of the woman she's giving up her life for.

Before Robert can give her an answer, the door opens. The church is beautifully decorated with white roses, a white carpet that leads down to the pastor, and the man standing on the right side of him. "Is that him?" Genesis makes sure to stay extra quiet so the guests won't notice.

The sight of him instantly calms her down. Gael stands tall in his black suit. His back straightens when the girl is revealed and the man takes a slow breath in, his chest rising. His hair is dark and it's in waves, perfectly brushed back. His jawline is sharp and covered by a well-trimmed stubble beard. He's not her age, he looks older.

"Yes," Robert says and he walks forward, signaling that Genesis has to follow him. She does. The walk to the aisle feels like a lifetime. Like the 23 years that have just passed aren't nearly as long as the walk down to the man she's about to marry.

Just for a moment, Ginny forgets that he was the man that stood her up when she wanted to meet him. He had better things to do than see her.

Robert takes Ginny's hand and he holds it up to Gael. She looks up at him. Gael bites the inside of his cheek before he takes her hand, recognizing the ring around her finger because he was the one who picked it out. His eyes meet hers for a split second, then he helps her up to where he's standing.

God, she's fucking tiny.

He looks at her, his eyes taking in every detail of her face. She looks different than the pictures of her he could find on the internet. Her eyes are overflowing with nerves and he can tell that the only reason she's staring right back in his eyes is that she's searching for an anchor of hope and comfort. He feels pity for the girl.

Genesis sends him a nice smile and she looks back at her mom and dad. They're both seated on the front row and she smiles before looking back at Gael in front of her. The pastor starts an entire speech and Ginny looks at the pastor. Her right hand is still holding his, like they have to.

"Gael Boaz Mayfield, do you take Genesis Penelope Jones to be your lawfully wedded wife?" The pastor speaks, reminding Genesis that up until this point, she hasn't heard his voice once.

"I do."

A muscle in his jaw twitches and he looks down at the girl. He's unsure of what this thing is going to get him. A wife? He didn't sign up to get a wife. He understands what's in it for her, her mother stays alive for a few more years.

"Genesis Penelope Jones, do you take Gael Boaz Mayfield to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do." The girl looks up at him and she takes a deep breath. She knows what's going to happen next. Gael slides the ring around her finger and Genesis follows his example, sliding the ring around his. "I pronounce you husband and wife," the pastor says. Gael looks back at his now wife and then waits for the next few words. "You may kiss the bride."