The Wedding Date

by Zrinka Jelic

  “Oh, yeah.” Neri pressed the back of her head onto the headrest. “I don’t have a good feeling about it though.”

  “Why?” His question came out as a gasp.

  How could she explain? “It’s a long story. You’ll see.”

  “At least give me some pointers, so I don’t end up punching someone in the face, you know in case they insult you or something.”

  Despite the air conditioning set at the max, a bead of sweat rolled down her brow. “Okay, to sum it up, many in my family don’t think violinist is a real job.”

  “How’s that not real?”

  “The same way sports medicine isn’t real to your family.”

  “Ah, you’ve got a point.” He put the right blinker on and turned into the large parking lot. It took some time to find an empty spot, and he had to settle for the one at the very end, but at least it was in the shade. Though, by the time they left, the sun would be on the other side of the planet. He shifted into park. “For better or for worse, we’re here.”

  They sat in an absolute silence for a few moments. He placed a kiss on her fingers and opened the driver’s door. “It’s getting hot in here. Let’s go inside. At least we’ll be in air-conditioned building and don’t worry about your family. Know I’m with you all the way.”

  She got out of the car, skirted around the hood and relinked her arm with his, then, despite her high heels she still hadn’t mastered, fell in step with his casual strides. He held the thick glass door open for her and ushered her inside the spacious foyer buzzing with cacophony of voices. Waiters scurried through the crowd, carrying trays of glasses filled with red or white wine and hors d’oeuvres.

  “Nerissa? Is that you, Neri?” a familiar males’ voice called.

  She turned to the thin, but tall man, his hair receding in a funny pattern from the front and back, forming a puff left in the middle. “Is that you, cousin Rino?”

  “I haven’t changed that much.” He rubbed his protruding beer gut. “Holding onto my boyish figure. Hey, you’re still playing your little instrument?”

  And so it begins. Neri groaned inwardly, but forced a fake grin “Yes, I am. In fact, I’m playing tonight. I’ll be your entertainer.”

  “So no prospect of a real job?” Rino raised the beer bottle in his hand to his mouth and chugged.

  “This is my real job, as real as it gets.” Anger fumed in her. She squeezed Mark’s hand hard.

  Mark placed his hand on her shoulder, then extended it to her cousin. “I’m Dr. Warren, Neri’s fiancé. Sorry, I didn’t hear what you do for living.”

  Neri rubbed her lips together, hiding her laughter. Never before had she seen Mark getting so pompous and he most likely hated it, but he was coming to her rescue. But a fiancé?

  Rino accepted Mark’s offered hand and they shook. “A doctor, eh? Quite a step up from that guitar player, what was his name? Steve?”

  Damn her cousin who had to bring her past. “We don’t talk about him. Nice seeing you again, cousin.”

  Before she could turn away from her cousin, he circled his finger around his nose. “Hey, didn’t you always have a much bigger…you know what I mean? Oh, yeah, heard you had some accident and got that fixed.”

  Damned her family, they had some dumb preconceived notions that they were entitled to insult her while she should laugh it all off or else they’d deem her a poor loser and bad sport. She couldn’t help but make a disgusted face. She nudged Mark along and picked up a glass of white from the passing waiter’s tray. “Refresh my memory, when did we get engaged?”

  “Spur of a moment, I thought a fiancé sounded better than a boyfriend. I have buddies that have kids in high school, while I… well, let’s not go there.” He tapped her hand and nudged his head. “My family’s there. We’ll be safe in my mom’s company.”

  Neri yanked on his elbow and stopped him before he could lead her to the ladies engaged in a conversation.

  He turned to her, one brow raised.

  “Steve was a self-taught musician.”

  “You don’t have to talk about him.” Mark took the wine glass from her hand and cupped her cheek, his warmth and closeness easing her taut nerves. “Everyone’s got a past and no one’s without a fault.”

