Everglades Wildfire, page 12
The beginning of their life together must have been like a fairy tale, with a big, bright future ahead of them, but not a future either of them imagined or created. “Maybe it wasn’t meant to be.”
“No, it wasn’t,” Maria replied without hostility or resentment. “As soon as she realized she’d never be happy, or make him happy, she left. After that happened, he wasn’t able to enjoy his boys, wasn’t really there for them. That’s when the fighting started. At first it was only between Richard and Henry, but after some time, it was all three of them.”
“That must have been horrible, so sad.” Again, Amber wanted to ask more. Did Maria have someone to support her during that time? It must have been stressful living in a home with so much simmering anger and pain. What about Maria’s own family? She must’ve wanted someone... someone to help her. “Hard for them but also hard for you.”
Maria ran her finger along the edge of the table then gazed out at the passing traffic. She watched delivery truck roll to a stop at the light. After the light changed, and it rumbled off, leaving a grey cloud over the road, she turned back to Amber. “It was as you say.” She touched the space between her eyebrows then continued. “Things were bad, but Henry’s arrest made everything worse. Ricky was devastated, wouldn’t say a word, until...”
She paused, this time pressing her finger into the corner of one eye, then the other. Amber had the sense Maria wanted to continue but was conflicted. She was talking about things that involved the family of the man she was—supposedly—about to marry into. Maria probably wanted to avoid sounding critical. But it was also apparent the woman had her share of pain.
Finally, Amber prompted her. “Until when?”
“One day, months after he and Richard had that last big argument, I took Ricky a lunch while he was working. I’d taken him lunches other days, the days he left too early for me to pack him anything. That day was different. He asked me to stay, and because I understand what it is to be lonely and hurting, I stayed. Every day night that, I sat with him on the porch. At first, he wouldn’t talk to me.” The corners of her mouth lifted slowly. “Then one evening he talked to me. Not about the boys, but about other things. Like how the fields were going, what prices he expected to get.”
“That’s nice.” Even though it was a lame comment, Amber meant it.
“It helped me too.” Maria took a sip of water then swiped her finger down the side of the glass. “I’d been alone for a long time and Ricky is generous and kind. His easiness was a balm to me. It still is.”
“Did you... do you think... did your love change him? Helped him get over the hurt?”
Maria’s smile looked forced but then came true. “Your love has changed Richard.”
That was nice of her to say, but no, Amber’s love hadn’t really changed Rick...
The waitress arrived with their Caesar salads and set them on the table. Maria turned her attention to her plate. Amber tucked her napkin onto her lap, took her time drizzling dressing across the lettuce and chicken, her mind wandering to the messages behind Maria’s comments. Soon she was wondering about what happens in the wake of people coming together, staying together for the wrong reasons.
Christopher.
He was a decent man, deserved a woman who’d love him with her whole heart. It was time to accept that she couldn’t stay with him—let alone think about marrying him. Not ever. Next chance she had, she’d call him. She knew she had to say something but had no idea what. Hopefully, when the time came, so would the words.
Rick.
Never in her life could she ever remember feeling so close to someone but so distant. Where he was concerned, her emotions had never made any sense. There was an undeniable connection pulling them together, but was there also one pulling them apart?
Maria lowered her knife and fork. “Eat up, honey. We have to get shopping.”
“Right. Of course. Guess I was daydreaming.” Pretending to be caught up in the moment, Amber stuffed a wide bite of salad into her mouth.
“Understandable. I’d be daydreaming too if I was in your spot.”
* * *
Only about an hour later, Amber turned, checking herself out in the three-way mirror. The simple dress stopped just above her knees with tiny spaghetti straps that ran across her shoulders. A detachable train hung from her waist.
Over her shoulder she could see Maria’s approval. “It’ll knock Richard senseless.”
The tiny redheaded saleswoman nodded. “Absolutely. It’ll photograph well too.” She tugged at the hem. “And it fits perfectly. You don’t even need alterations.”
