“Mom—”
“Relax, Sophie. He probably won’t make it. He’s said he was coming to visit many times before and hasn’t. I just thought he should know. It’s up to him to see his own daughter get married. I’ve done my part.”
My palms started getting sweaty thinking about such a reunion. We had never had a falling out or anything, and my memories of him were good. Things just went downhill once he went back to Brazil.
At first, he’d called and called, but eventually, those calls became few and far between until we’d grown so far apart it became too awkward to even talk to him. I’d assumed it was the same way for him, but it made me angry that he hadn’t made more of an effort, since he was the parent. So what if I’d avoided a few of his calls every now and then? He should’ve kept calling right?
“Is that all?” I asked, trying to pull myself out of my ruminations.
“Dr. Lyon and Dr. Carter?” she replied like a question.
“Okay. Is that all?”
“No,” she admitted.
“Who else?” Other than my long-lost father, everyone she’d named was perfectly acceptable. I couldn’t think of anyone else.
“Just one more person,” she said, then paused. “And I won’t take the blame for all of this one.” She glanced at Wes.
My gaze bounced back and forth between them. Wes popped some more candy in his mouth, taking the Fifth. I turned back to my mom.
“Well. I’ve been talking to Wes a lot lately.”
“Okay.”
“And, I had a lot of questions about Amelia and Lenny. Some of the questions being about their parents.”
I sucked in a breath, knowing.
“And he told me about Lenny’s mother, Maria, and what happened after Lenny died. I felt terrible for her. I could almost feel her pain as my own, and when Wes told me you’d visited her, I thought that was the most wonderful thing you could’ve done for her.” She inhaled and exhaled slowly. “So I went to meet her, too.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, shocked.
“I don’t know. I didn’t want you to feel awkward about it.”
“I’m fine with it, but you invited her to my wedding?”
“Yes. She was so happy to hear your and Wes’ story that I thought she deserved to see you two marry.”
Wow. Now, I felt tears starting to well. I could only imagine what that would be like for her. Just as my mom deserved to see her daughter get married, Maria did, too, and she’d been robbed of that when Lenny died. Now, after waiting forty years for Wes’ promise that Lenny would return, she was still alive to see it. Of course it was okay.
“I’m fine with it, Mom,” I assured her.
“Oh, good,” she said wiping invisible sweat from her forehead.
A quick glance at Wes told me that he was happy with it, too, but when he glanced at his watch, it was obvious what was forcing its way to the front of his mind.
Tom picked up on it, too. “The results should be in now,” he said.
“I know,” Wes said, standing up.
I pulled on his wrist. “Stay here, please. I don’t want you to go.” I wanted to stay in the moment, even though it was a moment of ignorance. The last thing I wanted was for Wes to go and hurry up the news that could possibly slice through my optimism.
Without argument, he sat back down beside me. He raised his arm to make room for me to lean into him. “Thanks,” I said.
“Don’t thank me for spending time with you,” he whispered into my hair.
“I’ll thank you whenever I want,” I argued.
“You’re going to give me a cavity,” my mom said, rolling her eyes.
We laughed until the door opened. I instinctively sat up to full attention. In walked Dr. Lyon and Dr. Carter looking like zombies, followed by about four other doctors I’d met during various stages of my trial and testing.
We were suddenly outnumbered by men in lab coats and I closed my eyes and dropped my head, not wanting to feel their gazes of sympathy. Wes stood, unable to contain his anticipation any longer, and walked over to Dr. Carter.
“What is it?” he murmured.
“The results are . . . negative,” Dr. Carter said, still in some sort of trance.
Wes dropped his head and then snapped it back up. “Wait. Negative?” he asked, propelling himself in front of Dr. Carter.
“That’s what I said.”
“But wait . . . “
Dr. Carter pushed the medical file into Wes’ chest, cutting short any more comments. Wes opened it quickly and read through them.
“Negative?” he asked again for confirmation.
“They’re negative, Wes,” Dr. Lyon said. “Do you have any idea what this means?”
Wes shook his head still disbelieving. My mom and Tom were sitting with their mouths open and I was trying to process the unfamiliar words as they kept repeating. “It means we did it. We did it.”
Dr. Carter finally cracked a smile and all at once the doctors who’d filed in with them were smiling proudly and then my mom flew off the couch and grabbed my shoulders. “You did it, Sophie. You beat that son of a bitch. You did it.”
Her mouth was moving fast and slow at the same time. I blinked away the confusion and searched for Wes, who had turned slowly and stood staring at the chart. When his eyes finally met mine, he started walking toward me. My mom shook me and urged me to stand.
“Negative?” I asked, as he approached me slowly.
He nodded, still amazed himself. His feet stopped just short of mine and he closed the folder and stared down at me. “Negative?” I asked again.
This time, his nod was accompanied by his I-love-it-so-much half smile, and my reaction was to lock my arms around his neck. The slight jump I gave was enough for him to pick me up in a tight, long, silent hug. I buried my face in his shoulder, disbelieving that they had done it.
When my eyes opened, I saw everyone else in the room taking turns hugging each other, too, and as Wes set me down, we turned to join in the action. I hugged everyone, maybe even twice, knowing I would never forget the relief of that moment.
