A Bridge of Her Own (24 page)

That stopped him cold. He stood, and brushing the wrinkles from his slacks, said, “You might pretend that you think that, but you and I both know that I am all you ever wanted. I’m doing you a favor here. Don’t forget it."

He lowered his mouth to hers and gave her a crushing kiss, pushing her forcefully against the back of the sofa then left. She tenderly lifted her fingertips to her lips and gingerly felt them. They felt a bit puffy but no worse for the wear. What had just happened? She thought. He had completely ignored what she had said. Was it going to take her not showing up on their wedding day for him to take the hint? She picked up her phone and called her mother.

Finding willpower she did not know she had possessed, she point blank told her that she would not be marrying Wyatt. She may have even thrown in a come hell or high water, even though she was not completely certain it applied. After a long pause, she could hear her mother crying on the other end. Shit, she thought. Maybe she should have eased her mother into this.

“Mom, don’t cry. I’m so sorry I yelled. Mom, please say something,” Jane worried into the phone.

“I just don’t want you to die an old maid,” her mother sobbed back. Jane had to stifle a giggle. Was that all? She went on to have a heart to heart with her mother that they probably should have had years ago. Her mother still saw her as a young girl who needed her help. And Wyatt honestly did look really good on paper. Besides, since Jane hardly spoke to her mother, how would she know she had moved on? In her mom's mind, Jane was still pining over Wyatt because that was the last Jane had ever told her.

When Jane went on to assure her that she not only no longer loved Wyatt but had also met someone new, her mother was thrilled. She wanted to hear all about Gabe, which Jane was happy to share until she had to tell her he had witnessed the proposal. Her mother was horrified for her and now completely understood her behavior in reacting to what should have been a dream come true.

“Oh, Jane.
What are you going to do?” she asked sympathetically. She told her how Wyatt had stopped by, and she had tried to end the engagement. Her mother was furious on her behalf and suggested that she and Wyatt come over for dinner. There was no way, she concluded, that he could continue this arrangement if she stood up to him with their help.

That was a brilliant idea, Jane agreed. They spoke a few moments longer, and then Jane thanked her mother and told her how much she loved her. When she hung up, she sat motionless for a few moments. There were times when her mother would just blow her mind. She had been so certain that her mother was going to be an obstacle that she would have to overcome in all of this.

As she sat there, she felt like crying at the realization that all her mother wanted for her was for her to be happy. She felt pretty silly being so nervous to tell her the truth. Ronald padded over and jumped into her lap. At his affection, she did begin to cry. She knew she always would have Lacey having her back. It was just really liberating to know she wasn’t the only one.

It was a happy cry. She sent Wyatt a text asking him to come over to dinner at her parents’ the next night. With any luck, this would all be a distant annoyance by Sunday, she hoped optimistically. Her emotional conversation with her mother took a lot out of her. She crashed early with Ronald curled at her feet. When she woke, he was in a ball maybe an inch from her nose. Each breath she took would make his fur move slightly.

She tried getting up without disturbing him, but he was a light sleeper and meowed in protest at her movement. Picking him up, she went downstairs and fed him. She wasn’t very hungry, so she drank some orange juice and surfed the web until Lacey came downstairs. Lacey looked pretty guilty and came over to warn Jane that Jack had spent the night.

“
Hoochie mama,” Jane replied and turned back to the computer.

“Just be cool when he comes downstairs,” Lacey pleaded.

Jane crossed her eyes and made a fish face “So I can’t talk to him like this?” she asked.

“Jane!” Lacey stressed.

“Alright, alright. I’m cool,” Jane promised. “So how was it?” she asked saucily.

Glancing upstairs, Lacey began fanning herself and said she would dish when he left. Lacey went back upstairs, and a few moments later, both she and Jack came downstairs together. Lacey went into the kitchen to make coffee while Jack sat awkwardly on the sofa.

Jane waved and said, “Hello."

“Hi, Jane.
It’s, uh, nice to see you again,” he replied.

