The Show Must Go On, page 19
More toasts were made, and dinner was served. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. No doubt they were happy for Andrew and Jennifer as well. Rob was happy for them too, but he couldn’t get Natalia out of his mind, especially since she was sitting right next to him. Things between them weren’t quite as bad as they had been right before her wedding but being this close to her and not being able to have her was making him crazy. He took a big gulp of his white wine. Natalia gave him a look, and he assumed she disapproved of his continued excessive drinking.
He turned his attention back to what was going on around him. Rob noticed that Jennifer was dominating all the conversation. Not that he really had anything to say. No, wait. He had heard a few jokes lately. He wasn’t usually the joking type, but why not toss it out there.
“Hey, everybody, I heard something funny recently.” The room grew quiet. “A guy I know said he hadn’t spoken to his wife for eighteen months. He didn’t like to interrupt her.”
He received a surprisingly good laugh for that one, but Jennifer’s frown didn’t stop him from continuing.
“Did you know marriage is a three-ring circus? Engagement ring, wedding ring, and suffering.”
He heard several halfhearted laughs this time, probably the married guys. From the corner of his eye, he saw Natalia fiddling with her ring. That was something he really didn’t want to see. He heard Natalia’s cell tone and saw her frown. He noticed she still used a song he wrote as her ringtone.
She excused herself, stood, and stepped aside, but Rob was close enough to hear her whisper into the phone.
“I’m at the rehearsal dinner.” She paused. “For goodness sake, everyone is here.” She scowled. “It’s not a problem.” Another frown. “I’ll call you later.” She punched the phone with her finger to end the call.
Rob wondered for a moment, then decided the caller must have been Jake. Could it be the jackass was checking up on her? He wanted to say something, but she was already annoyed with him. Once again, he wished she had never married that bastard.
Dessert arrived, and as he ate his, Rob’s eyes kept wandering to Natalia. They had done so continually throughout the meal. He just couldn’t stop himself, and she sensed his attention. He gazed at her for a moment and wondered if she was watching him as well. He doubted it. But the two or three times their hands brushed together, he noticed she squirmed in her seat.
After a while, he became bored and a bit grumpy. The subject of marriage was not one he enjoyed, not since Natalia had married the wrong guy. They needed another conversation enhancer.
“How are tornadoes and marriage alike?” He paused. “They both begin with a lot of sucking and blowing, and in the end, you lose your house.”
Damn. No laughs for that one.
He overheard Jennifer’s mother ask her if he was always that way. What the hell way was she talking about? So, he had made a few jokes, drank some wine. Well, he was on his fourth glass. But she didn’t understand. She had no idea about the pain that caused his drinking.
The dinner continued. The wine just wasn’t helping him feel better. When could he leave that no one would notice? Wait. He remembered another marriage related joke.
“I’ve got another great one. What’s the difference between a paycheck and a penis?” He barely paused. “You don’t have to beg your wife to blow your paycheck.”
Natalia turned to him and grabbed his arm. “Rob, we need to talk,”
Oh, God. The words every man hated to hear. Her expression gave away her aggravation.
“Come with me.” She practically dragged him out of the party room. They stopped near the coat check.
With a deep breath, she said, “You’re drinking way too much, and what you’re saying is making people uncomfortable.”
He stared at her. He hadn’t expected her outright criticism. Usually, she was more low-key.
“I think it would be best if you left now. Eric said he would drive you home.”
He bristled at her tone of voice. “You are not my boss. You can’t tell me what to do or when to leave. I’m having a good time.” Now that he had enough alcohol in him not to remember how much pain he was in and how much he still loved her.
Frowning, Natalia said, “No, I’m not your boss. But I’m concerned for Jennifer and Andrew’s happiness.”
He gave a sigh and said, “Jen and Andrew know me. They know I wish them the best.”
Natalia sighed. “I’m concerned about you too. You’ve had a lot of alcohol.”
He rubbed his head. A pain had started between his eyes. “You don’t give a damn about me. That is way too obvious.”
She pushed him further into the shadows. “I do care about you. I always have.”
“But you can’t bring yourself to love me. Is that it?”
She twisted her hands as she said, “Rob, please. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
Thinking for a moment, he realized he had overstepped a few boundaries and should leave.
“I’ll go, Nat. And I’ll apologize to Jen, Andrew, and their families first. I don’t want to screw anything up.”
She nodded. “Thank you, Rob.”
He went to look for Eric but first he walked over to Andrew and Jennifer. He bent to talk to them quietly. “I’m really sorry about being so obnoxious. I’m sure it’s obvious that I’ve had too much to drink. I had been cutting back on the alcohol until tonight. I know it’s no excuse but seeing Natalia again is really fucking up my mind. I’m having such a hard time with this”
Jennifer took his hand. “Oh Rob. I know you’re suffering. I wish so much that you and Nat were a happy couple too.”
Andrew nodded. “Yeah. We understand.”
Rob straightened and looked at everyone at the table. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so obnoxious and make you all uncomfortable.”
Eric walked up beside him and patted him on the shoulder. “C’mon buddy. Let’s get you home.”
