Love & Marry (5 page)

Dread crept into her heart. A phrase like
let’s talk
was not usually followed by anything good. She followed him over to the sofa and sat down. He moved close to her and took her hand.

“Marry, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about us, and I’ve made up my mind about something,” he said. “I don’t think that there’s anything else I need to know about you to know that you’re the only one for me. And, I say that with bruised feet from our night out dancing.”

He paused, and his grip tightened on her hand.

“Will you marry me, Marry?”

Her jaw dropped.
Had she heard what she thought she’d heard
? A thought rushed through her mind and popped out of her mouth before she could stop it.

“Oh, my goodness,” she said. “The wedding…Is that
our
wedding on the beach?”

Allen’s eyes grew wide, and he shook his head, “Oh, no, no, Marry. I know you think I’m a little fast and forward, but I would never do
that
.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. She
did
want to have some say in her wedding.

“The wedding is for La Luna’s public relations director,” he said.

After they stopped laughing, he took her hand again. “Well,” he said. “Are you going to give me answer, or make me wait?”

Marry caressed his cheek with the back of her hand. “I’m not going to make you wait,” she said. “I feel the same way. There’s nothing more I need to know about you. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

The kiss they shared wasn’t quite as passionate as Marry would have liked, but they were in a public space. There would be plenty of time for passion later when they were alone.

Allen stood. “We’d better go,” he said.

She took his arm and walked across the lobby with him, feeling a sense of renewal through her whole being.

“So other than attending this wedding with me, how would you like to spend your last full day in Puerto Rico?” he asked.

A sly smile crossed her ruby red lips. “Well, I think I remember seeing a wedding chapel not too far from here.”

Allen stopped walking and turned to her. “Really?”

“
Carpe diem
,” she said. “I don’t want to give you the chance to change your mind.”

He embraced her in a bear hug. “That could never happen,” he said. “Let’s do it. There’s a jewelry store next to the shop where I bought your dress.” He paused and grinned. “You know what? Your name is going to be Marry Love. Now, that’s an advertising angle. You’ll be the most sought-after wedding planner in Florida. Maybe even get a reality T.V. show…”

Marry silenced him with a long, slow kiss on the lips. For the next day and a half, business would be the last thing on her mind.

* the end *

Read on for a Bonus short story and a preview of L.K. Campbell’s new novella.

“I’m sorry,” Nicole said. “It has nothing to do with you.”

Like the blue makeup he wore, dejection painted the young man’s face. One of the antennae that were glued to his head drooped.

“Honestly,” she continued. “I’m just not interested in dating anyone right now.”

“But
she
said that you were available,” he said.

“Who is
she
?”

“Brenda. She said that you’d be working late tonight, and I should come by and meet you,” he answered.

Her face grew hot, and she could imagine it turning beet red.
This was the last straw
. The next time she saw Brenda; she was going to let her have it with both barrels.

“Look,” she said. “I feel bad about this, so go back to the Sci-Fi section, pick out a DVD, and I’ll let you have it for free.”

His demeanor perked up, and she could’ve sworn that his drooping antenna stood up straight. “Gee,” he said. “I hope you have the complete first season of
Stargate Atlantis
.”

“I don’t feel
that
bad,” she said. “Keep it under $20, please.”

The next morning, Brenda strolled into the store with a huge grin on her face. “Hi, Nicole. Did you have a nice evening?” she asked.

Nicole nodded and continued keying the new merchandise into the store computer. Brenda walked behind the counter and stuffed her oversized designer purse into a small cubbyhole.

“Did anything unusual happen last night?” Brenda asked.

Nicole filled her lungs with a large intake of air and turned toward her. “If you’re asking whether or not I hit it off with the Andorian, the answer is no.”

“Andorian? What in the world are you talking about?”

At the end of her rope and with about one inch of patience left, Nicole said, “An Andorian is a character from
Star Trek
. Your
little friend
came over here dressed as one.”

Brenda tossed her head back and laughed. “Sometimes, that boy acts so foolish.”