I was so grateful for that day, and so happy for the scientists and doctors involved. This was a revolutionary accomplishment for them and for Wes. Shortly after our celebratory hugs, Dr. Carter cautioned that we would need to conduct follow up tests to make sure I remained negative.
He also very cautiously told me to let them know if I felt strange in any way. I told him I always felt strange and he chuckled before specifically telling me he was more interested in possible side effects. If I noticed anything out of the ordinary, I was supposed to tell them right away. Once he finished his lecture, he ended optimistically by saying that he thought we’d beaten it.
Dr. Lyon informed us that they were issuing a call for more test subjects at various stages of infection and they’d get started on the beginning stages of organizing a small test population. If all went well, they’d be able to release the medication to the public in six months to a year.
It was a great, great day.
Chapter 26
COMING TOGETHER
Everyone was riding high when September 2nd came. It was my nineteenth birthday and the big day. With no immediate threat surrounding me, I had no reason to think it wouldn’t be the best day of my life by far, ultimately giving nineteen years a new meaning for us. That was easy to say, but I was actually a wreck. It meant everything all at once. Wes and I would be married? Living together every single day? Never having to leave each other for the night? We could do whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted.
That’s exactly why I was a mess. We had desired each other for a while now, but something was always in the way. Either his clarity or danger or something. But after today, what would be in the way?
Nothing.
I was feeling sick to my stomach. I’d thought about it for so long. Dreamed about it, hoped for it, desired it, and now I would get it. At least I think. He said his clarity was goo
d and he was ready when I was. That’s easy to say when your body is doing the talking, but right now, my brain was telling me I had NO IDEA what the heck to do.
I had suggested we not go on a honeymoon yet, because frankly, I’d had enough flying and trips. I just wanted to go home with him. He was fine with whatever, but that meant we’d be going straight from the Overlook to his house. And I was not prepared.
I hadn’t bought any lingerie or anything and found it interesting that my mom had remembered everything for me except that.
So, it looked like I was on my own, and at this point, it was hurting my brain trying to prepare for something like that. I plopped back on my bed, frustrated. This was all happening so slowly and so quickly at the same time. And no one seemed to think so but me.
Even Dawn, Danny, and Kerry acted like our getting married was old news. All of them were like, “You’re practically glued to him anyway. I think it’s cool.” Or something like that. Cool? It was more than that. Do or die. And maybe even do and die. I covered my eyes to block the worry. After a few moments, I heard a familiar singing rising from the stairs outside of my door.
“Whoohooo.”
“Kerry?” I jerked up, hustling over to the door.
I pulled it open eagerly to find her completely calm and collected. Looking over her shoulder to make sure she was alone, I grabbed her bare arm and pulled her inside, shutting the door behind her. She was already dressed in a fitted knee-length, strapless, sky blue dress that matched her eyes.
Her hair was in her signature short style with the longer front ends tucked behind her ears. To dress up the look, she had pinned a small butterfly in one side. It was barely noon and she was already dressed.
“Why do you look all ghostly?” she said pulling her arm free.
I felt my face. “I do?”
“Yeah. And it’s not a good look for you. No offense.”
I sighed and started rubbing my cheeks to build some color.
“You’re not getting second thoughts are you?” Before I could answer, she moved her hands down the sides of her figure. “I spent a lot of time picking this out. Rich doesn’t even know how to function with me in this.”
I laughed, remembering how much I missed her confidence. “No, Kerry, I’m not. I’m just nervous.”
I started biting my nails, which was a first for me. Her gaze settled on my newfound habit and she made a face like she smelled something really bad.
“What?” I asked.
“Your nails are not even done? And your hair? Please tell me you have appointments like any minute now.”
I shook my head.
“What?!”
“I told my mom I wanted to get ready on my own. I just want to look normal today, like myself.”
She rolled her eyes. “Sophie, you have got to be kidding. You are naturally fiinnnne and all. Really. But do you have any idea how freaking hot Wes is going to look today? And you want to hop out of the limo looking like you’re going to the movies??? I don’t think so.”
Just then, there was another knock at my door.
“Hello?”
“Is that Dawn?” Kerry asked, recognizing her voice.
“Yeah.” I turned toward the door. “You can come in.”
Kerry lunged toward the door and met it halfway open. “Thank goodness,” she said. “This is going to take the both of us.”
“What’s up?” Dawn asked, looking just as done up as Kerry. Although they had similar hair styles, Dawn’s was dark brown with red highlights and her method of dressing up her hairdo was a plum colored headband that matched her short A-line dress.
Kerry took charge, grabbing my hand. “Look at her nails and hair and the whole nine. She says she wants to be herself today and this is it.” She waved her hand showcasing me.
Dawn must’ve suddenly smelled the same odor that Kerry had, because their expressions were nearly identical.
“Guys,” I started, trying to calm them, “I’m going to get ready. I’m not walking out like this.”
“Sophie, you look like a zombie. Now take a shower while we figure something out.”
On order, I trudged to the bathroom for a fresh shower, which did relax me some. Once I put my undergarments on, I slipped on a robe and returned to my bedroom.
