Happy Never After

by Candace Dowds

  “Bingo.” I nod. “Anyway, as the sun went

  down and the room got darker, Cole inched closer and closer until we were pressed up

  against each other. Somehow, we ended up holding hands for the rest of the night, but that’s all that happened.”

  Opening the closet door, I begin to go through my clothes, clueless as to what I should wear. As I’m fumbling through the different items of clothing, Leah pushes me aside and, in two seconds flat, she pulls out a tight knee-length, black sleeveless, tailored dress, and lays it out on the bed.

  “I can’t wear that, it’s far too formal. I doubt ‘ll be going to a five-star restaurant. This isn’t a date. This is four friends going out for dinner and nothing more.” At least, I think it is.

  Leah reaches back and pulls her phone from her pocket.

  “What are you doing?” I question, knowing she’s capable of absolutely anything and everything.

  “Shut up,” she tells me as she presses the phone to her ear. “Hey, Matt. Where are we going for dinner? Lover girl, here, doesn’t think she’s going on a date and that we were invited because

  Cole really wants us to be there,” she tells him in a sarcastic manner.

  “You are such…” I interrupt, but she stops

  me by holding her index finger up in my face.

  Leah begins to laugh, “I know, she’s so

  naïve. So, do we dress casual or formal?” She pauses, waiting for Matt to respond. “Perfect, we’ll see you soon.” She hangs up the phone and tosses it onto the bed.

  “Well?” I press, desperate to know what to expect for the evening.

  “We’re going formal. According to Matt, Cole managed to get a table at The Tuscan.” She grins.

  “You mean The Tuscan that’s impossible to get into?” You need to be on the waitlist for months to get into that restaurant. It looks over the heart of Melbourne, and I’d always wanted to dine there, but my parents told me it wouldn’t be possible.

  “The very one. That’s what happens when you’re dating the son of a rich author. I wonder why the Kade’s continue to live here when they could be living it up in a nicer part of town?” She shrugs as she moves over to the black, overstuffed recliner in the corner of the room and begins to unzip the black garment bag she’d brought with her.

  “Dad told me they haven’t moved because they’re humble and that they like being in our congregation. Pat and Noelle don’t act like rich assholes, and that makes me

  respect them even more,” I tell her as she shrugs. Pulling a red cocktail dress from the garment bag, she holds it against her body and looks down.

  “That dress is spectacular. Put it on,” I tell her. So she lays it out on the bed and begins unbuttoning her jeans. “And yes, I like Pat and Noelle, too. They seem like nice people to me.” At least, they did.

  When Leah and I are both dressed, I stand in front of the mirror, second guessing my appearance. The dress lands just above my knee, hugging my slim figure, and my golden tan I’d been painstakingly working on over the last few days, popped. My golden locks draped over my shoulders and my calves looked pretty damn good, thanks to the black stilettos which were pinching my toes, but it was well worth the pain.

  The instant the clock struck five, my phone began to ring. Picking it up off the bed, I check the screen before answering. “Yeah, Matt?”

  “We’re out the front. I tried the gate, but your parents must have locked it when they left for work.” Matt’s been around me enough to have memorised my parents work schedule.

  “We’ll be right out.” I hang up the phone.

  My nerves suddenly become too much and

  I feel as if I’m going to be sick. “Tell me I can do this,” I say to Leah who looks utterly stunning in her red, halter dress that stops at the knee, with matching red heels. She has her chestnut coloured hair up in a stylish

  bun, and looks so much older than she actually is.

  “What are you talking about? You’re gorgeous, and if Cole doesn’t want to hit that, then he’s the one with the problem, not you.” She shrugs while pointing at me.

  “Agreed. Okay, let’s do this.”

  When we reach the front and I see that Cole is driving his new black SS Commodore, my knees grow weak. He’s driving one of my dream cars; a car I’ve been saving for since I began receiving regular spending and grocery money from my parents.

