by Sophie Meyer
“After we hear the bands” Tamara went on, “we’re going to have a meeting to help you choose your song, pick the clergy, decide on bridesmaids dresses, how long they will be and if they will match. We also have to start planning who walks down the aisle with who, which bridesmaid with which groomsman?”
“Sounds like fun,” said Ashley lightly.
Tamara got suddenly quiet, “Ashley, sometimes I don’t think you realize the gravity of what’s taking place. How can we plan who walks down the aisle with who, when we don’t know who the groomsmen will be?”
“Ah yes, the groomsmen,” Ashley responded.
“Don’t you think it might be extremely timely to ask the groom who he has in mind? Does he have brothers, best friends?”
“He doesn’t care!” Ashley finally exclaimed.
“You’re wrong about that! They care, they care!” Tamara broke in, exasperated, “how can you not realize it? It makes me wonder how well you really know the man you’re going to marry and commit to for life. For life!”
The way she said it made Ashley feel as if she were about to be locked up as a part of a chain saw gang, could never escape, would be tied to a rock for the rest of her life.
“Why don’t you just ask him who his groomsmen are?” Tamara’s voice began to resound like a deep gong that goes off periodically, and echoes for hours uncontrollably.
“I have asked him,” Ashley exclaimed, eager to be through with this conversation. Once things got set with Aldon, Ashley thought, everything would fall into place. She was sure Aldon had tons of people to be the groomsmen. Until then, there was nothing to talk about.
“What did he say?” Tamara wouldn’t let up.
“Nothing, not a word,” Ashley replied.
Tamara became quieter then. “That’s not good,” she said. “Was it more like a dull silence, or a terrified withdrawal into his own world?”
Ashley grew silent. “I don’t know.”
“You have to know, you have to be sure! He may be going through a terrible conflict and that’s why he wants it to happen so fast. Or, at this very moment an ex-lover may be stalking him and he’s desperate to escape.” Tamara was agitated. “I hate to say this, I don’t want to upset you, but something isn’t really quite right here!”
Ashley took a deep breath, “I know, Tamara,” she exclaimed.
“You know?” Tamara sounded frightened.
“I mean I know it doesn’t sound quite right, but it is! It will be! I’m positive. Just give me time.”
“Of course, of course,” Tamara seemed flooded with a mixture of feelings. “Ashley, I don’t want to hurt you,” her voice grew even softer, “but there’s something else I’ve noticed, and all the girls have noticed it too! Everyone’s afraid to tell you. It’s something highly unusual, unheard of really!”
“What?” Ashley felt exhausted now.
“He hasn’t even given you a ring!” Tamara breathed. “There, I’ve said it. We’re all devastated by it! Everyone thinks something is wrong!”
“He’ll give it to me at the wedding,” said Ashley sweetly.
“I mean an engagement ring. A sign of devotion and commitment to your love.”
Ashley looked down at her bare hands. To her surprise they were trembling. No one had ever given her a ring, except Scott, an amber friendship ring one year for her birthday, which had fallen off a few weeks later.
“We hope he’s not a cheap skinflint,” Tamara continued.
“He’s not,” Ashley reassured her.
“Are you upset? Are you worried?” Tamara needed to know.
“Definitely not,” Ashley drew her spirit strong around her. “I trust our relationship, I trust who he is. I don’t need a sign on my finger. Our love is bigger than that.”
Tamara took a deep breath, “You’re amazing, Ashley, you’re my hero. You and Ray, both of you, totally blow me away. I never had a bride who talked or acted the way you do before.”
“Why thank you Tamara,” said Ashley, touched.
“And I’m so excited, “Tamara went on, “Ray is introducing me to someone he thinks is just right for me, too! We’re meeting tonight!”
“Who?” asked Ashley, surprised and delighted.
“Vince Raine,” uttered Tamara! “He sounds incredible, amazing! Ray’s convinced he’s the One for me. That’s why I was asking who the groomsmen were. I know that Ray will definitely be a groomsman, and I thought if there was extra room, maybe Vince could also be included, too? I’d just love to walk down the aisle with someone like him!”
Ashley was speechless. She had no idea that Tamara was hoping to be included as a bridesmaid and walk down the aisle.
“First wait until you meet him,” Ashley said.
“You know him?” Tamara was excited.
“I know him, and Ray’s right, he is incredible, larger than life.”
“My God, my God,” breathed Tamara.
“Just take it slow, Tamara, “Ashley begged her, “be careful. Just one step at a time.”
“I will, I will,” said Tamara, “and thank you so much for listening and for being the incredible woman you are.”
Tamara hung up the phone and Ashley felt herself tremble. Now Ray had Tamara riding on this roller coaster of love. When would it stop, where would it end? Did anybody ever really catch the golden ring? And what was Ray’s obsession with finding women their perfect mates?
Ashley’s phone rang again as she was musing about it. She picked it up, fully expecting that Tamara had one last thing to say.
“Ashley, it’s your father!” the voice on the other phone jarred her completely. Her father almost never called directly, he always said whatever he had to through her mother.
“Hi, dad, so nice to hear from you,” she shivered a little.