Amber ran her fingertips over the delicate beading trimming the neckline. The dress was, in a single word, perfect. “Good thing. I don’t have time for that.”
“Goodness dear, is it that kind of wedding?”
Amber looked up to see Maria’s expression shifted to surprise and when she followed the other woman’s gaze, she found herself staring into a pair of bright blue eyes. Eyes like Rick’s.
“Hello Anna.” Maria came forward, greeting the blonde with a cautious smile, then to Amber’s shock, accepted the slight embrace offered by Rick’s mother. “Hello Maria,” she said, then released herself and looked from one of them to the other. “A day of shopping? Looking for the dress?”
Amber snapped her mouth shut and did her best to wipe the astonishment off her face. It shouldn’t be a surprise to know that Anna was aware of the wedding, even so quickly after the announcement, but seeing her face to face and talking about the event was a sharp bolt. The saleswoman’s smile faulted, but probably thanks to years of dealing with awkward situations, she regained herself quickly and greeted Anna with a simple hello and query. “Can I help you find anything, Ma’am?”
“Oh, maybe,” she replied with a shrug. “I don’t know exactly what I’m looking for yet. Judging by the bride’s choice, it’s going to be a garden party.”
Maria gestured toward Amber, who was still too stunned to talk. “Amber has found the perfect dress.”
“It is perfect, and you’ll look lovely.” Anna pinched her face into a smile. “I hope you know I was only kidding about the pregnancy.” When Amber remained silent, she widened her eyes and added, “You aren’t actually expecting, are you?”
Finally, Amber managed to speak. “No, of course not.”
“Thank goodness. Plenty of time for that later.” Anna extended her manicured hand. “By the way, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Amber.”
She accepted the handshake and managed to reply. “Nice to meet you too.”
“Has it been a good day of shopping? You’re all set for Wednesday?” she asked, slipping her hand back and straightening. “Maybe I’ll look for something myself. I could use something pretty.” She tugged on her collar. Dressed in a suit jacket and plain skirt, she looked beautiful but not like a woman out for a day of shopping.
Amber tried to figure out what to do with her hands and eventually ended up with them tangling at her sides. “Yes, um, I think so.”
Anna laughed. “Of course, you are.” Then she started looking around at the dresses, speaking to no one in particular, “And you made a good choice in coming here. Miami shopping is a zoo. No boutiques, just malls, and everything is the same.”
“I’ll take this one,” Amber announced, putting an end to her participation in the conversation.
“Wonderful,” the redhead agreed, helping Amber step down from the fitting platform. “Let’s get you out of it. We’ll have it hung to take home.”
Thankful to have a few minutes to be by herself, after the saleswoman came to take the gown, Amber took her time getting dressed. When she came out of the dressing room, Maria stood by the exit, alone, holding the white garment bag. Thankfully, Anna was nowhere in sight.
The saleswoman zipped past with the rejected dresses draped across her arm. “Thank you for coming in today. I know you’ll be happy with it, but if you do have any problems, give us a call.”
Confused, Amber stepped toward the cashier, but Maria stopped her. “We’re all set. Remember, Ricky said he wanted to take care of everything.”
“I can’t let you do this,” she protested, wondering if Anna had seen Maria buying the dress. Did it matter, though?
Maria turned to the door. “It’s already done. Let’s go. I’m sure you have something planned for your last night.”
Last night. Amber swallowed against the guilt welling in her throat. How would she and Ricky feel after they discovered the wedding was just a ploy? And the reason Rick didn’t tell them the whole truth. Sorry they’d ever met her? But if the ruse helped them keep their home...
“Come on, Amber.” Maria slipped through the door, held it open for her.
Amber thanked Maria for the dress, took a look around the shop to be certain Anna was truly gone, then rushed out onto the busy sidewalk.
