Anchor Line (37 page)

             
She pulled back for a moment and looked up into Conrad’s eyes and shook her head. And it was at that precise moment that Conrad’s Pop called his name.

             
“Conrad? Son it’s time to…Oh. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

             
Addie turned around to see as Keith Renner stood there. He looked like an older version of Conrad. He was just as tall and broad, but, had the distinguished grey hair at his temples and light blue eyes to Conrad’s hazel ones.

             
“I’m sorry kids… But it’s time to get going.”

             
Conrad could see in his Pop’s face that he knew something was going on but what, he wasn’t sure. If it was up to Conrad, his pop would never know. This was Carrie’s day and it was going to stay that way.

             
“All right Pop were coming.” Conrad gave him tight lipped smile to his dad as he took Addie’s hand and followed him out onto the plaza area.

             
“You can go ahead and sit up in the front row this way when were all done I can find you. Okay?” Conrad gave Andy a tightlipped smile now. “I have to go catch up with the bridal party and get this thing going, but I’ll see you in a little bit.”

             
Deciding that she didn’t want to explain to anybody who she was, Addie made her way to the back part of the seating area closest to the field so that she could look over and see the bright yellow seats in the stands that made up the stadium. Looking at the Jumbotron to her left Addie noticed that there was a camera that was pointed to a curtained off area where she only assumed that Carrie and her father would come from to walk her down the aisle. The wedding ceremony site itself was very simple. Over 200 or so folding chairs lined up in front of a large awning that was covered with deep red roses and a shimmering brown fabric. It all looked so very romantic.

             
As the ceremony was announced to begin in just a few moments she noticed a string quartet off to the left had started to play as ushers were escorting family members to the front row. After a few moments a tall thin blond haired man in a tux walked down the aisle followed by another tall thin blonde in a tux, then Jeff and finally Conrad in his dress blues. This was the first time that she actually saw him in uniform today because he was so out of sorts that she’d looked anywhere but at him. Not able to see very well as there were very tall people and women who wore hats, she could see Conrad, and that his agitation had not lessened and now seemed to go straight into pissed off as he looked around the front row and then into the crowd seemingly looking for her. Addie would take the brunt of him being pissed off because she didn’t sit in the front row.             

             
Addie stood with the rest of the crowd as Conrad’s sister and their father made their way down the aisle and finally to the awning. As everyone sat, Addie looked up at the Jumbotron and watched as the couple exchanged vows and rings, then kissed. The camera cut to Keith Renner, who sat there with shimmering eyes as though he were about to cry. The gentleman next to Addie asked if she was okay when she hadn’t realized that she’d inhaled a little too loudly as she saw Conrad’s father again. She just nodded politely and said ‘yes, thank you.’ As the newly married couple came down the aisle there was cheering and clapping and the crowd dispersed into little groups, talking and taking pictures with their cell phone cameras. Off to the side, she watched as the bride and groom were surrounded by well-wishers.

             
“So are you here with the bride’s family or the groom’s?” A good-looking man in a blue suit with a white shirt and dark blue tie asked, his hands in his pockets.

             
“Oh, I’m here…um…”  Addie stammered.

             
“She’s here with me.” Conrad grabbed Addie’s hand and pulled her away from the man in the blue suit.

             
“What is your problem?” Addie asked as she pulled her hand away from his when they got to the edge of the crowd. “Keep being a Dick and I will leave.”

             
“I just want to get to the hotel before anyone else.” Conrad answered.

             
Tugging her again by her hand to the car, he at least unlocked it and opened the door for her letting her get in and holding the lower part of her dress so that it would not get caught in the door before he closed it. Addie watched as he stood before his door looking at his phone before he shoved it in his pants pocket and got in the car. She didn’t say anything and neither did he for that matter, as he again drove like a lunatic to the hotel and pulled into the valet. Getting out of the car, Addie walked away before Conrad could catch up with her as stood there in front of the elevators smashing the up button.

             
“Why are you going upstairs? The reception is this way.” Conrad stated pointing in the opposite direction.

             
“You know I can get treated this way by any douche bag. I don’t need to get treated this way from you too. Maybe I should just go home.”  Addie held her head high as she looked at Conrad and spoke matter-of-factly. “You can just fuck off.”

             
“Now I’m a douche bag? Really? I can’t fucking believe this.” Conrad raised his hands and dropped them by his sides.” This is unfucking believable.”

             
“I get it…you won’t tell me what your problem is, but I hear it from your brother. But, I don’t have to deal with your attitude.” Addie crossed her arms over her breasts holding onto her small clutch.

             
“Well before you go, do you think you could meet my sister and my Pop? Please?” Conrad asked.

             
Addie motioned for Conrad to lead the way so he turned and she followed two steps behind him. Walking into the Symphony Ballroom of the hotel, Addie stopped for a moment to just take in the beauty and grandeur that was the reception site. The back wall of the Symphony ballroom held floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the Sixth St., Bridge and PNC Park across the river. Further down you could see Heinz Field and Point State Park. The tables were set with burgundy, cream and brown accents with cream-colored china, lots of Crystal and gold silverware. The floral centerpieces were simple white orchids overflowing in clear crystal vases in the middle of the table surrounded by low flickering candles. The house lights were turned low as the setting sun added an orange glow when it filtered in through the open windows.

             
Realizing that Conrad was across the room, Addie hurried to catch up with him as he was greeted by this brother Jeff with a firm handshake. Where Conrad had a scowl on his face, Jeff had a bright smile on his. She stood five feet away watching as the two brothers shook hands and said that they were glad they weren’t the ones getting married.

