Wheres the Groom

by Sophie Meyer

  “Choose it fast,” Heather chimed in “because you need the song before you can rehearse your first dance. I’ve seen couples fumble on the dance floor and ruin the rest of the night.”

  How could a mistake during the dance ruin the entire evening? Ashley wanted to ask, but said nothing.

  Jessica broke in uncontrollably, “Did he tell you to choose your love song, too? Are you supposed to get up on the dance floor and dance alone?”

  Everyone became still.

  “I don’t like him, Ashley, I just don’t,” Jessica’s eyes were flashing. “And I’m saying this for your own good.”

  “Be quiet,” Shane demanded, “the wedding’s being planned, the venue’s been taken.”

  Robyn came over and put her arm around Ashley.

  “Let’s all go over there and sit down at a table and talk everything over while the bands play. We can still listen.”

  “Good idea,” Tamara seconded it quickly, as they all practically pulled Ashley over to a table on the side. Other people were sitting around at nearby tables, drinking coffee and also listening to the music that the bands played.

  They all sat down quickly and leaned in close together. Another singer started crooning, Dancing in The Dark.

  “Aldon isn’t the guy for you!” Jessica burst out suddenly.

  “And I think Ray’s weird and he’s the one encouraging you to marry Aldon,” Robyn seconded it. “Why listen to him instead of us?”

  Shane put her hand out to silence both of them.

  “No one can say who belongs together,” Ashley answered calmly, “love is love. I love both of them dearly!”

  “That’s the strangest thing I ever heard you say,” Heather was open mouthed.

  “But does Aldon love you?” Jessica shot back. “Is this guy capable of it?”

  Shane suddenly came to Ashley’s defense. “Ashley’s right, no one can say who belong together. Look at me, I love Doug totally even though there are things going on that make me worried and scared.”

  All eyes shot to Shane then. “What?”

  Ashley felt her heart reach out to Shane, who had loved Doug unreservedly for years.

  “Doug hasn’t been the same, since we’re planning the wedding. He’s been rude to me, harsh, he doesn’t call back. One night he even told me to get lost!”

  “Oh my God, Shane,” said Ashley.

  “There are times I don’t think he even loves me,” Shane’s voice caught in her throat.

  “It’s the wedding preparations,” Heather burst out. “They can make anyone completely nuts. The family’s get involved, everyone has a say, one person contradicts another. Before you know it, everyone’s hurt to the core. Guys begin to feel like they barely count – that you just need them there to play the part of the groom.”

  “It’s more than that,” said Shane, quietly, looking over at Ashley, meeting her eyes.

  Ashley wanted to cry. She’d never felt that Doug truly loved Shane. Now Shane was realizing it for herself.

  “I’m not sure Doug loves me,” Shane could barely speak.

  No one said even a word then.

  Shane looked up at Ashley, pleadingly, “does he love me, Ashley, what do you think?”

  Ashley’s stomach fell as they sat eye to eye. Memories of years seeing them together flooded up in front of her. She’d never thought Doug really loved Shane, and this was something she couldn’t lie about. Shane’s entire life was at stake.

  “I was never sure,” said Ashley softly. “I doubted it many times.”

  The women all gasped at the same time.

  “How can you say something like that?” asked Robyn, “Shane has a ring, it’s official. Her wedding is being planned as we speak, and I happen to know that both of their families are totally thrilled.”

  “I love Doug though,” said Shane trembling, “I love him with all my heart. Is it enough for one of us to love?” She kept looking at Ashley.

  Ashley’s head was spinning. What did she know about love? Very little. But she had to tell Shane she felt. “I don’t think so,” said Ashley. “One of you can love and that’s wonderful, but in a relationship love has to flow back and forth, from heart to heart. You deserve someone who loves you Shane.”

  Shane looked confused, “I deserve it?”

  “Yes.”

  “But if I left Doug, could you promise that I’ll have it, that ever I’ll find someone else?”

  “I can’t promise anything,” Ashley finally said, “no one can.”