  When we approach, Matt hops out and opens the back door for Leah. Cole does the same for me as I move towards the door behind the driver’s seat.

  “You look hot,” he whispers as he leans in and kisses my cheek, causing my heart to beat fiercely against my ribs.

  My cheeks warm and I feel embarrassed because I know they’re probably rosy pink in colour by now. “You’re not looking so bad yourself,” I offer.

  Yes, I see Cole wearing suits a number of

  nights a week, but because this isn’t a part of any religious outing, he seems, I don’t know, sexier, yeah, that’s it. He’s sexier than usual. I’m a sucker for a three-piece suit, especially a black three-piece suit.

  Throughout the thirty-minute drive into the

  city, I catch Cole stealing glances at me through the rear-view mirror. Each time he do, my stomach is a flutter with a myriad of butterflies.

  The dinner is both elegant and delicious. I have the mushroom risotto and it was simply to die for. It also went down rather nicely with a glass of crisp white wine. They did bother about carding us, but I guess that’s what happens when you dine at a five-star restaurant that’s almost impossible to get in to.

  When we leave the restaurant, Cole drives us out to St. Kilda beach. When we exit the car, I slip off my heels and walk onto the still warm sand, enjoying the time out of the house, away from any relatives. As I go to dip my feet in the crystal blue waters, I hear someone come up beside me. “You okay?” Cole asks as he rests his coat on my shoulders, a very gentlemanly act.

  Looking up at him, I smile. “Not a problem in the world. Thank you for tonight, I needed it.” I really did. The previous evening, I’d

  been able to hear my parents screaming at one another as I sat on the recliner in my cottage, doing all I could to ignore them. In the end, I’d popped my headphones in, turned up the volume on my iPod, and opened a book, drowning the argument out of my mind.

  “What’s going on? You know you can tell me anything, Mia, I won’t tell a soul. That’s a promise I can make, and I know I can keep,” he whispers over the bristle of the wind and the small waves crashing at my feet.

  Taking a deep breath, I hold it for a moment before letting it go. No one other than Matt and Leah know about the condition of my parent’s relationship. When you’re an active member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and a couple, you’re expected to come across as being stable, as being part of a strong, religious team that can get through anything. Divorce simply isn’t an option, and my parents are brilliant when it comes to acting appropriately when they’re surrounded by their peers. No one, not even our closest family members, have any idea what’s truly going on in my household.

  “I don’t know where to start. It’s been a living hell.”

  “Start from the beginning and go from there,

  you’ll feel better once you get it out,” he says as he slips his hand into mine, our fingers lacing.

  The connection feels like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Turning, we begin to walk along the beach. “So, my parents, the ones who act like they have everything under control and put out the impression that

  they’re just a happy couple who have a daughter they have little to do with, because they work too much, for my benefit, of course, saying the money is for my needs… well, they have the worst marriage I’ve ever had to bear witness to. They’ve been fighting nonstop for over a year now. It’s the reason I decided to move out of the main house and into the cottage out the back. The arguments are now so loud, I can hear them shouting from my cottage, which, as you know
, is a fair distance from the house,” I explain and Cole nods.

  Cole and his family have attended the get togethers my parents host at the house in a bid to avoid spending time alone with one another. “Hell, last night, I had to put my headphones in and blast the music, just so I didn’t have to hear them go at it, again. Religious, or not, I wish they’d just file for divorce. I’m so tired of listening to their crap. I’m at my wits end.” Why they won’t divorce

  comes down to two things, money and religion. Neither of my parents are going to want to give up their fifty percent stake in the house because it is worth over three quarters of a million dollars. Apparently, it’s worth them putting up with one another, just so they can keep their investment intact.

  “Shit,” Cole mumbles and my head snaps up to look at him. Jehovah’s Witnesses,

  especially baptised Jehovah’s Witnesses, are not permitted to swear, so the fact that he just did has taken me by surprise.

  “Sorry, you’re going to learn one thing about me.”

  “And that is?”

