by Sandifer, L
AFTER THE WEDDING
Lies and Deception
I’m Elizabeth Warn, and my new husband (Justin) and I have just boarded a flight back to New York to begin our new life together, leaving behind the beautiful Island of Barbados, where we celebrated the most wonderful honeymoon, filled with a lifetime of memories that I will never forget. The island had the most beautiful trees that I had ever seen, and the leaves on the Palms always moved back and forth as if they were waiting for new lovers to inhabit the nature surrounding them. The ocean was blue and sparkled like diamonds, and the exotic flowers of many different varieties and colors seemed to whisper sounds of love in the air, saying “Stay with us for a long journey,” but as enchanting as it was, we had our own journey, the road to fulfillment and happiness, spending the rest of our lives together.
Our first class accommodations are exquisite. We were just served well chilled champagne; just what I needed to relax and think about the life I look forward to sharing with Justin, while I watch his body as he sleeps, resting his hand on my thigh. I close my eyes and remember the intense love we made before leaving the island. His body dripped of sweet sweat as he covered me and moved as though we were dancing to the sound of magical music that only we could hear, but my thoughts were interrupted, when he turned his head, leaned closer and whispered in my ear that he loved me and wanted to make love again, and I looked into his eyes and said “I love you too Justin, and can’t wait until we get home.”
I also had time to reminisce about my life as a young girl growing up, before leaving home and venturing out into a world so far apart from how I was raised, and from college to a new career and meeting Justin Pent.
CHAPTER 1
Reflections
I guess I’d be classified as a small town girl from Abbeville, Mississippi, who thought she could spread her wings much wider and accomplish whatever she desired in a big city. Abbeville is very, very small and I always said playfully as a child, “If you blink your eyes twice passing through, you‘ll miss the entire town, so don’t blink at all.” Growing up, I always read and glanced through magazines that my mom subscribed to, Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, which were my favorite. Whenever I saw a mail-in subscription card, I filled it out, requesting to have a mink coat sent C.O.D. and whatever else I saw in it that grabbed my attention, then I’d ask my father to mail it. He never looked at the card, just stamped and mailed it. Well, I never received the mink coat or anything else. I guess from the printing on the card, there was no doubt I was an under aged child, not knowing what the heck I was doing, at only eight or nine years old.
I loved watching Walt Disney and was a bigger than ever fan of the show, but if my father Bill came in, and wanted to see something else, he always turned the channel and it didn’t matter what show anyone else was watching, unless it was my mother Tennie. But, when I watched, I sang right along with Annette and Cubby, sitting on the floor in front of our big brown Sylvania TV. It was my highlight of the day, right after school. It was such a favorite, that I volunteered my father ‘s help in building a Mickey Mouse Club House, and charged .50 cent dues to join. I only had about five members, but was happy that I had my very own, special Club House, like Annette and Cubby. Whenever any of my relatives visited, I took cigarettes from anyone who smoked and saved them for the next club meeting for the members who said they wanted to take smoking lessons whenever we met. That didn’t last for long, thank goodness, because my father caught us one day. He almost closed the club down, but I begged and pleaded until he gave in.
My dad was an eighteen wheeler truck driver, who went to bed very early and woke up just as early also, but I always said he missed his calling in life, because he was very analytical. He liked to work with numbers, always figuring and measuring. He and my great uncle, (my mother’s uncle, who was her mother’s brother, the grandmother I never met, because she died from complications of childbirth when my mother was 11 days old) an agricultural agent, who traveled while working for a university and taught agricultural students and residents in various communities, how to plant fruits and vegetables successfully, which led him to teach my father how to splice two different fruits together, a peach and a plum, and ultimately created a delicious speckled fruit. My father sold it and other fruits to the local grocery stores in our small town and was amazed with the response and how quickly they sold. Then he began to sell to other groceries in the surrounding areas. He drove his truck during the week and farmed on the ranch during the weekends, until he eventually gave up trucking, because of the thriving fruit business.
At the time, being young, I couldn’t believe that selling fruit could make such a good income. My mother Tennie was a housewife, who loved to cook. I remember sitting on the wooden cabinet in the kitchen watching her prepare meals. Whenever she baked cakes, she always saved leftover batter for me, I loved to scrape the bowl, and always knew she left a little extra, to be sure I was satisfied.
We always had cookies and pies in the kitchen, because my dad had a sweet tooth and loved everything my mother baked, and always said she should have opened a bake shop, and whenever the band traveled to football games with the team, my mom baked enough cookies for everyone, but sometimes there was a problem, because there weren’t enough, because someone had eaten too many.