Nicole’s cheeks blazed hot. The pulse in her temple pounded. “And yet you sent him over here to ask me for a date?”

The look of surprise on Brenda’s face reminded Nicole of her mother’s when she’d told her that she was cashing in her 401k to start a new business.

“Well, I…I…I just don’t know what to say,” Brenda stammered. “You’re a
Star Trek
fan, so I thought you and Billy would make a good couple.”

Nicole felt sick.
Literally
. At any moment, she was going to throw up all over Brenda’s burgundy slacks and matching pumps.

“First of all,” Nicole said. “Not everyone who likes
Star Trek
dresses up like characters from the show—especially not if they’re going to ask someone for a date.”

Brenda started to speak, but Nicole held up a hand to silence her. “And second of all, he was
way
too young. When did he graduate from high school? Last year?”

Brenda’s red lips twisted to one side, and she walked around to the other side of the counter.

“If that’s the thanks I get for trying to help you, I won’t do it again,” she said.

“Help me? You think you’re trying to help me?”

Brenda held out her left hand and gazed at the three-diamond anniversary band her husband had given her for Valentine’s Day the previous year. Nicole wouldn’t dispute the fact that it was a beautiful ring, but she was a little tired of the way Brenda flaunted it.

“Honey,” she said.

Oh, God. I hate it when she calls me
‘
honey
,’ Nicole thought.

“How old are you, now?”

“Thirty-three.” As if Brenda didn’t know.

“You’re going to have to stop being so picky,” Brenda said. “Or you’ll never get one of these.”

Brenda waved her diamond-clad finger in front of Nicole’s face, and anger boiled in the middle of Nicole’s chest. She spun back around to the computer and laid her trembling hands on the keyboard before she said something she’d regret later.

As if on cue, the mall PA system blasted out the Linda Ronstadt version of the old pop standard,
But Not for Me
. Not having a boyfriend on Valentine’s Day
was
the pits. How many years in a row was this? Four? She couldn’t help being a little jealous when the florist came by and delivered roses to Brenda. Sometimes, she received balloons, too. Last year, it was a stuffed teddy bear that said, “I love you” when Brenda pressed its paw.
If she’d pressed that bear’s paw one more time, I think I would’ve ripped it to shreds and tossed it in the dumpster behind the store,
Nicole thought
. Oh, well, at least Brenda’s husband remembered Valentine’s Day
.

During Nicole’s brief marriage, she was lucky to get a card. Her ex-husband’s idea of romance was going inside Burger King to eat rather than picking something up at the drive-thru window. His idea of love was to smack her around when he’d had too much to drink.
They’re writing songs of love but not for me,
Linda Ronstadt sang
.

“I promise that I won’t send another man over here if you’re not interested,” Brenda said.

Nicole turned to her and flattened her palms on the counter. “I’m only going to say this once. You’re embarrassing me. How do you think it made me feel last night when I had to hurt that little boy’s feelings? I thought he was going to cry until I gave him a DVD.” She turned back to the computer screen. “You just don’t use good judgment, Brenda.”

She hated having to talk to her that way. Brenda was a good employee who had been with her ever since the opening day of
Nicole’s Multimedia Emporium
. Out of the corner of her left eye, she could see Brenda straighten up and back away from the counter.

“Fine, then,” she said. “But next week, when Valentine’s Day rolls around, and you don’t have a date, you’ll only have yourself to blame.”

That sucked the wind out of her triumphant sails. Brenda was right. She only had herself to blame. Nicole’s reflection stared back at her from the computer screen, and she didn’t like what she saw. Since her divorce, she’d gained a little weight—not too much but enough to make her feel dowdy. She’d stopped doing anything to make herself look attractive. She was only wearing a tiny bit of makeup on her pale face. Her blonde hair was limp and loose, and her clothes were anything but sexy.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be involved again.
I might as well admit it. I’m afraid of getting hurt
, she thought.
Every man isn’t like Rob, but how can I be sure
?
After all, I thought he was the perfect man when I married him
.

