The internet was a wonderful invention to shop for a future destination. Ever since she went home and was able to look up and see stars instead of building lights, she longed to own her own ranch. With the money she saved and Diane’s gift, she was going to buy a piece of heaven of her own.
Christmas morning was waiting for her, no matter how many times she pulled the covers over her head. She spent the night avoiding the thoughts in her mind about the message her mother had left on her phone, pleading for a truce and for Elise to come home. It seemed Melanie had kept their mother informed of Elise’s life. But no one knew she had quit her job and listed her house for sale. She wasn’t ready to share that announcement.
Ben’s face stayed in the front of her mind as she flipped through the television channels. They watched The Christmas Story every year they were together. It seemed to be airing on all the stations she tried to bypass. She imagined that he was probably opening gifts under the tree with his kids. Everything she would never have. And it was her fault. She had let it drop with him. It made sense he was tired of the leaving game by now. Her job now was to get past him as well as, she was certain, he had with her. She was young, attractive, and ready to embark on a new year. A page wasn’t enough to lay out all her resolutions. Next year would be better, she promised herself.
She jumped up from the sofa to grab her ringing phone. It was Melanie, the normal child of Lyla and Henry Newton. The one who escaped the fate of dysfunction because she was too young to know the world had collapsed around her when it did.
“Merry Christmas!” The joy in her voice failed in comparison to the one the Happy Elf used on this occasion.
“Merry Christmas, to you, sis.” Fake holiday cheer was what Elise lived for. She was just glad it was only the phone watching her real expression.
“You won’t believe it! Guess, Elise. Guess.”
“I can’t imagine. You got a new car and now you don’t have to say a prayer every time you turn your ignition on?”
“I told you I got that fixed. I’m engaged!!” She blurted it out.
It was impossible anything could get better for her sister. Maybe twins on the sonogram? Each one holding the cure for cancer and aging?
“That’s absolutely the best news, Mel. I’m so happy for you.”
“What are you doing now? Please don’t tell me you’re alone, Elise.”
“Of course I am right now. But Janine invited me over and I’m getting ready. She’s having this super big party and who knows? Maybe I’ll be kissing my own hunk under the mistletoe tonight.”
Total lie. The truth was almost as pathetic as your ex secretary taking pity on you. But she couldn’t have nothing to do all day. She looked around at her house. No tree, no lights, nothing. Just her one phone call from her personal jail cell.
“Well, I hope so. Then maybe you can help me plan my wedding. I want you to be my bride’s maid. Will you?”
No way.
Hmm, that knee jerk response did sound bad in her head. Maybe she shouldn’t say that aloud. Think about it. Give her false hope until you think of something better than ‘no way.’
“Of course.”
“I didn’t have a wedding before, and I’m so excited. I’m picking red and white. It’s going to be in February on Valentine’s Day. I’ll email you possible dresses. Shoot, I’ll be bigger by then with the baby and all. What do I do? I’ll look like King Kong in a tarp!” The helium in her sister’s giant-sized balloon was losing effectiveness. Why not ask Elise? She was fluent in all things shot-to-heck.
“I don’t know, Mel. You won’t be that big, will you? How much weight did you put on with Mason and Faith? Surely, they have dresses for occasions such as yours.”
“No, I’ve got it.” Ignoring the advice from Elise that she asked for, Melanie formulated her own solution. “I’ll have a New Years wedding. That way I still have my figure for the honeymoon. And the kids will be on break so Mom and Ben can help watch them. Yeah, Elise I’m having a wedding next week.” She screamed with excitement. “I’ll get a dress off the rack and you’ll come home. It will be a dream come true. I’ve got so much planning. Can you take off work and help me?”
“Melanie, you can’t plan a wedding in a week. Are you crazy?” Fear struck her at the thought she’d have to go home again. Not even she could come up with a lie not to fly home, that quickly. Especially during a major holiday, when everyone who didn’t work retail was off.
