The Wedding Date

by Zrinka Jelic

  “In that case, I’m showing up in nothing but my lab coat,” Kelli piped in.

  This statement caused Allen to flick his eyebrow at her.

  “Is it getting hot in here, or is it just me?” Kelli fanned her face with a napkin. “Hurry up and pop the question or Allen won’t get any sleep, and neither will I.”

  “Listen to us. We’re planning my wedding and the potential bride is clueless.” Mark joined in the chuckle. He’d never seen his family this relaxed and joking. Neri and her easy demeanour had put them all at ease with one another, even if she wasn’t present at the moment. She had that effect on everyone. Well, almost everyone, not including the sulking party at the head table. Pity her family dismissed her for a ditz.

  “Okay, folks,” Vince said, adjusting the microphone’s height. “This is your last chance to dance up the storm. Our next song is Fuego by Bond.”

  The teenage girls table erupted. Finally, one by one they got up and skittered to the dance floor just as the song picked up. They twirled, jumped, all while motioning to those seated close by to join in. The same woman, who scooped the toddler, approached one of the girls and yanked her arm. The girl spun to face her. The woman’s scowl deepened and she pointed at table they came from. The younger girl shook her head, freed her arm from the older one’s hold and continued dancing.

  Mark gloated. Good for you. He got up, pulling his mom along. “Help me out here. You too, Kelli. Allen?”

  “Have fun, guys. I’m too old to dance.” Dad pocketed his specks in his suit.

  “Oh, Edward.” Mom pulled her husband’s elbow, but Dad wouldn’t have it and shook his head. “You don’t stop dancing because you got old, you get old because you stopped dancing.”

  “I’ll keep him company, Mom.” Allen moved onto Keli’s chair to be closer to their dad. No doubt, they’d discuss the latest articles in medical journals.

  “Let’s get this party stated.” Mark ushered a few more people from the nearby tables onto the dance floor. Why hadn’t he done this sooner? Oh yeah, he didn’t have anyone to dance with, not counting Brook. So far, she remained civil and kept away from him and his family, so for the sake of peace, he decided not to mention anything to Neri.

  Keeping her in focus, he danced up to her, then circled her. The shredded threads of bowstrings shone in the light. It happened when she played hard, beads of perspirations glisten on her brow. The music pulled her in the moment and she was on fire. Tonight, he would make her play him just as hard. She ended the song with her arm high raised above her head, the bow pointing at the ceiling. Earnest applause erupted through the hall and kept on, not allowing the musicians to retreat from the stage. Tears glistened in her eyes, while her chin trembled and her lips quivered, her chest and shoulders rose and fell with her rapid breaths. Mark cupped her face and without hesitation, seized her lips. Her mewl was heard only by him as she melted into him.

  People clapped and cheered louder.

  Vince stepped up to the microphone once more. “That’s more like it. Since you found appreciation for us, we’ll treat you with one extra song.” He turned to Eilla. “Take it.”

  She nodded and opened up in an upbeat tune. Neri joined in, followed by the Vince and Simon, while Chris jumped in the last, giving them the rhythm.

  Mark recognized the tune from one of Neri’s playlist she’d compiled for his cross-fit.

  People poured onto the dance floor in throngs.

  Maybe he was wrong about the bride putting everyone up to shunning her brother and cousins’ band. Mark glanced over his shoulder toward the head table. All of the bridal party sat there, their faces sour. Nope, he’d guessed correctly, but it looked like their plan backfired. So instead of joining in the fun, they chose to sulk along with the princess. Well, misery loved company.

  This time, he danced behind Neri while she swayed her body the same way. Would he mess up her playing if he wrapped her in his arm? Mindful of her movements, he approached her and snaked his arm around her waist, still staying slightly behind her, so to not get punched in the face by her right elbow holding the violin’s bow and thrusting back and forth. She tapped her foot, never missing a beat. The song ended faster than he liked, but at last, she would be able to join him at the table.

  Those still seated rose one by one, clapping and cheering. The group members aligned in their usual abreast formation and took a deep bow. Eilla blew kisses with both hands at the appreciative audience.

