Authors: Angel Rose
“Not now, Jen. I promise you, I’ll always be here for you. Let it go. For now.” he said with a smile. We danced and he twirled me around laughing and smiling like he was on top of the world. I tried to be happy, but my heart was still hurting. The song ended and I glanced over at Dr. Logan and smiled sadly, then I kissed Dave on the cheek. I placed my head on his shoulder and I whispered, “I love you, Dave.”
“I love you, too, Jen. Don’t get all mushy on me, you know I hate that shit.” he said then smirked. Michael approached us and shook Dave’s hand. He then escorted me off of the dance floor. We cut the cake and took some photos with the guests and took separate photos with Dave, Margaret, Tilly and Eddie. Margaret and Dave didn’t speak to each other the entire night. I felt so bad for her and I didn’t understand why she hadn’t spoken to me yet. I gave Michael a kiss and said,
“I’ll be right back.” I walked towards Margaret. “Margaret?” I said, holding my gown up above my shoes so I wouldn’t trip over it.
“I’ll be leaving soon, can you come with me to the restroom? I’d like to change my dress now.”
“Of course, I’ll get Tilly.” I grabbed my dress then grabbed Margaret by the arm.
“Margaret wait, are you sure you don’t want to talk to me? I’ve noticed you and Dave haven’t spoken a word to each other all night. Please Margaret, talk to me, I’m here for you.” I implored.
“Jen, you’re not going to like what I have to tell you. But I can’t talk to you here, not now. Please, enjoy your honeymoon. Tilly!” She called Tilly over and we walked to the restroom. They helped me get out of my dream dress and into a beautiful white, tight sequenced dress that swallowed my curves. My white stiletto pumps were to die for, and I knew they would be killing my feet in approximately half an hour; another gift from Margaret’s shoe collection.
“Jenesis, be safe...Now go...go and love your husband.” Margaret hugged and tearfully kissed me on the cheek.
“I’m sorry.” Her lips trembled. She walked away from me quickly. I felt as if my conversation with Margaret was going to take a different turn if she didn’t walk away.
I wondered what she needed to tell me. I wondered why she couldn’t.
“Jen, I’m sorry about the limo ride. Bloody hell…I told Eddie not to look at Dave this evening. We practically ruined your day. I’m so sorry, please forgive me.” She gave me a hug and I nodded. “Anyway, I wanted to surprise you. We’re flying out to Puerto Rico tomorrow to meet you guys there. Surprise!” She jumped up and down with excitement like a school girl.
“You and Eddie, oh my God! That’s wonderful!” I knew she really wasn’t happy about that. She wanted to be with Dave, but that could never happen.
“It was Michael’s idea. Plus, you guys are staying at my parent’s vacation home. I know the area very well.”
“Well then, see you tomorrow. I better get going.” I hugged her tightly and kissed her on the cheek.
“Love you, princess…again, I’m sorry.” She cupped my face and kissed my forehead.
“Thank you for being there for me through the roughest time in my life. And I’m sorry about Dave. I just can’t hurt him. You understand that right?” I stared at her apologetically.
“Yes…Of course. If we’re meant to be together, then it’ll happen whether you want it to or not. I’ll always be here for you though, no matter what. That’s what friends are for.” Tilly hugged me tightly and we left the restroom together. Dave was waiting for me outside the restroom.
“Jen?”
“Dave…I was just getting ready to say goodbye.” My heart began to race. I was sad that I was leaving. But I was sadder that he had no explanation for why he said what he said.
“I just wanted to apologize to you…I’ve been acting like an ass today…you know how much I care about you, right?” I lowered my eyes to the floor and my head followed. Dave grabbed my chin gently and lifted my head to eye level. His touch at that moment made me cringe. I felt so guilty. I never felt that way before.
“Dave, it’s okay. I just want us to be a family. All of us. It’s important to me.” Tears formed in my hazel eyes and Dave’s facial expression went south when he saw I was about to cry.
