by Tri Amutia
Ah, the almamater thing.
"I understand. And the hospital?"
"They will agree with everything that I choose. They will pay the fees, of course."
Okay, so everything was settled. What about our...marriage?
"So..." I played with the hem of my T-shirt. "If you wanted to start your intern in six months, when is the best time for us to...uh...get married?"
"Well...perhaps three months for now. There are still times for everything." And then he looked at me. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
I chuckled. "Of course." I sighed. "It's just if you will stay far away from me, I don't want to stay here. Perhaps I will move to my old apartment. You could stay in my place if you visited me."
Joshua smiled. "I understand. I will feel much better if you stay in your old place. At least John will keep an eye for you while I'm in internship."
I smiled grimly. I haven't seen John since I got sick. I hoped he was doing fine. And then Joshua held my hands and I looked at him curiously. "I've already had savings for us...to buy a house."
My eyes widened. "A...house?"
"Yes. After I finished my intern, I will return to Seattle and we will buy a house for our family. I don't think an apartment is a suitable place for us to have children."
I blinked several times. I almost forgot to talk about that. "Um...about children..." I stuttered.
"Yes?"
I instantly turned nervous. I knew how much he loved children, but I don't think living separate ways is a good thing for having a child. I was thinking to wait until he was finished. Will he mind?
"Abby?"
I sighed. "I...uh...don't think living in separate ways is a good thing for...um...our children. I want to wait until you finished your intern to have a child." I bit my lip. "Is that all right with you?" I asked in low voice.
He smiled and kissed my forehead. "Of course, baby. I couldn't imagine having you pregnant alone in an apartment while I was miles away. What kind of man will I be? We will wait."
I smiled and kissed his cheek. "Thank you."
He pulled me to his body again and I snuggled to his embrace. He cleared his throat. "So, about the bridal shower..."
I groaned and he laughed.
~O~
We began to list the things for our wedding. The papers, the venue, the caterings, the dress, the invitations...and I already had a headache just to think about that. Joshua already suggested a not so huge hall for our reception while we will change our vows at a church. I called Stella the next day and told her about our wedding plans. She squealed happily and told me not to be worried. She said she will handle everything.
"But, what about your wedding plan with Evan?" I insisted to her when I called her. She was paying too much attention to my wedding rather than her own wedding.
"Don't worry about that. Evan and I decided to have a wedding after your wedding. So, I hope you and Joshua could be there before he must leave to Harvard."
I smiled grimly. "Yeah, me too. Thanks, Stella."
"Don't be sad, all right. It's only for couple of years, you won't feel it. Besides you are working too and you will have a new position. You will see each other on weekend or when Joshua got holidays. Don't worry."
I furrowed my eyebrows. "Wait...what position?"
Stella giggled. "You'll see. Although, I can't see things before that." Her tone turned serious. "Just remember what I said, Abby. If anything happens, talk to Joshua and listen to him."
I shivered. Is there something going on between us? "Stella, you're making me worried."
"Don't be afraid, Abby. It's just...every couple who will get married, they will have some kind of...test," Her voice was faltered in the end.
I tensed. "What test?"
"It's not a big thing, though. Wedding jitters, you know. Just a thing to get to know your partner better. You will pass."
"Uh-huh."
She laughed lightly. "Just relax, Abby. I'll call again with your wedding theme and the design of your dress, all right. Say hi to Joshua for me. Bye."
"Thank you, Stella. Say hi to Evan too. Bye."
And the line went dead. I held my BlackBerry tightly.
What could Stella possibly mean?
