by Lexy Timms
I pulled myself away from Colin and immediately regretted my decision.
“Well, that’s gonna leave a mess,” I said, giggling.
“Thank you for giving that to me,” he said.
“Thank you for being so gentle about it,” I said. “And I didn’t unpack those boxes because—it never felt right.”
“Why not?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I couldn’t really explain it. It felt nice to have my independence and to have my own space, but still it felt—lonely.”
“I wish you would’ve told me. I could have stopped by more to try and make it not so lonely.”
“And that is only one of the many reasons why I love you,” I said. “No matter what, you always try to make things better.”
“When would you like to have the vow renewal?” he asked.
“I guess on a weekend, maybe. A Saturday? We wouldn’t have to take off work and we could still have a nice reception and leave everyone with Sunday to relax and prepare for the week ahead.”
“That sounds like a good plan. Any particular day?” he asked.
“Not really. I’d like to get Doris and Bernie’s information, though. So we can coordinate with the. If they’d like to come, I’d like to be able to invite them and show them a nice time.”
“I’m sure we can make that happen,” he said.
“Colin?” I asked.
“Yeah?”
“I really need to go to the bathroom.”
He chuckled as he brought his lips to mine for one last kiss.
“Go get cleaned up. I’ll move us to the bed,” he said. “Then, we can talk more about our future together.”
“Sounds good. Mind if I take a shower, too?”
“Would you like some company?” I watched his eyes darken as I leaned over and encompassed his lips once more.
“Of course,” I said.
Chapter 21
Colin
I woke up the next morning to a million phone calls and emails. There were pictures of us from the cruise ship plastered all over the news. Announcements of our wedding, and even Abby’s speech had been videotaped and posted online.
And everyone was wanting to congratulate us.
Abby and I spent the better part of our morning answering phone calls and sending back emails. Everyone was ecstatic for us, including her parents. I told her not to worry about her phone bill which was undoubtedly incurring all sorts of international charges, because now she didn’t have to worry about that kind of stuff. I was going to take care of everything she needed from here on out. Her. Her parents. Her debt and her bills. The last thing I ever wanted my wife to worry about was money. That was my responsibility, and I wasn’t going to have her panicking over it.
“Hey, Mom,” Abby said.
I urged her to put it on speakerphone so I could talk with them as well.
“Hey there, sweetheart. Your father’s here, too.”
“Hey, pumpkin.”
“Colin’s here, too, you guys,” Abby said.
“Before we get to talking, I just want you guys to know that getting married on the island was my idea. I was so inspired and caught up in the moment, I could help myself. But we plan on doing a vow renewal and reception soon after we get back.”
“You make it sound like we’re upset with you, son,” Miriam said
I smiled at Abby’s mother addressing me that way.
“We’re not upset. We’re happy for the two of you. To be honest, with some of the phone calls we’d gotten from Abby over the past couple of days, we weren’t sure what to think about the two of you,” Jack said.
Looking over at Abby, I could see the shame and guilt written on her face, and could feel her scooting away from me, like I was going to somehow cast her out. She still had that innate tendency to run. To distance herself from anything she thought was going to hurt her. It would take time for her to move beyond that reaction. To build her trust and watch her learn that not everything or everybody was out to get her. But I knew I could start now. I could start by alleviating her fear that I was upset.
So, I wrapped my arm around her hip and pulled her back into me.
“We had a few hiccups along the way, but that’s to be expected between couples,” I said.
“Don’t I know it,” Jack said. “Abby, how are you feeling?”
“I feel—wonderful,” she said, giggling.
“Oh, there are so many pictures online! I can’t stop flipping through them,” Miriam said.
“Well, we’ll get more at the vow renewal and the reception,” I said. “We’ll have them professionally done and get one framed for you guys, if you’d like.”
“Oh, I’d love that. It could go next to our own wedding picture,” Miriam said.
“That sounds like a wonderful plan,” I said.
“When’s the big vow renewal?” Jack asked.
“Well—we’ll still got a bit of planning to—”
“We’ll let you know this afternoon.”
I looked over at Abby and saw the sparkle in her eye as she leaned over and kissed me.
“Yes, I guess we’ll have a date and time for you this afternoon,” I said.
Kissing Abby on the cheek, I then set out to work. I called up the hotels in Los Angeles and tried to figure out which one could get us in the quickest. I ended up booking The Alexandria Ballrooms for the following weekend, and I was lucky to get that at all. They had a last-minute cancellation and offered it to me for a great price, and even threw in the photographer they had already booked for the event. I told them we needed a reception as well and they told me they could put one together with no problem.
“Abby,” I said. “Do you have any food preferences for the reception?”
“No shellfish,” she said. “My father’s allergic. Other than that, we’re good.”
“Okay. What about drinks? And do you want a cake?”
“Are you on the phone with someone now?” she asked.
“I am. They’re asking questions and I want your input before I answer,” I said.
“Um—I’m really not picky. Is it possible to do adult beverages as well as regular drinks?”