  Tamara got up, came over, and put her arm around Shane. “Trust,” she whispered, “trust and have faith! Keep going the way you’re going, and if things get too bad, you can always pull out at the last minute.”

  Shane seemed shocked. “I can?”

  “Why not?” Tamara’s eyes blazed. “A marriage is a leap towards happiness, not a life term in jail. I was married twice and I left both times. And now I think I’ve found my third and final husband! He’s everything I ever dreamt of, too. This will be forever, but these things take time.”

  “I’m so happy you’re in the wedding party,” Shane breathed then. “I’m thrilled you and Vince are walking down the aisle with us.”

  “Me, too,” said Tamara, her eyes sparkling, “and he just came suddenly, when I least expected it.”

  *

  They all spent the rest of the afternoon choosing a band, picking songs, deciding on bridesmaid’s dresses and who would walk down the aisle with whom. They met the clergy person Tamara had chosen, who stopped by to say hello and ask about the ceremony. He was a tall, misty eyed man name was Reverend Horn. Ashley assured him that they were writing their own ceremony and vows. He was fine with it, fine with everything, though he did seem surprised not to meet the groom.

  “Where’s the groom?” he asked, “I’d love to meet him and say hello before the ceremony.”

  “So would we all,” Jessica chimed in, throwing Reverend Horn a warning glance. “This groom seems not to be able to deal well with things, he hates arrangements, handling details, things like that.”

  Reverend Horn scraped his throat slowly and held up his hands.

  “Don’t judge him,” he said softly, “don’t judge anyone. We all run away at times. Did you ever hear the poem from T. S. Eliot? “

  “What poem?” they all asked.

  “Human kind cannot bear very much reality,” Reverend Horn intoned.

  Ashley had never heard that poem, but loved it.

  “I love that,” said Ashley, “say it again!”

  “It’s a line from a longer poem by Eliot,” Reverend Horn filled them in. “Human kind cannot bear very much reality,” and I add, so be good to each one, be kind.”

  CHAPTER 26

  Just as Ashley was about to make herself dinner that evening, her mother called. It was usually the last thing Ashley would have wanted to deal with, but tonight she took it in her stride.

  “Ashley, I have to talk to you, woman to woman.”

  “Okay, mom, go right ahead.”

  “Your father found Gideon,” her mother’s voice was halting.

  “Trish told me,” said Ashley lightly. She’d actually put it out of her mind, hadn’t believed her father would do anything about it. He always loved making threats about things like that.

  “No, I mean he actually went down to see him. He confronted him, face to face.”

  “Oh my God,” Ashley was aghast. Who in the world had her father found?

  “But it was all a terrible mistake,” her mother whispered, “and your father finally realizes it. The man he found wasn’t your fiancé. He was a weight lifter in a gym who was engaged to someone else.”

  Ashley had a hard time taking the next breath. “This is horrible, mom.”

  “Your father’s so sorry,” said her mother.

  That truly took Ashley back. Sorry about what? That he’d doubted her all these years, distrusted her, never took a moment to call or come to visit? There were a long line of gr
ievances Ashley had, but suddenly decided to let them all melt away. What good did they do her? What difference did they make?

  “I’m sorry, too,” said Ashley softly.

  Now it was her mother’s turn to be shocked. “You’re sorry about what?”

  “Sorry that he and I couldn’t have been closer, cared more for each other. But you know what? It’s okay, mom, I’m getting married, moving forward and I’m not letting that get in the way.”

  Her mother’s voice changed noticeably. “I’ve never heard you talk this way, Ashley.”

  Ashley smiled, “well, we’re talking woman to woman now, aren’t we?”

  “Your fiancée must be some guy, is all I can say,” her mother responded. “You’ve changed so much since you’ve known him, Ashley. You’ve grown in ways I can barely recognize. I can hardly wait to meet him, too. I really called to ask if your father and I can come with you to the last fitting of your dress before the rehearsal dinner?”