  “That I only keep up appearances for my parents’ sake. I manage to get around the rules. Well, at least, so far I have. But there is one rule I’ve never broken that I’m about to,” he tells me as he pulls me to a stop, and I turn to face him.

  “Do tell.” Oh, this should be interesting.

  Leaning in, his mouth is so close to mine that I can feel his sweet, warm breath on my skin. My hands are trembling in anticipation of whatever it is he’s about to tell me.

  “I’ve never wanted to date anyone within the religion, but, for you, I want to break all the damn rules. You’ve always been on my radar, Mia, ever since we were kids. I know

  I’m older than you, and I know that this would be forbidden, but if you’re up to having a secret boyfriend, then I’m up for having a secret girlfriend. We would need to

  keep it to our most inner circle and no one else. My parents have me on a short leash

  because my father is an elder. He expects me to be a good influence on others, so it

  won’t be easy, and I don’t want give you

  false hopes. What do you think?” He leans in further and presses a kiss to my cheek. As he does, my eyes close momentarily.

  Cole pulls away until his eyes are staring into mine; he’s waiting to hear my response. “Are you sure. I can’t deal with any more pain in my life. I’m up for the challenge, but I need you to promise you won’t up and walk away when things get tough. Just don’t hurt me, that’s all I really going to ask of you.” I know it’s a lot to ask of Cole, but I’m already having to cope with my parents who are sleeping in separate rooms, and I suspect that my father is leading a separate life away from us, but I haven’t been able to prove it. Not that I’d ever dob him in to my mother or the elders. Confront him, yes, that’s something I would do, but only because I am my daddy’s little girl.”

  Cole’s lips inch closer to mine. “I won’t walk away from you, and I won’t hurt you. Just

  the thought of hurting you pangs at my gut and gives me a sick feeling inside. I want to be with you, Mia. I want to be the one you come to when things become too much for you to handle. I want to be the one you tell when exciting things are going on in your life. I want it all.”

  “Well then,” I breathe. “I’m all in.”

  A smile tugs at the corners of his plump, pink lips. “Really?” He seems to be in a state of

  disbelief.

  Nodding ever so slightly, I reply, “Really.”

  Suddenly, Cole Kade’s lips are on mine and when the shock of the gesture finally leaves my muscles, I melt into him as he slips his arms around me.

  After some time, Cole pulls away, his lips leaving mine, giving me a chance to breathe. He rests his forehead against mine, and his smile’s still in place, mimicking my own. “I’m yours for the taking. Never be afraid to come to me, day or night. If you’re in trouble, even if it’s four in the morning, I want you to promise me that you’ll always come to me if you need help. I’ll be your rock, if you let me.”

  Wow, other than Leah and Matt, I’ve never really had anyone offer such support to me. I can’t go to my family, outside of my parents, because their broken marriage has

  to remain a secret. My parents are brilliant actors, I just wish they’d put it into practice while their around me.

  Reaching up onto my toes, I kiss him again. I keep it tender and short, but it’s enough to show him just how much I appreciate his words and support.

  “Alright, you pair, break it up. We’re bored out of our minds here,” Matt calls.

  Looking over, I call in return, “Fair call. What shall we do now?”

  Matt suggests we go and get coffee a little closer to home, so that’s exactly what we do.

  On the drive over to the American themed diner, I sit in the front passenger side and, to my surprise, Cole reaches over the console and he takes my hand in his.

  When we reach the diner, Cole takes a good look around, making sure no one we know is there. When he’s sure the coast was clear, he leads us over to a booth where he slips in beside me, holding my hand under the table.

  As soon as the coffees arrive, the questions began. “So, how are you two going to make this work?” Matt asks as he takes a bite of the cherry pie he’s ordered.

  Cole looks at me and I don’t know how to answer. “We’re going to have to keep it

  quiet for a long time.” He then turns to face both Matt and Leah. “It’s not going to be easy, but I know we can make it work.” His grip on my hand tightens. “I want to be with Mia, I have for some time now, and I will make it work. How? I don’t know, but we will find a way.”