~O~
We both called our family and told them about our plans. My parents were happy, of course, and my dad promised me to take some days off to walk me down to the altar. Joshua's parents also happy when they heard we were really going to get married. Farah already planned to talk to Stella and my mom to arrange some things and I didn't think I wanted to know about that. We returned to our work schedule and I was reminded by the book launching this weekend. I was thinking to buy a new dress; I've already wore all of my dresses that I owned. Joshua was still busy at the hospital, but he promised to attend the book launching with me. This time we will wear something semi-formal because not only just media or the workers in my place who will attend the event. My author was the first foreign author in her country who successfully published a book in America; therefore some staffs from the embassy will attend too. Well, practice makes perfect. I had to get used to this kind of event anyway.
I bought the dress on Thursday after I went home from work. It was a simple crème dress and I intended to wear it for the book launching. I put my new dress to the laundry agent and asked them to finish in one day. I picked up my dress on Friday afternoon, successfully hiding it from Joshua.
On Saturday, the day went uneventfully. Joshua and I did our routine; cleaning the apartment, doing the laundry, going to the grocery, until the afternoon came and it was time for us to change our clothes. After taking my shower, I put my new dress and I must admit...I felt beautiful. The crème color made my hair and my eyes looked brighter. I applied light make-up and did my hair until I heard Joshua knocked on my door. I opened my door to see him already wearing a dark shirt with dark coat and trousers. And, of course he looked handsome.
We rode with his black Ford to the venue. The book launching was held at the hall of a hotel in town. I was nervous because I never attended an event like this before, added to the fact that I was here with my handsome fiancé. I felt insignificant.
"Are you all right?" Joshua whispered to me when we walked to the front desk.
I nodded slowly. "Yeah..."
He chuckled lightly. "Don't be nervous. I'm here."
I rolled my eyes. "That's what I'm worried about."
He furrowed his eyebrows. "What do you mean by that?"
I grimaced. "I feel insignificant compare to you."
Joshua made a face and he leaned to my ear. "Do you see a man on your three o'clock?"
I raised my eyebrows and looked over to the direction he told me. I saw a tall man with dark hair looking at us and when he met my gaze, he quickly composed his face and turned away from us nervously. I looked back at my fiancé. "That man?"
He nodded sharply and his eyes narrowed. I looked back to the man's direction. He turned away again when he met my gaze.
"What's wrong with him?" I asked.
He scoffed. "He never tore his eyes from you since you got out from the car. He wants you, Abby."
My eyes widened. "W-what?"
Joshua wrapped his arm on my waist and glared briefly to the man before we continued to walk. "He will not leave this building with his feet if he still looked at you that way," He growled.
Wow.
I swallowed hard when Joshua and I arrived at the venue. It was a big hall, not so huge, too extravagant for a book launching. I almost groaned.
"Abigail!”
I looked over to the female's voice and I instantly recognized Helena McLane, my author. She looked beautiful tonight, wearing a very fancy red dress. Her unique beauty was shown from her appearance.
I smiled and shook her hand. "It's nice to meet you again, Mrs. McLane."
She giggled. "Please, I've told you before to call me Helena." And then she looked over to Joshua. "And who is this young man?"
I cleared my throat. "Um...this is my...fiancé, Joshua Walsh." I turned to Joshua. "Joshua, this is Helena. I've worked with her before."
Joshua smiled and extended his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. McLane."
She smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Walsh." And then she seemed to be thinking. "Have we met before?"
Joshua chuckled. "I'm afraid not, Ma'am. This is the first time for me to attend a book launching with Abby in this place."
She nodded. "Oh, yes, forgive me. I probably misrecognized you with someone else. Please, enjoy the event and thank you for coming, Abigail."
I winced slightly and smiled. Helena strolled back to the center of the hall and lost between the crowds. I sighed. "Why can't they call me Abby?"
Joshua chuckled again. "Abigail is a beautiful name. Sometimes I'm curious why you don't like your first name."
I rolled my eyes. "Because my mom always called me that if she wanted to ground me. That's why I like Abby better."
He laughed lightly and we walked to the food stall to grab some foods. We sat on one of the empty tables and ate our food. Two couples were sitting in our table too and I assumed they were from the embassy because they were talking about international laws that I didn't understand. Perhaps I will learn it from one of the edited stories someday.
