Love Letters (36 page)

“
Mom, will you relax. Ignacio is taking care of it. Everything is under control.”

“
Okay, but I’m not used to doing things so last minute.”

Jill was floating in the water. “After all this is over, you’ll look back and see how well everything turned out.”

Suzanne tiptoed around the pool while clinging to the side.
“Are you ready for the trip to Tahiti tomorrow?”

Chloe opened her eyes wide. “What am I supposed to be doing while you two love birds are together?” This was supposed to be her honeymoon present – with Richard – yet what flashed through her mind was Josh and her holding hands by the beach and lying down in the hammock kissing. She missed him so much.

“
I know you probably feel like a third wheel, sweetie,” Suzanne said, squeezing her arm. “But you need a break after everything that has happened. It will be good for you.”

Chloe looked at Jill who nodded at her then turned her head towards Suzanne and shrugged. “I guess you’re right, Mom.”

Suzanne embraced her and whispered, “Mother’s know best. And don’t worry we can pass by your place to pack your clothes before we leave for the airport.”

Chloe sighed. With Josh gone, a week in Tahiti would give her time to lick her wounds before she started her business. “Thanks, Mom.”

“
Chloe, I hope you realize that I love you,” Suzanne said, stroking her hair.

“
I love you too, Mom,” Chloe said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

“
Well, well, well, I’m so happy to see the two of you finally kissing and making up after all that time apart,” Jill said, splashing the water towards them.

They giggled like little girls then swam around splashing water at one another.

“
Mom, you haven’t told me how you felt when you saw Ignacio again.”

Suzanne blushed. “I really have to thank you for that, Chloe… I never ever thought I’d see him again.”

“
I saw how pale your face turned when you saw him.” Chloe laughed.

“
I thought I had seen a ghost.” Suzanne smiled. “He hasn’t changed one bit. He’s still as romantic and sweet as he used to be.”

“
I’m so happy for you, Mom,” Chloe said, teary-eyed. “You found your long-lost love.” Her thoughts shifted to Josh. Would she have to wait forty years to reunite with him?

“
Seeing Ignacio again made me smell the roses and appreciate what’s around me. It’s not every day we get to spend time with the people we love.”

Chloe bit her lip. “I agree.”

“
Chloe, my dear, you have a full life ahead of you.” Suzanne patted her hand. “Don’t be afraid to fall in love again. You have so much to give.”

“
Thanks, Mom.” She wanted to tell her mom that the person she loved was in Oregon and that she was too late, but decided this wasn’t the proper time and place. It was her mother’s wedding and Suzanne needed to be queen for a day.

“
Everybody deserves to be loved,” Jill said, doing her backstrokes.

“
Now that I’m feeling more relaxed, can we go back to the hotel room?” Suzanne asked, getting out of the pool.

Chloe and Jill followed and dried themselves before going to the elevator.

***

Josh borrowed his mother’s car and drove full speed to the airport. He parked his car in the parking lot, grabbed his bag and locked the door. He ran inside the airport and almost knocked over an old lady walking down the corridor. He apologized and began running again until he arrived at the ticket counter panting and out of breath. “I need the next flight to San Francisco.”

The ticket agent ignored him as she typed something into the computer.

He rang the bell. “Excuse me, but I need to book the next flight to San Francisco.”

She pursed her thick red lips. “Didn’t you read the screen? The red eye flight left two hours ago. You’ll have to wait until morning.”

Josh sighed and looked at his watch. “Okay, when’s the next available flight? I need to get to San Francisco fast.”

The ticket agent frowned. “If you needed to be there yesterday then why didn’t you buy your ticket early?”

Josh didn’t bother to argue. “Could you please check for the next flight?”

She glared at him and continued to type on her computer. “We have a 6:30 AM flight.”

“
Good, let me take that.”

She typed in more info. “Sorry, it’s full.”

Josh scratched his head. “How about the next flight?”

She stared at him with cold eyes. “I can put you on the waiting list if you want.”

“
Waiting list?” Josh ran frustrated fingers through his hair. “You don’t understand. I need to catch that plane. You see there’s this girl and she’s marrying somebody else. I’m supposed to stop her before she goes through with it.”

The lady scowled at him. “I’m sorry sir, but all flights to San Francisco are full. The next available flight would be at eight-forty at night and I only have room for one.”

“
Eight-forty?” His shoulders fell. “The wedding will be over by then. How about via Oakland or San Jose? Are there any flights going there?”

The ticket agent grinned. “Well, why didn’t you say so in the first place?”

Josh drummed his fingers on the countertop.

“
Just a moment while I check, sir.”

Josh was cracking his knuckles and pacing when he finally saw the lady smile. “It’s your lucky day, sir. Someone cancelled their booking for the one-twenty flight to Oakland.”

“
Yes!” Josh jumped into the air and raised a fist. “I’ll take it.” He handed the ticket agent his card. In turn, she gave him his boarding pass.

“
Thank you so much.”

The ticket agent smiled. “Good luck.”

Josh let out a whoop, then went to find a seat comfortable enough to allow him to rest during the layover. He had twelve hours before his next flight. It sure was going to be a long night, he realized as he set his bag onto the seat. He didn’t mind as long as he was sure to stop the wedding. He would be arriving at Oakland International airport at three o’ clock. He remembered Chloe telling him that her wedding would be at four o’ clock. He knew it was going to be at the Ritz hotel, but would he make it in time? He couldn’t afford to lose Chloe again.

***

Chloe had Nicole apply her makeup before everybody else, since she had to facilitate that everything was in order. After Nicole did her makeup, Chloe went down to speak with the manager of the hotel about the food. She checked the table settings, the flowers arrangements, the photographer and videographers. The band had arrived and was already setting up their equipment. Chloe squealed when she saw the flower arrangements. The combination of the white gardenias, blue hydrangeas and pink ginestras were a lovely combination.

