Sometimes Love Hurts

by Fostino, Marie

  When the evening arrived, the doorbell rang.

  “Hi, handsome,” she said rushing down the porch into his arms.

  Joey looked good in his dark blue suit, white shirt, and striped tie. His hair was pulled back in a ponytail making it look like he had short hair. She could not imagine him without the beautiful blond locks falling onto his shoulders, so she was glad it was only for the evening.

  “May I put this on you?” He asked revealing a corsage in his hand.

  “Only if you promise you won’t hurt me,” she giggled.

  He opened the car door for her, making her feel like Cinderella. They shared small talk on the way to a restaurant downtown. Once inside, Joey ordered steak, baked potatoes, and green beans for the both of them, with chocolate mousse for desert. After dinner, they took a walk down by the river.

  “You’re so beautiful, Lisa,” Joey said as they walked with fingers intertwined.

  “Thank you,” she blushed. “You dress up well yourself.”

  Joey stopped walking, and turned to study her face.

  “Lisa, I don’t like living without you. I want to wake up with you in the morning, and come home to you every night.”

  Lisa’s heart started beating so fast she could hardly breathe.

  Is he going to propose? She could feel her legs tremble.

  She quickly thought back to what her mother wrote… that the purple dress brought her good luck.

  “I fell in love with you the first time I met you,” he continued. “I think I told you that a long time ago, and I also told you I would wait for you.”

  He took in a deep breath.

  “I will still wait for you, but I’m hoping you feel the same way.”

  Then Joey got down on one knee and pulled out a ring box holding it up to her. Lisa’s eyes opened wide.

  “Will you marry me?”

  She got so excited that she knelt down to hug him. As her arms reached around his neck, the box fell to the ground.

  “I thought you would never ask,” she squealed with tears tumbling down her cheeks. “I thought that after seeing how I acted when my parents died that maybe you didn’t feel the same any more. I thought you would never ask me to marry you.”

  Joey picked up the box and helped her up. Slowly her trembling hands opened it, and her eyes glowed when she saw the sparkling ring. She looked up at him lovingly, and then looked back at the ring. Something was familiar about this ring.

  “This is my mother’s ring,” Lisa suddenly realized. “Where did you get this?”

  She felt a shiver go through her and their eyes met again.

  “This is my special surprise for you,” Joey said. “Your mother gave it to me to give to you.”

  He paused for a few moments watching her face. Then he continued.

  “Along with this letter…”

  Joey reached into his pocket and pulled out a wrinkled envelope. Lisa felt faint. It was as if the dead had come back to life. Joey caught her elbow as she teetered.

  “You never answered me, Lisa. Will you marry me?” He asked again.

  Joey leaned forward and lightly kissed her lips.

  “Y-Y-Yes!” she stammered.

  Joey threw his arms around her slender waist, picked her up, and spun her around.

  “Yes? You have made me the happiest man around. Come on, let me take you home so you can read your letter.”

  Lisa breathed in everything around her – the lights, the noisy Chicago street, and Joey’s cologne. She had to admit it, she loved everything about him and was so happy that he finally asked her to marry him. But there was trouble in her mind which arose over the letter he gave to her from the dead. She could not get home fast enough.

  Joey agreed to give her some space so she could read the letter by herself. He kissed her passionately goodbye with a promise to be over bright and early the following day. Lisa then went to her parents’ room and fell on their bed. She stared at the envelope for several minutes before opening it. Across it were written the words: “To My Darling Daughter.”

  Lisa’s body began to shake. She was not sure what she was feeling and it took a few minutes more before she finally opened the letter. She had to will her hands to quit trembling so she could read it. Tears gathered in the back of her eyes, and some slipped away falling to her cheeks.

  How am I supposed to read with my eyes all blurry? She pondered. After composing herself, she tried again.

  Lisa,

  I know this must be kind of disturbing to you, but believe me, I have done this out of love. The last time we had dinner with you and Joey, he said he needed to talk to me. He told me he loved you more than life itself, and I could see how he looked at you that he was telling the truth. He reminded me of when I was young and going out with your mother. I saw the love in his eyes when he even mentioned your name. Anyway, he asked me not to be offended, but he knew I was sick and asked me for your hand in marriage. He said he wanted to marry you the right way by asking me first. You have no idea how happy I felt. I found some new respect for Joey after that. Of course, I gave him my blessings.

  I enquired as to when he would ask you, but he wasn’t sure yet. He said he was unsure as to how strongly you felt about him, so I asked him to do me a favor and wait until you finished college. I told him how proud your mother and I were of you, and that you were the first one to get a college degree. I did not want anything to get in the way of that. I told him I could see by the way you looked at him that you were in love with him too.

  Well, he agreed and we shook on it. I told him how I asked your mother to marry me. She was so beautiful wearing that purple dress with the sequin flower in the front. I told him I took her downtown for dinner and we walked by the river when I popped the question. He seemed enchanted by that, and said he might do the same thing.

  This part he didn’t know until I sent him the package. I talked with your mother, and we agreed to let you have her engagement ring. We truly wanted it this way, so we packed it up and sent it to Joey with this note to give to you when he proposed.