  Vince’s voice came through the speakers. “I think we owe our cousin, Neri a dance with her man. Agree?”

  More cheers, whistles and clapping followed his announcement.

  “This one’s just for you two, love birds.” He stepped off the stage and grabbed her violin and the bow, then nodded to the group. “Pur Una Cabeza by Carlos Grandel.”

  Neri stepped to Mark and placed one hand on the back of his shoulder, the other in his open palm. “Hope you can tango.”

  He retrieved his mental notes, wrapping his left arm on her back and pulling her to him. If he remembered dance class from grade school, he could tango, very basic though. “How hard could it be?”

  “Ha! Go easy. These heels aren’t made for a tango.” She bent her knees at the sound of the accordion.

  Cello joined in and he leaned toward her making her taking a step backward, while he slid his leg between hers. During the song’s intro, they experimented with their footwork.

  “We’ll improvise. Follow my lead.” He spun them on the ball of one foot, prompting her to wrap her leg around his hip. “Good, you’re reading my cues.”

  “No, I took ballroom dance classes for years.” She stepped back and swung her leg between them, pivoting on her standing leg. “This dress is not for a tango either.”

  “In that case, I’ll follow your lead.”

  Thankfully, other couples surrounded them. Even his dad joined in and led mom closer, so she could encourage him with a smile. Wow, Mom and Dad could dance. He’d have to get Mom to give him some lessons. Following his dad’s example, he executed a few bolder moves, like bending Neri backward over his arm. They ended with him taking a side lounge, while she pressed her body onto his straight leg. The applause broke out once again. Holding her to him, he straightened and kissed her nose. She took his hand and he led her to their table.

  He pulled her chair out, forgetting he’d placed the centerpiece a.k.a. the bush on the seat. Quickly, he shoved the decorative piece under the table. “Sorry about that, we couldn’t see each other behind this.”

  “Yes, the peacock feathers and all the foliage are a bit too much.” Neri lowered to her seat. “Finally get to sit, wish I could kick off the shoes too.”

  “DJ Beat will take care of your entertainment for the rest of the night,” Vince announced through the speakers, much to disappointment to the crowd who followed his declaration with long no’s and boo’s.

  DJ stepped to the mic. “That’s a tough act to follow, but I’ll try. First, we have a few wishes for the happy couple from people who couldn’t make it tonight. Sandi, your aunt Janice is sending warmest wishes with this song.”

  A mandolin melody started along the video on the overhead projector. An azure sea surrounding little towns with red roofed stone houses wrapped in mediaeval walls.

  Sandi rushed to the podium, flailing her arms over her head. “No, no, don’t play that!”

  “O-o-kay.” The DJ stopped the music, bafflement on his face.

  She pointed to the cue cards in his hand.

  He handed the stack to her.

  She shifted through, gave them back to the DJ and shook her head again.

  Mark watched what was developing on the stage. Too bad, he would’ve liked to have seen pictures from Neri’s ancestral family land. Oh well, he’d have to look for them on his own.

  The DJ frowned and shrugged. “In that case, the bride would want to say a few words.”

  She put on a fake smile and stepped to the mic. “Thank you all for making our
special day even more special with your presence. There are many people here who came from far, so a very special thanks to our family from Europe…”

  Neri leaned closer to Mark and whispered, “She thinks that ‘my family from Europe’ sounds better than those peasants from Croatia.”

  “And most special thank you goes to my brother and cousins and their friends for putting up such great spectacle tonight.” Sandi had to pause for the unexpected applause to subside. “Everyone loved your little karaoke show.”

  Only cronies from the bride’s entourage seated at the head table joined her in some fake laugher while the rest of the guest emitted a long ohh. Seemed the bride really liked the way ‘special’ sounded from her lips.

  Mark cleared his throat, masking his scoff. A little karaoke show? He swallowed the disgust brewing in his gut quickly reaching the back of his throat.

  Neri’s eyes grew big and round as her jaw dropped. “Did I hear that right?” Fire blazed in her green eyes. She thumped the glass she’d been holding on the table and pushed her chair back, leaning forward to stand up.

