The Show Must Go On, page 18
Marissa and Natalia served frozen cocktails, finger sandwiches, and shrimp cocktail as everyone changed into their swimsuits. Even Jen’s grandmother wore a suit, a cute one-piece with a little skirt, and a scarf covering her bouffant hairstyle. Natalia marveled over how fit Jennifer’s grandmother looked.
At Natalia’s suggestion, everyone went out to the patio. The sun was bright, but the day wasn’t quite so unbearably hot as usual. What a relief. Marissa had placed an outdoor fan nearby, which definitely helped. The guests settled at the party tables under the umbrellas and fell into conversation. Each table had a pretty centerpiece in Jennifer’s bridal colors of peaches and cream.
Jennifer’s youngest sister was the first the hop up and jump into the pool. Numerous pool toys were about, and she grabbed one of the pool noodles. Soon, she and Jennifer were involved in a raucous noodle fight. After a few minutes, Jennifer gave up, and her sister declared herself the winner. A bit later, a couple other guests sat by the pool and dipped their toes in the water as they sipped their frosty drinks. Two guests started playing pool ping pong at the other end of the pool. And most guests started acting silly while playing Marco Polo.
After a while, everyone decided it was time for a rest in the shade. Marissa suggested a few bridal shower games, and the guests readily agreed. They played bridal bingo several times. Everyone laughed as they played purse raid. All was quiet as they worked hard at the bridal crossword puzzle. Marissa had also organized a scavenger hunt. It wasn’t so much a list of things to do or photograph. It was a real search for things on or around the patio, pool, and backyard. She chose the ever-popular theme of something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. The guests split into teams and really seemed to enjoy the game.
But the best game was words of wisdom. Natalia had tucked pretty blank cards into everyone’s invitation. She asked each guest to share their advice for a happy marriage. The guests completed cards were then placed them into a hat. Each guest pulled out and read a card. The guests then tried to guess who wrote the words of wisdom. Some cards had cherished recipes. Some had funny stories. Some had heartfelt suggestions. Natalia had struggled with writing her bit of advice. The morning of the shower, she finally decided. You’re marrying your best friend. If you always remember that you’ll be happy. Too bad Natalia hadn’t followed her own advice. At the end, Jennifer collected the cards. Looking a bit misty, she said she would compile them in a wedding scrapbook.
Marissa served the barbecue dinner at six o’clock. She even provided a vegetarian option. Everyone smiled and talked, and Natalia thought everything was going well.
After dinner, Marissa brought out a beautiful raspberry swirl white cake and bubbly champagne, and several toasts were made. Jennifer seemed to be having a fantastic time.
The guests decided to go inside to cool off and open the gifts. Natalia sat by Jennifer to write down what Jen received. She was in the middle of opening the gifts when one of Jennifer’s friends noticed the family pictures on the wall. She recognized Natalia and asked about Jake. Natalia didn’t want to say too much, but the lady insisted on knowing more. “My husband’s name is Jake. We were married in January.”
“Oh, so you’re still newlyweds.”
Natalia forced a smile and nodded.
Everyone turned toward Natalia as if she would provide more details.
“Too bad she married the wrong guy,” Jennifer blurted out.
Natalia turned and stared at Jen. How could she not know that comment seemed terribly inappropriate? Jennifer was always outspoken, but she was never outright rude. Before Natalia could reply, Jen spoke again.
“She broke Rob’s heart.”
All the talking stopped as the guests waited to hear Jennifer’s further comments.
“I think she made the right choice,” Marissa dropped into the silence.
With a scowl, Natalia said, “I don’t want to talk about this.”
“How can Jake be the right guy when Nat is miserable?”
“Who said she’s miserable?”
“I can hear it every time we talk about Jake or Rob. It’s in every one of her emails.”
“I’m her sister. She’s never mentioned it to me.”
“Well, I’m one of her best friends. I know her. Jake isn’t right for her.”
Natalia’s heart started to pound as her sister and friend argued. This was such a ridiculous argument to even have and completely the wrong time and place.
“Jake is perfect for her.”