I was somewhat quiet and reserved in school, but smart, popular and very competitive. I had friends, but only two or three of us who were very close. I was well liked by lots of the faculty also and was thought of as an excellent student and teacher favorite. I participated in lot’s of activities, such as the debating team, a band member, drum major and played several instruments; the clarinet, alto, bass and contrabass, flute, and saxophone. But, could never control my breathing on the flute and wasn’t that great on the saxophone, but was considered one of the best, playing the“B” flat clarinet. I was also a Brownie and later a Girl Scout, and entered a class cookie baking contest and won first place, tying with my sister Dean, two years older and the second of three girls, and Charlotte is the oldest, and didn’t attend the same school.
CHAPTER 2
Moving forward
After high school, everyone went their separate way, in many directions and to different states. I don’t really recall keeping in touch with anyone, which now seems a little strange after so many years. Maybe it was because our class was separated into three different groups by academic achievement, as we got older, which left some classmates feeling discouraged and abandoned. Some enrolled in colleges or universities and others never left town. I didn’t mind living in a small town, because thinking about it now, I gained certain values from growing up there, with all of them being positive, that I will remember and respect for the rest of my life.
Most everyone got along with each other and knew everyone’s business, and that’s probably the not so good part. Because my family lived on a ranch, many of my classmates and teachers thought we were wealthy, only because I wore very pretty clothes and we had a quaint little house with a picket fence, but it was green and not white; my dad said it was to give a statement, matching the green trim on our house. My dad had a modest income, but we were not rich by any means. I guess I would say that I had a very good childhood and life at home, but I also knew that looks could be deceiving, which I learned later in life, as I grew up.
CHAPTER 3
The beginning of a new life
After graduating from Stanford University, located in the heart of Northern California and the very popular Silicon Valley, I moved to New York, and started my career with a clothing manufacturer as an entry level designer, which is where I met Jessica Valkner, who is now my very best friend, and after a couple of years, I managed to rent the apartment of my dreams, located just outside of New York
, in suburbia. Life seemed very good and was prosperous for me. However, after a number of years of growing and learning, I felt as though I had reached my peak at the company and began to think about owning a clothing business. It was as though a voice inside was saying “You haven’t finished, find your dream.” After all, I’d had several promotions, and not only was I now the head designer, but also the director of marketing, with a large staff, and commanded a very high six figure salary. I remembered what my father once told my mother, “Tennie, that girl’s gonna be something one day.” I kind of laughed and said, “Yes, I will.”
One of my goals in life was to be successful, independent, help take care of my parents in their golden retirement years, own a business and meet a well established professional who was also independent and wanted to love and join forces with someone like me; get married and live happily ever after. I never knew the flip side of love and commitment could be so distorted and ugly, until sometime later.
CHAPTER 4
The wonderful life
I worked for the company ten years and decided I wanted to open a high-end fashion clothing business, and why not, I put my time in and worked very hard dedicating myself to someone else’s company and its success, helping to re-establish, re-build and increase their growth in the marketplace, and felt that it was time to establish myself in a thriving city, that catered to women looking their best.
I don’t want to sound as if the company wasn’t generous or kind to me, because they were, in many ways. I was highly respected, given bonuses, vacationed at fabulous company retreats and given carte blanche to the company plane, as well as a fabulously large expense. What more could a girl ask for? I had just reached a period in my life where I felt it was time to extend and expand my growth, with a whole new me. I had all of the skills and knowledge, training and expertise to do great things. I saved quite a lot of money after remembering my roots and what my mother and father taught me. I gave back to them, to live comfortably in retirement in the home that I grew up in, after having it remodeled to my mother’s specifications and taste, with everyone being very happy and satisfied with the direction our lives had taken.
After searching for eight months, I found an excellent location in downtown New York, which needed some remodeling, but was located near many other upscale shops. I decided to take a three month leave of absence, to work on my plans, remodeling and other marketing material, because I had to be different and offer what the others didn’t.
My very good friend, Jessica, was involved in many aspects in the planning details of my business in the early stage. I could count on her honest opinions, which were many. I had advance knowledge of some of the very best designers (being one myself) and clothing manufacturers, in and out of the country and with Jessica’s knowledge of production, it was a slam dunk. After a lot of hard work, my new boutique was scheduled to open in 90 days; which would be 30 days after my resignation upon returning to work.
Jessica wanted to join me in the business, but I had to clarify that she would be an employee opposed to being a partner, because of our great friendship, I didn’t want either of us to jeopardize it, being aware that some partners in business could have many differences of opinion on how the business should operate, until a very good friendship could be lost, forever. I just didn’t want this to happen to us, and told her to give it some thought. After, carefully contemplating it for several weeks, Jessica made the decision to remain where she was, because of her current salary and many other opportunities within the company that she was exposed to, with the possibility of becoming president of production instead of her current title as the director. I felt it was a good chose, and life is about choices and trying to make the best for one’s self.