As Rob and Eric walked to the exit, Rob saw Natalia still standing where he left her. She looked incredibly sad. He was too.
Natalia
Saturday 7/15
NATALIA AWAKENED EARLY the next morning and jumped out of bed, anticipation making her head spin. Jennifer’s wedding day had finally arrived, and Natalia breathed a huge sigh of relief. Only a few more days, then she could leave Orlando and Rob behind. She had expected the worst from him, but, except for the incidents at the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, he had been composed and courteous, almost too much. It seemed she was having more trouble controlling her feelings than he was. The time she spent with him had been an odd mixture of their familiar rapport with an undercurrent of sensuality. Neither had spoken of the electricity between them, but it was obvious in everything they did. She had managed to get through the night before. If she could just maintain her composure during the wedding and reception, she would be free from Rob and the unsettling feelings that arose every time she saw him.
Natalia helped Jennifer and Caitlyn with last-minute finishing touches and decided if the wedding didn’t happen soon, Jen might just explode with excitement. Natalia watched her friend’s eagerness and thought back to her own wedding day. She should have done the ceremony differently. She had insisted she didn’t need a huge, fancy wedding, but maybe she had been wrong. Weddings were special occasions, and maybe she should have done a little more to make hers memorable. Maybe she should have told Jake she wanted to wait so she could include her parents and other family and friends. She sighed.
Jennifer interrupted her thoughts. “Nat, would you tell me why Jake, of all people, had to call me on my wedding day to ask where you were?”
“Oh, no. You’re kidding.”
“Nope. I just talked to the ass. He asked where Rob was too.”
“You didn’t go off on him, did you? Oh, please say you didn’t.”
“Nat, I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. I just told him everything was fine.” She smirked. “Then I hung up on him.”
Natalia smiled and shook her head. Jennifer was a loyal friend.
“What’s going on with you two?”
“Jen, this is your day. Let’s focus on that.”
Her friend studied her for a long moment, then nodded.
The bridal party arrived at the church. A short time later someone knocked on the door. Jennifer’s father knocked again and asked if everyone was ready. Jennifer said yes and opened the door. Natalia, Jennifer, her sisters Jeannie and Jessica, Lakeisha, Darcie and Summer, and the flower girl walked out into the hallway. Just as Jennifer’s father took her hand, the music started, and the procession began.
When Natalia took her place at the altar, she kept her gaze straight ahead, trying not to meet Rob’s eyes. But he stood such a short distance away, and she could feel his eyes on her. She stole a glance in his direction, and his eyes met and held hers. Transfixed by those blue depths, she could only stare at him, his expression a confusing mixture of desire, pain, and anger. Her heart pounding, she wrenched her gaze from his and forced herself to focus on the ceremony. How in heaven’s name would she ever survive this?
Chapter 10
Natalia
Saturday 7/15
Desperate to escape the smoldering looks Rob was sending her way and the possibility that he might offer her a ride to the reception, Natalia slipped out as quickly as possible after the photographer had taken the wedding photographs. She was again thankful that Brian had offered to take care of setting up the band before her arrival. The guys had just finished their sound checks when she dashed in and said hello. With only a few minutes left before the rest of the wedding party and guests were due to arrive, the hall was a scene of controlled chaos. The caterers rushed about making final preparations for the reception. The photographer had his camera ready, and the videographer positioned her camera and double-checked her lighting. Caitlyn was rushing about ensuring everything was as it should be.
Jennifer had arranged for the videographer to record the show. She had said something about it helping Rob and Natalia’s careers, but Natalia couldn’t see how that was possible. However, a video might help Brian and his new band.
She hurried to do her part and reminded herself over and over to just keep busy. She could do this. She could act like Rob wasn’t making her crazy. She just had to stuff her reaction to him deep down, where no one would see it. If only she didn’t have to feel it.
Eric found her for a brief moment before Jen and Andrew arrived. “Hey, Nat,” he stepped back to study her. “You look amazing.”
Natalia smiled. One of the few times lately, she genuinely felt like smiling. She looked at Eric. She had never seen him in a tuxedo. “Thanks. You look good too.”
With a smirk, Eric said, “Okay, Nat. Why are a pianist’s fingers like lightning?”
Natalia knew to expect this. She folded her arms across her chest and shook her head. “Why?”
“Because they rarely strike the same place twice.”
She couldn’t help but laugh. Because she was prepared, she took her turn. “What did the drummer get on his IQ test?”
“I don’t think I’m going to like this,” Eric muttered.
She grinned. “Drool.”
“Nope, I don’t like it.” But he grinned too.
At that moment, Jennifer and Andrew arrived. Natalia, Eric, and Rob walked to the entrance to join the receiving line. Eric mentioned to Natalia that after this, he planned to roam the room and try to greet each guest personally, but the happy couple had invited a lot of guests.
Jennifer’s mother and father started the line, followed by Jennifer’s grandmother and grandfather, Jen and Andrew, Andrew’s mother and father, Natalia, Rob, Jen’s sisters Jeannie and Jessica, Lakeisha, Darcie, Summer, Eric, Val and the other groomsmen. She expected some kind of conversation with Rob, but he remained silent. As much alcohol as he had consumed the night before, Natalia assumed he must still have a hangover. Surprisingly, greeting the guests didn’t take as long as Natalia expected, and she was able to join the band fairly soon.