Jennifer stood and swayed. “He’s terrible.”
Natalia grasped Jen’s arm. In a quiet voice, she spoke to Jennifer’s mother and grandmother. “I think she’s had too much to drink.”
They started to help Jennifer gather her things, but she said, “I don’t want to leave yet. I have more gifts to open.”
Natalia sighed. In a firm voice, she said, “Let’s just forget about Jake and Rob.”
Jen opened the remainder of her gifts, but the atmosphere in the room was more subdued. The party ended shortly thereafter.
After all the guests were gone, Natalia sat with Marissa on the sofa. Her stomach churned. “Everything turned out well until the disagreement over Jake and Rob.”
Her sister placed her hand on Natalia’s forearm. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. I should have realized that your friend had too much to drink.”
“I’m glad her mother was here to take her home.”
After a moment of silence, her sister said, “Are you happy, Nat? Really?”
Natalia’s head dropped, and she stared at her hands in her lap. “No, not really.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
How could she explain her relationship with Jake when she was so unsure of it herself?
“Well, married life is all it’s cracked up to be, and Jake isn’t all that he seemed to be.”
Marissa waited a bit. Natalia didn’t want to discuss it further.
“Just remember you can always talk to me about anything.”
Natalia nodded.
Natalia
Wednesday 7/5
TEN DAYS BEFORE THE wedding, Natalia realized she had seriously underestimated the effect of seeing Rob again. She had made sure to schedule her rehearsals with the band when Rob was at work. She had asked Brian to help her avoid Rob, but that had been tricky. She really didn’t want to divulge too much. No point, really. Brian had respected her wishes.
Thank goodness most days when Jake called, Rob wasn’t nearby. That meant she didn’t have to listen to Jake go on endlessly about how she should act when Rob was around. But the constant calls were becoming tiresome. Jake didn’t ask her how she was doing. He just wanted to be sure she wasn’t seeing Rob. Although, in all fairness, she knew Rob was a temptation she should avoid, if possible. But he certainly was seriously testing her restraint.
At practice tonight, though, Rob was there. She stole a glance at him as she gathered her things. Once again, she reminded herself to stay cool and collected around him, but every moment they spent together so far had been an uneasy mixture of their old friendship and an aching desire that wouldn’t dissipate. Even as she tried to maintain some space, he had been staying close. She didn’t know what to expect from him. Several times his feelings seemed too close to the surface, and she had felt it necessary to slip away before he did something inappropriate or before she did. But her own feelings for him surprised her more than anything else. Before, he had been her best friend. Now, when she looked at him, she saw the possibility of something more, a possibility that had shattered when she discovered him with his ex-girlfriend. A hollow ache had taken root inside. She wondered if she would survive this time in Orlando. Like every evening before, she hurried to leave before Rob could stop her.
“Nat, don’t go yet.”
She closed her eyes and stopped. She had almost gotten to the door when she heard his voice. Now she couldn’t sneak away. Her heart hammered as she turned to face him.
“Can we hang out for a few minutes? Maybe walk down to Coffee shop? Get some coffee? I want to talk to you about Andrew and Jennifer.”
She hesitated but couldn’t think of a plausible and polite reason to say no. She looked at his tee-shirt. It Really Is This Big. No, she wouldn’t comment on it. It was too easy and too suggestive. Anyway, she didn’t see the harm in talking with him about the wedding as long as they stayed in a public place. All she had to do was stay focused on the subject and ignore the feelings simmering inside. She gazed up at him. “I guess that’s okay.”
She gathered her purse, and they walked the few blocks to the coffee shop. After buying her drink, she impulsively paid for the coffee for the customer behind her. Smiling just a little, she went to join Rob. He had taken the last available sofa and sat near the center. Natalia hesitated. She stared at him for a moment, then, pasting on a smile, sat at the end.
Rob frowned but didn’t comment. She settled on the sofa and sipped the whipped cream from her café mocha. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. She gazed at him over the rim of her cup. He watched her as she licked some of the foam from her fingers.