“The church isn’t booked, I’m sure. And Jilly’s Bakery can make my wedding cake. The flowers will be poinsettias and they can be done by Westwood Florist. Anything is possible, Elise. Now, when can you be here? I can’t walk down the aisle without you standing there for me.”
Sure she could. She’d have to. Elise could not, should not, would not return back home. It was an impossibility. Then she looked around at her dying fern and wondered why her house was empty. Because Elise made it that way. She had to get over her obsession with seclusion and go for her sister.
“Ben’s going to be there, Melanie. I’m not ready for that.”
“I won’t lie to you. He’s going to be Jacob’s best man. I know, weird, huh? But they’re best friends. It turns out that it works best for the kids. Jacob’s not going to try to be their daddy, and we’ll all continue to get along. You can’t get better than that.”
Elise stopped listening after the words best man and Ben were used. “Could I possibly be Skyped into the ceremony? Just have a large television screen where my body would be. That way no one has to feel uncomfortable.”
“Elise, you need to come home and deal with what you left. Mom is not the same. I think you really hurt her.”
“You’d have to have feelings to be hurt.” She fired back faster than a semi-automatic rifle.
“Elise, play nice. I’ll talk to Ben and tell him to play nice, as well. It’s just the weekend. Do it for me.”
“All right. Let me know the color you want me to wear and I’ll send you some pictures of dresses. I’ll just get one here and bring it with me.” She poked her index finger down her throat at the idea she was actually agreeing to attend this wedding.
“You are an angel. I’ll talk to you soon.”
It was a good thing Elise didn’t have close neighbors. They might wonder what all the screaming coming from her house was about on Christmas day. Why did she just agree to step back into the very sinking mud she managed to get out of? Did she have a death wish? She had exactly one week to either contact a twenty-four-hour disease rendering her unable to fly, or a good lie to get out of going to her sister’s wedding.
The line was long to the rental car counter. Elise waited with her carryon bag. Her dress was neatly folded inside. With a little shake, it would look wedding day worthy. It was finally her turn. The service guy handed her the keys to a 2014 Charger. Elise smiled as she started it and heard it purr. Feelings of apprehension were replaced with a thousand pounds of horsepower. It was amazing what a fast car could make you feel. Lots of liquor would do the rest to get her through the next twenty-four hours. She was already late to the church for rehearsal.
Everyone turned and looked her way when the wooden doors slammed shut. The wind had picked up outside and she wasn’t used to the chill of winter. Her fingers were freezing. She’d forgotten it wasn’t California weather she was coming to and wore a silky dress without a jacket. She wasn’t sure if that’s why her lip was trembling or if it was because she’d just walked into the lion’s den of everyone she’d had a beef with in life.
“I’m sorry I’m late.” She ran up to the front where everyone stood.
“That’s all right.” Melanie went to her sister and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you so much for coming.”
Ben stood to the right of Jacob. He seemed to be trying not to make eye contact with the girl that seemed to always blow in and out of his life.
“Go stand up there.” Melanie pointed to the step next to her.
There was only one
other groomsman and bride’s maid, making it small and personal. Their closest friends and family were the only ones invited. Elise tried not to look at Ben. But that was like asking someone not to look at a solar eclipse that only came around every hundred years.
He wore black pants and a nice button down shirt. Being that close to him without touching him was challenging her very core. The pianist bobbed up and down, waiting for her part when the preacher introduced the lucky couple.
After a few instructions from the wedding planner, also known to the sisters as Auntie Lynn (no relation), it was time for her to walk down the aisle with Ben for practice. He held out his arm, offering to share in the most awkward moment. She interlaced hers with his, and her heart flat-lined for a brief moment. They robotically walked back to the door and broke from the touch when their destination was met.
“Hi, Ben. It’s good to see you.”
“You, too, Elise.” His tone was as formal as a presidential debate, where both parties greet their opponent.
He walked to the back wall, taking his coat off the peg.
