Each day that gets closer to Saturday, my stomach gets rapidly queasy. Thursday I applied more self tanner since I was wearing a dress. Fall in Portland means no tan unless you’re hitting the tanning bed and who wants skin cancer and premature aging?
“Are you going to start getting ready Natalie?” Mya asked as she put a little butterfly clip in her hair.
“I’m scared.” I stood there in my bathrobe and towel on my head. I had my makeup done but I still had to do my hair.
“How should I do my hair? Should I wear it down or back or up? I don’t know. I don’t know anything!” My breathing had grown rapid and I felt dizzy.
“Oh Natalie, take a moment. Breathe in, okay now out. It’s okay. Everything is just fine. Sit down here.” We sat in front of the mirror. I took the towel off my ratted wet hair and started to hyperventilate again.
“No, no breathe! Remember? I’m going to dry your hair and then we’ll go from there. Okay?” I don’t know what I would do if Mya wasn’t here to help me get ready. I think I would pass out.
She dried my hair and I felt like I was in the hair salon. Mya’s mom is a hairdresser so she knows all the tricks of the trade.
We decided to make large but loose curls since my dress is kind of girly. I looked pretty and once I put my dress and shoes on, I felt excited with a hint of nervous energy. Okay, more than a hint. I was terrified but if anything was going to happen with Ian and me it was going to be tonight.
“Come on Natalie. Let’s go get your lobster.”
Chapter Fifty-Four
Mya and I stepped out of the car and I took a deep breath. I didn’t see Ian’s Land Rover anywhere in the parking lot. Maybe he decided not to come. That would be just the anti climactic thing to happen to me. I decided that I should stop focusing on Ian for a while and enjoy the party. Mr. and Mrs. Bonofiglio were the happiest couple I ever saw. They were both dressed up in their Sunday best. Mrs. B wore a silk flower on her dress while Mr. B’s tie matched the flower perfectly. I felt like it was symbolic of their relationship. Two people in a world of millions that couldn’t be more suited for one another. Are Ian and I like Mr. and Mrs. B? We aren’t thinking of Ian right now remember Natalie? Eek, this is going to be a long night.
“I’m going to get some champagne. Maybe you should have some too.” Mya suggested, feeling my anticipation shooting a dart into the air.
“Yeah, maybe you’re right.” I took a gulp of champagne and scanned the room one more time. He wasn’t anywhere and it was driving me nuts.
“Natalie! Oh sweet Natalie. You look beautiful. Are you here with Ian?” Mr. and Mrs. B gave me a hug and looked puzzled. I guess they expected Ian to be here too.
“Actually, I came with my friend Mya. But I’m sure he will be here soon.” Mya gave the uncomfortable hi and took another sip of champagne. She looked nervous as well, which didn’t help at all.
I finished my glass of champagne and walked across the room to get another when I saw him walk in. Of course, I didn’t have my glasses on and the room was dim so I couldn’t quite make out who the hoochie was but my heart began to palpitate regardless, especially when they began to walk towards me. As the image of the blonde hoochie became clearer, I realized it wasn’t just any hoochie, it was Jenna!
“Jenna what are you doing here? Are you dating Ian?” Please say no. Please say no!
“Of course I’m not dating Ian. He brought me here to see you.” Jenna replied, looking rather tense and nervous.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you Natalie. I just saw how sad you were over the fight you had with Jenna. After talking to her about it and realizing you both missed each other, well, I thought this would be a nice surprise.” So this explains why he didn’t ask me to be his date. I feel a little bit better now.
“Listen, I’m going to say hi to the happy couple. Mya care for a glass of champagne?” Ian smiles and holds his hand out to guide Mya towards the bar.
“I think that’s a fabulous idea.” Mya smiled and then walked off to leave us standing in front of one another, not sure what to say.
“Jenna, I’m so sorry I…”
“Natalie, don’t apologize. It must have been horrible to know about Rob. I don’t know how I would have told you either. I’m sorry I got so mad. I was just hurt and embarrassed over my ridiculous behavior.”
“I should have told you Jenna. I just hope you can forgive me. I have missed you so much.” I tried to fight them back because I didn’t want to ruin my makeup, but since I’m a crier, the tears came down anyway.
“Bygones?” Jenna asked with tears in her eyes.
“Yeah, bygones.” We hugged and everything felt like it was back to normal, whatever that may be.
“You look hot by the way. I think I heard Ian gasp when he spotted you.”
“Shut up! Really? I’m wearing Mya’s Jimmy Choos. He probably was taken aback by the bling.”
“Uh yeah, that’s it! More like your ample bosom hot stuff. So what’s going on with you two? Have you done it yet?” Jenna asked in her 8th grade Valley Girl voice.
“No! I’m still not sure if he likes me like that. We’ve only had dinner!”
“Hello! Are you crazy? The guy puts this together for you and there is still a question that he doesn’t want you? Do you think he’s your lobster?”
“Yes I think he’s my lobster. It’s not good. I shouldn’t like a guy this much. It’s bad news bears Jenna.”
“Natalie Everett, don’t you dare do it.” Jenna’s 8th grade voice transformed in a tone resembling my mother’s and scared me just a little.
“Don’t do what?”
“Don’t talk yourself out of this. Ian likes you. You like Ian. He is a smart guy with a good job. He is responsible and caring, not to mention the fact that he knows how to dress. Hello, look at him; hot man in black button down shirt at 3 o’clock. Those men just don’t fall into your lap. You have to grab them when they pop up.” She giggled after she said ‘pop up’ and again, it was back to being 8th graders.
“Hey hot chicks! Can I join the party?” Mya came back with 3 glasses of champagne.
“I propose a toast to us. May we always be friends and never let a man get between that ever again.” We raised our glasses to Mya and smiled.
“Wow Jenna, you have a lot to catch up on.” Mya put her arm around Jenna.
“Guys, I wasn’t gone that long. How much change could happen?” Mya and I both looked at each other with wide eyes.
“A lot.” We both said in unison.
We took Jenna aside to a table and went over the entire goings on since she was away. Okay, so it wasn’t a ton of stuff, but they were big. Jenna was completely shocked that Mya finally broke up with Kyle and she was even more shocked when I told her of my termination.
“Hey what happened to Ian?” Mya asked.
“I don’t know! I was so distracted by this I totally forgot about him! Do you think he’s left?” For a moment I thought I was going to cry. Not only did I miss my chance to woo him and make him realize I was the one, I also wanted to thank him for bringing Jenna.
“No he’s over there. He’s talking to the DJ.” Jenna pointed over and there he was at the DJ. Suddenly the song started and he began to walk over to me. It was Sam Cooke’s Nothing Can Change This Love.
“May I have this dance Miss Everett?” He reached his hand out to take mine and escorted me out to the dance floor.
“This is Sam Cooke. Track 17 on his greatest hits. This is one of my favorite songs.” I whispered to him.
“Me too.” He winked and pulled me closer to him. I’m sure there were others on the dance floor but it didn’t feel like it. For that moment, it was just Ian and me. My life was certainly not content, I mean, I had no job and pretty much no direction. But I had my two best friends in my life, the possibility of a fulfilling career and I was dancing with the man that could quite possibly be my lobster. That was when I realized that with perseverance, disillusion can finally meet delight.
* * *
[1] Douglas Copeland, Generation X (New York: St. Martin’ Press, 1991)
Disillusion Meets Delight Page 22
