19
Gwen
It had been two weeks since Link and I had confessed our feelings for one another, and ever since, it had been like I was living a Cinderella like dream. Here I was born poor, my views on life coming from the backbones of two hardworking folks, just to be swept away into a new world of luxury. Spa treatments, shopping sprees, anything I wanted? I got. It was nice to be spoiled for a change, but it was still weird for me accepting all these gifts. Link was also very giving at home when he was there, making sure my every want and comfort was taken care of. I felt pretty useless sometimes when he was home, the minute I would go to do anything besides use the restroom it was ‘I got it!’ It was almost comical to have Link doting on me so much, but it was also very sweet. And at night we would make the most passionate love, and before we would sleep, he would make his may to my belly and talk to our little baby growing inside my womb. He would ask it questions, sing songs and tell it stories- some of them from our childhood even. Some nights he would weave these intriguing fantasy stories, about princesses and dragons, dwarves and elves. I told him maybe he should start writing them down, as I also found them quite thrilling to hear. He would just laugh and wave me off, saying there were much more important things than writing books. But I could see in his eyes the thought brought him joy.
The second week into our rekindled romance, I moved my stuff back in- much to the teary-eyed protests of Frannie. I loved her so much, but I felt like in order to be good parents to the baby, living together through the pregnancy- especially since we were dating- was important. We had known each other for years, but if we wanted to give this a fresh start, I felt like this was our best bet. As I stood there and she helped me pack up my room, there was a sadness that had filled it. Frannie sniffled as she put my folded clothes back in totes, pulled my tv off the dresser, and helped gather my nick knacks.
“It’s going to be so lonely here without you again,” She had sniffled, “It sucked while you were living with him before…I’m glad it’s with Link though and not some random dude.”
“I would expect you to be much more upset if it was some random guy.” I chuckled.
“Well, he’s been there since your accident.” Frannie fluffed out a shirt and refolded it, looking up to flash me a smile. My face, however, was twisted in confusion.
“What do you mean he has been there since my accident?” I asked, walking towards her and sitting at the end of the bed. My legs were getting tired from all the moving and walking, and Link hadn’t got there yet to help. He had told us to wait for him, but I was stubborn as usual, and was tiring myself out. Doubly so being pregnant.
“He didn’t tell you?” Frannie shook her head, rolling her eyes. “He probably didn’t want you to think he was a weirdo I suppose.” She threw the olded shirt into a tote and sat next to me.
“When you had your accident, I was the head nurse on the emergency room floor that day- which you knew.” I nodded my head. She had told me before, and she had also been there when I woke from my coma. Frannie had been the only real constant in my life since this all happened. My other best friend in childhood, she had never really cared much for Link, teasing him relentlessly about his snooty and snobby ways. It was she and I who came up with his nickname, the pedigree pup. The joke had been that he was a wild one regardless of stature and needed to be trained.
“Well, that day I had no idea it was you in there. It was a Jane Doe situation. A local news outlet had let slip of your mothers’ identity and he put two and two together. He basically pushed everyone over to get to me at my desk.” I laid back and listened, as she weaved this bit of missing tale in the saga that had been my life. “He was beside himself, sobbing uncontrollably. A Link I hadn’t seen in quite some time. When he told me it was you, I crumbled. We both sat there, watching on bated breath through the clear windows.” She laid back with me, and looked over at me, tears in her eyes. “I really thought we were going to lose you. Your mother was already gone, D.o.a. There was nothing to be done for her and Link said it was amazing that you had even made it out yourself. I never saw the wreck photos or the pictures…the thought of seeing them still makes me sick. We watched as they paddled you, bringing you back when you flatlined. He cancelled all his appointments for the next week or so even.” She sighed to herself, shaking her head. “That man sat next to you and talked to you for hours and hours. They eventually transferred you to the ICU after you were stable, but I had to keep checking on him. I brought him food because he didn’t have the sense of self to get it himself, he slept in that horrid recliner in your room... He was so focused on trying to lure you back, he did everything he could think of.”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I hadn’t heard from him after I woke up, not even a card or flowers. I knew he worked at the hospital, but I hadn’t seen him in all the time that I had spent there, all the time I had worked there even, until recently when I had that episode in the physical therapy room. I had deduced he had been watching me lately, but it had never occurred to me that he had been like a guardian angel this whole time.
