“I think she’s just nervous.”
“The hell she is. She’s giving you daggers at every turn. I’ve been watching, something is going on here.”
I decided honesty, or at least partial was best.
“I have no idea what's going on with her and that's the truth. I came home last week to an empty house and no Addison and she won't talk to me about it. I don't know what I did to piss her off, but you're right she's not happy with me.”
My uncle wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “Are you sure you should be getting into these nuptials without a level head? Being angry at each other and walking down the aisle doesn't seem like the best way to enter into a marriage.”
He had no idea. The best way to enter into a marriage was actually to be marrying someone that you love. While I had thought I loved Addison, and part of me still thought that I did, it was clear that she didn’t love me back. I shouldn't have been surprised, she was super bright and talented and beautiful. She was a total catch, the complete package. Perfect for my fabricated marriage, but was I perfect for her? Was I giving her everything she ever wanted?
I wasn't sure.
“What would you have me do? Cancel the wedding? Besides, I don't think she
wants to do that either. Hopefully, this will all blow over very soon and we can move on.”
“With the rest of your lives…” My uncle countered looking at me seriously.
“Yeah, something like that,” I said dejectedly. Because right now I wasn't even sure that we’d make it to tomorrow let alone the next three months. And I had no idea what was going happen after that.
Nineteen
Addison
Everyone was sitting around the table which had white linens and beautiful blush colored roses just like I asked.
It was perfect, except that it wasn't.
Cole stood up to give a speech and I could hardly look at him. But as soon as he sat back down and he took my hand within his I smiled affectionately and played my part. That's what I was here to do. Some soft music was playing in the background and while everyone was chatting and eating dessert Cole's uncle approached me.
“Mind if I have a dance with the bride-to-be?”
Cole nodded raising a glass to him and I took his hand as he walked me out onto what tomorrow would be our dance floor.
“No one else is dancing.”
“I kind of wanted it that way. I don't know what is going on between you and Cole, but I will give you the same advice that I gave him. Figure it out before you walk down that aisle tomorrow. Before you make a decision that will impact both of you for the rest of your lives.” He spun me out and pulled me back in close. I was happy no one else could hear our conversation.
“What's that supposed to mean? Cole and I are fine. Just a little disagreement is all.”
“I'm not sure that he sees it that way. You know the whole relationship is a little suspect now that I think about it. He had told me about you a couple months ago of course but I was surprised you agreed to marry him.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you're smart. You might even be smarter than him. And you look like a woman who takes her time in making a decision about something. Like you wouldn't do something just because it benefited you, and plan out your whole life around it. Cole isn't that way. He's impatient and stubborn and everything has to be done immediately when he's around. He doesn't think about the future, there is no long-term plan for him.”
The song changed but it was still slow and smooth dinner music. “I'm not sure I understand what you're trying to say.”
“Addison, I have a pretty good idea of what's been really going on here and I can say with certainty that you are about to enter into an agreement that you may never be able to get out of. So run. Take your lovely little family and get out of town. You don't deserve to be put in this situation by my nephew. I can see that his pigheadedness has won out this time, but if you stay you're the only one who's going to lose.”
I pulled away from him, my fabricated smile now completely disappeared. “Cole and I are fine. I appreciate your concern but I can tell you with great certainty you have no idea what the hell you're talking about. It will be quite easy to prove that to you tomorrow.”
I stormed past him and walked directly out of the room. I continue to walk and until I found myself next to a pond where I sat down hoping to collect my thoughts. What a mess this all turned into. I watch the bubbling of the water as it rippled towards me and I put my fingertip down it to make a ripple back. It was like I was trying to stop the water from moving, almost like I was trying to stop my emotions from overtaking me. I heard someone come up behind me and I spun around to see Cole standing with his hands in his pockets looking both disappointed and inquisitive. Like he was lost.
“What are you doing out here?”
“I came to see you, obviously. What is going on, Addison? You’ve been avoiding me for almost a week. And then you go and have a dance with my uncle and suddenly your booking it out of the reception hall like nobody's business. Not really a great way to keep up a lie by the way.”