"I'll get some drinks for us," Joshua told me before he got up from the chair.
I nodded and sat there enjoying the classic music. Two couples next to me continued to chat and ignored me completely, not that I mind.
"Abby! Abby!"
I startled slightly and turned my head to see Ryan walked to my direction. He seemed in a hurry. He looked gorgeous tonight, wearing brown shirt with dark coat and trousers. He smiled genuinely, he looked so different from the first time I met him.
I smiled. "Ryan! Hey! It's so good to see you here."
He chuckled and patted my shoulder. "Yeah, same here. Sorry, but Mr. Smith wants to talk to you, but he couldn't find you anywhere." He winced. "So, he sends me to search you."
I grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. I came here with Joshua. He's here somewhere."
Ryan nodded. "All right. Mr. Smith is near the podium if you wanted to see him. Hurry, Abby. It seems important."
"Okay. I look for Joshua first," I said to him.
He smiled and turned around while I stood from my sitting position. I looked around the hall for Joshua, but I didn't think I could find him in this crowded place. He said he wanted to get some drinks, so I walked to the drink stall. I spotted him standing in a corner near the stall and quickly walked to him, but an unexpected sight froze my feet.
I saw him there with a woman.
And not just a woman.
It was Natalia.
She looked beautiful with her green dress and she wrapped her arms to Joshua's neck. They looked lost in their own world while I nearly collapsed in my own feet.
I clutched my purse and I trembled. My heartbeat turned erratic and my head was spinning.
"Miss Bennett!"
The sound of a man calling my name not just brought me back to reality, but also startled both of them. Joshua's eyes widened when he met my gaze and he quickly released Natalia's arm from his neck. Natalia looked at me expressionless while I stared at her blankly. I turned my head slowly to see the tall man which I recognized as the man that wanted me since I got out from the car smiled at me.
"Miss Bennett? Correct?"
I tried to smile, hiding my heartbreak. "Yes. And you are...?"
He smiled and bowed his head slightly. "Forgive me, Miss. I'm Viktor, Helena's cousin. I hope I didn't disturb you, but Helena wants to see you, Miss," He said to me with his foreign accent.
I smiled grimly and looked over to Joshua briefly before I turned back to the man. "No, you didn't disturb me. I'll be happy to see her."
Viktor smiled and gestured me to follow him. I followed him to the front of the hall and he asked me to sit in a chair in front row.
"I thought you're here with someone. Do you want me to look for him?" He asked me again. His eyes gazed to my body and I clutched my purse tightly.
I took a deep breath. "No, thank you. He'll find me here."
Viktor smiled slightly and leaving me alone. I leaned back to the chair when I felt someone sitting next to me. I didn't have to be a psychic to know that it was Joshua.
"Abby..."
"Don't say anything. I don't want to hear it," I hissed at him. I didn't look at him at all.
And then the light went dim and I instantly knew the event was going to start. After several speeches from the embassy's staff, Mr. Smith walked to the podium. The sound of hands clapping filled the room. I smiled slightly; I knew how much this event meant to him, to our office and I gladly put the happy mask on my face for this evening.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This evening is the most exciting moment not just for me, but also for our company. Helena McLane is the first author that worked for us and we are so happy to have the honor to publish her first book in America. Let me introduce you to...Helena McLane!"
I clapped my hands too along with all the people in the hall. I knew how hard for her to publish this story and we've been through so much in the process. I smiled proudly and gave her the standing applause along with several people when she walked to the podium. She was the star tonight.
"Thank you...thank you..." Helena said when the clapping sound subsided and everyone who stood back to their seat.
"Thank you to the publishing company for their support and of course to my family. I could never publish this story without their support and of course...we all know a good book needs an editor..."
I gasped. She didn't...
Helena met my gaze and smiled warmly. "My book will never be published without her help. She helped me so much in anything, even gladly accepted my manuscript when she got sick. She is amazing."