“I’ll get right to the point,” he started. ““Who is this man who has captured my daughter? Grabbed her right out from under me, without even a word?”
Ashley was totally speechless.
“None of this adds up,” he went on, “it doesn’t make sense. I’m worried and I need to talk to you about it directly.”
“Dad, it’s all going to be just fine.”
“He’s a ruthless man, I’m positive of it. I need to know more. I want the facts.”
“You’ll meet him soon, dad, I promise, very soon.”
“I’m not waiting another minute,” her father was intransigent. “I don’t have a good feeling about this, but I want you to know that I have his name now – Gideon Tallon.”
Oh my God, Ashley thought. He’d probably talked everything over with her mother.
“And I plan to seriously check Gideon Tallon out. From top to bottom!”
“Don’t do that!”
“I have to!”
Ashley had no way of stopping him. “You can’t trust me on this one, dad?” she said.
“No, I can’t. Not something this important with the way it’s all going down. How do we know he’s not a con man? Does he know about the trust you have waiting? Have you talked about a prenup? A wedding is more than cupcakes and dances, it’s a business arrangement, you know.”
Ashley’s head began pounding. She could never stand up to her father when he got like this. And, he had the full force of his firm behind him, and plenty of contacts in other places as well.
“Scott’s family called and wished us well right out of the blue,” her father went on. “They’ve also heard the news somehow. What do you expect us to say to them, that we haven’t met our son in law to be, and don’t know his family either?”
Ashley had no idea in the world what prompted Scott’s family to call. They lived close by, but hadn’t been in touch with her family for years.
“For some reason you’re not letting us meet this Gideon Tallon, but soon it will all become clear! And the minute I find out, I’ll let you know! Don’t think some idiot is taking my daughter over! Not after all the years I’ve cared for her.”
Ashley’s hea
d pounded harder.
“Do you hear what I’m saying?” her father was relentless.
“Yes, dad I hear,” Ashley said and hung up the phone totally disheartened.
Ashley needed her spirits lifted immediately and checked to see if there were texts waiting from Aldon. Even though they hadn’t spoken, and had only seen each other once, these texts gave her a sense that Aldon was right there with her, that they were deeply connected and on the verge of everything.
Just as she’d hoped, two texts were waiting from him.
The day is brighter when I have you to write to. Love you, miss you, can’t wait to see you, Aldon wrote.
Love you too, Aldon, Ashley wrote back, I really, really do.
Ashley put her phone down as a wave of fear came over her. Was her relationship with Aldon all a fantasy she was into, taking place only in their minds? She couldn’t let herself think that way though. He’d be back in one day, she’d meet him in person and the bond they were developing would grow deeper. It had to, they felt right together, needed each other, were on the same page. Aldon had said he was impatient and wanted everything right away. Maybe he’d be thrilled that the wedding date was set, the venue ordered and there was nothing to think about. What would be the harm of walking down the aisle and having a wonderful day?
One thing Ashley was sure of now, was that she deserved love. She’d said it so often, acted upon it so deeply, that she truly believed it was so. She just had to allow it to happen, not give into these waves of fear that periodically swept over her, whispering that she was a complete sham and a huge disaster was on its the way.
CHAPTER 22
Late that night, just before Ashley went to bed, Aldon actually called. Needless to say Ashley was totally surprised and thrilled.
“I’ll be back early tomorrow,” he whispered in a feverish tone.
“Fantastic,” Ashley responded, wondering why he sounded so intense.
“I can’t wait to see you again,” Aldon went on, “Is it even remotely possible that you could take tomorrow afternoon off from work?”
Tomorrow afternoon? Not only could she manage it, it would be easy. Tomorrow was the tradeshow, no one would be in the office all day. Peter had already sent her work around and the clients were thrilled with it. Ashley’s designs would be on display and she only had to go to the show for a few hours and circulate.
“I can manage it,” Ashley said, though the idea of seeing Aldon in person so soon was definitely a shock.
“I’ll be counting the hours,” Aldon breathed in a hushed tone.
Ashley flushed. Obviously he’d been thinking about her as much as she’d been thinking of him. They’d both built up huge expectations. And, it was almost impossible not to feel as if they were already coming true.
“I can meet you at four,” Ashley said quickly.
“How about two?” Aldon sighed.
“It’s a work day for me, Aldon,” Ashley smiled.
“Soon you won’t have to work anymore,” he whispered. “You’ll be able to come with me wherever I go.”
The thought of that horrified Ashley. “I have a job I love,” she said softly.
“But before you know it, you’ll love me more,” he joked.
“Can I love both of you?” she answered laughingly.
“Love your job all you want,” he quipped, “but you’re gonna have to love one of us better! I told you I want everything.”
Ashley shivered. She’d never met anyone like him before. But her groom would have to be different, to be someone impatient and eager. What else would get him to walk down the aisle so fast? Who else would be willing to jump in at a moment’s notice? And, besides, this was the man the universe had sent to her. There had to be a reason they’d met.
“Let’s make it three thirty,” Aldon was pushing the edges.
