Nickels (45 page)

Brenda raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

Niki moved to stand next to Marcy.  “Put me to work.”

Between Niki and Brenda, they finally got Marcy into her
gown and veil situated.  Marcy chatted about a million different things, a sure
indication that she was getting nervous.  Niki smiled as Marcy carefully spun
in a circle.

“You’re gorgeous!” Tori exclaimed.

Niki echoed the sentiment before leaving the happy group to
fawn over Marcy.  She slipped out of her casual outfit and shimmied into the
maroon bride’s maid gown.  She reached around to zip up the dress, certain she
had not gotten it all the way up.  Re-entering the bride’s changing room, she
sought Tori’s help.  How on earth was she going to get out of this thing
tonight?

She caught her own reflection in the mirror.  The makeup,
which looked gaudy before, suited her perfectly with the rich tone of the
gown.  She felt like a princess with her hair perfectly curled and cascading
down her back.  She wondered what Jack would have thought, seeing his sister
all decked out.  Or what her parents would think.

The loneliness clawed at her heart.  She was losing Marcy
today—the one person who remained steady in her life for nearly twelve
years—ever since they met in high school.

She finally lost everyone—including Kyle.

A soft knock on the door preceded Rick’s voice.  Niki, Tori,
and Chad’s mom exited the room, giving Marcy a few minutes with her dad and
mom.  Niki looked around and spotted a restless Alana between Kyle and Kelly.

As guests filed in, Kyle joined Chad and Matt at the front. 
The girls stood in the hallway off of the lobby for several minutes until the
ceremony officially started.  Niki was up first.

On cue, Niki started down the aisle.  Kyle’s smile was soft
and he looked so handsome in his tux.  His blue eyes shimmered.  As her eyes
connected with his, the look he gave her threatened to drown her.  She darted
her eyes away, remembering to smile sweetly despite the pain piercing her
heart.  She had to keep it together.  This was Marcy’s wedding day.

At the last row before the stairs, she fretted about how to
make her way up the stairs without stepping on her dress.  Her first step came
off without mishap.  On the second step, the toe of her sandal came down on the
hem of her gown.  She stumbled into place on the top step.  Why did her
clumsiness have to show up for this occasion?  Hearing a few snickers, Niki
looked for the videographer and gave a quick thumbs up.  Might as well give
Marcy something fun for her wedding video.

Tori made her way up, followed by a quiet and demure Alana.

Then the music sounded and the guests stood to their feet. 
Every eye turned to watch as Marcy’s father escorted her down the aisle.  Her
white satin gown shimmered with each step, giving her an almost angelic
appearance.  Her father carefully helped her up the steps and waited for his
cue.

From there, everything seemed to rush by.  Niki hated that
she couldn’t see Marcy’s face.  It never dawned on her that she wouldn’t be
able to.  She felt like she missed the best part.  She could see Chad and the
tears in his eyes that threatened to spill over.  She wondered if Marcy’s eyes
were clear.

Niki’s gaze moved from the couple to Kyle.  He looked at her
in the same second.  Did he have some extra sense that he could tell when she
was looking at him?  She blinked and returned her eyes firmly on the back of
Marcy’s head.

Once the vows and rings were exchanged, the pastor announced
them as Mr. and Mrs. Schaefer.  Chad gave Marcy a big and a tasteful kiss
before Niki handed the bouquet over.  She watched as they walked down the
aisle.

Then came the moment she was dreading.  She met Kyle on the
top step and took his arm.  Wordlessly she followed his leisurely pace down the
aisle.  As soon as they were at the back of the church, she tried to skirt
away, but he held her hand tight.

“You are radiant, Niki,” Kyle said.  “Before you run off,
can we talk a minute?”

Niki tugged on her hand.  “Not the time or place.  Besides I
want to wish the happy couple well.”  She started towards Marcy and Chad,
expecting him to drop her hand.  He didn’t—not until she reached up to hug
Marcy.

“Congrats, Marcella,” she teased.  “I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks, Niki.”

The rest of the wedding party made their way to the lobby. 
As the lobby filled with the throng of guests, Niki walked back into the empty
chapel, waiting for the pictures to begin.  She ran her hand along the ends of
the pews on the bride’s side.

