Love Entwined (19 page)

Katie and I spent a refreshing afternoon at the spa. She used Bentley’s credit card to treat herself to a prenatal massage while I enjoyed a hot stone massage. We both indulged on a mani-pedi, but Katie just watched as I got my hair and makeup done—saying she didn’t want to have to hand over her firstborn after Bentley caught a glimpse of his American Express statement.

Returning to my place, she helped me into the black gown from Bentley. I was in the bathroom touching up my makeup when I heard her call out from the bedroom.

“Where did all this bling come from?” she yelled, rifling through my jewelry box.

“I bought most of it for myself through the years,” I shrugged, walking back into the bedroom. “A few of the new pieces are from Bentley. He got me the diamond studs and matching bracelet for my birthday.”

“You must have like twenty necklaces in here. I didn’t think counselors were paid that well. I need to look into changing my career,” she chuckled.

“Ha! Trust me, it’s really not that great. I just don’t spend all my extra cash on shoes and purses like other people I know. I never thought I’d have a boyfriend to buy me sparkly things so I just saved and bought them for myself.”

“Well, soon you’re going to have a huge, sparkly rock to wear on your finger,” she squealed.

I exhaled deeply before responding. “We don’t know that for sure. Can we please talk about something else? Like what shoes am I going to wear with this dress?”

“You are going to say ‘yes,’ right?”

“I need a purse, too,” I yelled, as I started throwing shoes, hangers and belts from the bottom of my closet.

“Ireland, you need to cool it. Just sit down and take some deep breaths,” Katie encouraged.

“Why am I not ready for this? I love him,” I cried, placing my head in my hands. “I’ve always loved him. This should be the happiest day of my life and instead I’m terrified.”

“You aren’t terrified of spending the rest of your life with him, sweetie. You’re afraid of losing him. Trust me, you aren’t going to lose him so just be happy,” she said, rubbing large circles on my back.

“I can’t believe I’m admitting this, but you’re right,” I said.

“I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard you correctly. Can you repeat that, please,” she said with a playful wink.

“You heard me, asshole. Seriously, though, you’re right. After all, we aren’t even sure what Bentley has planned for tonight. I should just go and enjoy my boyfriend and this beautiful dress,” I said, standing to twirl around, while admiring it.

As I walked into Iridescence, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed at everything that Bentley was trying to do for me tonight. This was the prom that he should’ve escorted me to nearly twenty years ago. He’d thought of everything including the purple and silver balloon archway and twinkling, white lights.

As I waited for Bentley to arrive, I took a moment to take in the view of the city below me and accepted a glass of champagne from the maître d’. I hoped it would help to calm my nerves as I anticipated the big question that Katie was expecting Bentley to ask me tonight. Was I really ready to marry him? Was I willing to finally let my heart become completely vulnerable? I did love him—I was sure of that. I just wasn’t sure I could actually accept his proposal right now. We’d only been together for six months. What about Tanner? He’d accepted me as his dad’s girlfriend, but would he accept me as his stepmother? Where would we live? Would I have to sell my house? Would he sell his?

“Calm down, Ireland. If he gets down on one knee then you’ll know the answer,” I said out loud. “You’ll have to know the answer.”

I looked down at the diamond-encrusted watch that I only wore on special occasions and noticed that I’d been waiting almost an hour. Bentley had texted me while I was in the limousine that he had to make a quick stop at the construction site, but that he’d only be a few minutes. He should be here by now. I opened the black clutch that I’d borrowed from Katie and pulled out my cell phone, assuming I’d just missed a text message from him—nothing.

It wasn’t like Bentley to not tell me if something had kept him and he’d be running late. “I guess he just wants to be fashionably late,” I mumbled to myself, as I scrolled through my contacts before clicking on his name. Straight to voicemail. I tried again thinking that maybe he’d tried calling me at the same time. Voicemail again. After three failed attempts, I was starting to worry. Just as I was picking up my phone to try again, I saw Katie’s face flash across my screen.

“Hey! I didn’t expect to be hearing from you so soon. Is everything OK with the baby?” I asked.

“Ireland! There’s been an accident. You have to get a taxi and get to Mercy Hospital immediately,” Katie screamed into the phone.

“Who? What? Katie you’re scaring me! Who’s been in an accident?”

“Ireland, it’s Bentley. He was at the construction site with Greg and he fell from the scaffolding. Greg called for help and the paramedics were there within minutes, but he said it’s not good. He thinks he hit his head pretty hard, probably broke some bones and there could be some internal bleeding.”

I didn’t hear much after Katie said Bentley’s name. It was happening to me all over again. I was losing the one person who I finally had let myself love. Why was every person I’d ever loved taken from me? What had I done to deserve this?

“Is he alive?” I asked, swallowing back my tears. It was the only question running through my head.

Katie paused and I feared the worse.

“Katie, just tell me. I need to know.”

“They were able to find a pulse, but he’s very critical right now. Do you need me to come and get you?”

“No, I’ll be fine. I’ll be there as soon as I can,” I said, trying not to hyperventilate.

