by Lily Love
The only thing that counted was that they were about to celebrate their love and accept the blessing of marriage.
What surprised her the most was Tony’s unexplainable urge to get married. As soon as they started making plans, he insisted that the wedding should be conducted in a matter of one week.
“Honey, don’t you think it is too soon? Why the rush, we had all the time in the world…”, she tried to understand.
“Darling, I cannot wait to make you my wife. To form a family and have children. Don’t tell me you don’t want that!”
That was the end of the story. It was odd, but she chose to believe him. Actually, it reminded her of the first time she met him. Back then, he was a complete stranger, but she still chose to get inside his car. And she was not wrong.
Long story short, preparations began. She chose a wonderful, tight dress made of lace and a pair of comfortable, matching shoes. Alexandra promised to braid her long, blond hair. She was about to be the most beautiful bride ever and she could hardly wait for Tony to see her.
They made an appointment in a small, provincial church, where only closest people would be invited. After the official ceremony, they planned a small, dinner-like gathering in their own garden.
The same as her, Tony had no family left, so the only people attending would be few friends and colleagues, including Alexandra’s boyfriend.
From her side, the circle was even smaller: few neighbors her mum used to be friends with and Lady Anderson, who was insanely happy for them and had easily forgotten the fact that Carrie simply disappeared from work.
“Are you sure there is nobody else you would like to invite, dear?”
“Maybe one more person”, she said. “But I don’t think he will show up.”
Few hours later, she was sitting in the bedroom, crying and writing a letter. It was the last time she tried to contact her father. It was time for her to grow up and face reality.
“…I know you are not interested to see me. But it would mean the world to me if you could make it. Only this time.”
VI
“Hey Alex, you’re going back in town, I guess?”
“Yes dear. You need anything?”
“Just one thing. If you have the chance, drop this in some mailbox.”
“Of course Carrie, no problem at all. Is it an invitation?”
“Well, kind of. Thank you!”
“No problem!”
The feeling of guilt was a shared feeling between the Simons siblings. The day they discovered Carrie was supposed to be the happiest day of their lives and seducing her was just the beginning of their plan. They did not decide to move randomly to the States-they arrived to inherit their father’s property, as his supposedly successful business in the UK crashed and left them hundreds of debts to pay off. It was despair that made them forget all the values of human kind and intervene with other people’s life for their welfare. Even if “other people” meant Carrie. Carrie, who suffered since the day she was born and had issues in trusting people.
Now, when they were so close to the accomplishment of their plan, remorse transformed into a mountain. Both carried that mountain on their backs, unable to feel whatever else under the weight of it. Sleeping was a burden equal to waking up, but as they turned and looked around-there was nothing else they could do. Tony had to marry Carrie.
Of course, the initial idea was not for him to fall in love. For as long as he possibly could, he suppressed his feelings, but living with such a wonderful creature could not keep him indifferent. He hoped they would indeed have the happiest marriage ever and she would never have to know why he approached her at the first place. Does she see something when she looks at my eyes? Or she is so love-blinded? , a lot of thoughts tortured Tony’s soul.
Alexandra seemed to be much stronger in this aspect, as she insisted on keeping things going, pressuring him at those moments, when he was freaking close to giving up. “You had to”, she used to tell him. “You do love her and you’re going to be happy together. She’ll never know”.
And Tony had to do it. He simply had to save his sister from the misery she was about to live in, even if the price was the miserable consciousness he would have to cope with for the rest of his days.
What he didn’t know is that Alexandra suffered too. She figured out the plan and pushed him to act, but she was not indifferent either. There was this deeply human side of her personality that reminded her daily of the mistake she was about to commit, but unlike him, she tended to keep it together. Not a single time did she cause a scene, one of those he couldn’t avoid, shouting and blaming her for the way he felt.
Even Carrie had witnessed one of those scenes. Fortunately, she did not have the time to understand what the drama was about.
Lost in such thought, Alexandra took the letter and went out. Once Carrie was out of sight, she decided to check the letter, as they could not afford any mistakes at that moment. What she discovered was shocking.
The letter was addressed to the house where she and her family used to live in the UK. Furthermore, it was addressed to her father.
A feeling of unstoppable pain, as the one that only sinners could feel, rattled her entire being. “What on Earth am I doing?”, she thought desperately. She sat and read the letter, and before she knew it, she sank in tears. How much did this girl suffer for the lack of her father! All the things she missed without him around!
Now, she had invited him to the wedding he had planned for her, not even knowing he is not alive anymore. And she would never find out how much he loved her and suffered for not being able to see her.
Joshua rarely spoke about it. But they knew that on Sunday afternoon, daddy rested in his office and they were not allowed to disturb him. And that the weeping sound was a program on the radio.
VII
“Oh, Alex, I thought you left. But since you’re here, come help me with the menu, I’m not so professional”, Carrie laughed.
“How could I destroy her happiness?” , she stood there, motionless.