  “Of course you can,” said Ashley warmly, suddenly shocked to realize how quickly the moment was approaching. The invitations had been sent, rehearsal dinner planned, and she was picking up her dress a few hours before that. Ashley had put everything on her credit card, deciding not to ask her family for anything.

  “And your father wants you to send all the bills to him, naturally. He’s been wondering where they are?”

  Ashley smiled. “That’s a kind offer mom, but I’m paying for this one.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  It felt so wonderful to own the wedding, pay the costs, make the decisions, not put any of it on someone else’s shoulders.

  “I can do it,” Ashley said.

  “You can do it alone? Is the groom helping? Is he wealthy? What about his family?”

  Ashley simply smiled. “I’m a strong woman, mom.”

  “Yes, you are, a very strong woman, and we can’t wait to meet everyone at the rehearsal dinner, soon!”

  *

  Ashley’s mother sent Scott’s family an invitation to the wedding, and they immediately called their son in England to let him know. Needless to say, it was the last thing Scott needed at the moment, especially coming from his father who had always loved Ashley.

  “Your mother and I called her parents to congratulate them on Ashley’s engagement and wonderful people that they are, they put us on the wedding list. So kind, so thoughtful, as always. Of course we didn’t think they expected us to say yes, but we have! Your mother wants to see who Ashley’s marrying. After all, Ashley was almost a daughter to your mother for three years.”

  Scott broke out into a slow sweat as they talked.

  “And how are you doing with Felice, son?”

  “Not well,” Scott answered abruptly. Since he’d found out about Ashley, Scott hadn’t been able to sleep well, was extra sensitive, checked Ashley’s Facebook page daily and whatever Felice did, irritated him more than usual. She could never compare to Ashley. It wasn’t a match and he knew it now for sure. Thank goodness, Felice was away on vacation with her parents in Switzerland for the next few weeks. He’d told her he needed time and space to himself, and she quickly agreed that she needed it as well. It was way better with her gone.”

  “You two close to planning an engagement?” his father probed.

  “Dad, please,” Scott’s stomach was rumbling, as a wave of nausea came over him.

  “Time’s passing son, don’t wait forever. If you do, all the good ones will be gone.”

  “I’ll remember that, dad,” Scott said, hanging up the phone.

  Scott adored his father, who always meant well, but couldn’t take in a word he’d said. It was all too painful and confusing. Here he was in England, making money, gaining a reputation, and his heart was warning him to go home. Let it all go, he was feeling, it all means nothing, compared to losing Ashley.

  That was crazy, of course, he’d already lost her and there was nothing he could do about it. Still, it made him even more upset to realize that his parents would be at the wedding. They would watch the woman he’d loved for all those years, walk down the aisle and marry someone else.

  The wave of nausea grew more intense and Scott’s heart started pounding. Was he getting sick, or was he just devastated? Scott ran to the computer and brought up her page once again.

  There she stood again, glowing, and now a little further over, there was a good looking guy with blonde hair, smiling, labeled The Groom. Scott scrutinized him carefully. At first glance he looked affable, but if you looked a little closer, the guy had a weird, scared look in his eyes. For a second Scott thought he was imagining it, but he wasn’t. He’d always been good at getting a read on who a person was right away.

  Scott began to feel more and more that this guy definitely wasn’t for Ashley. Oh my God, how he wanted to see her one more time before she gave her hand to him. Scott even remembered once telling her he’d never let her leave him for good. He’d actually written a poem to her about it. Scott scanned his mind like crazy now, trying to figure out where the poem actually was.

  Suddenly then, Scott raced to the phone to call his travel agent. He had to book a flight back to the States, be there at least by the last minute. He couldn’t live with himself, if he didn’t have time to say good bye to Ashley before he lost her forever. He owed that much to both them, didn’t he?

  CHAPTER 27

  Ray had been tremendously busy moving into his new studio and Ashley hadn’t heard from him for a couple of days. She decided to go down, help him, and let him know how things were progressing. There were only a few days left to the rehearsal dinner, and she was so busy making arrangements for a wonderful party, Ashley hadn’t thought about the groom at all. By now whether or not he came almost seemed irrelevant. But it was important to her that her friends were there, and that she take good care of them.

