My Two Husbands

by Yari Martinez

  The box does not weigh much, so I can hold it with one hand as I use the other to cover my face and weep. I move closer to Nicolas and try to remain calm, but I can’t stop sobbing.

  “Yes,” I mumble through my tears, clear enough to be understood without bobbing my head up and down like a bobble head.

  Without warning, the lights of the church turn on, and my sobbing stops. My heart races as if I have got caught doing illegal. Immediately through the blur of my tears, I see my father, my mother, Diane, Julie, even Zoe. They all walk up to me and embrace me in turn. I reduced to a weeping mess.

  My father holds me in his arms, “You have an amazing man here,” he tells me in my ear, “and I know when I leave this earth, Nicolas will take care of you, allowing my soul to rest in peace.” I hug my father, who is a man of a few words.

  “How long have you all known about this?” I ask, wiping my face for the hundredth time.

  “Today,” answers Diane.

  “How did you know to invite Zoe?” I ask Nicolas.

  Nicolas smiles and looks at Diane.

  “I invited her because I know how much she means to you and how much you appreciate her. I know that during a moment like this, you would love for her to be here.”

  It’s a shame I don’t get to hang out with Zoe as much as I like out of work, but I’m happy Diane pays attention to me and what goes on in my life, because I can’t imagine Zoe not being here during something so amazing and magical.

  “Open the box,” instructs Nicolas.

  I have completely forgotten about the box. I place it on the altar and unwrap it. Inside are papers and another small box. I open the papers and quickly glance through them.

  “Oh my God! You bought us a house?”

  I run up to Nicolas and hug him as tight as I can. I can’t believe this is happening to me.

  “What if I’d said no?”

  “I would have still given you the house. I have a lifetime to make you fall in love with me,” he says, hugging me back. “But I’m happy you said yes.”

  Opening the small box is a bit difficult, but when I finally succeed, our house key falls out. He isn’t kidding—our lives are forever changed.

  “There’s a dress for you in the back. Why don’t you put it on so I can finally call you my wife?”

  With all the excitement, there is no need to ask the girls to come with me to help me change. I find the dress easily in the back room. When we lay eyes on it, we are taken away by its beauty. Never have I seen anything like it.

  “It’s gorgeous,” whispers Julie, awed.

  “This is crazy,” I say, sitting down in a chair. “What am I doing? Hunter will kill me, this is all so sudden. I haven’t prepped Kaylee for something like this. I can’t do this! Not like this.” I’m acting juvenile, doing crazy things without thinking about the consequences. Haven’t I done enough of that already?

  “You can do this. We are here with you. Hunter is not going to kill you, and Kaylee is going to adjust fine. I’m quite sure you and Nicolas will introduce this gently to Kaylee,” says Diane.

  I look up at her kneeling next to me and say “I want to do this, but how can I?”

  “Then change and let the magic happen. Nicolas is amazing,” affirms Diane as she tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear.

  I know he’s amazing. The little time I have known him seems like a lifetime together.

  “I was wrong about Hunter. I was wrong about Dominic. What makes you think I am right about Nicolas?” I ask her.

  “I never agreed with you about Hunter or Dominic. I thought they were both losers, but we live and we learn. This man loves you to the point that even I feel his love for you. I know he is the one. But if you don’t want to do this, tell me right now, and I’ll sneak you out of here in a New York minute.”

  “I do love him, I’m just scared it’s too good to be true.”

  I never told him that I loved him before.

  “Then love him and let him love you! There’s nothing wrong with love,” cries Diane.

  I look away from Diane and gaze at the dress. I know no man will ever love me the way Nicolas does. With little privacy, I change into my wedding dress, which could not be a better fit. I am surprised by how Nicolas was able to pick a perfect dress.

  “You look beautiful,” says Julie.

  Zoe and Diane quickly start touching up the dress.

  “Thank you,” I say shyly. “How about my hair and makeup? I look a mess.”

