Broken Angel

by Lee Heaven

  “How?” I asked confused.

  “I called to see if she could do it.”

  “When?” Now I’m even more confused. Why didn’t he just tell me he asked her?

  “Two weeks ago,” he said without blinking.

  “Why didn’t you tell me? Why did we have to fight about it the past two weeks? Is that why you suggested all those horrible songs?”

  He just smiled at me. Bastard did it to me on purpose. He knew what he was doing all along. I honestly didn’t know if I should be mad at him for fucking with me or if I should kiss him for such a romantic gesture.

  You know what, as fucking romantic as this was I couldn’t let him get away with jerking me around. I locked him in a stare. Taking the ear buds out, I toss them back to him and turned and walk away without saying a thing.

  I glance back over my shoulder to see Decker step into the hallway with a puzzled look on his face. I snicker to myself as I walk toward the kitchen. Rummaging in the fridge for nothing in particular I hear him walk in behind me.

  “What you don’t like it?” he says in a huff.

  Keeping my face in the fridge so he doesn’t see my smile I just shrug my shoulders. Suppressing my smile I close the fridge and turn around. With as straight face as I could muster I look at him and say, “I was kinda getting used to the song Don’t Cha.”

  Decker’s mouth dropped open. I walked over to the cookie jar and started eating the chocolate chip cookies I had made. I hand one to Decker and he reaches for it.

  Oh this was going to be so easy. I knew I had a poker face that could rival any top player in the card circuit. Watching him squirm for a few minutes is so worth it, especially since he tortured me for weeks suggesting stupid song after stupid song.

  As he took it out of my hand he said, “Seriously?”

  “Yup,” I said as I shove a cookie in my mouth.

  He looked so confused. Good this is just where I wanted him. Take the most important day of my life and mess with it, ha.

  Standing there I just continue to stare at him straight face and eating cookies. Just to hold him off a little more I walk over to the cabinet and pull out two glasses. Walking to the fridge I fill them with milk. I hand one to him and then continue to eat my milk and cookies. He still looks confused.

  Finally after about five minutes I decide to put him out of his misery. I drain my glass of milk, walk over to him and wrap my arms around his neck. I kissed him deeply and he wraps his arms around my waist picking my feet up off the floor.

  Once we were both out of breath we pull apart and I looked into his eyes and said, “I love it. Thank you so much for the perfect song.”

  “You bitch! I thought you were serious.” He laughed.

  “Decker, I just about choked you when you suggested the song, what made you think I would actually consider it?” I laughed at him.

  “You were so straight face. You never even batted an eye.”

  “I’m a good liar. Have been since I was a teenager. Got away with so much shit, my parents still don’t even know.” I laughed at him.

  “Good liar, huh. Tell me the best thing you ever got away with growing up,” he said as he walked us over to the couch. He had yet to put me back on my feet.

  “Hmmm. Best thing I ever got away with.” A huge smile played across my face and I started laughing. “That would be the summer before my senior year. It was sometime in late July early August after Ely died and before I moved in with Brian. Liz was spending the night. She had a huge crush on my neighbor Frankie. We snuck out of my parents’ house through the sliding glass door. We walked over and met Frankie on the corner of his street. We were all sitting in the street, why I couldn’t tell you but we were. Well I guess all three of us fell asleep at some point and the next thing I knew we were waking up to a cop shining his flashlight in our eyes. Well he called for another car to bring Frankie home and then brought Liz and me back to my house.

  “He walked us inside wanting to talk to my parents. I told him my dad was away on a business trip and my mom was either upstairs sleeping or she already went to work. He asked me to go check. I went upstairs flipped on a few lights and called Mom a few times. I came back down stairs and told him she already left for work. He asked where she worked and I gave him the name of a hospital she hadn’t worked at in probably ten years. He left without another question. Needless to say my parents were both upstairs sleeping. They never found out.”

  “Good thing we live on the eighty-eighth floor with too much security otherwise Josie may be doing the same thing when she’s a teenager.” Decker laughed out loud.