“Did you want to watch TV?” Jane asked, motioning towards the remote.

“Is that okay?” Jack asked.

“Sure,” Lacey replied, walking back into the room with two steaming cups of coffee.

She sat down close to him, handing him a cup. He rested back with his other arm across the back of the sofa, giving her shoulder a squeeze.

Jane had to stop herself from saying “
awww.” She had to admit they looked very cute together. Jack was taller than Lacey, but then again, who wasn’t? He had dirty blonde shaggy hair, just long enough to pass the tops of his earlobes. He set his coffee down and turned on the morning news.

“Would you like anything for breakfast?” Lacey asked. “I can make eggs or bagels?”

He said he was fine but encouraged her to get something if she was hungry. Lacey said she was fine and leaned into him to watch the news. Jane smiled to herself. There was no way Lacey would eat by herself in front of a guy she liked. Lacey invited Jane to come over and sit with them. She turned the computer off and sat in the armchair by the sofa. Jane asked Lacey what their plans for the day were. Lacey pouted, saying Jack would probably have to leave soon because he had a big test coming up next week.

He laughed and, kissing her on the side of her head, said he would much rather be hanging out with her. With that, Lacey seemed appeased. When they finished their coffee, Jack got up to put their mugs in the kitchen and then went upstairs to collect his things. His test was Wednesday night so as he left he confirmed dinner with Lace for Thursday. She agreed then, after a long kiss, he was gone.

As soon as the door shut, Lacey ran to the kitchen to toast a bagel.

“I am so hungry,” she mumbled, munching on a slice of cheese as her bagel toasted. Jane followed her and, once her bagel popped out, put another one into the toaster for herself.

“I take it last night went well,” she said as Lacey consumed one half in no time.

“He is so
friggin hot, Jane. You never expect it with the preppy types. I swear I’m amazed I didn’t throw my back out last night,” Lacey gushed.

She poured herself another cup of coffee and took her time with the second slice. “After dinner, when he brought me back here, we were kissing in his car for a little bit and then he started kissing my neck. I almost jumped him in the car but managed to talk him into coming inside,” Lacey went on. She seemed so happy; Jane was thrilled for her. Before Lacey would tell Jane all of the gory details, she made Jane tell her about Wyatt’s visit.

Lacey wasn’t surprised. Of course God’s gift to women would never believe someone would not be into him. What did shock her was Jane’s mother’s reaction.

“Go Mrs. Martin,” she hooted.

“I know, right?” Jane replied.

“Can I please, please, please, please come to dinner too?” Lacey pleaded. “I have got to see this."

Jane, while welcoming the additional support, really thought it would be best if she did this on her own since they both could admit Lacey would have a hard time keeping her mouth shut. Jane promised to give her the play by play as soon as she got home, and Lacey relented, agreeing it was probably for the best. Later on, the girls ran to the grocery store to stock up.

Once home, Jane got ready for dinner while Lacey napped. She really hadn’t gotten enough sleep the night before. She wore some navy slacks and a white sweater with some brown boots. As she stepped out, she turned right back around to grab a trench and an umbrella to avoid getting soaked in her white sweater. She got to her parents before Wyatt and gave her mother a long hug.

Her father then came to pat her on the back. “Never been prouder of you, Janey. Can’t wait to watch you dump this jerk."

“Dad!” she cried.

He just raised his hands like “what?” and winked at her.

She took the ring out of her purse. Her mother had found an old ring box for her to put it in to return to Wyatt. When he arrived, he acted like the night before had never happened. He pulled Jane towards him and kissed her on the cheek.

“Hello Mom, Dad,” he called out cheerfully.

Her father sneezed what suspiciously sounded like the word asshole and went to go sit in the living room. Wyatt rested his arm around Jane’s shoulders as they followed him. When she went to pull away, he pulled her tighter to him, smiling at her. Her father was sitting smack dab in the middle of the sofa, and her mother was sitting on the loveseat. She could have kissed them. Seeing there was nowhere for them to sit together, Wyatt sat in one of the wingback chairs while Jane went and sat next to her father. After he sat, Wyatt attempted to engage her father in some small talk.