             
Conrad left Addie to hit the bar after he met up with his brother who somehow got here before he and Addie did and had already been to the bar. Luckily for Conrad, Carrie and Roger had decided to do their wedding photos before the actual ceremony. Now, he just had to wait for them to get here and get this party in full swing so that he could take off his jacket, or just go upstairs and change all together. In the meantime he’d partake of the bar and try to change his mood.

 
           He wasn’t sure why Lisa was trying to pin a pregnancy on him when her dates didn’t match up anyway. Either way, he was pissed that Lisa would even try to do this. He’d had sex with her one fucking time in Italy, and she was trying to pin her kid on him. Knowing that he didn’t want children, maybe her idea was to pin him down for marriage. Which wouldn’t happen either. Not with her anyway. And he’d worn a condom and he made sure to take it off and flush it himself, so there were no issues.

 
           Now loaded with two rum and cokes, Conrad made his way to the family table where he found Addie engaged in conversation with another guy. Only this one was wearing a black suit with a grey shirt and a Steelers tie. He stopped and took her in. She was gorgeous, the way she carried herself. She kept her hands in front of herself, holding her small clutch. She was smiling brightly up at the black suit guy. Conrad’s possessive nature came out. He didn’t want Addie talking to anyone but him. However, she’d made it clear that he was being a Neanderthal and she wouldn’t take his shit. That was one thing that he did like about her. Where other women would bow down and take his commanding alpha male nature, Addie stood up to him when he was being a dick. And she didn’t have a problem telling him that he was being a dick either.

 
           “She’s hot man.” Jeff said as he stopped next to his brother and provoked him on purpose.

 
           “Hands off dick.” Conrad responded taking a sip of his drink.

 
           “I can’t believe that you are going to let Roger’s college roommate talk to Addie. I’ve heard stories of his…exploits.” Jeff took a long draw off of his beer. “Apparently, he was quite the ladies’ man. He has tons of money too. The chicks fall all over him because of his bank account.”

 
           Conrad watched as Addie took the guy’s arm as he led her to the bar on the opposite side of the room.

 
           “And apparently that still holds true. Well, not the part about the money, because Addie wouldn't know that." Jeff waived the notion off with one hand. "But man, I can’t believe that you are going to let her go like that.” Jeff shook his head.

 
           “What are you two troublemakers up to?” Carrie had walked up to her brothers, sliding an arm around each of their shoulders. “What are we staring at?”

 
           “We were just watching Conrad’s girl walk…”

 
           “Shut it Jeff.” Conrad snapped.

 
           “...off with Kern Whitman.” Jeff continued unphased by Conrad’s attitude.

 
           “Kern?” Conrad asked baffled. “His name is Kern?”

 
           “Yep.” Carrie smiled, popping the p. "As in pass the Kern."

 
           “Isn’t that how southern people say corn. Pass the kern, Sammy.” Conrad took another sip of his drink. “Kern. What the fuck.”

 
           “That’s funny.” Jeff said as he and Carrie both laughed.

 
           “Looks like she’s gonna get all liquored up with him.” Carrie commented, looking conspiratorially at Jeff. "He does have a lot of money. But I don't think Addie's that kind of girl if she'd come out here to spend time with you."

 
                 "Yeah, but he's been a dick to her because some chick said she was pregnant with his kid." Jeff laughed.

 
                "That's not funny." Carrie said, standing up for Conrad. "I'm going to be an auntie!" She jumped up and down despite her wedding dress.

 
                "No you aren't." Conrad said looking at her sharply, then away to look out the windows.

 
                "Wha...but, he just..." Carrie stammered, now pointing at Jeff.

 
                 "Apparently the girl doesn't know how to do the maths." Jeff offered. "She said she was five months along. Connie here has been gone seven months." Jeff started with belly laughs again.

 
               "That whore bitch. How dare she do that." She looked at Conrad who was just staring out of the windows from where he stood.

 
           “You better go save your girl Conrad.” Jeff looked back at Carrie and smiled.

 
           Conrad went to move when Carrie stopped him with a hand on his arm and nodded at the glass in his right hand that was half full. “You need to drink one of those so that you have something to slide around her waist.”

 
           He tossed the rest of his rum and coke down his throat. Gritting his teeth from the burn of the rum, he handed the empty glass to Carrie and took off after Addie and Kern as Jeff and Carrie high fived. The closer he got to the bar though, he didn’t see Addie…or Kern for that matter.

 
           What. The. Actual. Fuck.

 
           Turning around slowly, Conrad took in the filling reception area and still didn’t see Addie. He did however see April Magnassum who was a friend of Carrie’s and incidentally, had been after him for years. Shit! He stood behind a group of older women who pulled him into their circle thanking him for wearing his uniform and telling him how handsome they thought he was and to thank him for serving his country. With smiles all around, Conrad excused himself and walked along the far wall that the doors were on to escape the room all while scanning for Addie. Free of the ballroom, he looked around the lobby and froze.

Chapter Twenty-Six

            Seeing Addie sitting on the edge of a chair in a cozy little corner in the vast lobby with Kern made Conrad stop in his tracks. She held a glass of wine in one hand as she was talking animatedly with the other. She looked relaxed and comfortable. Kern was holding a short rocks glass that was filled with a gold liquid. He had a bright smile on his face as he listened to Addie and would interject occasionally that would send the both of them into laughter. Conrad felt his caveman gene surface. If handled wrong, this could explode into a bad scene of biblical proportions. He didn’t want that for his sister. This was her day.