A Tragic Heart (5 page)

“You look beautiful,” Mason says with an admiring stare.

“And you look handsome,” I reply.

I have to admit, Mason is a total turn-on. His look is laid-back, but nice enough for a formal date. He’s wearing a jet black six button vest, gray dress shirt, and matching black tailor-like fitted slacks that give him a front window display look found in one of those trendy almost metro men stores.

“Where are we going now?” I ask as he helps me into his car.

“To eat,” he says lightly. Then he shuts the door and walks over to the other side of the car.

“Well, I know we’re going out to eat, but where?”

“A really nice place here in Arizona.”

“Well, that’s not telling me much.”

He looks at me, smiles, and says, “I know.”

I know he’s up to something. He continues to smile to himself, and I know that means it must be something really nice. It’s great to see how excited he gets whenever he plans something for me. It makes me feel like he really cares for me.

The restaurant is fantastic, and afterward he takes me out dancing. I’m not much of a dancer, but I do it for Mason. We sit in the car for a while in silence when I notice Mason staring at me.

“What are you thinking about?” I ask in a soft voice.

“How much I love you,” he replies very seriously—in almost an intimidating way.

I put my hand over his. “I love you, too, Mason Taylor.”

“Will you marry me?” he asks in that same serious voice.

Before I can answer, he speaks again. “Tonight? Will you marry me tonight?”

“Mason are you—”

“Yes! I’m serious. That’s your surprise.”

“That day on the beach when you asked if I’m willing to go the mile with you, you were testing me?”

“Pretty much,” he says with a smirk on his beautiful face.

“So, will you marry me, Taylor Caldwell?”

“How are we going to get away with this? We’re underage! I just turned seventeen today!”

“It’s Arizona! The law here is you can get married at the age of sixteen as long as you have consent from a parent or legal guardian.”

“But I don’t have consent from either of my parents, nor will I get it,” I say, almost panicking.

“Babe, I have that all taken care of. My parents already approved it. They gave the needed notarized consent. Everything else, I already handled,” he says with that beautiful smile that makes anything he says hard to resist.

There is a long pause. I’m not too sure what he means by he “handled” everything else but my mind told me not to ask any questions. Mason’s family holds more power than my mind could even digest.

“So, Taylor Alexandria Caldwell, will you marry me tonight? Because if you do, I will make tonight—and the rest of your existence—the most wonderful days of your life. You are the love of my life, and I will never find anyone better or anyone like you. You’re the portrait that I paint in my mind every time I think of perfection, and I would love to draw you for the rest of my life.”

Once again, Mason Taylor has found a way to leave me speechless. This is obviously his specialty.

“What do you say, Tay? Will you marry me tonight?”

“Mason Dale Taylor, I would love to marry you tonight,” I slowly respond through tears of excitement.

***

We end up on the beach after the “ceremony,” walking hand in hand. Although Arizona isn’t necessarily famous for its white, sandy beaches, I am in bliss. I am officially Mrs. Mason Dale Taylor. Only a few months ago, this was just a dream. I guess my cynical mind was wrong when I thought love was only for fairy tales. Somehow, my life magically has turned into a storybook. I don’t want to question how it happened because I like the feeling too much.

“You know your name is now officially Taylor Taylor, right?” Mason says, laughing.

“Yeah, I know. How about we just say Caldwell-Taylor?” I laugh at how ridiculous my new name sounds.

“Taylor Caldwell-Taylor; it grows on you.” Mason is still laughing.

The smile disappears when I realize I still have to go home tonight. I already know my parents aren’t going to approve of the marriage. They barely approve of my relationship with Mason. My mother already believes that we’re moving too fast. I have no idea how Jackson will react, and that terrifies me the most.

“What’s wrong?” he asks tipping my chin up.

“I don’t want to go home tonight. I want to spend the rest of the night with you,” I say, admiring the diamond on my finger. “You know, I still think it’s tacky that you bought your own wedding band. That was my job!” I force a smile.

“Well, think of it as me taking extra work off your hands. And you don’t have to go back tonight; I have a hotel already booked for us.”

“Can you get any more amazing?”