  “Luckily for you, I brought your makeup bag from home and your curling iron,” says Diane, holding up my kit.

  Within minutes I am ready, and we walk back into the church. Everyone’s eyes light up, and a priest who wasn’t there before is standing by Nicolas, waiting for me.

  I walk down the aisle to the altar. The way Nicolas is looking at me warms my heart, and I know he is exactly where he wants to be. I’m happy that it is by my side.

  I can’t help being in shock. Many of the words the priest utters go unheard, but I hear him ask, “Do you take Nicolas to be your husband?”

  "I do.” I never meant anything more sincerely than I do right now. Nicolas’ “I do” are words that will be forever engraved in my heart.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride,” intones the priest. Without waiting a second for the applause, Nicolas sweeps me off my feet and kisses me as if only the two of us exist in the world.

  We don’t have a great limo waiting outside, but my small family walking us back to Nicolas car is the best a girl can ask for.

  “Nicolas, take care of my girl. Don’t forget you owe me a fishing trip. I need time with my new son,” says my father after helping me into the car. He then turns to me. “I love you sweetheart. You look amazing tonight. Enjoy the rest of your lives. And I’ll see you later this week.”

  My father isn’t a man to show much emotion, but the shine in his eyes as he speaks to me tells me that I will forever be his little girl.

  I hug my father, and I know it is okay to feel safe in the arms of my new husband, simply because my father trusts him with his most prized possession. My father closes the door to Nicolas’ car after everyone kisses us goodbye, and I feel my whole life has changed within minutes.

  “How were you able to get a priest with such short notice, and that too at this time of the night?” I ask.

  He holds my hand while driving. “I’ve been going to that church for years. He’s my priest. I just asked if he could marry us.”

  “I can’t believe we’re really married,” I say, looking down at my rings. “I never thought I would get an engagement ring and wedding ring all on the same day.”

  “You better believe it, Mrs. Brady.”

  My heart skips a beat at the sound of my new title. I am no longer Ms. York. I am now Mrs. Brady.

  “I know this is sudden. That’s why I only brought together those who are very close to you. We have more than enough time to make our house our home, and we can decide later when we want the world to know. I don’t expect you to tell Hunter and Kaylee right away. I’ll leave it up to you, when you find it appropriate to tell them.”

  If I didn’t know any better, I would think he is a psychic. The blood is rushing to my brain thinking how I am going to share any of this with anyone. Hunter never liked Dominic, but hopefully he won’t have the same sour thoughts about Nicolas and me. I don’t see myself telling Hunter or Kaylee anything anytime soon. How could I? Plus, Hunter and I soon need to mend the damage between us. Tomorrow will be a good time to give him the letter I wrote.

  Before I know it, Nicolas is parking, and we are in front of a beautiful white three-story house. I do a double take at the sight, speechless.

  “Are you ready?” he asks.

  “This is our house?”

  “Yes, don’t you like it?” He sounds worried.

  “Like it? I love it! But can we afford to live here?” I ask without thinking. I was taught not to ask about the price
of a gift, but who the hell can afford a three-story house overnight? I have only dreamed of entering a house like this, never living in one.

  “We can, and it is my gift to you. You will never have to pay a dime to live here.”

  I turn to face him. He is a breath of fresh air in my life, and I wonder what I have done to deserve him. I unbuckle myself and kiss him passionately. As much as I love the house, I can’t imagine it without him.

  When we break apart, he hands me the key to the house. “The next surprise is inside.”

  I look at him, lost. “The house alone isn’t the surprise?”

  “Nope,” he says with a charming grin.

  I get out of the car and walk up to the house. Everything feels like a dream. I am wearing a beautiful wedding dress, walking into a magazine house that belongs to me. Surreal.

  As soon as I unlock the door, Nicolas steps in front of me and blocks my path. “Allow me, Mrs. Brady,” he says. “You shall have the first view of the inside as you are carried over the threshold. I believe in being a bit old-fashioned.”

