The Wedding Date

by Zrinka Jelic

  Neri already in her hospital gown, lay on the table, her eyes glossy and a smile lingered on her lips when she saw him.

  He approached her. “How are you holding up?”

  “You look so handsome all doctorly and whatnot.” Her smile widened. “When’s this show about to start? I’ve signed all the forms they asked.”

  “Anytime now.” His girl was high, that much was obvious. He turned to the nurse. “What did you give her?”

  The nurse glanced over her shoulder, getting the gauzes and trays with surgical tools ready. “Midazolam to get her to relax, she was way too nervous.”

  “Hey, here comes the clown.” Neri squeezed his hand.

  “That’s not a clown, love,” he whispered. “It’s a nurse in colorful scrubs.”

  “What’s she doing in the circus?” Her speech slurred by now.

  How much of the sedative did they give her?

  The whole situation is a circus, all right. He stifled a snort. “The show’s about to start. Don’t worry, I’m right here with you.”

  The anaesthesiologist held a mask over Neri’s face, slid her hand under her chin and tilted her head back. “Count with me backwards from ten. Ten…”

  “Nine…eigh…” Neri’s body relaxed and her breathing became even.

  “That was quick. We can begin,” Dave announced, pressing the button on the remote control.

  The soft cello music filled in the operating room. The nurse isolated the surgical area with a fenestrated drape.

  The sounds of suction machine and respirator blended with the music for the next several moments. Mark marvelled over Dave’s skills as he worked on Neri’s nose.

  “Never thought you’d go for chubby girl like her, she’s totally not your type.” Dave switched the blade of the bone cutter.

  Taken aback by his friend’s remark, it took Mark a few moments to compose a half decent comeback. “She’s not the kind of girl I dated in the past. Just for the record, those girls chose me. I only indulged them.”

  Dave paused and fixed him with a pointed stare. His eyes appeared huge behind the surgical safety goggles. “You indulged plenty of hot girls. Is that you want me believe?”

  “Yeah, I suppose I did.” Thinking back on his university days, when he woke up in bed with different girl or two, it would seem he had his fair share of ladies. “To tell you the truth, I’m tired of putting up appearances. I want to be me, relaxed, spontaneous, and goofy me, go camping and hiking, hit the bike trails in summer. No more condescending, frustrated daddy’s little girls. I want a woman.”

  “Wow, I didn’t expect a confession.” Dave nodded and turned his attention back to the task at hand. “Whatever makes you happy, my friend. We’re almost done here. Couple of sutures to close it and she can go to the recovery room.”

  “Excellent.” Mark couldn’t take his eyes off Neri’s new nose while both waited for the nurse to thread the needle. “Speaking of different girls, your new receptionist isn’t up to your normal standards.”

  The nurse’s head snapped up and her gaze travelled from Dave to Mark, settling on Dave. Her reddening face indicated she stifled laughter behind her mask.

  “Well, she does a great job, that’s all that matters.” Dave snipped the thread from the needle he stitched Neri’s nose with. However, by his silence, he had more to tell. Could he have found solace of his divorce in the arms of the short receptionist? Mark wouldn’t put it past him. Whatever the case, he was glad his friend had found someone special.

  Mark disposed of his gloves, cap and latex gloves in the bin outside the OR doors then headed to the recovery room.

  Neri was still out of it, but the monitor hooked to her showed steady and strong heartbeats. She stirred and should be coming out of it at any moment. The surgery took less than thirty minutes, waking up from general anaesthesia shouldn’t hit her too hard, however the sedative they’d gave her pre-op could cause her some extra grogginess.

  For the next fifteen minutes, the clear mask covering her mouth fogged up. She moaned and her eyebrows drew closer.

  “How are you doing, love?” He took her hand, the one not pricked with an IV, and pressed her palm to his face.

  “This beeping is piercing my skull.” She coughed, sounding muffled behind the oxygen mask, then moaned louder. “Make it stop.”

  “I can’t. It’s monitoring your vitals. Are you in pain?” The drugs pumped into her system should keep her relatively comfortable for some twelve hours, but maybe she needed more.