“So what do you have on under that?” Kerry asked right away, sending Dawn into a chuckling fit.
“Um, a bra and underwear.”
“Can I see them?”
“No,” I answered, appalled.
“It’s not like I haven’t seen you in your underwear before.”
She was right, but Dawn hadn’t and even if she had, it felt totally invasive.
“No,” I repeated, tightening my belt.
“Well, what color are they, and do they match?”
I may not have thought to go to the lingerie shop, but I did pick out my cutest matching pair this morning. “Pink and yes, they match.”
“Pink? Like pastel pink?”
“Hot pink,” I corrected.
“Lace?”
“Um,” I’d actually forgotten. “I think it’s cotton.”
“That’s unacceptable,” Kerry said. “Let me at least see the bra.”
I pulled my robe open at the top.
They both looked at me confused. “I thought you said your dress was strapless?” Dawn asked.
“It is.”
“Then why does your bra have straps?”
Yikes. Now I caught a whiff of the foul odor.
“You don’t even have the right underwear for today?” Kerry snapped.
I could still smell the odor.
“Okay, fine,” I caved. “I hadn’t even thought this far ahead. I’ve been so preoccupied lately and I thought today would be just like normal, with me and him telling each other we do or whatever. What am I going to do? I’m so clueless.”
They were both aware that Wes and I hadn’t gone that far yet, so they knew what today signified just as much as I did. Kerry turned to Dawn, “Where is the nearest mall?”
Dawn picked up on the hint. “I’m on it,” she said without a pause. “What size are you?” she asked looking at me.
“Um . . . 34B and . . . 5 bottoms, I guess?”
“Got it.” She hopped up and disappeared down the steps before I could question her or even offer to give her money.
As frantic as the morning felt for me, it was slowing down a bit thanks to my friends. I made a mental note to be sure to include every detail of my appreciation for them on this day in my journal.
With Dawn on a mission to bring me a sexy strapless bra and underwear, Kerry worked on me. She started by filing and painting a clear coat of polish on the nails of my fingers and toes. Then she blow-dried my hair and took a fat curling iron to the ends. When I saw myself in the mirror I almost cried. She’d styled me perfectly. I looked like myself, but with a slight flare of something more. I shook my head, disbelieving how I’d planned to walk up to Wes without attempting any sort of wow factor. With this look, I knew he’d be surprised.
My usual hairstyle was either a ponytail with bangs swept across my forehead or down and straight. Today, Kerry had given my layers a nice fullness with more flare at the ends and my bangs fanned more to the side and back. It was Sophie on special order.
“Thank you,” I said turning to give her a hug.
The butterflies in my stomach were having a major party. I couldn’t believe how nervous I felt. I sucked in a deep breath as a knock sounded at my door.
“Come in,” I called.
The door crept open and my mom eased her way in. “Hey guys. I’ve got some lunch. Oh, your hair looks amazing.”
“Thanks, but I’m really not hungry,” I said quickly.
“I knew you’d say that, which is why I brought you something light.”
“I’m okay, really.”
“You won’t be if you don’t eat something now.”
“I’ll have some, Mrs. Slone,” Kerry piped in. “What
is it?”
“Crackers with port wine cheese and some fresh fruit.”
“Yum, thanks,” she said.
My mom held out the plate and returned her gaze to me. “The crackers will keep you from throwing up with nerves, and the sharp cheese will take the edge off.”
With hopes of relieving both of those symptoms, I folded and practically snatched the tray and coveted it on my bed. Kerry and I ate all the food while my mom gave me advice on settling my nerves and enjoying the moment.
By the time we finished the snack, our mouths were dry as a desert. “I guess you’ll have to come down and say hello to your guests, then,” my mom said with a sly smile, making it obvious she forgot the drinks on purpose.
I took a quick look down at myself, and even though I was in a robe, it was long and decent, so we went downstairs. Tom was talking to Kerry’s boyfriend Rich in the living room. I said my hellos and then snuck a bottle of water just in time for Dawn to return with a pink bag tucked under her arm.
“Gotta go,” I said pulling Kerry by the arm.
“Okay, we’ll need to leave in an hour, so come down so we can take some pictures before we go.”
“Alright.”
I ran up the stairs with Dawn and Kerry like we were up to no good. Although I don’t know why. I was about to be married, so the idea of going there with Wes shouldn’t make me feel guilty.
The more I thought about it, the more I knew that was the wrong word to describe how I felt. It wasn’t guilty, it was . . . nervous.
Really nervous.
“You ready?” Dawn asked with her hand still tucked in the bag. “By the way,” she continued, “I should get an award for this.”
I shifted my weight wondering what raunchy setup she’d bought me. Slowly, with anticipation building, she slid out a neatly folded matching bra and panty set.
“It’s perfect,” announced Kerry as she took them and held them up.
“Wow.” I was actually impressed. They were red lace with an overlay of embroidered pink lace that softened the color. It was definitely special-occasion worthy, with a steamy flare, toned down with a touch of innocence. It couldn’t have represented how I felt any better. “I love them,” I agreed.
The Iron Quill Page 19
