You and I

by Jacquelin Thomas

  Chapter 19

  “Thank you, Cherise, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding. Here is your gown.”

  “You’ve outdone yourself, Garnette,” Cherise said. “This gown is so beautiful.”

  She reached over to hug the elderly seamstress standing nearby. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t been here to help me.”

  “I just love making the dresses perfect for brides to wear. It’s such a joyous occasion. I enjoy being a part of that.”

  Cherise carried the garment bag that contained her wedding dress in both hands, while Elle carried the boxes containing her slip and other accessories.

  At home, Elle helped Cherise unload the car. “I can’t wait for your wedding day. This is so exciting, Cherise.”

  Giggling, she nodded. “I know, Elle. I can’t believe that Steven and I will actually be husband and wife in two weeks. It still seems so hard to believe.” She headed to the kitchen. “I need to change clothes. I’m dying to put on something comfortable.”

  “I need to go pick up my children, so I’ll give you a call later,” Elle promised.

  She left.

  Cherise changed into a tank top and a pair of shorts. She was about to go into the kitchen to fix a salad when she heard a car outside.

  Peeking out the window, she whispered, “It’s Aunt Eula Mae. What does she want?”

  “Hello, Aunt Eula Mae.” Cherise hugged her. “How are you?”

  “I’m fine. I stopped by to see if you—” She stopped short, catching sight of the bag on the sofa.

  “Is that your wedding gown?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Would you like to see it?”

  “If you don’t mind,” Eula Mae responded.

  Cherise unzipped the bag and gently pulled out the gown.

  Eula Mae’s eyes were bright with unshed tears. “Cherise, this dress is gorgeous. You are going to look so beautiful.”

  Cherise ran a nervous hand down the dress. “Do you think Steven will like it?”

  “Of course he will,” Eula Mae said. “Honey, he’s going to love it.”

  She helped Cherise put away the gown.

  Cherise barely noticed that the strap of her shirt had slid downward. “You know that Steven—”

  A low, menacing scream ripped from Eula Mae and hung in the air for a long moment.

  Jerking around, Cherise asked, “What is it?”

  Her frightened gaze met Eula Mae’s and she saw such a look of savage fury that she retreated a step, putting a bit more distance between them.

  Eula Mae’s eyes could have been forged in ice. Gone was any trace of her earlier friendliness; gone were the signs of acceptance. In their place was a look of pure hatred.

  Dread curdled her stomach and she wished desperately that she were anywhere but alone in that room with Eula Mae.

  Resigned to her fate, she acknowledged that it had been inevitable from the beginning that the truth would come out. Cherise had held stupidly to the hope that she would never have to tell Steven what happened that night.

  “It’s you,” Eula Mae hissed. “You and those no-good friends of yours broke into my house.”

  “Please let me explain,” Cherise began in a low, tormented voice. “I can explain everything.”

  Eula Mae was muttering to herself. “That birthmark…shaped like a star. I remember you. How could you…” She shook her head. Her mouth curled into an accusing sneer as she slowly advanced upon Cherise. “Didn’t you?”

  Wrapped in a cocoon of anguish, Cherise nodded, unable to speak, her eyes bright with unshed tears. She held the top of her dress clutched tightly in her hands.

  Seething with mounting rage, Eula slapped her as hard as she could. “How dare you come into my life and try to steal from me again. You won’t have Steven. I won’t let you take him from me.”

  Sobbing hard, Cherise wiped furiously at her tears. The stinging she felt on her cheek did not compare to the pain in her heart at the moment. She had to find a way to make Eula Mae understand. “P-Please let me e-explain. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. It was an accident.”

  “So you and your friends accidentally broke into my house. You meant to break into another house. Is that it?” She raised her hand as if to strike again.

  Retreating, Cherise covered her face with her hands. “I never wanted to be there. I knew it was wrong. They ran off and left, but I called 9-1-1 to get you some help. You’ve got to believe me.”

  “I don’t have to do nothing,” Eula Mae shouted. “But I will tell you this. You better end this farce with my nephew.”

  Cherise wiped at the tears streaming down her face. “What are you talking about?”

  “I know why you never said anything to me, but does Steven know the truth about you?”

  Wincing, Cherise shook her head. “I wanted to tell him, but I couldn’t,” she said. “I just couldn’t.”

  “I’m sure you couldn’t,” Eula Mae mocked. “And I bet I know why. Because he would’ve up and left you. If it hadn’t been for me seeing your birthmark you would’ve gotten away…” She glared at Cherise. “You gotta call off this marriage—”

  Her voice breaking, Cherise said, “I love Steven. I can’t… I can’t do this. He would be so devastated.”

  “Humph!” Eula Mae scoffed contemptuously. “You can and you will. Do you hear me? I want you out of Steven’s life. You’re not good enough for him.”

  “Please, Mrs. Stewart, please don’t do this…” Cherise responded with an anguished plea.

  “I don’t want to hear nothing you got to say.” Eula Mae’s expression was bitter. “Steven will listen to whatever I tell him. He always has.”

  She left Cherise standing in the middle of the room, trembling.

  Her body shook so badly that Cherise had to grip the banister as she climbed the stairs.