But it was much better to warn her, before she made the biggest mistake of her life.
“Carrie, I think we need to talk”, she said in serious tone.
“Why? What happened?” , Carrie asked in worry. “Tony? Where is he, is he fine? Something happened to him?”, she started guessing and panicking.
“He is fine, Carrie. Everything is fine. Still…”
“Still what, Alex? Don’t keep me hesitating, please tell me.”
“Your father is not going to come dear.”
“But..how? Why? How do you know that?”
“Unfortunately, he is not among the living anymore. But for what is worth, he would have loved to attend. Especially if it was you and Tony who is getting married.”
Carrie seemed absolutely confused and devastated by the knowledge of being an orphan.
“Did you hear me Alex, respond me! How do you know that? What is wrong with you?”, she shouted.
“Calm down Carrie, calm down!”, Alexandra tried to cool the situation down, but was crying desperately at the same time.
“I know that because he was my father too.”
Stuck in absolute disbelief, Carrie sat on the bad, trembling.
“So, what is this then? Some kind of trick? Something you did not consider was worth of telling me just until now?”
“Wait…”
“I cannot possibly wait!” , Carrie became hysterical.
“Explain me, I want to know everything!”
“I am telling you…we are talking about the same Joshua. We share the same father.”
“But…are you trying to tell me that me and Tony are siblings??”
“You’re not. Me and Tony…We were adopted. You are the legitimate, biological daughter of Joshua. You are the inheritor of his goods. This house is yours, and Tony had to marry you in order to stay here.”
Carrie thought she’s going to lose her mind. The strange feeling of being tricked had never le
ft her, and now she understood why. Some people are just not entitled for happiness, she thought. She knew she would never forgive Tony, not in a million lives. But mostly, she would never forgive herself for being so stupid and naïve. The dream was officially dead.
“The perfect act by the perfect, heartless liars”., she smiled ironically.
“It was not an act Carrie, come on. I do appreciate you, and Tony…Tony loves you sincerely.”
“Oh, please, don’t sell me that story again. Wasn’t it enough for you?”
“Carrie, look at me! I am not lying! Tony wanted to give up so many times, he was suffering for what he was about to do to you. But he believed you’d be happy together!”
“Happy? Happy? What is happiness Alexandra, if that’s your real name? Living in a lie? Being used for some shitty house?”
“Carrie, I’m sorry, OK? I am really sorry. I had to tell her, it was destroying me from inside!”
“So, what now, that makes you a saint? Am I supposed to be thankful?”
“It was my duty to tell you. And it is up to you to decide what you are going to do now.”
“Now? What now? I will go back my previous life, at least no one is lying to me there!” , she quickly collected the few belongings she brought and rushed outside.
That same afternoon, as Tony arrived home with a bunch of wonderful, white roses, a message was waiting for him:
“I loved you, you know. At moments I really believed you cared for me too. But that is what actors do, isn’t it?
You sold so cheap what could be the story of our lives and denied me the most sacred truth I’ve been looking for all of my life. That is what hurts me the most-being so disappointed in you.
I am leaving you the house and everything there that might be mine. I never wanted the bloody house, I wanted my father’s attention. But you, who had it all…You might do with it whatever you like. I still hope you will live happily, after all the pain you’ve caused.
I might forgive you one day. But I will never forgive myself.”
He felt air was leaving his body. Like a slash of fever, chills occupied his skin. Just months before, he would be pleased to have the house. Now, the perspective was completely different.
“I just had to tell her. I could not stand her suffering”, Alexandra whispered in the background.
But his sadness made him immune to the surroundings. He suffered deeply, realizing that Carrie was the love of his life, and he would never be happy without her. The guilt was so bad, he wanted to take his worthless life out of the chest. To scream! To kneel and beg for forgiveness!
But he knew how proud Carrie was. Things were never going to be the same again.
VIII
For days, he tried to contact her, spending hours in front of her building, asking her whereabouts to everybody that might know her. It seemed like she had disappeared. No sign, no trace, no nothing. As he waited, a feeling stronger than all others arise-the feeling of missing her insanely.
How was he supposed to live without her? How could he forget what they had? How could he ever forgive himself for messing things up in that way?
In the meanwhile, she sat and cried. She remembered every moment they lived together, but between laughter and passion, there were this small signs that something was not right. Those signs she could have seen, but she was just a naïve provincial girl. One of those a rich man never notices.
He liked her, right! He thought she was magical! He wanted to have children with her!
“Oh you stupid, stupid fool!”, she hit her head. How many things have to happen to you, in order to realize you’re never going to be happy??
She was aware of the fact he was looking for her. But she did not want to see him and listen to worthless apologies. She wanted him to be gone.
After days of starvation and heavy thinking, she decided to take a small walk. She needed to feel fresh air, just to remind her she was alive and life had to move on. In front of her door, there was a letter.
