The Wedding Date

by Zrinka Jelic

Brook snorted. “Hon, I’ve been with him for years, while you spent, what, a month with him? I’d say I know him far better than you. He’s using you.”

  Was she stalking him? How else would she know how long she’d been with Mark? Everyone else believed they’d dated for almost a year. “Maybe we’re using each other.”

  “Right, you can keep saying that lie. No one will believe it and someday, neither will you.” Brook reached into her clutch purse and pulled out her phone. “See. He’s lying to you. We never split up.” She flipped the screen toward Neri. A picture of her sitting on Mark’s lap, right there in the banquet hall, kissing his cheek displayed on the screen.

  Neri swallowed the bile in her throat. “This can’t be. He wouldn’t do that.”

  “Wouldn’t he? Do you need more proof? Oh, I love this. Your face is priceless. He knows this turns me on. I’ll be riding him tonight.” She flicked her finger over the screen and displayed another picture of her on Mark’s lap.

  “Oh Neri,” Sandi crooned, stepping up to her. “A man made a fool of you, again. When will you ever learn? Fixing that beak of your nose didn’t work. Men still think you’re only good for one thing.”

  “And don’t you go accusing my friend, Ashley for your nose accident!” Brook barked.

  “Oh, I see, this is about her.” The bathroom walls closed in on Neri. She darted her glance from one woman to the next. Words wouldn’t form in her spinning mind, her tongue tied, while her mouth dried as if filled with sand. Out, she needed to get out of here.

  She snatched her purse from Brook’s hand and headed for the door.

  “It’s not just about Ashley, it’s everything. Mostly for stealing my thunder.” Sandi’s raised voice had her stopping at the threshold. “I was supposed to be the star of the night, as bride always should, not you.”

  Neri faced her, forcing her voice to cooperate through her closed throat. Of course, Sandi wasn’t a center of attention at her own wedding. “You take that up with your brother, not me.”

  “Rest assured, he’ll be dealt with.” Sandi’s threat reached her down the hall.

  To think despite their family’s praises of Sandi’s successes, no matter how insignificant, and finding every excuse in the book for her shortfalls, while belittling Neri’s efforts, Neri still hoped that Sandi would come around and become her ally. Until today, her cousin’s insane hatred toward everyone was a mutual feeling for Neri, now all she felt for Sandi was pity.

  Neri quickened her steps to their table, but halted halfway. Mark wasn’t there. She scanned the dimly lit and by now, mostly empty banquet hall. No sign of him. Maybe he had to use boys’ room too. Half running, she returned to the bathroom area and poked her head inside men’s, calling him, her voice echoed in the empty space and the row of urinals along the wall. Perhaps…he was looking for her and when he couldn’t find her, thinking she went to their hotel room. Doubtful he’d leave without her, but it was worth the try.

  Pushing her feet in the damn stilettoes, she crossed the grass area and the street to the hotel. A thought occurred to remove her uncomfortable shoes, but dew dampened the grass. She hated getting her feet wet and the hem of Eilla’s vintage dress to drag on the ground where it would get damaged. Shit, she didn’t have the room key card, but if he was there, he’d let her in.

  While waiting on the elevator, she texted him where are you? Then she sent another text to Vince, warning him of his sister’s revenge. The elevator took her to their floor and she approached the room six-five-six. Her heart pounded and she psyched herself to try the door, afraid of what she might see if they opened. No, dummy, the door won’t open with the card. She knocked on the wood. “Mark, let me in.”

  No answer. She tried again, rapping her knuckles impatiently. “Mark, it’s me.”

  The ding of the elevator had her turning to the sound. Her heart rejoicing, with hopes it wold be him. Her heart sunk at the sight of Brook stepping out, heading toward her.

  “Mark’s not in there.” She pointed her manicured finger at the door Neri stood in front of, then at the door of the room next to theirs. “Because he’s in here. We booked two rooms next to each other.” She inserted the key card. The light lit up to green on the reader as and a soft click indicated them unlocked. “Hope you have earplugs, it’s about to get noisy in here.” Chuckling, she pushed the door in. “Hey, Marky boy. I’m back.”