Chapter Eleven
On Wednesday morning Amber stared at her plate of eggs, only picking at them to appease Maria. Her phone call to Christopher hadn’t been difficult. He hadn’t seemed surprised. He hadn’t even asked why not. He’d merely said thanks for calling, take care, goodbye. And that was the end. His response was for the better, really. It showed her that they weren’t meant to be together. It had probably been her hope and desperation to belong to someone that was holding them together in the first place. Now, later that afternoon, she was to become Rick’s wife.
There would never be an end to her feelings for Rick. He knew that but couldn’t get over his past enough to believe in the future, what could be their future. Whether he wanted her or not, her heart would always be his.
“Too excited to eat?”
Rick’s father filled the doorway. He was so happy about the wedding, nearly floating with happiness. It just wasn’t fair. Not to him. Not to her.
“Not me,” he patted his stomach with both hands, “I could eat all the food Maria has in that kitchen.”
“You’d better not.” She tried a smile. “Then there won’t be any for the guests.”
He rubbed his jaw, pretending to think that over, but even after he sat down the pensive expression lingered.
Maria appeared with a steaming cup of the dark Cuban coffee which she brought over and placed in front of Amber. “Leave the girl alone.” She pointed to the table. “I’ll have your breakfast in a minute.”
Amber reassured Ricky that he wasn’t bothering her then turned back to her food, trying to keep her hands busy, her mind occupied. Trying not to think that someday Rick could sit at this table, with his actual wife out in the big kitchen making him and their children, breakfast.
She glanced up to find Ricky studying her.
“My son...” He flipped his fork over in his hand and then carefully set it on the table. “He loves you. He just doesn’t know how to handle it. It scares him.”
Amber reflected, unable to come up with a response.
He continued. “Being a parent, it’s tough. You don’t see your mistakes until it’s too late. I should’ve been there for him, but I wasn’t. He closed himself off because I closed myself off. But he’s still in there, odd as that sounds.” Ricky paused, “Take things one day at a time, okay?”
“Okay.” She replied, then because it didn’t feel like enough after what he’d said, she added, “Of course.”
Those were the most serious and sincere things she’d heard Rick’s father say since the day she’d met him. The morning of her wedding seemed like an appropriate time though, to be somber. How odd this was all going to look once the truth came out. She’d be long gone by then. And Ricky and Maria would be safe in their home. Rick? Probably back in his cottage, alone.
Ricky spoke again, lightening his tone as he broke the silence. “Maria tells me your dress is beautiful. I told her any dress on you would be beautiful.”
Amber blushed at the compliment, mumbled her thanks, after which she turned back to picking at her food. After a few minutes of shifting the food from one place to another, she bid Ricky good morning and took her plate out to the kitchen.
Three caterers in white jackets loomed by the sink, two more marched in, adding trays and boxes to the already overflowing countertop.
Amber slipped her plate into the dishwasher then ducked outside.
The ceremony was to start at noon, two and a half hours away. She’d agreed to meet Maria in one of the guest rooms to dress at 10:30. That gave her an hour to relax. She headed away from the driveway, to the path that Maria had shown her when she’d taken her on the tour. The path wound through some thick shrubs, past a fire pit, through an old gate, down to yet another two-track. As she moved along the trail, she admired the plants, she tried to memorize the wide leaves and their fascinating textures. The calls of the birds were already part of her memory because she’d often heard them in her dreams.
Guilt for what she and Rick were doing outweighed any excitement the ceremony offered, yet she couldn’t squelch the bittersweet happiness at the prospect of being Rick’s bride. How would he react when he saw in her the dress? Would it affect him the way Maria suggested?
Time passed quickly. She retraced her steps. It was a quarter to 11 by the time she’d reached the house. She dodged the workers carrying chairs through the side yard and hurried up the stairs. Just as she’d expected, Maria was waiting in the guest room.
Maria tossed her hands into the air. “Where’ve you been?” Her tone was light, so Amber understood she wasn’t actually upset.