For few minutes, she struggled on whether to open it. But a weak struggle that was.
“Carrie…I am sorry for what I’ve done. It is not the proudest moment I ever had, but as I got to love you…I didn’t even think that was important any more. I wanted you to be my wife! I wanted a family with you!
I know my apologies are worthless at the moment. I understand if you could not forgive me, and if forgetting me means you’re gonna be happy, go ahead and forget me.
I’m leaving because I cannot live with myself in this town. But I love you and I always will. I will never be somebody else’s husband…I prefer to wait for you to forgive me and to come and save my soul.
You are the most beautiful thing that ever happened to me, Carrie. You need to know that.”
Under the letter, she found the will of her father, few photos of his and a plane ticket on her name.
IX
“There you go, Mr. Simons.”
“Thank you!”
He took his passport and moved towards the gate. He turned from time to time, completely aware Carrie was not coming. But hope dies last.
“Get together man, you look terrible!”, said Alexandra
“She is a reasonable girl, one day she will look for you.”
He hoped she would.
Just as he was about to leave, a familiar voice stressed him.
“Tony! Tony, wait!”
As he turned and saw her, an explosion of emotions appeared on his face. He was happy and grateful, crying in disbelief.
“Darling, darling…!”, he kneeled and kissed her palms. “Oh, tell me you forgive me. Tell me, please!”
“Is it true that you loved me? Is it true I was more than somebody you used?”
“Of course it is, my love. This is the happiest moment of my life!”
“No, it is not. The happiest moment of your life will be this afternoon, by the altar. Coming, sir?”, she smiled.
“Of course I am, my princess! Of course I am!”
Bought & Stretched
Matthew Jacobs was in a hurry as he drove is Gold Aston Martin down State Street. Chicago traffic was so busy this early in the morning and he was getting irritated. He needed to get to his favorite restaurant for his daily breakfast and he was famished from the party he hosted the night before. He had hosted many parties and benefits for various charities and artists, it was part of the billionaire lifestyle and he had an image to uphold. Although with the ladies, he had a great image and reputation for having a tree trunk sized packaged and it made him a bit big headed. He loved bringing home ladies from time to time, showing off his huge 7 bedroom brownstone house. The ladies always begged him for more, but he didn’t ever commit to more than two nights with any one woman, as he liked to keep all his options open when it comes to experiencing different woman’s sexual desires. It was something of a game for him, to make a woman scream in painful pleasure from his well-endowed package. He knew he was hung like a horse and felt than any woman would be lucky to have just one night with him. However, once a woman had a taste of him, they craved him like an addiction to Starbucks coffee, and wanted him every night. He had to change his number to keep some of the stalker woman from calling him so many times a day, begging for him for one more night, to be inside of them just once more. He smiled as he thought about how woman gobbled over him as he wasn’t the most attractive man in town, and he knew it. The ladies didn’t seem to mind though because the money he had alone, made him one of the sexiest men in their eyes.
Though Matthew loved the ladies, he was only attracted to a certain type. He didn’t like blonds as much, as they were just too blond for him. He did have quite an appetite for brunettes though. He like them to slim, but not skinny. He liked to have a little extra meat to hold onto when he was giving it to them hard and fast. It helped secure his ability to drive his largeness into the women as far as it could possibly go. Matthew loved sex, especially the wet and wild sex, as anything else required a pace of a slower spee
d and he couldn’t do that. He had not emotions for the women he slept with so how could he take his time with their bodies; he wanted the pleasure to be immediate and quick not slow and time consuming.
Matthew pulled into the parking lot of his favorite restaurant and went inside. He took a seat at his favorite booth in the back corner and raised his hand for the waitress. When the waitress arrived he immediately said, “You must be new here. I have never seen you here before, and I come every day.”
“Yes sir, I just started today. This is my first shift and you are actually my second customer so please be patient with me.”
“What’s your name?” Matthew asked.
“Nancy.” She replied.
“Well Nancy, I would like a black coffee and for breakfast I want my usual. Two eggs over easy with whole wheat toast, four slices of bacon; crisp, but not over-done.”
“Coming right up sir. I’ll be back with your coffee in two seconds. Would you like any water?”
“No, just my coffee thanks. “
Nancy turned and walked away to get the coffee and put his order through to the kitchen. Matthew noticed how pretty she was. Her shape was so feminine and to his taste as she had some meat on her bones. He thought about how it would feel to have her naked body underneath him with his huge manhood penetrating her, giving it to her until her legs started shaking and she screamed for him not to stop. He wondered if she was married and he planned on asking her in a subtle way when she returned with his coffee.
“Here you go sir” Nancy said as she poured the coffee carefully into his empty coffee cup.
“Thank you very much. So what are you doing working here as a waitress? Doesn’t your husband want you home and not working?” He asked with real concern in his voice.
“Oh no, I’m not married. I have to pay my bills you know.”
“What about your boyfriend? He doesn’t help you out?”