“You just want an open bar? There’s a nice hotel two blocks from the venue that I could put everyone up in.”
“That actually sounds really nice. Are we gonna go back there, too? Or are we gonna head back home?”
I grinned at Abby calling my place home. It felt right. It felt final. Like my life had finally fallen into place.
“Oh, I’m booking us a honeymoon suite,” I said.
“Sounds good to me. Oh! Have you called your mother?”
“Hold on a second, sweetheart. Yes, did you catch all that? Open bar, no shellfish, lots of dancing. If you can’t put a live band together that quickly, a D.J. is just fine. Uh huh. Yes, for next Saturday.”
I finalized all the details before I hung up, then I proceeded to call the hotel a couple of blocks down from the venue. I booked out the bottom three floors, then reserved a decadent honeymoon suite just for the two of us. I gave the front desk explicit instructions on what I wanted for that suite, then I gave them my card before I hung up.
“Okay, ready for our plans?” I asked.
“Hit me,” Abby said. “I’m ready to send out a mass email.”
“A mass email?” I asked.
“Yeah. My parents had to go, so I figured I could send everyone an email with the information on the vow renewal and the reception,” she said.
“Are you okay with that?” I asked.
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I just want to make sure this is what you want. That when you look back ten, twenty, and even thirty years from now, you won’t regret anything about this experience.”
I watched Abby get up from the bed as she sauntered towards me. She tossed her phone back on the bed before she threaded her arms around my neck. Our foreheads connected as she nuzzled her nose against mine, then captured my lips in t
he sweetest little kiss that weakened me at my knees.
“I married you, and for all the stress we’ve encountered, I could never regret that one detail.”
I held her in my arms as we swayed together in our room. I peppered her neck and cheek with kisses as she giggled lightly in my ear. Never in my life had I felt so complete. Never in my life had I felt so lucky and full of life. I held Abby close to me and buried my face in her shoulder, breathing in her scent as we slowly danced around in the space we had claimed as our own.
“So?” she asked. “What’s the plan?”
“Next Saturday at four o’clock, we have our vow renewal at The Alexandria Ballrooms. Afterwards will be a reception with an open bar, music, a dance floor, and no shellfish. I told them to give us the bakery’s specialty for the wedding cake, and I booked out the bottom three floors of the hotel near the venue. The keys will be reserved for anyone who wants to claim one for the night, and I booked us a nice honeymoon suite through Monday.”
“Won’t we have to work Monday?” Abby asked.
“I figured we could bring a change of clothes and go straight from the suite right on into work,” I said.
“Sounds—perfect,” she said. “I’ll send it all off in the email.”
“Who all are you sending it to?”
“My parents, people at work that we interact with regularly. Maggie and Ted, of course. A couple of girls from H.R. I’ve gotten to know. I don’t have emails of any of your friends or even your mother, though, so you’ll need to give me those.”
“Just send me the email and I’ll forward it on to those I want to send it to. I’m gonna call my mother and tell her right now though.”
“You think she’ll be happy for us? I mean, I haven’t even met her.”
I kissed Abby’s worried little lips before I gazed into her eyes.
“I think she’ll be ecstatic,” I said. “But—can I ask you a question?”
“Of course,” Abby said.
“Why did you originally move into the apartment? I mean, I know you wanted your space, but I felt like there was something more.”
I saw that cloud of guilt darken Abby’s eyes again.
“Hey, hey, hey. Look at me. We’re married, Abby. I love you. All I want to do is to clear the air a little bit. To open up lines of communication and show you that you can talk with me without the repercussions you think are going to be there.”
“I’m sorry. I guess I’m just still reeling a bit from all the excitement.”
“And you have every right to be. Right now, all I’m doing is talking with my wife,” I said, grinning.
“Wife. I like that,” she said.
“I’m kind of fond of it myself.”
“Honestly?”
“Honestly.”
“I was getting cold feet,” she said.
“Would it shock you if I said I figured that was the reason?”
“Not really,” she said, giggling. “You’ve always been able to read me better than I liked at times.”
“I wouldn’t have to if you’d just talk to me.”
“I know, I know. Consider that part of my personality a work in progress.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve got some things to work on myself,” I said. “But if it’s any consolation, I knew you’d come around.”
“Oh, you knew? Just like that?” she asked with a grin.
“Just like that,” I said.
“Just how did you know this would all come about?”
“Well, it’s like you said. I can read you better than you would like.” I scooped Abby up close to my body and gazed deeply into her eyes. I took in the specks of honey that punctuated her breathtaking brown eyes. I watched her eyes crinkle with her smile as she nuzzled her nose against mine again, creating a grin across my cheeks. I loved the feeling of her in my arms. I loved the feeling of her against my body. She collapsed into me entirely when I held her like this, relinquishing to me all control and her complete trust. I wasn’t sure if she knew she did it, but it made me feel powerful. When I was holding Abby close to me, I felt like I could do anything. She was my muse. My solace. My rock and my foundation. She was the person that could clear my head and stop my world from spinning with just the sound of her voice.