“I’m sure I have a few more tricks up my sleeve,” he says, giving me that million-dollar smile and a kiss.

***

I wake up in the morning remembering the night before and wondering if it was real or not. I look down at my left hand and see the diamond from my wedding ring staring back at me, letting me know there was nothing fake about it. I still can’t grasp the reality that I am married to Mason Taylor. But I guess this is how all newlyweds feel.

“Morning, babe,” Mason greets me with a kiss.

“Good morning.”
And what a good morning it is
.

“We have to check out soon, and I have to go help Peyton pack his things.”

“Pack his things? Why is he packing?” I ask, barely awake.

“He’s moving out. He is now officially an emancipated minor. He has his own apartment already. But my parents will still be helping him out.”

“Why is he leaving?”

“I don’t know. I guess it’s just something he wants to do. I was thinking we should do that. You know, since we’re a married couple now. I’ll leave that house to my parents. I actually looked at a co-op apartment that’s perfect for us. My parents are the ones who designed it so you already know the setup is quite nice.”

“I guess that means we’ll have to work.”

“I’ll have to work. I already accepted a position at my parent’s business that pays really well. I wouldn’t want you getting all stressed out.”

“You think your parents will be okay with us being married and living together?”

“Honestly, they won’t care. As long as I’m happy, that’s all that matters to them. They approved of this entire marriage thing from the start. I’m sure they wouldn’t care about me moving out.”

“Wow, I can’t believe Peyton is moving out. He couldn’t wait until he turned eighteen?” I ask, changing the subject back to Peyton. I’m not in the mood to hear how cool his parents are about us getting married when I knew that when I get home, I’ll be walking through the gates of hell.

“Well, Peyton is only sixteen. His birthday comes later than ours; it’s in December. So I guess he felt like he’d be waiting forever. Even though it’s not that much longer.”

I still can’t figure Peyton out and now I may never get the chance since he’s moving out of Mason’s house. It has started to bother me how obsessed I’ve become with Peyton’s character. Maybe because I feel as if he’s the other half of me that I’ve been missing—that other person who can feel my pain and heartache.
Maybe it’s because we both share a situation where death took away someone very close to us
. Maybe it’s because I’m the only one who knows about the connection we possibly share. Trying to decode Peyton is like trying to crack the Da Vinci code.
Too long and impossible for most
.

***

I come home to an empty house, or so I think. As I walk into my room, I’m almost frightened to death to find Jackson sitting on my bed. “What are you doing in here?” I ask, calming myself down.

“I think the question should be, where the hell were you all night?”

“Now you’re sounding just like Eva and Henry,” I blurt.

“Taylor, I’m serious. You shouldn’t be hanging out that late and not telling anyone where you are. I was worried about you—and what the hell is that on your finger?”

“A ring,” I say, a little annoyed.

I hate it when Jackson attempts to turn into an actual big brother. I try to cover the ring with my right hand, hoping to move off of the topic. I thought I would have time to think about how I would break the news to him. I’m not exactly prepared for this.

“Please don’t be a smartass right now, Tay. Not with me, at least. It looks like an engagement ring.”

“Well, it’s not. It’s a wedding ring. Mason thinks having two rings is overrated.”

“A wedding ring? You’re not even married!” he says, walking closer to me.

I back away a little. The truth is, I’m a bit scared by his reaction.

I pause. “Now I am. We did it last night. He took care of all the business that needed to be taken care of, and we got married last night. And it was the most memorable night of my life. And I don’t regret it—not for a second.”

He grabs my left hand and takes a good stare at the ring. I can see his facial expression change, but I can’t exactly read it.

“Well, I guess all that’s left to say is…congratulations.” He forces a smile.

“You mean it?” I ask, confused.

“Yeah, I do. You know Mom and Dad are going to give you hell and say you’re too young, but like I say, I’m here for you until the day that I die. And I feel like no one can put an age on love. No one ever said you have to be a college graduate with a high-powered career before you find true love.”

I can tell that he’s a little disappointed, but he tries to be happy for me and that’s what matters. He doesn’t bother asking any further questions; he just lets it be.

“Jackson, you never cease to amaze me,” I say, hugging him.