  “No, I feel like I should.” She licked her suddenly parched lips. “While I admired anyone’s ability to learn the music on their own, he had a huge chip on his shoulder. Thought music school wasn’t necessary. That cost him dearly, lost many gigs and in the end, he became so bitter and mean. He took it out on me. I had to leave him and he couldn’t understand why. According to some dumb, old world rules, a woman never leaves her man. So I’m a black sheep in the family.”

  Though a rumor reached her, he’d finally gotten his big break. Strange when incompetent people without required skills get ahead in life, while those who did everything by the book end up stuck in a rut. What she wouldn’t give for a peek inside a recording studio.

  “Earth to Neri.” Vince called from behind her, shattering her dark thoughts. “It’s time we get in positions.”

  Mark pressed a kiss to her lips. “Put the sadness behind and be merry. You’ve got this.”

  He was right, she kissed him back. “Now, you put a Christmas song in my head.”

  “Uh-oh, I hope that doesn’t mess up your notes.”

  “No, one thought of you and everything comes back.” She tapped her forehead.

  “What can I say?” He winked, bringing the wine glass to his lush lips. “I’m a lucky man.”

  She hated leaving him here in the foyer, but she wasn’t here for the fun of it. Hopefully, they’d play their part and she could return to his side. “Keep your eyes on me.”

  “Who else?” He swallowed the contents of his glass in one gulp.

  The wide double doors to banquet hall opened fully and she squeezed through, following Vince to the low stage at the end of the four rows of round tables separated by a polished floor meant as the dance area. Her new Viper electric violin waited on its pretty stand, a bow resting next to it. No one knew her like her instrument. Mom still hadn’t seen her new toy, or found out she’d spent two monthly rents on it, but once she found out, Neri would never hear the end of it. Mattered not, the completely self-supporting violin eliminated the need for shoulder pad and chin rest. This helped alleviate the cramping in her neck and shoulder due to fatigue. She could play two to three note chords like a guitar without compromising the beautiful subtleties of an acoustic violin.

  Busy with some last minute tuning of her instrument, she didn’t notice the hall filling up until Vince picked up the mic and announced the newlyweds’ entrance that spurred people to break into a loud applause.

  Eilla stepped to her and spoke in low voice, “Mark did a good job lacing you up in that corset, but I can do better.”

  Neri smiled, but refrained from replying. The dress seemed tighter today then what she remembered a week ago. Her eyes searched the crowd until they locked on Mark’s at the second table from the stage. The empty seat next to him waited for her. She expelled a nervous breath, checked the violin on her shoulder to get some flexibility so she didn’t have to overstretch her arm playing low and high strings, and raised the bow. The first notes of Bach’s Air on G String, or Air for Airheads as Vince dubbed it, soured beneath her fingers.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Mark locked his gaze with Neri’s. She nodded, her bow poised over the violin strings. In the next instant, music poured underneath her fingers and soared to the high ceilings of the banquet hall. His cousin, the freshly wed, Geoff, led his new bride to the middle of the dancing floor. The groom swayed slightly, but steadied his legs. Had he tanked up on his way from the church? The drive wasn’t long enough to finish a drink, unless he’d chugged it. Mark never knew Geoff to drink himself to oblivion, but then he hadn’t seen him in at least five years, and back then he liked his booze as much as the next guy.

  Looked like long hours in the surgical ward had caught up
to Geoff, he no longer sported broad shoulders and narrow waist. In fact, his expanding middle threatened to burst through the vest of his dark suit. The Bride on the other hand, looked radiant and beautiful with her dark curls, not a strand out of place. She yanked her groom to straighten up during their first dance and pressed her lips tight together, giving him a sharp look.

  The applause broke through the crowd standing along the edge of the dance floor and other couples joined the newlyweds.

  Mark returned to his seat, feeling empty. He and Neri should be there twirling, but she was on the stage, playing.

  “You here all by your lonesome self. Wanna dance?” Brook’s sweet voice had him turning his head.

  He had to blink twice to make sense of what he was seeing. Brook? “How? What…the hell are you doing here?”

  How on Earth had she gotten invited to this grand gala?

  “It’s a small world. Sandi and I were roomies at the Queen’s. Had a falling out, but we kissed and made up.” Brook played with the tail of her hair hanging loose from her bun. “So, shall we dance?”