“Why didn’t he come back? After I woke up?”
“The day you woke up, he was in there. Your eyes fluttered open, and you were starting to panic because of all the tubes and stuff. You hadn’t noticed him yet, and I was on duty down in the ER, so he grabbed me and told me to go be there for you. He felt like he didn’t have a right to. I can understand that seeing as how you guys left off all those years ago…” She trailed off and swallowed. “He felt like the trauma he had inflicted would be too much for you to deal with in the moment, so he put your personal cares before his own feelings. He stayed behind the scenes though, consulting with your surgeons and neurologists and keeping tabs. He even kept an ear out for you during PT and put in a good word when I suggested the clerical position at work.”
“And you didn’t tell me any of this…why?” I sat up, raising an eyebrow.
“Because I figured it wasn’t my place.” She shrugged as she sat up, grabbing me gently by my shoulders. “The point is, the guy is absolutely in love with you, and has been probably all these years. You don’t sit at the bed of an ex just because you slighted them or for shits and giggles.”
It was then Link had come into the room, sliding in on his socks like Tom Cruise in Risky Business, breaking up our serious talk and causing us to giggle wildly.
“Well, speak of the pedigree!” Frannie snorted, giving me a kiss on the forehead. “I’m going to go check on Parker.” She smiled and winked at me as she left.
“Aww c’mon Frannie we aren’t in primary school anymore!” Link yelled down the hall. I could hear her laughter echo through the hallway. “So, how close are you to being all packed up?”
“Halfway there I’d say- we could load this stuff up and then head home.”
“Oh, by the way, you remember Allison from high school?” He asked, flashing a smile.
“Who could forget Allison,” I snorted, “She was the drama club.” Link laughed at my comment and sat down next to me, wrapping an arm behind my back and pulling me in close.
“Well, she is a fashion designer now and she is dying to have lunch with you, she says she misses you immensely!” He dragged out and exaggerated the last word, making his voice low and ridiculous.
“Did you grab her number?” I asked, getting up to stack a tote on top of another. He got up quickly and stopped me, grabbing the tote and stacking it himself. “Uh uh mama! No lifting!”
“I am not that far along, Link!” I groaned, throwing my head back in protest.
“Still,” he tsk tsked at me, “and yes I have her number…but she gave me an appointment card…for a lunch between the two of you.”
“An appointment card?” I rolled my eyes, flabbergasted. “Who does she think she is? A Kardashian?”
“I mean, she does dress them…” He shrugged, smiling weakly. He handed me the card and I took it from him. How absolutely pretentious and annoying for her t
o assume I was free on Friday night! “I’m not going…this is weird and rude!” I clicked my tongue and handed him back the card.
“Honey! She’s probably just really busy and I told her you aren’t working right now, so it’s probably my fault that she assumed it.”
“You told her I’m not working?” I sighed, I felt like such a mooch.
“Well, yeah you’re pregnant.”
“What am I even going to talk to her about? I don’t do fashion.” I groaned, “We are from two different worlds now.” I laughed, walking down the hallway. “Frannie I’m heading out!” I yelled over my shoulder.
“You gotta go!” He hurried behind me with the totes, “I told her you’d be there. Listen I’ll get you a nice outfit even, so you feel like you fit in and everything since it’s at The Lounge.”
“The Lounge?” I gasped. The Lounge was a super-rich restaurant, only rich elites ever went there. There was no way I could pull off fitting in with them in my condition.
“I’ve been there several times it is not that big of a deal, Gwen.”
Frannie shuffled into the hallway, interrupting our discussion, and gave me a hug. Parker came in and joined her, peering behind her leg up at the long-legged Link.
