Dust to Dust: A Broken Fairy Tale (5 page)

My dad begins strutting around the room, and does a dramatic turn, acting as if modeling his outfit this way is helping his case. Mom and I can’t help but giggle at his show. He ignores us and struts theatrically up to my mom, and starts giving her his best puppy dog eyes, trying to convince her to let him wear this outfit. My mom smiles even bigger, kisses his cheek, shaking her head no. I love watching them this way together. It always amazes me how in love they have always seemed with each other. Forty years of marriage and they still act like teenagers at times. I used to think Marcus and I would end up like them, but he hasn’t even touched me in months. Not since Christmas Eve.

My dad’s still pouting and puts his hands on his hips in obvious defeat. “I guess I’m outnumbered again.” He sweetly takes my mom in his arms and dips her back, planting an inappropriately long kiss on her.
Gross. Too far, Dad.
My mom does nothing but giggle again through his kiss, and I can do nothing but look away.

“Get a room, Mr. Dade!” Holden, looking way too delicious, is hopping over the gate, wearing nothing but running shorts that are hanging dangerously low off his sculpted hips
.
I try not to notice the way the sweat is dripping down his chiseled, tan chest, and how much I want to lick each drop away. I don’t notice
at all
how alluring his emerald eyes are when he runs his hand through his dark hair, pushing it out of his eyes.

My dad finally breaks his kiss and laughs. “You’re just jealous, Holden. I’ve got myself the prize with this one.” He pats my mom’s butt—
right in front of me
—and walks back into the house. That’s my dad, a hundred percent always himself. He says and does what he wants, no matter who’s watching.

“Holden, I hope you and Bridgette will still be coming to the party today,” my mom states coolly as she begins organizing napkins on the bar.

I learned about their relationship on Christmas Day, when Holden actually showed up for Christmas brunch. When he first came home on Christmas Eve last year, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It all still seemed like a dream to me. And when he followed up that surprise encounter by showing up Christmas morning, I thought it was going to be extremely awkward for everyone—especially me. So much time had passed between us, and so much was left unsaid. At the same time, so much had changed, and nothing
should
be said anymore. I wasn’t sure if he was going to show up and be Holden my best friend, or Holden the love of my life.

Luckily, Holden my best friend was who showed up that morning, bearing bags full of presents for my girls, therefore winning them over instantly. They were drawn to him at first sight, climbing up in his lap and showing them their newest Disney princess dolls, and he played along easily, as if they have known one another forever.
One point, Holden.

Not once that day did Marcus mention the conversation from Christmas Eve. He told stories of our happier times together, giving me hope he really was having second thoughts. When Marcus asked Holden if he was seeing someone, Holden looked right at me, pausing before answering yes. He began telling us about his girlfriend, which made Marcus even more comfortable with his presence, and made me…well, happy for him. We were able to fall back into step with each other after that day, and sometimes it seems as if no time has passed at all between us. I think we both realized how much we missed our friendship more than anything. Holden has always been my best friend, and I was glad to have him back.

Holden walks over to me, and starts tugging on my ponytail, breaking me from my thoughts. “Wouldn’t miss the party, Mrs. D. Bridgette has to head out early tonight, though. She needs to be in the office early tomorrow to prep for a case.”

Did I happen to mention his girlfriend was also a six-foot-tall supermodel, genius district attorney in New York City? I may have left that out.

“I hope she can at least stay for the fireworks. They’re supposed to be awesome tonight,” I say, slapping his hand away from my hair that he’s now twirling around his finger.

He laughs playfully, giving me a big, sweaty hug, rubbing his muscular body all over me. It’s both completely gross, and completely arousing. Knowingly, he simply gives me a wicked grin, lets go and leans up against the bar, crossing his arms across his chest, blocking my view of his defined, ripped chest.

“There will be so many people here who are dying to see you again, Holden. I know that John Waters wants to talk to you about joining his campaign. He desperately needs a new campaign advisor for his Senate run.” My mom pats Holden on his shoulder before walking back into the house. She pauses, grimacing at the sweat she now has on her hand, and rubs her hands on her pants in disgust. Not quite the same reaction I had.

Just hearing the Waters name always makes my stomach turn. John Waters and my dad grew up in Woodbridge together, practically running the town by high school. They were always entrepreneurs, starting a food delivery service when they were sixteen that made them their first million by college. After graduating, they both moved to Mantoloking together, where Dad opened his first restaurant and John invested in real estate. Both my dad and John are fun-loving, easy-going people. John’s tall, broad frame and overall handsome looks draw people to him at first sight. He is confident and quick witted like most politicians, but he also demands things his way, and if they aren’t, there’d be hell to pay. Over the years, John Waters has risen from the mayor of a small town to a powerful congressman, with my father, his best friend, at his side.

“Might be worth looking into. The Waters campaign could be a great move for me right now. I’ve been thinking of changing things up.” Holden pops an olive into his mouth and begins looking around curiously. “Hey, where are the rugrats?”

“Marcus is bringing them down for the party. He wants to give me a chance to help my parents without them getting in the way.” I don’t want to admit that Marcus has decided he would rather drive to the shore from the city on the Fourth of July than spend the weekend pretending to be in love with me.

“Oh good. I’ve missed them,” he says, surprising me.