Elise found Melanie and situated her body away from being able to see her mother. Mason and Faith ran over to her.
“Hey, kids. Did you get your presents?” She took turns hugging each of them.
“Yes, thanks, Aunt Elise.” They hugged her back and ran over to their daddy.
Her mother moved in, releasing from Frank’s arm. “Elise, can I talk to you?”
Awkward moment number two. And still no liquor. How was she supposed to handle these moments without the aid of complete drunkenness?
“Sure, Mother.” Her second opponent of the night seemed not to carry the limp she last saw her with.
Lyla took her to the side, motioning for her to sit down. “I’ve tried to call you.”
“I know. I’ve been busy and not really in the mood to talk. I thought I said everything I needed to say before I left.”
“Yes, you did. But I didn’t.” She fixed her stare on Elise, forcing her to pay attention. The others had all gone to the parking lot to head over to Michael’s Bistro. Melanie had chosen the Italian place for her rehearsal dinner.
“You were right. I was a lousy mother. I never got over my insecurities toward your father. I felt like my life was over when I had you. I had this stupid belief that he liked you more than me. And because of that, I made both you and your sister suffer from what could have been a better relationship with him...or with me. I was young, immature, and incredibly stupid. But I have to forgive myself, and I’m asking for a second chance with you.” She lifted Elise’s chin to make her look at her. “Will you forgive me?”
Years of bitterness began crumbling with the sincerity of her mom’s confession. What was to gain from not forgiving her. They were in church, after all, where you were taught forgiveness. What the hell?
“I forgive you, Mother.” She didn’t move. Her mother would have to make up for the years she had slighted her, and hug her first.
Lyla Newton embraced her daughter for the first time with true affection. She pressed out a tear and quickly rubbed it away when they broke from each other. All was on the mend for mother and daughter. Now, to conquer the iceberg of Ben Hudson.
Elise arrived at the restaurant and went inside searching for the bar. Surely they had one. What reputable place wouldn’t have hard liquor displayed like candy on the back shelf of a mirrored bar? The wedding party seemed to be waiting for her, so she sat down, still without the magic tonic.
“I’ll have a vodka,” she told the waitress, before making a decision on her entree.
Ben sat diagonal from her. She stopped checking to see if he was looking at her after her second vodka on the rocks. It burned as it slid past her throat. Melanie kept giving her cautious looks, as if wondering what was wrong.
Dinner helped in sustaining her blood alcohol levels. She only picked at her chicken dish, eating the ones with two grilled lines instead of the ones without any. Light conversation floated by her as she sat in silence, caught sitting between one of Jacob’s uncles and one of his cousins.
“I’d like to make a toast,” Elise said, feeling slightly light-headed after standing up. The cool elixir gave her a shot of gumption to deliver a farewell toast to her sister. She raised the highball glass in the air and began. “Melanie, you deserve the best life has to offer. You are a wonderful sister and a nice friend.” A nice friend? Perhaps a toast was a lofty thought for a girl who had just passed tipsy. “You are the wind beneath my wings, my bridge over troubled waters. Have a blessed marriage.” She held tight to her fourth glass of liquor and winked at her sister.
Ben watched her sit down and smile at the stranger who sat to the right of her. She was feeling no pain. Melanie stood up and made an announcement before the party departed for the evening. The dessert dishes were pretty much all licked clean by this point.
“Instead of a bachelor and bachelorette party, we will all be going over to Moon Shakers to party all together. Please drive carefully and we’ll see you there.”
Everyone grabbed their coats and began to slowly empty the back room of the Italian eatery. Elise was still without a coat and unprepared for the colder temperatures in Kentucky. Melanie ran over to her after she kissed her kids and sent them with their grandma.
“Sweet sister, I think Jacob and I will drive you. You seemed to have started the party a little early.”
“I agree. I barely made it to the door. I’m just trying to be supportive in the party aspect of your union.” Bullshit came dropping out of her mouth, landing like cow pies all around her. She wouldn’t remember any of it the next day, anyway.
