by Marcy Blesy
“You okay to head to the church alone?” I ask when we are done with our nails.
“I’m fine. Actually, having you around has helped with my nerves.”
“Everything is going to be great, Mom. It’s your second shot at happiness. If anyone deserves to be happy again, it’s you.”
“Thanks, Macy. So, you’re really okay with this?”
“With what? Almost being stuck with an 80s prom hairstyle?” She laughs.
“No, me marrying Greg.”
“Of course I am, Mom. And Laura would be happy for you, too, and Dad. He wouldn’t want you to enter old age alone.”
“Hey!” She slugs me in the arm, but then she grabs me and hugs me tight. “Love you.”
“Love you, too, Mom. I’m going back to my apartment to change, and I’ll meet you at the church.”
When I get back to my apartment, there is a long thin package leaning against my door. I open the box to find a bouquet of red roses with a card on top:
Dear Macy,
Thank you for being a special part of our day and for accepting me into your life.
Love,
Greg
I think Dad would approve of someone who loves his family nearly as much as he did. No sense wallowing in self-pity. Today is a celebration, and I need to remember that. As I stand in front of the mirror surveying myself in the short navy blue dress we picked out a month ago, I am satisfied that I won’t look back upon my first experience being a bridesmaid with dread when I study the hundreds of pictures that are about to be taken. I add an extra layer of mascara and eye shadow and a new pink lipstick. The navy blue heels I bought will make me taller than Greg’s brother who will walk me down the aisle, but I don’t really care. Mom is the center of attention today.
I peek into the church from the Sunday School classroom we are using as our waiting room on the side of the sanctuary. It’s starting to fill up. There are a lot of older people I don’t know, presumably from Mom and Greg’s widow support group, along with Greg’s family and some distant relatives of mine that I only see at weddings and funerals. In fact, most of the family I have here now I haven’t seen since Dad died. You’d think it would have been the opposite. Someone dies, and the person’s immediate family needs help and support more than ever. Unfortunately, most people fade away—unwilling, or more likely, unable—to cope with the grief. I dab at my eyes to keep the tears from ruining my makeup. Out of the corner of my blurry eyes, I see a young man walk into the church. The usher directs him to the bride’s side of the aisle. I suck in my breath at his hulking appearance, so close yet not within my reach. I close the Sunday School door and confront Mom, the only other person in the room, as the minister has just left.
“Mom, why is Matt here?” I say.
“Oh, good, he came after all.”
“Mom! Answer the question.”
“Well, I invited him, of course.” I don’t know what to say. Part of me is furious that she went behind my back and invited him, and part of me wants to forget our perfect wedding attire and smother her in hugs of gratitude. I don’t have time, though, as the church’s wedding coordinator knocks on the door to tell us to come through the hallway door to prepare for the walk down the aisle. The organist starts playing “Canon in D.” It’s our cue.
“Macy, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—” The music grows louder.
“Let’s just concentrate on you,” I say, but I can’t. As I walk down the aisle with Greg’s brother, I feel Matt’s eyes boring into me, studying my every move. And I can’t help but think about what he must think, and I wonder if he’s thinking of me the way I am thinking of him.
I cry when Greg cries as he recites his vows to my mother, something about love at first sight and the comfortable fit of an old shoe. I look over my shoulder to the handsome young man sitting in the back row on the bride’s side. He looks straight ahead like he’s memorizing every word of the ceremony. Not once do I catch his eye. I wonder if he’ll stay for the reception. I wonder how I’ll get through it if he doesn’t.
After the wedding, I’m forced to stand in the receiving line of guests. People I don’t know or haven’t seen in years compliment me and say nice things about Greg and Mom. I nod my head like I’m supposed to do and get Mom a glass of water when she gets the hiccups, which Greg’s parents find hysterical, by the way, as they giggle the way teenagers do. Then we take pictures in the sanctuary, and I stand where I’m told and tilt my head in the direction I’m instructed. I can’t get out of this church and to the reception hall at the community center fast enough. When the last picture is snapped, I tell Mom I’ll meet her across town, slip off my shoes because they’re killing my feet, and rush out the back door of the church and straight into Matt’s chest.
“Whoa! What’s the big hurry?” He grabs me by the shoulders to keep me from falling over.
“Matt!” I feel flush, like a giant ripe tomato picked at the end of a summer heat wave. “I was looking for… I’m sorry. I’ve missed you. I…Did you come back to—?” All the things that have jumbled in my mind over the last weeks come pouring out in an incoherent stew of words. Matt puts a hand over my beating heart, starts to say something, and stops. He bends down, pulling me toward him with his other hand and kisses me. He kisses me hard and strong, and I don’t try to stop him. I close my eyes and don’t care that the people driving by are honking or yelling at us to get a room. I don’t care because right now I have all the answers I need. Matt still loves me and I still love him and it makes sense. When Matt pulls away, I keep my eyes closed and take a deep breath.
“You can open your eyes, Mae.”
“I can’t. I’m afraid if I do you’ll be gone.” He kisses me again and pulls me closer.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he whispers into my hair.
“Why did you leave for school early?” I say. “I was going to surprise you for your birthday.”