“I know.”

***

I decide that I’ll tell my parents the news that night when they come home, instead of letting them find out on their own. I mean, I am a married woman now, and that’s the adult thing to do, right? I hope so. Besides, Jackson says he’ll be there for me if I need him; Jackson always makes everything better.

“Eva, Henry, I have something to ask you,” I say, holding my left hand with my right.

“Oh God. First you talk to us like we’re strangers on the street and now you want something from us?” my mom asks in frustration.

“I’m asking to become an emancipated minor!” I blurt out without a second thought.

I don’t want this conversation to be a long, drawn-out one. This has to be over with as soon as possible. I have no desire to “talk it out” with my “parents.”

Silence was the room’s best friend for a moment or two
. That is, until I hear my mother and father laugh.

“Is something funny?” I ask folding my arms to my chest.

“You? An emancipated minor? Sweetie, you can’t even take care of yourself,” Henry states blandly.

“I’ve been taking care of myself for as long as I can remember. You were never there!” I yell. “And I won’t be alone; I have Mason—my husband.” I put my left hand on display.

Silence and the room must’ve reunited because it was the loudest thing present for two moments—or three
.

“You’re married?” Kristen screamed as she ran down the stairs. “Mom—Dad—that’s so not fair! You won’t even let me spend the night at my boyfriend’s house!”

Kristen is so immature. That’s why we never speak. She belongs with the Jizelles of the school, while I belong with the Peytons.

“Get out!” Henry yells in pure anger.

“Dad, just let her—” Jackson begins to say.

“Jackson, you stay out of this!” Henry says, still yelling.

“But if you would just cal—”

“Don’t tell me to calm down, Jackson! Your little slut of a sister just decided to get married to a boy who doesn’t give a damn about her—so don’t you dare tell me to calm down!”

Jackson can’t help me this time. That’s the only thing clear in this situation. I begin to walk toward the door. It’s also clear that they don’t want me here anymore. They never loved me; they just dealt with me and now that they no longer have to, I’m free. I think that secretly getting married was the best thing I could’ve done for them. It gives them a reason to disown me.

“Tay, don’t go!” Jackson says with pain in his voice.

“I’m sorry, Jackson,” I say, almost in a whisper.

***

The only part that’s painful for me is leaving my Jack. I walk out of the front door with tears streaming down my face like a waterfall. I am broken and I am leaving my Jackson. I drive around for a bit, just to clear my mind of this tragic day. It’s funny: last night was the most memorable night for me and today will be one of the most memorable days. Ironically, it’s for the same reason, but I only regret today. I decide to drive to Mason’s house. I have nowhere else to go anyway. I park in front of Mason’s house and just sit in the car for a few seconds before getting out. I let out a deep sigh. I finally get out and ring the doorbell. Mason opens the door looking as if he’s in a hurry.

“Oh, hey, babe, what are you doing here?” he says, almost out of breath.

“I have nowhere else to go,” I say in a broken voice.

“Why? Oh, you told them and they weren’t happy about it, huh?”

All I could do was shake my head no.

“Um, come in. I’m helping Peyton pack right now, so things are a little busy here.”

I forgot Peyton was leaving today.

“Where is Peyton moving to?”

“Not far. He’ll still be going to our school. It’s about ten, maybe fifteen minutes away from here,” he says, moving out of my way so I can walk in.

“Hey, Mason, you still here?” I hear Peyton call.

“Yeah, I was just leaving, Peyton!” Mason yells back. “Sorry, I have to go put some things away in Peyton’s apartment, but I’ll be back. Peyton is here to keep you company,” Mason says, kissing me on the cheek and rushing out the door.

I decide to walk upstairs to Mason’s room and maybe listen to some of his music, when I hear the most beautiful sound coming from down the hall. It’s the sound of an acoustic guitar, the sound that I miss hearing from Jackson’s room. The melody is slow and heartbreaking. It tells a million secrets in the chord of C minor. I walk up to Peyton’s doorway and listen to him play. He is a rare talent. That’s easy to notice, even through the simplest melody. I lose myself in the music until I see Peyton look up at me and smile.