I laugh, knowing that the last thing a bachelor like Holden would want to do is hang out with children.

“What? Why are you laughing?” Holden turns back around and stalks towards me.

“Nothing, Holden. I didn’t mean anything by it. I just know how much attention my kids want from you since they met you. I don’t want them to ruin your fun.”

Holden surprises me by placing his hands on my shoulders, looking truly hurt. “Do you really think they bother me, Cam? I know I was gone for a while, but I’m here now. I want to make up for lost time with them. You’re the only family I have.”

My heart skips hearing him talk about us as family. The separation he put between us when his parents died is gone. “I know. I’m sorry. I was just teasing you.” I swipe my finger over his chest, which makes him grip my shoulders tighter.
Please don’t let him notice how much I liked that.
“Now go take a shower and don’t be late. My mom is going to want to properly embarrass you and Bridgette with introductions to all of Ocean County.”

He releases my shoulders and runs his hands through his sweaty hair, splashing it all over me.

“Gross, Holden!”

He laughs far too seductively and starts back to his house. “Send the girls over when they get here. Tell them Uncle Holden has something for them.”

I can’t hold back my smile as I watch him athletically hop off the deck. Some harmless eye candy to flirt with is just what I need tonight. It will help keep my mind off my crumbling marriage.

Marcus arrives with Ellie and Sophie an hour early. I am just walking out of the shower when he greets me with a scowl. “Cam, there you are. I have to make a business call and the girls are going wild. Can they hang with you while you get ready?”

I can feel my face turn red with frustration. “Why on earth would you have to make a business call on a holiday?” I know it’s not a business call at all, but some young brunette I’ve seen him snuggling at lunch with. I push past him out to see my sweet girls, and get as much distance between us as possible before I do or say anything I will regret.

“Ellie, Sophie,
Uncle
Holden wants you to go over to his house. He has something for you.” I glare back at Marcus and give the girls a kiss on their heads, sending them on their way.

“Uncle Holden?” Marcus asks, rolling his eyes.

“Yes, Uncle Holden. He has always been like family to us—you know that, Marcus. They have no other uncles. Does it bother you?”
Please say yes, please say yes.
I couldn’t hide my sarcasm. My sweet kind Marcus has turned increasingly coldhearted to me since he’s decided he wants to be separated. So sometimes I find it just a tad hard to hide my anger. Truth is, I’m sad, desperately sad, and trying to do anything I can to save our marriage on most days, if for nothing else, then for our kids. I’ll do anything to keep them happy and safe. If Marcus and I break up, their worlds would crumble. They love him, and so do I. It’s just so painful to know he has moved on from me and times like these, it’s hard to not take a jab when I can.

His phone begins to ring, interrupting us. He looks at the number and begins anxiously walking back out of the room. “Whatever, Cam. I don’t care what they call him. I’ve got to get this.”

I stand there dripping wet, knowing that my husband is talking to that slutty brunette while he is in my parents’ house. I remember a time not too long ago when nothing would have stopped Marcus from dragging me into the back room, seeing me in nothing but a towel.

The caterers and most of the guests have arrived and the party is off to a great start. It seems as if the entire population of the Jersey Shore is gathered in this one house. Patriotic colors are tastefully decorating every part of the house, with food and cocktails everywhere I turn. My parents are known for throwing the best parties and often hosted some of the most prominent people in the state. Everyone from NY Giants football players to our local politicians attends my family’s holiday parties. The Fourth of July is one of the biggest that they have, and they are always sure to pull out all of the stops.

Christmas and the Fourth were the only two days my parents close down the restaurant, and it obviously doesn’t matter since everyone is always welcome here with open arms for free drinks and food.

There is one person I always hope won’t show up to these parties, though, and luckily he never does anymore. I try not to even think of his name any longer, and am only forced to when I run into his parents, who still live in town. Seeing
him
again would be the one thing that could send me over the edge with everything that has been happening in my life.
He
has already taken so much from me…my innocence, my safety, my feelings, my heart. I haven’t seen him in a decade and hope I never will again. NEVER.

Marcus and I spend the better part of the party pretending that things are wonderful between us while we sip cocktails, chatting up all of the guests. He wraps his arm around me when talking about the girls and our life in the city, as if everything is back to normal. I want so badly for our life to be as perfect as Marcus is making it sound, as perfect as I had once thought it was. I have to admit that there’s a small part of me that hopes being here with me like this will snap Marcus out of this funk in our relationship. Being back home, back with our friends could be just the thing that could help him realize what he is pushing away. So I silently sip on a glass of wine, smiling politely at his jokes and lean into him as we sit on the steps of the deck with a small group of our closest friends.

“So Cam, when are you and Marcus going to finally move back down here and away from the city? Charlotte needs her best friends closer,” Jess asks us as she stands snuggled between Dave and Joey. Jess and I have been friends since I can remember. She lived down the street from Holden and me growing up, and is the one constant in my life. She saw me through my depression after my innocence was stolen, when no one else seemed to notice or care. Jess has never pushed me to tell her what happened; she just knew I was broken, and helped me try to pick up the pieces. After Holden and I broke up and drifted apart, she never left my side. She has always been there for me, and I have never doubted her loyalty. Jess is lively and outspoken, confident and beautiful. Everything I wish I was, and she acts as if she has no idea of the amazing qualities she has.