“I’d love to meet you at three thirty,” said Ashley, “but I have to be at a company tradeshow tomorrow, my designs are on display. By the time I get through, and get to where we’re meeting, I really can’t make it before four.”
“Round one, you’re the winner,” Aldon said and backed off. “Four o’clock it is.”
They planned to meet at an outdoor café near Palisades Park, not far from the famous hiking trails.
“We can grab some coffee, go hiking, watch the sunset together,” Aldon went on, “then we can go for dinner, walk on the beach.”
A lot of walking, thought Ashley. She hadn’t remembered telling Aldon she liked to walk.
“Sound good?” he asked excitedly.
“Sounds wonderful,” said Ashley, just trying to focus on how great it would be to see him again. Did it really matter what they did, as long as they were together?
*
The tradeshow was fun and went beautifully. Ashley arrived dressed in her finest, lemon linen suit, made the rounds, received praise for her work and general acclamation. It meant a lot to her, too. Much of who she was came through in her designs. She spent hours with them and it showed. They were effective and professional, but also had a flair you didn’t usually see. People noticed it and commented on her unique style.
“It’s going great,” Peter came over as soon as he saw her. “You really outdid yourself this time. People love your work.”
“Thanks so much, Peter,” Ashley was suddenly filled with intense appreciation of him. She wanted to give him a hug, but held back. There was no point in him getting any wrong ideas.
“And you look especially beautiful today, to boot,” Peter couldn’t help saying.
He was such an incredibly lovable man, why couldn’t she go for someone like him? For a second Ashley wished she could tell Peter everything, even ask him to be the one to walk down the aisle. The strange part about it was that he’d probably say yes. Even though he was so logical and practical, he’d jump in just because he cared for her so much. Ashley suddenly looked at him differently. Was it even remotely possible that he could be a backup?
Almost as if reading her mind, Peter smiled. “The office hasn’t been the same without you in it,” he said softly. “You never took so many personal days before.”
Ashley couldn’t continue the banter. Clearly, Peter cared for her and the last thing she wanted to do was break his heart. She turned to go and walk down the row of displays, but Peter held her there.
“Have you taken all these personal days because of your engagement?” he finally asked. Even saying those words seemed to take a toll on him. Obviously, he’d seen her photos on Facebook.
“Yes, that’s why,” Ashley answered quietly, looking at the floor.
“Ashley,” Peter’s hand reached out to her for a moment, “nobody wants you to be happy more than me, but this is so sudden. Are you sure of what you’re doing?”
Ashley stopped, stung, tears filling her eyes. What would make him ask that?
“I never once met the guy,” Peter continued. “I have no idea who he is. All of your other boyfriends picked you up at the office at least a few times. I’ve met all of them, or so I thought.”
“Yes, you did,” Ashley confirmed, wanting to soothe him.
“Who is he?” Peter looked truly troubled, “and why isn’t his picture up on your page?”
“He’s a very private person,” Ashley mumbled quickly, hating that she was lying to Peter. Of all people in the world, he was the last one she wanted to lie to. Ray had said over and over that these weren’t lies, she was just focusing on what was possible, on the larger truth of the universe, but right at this moment, they all felt like lies.
“The guy’s so private he never comes around?” Peter shifted back and forth from one leg to another.
Ashley couldn’t continue the discussion. This was the last thing she wanted to talk about at the Tradeshow.
“I have to go, Peter,” she said, “there are customers to talk to.”
“I know,” Peter replied, “but please remember, if you ever need anyone to talk to about this, if you made a mistake,
if something is troubling, I’m here for you Ashley, I really am.”
Ashley fought hard not to let the tears that were welling up fill her eyes. This wasn’t the place for it, it wasn’t the time.
“Thanks so much, Peter,” she murmured, “I’ll always remember that.”
“Good,” he whispered, “I hope you will.”
*
Ashley left the tradeshow at three thirty sharp and went to the ladies room to change. First she took off her suit jacket and replaced it with a light lemon sweater that she wore over her low, scoop necked, black silk shirt. Not exactly an outfit for hiking, but casual enough, with low, open flats. Ashley brushed her hair loosely over her shoulders, took a slim handbag and left. The outfit would work well for hiking and also for dinner later.
Ashley wasn’t sure what else Aldon had planned. How long would they stay together? Would he want to stay until morning? She felt as nervous as she had when she’d starting dating after she and Scott broke up. She’d only seen Aldon in person once, for ten minutes, a little over a week ago, and by now the two of them were convinced they were in love. How had that happened? Ray said it was the magic of expectation and belief, but Ashley wondered if it weren’t the magic of fantasy and crazy desire playing havoc with their hearts?
As soon as she arrived at the café Ashley immediately saw Aldon standing there, the sun pouring down on him, creating a glow. She stopped a moment and took the sight in. He was even more handsome than she’d remembered.
The second he saw her, he rushed to her, pulled her into his arms and held her close.
Ashley surrendered to the wonderful feeling of being wrapped in his strong arms. She felt the beat of his heart under her chest, and smelled the pungent cologne he was wearing.
“Does it get any better than this?” he whispered, his face in her golden hair.