The weather was exactly as she had envisioned it to be: seventy degrees, the sun shining with a gentle breeze. The sky was clear and matched her sky blue dress. She could smell the scented candles in the souvenir box. She closed her eyes and listened to the sound of the waves. The day was perfect, only it wasn’t her wedding. She thought about Josh and sighed. She didn’t want to ruin her makeup so she choked back her sadness and decided to concentrate on successfully fulfilling her mother’s wedding. She took the elevator and went back to the room.

“
Mom, I checked everything downstairs and it’s all in place,” Chloe said, taking her mother’s hand. “You’re going to have the best wedding ever.”

Suzanne smiled and squeezed her hand. “Very good Chloe. I’m so proud of you.”

“
She takes after you, Suzanne,” Jill said, as Nicole applied her makeup.

“
Nicole, I’m amazed at how much talent you have,” Suzanne said, sitting down with her curlers in the chair opposite Jill’s. “Chloe and Jill look amazing.”

Nicole tilted her head and smiled. “I’m saving the best for last.”

Jill rose and Suzanne transferred to the chair Jill was sitting in. She closed her eyes as Nicole applied foundation.

“
Mom, did you and Ignacio talk about where you plan to live?” Chloe asked.

“
Yes we did. We both agreed we’d stay at his San Francisco home since it’s nearer to his kids and to you.”

“
That’s great, Mom.”

“
I will truly miss her,” Jill said, squeezing Suzanne’s hand.

“
I won’t be too far away and I’ll still be active in our charity functions,” Suzanne said, licking her lips.

“
I can’t believe this is all happening so fast. I’m happy for you, Mom.”

“
Thanks, sweetie,” Suzanne said, opening one eye.

Nicole smiled at Chloe. “Why do I get the feeling that you and Josh are going to end up together?”

Chloe looked away. “Enough about Josh.”

“
Chloe, let me tell you something. If he’s the one for you then nothing or nobody can come between you,” Suzanne said.

“
Really.” Chloe paused. “So how do you explain your situation with Ignacio?”

“
Easy.” Suzanne grinned. “We fell in love at the wrong time. We had commitments and obligations to other people, and now fate has found us again at the right time, thanks to you.”

Chloe’s throat tightened.
What about me?
Had she and Josh fallen in love at the wrong time? And why wasn’t he here with her?

“
Did you ever hear of the saying that people are sent to you for three things?” Jill asked while putting on her sky blue dress.

“
What is that?” Chloe crossed her legs.

“
Some people are sent to you for a reason, others for a season, but the real one is for a lifetime.”

Chloe felt that Jill had struck a chord. All she could think of now was Josh.

“
I did hear that somewhere,” Suzanne said, looking in the mirror. “Chloe, that applies to you and Richard. He was sent to you for a season.”

Why was he sent to me for a season? Was it for the time being till Josh came back?
Things between Richard and her had become shaky once Josh returned.

Nicole washed her sponges and brushes and dried them with a towel before returning them to her makeup container. She looked at Chloe. “With that said, Josh was sent to you for a lifetime.”

***

The plane had just landed at the Oakland International airport. Josh looked at his watch. It was three-fifteen in the afternoon. The flight was delayed in Oregon because of the fog. Too much coffee had left him wired. He hadn’t slept the whole night fearing he might not wake up for his flight. He sighed. Would he make it in time? It took another ten minutes till the plane came to a complete stop. He touched his cheeks and could feel the stubble. Although he badly needed a shave, there was no time for that now. He stood up to grab his bag and moaned. He was seated in the final row which meant he would be one of the last to leave the plane.

After what seemed like an eternity, Josh finally exited the plane at three-forty. He looked at his watch – twenty minutes to make it to the Ritz. Time was not on his side. He ran as fast as he could, breathing hard as he tripped over an old lady and bumped into a little boy who crossed his path. He offered a brief “excuse me” as he heard the boy’s parents grumble, then shout at his rudeness. So many people wandered the inside of the airport that by the time he came to a screeching halt outside the electronic doors, a long line of people were waiting to get a cab. He tapped his foot impatiently and glanced with rising panic at his watch. It was three-fifty when he entered the cab.

“
I’ll pay you double if you ignore the speed limit.”

The driver said, “Are you out of your mind?”

Josh pulled out a wad of cash. “Now, can we hurry?”

Chapter Twenty

It was a quarter to four when Chloe went back outside to check if the minister was ready. Most of the guests were already seated and watching the waves roll in from the ocean. The sun was shining high and the sky was clear. The ceremony was about to begin. Ignacio’s family was seated in the right front row. Ignacio’s youngest son Jose was one of the groomsmen, while Ignacio’s best friend Pedro was his best man. Jill, acting as the maid of honor, held his arm and Chloe, the bridesmaid, stood next to Jose to lead the walk.

Chloe rushed back inside to check on her mom, who was standing next to Nicole, shaking all over in her spaghetti strap, Vera Wang A-line gown. “Mom, you look amazing.”

“
Chloe, I have something blue, something old and something new, but I don’t have anything borrowed.”

Jill had followed Chloe inside and removed her diamond white gold bracelet to lend to Suzanne. “Take this bracelet. It should complement your dress.”

“
Thanks, Jill,” Suzanne said, squeezing her hand.

“
You’re welcome.” Jill smiled.

“
I meant thanks for everything,” Suzanne said about to cry. “We’ve been through a lot, Jill, and I want you to know that I’m so happy to have you as my best friend.”

“
Suzanne, I’m so touched.” Jill embraced her. “And I’m happy that I get to see you and Ignacio together again, thanks to Chloe,” she added, giving Chloe’s hand a squeeze. “I can’t believe this is actually happening.”