“I don’t believe you. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I said, disconnecting the call.

I crumpled to the floor and sat there sobbing—flashbacks of their accident playing through my mind.

“Mom, can I get a ride home with Bentley?”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Ireland. He just got his license and I’m not sure I’m comfortable with you riding with him yet. Besides, you just spent the last two hours at the movies with him. Uncle James and Aunt Char came over to take us out to dinner anyways. We’ll just come pick you up at the theater on our way to the restaurant.”

“Fine, but can Bentley meet us there?”

She sighed before answering, “Ireland, I really think you’re spending too much time with him.”

“Mom, we’ve always spent a lot of time together. How is this any different than when I was ten?” I questioned, even though I knew very well how it was different. When I was ten I still thought of Bentley as my best friend who still possibly had cooties. Now I think of him as my boyfriend who I like to kiss—a lot.

“Ireland, it’s different and you know it. Please don’t argue with me.”

“Fine, but he’s insisting on staying here until you get here.”

She sighed before answering. “I wouldn’t expect any less of him. I may not like the idea of you having a boyfriend, but I’m glad that Bentley seems to be such a gentleman. We’ll be there in about ten minutes. We’ll meet you in front of the building. I love you, Ireland.”

“I love you, too, Mom,” I said before hanging up the payphone.

Bentley waited with me outside the theater for what seemed like forever. We’d found a bush on the side of the building that we could see around, but kept us out of view. Bentley stole a few kisses when we didn’t think anyone was watching.

“Do you know how long we’ve been waiting here?” I asked.

Looking down at his watch he answered, “I think about twenty minutes, give or take five.”

“That’s strange. My mom said they’d be here in ten minutes. It’s not like her to be late.”

“Do you want me to take you home? Maybe you misunderstood and she was still waiting for Uncle James and Aunt Char to show up. He does have a habit of being late.”

“I think she would actually kill me if she showed up here and I had gone with you. I would definitely be grounded for my entire life.”

“I think you’re being dramatic, Shamrock. I think she would understand. Besides it’s getting chilly out here and it looks like it’s about to rain. I really think I should just take you home. Maybe we’ll pass them on the way there and we can turn around.”

“OK, you win, but can I borrow a quarter and call her once more before we leave. I used my last one when I called her the first time.”

Using Bentley’s quarter, I tried my mom once more, but she didn’t answer the call. I figured she was on her way to the theater and waited another five minutes with Bentley before agreeing to let him take me home.

Opening the door to Bentley’s Ford pickup, I jumped into the passenger seat. Once I was seated, he reached over and buckled my seatbelt before placing a gentle kiss on my nose.

“I need to keep my Shamrock safe,” he said with his dimply-grin before putting his keys in the ignition.

John Michael Montgomery’s “I Can Love You Like That” began playing over the radio. Bentley began singing the words and scooted closer to me on the bench seat.

“Who sings this song?” I asked.

He looked at me like I’d grown two heads. “You can’t live in Nashville and not know that’s John Michael Montgomery. I think you should be kicked out of the city—maybe the entire state,” he exclaimed.

I couldn’t help the laughter that escaped me. “Then keep it that way,” I giggled, tears now streaming down my face.

“Cute, Shamrock. Real cute,” he said, singing the words even louder. He held out his hand, linking his pinkie finger with mine before putting the truck in drive.

We’d made it about five minutes down the road when Bentley had to pull over to let an ambulance pass. Just seconds later, a second ambulance came speeding by.

“There must be a bad accident up ahead. I see several emergency lights. Must be the reason your mom was late. They probably couldn’t get through.”

As we approached the scene I saw metal and glass strewn about the roadway. I looked for the vehicles and then saw the tires of an upturned car in the ditch. On the other side of the road, I could make out the top of what appeared to be a mangled, red Oldsmobile Alero. It looked as if a car had crossed the center line and hit the other head-on.

Paramedics were using the Jaws of Life to remove a body from the backseat of the car. Two gurneys with white sheets covering what I assumed were bodies were rolled next to one of the ambulances. Police were stopping traffic in both directions and were roping the entire area off with yellow caution tape. Chills ran up and down my spine thinking about the unfortunate victims and their families.

“Yikes. This looks pretty bad. I think they only cordon off the area if there are fatalities,” Bentley said.

With Bentley’s words, I began to really take note of the scene before us.

“Bentley, was that a red Alero that was in the ditch?”

“I think so. Why?”

“Doesn’t Uncle James drive a red Alero?”

“Fuck! I think so.”

The tears began to pool in my eyes as I came to the shocking realization my entire family was deceased—gone.

The following days are all a blur in my memory. I’d lost my entire family and was taken away from the love of my life all within the matter of minutes.

“Ireland! Ireland, you need to get up! We need to get to the hospital. Greg has the car running by the door. We can get to Mercy in just a few minutes,” Katie yelled, interrupting me from my thoughts.

“I can’t do this again, Katie. I can’t lose him, too. Not again,” I sobbed as she gathered me up from the floor.