Bride’s side.  When—or better yet, if—Niki got married, the
bride’s side would be empty.  No father to give her away.  No mother to make
last minute adjustments to her veil.  No brother to tease her then secretly
find a way to tell her how proud he is.

Weddings were supposed to be happy, but she felt very far
from it as she blinked away her tears.

“Hey,” Kelly’s soft voice broke through her thoughts.  “I
just wanted to tell you that there’s nothing going on between me and Kyle.”

Niki nodded, only because it seemed the thing to do.

“I saw your face before you ran off, so I know what you were
thinking.  It’s not that.  My fiancé Derrick called me this morning and broke
off our engagement.  I was a mess and needed a shoulder to cry on.”

“And Kyle’s just happened to be the one you picked?  Thanks
so much,” Niki said with false sugary sweetness.

Kelly shied away.  “Just thought you might want to know the
truth.”  She walked a few steps before she turned back to Niki.  “You know, I
saw the way he looked at you as you walked down the aisle.  He’s completely
smitten with you.  Don’t take that for granted.”

The last thing she wanted was advice from Kyle’s ex-lover. 
She narrowed her eyes and almost launched into a tirade, but Kelly turned and
made her way to Alana’s side.

She didn’t believe that there was nothing between Kyle and
Kelly.

For the next thirty minutes, the bride and groom and the
wedding party posed for what seemed like a million different pictures.  Niki
thought her cheeks were going to be numb all night after so much smiling.

“Niki, Kyle,” the photographer said, “Marcy wants one with
just the two of you.”

Niki glared at Marcy, who shrugged.  She willingly complied
and smiled sweetly, hoping to cut short the number of pictures needed.  As soon
as the pose finished, she stalked off to a corner trying to get as far away
from him as possible.  Thankfully, he was busy now getting his picture with
Alana and then with Alana and Kelly.

At last the pictures were finished.  Niki gathered up her
things and Marcy’s things from the bride’s changing room.  Struggling to manage
everything in one trip, she smiled when Matt appeared just in time to help load
her car.

The trip to the hotel for the reception took less than
fifteen minutes.  Marcy and Chad had yet to make their grand entrance, giving
the wedding party a chance to arrive first.  Niki walked into the ballroom on
Kyle’s arm again—hopefully for the last time of the night.  She took her seat
next to the Marcy’s reserved seat.

As Marcy and Chad entered, the celebrating friends and family
cheered, watching intently as the couple made their way to their seats.

“I thought I told them to put you and Kyle together and Matt
and Tori on the other side,” Marcy commented as she sat down looking at the
place cards Niki cleverly repositioned.

“Mrs. Schaefer, are you not into the traditional seating?”

“Hmm.  I know what you’re up to Niki.  And if I know my
brother, you won’t get away with brushing him off so easily.”

She gave Marcy a wry smile before picking at the food on her
plate.  Despite having eaten nothing all day, she wasn’t really hungry.  As the
meal neared the end, Kyle stood clanging his glass to give a toast.

“Marcella,” he said looking at his sister.  “Chad.  I have
never met two people more perfect for each other.  After all, Chad, you
survived a date with Marcy’s roommate long enough to get Marcy’s number.”  The
crowd laughed, many of them already familiar with the story.  “And, Marcy, you
just couldn’t settle for some conventional way to meet your husband, could
you?  Anyway,” he raised his glass, “may your union be strong, always blessed
by God with His love strengthening the love you hold for each other.”

The crowd joined in the toast.  Niki chose to down the whole
glass of champagne, hoping to calm her nerves.

Marcy smiled and ran over to hug her brother.  “Thanks,
Kyle.  That was very sweet.”

“You did good, Marcella.”

Magically, Niki’s champagne flute refilled.  She sipped this
one a little slower while watching the cutting of the cake—better described as
Marcy mashing cake on her husband’s face.

By the time the music started, she felt a bit light headed. 
Probably from not eating much.

She saw Kyle heading her direction, so she quickly ducked
out, pretending to use the restroom.

Standing in front of the mirror, her reflection looked
foreign.  Who was this Niki? 