  I am so proud of you, honey. Remember, Lisa, love can last between two people as long as the people love themselves, and are ready to give love to another person. I am so sorry I can’t be there to walk you down the aisle, but don’t think I won’t be watching you from heaven.

  Love always,

  Your Father

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Lisa’s Wedding Day

  Lisa’s Story Continues

  It was a beautiful day in May with the sun shining, and flowers all over in bloom. Lisa remembered to put on her mother’s opal necklace and earrings. She was with both of her grandmothers, who hovered over her helping her get ready for her wedding – putting her hair up in a bun with some curls hanging down, and putting on her veil. They cried as they remembered that her mother, Natalie, had worn the same dress.

  She had both her grandfathers walk her down the aisle taking the place of her father, and Joey was standing so handsome in his white tux waiting for her. Lisa felt like a princess as her knight in shining armor stood at the altar.

  “You look incredibly beautiful, Lisa,” Joey whispered as she approached. “I hope you’re as happy as I am.”

  She blushed and looked deep into his eyes. “I have never been happier, Joey.”

  The ceremony began, and in the middle of it, the song, “I’ve Got You Babe” by Sonny and Cher was played. Lisa glanced up and noticed a smile on Pastor Clems’ face. While the song continued, they passed out roses to his mother, his grandmother, and both of her grandmothers – a tradition that she decided to carry on for her parents. After they said their vows, Joey held Lisa in his arms and kissed her passionately until finally they heard clapping.

  Their reception was held in the church parlor. The tables were covered with white linen, pink ribbons, and family photographs of her parents – each of them when they were young. As they cut and fed each other a piece of cake, they saw raindrops fall from the sun
ny sky. Lisa knew that meant good luck for their marriage.

  She truly understood what her mother tried to relate. She looked up toward the ceiling and softly said, “Thanks mom and dad. I know you are with me. I will make you proud. This will be the hardest job I ever have, and also the most rewarding.”

  “Are you all right?” Joey asked coming to her side. He took her hands and added, “I think they’re playing our song.”

  “As long as I have you, I will be fine,” Lisa replied.

  Then she followed his lead to the center of the floor.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  A New Life

  Present Day

  Crystal sat mesmerized by all she heard. She had listened and watched as her mother, Lisa, told her story, and her mother cried. To learn about the love her grandparents shared was amazing, but even more astounding was how her grandmother forgave her grandfather for what he had done. Lisa sat on the floor with pictures and journals open all around her. They both laughed at each other as they blew their noses and looked at the pile of Kleenex that circled them.

  “Dad sure was romantic when he was young, wasn’t he?” Crystal asked as a few left over tears spilled from her mother’s eyes.

  “Yes, he was, sweetie. You only get to live one lifetime, and before you know it, you’re old. I love the saying ‘youth is wasted on the young.’” Her mother laughed. “It’s a quote from one of my favorite movies – ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’. When we’re young, we experience life new, with no knowledge of what to expect. When we get older and we look back, we sometimes wish we had done some things differently to enjoy life better.”

  Crystal gave her mother a weird look as if trying to understand what she just said.

  “Are you sure Blake is having an affair?” Her mother questioned. “There has to be an explanation.”

  “I don’t know,” she replied, a single tear running down her face. She took in a deep breath and added, “Mom, it just isn’t the same anymore. He was once so in love with me that he couldn’t wait to get home to see me, and we made love every night.” She wiped a newly fallen tear. “But now… I don’t see him as much anymore, and he isn’t as tender to me as he was before.”

  “What about you, Crystal?” She asked. “Are you still as much in love with him as when you married him?”

  Mom drew Crystal close and they both fell on the couch. She could feel her daughter’s body tremble as she silently cried. She did not want to rush her daughter for an answer, so they sat quietly in the living room with Crystal sobbing in her mother’s arms. Finally, she lifted up her face, and her mother kissed her on the cheek.

  “Maybe you should ask him?” Her mother plead, staring into her daughter’s eyes. “You don’t need this anxiety right now, especially while you’re carrying my grandbaby.”

  “Ow!” Crystal squealed and looked at her mother.

  “What is it sweetie?”

  “I don’t know, but I felt a big pain.”

  “Well, the baby is due in a couple of weeks and all this stress could put you into early labor.”

  “I need to get home,” Crystal said instantly. “I need to talk to my husband now, before our baby comes into the world.”

  She slowly rose from the couch and scrambled for her phone to see if any text messages were on it.

  I LOVE YOU TOO. WHEN ARE YOU COMING HOME?

  She felt so relieved to see those words from Blake.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea, sweetie,” her mother interjected. “What if you’re going into labor?”

  “I’m fine, mom. I just have this feeling inside that tells me I have to take care of things right now.”

  Her mother began picking up the journals and pieces of used tissues from the floor.

  “Can I bring you home?” she asked.

  “Mom, I’ll make a deal with you – I will stay here for an hour and if I don’t feel any more pains I can drive, but if I do then you can take me?”

  Crystal’s eyes beseeched her mom, and they agreed. However, it seemed to be the longest hour in history.

