Sweet Obsession

I haven’t seen nor heard from her and don’t plan to, but I have Madeline’s team on high alert just in case she loses her damn mind. Now tonight is the big night; my wife was looking like the wife of the wealthiest man in the room with enough diamonds around her neck, wrists, and in her ears to choke two horses.

Her new team of personal assistants and personal shoppers had done her justice with the off-the-shoulder gown in her favorite color, fuchsia, which made a spectacular backdrop for the ice diamonds that shone against her flesh. “You look amazing.” And very nervous.

“Look at me! You’re the most beautiful woman here. All of these people here tonight are here to get a look at you. You’re now one of the leading ladies of our city. Hold your head high and stay close to me. I love you. Now be a good girl, and I’ll feed your kitty later.” It’s the little grin she gave me that was I after. I never want her feeling out of place again, never again.

MADELINE

I have butterflies not only in my tummy but everywhere. The lead-up to tonight was awesome. All the planning and the shopping and the long conversations over dinner about it, including on the nights his dad joined us for dinner, but now that we were here, I'm a bundle of nerves.

I looked around the room for any familiar faces and saw my father-in-law. I was beginning to feel sorry for my father-in-law. He’d yet to return home, but every time I see him, he looks sadder and sadder.

I try to imagine if Garrick had disappointed me the way his mom did his dad if I could walk away from him and never look back, and I know I couldn’t. Everyone has faults, things that their loved ones aren’t proud of. And everyone uses their own moral compass in life. Mrs. Amery cares more about her family’s standing in the community than she did a traumatized young girl and her unborn child, while her husband and son, who came from the same environment, cared more about the latter.

Garrick told me how he’d never known the truth about what happened to my mom until after she died. She’d left him a letter giving him the details of what had really happened between her and her family. He was all set to give them back to me, my family, that is, but I figure they’re no better than his mom, and if he’s not willing to forgive her, then I won’t forgive them.

Not that I want him to run home to his mom or anything. I can’t see myself sitting down across the dinner table from her anytime soon, if ever. But if he wanted to see her, I don’t think I would mind too much. That’s what you do when you love someone. Sometimes you put your own wants and needs aside for the other person.

I pointed out that his dad was already here, off in a corner, talking to some other distinguished-looking gentleman but silently noticed that there was no sign of his mom. I knew she wouldn’t be here, Garrick had told me she wouldn’t be, but somehow I was still expecting her.

Things have been quiet on the home front since my car got vandalized. Everything has been about the party and me getting set up to take online classes and figure out things after life gets back to normal. Soon the lingering festiveness leftover from the holiday and the new year will fade away, and life will go back to the same humdrum it always is.

I get nervous when I think about it. About what life will be like once the honeymoon phase is over. Will he still look at me the way he is right now? Will he still want me as much in a year or two? Will we always sleep wrapped in each other’s arms? Or will we drift apart with time and life’s responsibilities? My heart hurt at the thought, and I felt my eyes fill up with tears.

“Hey, what’s the matter? What’s wrong?” He squeezed my hand and then turned to me, pulling me into his arms.

“Please don’t ever fall out of love with me. I couldn’t bear it.”

“That will never happen, sweetheart. I will never not love you as long as I live. That’s a promise I can keep.”

He kissed my hair, and I remembered where we were and that I was making a spectacle of myself. “If you’ll excuse me, Garrick, I’ll be right back. I need the restroom.” He looked over my head at someone, not sure who then released me.

“I’ll go say hello until you’re back.”

GARRICK

I have this weird feeling in my gut. I can’t quite place it and don’t recall when it started, but the longer I’m here, the more the feeling persists. I said hello to a few people then made my way over to dad while keeping an eye on the doorway for her return. I shouldn’t worry so much since her team was here, but unless she’s within my sight at all times when we’re out in public, I just can’t settle.