  The man moaned at Brook’s approach and the door slammed in Neri’s face before she could see who was inside. Could it be him? Her heart shattered. More and more it seem Brook was telling truth. Neri glanced at the phone in her hand. Why wasn’t he answering her text? She typed another one, trying to keep a nonchalant tone. Hey, I’m at the hotel. Don’t have my card. Are you on your way here?

  No matter how hard she stared at the screen, his reply wasn’t forthcoming. She called his number, but his voice mail picked up before the first ring. A good indication his phone was off. Brook’s loud giggles came muffled through the closed door, a man growled. He didn’t sound like Mark, but Neri couldn’t be certain. Hot tears burned her eyes. Damn it, she knew she was putting her heart on the line and this was in store for her, but she had so blatantly gone for it. What was she thinking? Yeah, getting into a relationship had seemed like a good idea, but so was boarding the Titanic and look how that ended. To hers and the victims of the sunken ship’s defense, not one of them knew they would hit an iceberg.

  Mess, she made a mess of her life once again.

  Totally not cool of him to leave her stranded. Key card or not, she couldn’t stay here. She would have to find her way home, three cities away. The cab drive would cost her a fortune, but that was the only option. Other than bunking with her parents. Not on her life. She wouldn’t get a wink of sleep, listening her dad’s ranting on and on about men not wanting to buy a cow if they could get milk for free. Judging by mom’s loose dress in their wedding pictures, dad had his share of free milk.

  The line of taxis sat parked at the far end of the hotel lot. The urge to get as far away and as fast as possible pressed on her shoulders. Clutching onto her purse, she broke into a run. Not the smartest in these damn heels, but if she could disappear beneath the earth, she would.

  One of her heels caught in the manhole and she propelled forward, her foot twisting under her. Wincing in pain, she yanked the shoe free, but another sharper pain ripped up her leg. “Ouch, a-a-a-h son of a…that hurts.” Panting, she hobbled over to the first cab, unable to put her weight on her right leg.

  “Miss, are you all right?” The man held the taxi door open for her until she ungracefully scooted onto the back seat.

  “I don’t know,” she cried. No, she was a bloody mess. She raised her leg on the seat and hiked her dress up to expose the ankle. Oh God, it’d swelled to the size of volleyball. Great, just great. This day had started fabulously, but Sandi had ruined it for sure.

  “Do you need a medical attention?” the Cabby’s question sliced through her pain and grief. “Yeah, you do.”

  Huh? He’s a medic now too? Maybe her face contorted so much the man was able to conclude she was in a bad way. By the amount of throbbing pain and how fast her ankle swelled up, she’d better have this checked. The shooting pangs in her leg only added to the agony in her heart.

  Ten minutes later, the cab pulled up at the entrance to the Emergency. The driver turned to her. “Wait here until I get you a wheelchair. You can’t walk like that.”

  In the next few minutes, he re-emerged through the sliding door, pushing the chair, then helped her out of the cab.

  “How much do I owe you?” She reached into her purse, mostly to hide her teary eyes. The man must’ve assumed she was in too much pain. And she was, but her tears were caused by other events, not just her ankle.

  “It’s on me.” He waved the money away. “I didn’t even turn on the meter.”

  “No, no, take it.” Holding a twenty dollar bill, she extended her hand to him. The man deserved more than what she offered
, one couldn’t put a price on such help. “Please, I’m sure you can use it.”

  “Well, since you beg so nicely.” He took the money and pushed her chair toward the door. “I’ll put it into a good use.” Parking her by the triage nurse, he tapped her shoulder. “Can you manage from here?”

  “I think so, thank you for your help.” She nodded, but chose not to look him in the eye. God knew hers were sore already, and there were many hours ahead she would spend crying.

  At least the E.R. was not crowded. In fact, she was the only one in the waiting room. After entering her info into the hospital’s system, the nurse rolled her to a small room and instructed her to change into a gown to x-ray her ankle. With some elaborate twists, she managed to switch the gowns, only the hospital’s variety lacked the glam.

  She was rolled into the x-ray room, then after several pictures, back into the small examination room.