  “No, I’m pretty numb, my nose is stuffed and I never was a mouth breather.” She pulled the mask off her face and licked her parched lips, but didn’t open her eyes yet. “Can I get some water?”

  “Yes, once you’re fully awake. There’ll be some discomfort, swelling and bruising, but I’m positive you’ll love your new nose.” A question about her spending the next forty-eight hours in his care started to form in his head. “Ah, and you’ll need someone to take care of you for a little while. Would you consider stay—?”

  “Where is my daughter?” A loud and burlesque woman’s voice boomed in the hallway.

  Neri’s eyes snapped open. She squeezed his hand, tight.

  He figured another few seconds would stop his circulation.

  “Oh shit! That’s my mom. Please, please, I beg you, just play along. I’ll explain everything.”

  He nodded and reached for the water pitcher with his free hand. “I guess you’re fully awake now.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  The knob of the white door of the recovery room twisted, causing Neri to swallow against her dry throat. The discomfort and embarrassment of nose packing wasn’t enough, now her mother would step in any moment and then the berating would commence. Neri dug her fingers into Mark’s wrist.

  His lips curled down, but not a peep came from him.

  “Ma’am, you cannot go in there until the doctor approves,” the nurse’s voice, muffled by the wall, drifted into the room.

  “Nonsense, my daughter is in there.” The door opened a crack and mom’s manicured head poked thorough. She smiled at the first look, but stepped inside and her burgundy lipstick smeared lips dipped. “My poor child.”

  “Mom,” Neri croaked. Good God, she sounded so nasal. “How did you get here so fast?”

  Mom cast her a pointed look. “I’m a mother, I have super powers.”

  “I told you, I’m in good hands. You shouldn’t have rushed. Where’s Dad?”

  “He’s waiting in the car. You know he’s allergic to medicinal smells.”

  “Right.” Lacking energy to argue with Mom, Neri let that age-old excuse slide. Dad was not allergic to hospital smells when it suited him. “I bet he just wants to get back to his John Wayne movies.”

  “Hey, I happen to like the Duke.” Mark’s voice sounded defensive.

  Perhaps hers came out sarcastic, but it was Dad and his obsession for old flicks. “My dad can even re-enact them for you.”

  Mom scrutinized Mark through the thick lenses of her rectangle glasses. Her frown slowly upturned into a smile as she extended her hand across the bed. “You must be Mark, right?”

  Mark’s eyebrows drew closer, and he rolled his lower lip, but took Mom’s hand and gave it a firm shake. “Yes, that’s me.”

  “Neri’s been hiding you from us. Some are starting to believe she created you out of thin air.” Mom continued to shake his hand.

  Mark chuckled, tugging his arm out of Mom’s grip. “Well, as you see, I’m real, of flesh and blood.”

  So far, so good, Mom wasn’t probing, yet. Neri shouldn’t relax.

  Mark smiled when he took her hand not pricked by IV needle and placed a kiss on her knuckles.

  Neri’s stomach now churned in a different way.

  Mom patted her shoulder. “I got you change of clothes for a few days.”

  Neri stiffened anew. “What? From where?”

  “From your place.”

  “You went to my apartment? How did
you get in? Who let you?” Oh God, Neri braced for more berating on her messy housekeeping. A new dread spread through her. Good thing her new violin had not been delivered yet. If Mom found out about Neri’s yet another expensive toy, she’d lecture her on her poor financial planning.

  “Oh Neri, you gave me the key, in case of emergency. I think this is an emergency. You’re not going to stay alone in that sweltering apartment with no air conditioning. It’s so hot and humid. In the few minutes I was in there, I sweated a bucket.” Mom fanned her face. Hopefully she wasn’t experiencing one of her hot flashes. “You’re coming home for a couple of days.”

  Neri curved her mouth downward. “Not in a million years.”

  “See?” Mom nodded at Mark, but pointed at Neri. “See what a stubborn girl I have to deal with?”

  “Mrs. Runic, Doctor Thomas released Neri in my care only. She’ll need special post-op monitoring.”