  “No, I’m not alone.” He pointed at Neri playing her violin like a pro. Brooke would never buy his lie, so he refrained from saying Neri was his fiancé.

  “The fat one?” Brooke’s nose wrinkled as the corners of her lips dipped. “Are you friggin’ kidding me? You can do better.”

  He glared at her. How dare she? Lucky for her, she wasn’t a guy or he’d bust her face. “Either be civil or stay away.”

  “Relax, I’m here with someone. We’ll talk later.” Brook tapped his arm and left to return to the poor someone she was with here.

  He pushed his hot anger through his nose. Great, he now would spend the entire evening dreading she’d come back and cause the scene. What were the odds that she and the bride would be roomies during their university days?

  His mom pulled her chair closer. “Wasn’t that Brook? What did she want?”

  He hadn’t n noticed his family joining the table. “Nothing, Mom, nothing.” He dismissed his mom with a shake of his head.

  The song ended and a few people joined in a scattered applause. The dancers returned to their seats. By the bride’s scowls and furrowed brow, she was berating Geoff all the way to the head table elaborately draped in silver and white décor. She yanked his arm just in time or he would’ve stumbled into the semi-circular pedestal and knocked down the four tier wedding cake that waited on top.

  Vince stepped to the mic. “Thank you, all. This next piece is for all my relatives who put up with me while I practiced it. I can’t thank you enough for not killing me years ago when I decided to learn to play the guitar. I know I made your ears bleed, but I hope this will make up for the days you all had to stuff cotton in your ears.”

  Laughter echoed through the hall. Someone emitted a loud whistle and an indistinguishable shout.

  “So, without a further ado, here’s Romance for Two. Chris and Simon will sit this one out.” Vince adjusted guitar strap on his shoulder and twisted the instrument from his hip to the front, then plucked the strings with opening cords.

  Eilla joined in the sensual melody, then Neri.

  People around the tables turned to their debates of red versus white wine, completely ignoring the performers. The shriveled old man at table next to Mark’s, bitterly complained that salad had cucumbers, which would give him bad gas and indigestion and demanded something else from the waiter.

  Mark seethed. Was deciding between chicken and veal dinner more important to these people than his girl’s playing? She and the rest of the band were putting on an award winning show and the audience couldn’t care less. Maybe the volume was too low and judging by the age of some in the attendance, they might’ve required hearing aids. The buttons on the amplifier beckoned him.

  “I’ll be right back.” He kissed his mom’s cheek and headed for the stage, ignoring his dad’s calling. The arrow on the volume button pointed at three, not even the half the device was capable of. No wonder no one paid any attention to the entertainment.

  Simon stopped him before he could crank the button to the max. “Not in the middle of the song.”

  “Nobody’s listening.” Mark hissed. The performance of their lifetime should not go to waste.

  “Don’t worry, we’ll get them slowly,” Simon whispered, waving him off stage. “Go back to your seat. We have some synchronized light show next. Everyone will love it, mark my words.”

  “I hope you’re right.” Mark headed back to his table.

  His brother, Allen, smirked, as creases appeared around his eyes. “Feeling a bit left out, little bro?”

  “Ah.” Marked waived him off, his annoyance hitting a new high.

  Why did only a few paid attention to the live show? The feeling of conspiracy slid over him. The bridezilla hated her brother and pretty much everyone else. Mark would bet any money this snubbing was to please the princess.

  Another bit of humble applause spread though the hall.

  Vince scoffed and approached the mic. “Don’t you all clap at once.”

  Someone shouted something from the back table. Vince cupped his ear. “Sorry, what was that? I couldn’t hear over the deafening ovation.” Vince waited, but by the silence, a cat must’ve gotten the person’s tongue. “If no one else has anything to say, we’ll carry onto our next song. Don’t be shy, show us your dancing feet.” He continued through his laugh. “We won’t judge.”

  The overhead lights dimmed, much to surprise of everyone as they reacted with long…huh?