“I’ll be back over the weekend to get the rest.” I assured her. She nodded and sniffled, burying her head into my shoulder. I started to cry too. “And I will be back over plenty to hangout!” I choked out, “It’ll be okay.”
“Yeah! We can have sleepovers and eat popcorn til we throw up!” Parker hopped around us. We both let go of each other and laughed.
“That’s right!” Frannie giggled, ruffling his hair.
“Definitely!” I bent down and booped his nose, “Now give Auntie Gwennie a hug!” He jumped into my arms and bear hugged me, his hair smelled of baby shampoo.
“I’ll text you when we get home, okay?” I said standing up and facing Frannie again who was stifling her tears. She nodded and I kissed her cheek and we headed out the door, Link regarding her with a nod. We made our way to the car, my things in tow, and I was mixed with sadness and excitement. I was headed onto a new journey in my life, one with Link, but leaving my old family behind in a way. But the idea that Link had been there from the beginning was very reassuring. As he helped me into the car, the front door of Frannie’s trailer opened and she stood there and waved.
“Don’t fuck this up Link or I’ll kick your ass.” She grinned, winking at me. We both laughed, Link somewhat nervously, which made me laugh harder. She stayed out on the stoop, Parker joining her, and waved goodbye as we pulled away.
It was then I burst into tears, Link massaging my back as we drove on back to his house. Everything was changing all over again, and I knew it would all be different, and that was as scary as it was something to look forward to. I had spent many years lonely, searching for my other half, and I was convinced I had found it right here with Link.
*
Friday came, and I was nerved up about dining at The Lounge. The more I insisted on not going, the more Link became almost exasperated in my protests. It was weird seeing him push me to go out, but he insisted that it was because he wanted me to get out there and live. That this was all a new beginning for both of us, and that we should stop being so introverted.
“Besides,” He said as he helped me get dressed for the dinner date, “Allison is only in town a few days and she wanted to make time for you! That says something. Maybe she really misses you.” I rolled my eyes, uncertain of the sentiment. I mean, we lived in the age of Facebook and Twitter and the like- all things I had and she had never tried to add me until the day before. The pantsuit he had got me was so extra- black and glittery. He had got me a black silk rose hairpin with silver glitter on the edges of the petals to put in my hair. He helped me slick my hair back, and put it in.
“Are you sure this is the look for me?” I said frowning in the mirror.
“I figured you’d like to wear one of Allison’s designs. I mean Kim K wore this herself.” I looked at him, saucer eyed.
“How much was this outfit?!”
“It doesn’t matter,” he chuckled, “we have the money and if you really hate it? We can take it back after tonight, okay?”
“Now you sound like my mom.” I laughed. He laughed too and we walked out into the living room in time for her horn to honk. I went to grab my cane and was pleasantly surprised. In its place was a new black one, shiny and pristine, the handle super comfortable in my hand.
“Did you buy this for me?” I smiled, tearfully. It seemed almost stupid to get emotional over a new cane, but he was always thinking one step ahead of me, trying to make me feel less broken and more normal. I was determined to not need the cane someday, or the wheelchair on bad days, and Link kept assuring me I would get there. He was my biggest cheerleader.
“Yeah! I figured you’d want a nice new one to go with your outfit!” The horn honked again and I kissed him.
“I better go before Hollywood has a tizzy.” I laughed. “I love you.”
“I love you too Gwennie! Have a good time!” He waved to me. I waved back, the warmth of his words engulfing me in an invisible hug. Being with Link seemed constantly like a fairy tale, as if I had found my own personal Prince Charming- although it had taken years, and him getting his head out of his ass, I was confident about our future together. Our future as a family.
I headed towards Allison’s car. Which much to my surprised wasn’t just a car, it was a limo. She rolled down the window, tipped her sunglasses down and peered at me like a naughty librarian. She seemed to be looking me over, almost like she was inspecting me, her straight-lined lips curling into an amused and ecstatic smile.