Still, she thought she owed her an apology. She started to offer one, but the older woman hushed her, whisked her into a chair in front of a dressing table and started brushing her hair with long skillful strokes.
“Thanks for helping me, Maria.”
“Of course.” Her motions were quick but graceful. “I’m happy to.”
“You really know what you’re doing.” The compliment wasn’t an attempt to flatter. Maria’s skill was amazing.
Still gliding the brush through Amber’s hair, she replied. “I used to do Rick’s mother’s hair. She loved to dress up and go out. She and Ricky went out often and entertained here at the house just as often.”
The comment held no bite even after the way the other woman had acted at the dress shop. “What was she like back then? Nicer?”
Maria laughed. “Beautiful, just like she is now. She turned heads wherever she went. But nice...” Maria chuckled, “I wouldn’t say nice—but she did give me a job when I really needed one. I had no references. No...” She let that second comment go and finished with, “I appreciated what she did for me back then and still do now.”
Amber tried to detect jealousy in Maria’s voice but there was none. “You liked her?” It must’ve been strange when Maria and Ricky grew close. Living in the shadow of another woman couldn’t be easy.
“We were never friendly. I worked for her, you know. That makes a difference.” She stretched back. “Here, put on this robe before I pin it up.”
Amber slipped out of her clothes and wrapped herself in the silky pink robe.
Maria went back to securing Amber’s hair up into a French twist. After a few minutes of silence, she spoke softly. “The missus loved her boys, in her own way. She spoiled Henry more than Rick. Because he was younger, I suppose.”
“I have to admit, I was really surprised that she knew about the wedding. I shouldn’t have been, but I was.”
“Ricky and I invited her.” Maria caught Amber’s eye in the mirror. “Actually, she’s here.”
“She’s here for the wedding?” Amber winced at the panic and shock vibrating in her voice.
Maria chuckled. “What other reason could there be?” She lowered her arms. “Maybe there’s hope for Anna and the boys to work things out. You’ve changed all our lives for the better, Amber.”
Amber’s stomach was still churning but she was pretty certain she had control of her face and voice. “Have you talked to her—Anna?” What did the woman want?
“I was with Ricky. She said she had to come because she knew Rick was the type of man to only get married once. She didn’t want to miss it.”
Those were all lies. Weren’t they? “Has Rick talked to her?”
“Don’t you worry about her. She’s not here to cause trouble. Believe me, if that had been why she’d come, she would have already started.”
Amber prayed that was the truth.
Maria stepped back and tossed a few hair pins onto the dresser. “All finished.” She had swept up most of Amber’s dark hair, leaving just a few wisps on the sides. The subtle sophistication was perfect.
“Thank you, Maria, for everything, being so nice, and... welcoming. Your home is beautiful, it’s so incredible here, and you’ve been, really great.” The comments weren’t enough, but how could she put into words her appreciation for all Maria had done?
“I should be thanking you. The past days have been the best time this family has seen in years. Healing is hard, but you’re making it possible. You’re part of us now.”
Amber touched the delicate tendrils. “You’re amazing. I don’t know what I could’ve managed on my own.”
“I’m just happy you like it. I’ll leave you alone to do your face, then I’ll be back to help with the dress.” She looked at the clock on the bedside table. “I need to check on the appetizers, make sure they know which ones I want out first. Back in about 20 minutes. Sound good?”
Amber nodded as she unzipped her makeup bag. She took out her eyeliner, mascara, eye shadows and lipstick. The few days in the sun had colored her face, she only needed a light touch, so she left the blush and other things in the bag. She finished quickly then stood to stretch and wait for Maria.
“Come in.” She answered to the light rapping on the door. Expecting Maria, she moved to get the dress from the closet.
“Don’t bother dressing for me.” Henry said, eyeing the dress through the open doorway.
Amber hung the dress back up, then pulled the robe tighter, gliding back as he strolled into the room, closing the door behind him.