“Not now, young man. Jane has something she would like to tell you,” her father interrupted.

Jane motioned to the box on the coffee table and, after taking a deep breath, said, “Wyatt I asked you here tonight to, in front of my parents, let you know that I do not love you and cannot marry you."

Wyatt sat there quietly while Jane and her parents wondered what to say or do next. When he rose suddenly, Jane’s father did as well.

“Wyatt, Jane does not want to hurt your feelings and would like this to be as amicable as possible."

“Amicable?” Wyatt spat. “Our announcement is running in the paper tomorrow."

“Maybe you should have asked Jane if she even wanted to date you before you went ahead and proposed to her." Jane’s father replied.

Wyatt looked down at Jane and said, “I don’t believe you."

“How can you not believe me?” Jane asked, rising.

“Trust me. You will come to your senses. This can be very profitable for all of us,” Wyatt went on.

“Profitable?” Jane asked while her father roared, “You listen here, young man."

Jane put her hand on his shoulder, and he slowly sat, glaring at Wyatt.

“You poll well,” Wyatt replied. “If I am going to run for office, I need a simple wife.
No one too showy. You fit the bill, and it will be like winning the lottery for your family. Seriously, Jane. Think of how much you can improve your lives,” he went on.

Having heard enough, Mrs. Martin at that point interjected, “Wyatt, why on earth do you think marrying you would equal winning a prize? I’ll have you know we are quite content in our situation and do not need nor desire your saving us. I believe I have heard enough, young man. Kindly take that all rock, no style ring and get your uppity ass out of my home and off my property."

She said all of this while sweetly sitting.

Wyatt picked up the box and walked out of the room, calling out, “You'll regret this”

Jane looked at her mom and started clapping while her dad went over and gave her a big kiss.

“I like it when she gets feisty,” he said, winking at her

“Oh, Mitch, hush,” she said, blushing. “Now let’s go eat dinner. I made Beef Wellington, and now we don’t have to worry about that idiot ruining our appetites."

Dinner was delicious, and Jane had so much fun hanging out with her parents. She thanked them both after giving them big hugs and kisses then went home leftovers in tow. As promised, when she got home, she gave Lacey the play by play.

“Shut up,” Lacey exclaimed, eating some leftovers. “He compared himself to winning the lottery?"

Lacey was beside herself and was so bummed that she had missed it all. What she would have given to see the look on his face as Jane’s mom kicked him out. Jane admitted it was something she would not forget. At the end of it all, she just felt lighter and happier then she had all week. Sure, she had no clue what would happen with her and Gabe, but she was able to acknowledge that, either way, she would be okay.

Chapter 30

The next day she made a special trip to the store just to buy the paper to see the announcement. Lacey tagged along, and they read it right there in the middle of the store. It wasn’t just any old announcement it was a half page gigantic announcement.

“Oh my God,” Jane said, staring at it.

A good chunk of the announcement was taken up with a blown up picture of them from college. Once she read the announcement, she cringed. There was no way Gabe would ever trust her after this. She folded the paper up, not wanting to read the whole thing in the store. Lacey ran to go buy them some donuts, and they returned to their apartment. Donut in hand, she read it out loud once there.

“Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt Huntington II happily announce the engagement of their son, Wyatt Huntington III, to Miss Jane Theresa Martin. Wyatt and Jane met and first dated at Virginia Commonwealth University. Wyatt went on to graduate school in Chicago while Jane entered the workforce after graduating. It was followed by comments like, “Jane will, of course, no longer be working as she will stay home to raise their family” and “We are so thrilled welcome Jane into our family.” The newspaper even had a supposed quote from Jane saying, “We can’t wait to start our own family after the wedding.” The paper went on that, given the prominence of the groom’s family, the wedding, which was slated for the following spring, would likely be the event of the season with all of the who’s who to be invited.