  Staring at herself in the mirror, Cherise broke into fresh tears.

  She and Steven would never be man and wife. The mere thought of not growing old with him made her feel light-headed.

  Cherise surveyed the bedroom where she and Steven had spent so many wonderful nights. She loved him so much, and leaving him like this was tearing her apart. “I can’t just walk out of your life without saying something. I can’t.”

  She sat down and wrote a note.

  Putting it in her purse, she grabbed her car keys.

  Reaching the door, Cherise leaned against the wall, hugging herself, squeezing her eyes, attempting in vain to stop the hurt. She deserved this, she told herself. Her brain knew that she never would’ve told Steven about that night. Instead, she would have continued to pretend it never happened.

  She drove to his house and slipped it into the mailbox.

  He would hate her, yes. And Cherise knew she would have to find a way to live with it.

  Tears filled her eyes and she walked faster to her car.

  Cherise got inside and drove across town as quickly as she could. She didn’t stop until she was at her aunt’s house in Riverside. She couldn’t get out right away because she was crying so hard.

  Emotions spent, Cherise sought to contain herself. She wiped away her tears with the back of her hands.

  “Oh, Steven. I’m so sorry. I l-love you so much,” she whispered. “I hope you’ll forgive me one day.”

  Steven stood in the middle of his bedroom, complete disbelief written all over his face. Cherise had called off the wedding and didn’t want to see him anymore.

  She was gone.

  But why?

  He had known from the moment his mother handed him the envelope that it contained bad news.

  Reading the contents a second time, Steven flung the letter across the room. “What in hell is going on with you, Cherise?”

  His expression grew hard and resentful. Putting his hands to his face, he growled. How could she leave him like this? And then she leaves a note with a flimsy excuse at best. He deserved much better than this.

  He was going to find Cherise an
d get some answers.

  Grabbing his keys and jacket, Steven rushed downstairs and left the house.

  He jumped into his car and drove over to Cherise’s house, hoping to talk some sense into her.

  Steven tried her cell phone and was only mildly surprised when he received no answer. Well, he wasn’t going to let her just drop a bomb on him like that and take off without an explanation. She owed him that much.

  Steven took the exit off the freeway that led to her street.

  Arlene was the only one home when he arrived.

  “She’s not here,” she told him. “Steven, she just needs some time to think.”

  “I need to talk to her.”

  “Just give her a couple of days,” Arlene suggested.

  “This doesn’t make any sense, so what’s going on with her?” Steven asked. “Where is she? Please tell me.”

  Arlene met his heavy-lidded gaze. “Do you truly love my daughter?”

  “I do,” Steven confirmed. “I love her with my very being.”

  “I’m going to ask you that same question again—after you talk to her. Whenever she was troubled about something, she always went to Amanda. I don’t know why, but that’s where she found her peace.”

  He called Amanda Ransom’s house but was told that Cherise wasn’t there.

  Following his instincts, Steven drove to Elle’s house.

  When he arrived, Elle looked completely surprised to see him. “Steven, what are you doing here?”

  “I came here to speak to Cherise. Elle, I know that she’s here and I really need to talk to her.”

  Folding her hands across her waist, Elle announced, “Cherise doesn’t want to talk to you right now, Steven. She loves you but she’s got some things to sort through and she needs time. Can you give her that?”

  “Elle, what’s going on? None of this is making any sense to me. Was she unhappy?” His voice was low, almost begging.

  Elle shook her head sadly. “No, she wasn’t unhappy. Just give her some time and I’m sure she’ll come to you and explain everything, Steven.” She lowered her voice and put her hands on his arms. “Trust me when I tell you this. She loves you with her whole heart, but she needs you to do this for her right now.”

  Despondency washed over him. Only an innate sense of pride enabled Steven to hold back his tears. “She’s my life, Elle.”

  “And you’re hers,” she responded. “Steven, if you love Cherise, and I know that you do, just give her time to sort things out.”

  “But she’s called off the wedding—”

  “Cherise will come to you when she’s ready.”

  His mouth opened, but no words came out. He stared at Elle, feeling rejected and helpless.

  Sighing in resignation, Steven turned and headed to the door. “Elle, tell her that I love her—that I always will.”

  Standing at the window, Cherise watched him drive away, her heart breaking all over again.

  Chapter 20

  Elle closed the front door behind her, locking it.

  Cherise turned from the window to face her cousin. “I hated seeing him like that.”

  “What do you expect? He’s heartbroken, Cherise.”

  Breathless seconds passed while Elle’s words reverberated through her brain. She squeezed her eyes shut against a rush of tears. “So am I. Elle, I never wanted it to be like this.” Her voice broke miserably. “I don’t know how I’m going to make it without Steven in my life. He was the best part of me.”

  “He feels the same way about you.” Elle took Cherise by the hand and led her to the couch. “I saw something in Steven I’ve never seen before. He’s in agony over your leaving. That should tell you something, Cherise. That man loves you beyond definition. Tell him about that night. Tell him everything.”

  She stiffened momentarily. “I can’t. I don’t want him to hate me any more than he already does.”