  Neri stared at the blank wall, trying to comprehend Mark’s words. Had she heard him right? “No, no, you don’t need to do this.”

  “But I must. You can’t be alone for the next forty eight hours.”

  “I’m quite capable of—”

  “What’s the matter, Neri?” Mom’s tone turned snippy. “You’re not ashamed to stay with your boyfriend, are you? I’m sure you spent a night or two with him already.”

  “Ma!” Neri’s jaw dropped at Mom’s blatant insinuating, but then could she blame her? She fabricated her relationship with Mark and though she promised she would make up a story how they broke up, her fantasy took on bloody life of its own. By now, everyone in her family waited to hear happy news of her upcoming nuptials. Not going to happen. Not now that Mom blurted the secret right in front of the man who’d been the focus of her imagination. Why wasn’t he running for the hills? She turned to Mark who had a sexiest smile on his lips. “You really don’t need to do this.”

  “Oh, but love,” he said, kissing her hand again. “What kind of boyfriend would that make me?”

  Realizing her face must be stuck on dumb expression, Neri shook her head. Good thing painkillers were still kicking in, for her sudden movement felt uneasy. Okay, she asked him to act, but damn, he seemed to be aiming for an Academy Award. Her heart lodged in her throat. Was she really about to spend couple of days alone in his capable hands? Oh, God.

  “It’s settled then. I can sleep peacefully tonight.”

  Mom’s pat on her hand, pulled Neri from the mesmerizing gaze of Mark’s deep blues. “What’s settled?”

  “Oh, Neri.” Mom shook her head, addressing Mark, “Have you checked to see if she didn’t suffer more than just broken nose? She seems to have the memory span of a goldfish.”

  “She’s fine, Mrs. Runic.”

  “Just call me Mom. Neri told us so many stories about you, I feel like we’re practically family.” Mom leaned her girth over the bed, pressing on Neri’s leg and took Mark’s hand. “I am so happy to finally have met you. Now I can have something to brag about too. Can’t wait to see Gertrude’s face when I tell her what good-looking son-in-law I’m getting. Woo-hoo, she’ll suffer coronary. Let’s see whose daughter scored better.”

  Neri gripped the covers, wishing she could disappear under the blankets, but running into world’s deepest cave wouldn’t save her from the embarrassment Mom just put her through. Seeing Mark’s face light up and hearing him chuckle, eased her tension, but she couldn’t stop chewing on her lip. The pull of the cast over her nose made her stop. She turned to Mark, who knitted his fingers with hers and rubbed his thumb over hers, sending pleasant vibes to her core. What on Earth was his plan?

  “Well then, I’ll leave you two alone.” Mom winked at him and embraced Neri in an awkward hug. “Shall I look forward to a grandchild?”

  “Ma! Please. You’re getting way ahead of yourself.”

  “There, there, you mustn’t get upset. You’ve just had a surgery.” Mom patted her head. “This girl played with dollies well into high school. She’s born to be mom. Well then, I’ll leave the bag with your stuff with that cute little receptionist.” Mom touched her teased and sprayed hair. “Dad is probably getting impatient. I better go.”

  Fine Ma, give all my secrets out. “Okay, Ma. Oh, don’t tell anyone about my nose.”

  Mom halted with one hand on the doorknob. “Why not?”

  Neri tweaked her head. How to explain to Mom no one cared what her daughter did or did not do. “I wanted it to be a surprise. Let’s see if anyone even notices anything different about me.”

  “I already told your sister. I had to ask her about this. She was the only medical person in our family.”

  Well, there goes another of Neri’s secret. Her big sister with an even bigger mouth probably spread the story already. “Mom, Sonja’s a dialysis nurse. I’m not sure she’s the best person to ask about rhinoplasty. ”

  “She would know the gist of it.” Mark placed her hand down and brushed his fingers over her palm. “I’ll walk your mom to the car and get the bag.”

  “Such a gentleman.” Mom opened the door and blew a kiss in Neri’s direction. “Feel better soon, darling. And don’t do anything I wouldn’t.”

