Sometime Soon

by Doxer, Debra

  “Hello, Andrea.” She greets me using the pleasant tone she puts on for company. “Introduce us to your friend.”

  Ryan moves next to me. He is standing so close that our arms are touching. I realize that he’s crowding me purposely, offering me his warmth and his support.

  “Mom, this is Ryan Miller.”

  Ryan smiles at her. “Hello, Mrs. Whitman.”

  “Call me Karen. It’s so nice to meet you.” Then she takes Ryan’s hand in hers and squeezes it.

  Mom takes over the remaining introductions, and I subtly move away, needing some space to breathe. I don’t feel as though I’m deserting Ryan because he seems so completely at ease.

  “Should I bother getting to know this one?” Jonathan whispers beside me.

  I dart him a displeased look.

  He chuckles and offers me a quick hug. “Just kidding.”

  Grudgingly, I smile in return.

  “Not completely though,” he adds before taking his turn to meet and shake hands with Ryan.

  Just then, Laura tries to slip past me. I step into her path. “What is everyone doing here?” I ask.

  She grimaces. “I know. Sorry. It wasn’t me. Jonathan mistakenly mentioned to Mom that Ryan was coming with you. Don’t worry though. He’s great and so handsome. He’s doing fine.” Laura takes my hand. “I really need to thank you. Mom called me this morning to ask if she could hire the band you all went to see. How did you manage that?”

  I smile and shrug. “I just reasoned with her.”

  Laura eyes me suspiciously before embracing me, profusely thanking me again, and moving to talk to a short, dark-haired lady at the back of the store.

  What I’d actually done was drop by Mom and Dad’s house unexpectedly last week and convinced them that Laura was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I told them they needed to hire one of the bands they’d already seen before she loses it completely. They didn’t immediately cave. It took a detailed description, maybe somewhat embellished, of Laura’s deteriorating state of mind to turn them around. Dad agreed first and he convinced Mom.

  I notice Laura pointing me out to the woman she’s speaking to. Then she’s calling my name and waving me over. I glace back at Ryan, filling with pride as I recognize the effort he’s making for me. I’ve come to learn that he’s not exactly gregarious and outgoing. But in his own quiet, determined way, he goes after what he wants. I have the feeling he usually gets it.

  I head to the dressing room for the fitting. The same dark lady introduces herself as Nadia the seamstress. She shows me the dress and leaves me to change. I notice the deep red-violet color, but that’s all that registers as I slip out of my clothes and into the long gown. My thoughts are still out there, wondering what my parents might be saying to Ryan now.

  When I emerge from the dressing room, all conversation ceases. The seamstress motions for me stand on a platform in front of a full-length mirror.

  “It’s beautiful,” Mom says as her eyes travel over me.

  I can feel my cheeks heating at the exposed feeling I have as I stand in the full-length gown in front of everyone. It’s strapless, with a sweetheart neckline and a fitted bodice. It’s only pinned on, and it buckles at my waist and hips. But I have to admit, the color does seem to suit me. For the first time since I re-entered the room, I seek out Ryan. When I locate him still standing by the doorway, his eyes are glued to me, and the admiration I see in them causes me to blush even more.

  The seamstress yanks on the dress in an attempt to pull my attention back to her. “Turn around,” she mumbles through the pins clenched between her lips. I turn toward the mirror and watch the room reflected behind me while Nadia works on the hem around my ankles.

  Mom’s jubilation is apparent in every pleased glance she throws my way. She can barely control her glee, and I’m on edge waiting for her to do something over the top like hugging Ryan and welcoming him to the family.

  As I stand there uncomfortably, fidgeting despite the seamstress’s pleas for me to stand still, I catch Ryan’s eye again in mirror. He winks at me, and the tension inside me slowly evaporates.

  I suppose parents want certain things for their children. I shouldn’t begrudge them that. Besides, I have a good feeling Ryan can take whatever embarrassing overtures my mom may dish out.

  When the seamstress disappears to retrieve something from the back of the store, Mom approaches me and says, “You’re going to bring Ryan to the wedding, aren’t you? I told you I could squeeze one more in.”

  I haven’t asked Ryan yet. The wedding is still many months away. “Yes, squeeze one more in,” I tell her optimistically.

  She nearly cheers out loud. After stepping onto the platform and giving me a quick squeeze, she runs to tell Dad. Hallelujah! Andrea is bringing a date to the wedding.

  “You’re next,” Laura whispers, as her amused expression follows Mom across the store.

  “Stop,” I tell her, assuming she means that I’ll be heading down the proverbial aisle soon.

  “I knew your time would come, Andy.”

  “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, okay?”

  She steps up beside me and places her hands on my bare shoulders. “Sometime soon,” she says when her eyes find mine in the mirror, “You’re going to take stock of the good things in your life without worrying that they’re going to slip away once you do. Besides, you deserve them.”

  I smile at her reflection and I tell her, “I don’t think it’s about deserving them. I think it’s about being ready for them.”

  As I stand there, something seems to release inside me, and I know I need to believe in what I’m feeling. Always waiting for the other shoe to drop has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. I have to get out of my own way and enjoy my time with Ryan. It may work out or it may not. But I can’t let the little hurts that preceded him keep me on edge.

  Besides, now that I’ve finally found one of the good guys, I want to keep him.

  Acknowledgements

  Thanks to my early readers. There is no question your input improved the story. Thanks to Jennifer Buldoc, Annemarie Donovan , Melanie Dovell, Dara Weinberger, Deb Goodman, LeAnn Keller, Sue Panioli, Vicki and Jim Malver.

  Also by Debra Doxer

  WINTERTIDE

  When college sophomore, Daniel Hiller, reluctantly returned home to Cape Cod for the holidays, he never planned on rekindling old friendships. He had easily left his life behind, and he never looked back. But back at home, after a year and a half away, unexpected nostalgia finds him once again in the company of old friends. On a night out together, one of those friends commits a heinous crime. When Daniel witnesses that crime, he is asked to keep a dark secret that could forever tie him to the place he has always despised.

  As Daniel tries to get through the rest of his winter break pretending that nothing is wrong, he rekindles a relationship with his high school girlfriend and he referees the all too familiar arguments between his parents. All the while, he is attempting to avoid the constant threats of retribution if he breaks his silence. Soon, avoidance becomes impossible. Not knowing who to trust, but realizing that his former friends are far from trustworthy, Daniel must make a choice.

  When he does, he discovers that keeping the secret may have been the lesser of the evils. Daniel wants to believe that he is nothing like his friends. He wants to think that he’s better than that. But when his own future is threatened, he realizes that he is not better. In fact, he may be much, much worse.