  Cherise couldn’t breathe, so she rushed over to the window, opening it with trembling hands. She inhaled deep, calming drafts of the night air.

  Elle came behind her. “Steven doesn’t hate you. You hate you. Cherise, you’ve never forgiven yourself for what happened to Mrs. Stewart. And you’ve got to do that. Even if she never forgives you.”

  “I don’t think Steven could forgive me either.”

  “You haven’t given him the chance.”

  “I’m scared.”

  “Look where you are now, Cherise,” Elle pointed out. “You’ve called off your wedding. What more do you have to lose by telling him the truth?”

  She paused as if waiting on a response from Cherise. When none was forthcoming, she asked, “Will you at least think about what I’ve said?”

  “There’s nothing to think about, Elle. It’s over between Steven and me.”

  Although she wore a disapproving frown, Elle offered no further comment.

  Alone in the guest room, Cherise couldn’t concentrate, her thoughts clinging to Steven and the agony he must be going through. But he wasn’t the only one suffering. All she had left were the raw sores of her aching heart.

  Desperately wishing there had been another way, Cherise sighed sadly.

  Dreams are often hard to separate from reality, Cherise discovered as she was slowly awakened by the alarm clock. Before she opened her eyes to the new day, Cherise stretched on the firm mattress, remembering the way Steven’s strong hands felt around her. She missed waking up beside him. She missed his laughter.

  She missed everything about him.

  “Steven.” His name escaped her lips before she could stop it.

  Turning on her side, Cherise brushed away a lone tear. The full impact of her situation hit her. She and Steven would never have a future together.

  As she sat on the side of the bed, Cherise reasoned that the pain would stop one day.

  Almost as tired as she had been before going to bed, she forced herself not to think about her restless night as she went to the closet and began to select what she would wear today.

  With her mind turned to survival, Cherise readied for work. She promised herself that she would not allow her personal heartbreak to interfere with the job she had to do.

  Dressed, she headed downstairs and into the kitchen. Elle greeted her.

  “Morning,” Cherise said dryly. “I hope you slept better than I did.”

  “Not really. Briana had a slight fever and was up most of the night.”

  Cherise blew on her coffee lightly. “Really? How is she feeling now?”

  “I think she’s doing better. She’s upstairs sleeping in her daddy’s arms like nothing’s wrong. I’m going into the office for a few hours, but Brennen’s working from home today.” She glanced up at Cherise. “Have you decided what you’re going to do?”

  Cherise shook her head. “I don’t know what to do.”

  “Yes, you do. You tell Steven the truth.”

  Checking her watch, Cherise decided it was time for her to head to the center. “I’m going to keep thinking about it. I want to be honest with Steven—I just don’t want him to hate me afterward.”

  “He won’t, Cherise. He loves you too much.”

  “I want to believe that, Elle. I really do.”

  “You need to give Steven a chance.”

  As she drove to work, Cherise considered Elle’s words. Maybe she was right. She wondered how Steven would feel knowing that Eula Mae had forced her out of his life.

  Maxie strolled past her office and then backtracked. “I didn’t expect to see you today. I thought you were off until the wedding. What are you doing here?”

  Cherise didn’t respond.

  Maxie adjusted her glasses and peered down at her. “Is something wrong?”

  “Steven and I are not getting married,” she said quietly.

  “You’re kidding, right?”

  “No,” Cherise said. “We…we broke up, Maxie.”

  Completely at a loss for words, she dropped down in a nearby chair. “Cherise, I…I’m so sorry.
I really don’t know what to say. This is the last thing I ever expected to hear.”

  Apparently sensing that nothing more would be forthcoming about the breakup, Maxie cleared her throat. “Well, I’d better get back to my office. I’ve got a busy day ahead.” She paused at the door. “Cherise, if you need anything…”

  “Thanks, Maxie.” When she was finally alone, Cherise put her hands to her face and closed her eyes.

  A lone tear escaped from beneath her eyelids and rolled down her cheek. She felt bereft and desolate.

  No matter how much it hurts, I have to move on with my life, she told herself.

  Focusing on her work, Cherise worked through the morning and most of the afternoon.

  Maxie stood in her doorway. “Have you left your office at all today?”

  “No, I was so busy—”

  “Cherise, dear heart. Please go to lunch. You need to get out of this office. Get some fresh air.”

  Putting her pen down, she leaned back in her chair. Cherise nodded in agreement. “You’re right.” She rose to her feet. “I’m going to get a bite to eat. I won’t be gone long.”

  Cherise knew what she needed to do.

  Steven drew in his breath when he spotted Cherise standing in the hallway. She was still very beautiful but he noticed that she looked tired. He cleared his throat and called her name. “Cherise…”

  Composed, her head held high, she asked, “Can we talk?”

  He nodded. “I was just about to head out for lunch.”

  They drove to a park near his office.

  He got out and walked to the passenger side, opening the door for her.

  “Cherise, why did you call off our wedding? Honey, please tell me what’s going on. When two people love one another, the only way to work things out is to talk about them.”

  In response she only shook her head, refusing to look at him. “This isn’t easy for me, Steven. I know that you deserve an answer.”