  The doctor came in to see her. “I’m afraid it’s broken in two places. We’ll have to put on an air cast to at least immobilize it.” He slipped some papers in front of her. “I need your signature on these consent forms. You’ll be pretty out of it while I set your bones, but not totally. Before we start, I want you to call someone who can get you home.”

  “I’ll be discharged?” Not that she wanted to stay in the hospital, but at the moment, it seemed like her only refuge where no one would lecture her on her life choices.

  “I don’t see a reason to keep you here once the ankle is immobilized. Make an appointment with your doctor.”

  My doctor. An hour ago, she had one. Or did she ever have him? Fresh tears rushed to her eyes and she couldn’t stop them from overflowing. Swiping them with the back of her hand, she signed the papers.

  “It hurts I know, but don’t worry, we’ll get you fixed. Make that call.” The doctor took the forms and left her alone.

  If only he knew how much it really hurt.

  Who could she call? Eilla? Maybe. Neri dug her phone out of her purse hoping to find Mark’s replies to her texts, but her heart broke anew when screen displayed no new messages or missed calls. She brought Eilla’s phone number up on the screen, then couldn’t bring her finger to tap call button. Her phone buzzed, showing Eilla’s name on the incoming call. The girl must be a psychic or something. Neri tapped the accept call button and pressed the phone to her ear. “Hello.” She hoped she didn’t sound too distressed.

  “Neri, where are you? Chris just called me. He’s helping Mark find you.” Eilla sounded panicked.

  “No, he’s not, he’s in the room with his fiancé,” Neri whispered, in part to hide her shaky voice and part for not knowing how loud she could talk in the emergency room. In truth, she wanted to shout. Mark was looking for her the whole time? Her heart sank again. Had she so foolishly ran off, believing Sandi’s and her cronies’ lies? Oh, he would be pissed at her when he found out. If it was him who skittered away at the first sign of trouble, she’d be livid.

  “No, hon, he’s not. Trust me. I’m in the bridal suite and your cousin had a need to gloat about how she and her sidekicks played you.”

  “What the Hell are you doing in the bridal suite?” Neri winced, she didn’t need to ask.

  “Not what, but who.”

  “Oh God, you slept with the groom,” Neri breathed into the phone.

  “I wouldn’t touch that man with a stick.”

  “Who then? Oh, don’t tell me you did Sandi?”

  “Bingo.” Eilla chuckled. “For calling our performance a little karaoke act, then for messing with you.”

  “Ew, too much information, Eilla.” Bafflement stirred in Neri. She never knew Sandi would swing that way, but then again at sixteen years old, she’d proudly announced she was having sex and no longer interested in playing dollies with Neri. “I’m speechless. And I’m at—um—you’re not gonna believe it.”

  “Try me.” Impatience colored Eilla’s voice.

  “I broke my ankle running away. I’m in the emergency at St. Michael’s. Can you come and get me? In about an hour or two. And don’t bring Mark. Please, don’t tell him where I am. He’s gonna be mighty mad at me.”

  “Don’t be silly. He’s worried.”

  “Please promise, you won’t tell him where I am.”

  “He’ll find you whether I tell or not.” Eilla sighed. “And then he’ll be royally pissed at me.”

  Eilla was right, still Neri would rather bury her head in the sand than face him. “Oh God, I’m such an idiot.”

  “Yeah, you are. I’m getting dressed and I’ll come and get you. Shit, Chris has the car keys. I have to find him first.”

  Thanks for the vote of confidence, Eilla. Neri looked up as the doctor entered her room. “I have to go now. They are about to set my ankle.”

  “Sure thing, stay strong.” Eilla ended the call.

  After taking her vitals, the doctor proceeded with administrating the sleep gas through the face mask. Her head felt fuzzy, and her whole body went limp. Though half awake, the floating feeling was a balm on her battered soul. Why couldn’t she stay like this for eternity? She couldn’t imagine life without Mark in it. The maneuvering of her broken bones caused her some discomfort and creepiness knowing the bones shouldn’t make that sound, but she was in no physical pain. Inside her was a different story. Would Mark forgive her? Why had she fallen prey to Sandi so gullibly? She could never again call her a cousin.

  “We’re done here.” The doctor pulled the gas mask off her face, but the doped up state remained. “Rest for a while and the nurse will get you a boot and crouches so you can walk.”