“Don’t cry Jen, it’ll break my heart. I love you. I do…I never want to hurt you…ever.” He glanced over at a woman who wore a skintight black dress that was heading into the rest room. His eyes following her ass as she shook it, just for him, then turned her head and smirked at him flirtatiously.
“I don’t understand. Why did you say that to me Dave, why?” I begged.
“I need you to be careful, that’s all.”
“Dave, its Michael we’re talking about! The man you just finished protecting for over a month. Do you realize what you’re saying? You can’t just say that to me! You can’t! I love Michael!” I shouted.
“Listen to me Goddammit!” He grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me. “You have to believe me!” he yelled.
“Dave, how could you? How could you do this to me? You’re a liar! A fucking liar!” I sobbed.
“Jen, please, you don’t understand. Let me explain! He’s not good for you! He’s not for you!” he grabbed me by my arms and I shrugged him off.
“I’m leaving now…please…I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. You’ve spent over God knows how much money on this wedding, with 150 guests I didn’t even know! I’m so confused…I thought you loved me like a daughter! I thought you accepted Michael knowing how much I love him!” I shouted. He walked towards me. “No! Leave me alone!” I started choking on my tears and my voice cracked. I turned around and ran to Michael. All of the guests turned their heads and stared at me as I cried hysterically. Michael’s eyes turned to steel.
“Jen! Jen! What happened?” he shouted as he held me in his arms. Margaret and Tilly ran up to us from across the dance floor.
“I want to leave… now!” I shouted as the tears slid down my face with my mascara following.
“What the hell is going on?” Michael glared at Margaret and Tilly.
“I don’t know.” Margaret had a horrified look on her face.
“I don’t know, I was just with her a few minutes ago, then Dave was waiting for her outside the restroom.” Tilly said.
“Dave?” Michael said through gritted teeth.
“Please Michael, now…I want to go…now!” I yelled. Michael grabbed my hand and left Tilly and Margaret with their mouths wide open and escorted me out of the ballroom. Dave was standing by the door.
“What the fuck is going on Dave?” Michael shouted.
“I don’t know.” Dave scoffed at him.
“What do you mean you don’t know? Why is she hysterical? What did you do?” He yelled.
“Just take her out of here Michael…you guys are embarrassing yourselves in front of the guests.” He stared Michael down.
“What did you just say to me?” Michael’s eyes widened and he clenched his fists as he walked towards Dave.
“Michael, take your cry-baby wife and get the fuck out of here! It’s embarrassing seeing the bride cry like a fucking two year old…Teach your wife to be grateful and have some goddamn manners!” he shouted at the top of his lungs.
“You son of a bitch! I’ll kill you!” Michael balled his hand into a tight fist, then clocked Dave’s sarcastic mouth and knocked him to the floor sending Dave sliding across the shiny marble tiles.
“Oh my God! No! Michael! Please!” I ran to see if Dave was okay, and he pushed me with full force against my chest, and I fell backwards onto the floor losing my white stiletto heel from my right foot.
“Go with your fucking husband!” His eyes were black with fury. The blood slid down his lip onto his chin. He wiped the blood with the back of his hand and grinned.
“Dave, what are you doing?” I cried as I lifted myself up from the floor reaching for my shoe and placing it back on my foot.
“I’m out of here, and Jen, if you don’t listen to me now…you’re going to regret it later. Don’t say you haven’t been warned.”
Dave lifted himself up and glanced over at Michael. His eyes piercing through Michael’s soul as he walked backwards never letting Michael out of his sight. Michael’s blue-green eyes killing Dave softly as he stared back without a word. It was the scariest sight I’ve ever seen and at that point, I wasn’t even breathing.
Margaret and Tilly watched in horror, as did the guests at the reception. Dr. Logan came running with her husband and stood there speechless at the debacle that just occurred. Dr. Joe approached me and I shook my head to leave me alone. He stepped back and stood near Margaret and Tilly. No one followed Dave.