Melanie and Jacob left her car at the restaurant and drove her over to Moon’s. It took thirty minutes to get there. It was off the interstate and considered to be in the faster lane of life in Kentucky. The music was loud and the liquor was plentiful. The wedding party and guests hollered when the three of them arrived. Ben had driven over by himself.
Elise went to the bar to order another drink that she in no way needed. A guy with ten more years than Zac Efron, but who still looked like him, asked her to dance. She held off on the drink until she took her place on the dance floor.
Ben sat down with Melanie and Jacob and every so often, Elise caught him watching her. She noticed how he drummed his fingers on the table, and how tight his jaw looked. He wasn’t talking to anyone else at his table.
Soon the song was over, and Elise returned to the bar for that drink she had gone for before. But the bachelor wasn’t finished with trying to bait the new girl in town. He followed her like a puppy and paid for her drink. They sat at the bar and laughed, as he ordered her another one. Ben watched them like a cougar watching a lion’s pre-attack.
“Say, you want to dance another one with me?” he asked as she finished swallowing the last sip in her drink.
Luke Bryan was playing loud, and she felt so warm and happy. Liquor did seem to be solving all of her problems. She’d even stopped looking for that ol’ Ben. In fact, she could’ve cared less that she would have to walk with him down the aisle the next day.
The guy, whose name she’d forgotten, pulled her off the barstool to return to the dance floor and Elise suddenly tripped on her own foot. She wasn’t used to drinking so much. Her college days were a thing of the past. The most she ever drank now was an occasional glass of wine at dinner. And since Darren and her split, that had stopped altogether.
The stranger went to pick her up when Ben appeared and pushed him aside. “I think my friend has had enough to drink.”
The guy stood back, ready to stake his claim on Elise. She managed to get up with Ben’s help.
“It’s all right, Ben. I’m fine. I just fell.”
“No, it’s time you come to the table and sit the next dance out.”
“Maybe she doesn’t want to,” the tall, celebrity lookalike said.
Feeling a gust of male testosterone blow through, Elise agreed to go with Ben. The bache
lor sat down and didn’t waver his stare from the man who took away his prize.
“Elise, you’ve had too much to drink.” He took her arm and led her back to the table where some of the wedding party sat.
Elise ignored him and made a beeline to her sister. “Melanie, I need to get my car. I want to go back to your house. I’m tired and I’m getting cold.”
“Honey, I’m not ready to leave. Crap, I forgot to tell you. Jacob’s family is staying with me. You can go to Mom’s house. She has the kids. Ben, can you drive her?”
Elise didn’t wait to hear Ben’s answer. She blurted out her own. “No, thanks, I’m not up to hearing about her and Frank with all their dirty little tricks.” She surely wasn’t talking with a sober head. “I’ll stay at a hotel. Can you take me, Melanie?”
“I can take you,” Ben said.
“No, thanks. I can find a ride with someone else.”
She looked around the club for someone, anyone. Killers, carjackers, anyone other than the man who kept her heart and refused to give it back. She was done with all that. She just had to survive and make it out alive, for one more day.
“Just let Ben take you, Elise,” Melanie pleaded. “I want to stay longer, it’s my last night to live it up.” She kissed her betrothed and smiled sweetly.
“Fine. Give me my car keys.”
Melanie gave Ben a ‘you better not let her drive’ look. She handed them to her and kissed her good-bye.
“Call me the minute you wake up tomorrow. I want to see your dress in person.”
Elise smiled, half drunk, and left with Ben leading the way. They got into his truck. She blew on her hands, trying to get warm. Ben slipped off his coat and wrapped it around her shoulders. She didn’t want anything from him, except her independence. But it was so warm and smelled so good. And she was so tired. Her head fell back on the seat, and she didn’t wake back up until the next morning. In Ben’s house.
The Kentucky Cure Page 23