“So, let me introduce you to my dad,” I say once out in the living room again. I step in front of my dad, blocking his way to the TV. “Dad, this is Michael. Michael, meet my dad.”
Michael holds out his hand and my dad takes it.
“Pleasure to meet you, sir,” Michael says. He sounds like a nervous schoolboy, meeting my dad for the first time.
“The pleasure is all mine, son,” my dad says. “You can call me Tom. So you know a little about real estate?”
“Well, some. I’ve been in the market for a few years,” Michael says.
“Seriously? You’re going to go modest on me?” I say, my hands hitting my hips. I smirk. “Michael is the best at what he does in all of Oregon, possibly the entire US.”
“I know,” my dad says. “But I wanted to hear him talk about it.”
“I’d love to talk to you about it. But first, I have some very important business to settle with your daughter.” Michael looks at me, and I’m surprised to see that there’s a whole lot of tenderness in his eyes.
“Well, we’ll let you get back to your Wheel of Fortune now,” I say. “Michael, shall we?” I gesture for him to come with me.
My hands are shaking so much; I hope Michael won’t notice. I guide him into the kitchen and we sit down at the kitchen table.
“So, how have you been?” I ask.
Michael huffs. He’s twisting his hands on top of the table. “I don’t know how to say this right, so I’m just going to blurt it out, okay?”
“Okay,” I say. “Don’t hurt yourself,” I tease.
He huffs again, louder this time. Then he stands up and begins to pace the floor. “Dammit! Why does this have to be so difficult?”
“What’s so difficult?” I say. I’m rather enjoying him being this frazzled, and I like that though I’m still wanting Michael just as much, I don’t feel so needy or desperate for him to want me back. Well, maybe I’m just a little desperate.
“Okay, here goes.” He sits back down again and takes my hands in his. Then he looks into my eyes, really seeing me, I think, for the first time. “I’m an idiot. I lost all that money because I fell for you.”
His words hurt. “Is that supposed to be an insult?” I say, pulling my hands away.
He doesn’t let me go. “No, Scarlett. What I mean to say is I’m an idiot, because I don’t even care that I lost my entire inheritance. The only thing I regret is that I married you—”
I pull my hands away and stand up. “I’ve heard enough. Why do you torment me so? It’s like you can’t get enough of torturing me, so you come back and—”
Michael stands up and cups my mouth with his hand. “Will you just listen for a second? This is important.”
I’m so shocked, the only thing I can do is nod.
“The one thing I regret is that I married you, and it wasn’t for real.” He removes his hand from my mouth. “You see, I love you, and I want to be with you, and only you. I don’t care about the money at all.”
Does he truly mean it? Or does he know something. “Well, even if you did care about the money, it’s been donated already, right?” I ask.
“Yes, but only half of it. You see, after you left that day in the hospital, my mother proposed me with a new deal. She said she didn’t want me to marry you.”
I’m thoroughly confused. “What?” It’s not at all what my letter stated.
“And if I didn’t marry you, or even date you or see you, she’d release my inheritance after ninety days,” Michael says.
I’m speechless. “But it hasn’t been ninety days since I saw you.”
“I know. But I can’t live without you for an entire year. I can’t live without you for even another day.” He steps closer to me and the charge between us is back full force. “Because without you, suddenly life has no meaning at all.”
“So, just you being here means you won’t receive your inheritance?” I say.
“Yes.”
“But it’s not like your mother could—well, never mind. Your mother always knows what we’re doing. Even now I get the distinct feeling like she’s watching us,” I say.
Michael smiles, and the dimples I love so much come out.
“Well, it looks like neither of us got what we wanted,” I say. I can’t believe I’m back to lying again. But deep inside, I know what Diane is doing. She’s making sure her son is marrying me for love, and not the money. Will he hate me for it later? I pray not.
He comes over and hugs me. “No, Scarlett. I meant what I said. I made a big mistake in letting you go, and if I don’t beg for your hand in marriage, I’d be the biggest fool to have ever walked the earth.”
“Is that a real proposal?” I say.
He gets down onto one knee. “Scarlett Hansen, may I have the honor of your hand in marriage?”
I start to cry, my hand hitting my mouth. I nod. “Yes, Michael, absolutely yes.”
36
It’s three months later, and Michael and I have spent a lot of time planning our real wedding. I’ve been able to keep Diane and my secret from everyone, including my dad. Trust me, it has not been easy. I worry Michael will become furious with me again once I tell him, but somehow I feel our relationship has been strengthened over time. He won’t mind, especially since it’s for our future benefit. At least that’s what I keep telling myself, but in reality, I’m quite nervous about it.
My dad is going to walk me down the isle. He’s still receiving treatment, but the doctors are all saying that he is well on his way to recovery.
It’s the day of my wedding, and I can’t wait to marry my best friend and lover. We’re getting married the place we met—well, officially at least—in the Portland Episcopal Church. I’ve invited everyone, even Laila and the gang from the Black Chapel. And you guessed it, Reverend Summerlin is marrying us.
“Now, are you sure you want to marry this guy?” Anne asks, in the bride’s room, helping me do my hair. I flew her in on first class for my wedding. She’s on spring break from school right now, and has been here the entire week helping me prepare for my wedding. Things have turned out exactly the way I want, I am so fortunate.
“I’m sure,” I say. And I feel it, too.
“How sure?” Her baby blue eyes squint and she smiles.
God, I’ve missed her. “I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life,” I say, and I haven’t. Michael is the love of my life.