“Oh my god! I didn’t realize you liked my stuff! That’s awesome! It’s one of my favorite ensembles I’ve created!”
“Y-yeah!” I confirmed, “I love it, it’s very…”
“Chic? Fashionable?”
“And glittery!” I smiled. She giggled at me as the limo driver came around and opened her door, and she scooted over, allowing me room to get in. I sat on the other side facing her. I had never been in a limo, not even at prom. It was super fancy inside. There was a tv, mini fridge, champagne on ice amongst other things. Allison was much the same, just an older version of herself, her blonde hair dyed an unnatural but beautiful shade of cherry red. She herself wore a black gown of sorts, also toe to tip in glitz and glitter. She wore arm length gloves and a witchy looking black hat. She almost looked like she belonged in an episode of American Horror Story.
We chatted on about our lives, her mostly, talking about all the celebrities that she worked for and all the places she had seen since leaving our quaint little town. It was crazy to think that someone I had been close with in school was now dressing people like Lizzo and other famous singers and actors. We chatted about who was the chilliest of the celebs, and who was the biggest of jerks. As we neared the place, we began chatting about my stuff and she had the limo driver pull near the door.
“Joffery?!” The median window that separated us from him slid down suddenly.
“Yes Miss?”
“I am going to let Gwennie off at the door like we talked about, okay? “He nodded and got out, opening the door for me and lending me a hand. He closed the door and Allison put her window down, poking her head out. “I am going around the back- too many paparazzi’s like to keep tabs and follow me. So far, we haven’t been followed, but I just want to eat without any drama so we can have a good time.” She smiled at me. “See you later!” She said, looking back and forth before going back inside, putting the window up with a click.
As they took off, heading for the back I assumed as she had said, I couldn’t help but muse over how stressful being a celebrity seemed to be. I thought my life was difficult, but even with the accident and the dramas of my own life, I was glad that I had never tried to go off to California like I had once dreamed of as a little girl. The money would have been nice but having to dodge blood thi
rsty photographers and fans must get exhausting.
I entered The Lounge, and it was a dimly lit five star restaurant with gold accents. I could make out the huge crystal chandelier in the foyer, and I could tell their were mini ones dotting the ceiling. The floor was white and black checkered, each square lined with gold, and flecks of it shimmering in the light. I scanned the dining room, my eyes searching for Allison or even her driver, but not seeing them at all. Though it would be almost impossible to seek them out in the hazily lit room with my vision issues. I stood there for a few minutes, until a nice waiter walked up to me and took my arm.
“Mister Gallagher and the DuBois are waiting for you, Miss Feirnays.”
“Link?” I asked, confused. “I didn’t realize he..er they would be here tonight. I’m supposed to be with Allison Grey?” He looked as puzzled as I was. What the hell were Link and my grandparents doing here? And where was Allison? I got on my tiptoes and tried to make out her fire red hair in the crowd, but to no avail.
“Miss Grey isn’t due to be in tonight, Miss Feirnays.”
“Gwen,” I corrected him, “You don’t have to be so formal with me.” He nodded and smiled.
“Well alright then, Gwen, head with me this way to your table!” I looked at his nametag, Oberon. I remembered thinking what a lovely name it was. Rooted in the beautiful story telling of Shakespeare, pulled from Greek mythos. The King of all fairies, and the mischievous gleam in his eye certainly fit the bill.
“Thank you, Oberon.” I smiled as he gently guided me to a quiet table in the back, hanging my cane on my free arm so I wouldn’t bonk him in the knees with it. There sat Link with my grandparents, his face glowing in the candlelight, the flames dancing and reflecting in his eyes. He looked up at me and smiled softly.
“Thank you for bringing my lovely girlfriend to me safely,” Link smiled, handing Oberon a tip and shaking his hand. Oberon winked and gave a little wave to my grandparents who sat next to him, my grandmother next to him and my grandfather next to her. They all looked up at me and smiled.
Pretend Boyfriend (Be My Boyfriend Book 4) Page 16