He cleared his throat. Forcing the words out, he said, “Andrew said Jennifer is going crazy, and she’s making him crazy.”
Natalia licked the frothy cream from her lips. “With wedding preparations?”
He stammered as he said, “Um, yeah.” He rubbed his face and continued. “I think it’s kind of freaking Andrew out. She’s turned into bridezilla.”
Natalia gave him a wry smile as she shifted to place her cup on the table. She took the coffee stirrer from her cup and slipped it between her lips, then slid it in and out, licking off the cinnamon and cream.
Rob began to speak but instead ran his hand through his hair. He cleared his throat a few times, then said, “I think he just wants the old Jennifer back.” He frowned for a moment. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to badmouth her. She’s really a great person.”
“Rob, it’s okay. I’ve been thinking the same thing myself.”
He exhaled. “Really?”
“She’s always been extravagant and excitable, but she’s really gone over the top on this. I think she must have emailed me multiple times every day for the last three months. I wasn’t sure she would ever decide what she wanted.” She shook her head in amusement then continued. “And as soon as I got here, she roped me into making centerpieces and other stuff for the bridal shower and reception. It was like a reception favor-making sweatshop. Origami flowers, scented candles. I swear it was an assembly line. Tulle here, ribbon there, tape everywhere.”
Rob laughed at Natalia’s exaggerated description.
In a more serious tone, Natalia said, “I really don’t know what to do to calm her down. I think she’ll be crazy until the wedding and reception are over.”
Rob shrugged in a helpless guy kind of way, and Natalia smiled. He remained quiet for several long moments then said, “So how have you been?”
Natalia’s eyebrows raised at the change of subject.
“I’d really like to know.”
Natalia hesitated, but only for a moment. This was Rob. He had always been her best friend. Maybe she could still trust him a little. What harm could come from talking to an old friend?
She settled into the sofa, and they began to talk. By tacit agreement, neither mentioned Jake, Christina, or the events before or after Natalia’s wedding.
Natalia pulled Rob into a lively conversation about the music scene in Sydney, and as she described the musicians she had met and worked with, Rob’s enthusiasm seemed to wane. She wondered if she had upset him somehow. She knew RAVEN was struggling. Could he still be angry that she had left? Could he be thinking she had moved way beyond him, and he wasn’t important anymore?
“I’ve been working with Ian Rhys-Davies. He’s given me some really wonderful opportunities, chances to work with other famous musicians, time to work in his studio, teaching me about songwriting and arrangement. I’ve had some success, but...” Natalia’s shoulders sagged, and her gaze dropped to her hands, clasped in her lap.
Rob noticed she had paused and raised his head. “But?”
In a halting voice, she said, “It’s not the same without you.”
Their eyes met as her words hit him.
He didn’t speak until he noticed the song playing at the coffee shop. “Constant Craving. By kd lang.”
Natalia rubbed her forehead. “Nineteen ninety-two. Sire Records.” Rob was a constant craving.
Rob
Friday 7/14
ON FRIDAY EVENING, Rob arrived at the church. He was just in time to open the heavy, carved wooden door for Natalia. He placed his hand at the small of her back to guide her into the entryway. She shot him a look that made him think he should keep his hands to himself. He sighed, wishing he had another beer with him.
They walked down the aisle in silence and met Jennifer, Andrew, the wedding planner, and the rest of the wedding party at the pulpit.
Jennifer pulled Natalia aside, so Rob turned to Andrew. “So, how’s it going?”
Andrew gave a lopsided grin and said, “Okay, but damn, I’m nervous.”
“Yeah. I can imagine.” He stepped closer to Andrew. “Too bad they don’t serve beer here.”
Andrew laughed and nodded.
As they waited for the minister to join them, Eric got Natalia’s attention and said, “I have a wedding-themed joke for you. Why didn’t the man report his stolen credit card?”
Natalia shrugged.
“The thief was spending less than his wife.”
Natalia grinned, considered her words, then said, “I have one too. Why was the wife reading and rereading their marriage license?”
Eric shrugged and gave her a smile.