  “Old fashion would be good if I wasn’t the size of this house.”

  “You call the little belly a house? Please, that’s barely a basketball.”

  He sweeps me into his arms and carries me inside. The interiors are far more glamorous than I could have fancied. I am awestruck.

  “Nicolas! This is beautiful! I can’t believe you got this house for us. This is too much,” I gasp.

  “It’s not too much, believe me. This is where we will build our life-time memories. Now follow me, I want to show you something.” He puts me down and kisses my forehead. This man must be a lunatic, or crazily in love. I guess time will tell.

  We go up the stairs, down a long hallway, and finally to a door.

  “Open sesame,” he murmurs in my ear.

  Nervously, I push the door open. I have no idea as to how else he can surprise me, but that shows my lack of creativity, because “surprised” is not the word to describe my state. The room is a nursery for a baby. For our baby. I turn around to face Nicolas, speechless.

  “I took the liberty of preparing the room for the baby,” he explains gently. “The rest of the house I leave to you. Kaylee can decorate her room when the time is right.”

  “It’s beautiful! Our baby will love it,” I manage to utter. I walk into the room, making my way to the white crib.

  Just as I am about to run my hands over the crib, my cellphone goes mad with vibrations. I look immediately and find numerous messages from Hunter flooding my phone. They are pictures of Kaylee. “Why would he suddenly text me all these pictures?” I wonder out loud. As I attempt to text back, my phone continues to receive pictures of Kaylee.

  I pray my worst fears are not coming to life.

  Chapter 25

  My fingers shake in fear as I fiddle with my phone, desperately trying to think what I can do. Hunter has just sent me over twenty pictures of Kaylee, and now he refuses to answer my phone calls. I need to get to Hunter’s house right now, and I am far away.

  “Diane!” I exclaim loudly as soon as she answers my phone call. Diane is in my house, which is closer to Hunter’s. She can get there before me.

  “Hello,” says Diane, “aren’t you supposed to be in honey—”

  “Go to Hunter’s house now,” I urgently cut her off. He sent me pictures of Kaylee. I think he’s planning to run away with her.”

  “Brook, he probably sent you a picture he thought was nice, and that’s his way of trying to communicate with you.”

  “I would think the same if he sent one or two pictures and wrote something, but he hasn’t! He sent over twenty pictures and isn’t answering my calls. Please, rush over there. I’m too far away. I won’t make it on time to stop him from kidnapping her. I can’t live without knowing where my baby is, please.” I am getting frantic.

  I can hear Diane jumping out of bed. She is finally on the same page as me, and I feel a rush of relief.

  “I’m going to call the police to meet you there. Diane, don’t allow him take Kaylee. Do whatever you have to, but stop him.”

  “Don’t worry, I won’t let him take her anywhere. Now hurry up and meet me there.”

  As soon as Diane hangs up, a text comes through. I fear another picture, but it’s a text from Hunter instead. In my anxiety, I read the text out loud.

  “I want you to see how beautiful our daughter is. I want you to see how you destroyed the most beautiful part about us. I will never accept that I can only see my own daughter under a judge’s terms. And I sure as hell won’t allow Dominic to spend a second with her. I am her father. Not that bastard who destroyed my family. Every single time I see my daughter, I’m afraid she will tell me she met that asshole, but not anymore. I will never have to worry if he spent a moment next to my daughter. He can have you, my wife. There’s nothing I can do about that. But he can’t have my daughter too. If you had met anyone else, maybe I would have come to terms with everything, but never Dominic. Enjoy the pictures I sent you of Kaylee, because they’re the only way you will see her again. Now tell me if divorcing me and making a life with Dominic was worth it!”

  “Where does he live?” asks Nicolas as soon as I’m done. “I’ll get us there as fast as I can. Call the cops now,” he instructs urgently, jumping into action.

  We run out of the house and into the car, slamming the door shut behind us. I tell Nicolas the address, and we’re immediately on the way.