  When Crystal’s established hour was up and no more pains were felt, her mother kissed her goodbye and sent her on her way home. It would take about twenty minutes. She listened to, “You Never Let Go” playing on the car radio.

  ‘Oh no, you never let go through the calm, and through the storm. Oh no, you never let go in every high and every low. Oh no, you never let go, Lord you never let go of me.’

  The words were just what Crystal needed to hear, and they brought her great comfort.

  As she drove into her driveway, she noticed that the purple petunias she had planted in the front garden were in full bloom.

  What a beautiful sight, she thought.

  She parked the car and slowly got out. The breeze gently patted her face and her bare legs, and her heart pounded in her chest. Up ahead in the driveway was Blake’s blue Dodge Hemi. She nibbled her upper lip, crossed and uncrossed her arms. Her heart felt stuck in her throat. The troubling thought of the lipstick was just not important anymore. His love for her was all that mattered.

  She wondered if Blake would smile when he saw her.

  She needed to talk to him, to get some things off her chest. She wanted to know where they stood in their relationship. Crystal stared at the front door, and in her mind she could see Blake coming home from work, putting his strong arms around her, and kissing her hello.

  “I love being in Blake’s arms,” she admitted quietly.

  Crystal still wanted to solve the mystery of the lipstick on her husband’s collar, but after listening to her mother read her grandmother’s journal, she knew she had to forgive him. She missed him, and in her heart she knew she was still deeply in love with him.

  “Please God, make this right,” she prayed as she walked up the front steps.

  She opened the front door slowly. Blake heard it squeak and rushed to see her. He stood in front of her for a moment, and then stretched out his hand toward her. Crystal hesitated at first, but then let him take her hand in his. She missed his touch. She missed a lot of things about him and oddly enough, she began to feel calm. Blake stared deep into her brown eyes, and she realized how much she missed his.

  “I love looking into your eyes, Crystal. The kindness you show pours out of them. I’m not sure I deserve a second chance.”

  He stopped to take a deep breath before he continued.

  “I am so sorry. I love you so much. You deserve better, but I hope and pray that you still love me, and want to spend the rest of your days with me.”

  Tears welled in the back of Crystal’s eyes.

  Thank you, God, she thought.

  A tear trickled down her cheek, so Blake took his thumb and gently wiped it away.

  “Can you tell me why I saw lipstick on the collar of your shirt?” She asked.

  He looked up at her with steady eyes knowing he wanted to tell her the truth.

  Quickly Blake explained, “I was having dinner with Katherine, and the subject of conversation was our employees. She still wanted to cut some people from her staff. Some of them didn’t seem to like her. She thought she deserved more respect from them. The waiters and cooks missed the old management, but stayed on because of me. I never spouted out orders, and I helped out whenever I could. I was not afraid to get my hands dirty, whereas Katherine would not move a finger to help anyone. I assured her that for the open house, they would all do their best. With that, she reached up and kissed me on the neck.”

  Blake looked frightened while the thought of it made Crystal’s stomach churn.

  “Nothing happened, Crystal. I mean, she tried to seduce me, but nothing happened. I did not kiss her or lay a finger on her.”

  Her body became tense as she listened to the words he had just said.

  “Maybe you need to start from the beginning?” Crystal walked into the living room and sat down. Blake followed her lead. He took a deep breath, and let his eyes scan past her face as he began his
story.

  “My boss, Katherine, called me into her office the night you went to your mothers. She told me I would have to put in extra hours for the open house she was planning. She wore a low cut blouse and a lot of perfume, which I couldn’t help but notice as she walked close to me and whispered in my ear that she appreciated the way I helped her and the other employees.”

  Crystal eyes were glued to Blake as he tried to tell her what had been going on. She could see him wiggle uncomfortably in his seat. She tried to look into his eyes, but he was avoiding hers.

  “The open house was a great success. There were so many customers, and so much food was being served. Katherine was so happy. Finally, when then last customer left and we were finished cleaning the restaurant, I was sitting on a stool with a glass of water. I was so worn out, and of course I was anxious because you were not home and I worried about you.”

  Crystals’ eyes opened wide, and finally Blake let his eyes meet hers. His face looked so stern, and unhappy. His eyebrows curved down to his nose as he went on.

  “I was just sitting there when Katherine surprised me by whispering in my ear, “Well done.”. She took her hands and started to message my shoulders. I started to resist but…”

  Blake closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again he looked past Crystal. Crystal sat there not knowing what to expect and fearing the worse.

  “Katherine seemed just to know how to rub the tension out of my shoulders. I let her do that, Crystal. I am so sorry.”

  Crystal could feel the tears begin to gather behind her eyes. What did he have to tell her? Part of her didn’t want to hear any more of what he had to say.

  “I just sat there enjoying the feel of her touch. I started to get tired as her hands worked their way up and down my back. I was so exhausted from all the hours I put in the last couple of days.”

  Crystal was focused on his face, waiting to hear the words she dreaded. A tear slipped down her cheek. She took her hands and rubbed them together willing herself not to start crying out loud.