The flutter in the pit of her stomach caused her to question if she’d been too harsh with Brenda. She glanced at the older woman who was busy setting up a display cabinet for the new shipment of e-readers they’d just received.

“Look, Brenda, I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to sound as if I don’t appreciate you. I do, but my love life is off-limits, okay?”

Brenda shrugged one shoulder. “Suit yourself,” she said. “But every Valentine’s Day I feel badly when Albert sends me flowers and gifts, and you don’t get anything.”

Nicole heaved a sigh and sat up straight. “Well, don’t feel that way,” she said. “It doesn’t bother me.” She stood and walked around to the other side of the counter. “I’ll be in the back unpacking and tagging those e-readers.”

As soon as Nicole saw Brenda walking across the mall courtyard the next morning, she knew something was wrong. Brenda’s usual cheery disposition was missing. In its place was the face of a woman who looked as if she’d spent the night crying.

Nicole left the greeting card shelf that she was straightening and pushed the door open for her. “Brenda, what’s wrong?”

“I would’ve called in sick,” she said. “But I knew that you’d need me today for the…” She broke off, started sobbing and wiped her eyes with the worn Kleenex she clutched in one hand. “For the Valentine’s Day sale.”

Nicole laced her arm through Brenda’s and led her over to the sofa in the reading nook. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

She nodded, and Nicole drew a cup of coffee from the Espresso machine.

“Here,” she said while handing her the cup. “Now, tell me what’s wrong.”

“I don’t know where to start,” Brenda said and another torrent of tears poured from her eyes.

Nicole pulled a handful of paper napkins from the dispenser on the counter, and Brenda patted her face dry before taking some sips of her coffee.

“Albert left me,” she whispered.

Nicole dropped into a nearby chair. She wanted to say something but couldn’t find any words.

“He came home from work last night and told me that he wasn’t happy. Then he packed a bag and left. I don’t even know where he went.”

“Are you sure he’s gone for good?” Nicole managed to ask, even though she was still shocked.

Brenda nodded and pressed the napkin against her eyes. “How could he do this after twenty-seven years? For heaven’s sake, our first grandchild was just born.”

“He turned fifty a few weeks ago. Maybe it’s a midlife crisis,” Nicole said.

“That’s what mother said, too. She told me not to worry. They always come back.” She lifted her head and looked into Nicole’s eyes. “But they don’t always come back. Do they, Nicole?”

She slid over onto the sofa and put an arm around Brenda’s shoulders. “Oh, now Brenda, there’s no comparison between your marriage and mine. Rob was an abusive alcoholic. I thought I could love him enough to change him. I was wrong. Our marriage was a mistake from the beginning.”

Brenda’s tears must have been contagious, because she felt moisture dampen her eyelids. It was the first time that she’d voiced those thoughts aloud.

“I’ll bet that Albert comes back in a few days,” Nicole said.

Brenda gulped down a few more sips of coffee and stood up. “Well, I guess we’d better get to work,” she said. “Today is going to be a busy day.”

Before she turned to walk away, Nicole reached out and caught her by the hand.

“Brenda, are you sure you can handle being here today? I can call my sister and ask her to come help out…”

“No. I wouldn’t dream of it,” she said. “Albert can act like an ass, but I’m not going to let it keep me from doing my job.”

Poor Brenda
. She’d married her college sweetheart and settled down to what she thought was happily ever after.
Was this proof that no marriage was perfect
?

She walked back to the sales counter where Brenda was counting out change for the cash drawer. Nicole watched while Brenda tried to go about her usual morning tasks as if nothing was wrong. Every now and then, Brenda would pull out a tissue to wipe the stray tears that slipped out.
I have to do something
, Nicole thought.

“What do you think about getting dressed up and going out on the town tonight?” Nicole asked.

At first, a look of surprise colored Brenda’s face; then she smiled and shrugged her shoulders. “Thank you for trying to make me feel better, but I’m afraid I wouldn’t have any fun.”