  Mark placed his hand on her shoulder, stopping her. “She wants you to cause the scene and make a fool of yourself. Wait, you’ll have your chance to get back at her.”

  With a long sigh, Neri lowered back into her seat, but anger remained in her eyes.

  Mark took her hand and kissed her fingers. “Who cares what she thinks. Everyone else loved you.” He pulled the napkin onto his lap as wait staff approached their table. Food should take her mind off the bride’s humiliating. “Dinner’s here. Let’s eat, I know I’m starving. I refused to nibble on the finger foods they served in the lobby.”

  “Me too.” Neri tucked the corner of her napkin inside the bodice of her dress.

  “Chicken, veal or salmon?” the waitress recited her menu choices.

  “Salmon,” Neri and Mark said in unison.

  Mark realized the staff wouldn’t know which guest checked what dish on their R.V.S.P. card and therefore had to ask.

  The waitress plopped plates in front of them and moved onto the next table.

  The dinner had ended, the cake was cut, the sweet table was rolled in, ties came off men’s necks and buttons undone, while sleeves of the recently neat shirts got rolled up to the elbows.

  Neri was photographed more times than he could count, with the band or new fans. By now, no one cared what songs were playing and only a few embraced couples moved to a slow tune. Mom and Dad along with Kelli retreated to their hotel rooms. Vince and Chris sat with a talent agent, securing the new contract. Eilla warmed her way up to the bride. Groomsmen carried a passed out drunken Geoff to the bridal suite.

  “That’s it for me, kids.” Allen gulped down remnants of his neat single malt scotch and stood up, pulling his suit jacket from the chair backrest. “I’ll leave you two love birds alone.”

  Seated on Mark’s lap, Neri rested her head on his shoulder and yawned for the umpteenth time.

  “We should go to our room too, love.” Mark straightened in his chair.

  “Yeah, let’s go.” She sat up. “But first, I must make a pit stop. Watch my purse.”

  He smiled staring at her taking the beeline for the ladies room. Hands covered his eyes. Couldn’t be Neri’s, these were much smaller. Someone sat on his lap again, unfamiliar perfume registered on his senses. Neri never wore fragrances. Her natural scent was his branding. “Hey, who’s this?”

  “Me, you silly.” Brook snaked her arm around his neck. “Goodness, I thought she’d never leave.”

  Sneaky bitch. He tried to disentangle from her, but she tightened her arm. “What do you want?”

  “You must be pissed. Everyone wanted a photo with your fat woman. How about a selfie of us? For old time’s sake.” She pulled his head closer and snapped a few pictures before he could break away from her, then kissed his cheek and took another one. “Thanks, this is our final goodbye, I promise.”

  He jumped to his feet, dislodging her from his lap. Could she be drunk? “Told you to leave me alone.”

  A final goodbye? They’d said so many in the last months they’ve dated, some angry, some full of regrets, others heart wrenching, only to get back together, to give them another chance, yet things had never gotten better between them.

  Brook sauntered toward a guy standing at the hall’s wide opened double door, his suit jacket casually thrown over his shoulder.

  Mark shook his head in disbelief. Just like that man, he used to put up with anything just to be with her. Another minute spent at this table was a minute he was missing with Neri. He would wait for her by the bathrooms, so they could head out of here sooner. Reaching for her purse, he grabbed air, then turned in the direction of the chair Neri had left her bag on. The chair was empty, her purse gone.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Neri’s heels clicked on the tiled floor as she rushed into the first bathroom stall and gagged at the site. “Ugh, gross.”

  How could anyone, least of all a woman, leave the toilet in such poor state after using it? She pushed the door of the next one and carefully poked her head inside. It looked decent enough, so she stepped in and closed the door.

  Lifting and gathering the yards of the fabric in her hands so that none dipped in the toilet, took some time all the while the urge became stronger. Once on the seat, she let out a long sigh of relief. This was long overdue. Every time she’d headed for the ladies’ room, someone would stop her for a photograph or autograph or both. Stardom would not sit well with her. Drama, conflict and stress were not her things, cozy home and to be surrounded with happy people was all she wanted. Mark’s family had happy people, and she wanted to spend the rest of her days with them.