The band members took their places as the guests mingled, sipped cocktails, and nibbled hors d’oeuvres. When they were ready, in his role as emcee, Brian cleared his throat. Everyone turned, and he spoke.
“We’re the band Falling Rock Zone, and we’re here tonight to entertain you. We’ll be featuring singers, Natalia Masterson and Rob Kelson.” He went on to introduce the band members, and they started the first set.
The first song was a classic for wedding receptions and was requested by Jennifer. “We’ve Only Just Begun.” Natalia sang the song in the same manner as Karen Carpenter of The Carpenters, a band from the nineteen seventies. She had a tough time not looking at Rob as she sang. When she finished, she could see Jennifer was pleased.
After Natalia had sung four more songs, the band began to play soft instrumental love ballads. Natalia was free for the rest of the set. She left the stage and was immediately caught by a guest.
“Hey, Nat.”
Natalia turned at the sound of her name. “Oh. Hi Zane.” Jen’s cousin smiled at her. “How have you been?”
He got straight to his point. “The band just isn’t the same without you. You have to come back. Please come back.”
She should have expected him to be upset. He was RAVEN’s biggest fan. “I can’t. I’d like to be part of the band again, but I live in Sydney now.”
“A big mistake. A bad mistake.”
When it looked like he might continue to grumble, she said, “I’m sorry. I need to say something to Jen. It was nice seeing you. Excuse me, please.”
Zane watched her walk away. He had an odd look in his eyes, but she didn’t pause to question it.
Natalia joined Jennifer and gave her a hug. “You’re a beautiful bride and a happy one. I can tell.”
“Oh, Nat, I am happy, insanely happy.”
Natalia smiled, but when she turned, her eyes found Rob. She started to look away but saw the tall, slim brunette beside him. She watched him with the woman, and it took only an instant for her to decide she hated her.
She moved closer to Jen. “Who is that with Rob?” She sent another furtive glance their way as she said, “She looks kind of like a...”
Jennifer’s glance followed Natalia’s. “Ho?” She laughed.
“Yeah.”
Lakeisha walked over and joined them. “Hey, who is that ho with Rob?”
Jennifer laughed even harder. “That’s Tia. She and Rob just started dating.” She noticed Natalia’s tight expression and added mischievously, “You’re not jealous, are you?”
“No, of course not,” Natalia snapped. “I just wondered. He never said he was bringing someone.”
With a dismissive wave of her hand, Jennifer said, “I think she’s just a passing fling. I don’t see those two staying together.” Jennifer looked at Tia then said, “She’s way too tall with those heels she’s wearing. She’s taller than Rob. And that dress is so inappropriate. Way too short and way too tight.”
Natalia grinned at that snide comment. Jennifer lobbed a few more insults at the woman then turned back to Natalia.
“By the way, how have you and Jake been doing? You two are still newlyweds yourselves.”
Unable to decide what to say, Natalia shrugged.
“Are you planning to go on your honeymoon soon?”
Natalia frowned. “No, not yet.”
Jennifer cocked her head and studied Natalia. “It sounds like you’re having some trouble in paradise. With all of the wedding planning, I haven’t had much of a chance to talk to you about that.”
“Oh, I’m fine,” Natalia said as she tried not to watch Rob and Tia. “I wouldn’t call it paradise.”
Jennifer didn’t hear Natalia’s last comment. “I wish I could say I’m sorry that Jake couldn’t make it to the wedding. But I’m not sorry. Didn’t you say that he was away on a movie shoot?”
“What? Oh. Yes, he’s busy, like always, off doing exotic things in exotic places.”
Jennifer started to say something, but the wedding planner drew her attention away.
Natalia sighed in relief. With Jen so distracted, she couldn’t ask more questions. That made it so much easier to avoid the subject of Jake and marriage.
At that point, everyone sat for dinner. Natalia was fine until she realized that she had to sit with Rob and that woman who was with him. This evening was going to be terrible.
Rob
Saturday 7/15
ROB STOOD, AND EVERYONE became quiet. He cleared his throat to start his best man’s toast. “For an occasion such as this...” he began. A laugh or two rose from the group. He looked around. A few more laughs bubbled up. He frowned for a moment, then had an “a-ha” kind of moment. A grin lit his face. “Fornication such as this? Well, actually, they’re married now, so it’s okay.”
He wondered if he had gone too far, but Jennifer and Andrew burst into laughter, and the guests joined them. Natalia rolled her eyes but laughed too. He continued with his toast and hoped it would express his best wishes for Andrew and Jennifer. When he finished, he saw a smile on everyone’s face, so he must have done okay.
A few more entertaining speeches were made between courses of delicious food. Andrew and Jennifer must have really blown the budget on this wedding and reception. He thought about it and discovered he truly did want them to be happy. He wondered if Natalia was happy. He looked at her, and their eyes met, but he didn’t see happiness. He wanted to talk with her, but Tia demanded his attention, and he looked away. He would try to speak to her when they danced together as best man and matron of honor.