Michael and I stared at Tilly and Margaret, then he grabbed my hand hastily and we walked out of the reception hall and walked towards the limo. Michael was so angry he was shaking. I released myself from his grip and sat in the limo.
The limo driver drove us to the John F. Kennedy airport. We were headed to Puerto Rico for five days. Michael couldn’t take off any more days than that. He was a lawyer with an agenda bigger than Donald Trump’s. I was really nervous because I had never been on a plane before and my stomach was in knots at the thought.
We sat quietly waiting to board the plane. I glanced around the airport. There was no security. No tall men with dark glasses to drag us out of here in case of an emergency. Just Michael and I. I had the feeling if someone was coming our way to harm us, we wouldn’t stand a chance get out of here safely.
Michael was distant and I could feel the tension between us. He didn’t look at me once as if I was the cause of the commotion at our reception. I picked up a magazine that lay on the seat next to us when suddenly our flight was called. We walked separately onto the plane. Michael walked ahead of me as if he were a single man and sat near the window. I was exhausted from being so stressed out at my own wedding, so I decided to ignore his childish behavior. I leaned my head back against the chair and glanced over at Michael who sat silently looking out of the window. He then placed his head on my shoulder, as if apologizing for being aloof and snuggled up beside me and closed his eyes. The stewardess announced our take off, Michael stood up startled, and we both buckled up. He then assumed the position again, and leaned back on my shoulder.
We took off and I felt the anxiety creeping up from my stomach to my heart. The muscles around my chest tightened as I tried to catch my breath. I grabbed Michael’s hand tightly. He squeezed my hand gently letting me know it was going to be okay. I felt the tightness in my chest subside a little. I let a sigh of relief and Michael looked up at me with his beautiful eyes. I smiled and then he placed his head against the seat and looked out of the window. Saying nothing was better than getting into an argument and I was content with that because I had had enough arguing for one night.
The plane ride was smooth. It gave me the opportunity to reflect on everything that had happened at the wedding and in the last year and a half of my life. I glanced out of the window and the sky was so dark and it seemed as if it swallow the stars tonight leaving a few lines of white cirrus clouds scattered about. I closed my eyes and started to think about how much my mother would have enjoyed the wedding minus the drama with Dave at the reception. I felt guilty because I haven’t had the chance to go to Pennsylvania to visit her gravesite. When I get back from our honeymoon, I’m going to Pennsylvania to visit my mother at the cemetery, I thought to myself. I stroked Michael’s hair gently and he opened his eyes for a moment and then closed them again. Those beautiful eyes were finally mine. Despite the drama, it felt so good to be Mrs. Michael Hunter. My new life was with Michael now. I was ready to take it on, no matter what drama was dragged in along with it.
As much as I wanted to move on, Dave’s words still haunted me. He wasn’t confused and he didn’t make a mistake. Something was wrong and he wasn’t being honest. By the way Margaret was acting, and what she was saying, there was more going on and I needed to know.
CHAPTER 5
“Good Morning, Mrs. Hunter.” Michael whispered in my ear.
“Good Morning, husband.” I covered my mouth avoiding my morning breath. He pushed my hand away gently and kissed me tenderly on the lips.
“I’m sorry about what happened at the reception, but I needed to protect my wife.” He yawned and stretched his arms over his head. “I love you more than anything in the world. You’re my mine now… always.” he gently stroked my face with the back of his hand, then slid it down my neck, cupping my breast. He kissed my lips hard while slowly sliding his fingertips along my breast down between my thighs.
“This. Is. All. Mine. You belong to me…only me.” Michael was ready to sink his teeth into me, spreading my legs to help himself to his wife and everything she offered.
“I do belong to you…only you. Michael, I love you so much. I don’t care what happened. Nothing that Dave or anyone else does will ever break us apart.” I pulled him down towards me by his shoulders and before his arousal could enter me, we heard a faint knock on the door.
“I’ll go, stay here…legs open…baby.” he pulled up his sweat pants quickly and threw a t-shirt over his head and pulled it over the bulge that stood in attention in his pants.