Sometime this morning she resolved to forgive Kyle.  Then
she saw Kelly in his arms.  No matter what Kelly said the reason was, the image
would stay with her for a long time.  Nope.  It was time to bring back the
guarded Niki—the one who never gets too close and never gets hurt.

Squaring her shoulders in determination, she pushed the
bathroom door open.  She returned to the table and downed the rest of her
champagne.  Kyle stood nearby talking with Matt, seeming not to notice her
return.

“Can you check in on my place the next few weeks?” Kyle
asked.

“Sure.  You’re not heading out of town on business again are
you?  Niki seemed pretty upset by this last trip,” Matt said.

“No.  I’ve got some time off so I’m going to head up to
Colorado Springs to spend some time with Alana.”

And her mother, Niki thought, taking another sip of the
tangy liquid.

“That’s good.  I’m sure she’ll love spending time with her
dad.  She’s so cute.”

Niki rolled her eyes taking another sip.  Perhaps she should
just get this over with.  Save Kyle the trouble of breaking it off with her
before he ran into the arms of his daughter’s mother.

When she stood she swayed.  She waited a second for the
swimming feeling to leave.  Then she walked around the table and stood in front
of Kyle, stopping him mid sentence.

“Niki…”

“Kyle.  You and I need to talk.”  She grabbed his hand and
led him from the table onto the dance floor, not really paying attention to
where she took him.

“Look,” she said, confused by his arms wrapping around her
waist.  She lifted her arms around his neck following his lead.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered.  “I’ve missed you so
much.”  Then he rested his cheek against hers.

She felt warm and her brain was fuzzy.  She was going to
tell him something.  But, the feel of his skin against her cheek sent cool
tingles down her arms.  He lifted his head and looked into her eyes.  Her body
turned to jello.  She tripped over his foot and his grip tightened.

“Careful,” he whispered.

“I was going to tell you something important,” she said,
trying to remember what it was.

“Hmm.  Let me guess.  You love me?”

She shook her head, immediately regretting the spinning it
set into motion.  She rested her head on his chest, hoping the spinning would
stop soon.

“You forgive me?”

“That’s not it.”

He ran his fingers along her neck.  Niki lamely tried to
swat at his hand completely missing.

“Nickels, how much champagne have you had?”

She giggled.  “I don’t know.  A couple of glasses.  Why?”

“Are you drunk?”

She shook her head and the spinning started again.  “Maybe.”

“Who drove you?”

“Me, myself, and I.”

“Do you have your keys?”

“Sure.  They’re in my clutch.  Over there at the table.”

“Can you show me?”

“Why?”

Kyle led her from the dance floor.  She slithered into her seat
at the table.  Opening her clutch she showed him her keys.  He grabbed them and
put them in his pocket.  She reached for a glass, very thirsty.  Kyle slipped
the flute from her fingers, replacing it with an ice water.

“Too bad,” she mumbled.

“Pardon?”

“Too bad you’re in love with Kelly.  I really had fun with
you, Kyle.”  She chugged the water, burping more like a guy than a girl.  “I
thought I loved you.  But seeing her in your arms…”

“Come on.  Let’s get you home,” he said, easing her from her
chair.

She felt even dizzier now.  And these sandals hurt her
feet.  She kicked them off and carried them in one hand, clutch in the other,
as Kyle helped her to her car.  When he opened the door, she hit the seat with
a hard thud.  He closed the passenger door and went around to the driver’s
side.  After scooting the seat back several notches, he adjusted the mirrors
then started her car.

“Buckle up.”

It took her three tries but she finally got it.

“I think we should break up,” she blurted out.

“You’re drunk.”

“Still.  I think it’s over.  That’s what I was trying to
tell you.  Don’t think it will work.”

“Why’s that?”  Kyle’s voice sounded irritated.

“Cause you still love Kelly.”

“I’ve never loved Kelly.  I love you.”

“Nope.  You would have told me about Alana.  And you held
Kelly in your arms!”

“Can we talk about this when you’re in your right mind?”

Niki snorted then giggled.  “I know what I’m saying.”

“Ha.  You don’t even know where you are.”

“In my car.”

“In your garage.”

“Oh.”

Kyle cut the engine.  He walked around to the passenger
side, unfastened the seat belt, and helped her out of the car, down the hall
and to her bedroom.