  Later that night, after Cole’s dropped Leah and me off at my house, I can’t get my best friend to shut up about the kiss she’d caught me and Cole having at the beach. Turns out that Matt and Leah had only been a few

  feet away from us at the time, and I’d been so distracted that I’d had no idea whatsoever. Fortunately, they hadn’t been close enough to overhear our conversation.

  When we’re changed into our PJ’s and tucked up in my bed, I fill her in on what went down between Cole and I, and the only response I receive is, “Are you freaking kidding me? Oh, this is going to be so sweet. You’re going to marry him one day.” And I simply rolled my eyes and I tell her goodnight before I roll onto my side and try to go to sleep.

  Just as I was drifting off into a beautiful slumber, I hear them. The war is going to continue, and Leah’s going to be a witness to it all. Oh, how I hope they’re home in the morning so I can see the looks on their faces

  when they realise Leah spent the night. They’ll go right into damage control, and will be overly affectionate to try and make a point that it had been a one-off fight, but what they don’t know is that my best friend knows everything that goes on in my world.

  “Holy shit, is that your mum and dad going at it?” Leah whispers from beside me.

  “Welcome to my world.”

  “Wow, they don’t hold back, at all. You are so right; they really do need to get a divorce soon.”

  “I know it won’t be easy, but try your best to

  ignore them. That’s the only thing I can suggest.” I’ve got nothing else under my belt, that’s for damn sure.

  As I continue to do my best to ignore the goings on in my household, my phone beeps not long after Leah’s fallen asleep.

  Reaching over, I pick it up from my bedside table and I smile when I see it’s a message from Cole, asking if he can call me.

  Carefully, I slip out of bed and through the front door, where I take a seat on the rocking chair. When I hit the call button, I sit back and I press the phone to my ear. “Hey, you’re still up,” he asks.

  “I sure am. Everything okay?” Just then, my parents’ voices are raised even higher than

  they were before.

  “I think I should be the one asking that question. What’s going on? Are you okay?”

/>   “I’m fine. It’s my parents, they’re at it again. I’m choosing to ignore them, or at least I’m trying to ignore them. So, what did you need?”

  “Nothing, I just wanted to hear your voice, as corny as that sounds.”

  Smiling, I tell him, “It’s not corny at all. It’s nice to hear yours too, especially after listening to my mental parents go at it.”

  “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “They’re far beyond help. The only thing

  that’s going to help them is a divorce.”

  “Shit, how do you feel about that. Would you be okay if they were to split up?”

  “I’m all for it. As long as they aren’t living in the same house, then it would be that much harder for them to scream at one another. I’d welcome that wholeheartedly.”

  “I hope they come to a resolution soon. You don’t need to be hearing them fight every night. I just can’t believe how bad it is. They really do put on a show when they’re out in public, don’t they? You’d never know that they’re having problems, none at all.”

  “They could win an Emmy for the performances they put on for the public,” I

  tell him as I yawn. “Sorry, it’s been a long day and now a long night,” I chuckle my apology.

  “Go and get some sleep, baby girl. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “Can’t wait. Goodnight, Cole.”

  “Goodnight, Mia.” And we hang up.

  For the next two hours, my parents fight about absolutely everything they can muster up.

  The next morning, I successfully manage to hold back my laughter when Leah and I enter the main house for breakfast. The second my father sees Leah, he knows she heard them the previous evening and he

  immediately goes into damage control, my mother following suit. They keep asking how Leah’s family is and asserting that they’d had a bad day at work yesterday. I can tell they’re trying to make it seem that last night was just a one-off argument. They’re utterly sickening. They’re calling one another Honey and Sweetie, and being so loving that I don’t think I’ll be able to keep my breakfast down.

  Once breakfast is finished and Leah’s returned to the cottage, my parents pull me aside. “Mia, why didn’t you tell us Leah was staying over last night?” my father asks as we stand in his office.