CHAPTER 5
On My Own
I returned to work after my leave and submitted my resignation, to be effective in 30 days, giving the company ample time to fill my position, and felt that it would not be easy. After a large company party, I set out to be my own boss, very confident, with the certainty of succeeding. I would settle for nothing else or the lesser, as my parents also told me in the past, “Be all that you can be,” and you will have our support, always, which was a large impact on me. I will always remember it.
CHAPTER 6
In business
It took six months for the business, “Tailored for You, by Liz” to ramp up, but I’ve been in business now for a little over a year and it has been the ride of my life. I had a fabulous grand opening and the sales have been phenomenal, because I traveled the world for some of my clothing line, and hired designers to oversee my sketches, as I chose the perfect fabric for all designs, and of course whatever a customer wanted that wasn’t in their size, posed no problem to be created, with a couple of fittings, and deliver the finished garment to their residence in one of my specially designed trucks with drivers wearing uniforms bearing my business name, which made a wonderful impact on New York society. After a showing, which included international clothing businesses, I had finally made my mark in the industry and slowed my pace down, to get into the dating scene, to find the right man and complete my own little circle and eventually get married and start a family, which happened sooner than I anticipated, and should have put brakes on, but nevertheless, I was thrilled.
Jessica is the only person I asked to help me select a beautiful wedding gown when the time came, not the traditional one but something suitable for an island nuptial near the ocean, and after trying several gowns, I found the perfect one, a soft white chiffon, off the shoulder, simple and elegant, floor length, that was tailored to fit by one of my staff designers. I chose beautiful, tropical and exotic flowers forming a crown around my head, without a veil. Something old was my mom’s pearl necklace that her mother wore, that was saved and given to her by her grandmother, something new would be a bracelet that my future husband would give me as a wedding gift; something borrowed were the beautiful shoes that Jessica would loan, just for the wedding, I picked them from her closet sometime back, she said they were here favorite, not to misplace them, and something blue would the garter around my thigh. So, everything had been selected, except the right and deserving man.
CHAPTER 7
The wedding
I met the man of my dreams (Justin) sooner than later and could not help but think that my preplanning had something to do with it, not knowing what was lying ahead. Jessica was my maid of honor. She said that she had hoped to be the matron of honor, but she would get there someday, even though it was not on my wedding day. It was a small but elegant wedding in Barbados, and included my parents, one of my sisters and Jessica. Justin’s parents were afraid to fly, but sent their congratulations and love. We celebrated until the wee hours of the morning, then everyone, except Justin and I, flew back home. We wanted to stay a couple of days longer, to be completely alone without interruption.
I can’t remember eating a full meal during the last days on the island, only delicious fruits and cheeses, with champagne and lots of fine wines. It was unbelievable, and at that time, I couldn’t imagine anything better. I was truly completing my circle of happiness. Of course, I was happy all along, before marrying, but including someone you love to share your happiness is creating a beautiful new level in life.
CHAPTER 8
The beginning of a new life together
Justin and I have just gotten back from our honeymoon in Barbados after staying three beautiful days. It was wonderful, just lying in bed after making wild and passionate love, with the wind blowing in from the perfectly blue ocean through the large open sliding door at the foot of our huge bed, that was surrounded with a soft white gauze type material that flowed back and forth, sending whispers in the wind, while lying there thinking about our late night walks on the beach, with a moon so bright, it seemed to sparkle, or were there just sparkles in my eyes for the love I felt for my new husband. I thought, “Can we make this last forever?”
Justin and I are truly meant for each other
, we are actually husband and wife and I have no doubts about it; our marriage will last, because I will invest lots of love, time and effort to make sure that it does, because we love each other so very much, and I thought Justin would do the same, not knowing that I would be the only partner investing in our marriage. I never thought that I would meet someone who was not only a professional, but a well-known established, respected corporate and divorce attorney in private practice. What more could I want or ask for? I knew I had the perfect man, in many ways. I thought to myself, I’m floating on pure love, and can’t come back down right now. I realized later that sometimes when you do come back down, reality can bite.
CHAPTER 9
Remembering when I met Justin
When Justin and I started dating, I remember thinking, what a match we make, which was a year and a half ago, a short time before I left my career to start my business. Even though we’ve been married only two weeks, I feel as though I’ve known him for most of my life, fitting like a hand in a glove. I know that it might seem a little crazy, but, it’s how I feel, and think it can only get better as time passes.
I met him when my friend Jessica and I decided to meet after work for a late dinner, after the happy hour crowd, and afterwards, continued for drinks to another favorite spot, to meet and mingle with other professionals. We thought it would be a new twist to an old song, which was for each of us to do the usual thing, work, go home and collapse. We would call each other and discuss what kind of dirt was circulating at work, if any, and what we had on our agenda for the next day, which was not very exciting for two young vibrant, available women, just waiting to be plucked by the right and deserving young man, somewhere out there.