  “You have a visitor.” The nurse waved someone over.

  God don’t let it be Mark. She couldn’t face him, not yet, she needed time to work on her defense speech. To her relief or not, her mother entered the room.

  Mom’s face looked stern. “Neri, what did you do this time?”

  “Mom, I’m not in the mood. Please.” She pressed her head into the thin pillow and closed her eyes.

  Mom sat in silence which caused more discomfort for Neri than if she had berated her. “Don’t be like Aunt Hellen. Do you know why Uncle Roger calls me his ally?”

  Neri opened her eyes, turning to face her mother. “I never heard him call you that.”

  “He hadn’t called me that in years. Anyway, it’s because I saw him with another woman not a month after he married my sister. He knew I saw him, so he begged me not to tell. He promised he’d never do it again. For the sake of peace, I kept my mouth shut, and Sandi was on her way. I had to think of the unborn baby if I breathed a word out.”

  Neri’s jaw dropped. Rumours of Uncle Roger’s extramarital escapades floated around for years, but she’d dismissed them. What couple would stay married all these years if one partner couldn’t be faithful? Looked like she was wrong after all, her parents’ generation was raised to put up with each other’s crap, for divorce was regarded worst of the two evils. “Oh, wow. I didn’t know.”

  “Roger was a man to behold in his day. No woman could resist him. Ladies approached him often, totally ignoring his wife, even shoving her out of their way. She didn’t know how to assert herself, so she’d storm away with her tail tucked in, leaving him with the broads. Her friends would come for a visit then send her to the kitchen, so they could be alone with her husband for a few minutes.” Mom wrapped her hand around Neri’s. “Don’t be like your aunt. She spent her best years dreading her husband would cheat on her. I suspect he continued seeing other women only he was smart or perhaps lucky, not to get caught again.”

  “Aunt Helen dreaded he’d cheat on her all while he did. But why are you telling me this?” Neri searched her mom’s face. There had to be a point to this story. Are good looking men in short supply?

  “Mark is here.” Mom pointed at the door. “I asked him to let me see you first, so I can talk some sense into your hard head. You have a choice, Neri. Let that gorgeous man love you, or tuck your tail like your aunt did all her life.”

&
nbsp; Neri blew out a fearful breath, but she would have to face him sooner rather than later. She was done tucking her tail, she need to let all women know she was with him and they stood no chance. “Okay.”

  “Good choice.” Mom leaned and kissed her cheek, then left the room.

  Her heart pounded while her gaze locked onto the door.

  Mark stepped though, his hair and shirt disheveled, dark circles around his beautiful blue eyes. He stopped by the foot of her bed and diverted his gaze to her leg in cast. “It appears that I’m hazardous for you. From now on, you are wearing the heels only in bed.”

  She attempted a smile, but tears betrayed her. “Oh, Mark. I’m so stupid. I believed them. How can you look at me? They fed me shit and I ate it without as much as questioning your character. I can’t stand myself right now. I’m an idiot—”

  His warm hands cupped her face. When did he move closer? “I know, love, I know. Shut up, so I can kiss you.”

  Her next words were muffled by his lips covering hers. He coaxed her to open her mouth and he slid his tongue in, exploring her, teasing, tasting. Once again, she melted in his hands. When he pulled back, words poured from her mouth again, “Why do you still want me? I’m disgusted by how I acted. Brook said I’ll never be skinny and that you’re using me for a f-fu—”

  “I see more kissing is needed.” He descended upon her again, but this time brushed his lips over hers, leaving them to linger, barely touching her. “It’s all in the past, it won’t happen again.”

  “Why didn’t you answer my texts?” She licked her upper lip, tasting her salty tears. It would happen again, only she would be prepared.

  He sat up straight, tapping his jacket’s pocket. “My phone died.”

  “So, you forgive me?”

  “Nothing to forgive. If I don’t, Tag would never forgive me. He’d die without you…and so would I.”

  She pressed her fingers to the corner of her eyes, stopping tears. How could she leave Tag, her big goof? “Forgive me, anyway.”

  He gave a small chuckle. “Okay, I forgive you. Feeling better?”