  “911. How may I help you?” answers a male voice to my call.

  “My daughter is about to be kidnapped. I need the police to help me,” I say, trying to sound calm to avoid being misunderstood by the operator. The police might be my only hope.

  I can hear the keyboard doing its magic on the other end of the line, and it is a soothing sound, simply because it gives me the feeling that something is being done.

  “Who is trying to kidnap your daughter, ma’am?”

  “Her father.”

  I have forgotten to put on my seatbelt, so the movement of the car throws me against the door and into the center console.

  “Put on your seatbelt,” Nicolas urges in hushed tones, but I ignore him.

  “Ma’am, is there a court order stating you are the full custodial parent of the child? Because if there isn’t, it’s not kidnapping.”

  “Yes! I have a court order! Now please help me before my daughter disappears forever,” I scream.

  After what seems like an unending interview, the operator tells me that two patrol cars will be sent out to Hunter’s house due to the sensitivity of the call and the unknown circumstances—there might be weapons involved. I am as grateful as I possibly can be.

  “They are sending the police over there now. I hope they make it on time,” I tell Nicolas.

  I want to call Diane to find out if she has reached Hunter’s house, but I fear calling may cause her an accident, so I just clutch my phone tightly, hoping it rings soon.

  “Call Hunter as many times as you can or text him,” instructs Hunter. “Let him know Dominic isn’t in your life anymore. Let him know you’re on your way to talk to him. You know him better than me. You would know what to say to him to calm him down.”

  My phone calls have gone unanswered. It’s best if I text and then chain call him. Hopefully something will make him talk to me or distract him enough for us to get there before he leaves.

  “Hunter please. You don’t have to do this. I’m not with Dominic anymore. He left me and the baby a while ago already. I have no idea where he is. I found out he is married, and he disappeared with his wife. Please call me. I had written you a letter and thought of giving it to you tomorrow. I want us to work together for Kaylee. But please pick up the call and talk to me, please. Dominic will never meet Kaylee. You never have to worry about him.” I hit the send button, and a second seems like an eternity. I would give anything to hear Hunter’s voice at this moment.

  Chain calling falls on deaf ears, because the
phone is no longer ringing. All calls are being directed to voicemail, and I feel I’m dying.

  “Please God, please. Have Hunter call me,” I pray out loud. I call one more time. Again voicemail. I decide to leave a voicemail.

  “Hunter, please call me. Dominic is gone, we aren’t together anymore. He left the baby and me, and you never have to worry about him. Kaylee will never have any father but you. Please call me, don’t do anything drastic. We don’t have to follow the court order. We can both be happy with Kaylee. Just call me, I’m begging you.” Hitting the end button on the screen feels as if I am disconnecting from Kaylee and Hunter. My world is spinning out of control.

  My phone rings as we get closer to Hunter’s house. It’s Diane.

  “You need to hurry up. The cops are here, and they think he’s still in the house with Kaylee. But all the lights are out.”

  “I’m almost there. Why do they think he’s still there?” I ask.

  “His car is still here, and the neighbors say they haven’t seen or heard anything.”

  “Are they knocking? Tell them to break down the door.”

  I don’t know police procedure, and at moment, I couldn’t care less. I want my daughter back now.

  “They’re being cautious. They don’t know if he’s holding Kaylee hostage.”

  Hunter would never hold Kaylee hostage. That’s our baby! It’s ridiculous to think that! I know Hunter has been upset and unpredictable, but he loves Kaylee and what we once had together. He would never do that.

  Our car turns the corner, and we spot lights everywhere from the police cars and ambulances. Everyone is out on the street, watching the spectacle.

  “We just turned the corner,” I tell Diane. As soon as she sees us, she waves us down and Nicolas stops the car to let me out.

  “Why are you still in your wedding dress?”

  I look down at myself and feel foolish still wearing the wedding dress. I have completely forgotten about it, and it’s too late now to worry about it.