My heart fluttered. Oh, please...don't ask me to go there...please...
"Ladies and gentlemen, this night is not my night, but I want to give my appreciation to my editor." She extended her arm and gestured to me. "Miss Abigail Bennett."
I blinked several times. I couldn't move until I felt someone grabbed my arm lightly and whispered to me. "Go, Abby. Go on."
I turned my head slowly and see Ryan looked at me with encouraging eyes. I looked again to the seat next to me and found Joshua smiled warmly, but I quickly turned my head to the podium. The sound of clapping hands filled the room when I walked to approach Helena at the podium. She smiled widely and hugged me in front of hundreds of people. I laughed lightly and released her hug.
"Come on, Abigail. Say something," She encouraged me.
I chuckled nervously.
"Speech, Abby!" I heard Ryan's voice from the crowds.
I rolled my eyes and cleared my throat. "Well...this is...very much...unexpected." I laughed nervously and some people laughed with me too. "Thank you to Mrs. McLane for trusting me to edit her work. It's an excellent job and I really like her book. I wish her book will become a bestseller and I'm hoping to work with her again someday. So..." I looked over to Helena who stared at me with watery eyes. "Congratulations!"
Everyone clapped their hands again when she hugged me for the second time. She released her hug and gave me the first copy with her autograph. My eyes widened. I knew how it felt for an author about their first copy, but she smiled when she saw my expression.
"You deserve it," She stated simply.
I smiled with watery eyes and hugged her back. "Thank you." Thousand emotions and the turmoil that I felt after I caught Joshua with Natalia finally wore me out. "I'm sorry if I can't stay here until the event is over. I need to do something. Congratulations, Helena."
I released my hug and smiled to her once again. I quickly walked down from the podium, but I didn't return to my seat. I walked straight to the front door without looking back, wanted to leave everything behind me for a while.
My job.
My colleagues.
My...fiancé.
Chapter 26
The Cafe and The Getaway
I walked to the front desk and asked for my jacket. I didn't know where I have to go this evening. I didn't want to go home. I wanted to spend my time alone. And then I remembered the café when I spent the last time Natalia was involved in my relationship with Joshua. I stopped a taxi in front of the hotel and told the driver the address of the cafe I spent I felt my phone vibrate and I pulled it out from my purse to see Joshua's name in the caller ID. I quickly turned my BlackBerry off.
I looked over the window and ran my hand through my hair. I still couldn't believe what I just saw.
Joshua and Natalia.
What is exactly going on between them? Joshua looked comfortable enough under her embrace while that woman looked to Joshua with so much love in her eyes...well, if you called that love. I sighed. I've always feared that Joshua will hurt me someday and when he did, I didn't have the power to cry.
The taxi stopped in front of the cafe and I paid for the fees. I got out from the yellow car and exhaled. I snuggled deeper to my jacket and slowly walked to the front door. I stopped in my feet when I looked at my reflection in the glass window. I still wore the beautiful crème dress, but my eyes were sad. I knew my clothes were not the perfect outfit for this place, but I didn't care. I sighed and opened the front door. I walked to my favorite spot, on the corner and removed my jacket. Some guests looked at me curiously, probably wondering why I wear a dress to a place like this, but I ignored them. A waitress with dark skin and dark hair approached me and smiled. I smiled back.
"Good evening, Ma'am. My name is Josia. I'm your waitress for tonight. Can I have your order, please?"
"Uhm...just the usual."
She seemed confused. "Pardon me?"
I looked at her and suddenly I realized I've never seen her before. She must be a new waitress. "I'm sorry...but, are you new here?"
She smiled sheepishly. "Yes, Ma'am. I'm truly sorry if I didn't see you often, so I didn't know you usual order."
I chuckled. "That's alright..." I looked over her name tag. "Josia. It's a lovely name. Where are you come from?"