  “Ugh please don’t remind me. I wish she would stay little forever. I don’t want a teenager especially if she turns out to be like me. Although out of the three kids I was the easiest.”

  ~~~

  Aaaaahhhhh this game is going to kill me. We have now gone into extra innings. It’s the top of the twelfth and were all tied at four–four. Josie has long since passed out and is asleep on the couch in the lounge. How she sleeps through all of us yelling is beyond question, but she is.

  The Mets have two on and two out. Maggie, Chrissy, and I are all amped up on French fries and alcohol. We really should eat something more than French fries and hot dogs when we come here, but we never do. The buzz and warm fuzzy feeling I have going on is a mix between the adrenalin and alcohol.

  All three of us are jumping around the suite and every once in awhile I can see Decker look up to us and shake his head with a smile on his face. During the breaks when the music is playing we’ll dance around like nuts. Tobias and Tyler busted out laughing a few innings back. They were trying to toss the ball around and they couldn’t they were laughing so hard.

  “Yes!” I screamed jumping to my feet as Decker dove and caught a ball that should have gotten past him and scored at least two for the Mets, but instead the inning is now over, now sending us to the bottom of the twelfth and hopefully a chance to score and win this.

  Tobias is due up first and after three foul balls hits a double. Roman comes up next and hits a single after two balls and moves Tobias over to third. The catcher, Nick Showman, comes up third and strikes out.

  Tyler comes up next and was beamed in the shoulder and has a few intense minutes of glaring at the pitcher. Chrissy is hanging over the railing yelling at him to get his ass on the base so he doesn’t get thrown out of the game. Maggie and I are cracking up, we don’t think he can hear her over the noise, but once he’s on first he turns to her and mouths sorry.

  Andy Johnson, the right fielder, comes up and pops out. So now it’s three on, two outs and Decker is coming to bat. The whole stadium is on its feet. I swear if you were to look at a Richter scale reading it probably would look like a small earthquake hit the Bronx, the stadium was so loud and shaking from the clapping and banging of walls and seats.

  First pitch, foul ball – strike one. Second pitch, low and away – ball. Third pitch, so high and on the inside Decker had to drop to the ground just so he didn’t get hit in the face. Decker had a few choice words for the pitcher before he took to the box again. Looking up he winked at me and the smile that spread across his face said ‘I got this shit, no need to worry.’

  Three more foul balls and another low ball has worked the count full. The stadium is so full of anxious energy. I’m about to jump out of my skin when the pitcher winds up. Decker’s in his “I’m gonna slap the shit out of this ball” stance and swings the bat connecting with the ball.

  The players start to run the bases and Decker slowly trots up the first base line as the whole stadium watches the ball fly through the air. It’s like it’s moving in slow motion, it’s taking so long to come down. The Met’s center fielder is back peddling so fast he looks like he’s gonna trip over his own feet. He grips the wall and jumps. When it finally does come down the whole stadium erupts. Decker just ended the World Series with a grand slam!!

  I just about leapt over the railing as the ball landed in the bleacher
s. Jimmy had to grab my waist and pull me back before I went over. Rounding third base Decker looks up at me and holds his arms out like he’s gonna give me hug. I only had a second to give the same movement back before he was surrounded by the guys at home plate.

  Jimmy took Josie back to apartment, while Maggie, Chrissy, and I headed for the locker rooms to celebrate with the team. By the time we got there everyone was already drenched in champagne and the carpet made a squishy noise as it was soaking wet.

  I do believe the sun was coming up as we finally made our way out of the stadium and headed home. I don’t think I had ever partied like that in my life.

  ~~~

  It’s been a busy week. Monday was the parade of hereos. Decker was doing the late show television circuit tour. Plus on top of everything it was our wedding on Saturday.

  I was leaving today to go to Jersey. Once again Decker made my dreams come true and agreed that we can get married at the church I grew up in and then have the reception at my favorite banquet hall, Perona Farms. Making sure everything was in place from the city was just too much of a task.