  Heat burned Neri’s face. Good thing it was already red from the surgery and covered with nasal splint.

  Mark followed Mom out the door.

  In a few seconds, Neri was left alone, she contemplated running away, and she would’ve if it wasn’t for the IV stuck in her hand. Ripping it out as she’d seen actors do in movies was nowhere near reality. Plus, she hadn’t a faintest clue where her clothes had disappeared. Her car was at the fitness center and Mark had keys to his. Then to prowl the streets of Cambridge in nothing but hospital gown tied with three thin ties at the back would cause some suspicion.

  Mark returned, and she dropped the clear plastic lines delivering the fluids to her.

  He closed the door behind him. “Your dad started the car before your mom got in. She practically had to jump in, or he would’ve driven off without her. I’ve put your stuff in my car. Hey, I didn’t know you’re a violinist.”

  “Yes, I teach at Crescendo Music School. Sorry you had to experience my dad’s rudeness, but that’s my dad all right.” Good, Mom had enough sense to pack her violin. Another fear struck through her. “You didn’t tell my mom that you didn’t know what I did, did you?”

  “No, I didn’t. I was discreet. And good, I was pretty good, wasn’t I?” A smug smile spread across his lips.

  “Too good.” She clapped slowly. “Someone, hand this man the Oscar.”

  “Ah…I surprise myself sometimes.” He spread his arms wide and bowed. “I told you, I’d play along.”

  “Yes, but I never expected you to get into the role like you did.”

  “I don’t do anything half way.” He crossed his arms over his chest, stretching the jersey of his short sleeve shirt. Muscles on his arms bulged. “Now, all joking aside.” He perched one of his cute butt cheeks on the edge of her bed. “You said you’d explain everything. So start ‘splainin’, Lucy.”

  For the second time in the past hour, she swallowed against the dry throat. “Where’s that water? I’m dying of thirst.”

  “Sure,” he said, getting up and walking to the side table.

  She smacked her lips at the sound of liquid pouring from the pitcher. The glass couldn’t fill fast enough. With shaky fingers, she snatched the drink from his hand and tried to drink fast, but water dribbled out of her mouth as if she just had all her teeth frozen for some major dental work.

  Mark stuck a tick straw into the glass. “Try with this, only a few sips at the time.”

  She doubted the straw would help, but she sucked. The cool liquid soothing her parched mouth and throat, she didn’t think she could stop before she drained the glass.

  Then he pulled the straw out of her mouth and placed it onto the nightstand. “I said only a few sips. Feeling better?”

  She nodded, slipping deeper under the covers. He expected her to talk, and
she wasn’t sure how he’d take what she had to say.

  “So, let’s hear it.” He reclaimed his previous spot on the edge of her bed, facing her. Despite his serious expression, his quivering mouth betrayed him. He was finding all of this funny.

  “Well—ahem—I, might’ve told a lie. Tiny one.” She raised her hand, squeezing her thumb and index finger together to show just how small her lie was.

  “Might’ve?” His eyebrow arched, forming a strange looking letter S.

  “Okay, I lied, but I never expected it to come back and haunt me.”

  “Lies are notorious for that.”

  She lowered her gaze, and twisted the bedsheets. Silence followed. If she had courage left, she’d look him straight in the eyes, but as it was, she would have to resolve staring at her hands.

  His handsome face entered her visual field. “Why did you lie about me?” His soft tone gave her encouragement to go on.

  “When my cousin Sandi announced her engagement and after congrats and wowing her ring, all eyes turned to me as the last unclaimed girl in the family. That should’ve made me feel like a winner, but it didn’t.” Her voice faltered. Her family had uncanny ability to make her feel like a loser no matter what she did. “Then some people took pity on me and said not to worry, that I’ll find a right man, someday.” Neri attempted to snort, but with her nose as it was, it came out more like a fart. “Something inside me snapped and said that I don’t need to wait for someday, that I have a boyfriend. Then I got bombarded with all the questions. What’s his name? What does he do? What’s he look like? How long I’ve been seeing him?”