“Colin? Earth to Colin?”
“Huh? What? Sorry—what was that?” I asked.
“Where did you go?” Abby asked. “I lost you there for a second.”
“I lost myself in you,” I said.
“Ah, ever the romantic. I was asking what you wanted to do for the day. You know, since the ship heads back to port over the next couple of days.”
“I figured any decent marriage ceremony should be followed with a day of rest and relaxation. Why don’t we venture to the spa floor and see what we can get ourselves into?” I asked.
We got dressed into some comfortable clothes and made our way out onto the ship. Every corner we turned there were more people to congratulate us on our marriage. People were shaking our hands and wanting to take pictures. They were asking Abby questions that she answered with poise and grace. Instead of clinging to me for support and strength, she stood strong at my side, with her shoulders rolled back and her smile easy and relaxed.
She was better at this than she knew, and I was so proud of her.
We made our way up to the spa floor of the ship and booked a full day of treatments. A two-hour couple’s massage followed by a manicure and pedicure for her while I indulged in a mud bath. We took a therapeutic steam together, with essential oils penetrating our open pores. Then, we took a relaxing dip in a private hot tub with nothing but the water to cover our bodies.
I pulled her into my lap and showed her just how much I loved her, our bodies shaking with pleasure as we waited for our other appointments.
Once we dried ourselves off, it was time for her hair appointment. I decided to get a professional shave, which ran us both into our facials. We held hands through the facials, then ventured off to get a seaweed body wrap that came with an all-over full-body exfoliation treatment.
Once we were done with our full spa day, it was already time for dinner. We made our way to the room to get ready, still encountering people congratulating us. Abby was excited to run into Doris and Bernie again, and I had to admit I was anxious to see them, too. Now that we had the details for our vow renewal and a hotel room for them to stay in, all I had to do was convince them to fly out for it.
And as we entered the dining hall and went to go take our seats, the two of them greeted us at our table with open arms.
Chapter 22
Abby
The cruise ship landed back in Los Angeles and I was actually happy to be home. Colin wanted me to go back to his place immediately, but I told him there were a few things I did need to pack up at mine. Reluctantly, he agreed to drop me off at my place, but I reassured him I would start moving my things back into his place starting tomorrow.
By the time our vow renewal ceremony came around that weekend, my goal was to be moved and unpacked in my new home.
But, when we pulled up to my apartment complex there was a swarm of paparazzi. My stomach dropped to my toes as the cameras began to flash. Colin held me close to him as I tried to keep my footing stable, but a microphone was shoved in my face the minute we stepped out.
“How does it feel to be labeled a gold digger, Mrs. Murphy?”
My head shot up at the question before I grabbed the newspaper from his hand. Sure enough, there was a picture of Colin and I enjoying our time on the boat, only the headline wasn’t as nice as the picture. Instead, the article painted me as a woman who married Colin only to get his money.
I felt the world fall back behind me as the newspaper fluttered to the ground. I dashed to the entrance of my apartment, leaving behind Colin’s yells for me to wait. I pushed through the crowd, shoving people to the side as I went tearing through the front doors.
Someone held the elevator for me as I collapsed to my knees crying.
How the hell was this going to work? They were already painting me to be a terrible human being. All I did was marry the man I loved, and somehow they found a way to turn it into this horrible, disgusting event. I felt my breath shallowing out as the elevator doors opened, and I scurried from the floor before the other person could touch me. I knew I looked crazy and I’m sure something would appear on the internet about it later, but I didn’t care.
All I wanted to go was get back to the safety of my apartment.
“M-M-Mom?”
“Abby? What’s wrong? Did something happen with the boat? Have you guys docked yet?”
“They—they hate me again,” I said.
“Who hates you?” my mother asked.
“Them. All—all of them. They—they think I’m a gold digger, Mom.”
“Who does, sweetheart?”
“The newspapers. The press. The tabloids. They’re all—running this stupid story about how I— how I married Colin for his money!”
“Sweetheart, I love you. You know I do. So, with all the love in the world, I’m going to give you the one piece of advice that is going to save your marriage with Colin time and time again.”
“Okay,” I said, sniffling.
“Grow up.”
“What?” I asked.
“Grow up. Abby, this was the life you signed up for. You knew of Colin’s fame and wealth when you met him. You knew the cameras and the attention that followed him. And I raised you to be smarter than this. You’ve allowed Derek to break you down into a weak-minded woman, and I won’t coddle you any longer. You can either get broken up about the things they say and be miserable half the time, or you can take it all with a grain of salt and remember that you are a good person. That you married Colin for the right reasons, despite whatever hogwash story someone wants to print to sell papers.”
Sitting on my couch, I wiped away my tears. I knew my mother was right. And not only that, but I’d run away from Colin again. The one thing I told him I was done doing. Less than a week into our marriage, I was already breaking my vows to him.
Then, a knock came at my door.
“I gotta go, Mom.”
“Keep your chin up. Find your strength again. No man is going to give it to you, just like no man should ever take it from you.”