Into the Light

“How did he look?” I asked.

“Um, nice in his suit. Clean... He looked happy to be here.”

“Okay, I didn’t ask you to describe his dad. How did he look?”

“Oh Charlie, that’s kinda awkward for me to answer... Don’t give me that puppy dog look. NO FAIR!” She paused as I pouted my bottom lip waiting for her answer. “Okay fine! He looked hot, the suit looks top notch against his body. His face was cleanly shaven and his hair must have been cut, kinda like that hot vampire dude from those movies. He looked all happy with smiles. There, are you happy now?”

“That wasn’t so hard now, was it?” I teased.

Adriana walked into the room with Eric. We gasped as she stood in front of us, her face beaming. She looked like a princess. Her dress was the same shade as mine, but it was a show stopper. The bodice was strapless and had lace embroidered all around it. The skirt was very full like a ball gown, the middle section accentuated with a silk bow. She was everything I imagined she would be on her wedding day. My eyes watered; I blinked, trying to avoid ruining my makeup.

“Adriana... You look...”

“I know, right? But don’t you cry and mess up that beautiful face of yours.”

“Adriana, today is all about you.”

“No it isn’t, Char.” She squeezed my hand. “I need this to finally happen just as much as you two.”

I didn’t want her to have to focus on anything but her and Elijah. With that and the fact that I was still so nervous, this could turn out not being what I hoped for. I nodded back at her, quick to change the topic.

“Okay bitches, it’s show time!” Eric clapped.

Adriana took in a deep breath. I reached out for her hand and it was perfectly still. Not a single shake came from her delicate hands. This was everything she had been waiting for, her destiny.

Not long after that we were standing at the entrance of the church. There was a flurry of activity, everyone fussing over Adriana, the photographer trying to capture the perfect moments. I stood back and watched my best friend, watched this moment that was all hers. I felt someone stand beside me; it was her mother, Emily. She watched alongside me, admiring her daughter. It was her moment as well, and what a moment for her, she had been waiting for this just as much as Adriana had been. I felt her hand squeeze mine and I looked at her, unable to ignore the look of sorrow as she stared back at me. The same look I saw the day she was sitting in the car, the same day that Alex and Charlie were officially over.

Chapter 12

Lex

August 2005

I stood at her door, unable to knock. I had never paid so much attention to the wood work of a door. I realized that because the nerves had gotten the better of me. She would be behind this door and I hadn’t actually prepared what I was going to say. What if she told me to fuck off? I mean she would have every right to, she had been hurt and most probably very angry after I left her in the worst possible state, and if she was over it then maybe it didn’t mean anything. My head hurt just thinking about it so I continued to stare at the doorway.

Adriana placed her hand in mine. “Alex, it’ll be okay. This is Charlotte, remember? It’s not just any other girl.”

She was right. The Charlotte I knew would be happy to see me even after everything I had done. I knocked on the door gently, the tapping echoing through the hallway in which we stood. After a few moments the door opened; I held my breath but it was Charlotte’s mom.

“Adriana?” she asked, looking back and forth from Adriana to me.

“Mrs. Mason? Sorry, I’m not sure if you are still Mrs. Mason,” Adriana stumbled on her words.

“Please, call me Maria. What can I do for you both?”

“We’re looking for Charlie,” Adriana spoke quickly.

“Well, Charlotte’s not here.”

“Like you mean just now?”

“No, Charlotte does not live here.”

It was my turn to speak. I felt bad enough already for dragging Adriana into this mess and all the way to Cuba. “Please, can you help us get in contact with her?”

She stood still, but her eyes watched mine. As if she needed to consider the option. My head was screaming. I expected Charlotte to be here but she wasn’t, then where the hell was she?

“Alex, I know what happened. Believe it or not my ex-husband and I still talk. Do you think it’s wise of you to contact Charlotte after what you did to her?”