  Neri stepped off the stage and waited in the middle of the dance floor. A beam of light encircled her. Mark pulled his bottom lip between his teeth. Standing in the spotlight was not her thing. She plucked at the strings, a few cords later, another light beam revealed Eilla as she joined Neri in the song, then two more showed Vince on his guitar and Simon on keyboards. One table of teen girls recognized the song and burst into a screeching match, but none of them got up to dance. The beams changed colors and directions, jumped from one person to the next and then settled on the girls who sang along and swayed in their chairs. Which spurred them to cheer louder and act like divas.

  One toddler in her frilly dress approached the border of the dance floor. Neri crouched in front of the girl and continued playing. The child raised her pacifier clipped to her shoulder strap. Neri grinned and attempted the awkward nod. Fast footfalls approached. A woman in a bridesmaid maroon dress snatched the baby away from Neri, pulling the toddler in her arms forcefully as she exposed little girl’s underwear that matched the dress, and puffy enough to hide the diaper.

  Neri straightened and continued playing without missing a beat. A tuff of her hair came loose over her forehead. She tried to blow it back into place, but it wouldn’t move. A grin she made with tight lips as always when she hit the wrong or flat note.

  Mark smiled. Don’t worry, love, no one noticed.

  Busy with buttering their dinner rolls, everyone ignored the musicians.

  Mark tapped the pocket of his suit jacket, making sure the small box was there. It’s too early, she won’t accept it. He turned to his dad, who seemed more preoccupied reading the label on the back of the wine bottle. He’d never asked for his dad’s permission before, not even when he’d proposed to Brook, but this time he needed his parent’s blessing.

  He cleared his throat, leaning over the plate setting. “So, Dad? What do you think of Neri as your daughter-in-law?”

  His dad kept his eyes glued to the wine in his hand. “I could tell you what I think, but you wouldn’t listen. You do what you want.”

  His mom put her glass of mineral water down and padded her lips with a napkin. “Edward Warren, apologize to your son. Need I remind you, your father didn’t think much of me, a mere nurse? He thought you marrying beneath your level.”

  Dad looked at her over the rim of his glasses. “You’re right, as always, darling.” He took Mom’s hand and kissed it before facing Mark. Mom always knew how to
defuse the situation and come to his rescue. “I’m sorry, son. That was uncalled for. Neri is a lovely girl, you make a great couple.”

  Mark still pondered the fact his mom just dropped. He never knew Grandpa wasn’t always fond of Mom.

  Allen bumped his fist on Mark’s arm, snapping him out of the trans. “So, when are you popping the big question?”

  Mark shrugged. “Not sure. I’m afraid it may be too soon.”

  One by one, everyone at the table arched their eyebrows. Except Mom’s, hers furrowed. “Too soon? You two have been together for almost a year now.”

  Oops, damned lies put him into hot water. Quick, think of another one. “I meant to say, she may think it’s too soon.”

  “No, she won’t.” Allen’s wife, Kelli, grabbed the centerpiece and moved it left and right. “Can you put this on Neri’s empty chair for now? I feel like we’re talking behind the bush. Anyway, I was going to say, what girl wouldn’t want you?”

  “Thanks Kelli.” Mark nodded, placing the large flower arrangement down. People seated at tables near them did the same. Kelli and he had their differences and arguments about medicine, but he could always count on her support.

  Mom smiled at Dad. “It’s been five years since we threw a wedding. It would be nice to do it again.”

  “Don’t hold your breath, Mom. Neri is not keen on pomp, but I hope you’re up for the ceremony on the sandy beach at sunset.” He scanned the faces around the table. “What do you all say to that?”

  “I’d love to,” Mom was the first one to answer. “I have that sarong wrap I’ve got on our last trip to Hawaii, but have nowhere to wear it.”

  Allen tugged on his shirt collar. “As long as I don’t have to put a suit and tie on, I’m a game.”

  “You and Dad can wear your surgical scrubs if you want. I know you’re the most comfortable in them.” Mark loosened up his tie. His brother’s comment suddenly made his collar tight.