  The constant dripping from a faucet at the sink permeated the silence. She was almost falling asleep, dreaming of Mark and his sweet love. Several fast footsteps entered the ladies’ room, accompanied with girls’ giggling, and it jolted her. They passed by her stall door. She recognized two sets of feet in the bridal’s maids maroon shoes.

  “Quick, let’s see what she’s got in there,” one of them whispered, still loud enough for Neri to hear.

  “Her purse weighs a ton. What could she have in there? A kitchen sink?”

  Neri couldn’t recognize the voice, but seemed to belong to the girl wearing sliver sequenced shoes.

  “Well, look at the size of it, it’s a kitchen sink.” This voice was all too familiar. It was her cousin Sandi.

  Neri leaned forward, peeking through the slit in the door. The four women rummaged through her purse. What the heck was Mark doing? She’d left him in charge of her bag. How did these broads got it? One dangled a pair of underwear she’d pulled from her purse. “What the Hell?”

  “Oh, emergency panties.” Sandi waved her hand. “That’s my mom and aunt’s idea to always have a pair of clean undies with you in case you get hit by a bus or something.”

  The blonde woman holding the underwear shook her head. “I don’t get it. Is she afraid she’d go in her pants?”

  “So you don’t die of embarrassment if they need to undress you in the hospital and your panties are in a bad state.” Sandi pointed at the garment between her friend’s fingers. “Put that back in her purse.”

  “Pfft, if I got hit by a bus, the state of my underwear would be my last worry.” The blonde stuffed the cloth where she pulled it out of.

  That did it. Neri fumed. She reached for the bathroom tissue. Her hand grabbed the scrap glued on the cardboard tube. Ah, just her luck. She flushed the toilet and straightened her dress, then opened the door. “Give me that. And how did you get it anyway?”

  Four sets of manicured hairs and faces turned to her.

  Sandi put on her bitchy smile. “Neri, what the hell are you doing with Mark Warren? Don’t you know I’m a Warren now too? Did you think he’d do what…marry you?”

  All four of them joined her in laughter.

  Neri shook her head. God, she could never marry Mark and tak
e his last name, not until Sandi got divorced, in four to five years, give or take. “What I’m doing with him is none of your business. Give me my purse.”

  “Maybe it’s none of mine, but I’m sure it’s his fiancé’s.” Sandi pointed at the blonde who held her bag. “Meet Brook.”

  “So, you’re the one fucking my man. Actually, it’s him who’s using you for fucks.” Her perfect lips shimmered in the overhead light. The woman was gorgeous. From her wheat color hair, to her cotton candy lipstick, blue eyes, dress accentuating her figure.

  Everything Neri would never be, no matter how much she starved her body or exercised. Would Mark really pass on such beautiful woman for her? Neri snapped her head at her cousin. “How do you two know each other?”

  “We were sorority sisters.” Sandi placed her hand on Brook’s shoulder and gave her a smile then turned to Neri. “As in at the real university. You’d know what I’m talking about had you not chosen some music academy you graduated from.”

  Neri’s blood boiled. Enough was enough, her degree was every bit real as Sandi’s or anyone else’s. Hell, she’d only paid off her student loan two years ago. If no one else, every month her bank had thought her diploma was real. “I’ve graduated from University of Toronto, faculty of music. How’s that not real?”

  Sandi shrugged. “Well, you haven’t composed your symphony yet, have you?”

  Okay, fine, Neri too, could play that game. Ever since Sandi got her degree in the Environmental Studies, she carried a chip on her shoulder as if the whole world owed her, as if she’d solve its problems. “Oh yeah? Here’s a news flash for ya. The Earth’s still polluted. At least I work in my field. You haven’t put a day’s worth of elbow grease in yours.”

  “Oh, that’s just cold.” Brook sneered. “Whatever, doesn’t change the fact Mark’s fucking you.”

  Neri licked her dry lips, the bitch could be right, Mark vested so little in the relationship with Neri, yet he’d spent years with Brook. “What makes you think it’s not me who’s fucking him?”