  Jessica kept calling and asking if Aldon was getting more involved? She also mentioned that she was looking at Winn with new eyes these days.

  “He’s good for some things, not good for others,” Jessica summed it up succinctly.

  It’s better you leave it as it is, Jess,” said Ashley. “Don’t make it something it’s not supposed to be.”

  “Look who’s talking,” Jessica said, uneasy.

  Ashley was happy to be on her way to see Ray now. Naturally, he was one of the groomsmen, walking down the aisle with Heather. Actually, Ashley wanted him to walk down the aisle with her, to be the one to give her away. She thought about asking him to do it, but didn’t want to hurt her father that way.

  Ray’s new studio was even larger, brighter, more exciting. There were extra shelves for plants, crystals and a big wall to hang paintings. He was beaming in it, getting things in order.

  The moment Ashley walked in, Ray stopped everything and ran over to hug her.

  “We’ve both won,” he said, “look at this studio. I feel like myself, in it,” Ray uttered, “I can sink roots here, reach out and grow. Do you feel it too?”

  “I do,” said Ashley, “it’s magnificent,” and they hugged.

  “You’re magnificent Ashley, and you’ve helped me have this in my life!”

  “Thank you Ray,” Ashley said, fully willing to accept his thanks.

  He took both her hands in his then, “And you? It’s coming so close. Are you ready?”

  Ashley was amazed at how ready she was. “I’m thrilled,” she whispered.

  “You are?” he said, “thrilled?”

  “Yes, why shouldn’t I be? So many wonderful people are coming together to wish me happiness.”

  “Exactly,” he murmured, “even Vince Raine himself will be at your wedding! That’s really something else!”

  Ashley laughed. “I’m so happy for him and Tamara!”

  “You have to admit it’s really wild. They’re both on cloud nine and can’t get off of it,” he said.

  “Extremely wild and we’re all going to have a wonderful time,” said Ashley.

  Ashley
saw Ray’s eyes crease for a moment in a fleeting look of concern.

  “You’re going to go through with it, no matter what?” Ray asked, his voice dropping down a notch for a second.

  “Yes, I am,” said Ashley, “We’re all going to have a fantastic night, whether or not the groom shows up!”

  “Oh my God,” Ray whispered.

  “Why shouldn’t we? We’ve worked so hard planning it, the music is set, the food, the place.”

  Now it was Ray’s turn to get nervous, “Ummm hmmm,” he said, the reality of the evening hitting him.

  “And the rehearsal dinner is two nights away,” Ashley went on, “first I pick up my dress and then go to it.”

  “Oh dear,” said Ray, starting to tremble.

  “No problem at all,” said Ashley. “I’m doing what you said, jumping in one hundred per cent, forgetting about outcomes. Trusting!”

  “You’re a hero, my hero,” Ray murmured open mouthed.

  “No, Ray,” Ashley kissed him on his cheek lightly, “you’re my hero, and I want you to know I love you dearly.”

  *

  The restaurant where the rehearsal dinner was to be held called three times about details. Usually, Tamara took care of it, but she was so swept away by Vince, that Ashley had to handle it now. Thankfully, only the wedding party and Ray would be present at the rehearsal dinner, along with Ashley’s family and their very close friends.

  Of course everyone expected to meet the groom and his family that night. Ashley had no idea at the moment what she would say when no one on their side turned up. Of course she could say they were caught at an airport, didn’t make connections in time, but somehow she didn’t want to make up stories any longer. She would just say, she didn’t know where they were, and focus on those who had actually attended. She would thank them, enjoy the evening and let the rest work out the way it did.

  It was getting later and cloudy out and Ashley wanted to take a break from everything, turn on the TV and chill. But as she was finalizing the desert menu, her doorbell rang. Ashley opened the door and there was Ray, a bit agitated. Ashley was surprised and pleased to see him.