“Good enough answer,” Anne says. She’s gained a little weight, freshmen fifteen, but it makes her look even more beautiful than before.
I slip into my dress, a Carolina Herrera, drop waist made of satin and lace. The arms are a see-through lace and the neckline a deep V-cut. I decided on a veil, too, one that trails on the ground behind me and that has the edges adorned with real diamonds.
There is a subtle knock on the door.
“I’ll get it,” Anne says and hops on over to open. There is Kenneth holding a painting in his hands. I can’t see what it is, because he’s holding the backside toward me.
“Don’t you know it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding?” Anne says.
“It’s okay, Anne. Let him in,” I say.
Kenneth smiles. “Michael wanted me to bring this up to you. It’s your wedding gift from him.”
“Oh really? What is it?” I ask.
He turns it around and I see he’s holding House of Parliament Sun by Monet.
I gasp. “Is that—real?” I reach out to touch it.
“What do you think? Of course it’s real. Michael doesn’t own anything that’s not real,” Kenneth says. He sets it down by the desk.
“Good luck today, Scarlett. I’m so glad things worked out between you two. The whole family loves you so much already,” Kenneth says. He picks the painting up again. “I’m just going to put this in your limousine. Wouldn’t want you to forget it.”
“Bye,” I say. Wow, a real Monet for me? I am so grateful for Michael. Not only because he gets me what I need
and want, but because he remembers the things that are important to me.
Anne hands me my flowers and ruby red roses.
“You look ravishing,” she says, and I see tears in her eyes. “I am so happy for you.”
We embrace, and I try not to cry because it will screw up my perfect make-up. Should have worn waterproof.
We walk down the tight spiral stairwell and I enter the quaint lobby. The French wood doors are shut to the chapel, but I can hear people talking inside. My heart flutters, and suddenly I’m nervous.
My dad comes in from the opposite door. He looks so handsome in his black tuxedo.
“You look beautiful,” he says.
“Thanks,” I say. Now I cannot hold back my tears. There are so many things to be grateful for and I miss my mom - words cannot express how much.
“Oh, sweetie, don’t cry,” my dad says as he gives me a hug.
“I just wish—” I say.
“I know. But your mother is here. I feel her presence,” Dad says. “Now, no tears on your wedding day. It’s bad luck.”
I nod and wipe my cheek.
Anne rushes over and helps fix my make-up. She looks me in the eyes. “Keep it together, Scarlett. It’s going to be a long disaster-of-a-make-up-day if you don’t.”
I laugh.
My dad takes my arm and we wait behind the French doors. Michael is waiting at the end of the long walkway behind these doors. Should I tell him about the secret before we get married? I still have a chance. But then we’d lose all that money. Before I’m able to decide, the French doors swing open, and the organ music starts playing Pachbel’s Canon in D.
My dad nudges me to start walking. I’m so glad he’s well enough to walk me down the isle. Immediately, I see Michael beaming at the front by the altar. I smile at him. Walking down the isle, there are so many people here. Every spot in every pew is filled, and they have all turned to look at me. They’re all smiling as I pass them. There are flowers everywhere—red roses with greenery. The church is beautiful.
I’m up by the altar now, and my dad hands me off to Michael. The tears are pressing behind my eyes, and I swallow the lump in my throat. Michael’s face is radiating love toward me.
He turns to face the altar, but before we take the last few steps, I hold him back.
“Michael, I need to tell you something,” I say. I have to tell him. I can’t enter into these solemn vows again with secrets still buried in my soul.
Michael pauses and looks at me, questions in his eyes.
“Your mom sent me a letter and she gave me my part of the inheritance already. I had to tell you before we married,” I say.
He pauses for one moment, one agonizing moment of anticipation. Will he kick me to the curb? Will he stop the wedding? Will he leave me at the altar? Now I’m kind of regretting telling him. This is just too much.
“Michael?” Reverend Summerlin says.
Michael looks at Reverend Summerlin, then back at me. “I figured she might pull something like this. But you telling me this now, means you are willing to risk everything just to be honest with me.” He smiles and guides me up to the altar. “I’m marrying you today, Scarlett. Because you are the love of my life, and I know I can trust you.”
I smile and a relief washes over me. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Michael smiles.
We recite our own written vows, which of course makes me cry again, and Reverend Summerlin marries us.
“You may now kiss the bride,” she says.
Michael pulls me in close, and I feel my whole body tingle at his touch. He leans in and kisses me just enough to make me go wild and want so much more. But of course, not in a church and not in front of everyone.
“I now present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Manning,” Reverend Summerlin says, and we walk down the isle, a couple which God has bound together and which no man can put asunder.
As we exit the church, a shower of white rose petals rain over us. Michael helps me into the white limousine.
After he shuts the door, I ask, “So I hope you’re not mad at me?”
He scoots in closer and interlaces his fingers with mine. “How can I be mad at you when my mom set it up?”
“Well, I kept it a secret from you for all these months,” I say.
“But you did come clean, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” I say. “But don’t you even want to know the details?”
“I trust you’ll tell me eventually. For now, all the details I care about are that you are here with me, as my wife and that now I can make love to you anytime I want, day or night.”
I smile. “Oh, really?”
“Really,” he says and kisses me, and there is electricity in the air.
“How about I please you on the way to our reception?” I say.
His eyebrows rise. “I suppose it’s about twenty minutes to my house.” And then we make sweet love for the first time as real husband and wife.
Table of Contents
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The Black Chapel Page 19