  Plus I had to meet with the chief of the police department and the extra security firm Decker hired to go over the security plan and decide what roads needed to be blocked and all that other security boring crap. Good thing Jimmy was coming with me to help on that end.

  I’ve got my bags packed as I won’t be back till after the honeymoon. Decker won’t tell me where we’re going, but I know it’s warm and sunny since he told me to pack my bathing suit and shorts. I’m guessing somewhere down in the Bahamas or the Caribbean maybe Hawaii.

  I place my suitcases by the front door. I’ll leave the one for the honeymoon here and just take the one with clothes and stuff for the wedding with me. My dress is all ready at my parents. I had it messenger over so Decker couldn’t see it.

  I find Decker sitting at the poker table with Josie. He’s teaching her about poker. They’re playing for pretzels, thank God.

  “Oh God you’re already teaching her to gamble!” I exclaimed while slapping my forehead with my hand.

  “Hey, she’s gotta learn sometime. Why not teach her now that way when she’s a teenager she can take all the boys for their money.” Decker laughed at me.

  “She’s not allowed to become a teenager. She has to stay little forever.” I sighed as I took a seat next to them.

  “No way, Mama. I want to be a teenager and wear makeup and heels and drive a car,” Josie said with the biggest smile on her face.

  “Oh God I’m in so much trouble,” I said as I shake my head and close my eyes.

  “Baby, relax. We’ll make sure she grows up to be a good girl,” Decker said rubbing my arm. “Are you off to your parents?”

  “Yup. Thank you for taking care of her till Friday.”

  “I won’t be alone. I got Maggie and Tobias is coming over too.”

  “Yay! Toby ‘s coming over!” Josie yells jumping up and down in her seat.

  Sometimes I think Josie loves Tobias more than me. As long as she’s happy is all that matters and Tobias makes her happy. She has him wrapped around her little finger.

  “Baby girl, you gonna be ok here with Decker and Ms. Maggie for a few days without me?”

  “Yeah, Mama, I’ll be good for them.” She smiled at me.

  “Ok then I will see you Friday night when Decker and Ms. Maggie bring you to Nana and Papa’s house.”

  “Then you and Decker get married and I get to wear that pretty dress right?” She looked so happy and was jumping a little in the seat again.

  “Yes, baby. Decker and I will get married and you can wear your dress.” I smiled back at her.

  “Yay!”

  “And next week, Grandma Nancy and Grandpa Jon are gonna stay with you and Ms. Maggie while Decker and I are away, remember?”

  “Yessssss! Grandpa Jon is the best. He makes waffles and ice cream for dinner,” she says grinning from ear to ear.

  Decker is laughing hysterically at her comment. I remember him telling me once that whenever his mom would go out for the night his dad would make waffles and ice cream for dinner. They were supposed to keep it a secret, but one of the kids would always wind up telling their mom.

  “Come give, Mama, some loving so I can get out of here and leave you two to your games,” I said to Josie as I held out my arms and she climbed into my lap for lots of hugs and kisses.

  Decker walked me to the door and helped me into my coat. Wrapping his arms around me and picking me up off the ground he plants a kiss on my lips. I wrap my legs around his waist and he backed me up pinning me to the door. Pulling away once I’m breathless I giggle at him.

  “You’re gonna make it so I don’t leave tonight if you keep that up.” I smiled at him.

  Letting me slide down his body feeling all his rippling muscles, he smiled back and said, “And that will be bad how?”

  “Don’t you tease. I have stuff to do, that way on Saturday I can become yours forever.”

  A growl escapes from his throat. “I like the sound of that. Mrs. Jensen.”

  “Well, Mr. Jensen, my soon to be husband, if you don’t let me out of here it will never happen and then I will still be Ms. Starr.”

  “All right all right, get out of here that way you can become mine forever.” He bent and kissed me again and shooed me out the door.

  Jimmy was waiting for me in the hallway and Decker locked him with a stare that could scare a grizzle bear. “Make sure to take care of my girl and don’t let anything happen to her,” he ordered.