“She was looking for a loophole.”
Rob shook his head in mock dismay at those two and their jokes. As they waited for the minister to arrive, he watched the wedding coordinator hurry around, dragging Jen, her two sisters, Lakeisha, Darcie, Summer, and Natalia here and there. She adjusted flowers and ribbons, but he didn’t even try to keep up with everything they were doing. Jennifer’s and Andrew’s parents were there as well as one of Jen’s little nieces. He guessed she was the little girl who threw the flower petals.
They didn’t have to wait long for the clergyman to join them. Once he did, they started practicing their roles in the wedding ceremony. Rob had never been part of a wedding before and found it difficult to follow the directions. He tripped over some cords and kept dropping the ring. Those four beers on an empty stomach weren’t such a smart idea after all.
He thought he had his shit together, but as the wedding party was leaving, he tripped over yet another cord. With a muttered curse, he reached out to steady himself and accidentally grasped Natalia’s forearm. She stumbled and tripped, too, landing right in his arms.
“You’re drunk,” she hissed.
“Just a little.” He frowned.
Without a pause, she said, “You’re coming with me to the rehearsal dinner. Someone else can drive you home.”
When they took their leave from the minister, Natalia grabbed his arm and almost dragged him out of the church. Everyone followed, but no one commented.
When they were sitting in her car, she said, “I can’t believe you’d get trashed and then come to the rehearsal.”
“Damn it, I said I was sorry.”
She scowled. “Sorry isn’t good enough.”
He bit his tongue. He didn’t like her angry tone, but she was right.
They rode to the restaurant in complete silence. Rob couldn’t decide what to say, so he kept his damn mouth shut.
She parked the car, and they started walking across the parking lot. Halfway across, he grasped her arm, and she turned. He knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t just explode in anger, but he could see the annoyance simmering in her eyes.
Rob took a deep breath and said, “Nat, I know it was stupid to get sloshed before the rehearsal. I don’t know why I did. But I really regret it. I don’t want to make you angry.” He wasn’t about to admit that he was drinking to drown the pain that she, herself, had caused.
She looked into his eyes as she bit her lower lip. With a sigh, she said, “Okay, Rob.”
He followed her into the restaurant, his fingers itching to touch her. What he wouldn’t give to run his hands through that beautiful hair or along her glorious body. Shit. If he didn’t stop this train of thought, he’d end up with an erection that just wouldn’t go down. He’d have to take it into the bathroom and give it such a beating it would think twice about coming out again.
He grinned.
“So, what are you smiling about?”
She didn’t look so angry now, but he didn’t think she would appreciate what had been going through his mind.
“Oh, nothing important.”
Andrew was waiting for them near the entry. The first thing Rob noticed as they entered was the grand white pillars trimmed with gold. The burgundy carpet was plush, and the wallpaper and tablecloths were a subdued yellow-gold pattern. He never went to such fancy restaurants, and he knew he was out of place.
As they approached the party room, laughter and conversation greeted them. As luck would have it, his seat was next to Natalia. He just couldn’t decide if it was good or bad luck. But when the minister and his wife sat on his other side, he concluded his luck wasn’t all that great.
When everyone had settled, Andrew’s father tapped on a glass to get their attention.
“Welcome, everyone, and thank you so much for making the time to share in the wedding of Jennifer and my son, Andrew. My name is Matt Gardner, and I have the honor of being ‘father of the groom’ this weekend, so I’m going to start off with the rehearsal dinner greeting. My wife and I met Jennifer after she and Andrew had been dating for four months. They met after one of his band’s shows. It was love at first sight for him. He called her every day for a week to get her to go out with him. He even called me to ask what to do. I’m not sure how much help I was, though. Good thing she agreed. When we met her, we knew that Jennifer was different from all of Andrew’s other girlfriends. She was less...well...let’s not go there. Let’s just say that I could tell that Andrew was in love and this girl was special. Jennifer is just awesome, and we’re so happy she’s marrying our son. I know they will have a wonderful life together, so let’s all raise our glasses to Jennifer and Andrew.”