  “I know. You have nothing to worry about. She will be perfectly fine for when you get there Friday night for the rehearsal dinner,” Jimmy said back to Decker without blinking an eye.

  “Decker, relax will you. Jimmy won’t let anything happen to me. I love you. I’ll see you Friday night at the rehearsal,” blowing a kiss at him the elevator doors close. Jimmy and I are off to put the finishing details on the wedding.

  Chapter 20

  I stand in the Sunday school room in my dress. Everyone is bussing around me. I know I should be happy right now, but all I feel is the burning in my chest. One…breath in…two…breath out…three…slow…four…deep. I put my ear buds in and turn up the music The Script is singing Hall of Fame. I don’t know why I’m so nervous I’m finally getting everything I ever dreamed of. Maybe that’s why; I’ll never have to wonder what it’s like to be without something again.

  I mean just look at my shoes, I pulled my dress up to look at the green suede Manolo Blahnik shoes. They cost me over six hundred dollars. A year ago I could barely afford twenty dollar shoes. But here I am with these on. My mother hates them, she thought I should have had white shoes to match my dress, but I wanted these. They match my bride’s maid dresses and the ties and cummerbunds the guys are wearing. Decker doesn’t know I choose these and I know he’s gonna laugh when he sees them.

  The thought of Decker laughing and smiling calmed me a little. The thought of Decker standing at the end of the aisle waiting for me, in his tux looking absolutely fucking gorgeous is even more calming. All I need to do is think about Decker and I should be fine.

  Sharing this day with all our friends and family, oh God friends! There has to be a three hundred people out there. Oh God, how many people are famous? Oh God, the hounds have to be lining the street waiting. Ugh panic again. I sit in a chair and drop my head between my knees. One…breath in…two…breath out…three…slow…four…deep.

  Fuck, it’s not working. The five alarm fire is starting to burn strong. I need to stop it.

  “Mom,” I whisper and she doesn’t hear me. “Mom,” I say a little louder and she still doesn’t hear me. “Mommy,” I finally scream.

  “Sarah, what’s wrong?” She begins to panic.

  “Get Jimmy. I need him,” I said through gasping breaths. Jimmy is the second best thing to Decker and I can’t let Decker see me before the wedding.

  There is a bustle of activity in the room. I’m not s
ure how long it took, seconds, minutes, I have no idea. All of the sudden Jimmy was on his knees in front of me and Chrissy was shooing everyone out of the room.

  Jimmy took the iPod from me and puts Bryan Adams on repeat. I can hear him counting and he has my hand pressed against his chest so I can match his breathing and heart beat. How he ever learned this trick of trying to get me to match his rhythm I’ll never know but it works.

  “Thank you,” I finally said after about ten minutes.

  “Any time. What happened?” Concern oozing from every pore.

  “I just got to thinking about all our friends out there and how famous so many are and then I thought of all the cameras lining the street and I lost it.”

  “It’s fine. Just remember we have the security plan in place. The security guards and town police are doing a great job at keeping everyone back. I just checked no one is on this side of the street that isn’t supposed to be here.”

  “How’s Decker doing?” I asked

  Laughing hysterically, he said, “I think he’s about to have a panic attack himself. But he’s holding up and waiting for you. Are you ready? It’s time we get this show on the road.”

  ~~~

  Standing at the back of my church I watch my girls go down the aisle. Josie walks down as my flower girl along with Decker’s nephew as the ring bearer. Then my bridesmaids take their turns, first Chelsea, then Maggie, Liz, and then Chrissy.

  My dad grabs my hand and places it on the crook of his elbow smiling down at me he kisses my cheek. The strands of the guitar start and Matt Caplan begins to play his song Sully My Days. I can’t begin to understand how Decker got him to do this. But I’m loving it. Decker always has little surprises like this for me.

  He won’t even tell me where we’re going on our honeymoon. I don’t think he’s told anyone because whenever I ask everybody claims they don’t know. For some reason I actually believe them.