“I know. I mean I didn’t know at the time. When I found out about Kelcy’s true feelings at the time of the accident, it helped allay a lot of guilt. It really did, but my dad and I got in a huge fight over it. He says I owe a lifetime of debt to Kelcy no matter what. Plus, even if I feel freed from what Liz told me, I didn’t know what you’d think about my inability to cut the cord when you asked me to and then—” I kiss him just to keep him from talking. I’m not sure any of it matters any more. Seeing Matt here today and listening to Mom and Greg recite their vows reminds me what is really important in life. But he doesn’t stop talking. “Then I told him that I didn’t really want to go into the military after all, that I thought I’d like to be an occupational or physical therapist. He threw me out. I’ve been staying at my cousin Marley’s house.”
“Oh, Marley, the girl with the 101 Romantic Nights.”
“Uh, yeah, you saw that?” I shake my head. “She’s been recruited by Lanie to give me some pointers to woo you back.”
“You don’t need any pointers,” I say. “You’re here. But what about U of I and your ROTC scholarship?”
“I’m giving it up and returning to Andersonville Community College with you.” He smiles.
“Are you sure?
“All week Leo and Lanie and Liz and Ty have been calling and texting.”
“Ty?”
“Yeah, even Ty. He said he’s sorry and wants us to try harder.”
“Weird,” I say.
“I know, probably rehab-prescribed; but anyway, all these people that love you have been telling me that you’ll give me another chance. Then your Mom called and threatened to postpone the wedding if I didn’t show up and tell you my feelings.”
“My mom called you?”
“Yes, and she’s quite persistent. So, will you?”
“Will I what?”
“Will you forgive me?”
“If I’ve learned anything from this ceremony today, it’s that true love isn’t delivered to your doorstep with a perfect bow in an undamaged box. Love is messy and complicated and doe
sn’t always come on time, but when it’s right, it’s right, and you just have to rip it open and enjoy.”
“I don’t think there’s a box big enough for me anyway.” He laughs.
“No, dork, there’s not.”
“So, what now?” Matt asks.
“Oh, shoot! I have to go. The wedding party is being introduced at the reception. Will you wait for me?”
“Mae, I’ll never stop waiting for you. Ever.” I close my eyes as Matt kisses me again, this time softly. I taste his lips and listen to his heart beating against my chest.
I’ve proven that I can go it alone in this life, but running away never solved any of my problems, and when you’re lucky enough to find love, why shouldn’t you embrace it? Life can change in the blink of an eye. People leave your life never to return, but that doesn’t mean you stop letting new people in.
I grab Matt’s hand, and he follows me to my car. Behind us church bells ring the time at the top of the hour. To know me. To love me. To forgive me. To choose me. All of it makes sense to Matt, but more importantly it makes sense to me.
“Save me a dance,” I say.
“I don’t know, Mae. There are an awful lot of eligible sixty-year-old women who will be vying for that bouquet. I can’t disappoint the ladies.” He laughs.
“You can’t disappoint me.” When Mom and Greg are toasting to their future tonight, I’ll be toasting to mine, too. Cheers.
Thank you for reading To Choose Me, the fourth and final book in the To Know Me series. Please consider leaving a review at Amazon or Goodreads. I really appreciate your time.
http://amzn.to/ZDZKuD
To sign up for newsletter notification of new releases, click here: http://eepurl.com/LP3KD You will not be spammed with unnecessary emails.
New Adult Romance Books by Marcy Blesy:
Finding Reese (Tremont Lodge Series, Book 1)
http://amzn.to/1rjqY4l
College student Reese Prentice always knew she'd return to Tremont Lodge. She just didn't know how--until she saw the notice at the university center advertising jobs at the northern Michigan ski resort turned summer playland. Yet, recalling the details of her abandonment by her parents at the lodge sixteen years earlier proves harder than anticipated with work, roommates, and love interest Finn biding for her time. Then the boss's bad boy nephew Lawson makes her a deal too tempting to pass up that might get her closer to the answers hidden in her past. However, her path to discovery is cluttered when Lawson's own secrets threaten to interfere with her right to know the truth and to remain safe.
Loving Reese (Tremont Lodge Series, Book 2) will be released in early winter 2015.
Other YA books by Marcy Blesy:
To Know Me Series:
To Know Me
To Love Me
To Forgive Me
To Choose Me
The Lexie and Rhett Chronicles Trilogy (Prom for One, Graduation for Two, Test for Three) http://amzn.to/12jasER
Prom for One (Short Story 1): http://amzn.to/11mQbxc
One senior girl without a date + One perfect boy…with a girlfriend =Prom for One
Seventeen-year-old Lexie doesn't care that she's dateless for her senior prom. Sure, her dream boy has a perfect 10 girlfriend. Sure, her best friend has a serious boyfriend. Sure, the school cad can't stop ogling her. Sure, her Dad's still in Afghanistan. But what could go wrong on such a special night in a teen girl's life? Plenty! While most of the evening is a nightmare worth forgetting, Lexie finds that sometimes when you least expect it, life gives you memories to hold onto forever.
Please note: This is a short story (approx. 9800 words).
**This short story is not intended for children under the age of 14.**
Graduation for Two (Short Story 2) http://amzn.to/1asFUkk
One graduating senior girl in love with One graduating senior boy = Two uncertain futures…In Graduation for Two
Graduation for Two continues the love story of Lexie and Rhett from Prom for One. Only weeks into their relationship, graduation and the promises of new love beckon from their future while trouble looms all around them. Lexie and Rhett must decide whether taking a chance on their uncertain future is worth the potential heartbreak.
Please note: This is a short story (approx. 10200 words).
**This short story is not intended for children under the age of 14.**
Test for Three (Short Story 3)
One heart + One mind + One body battling the odds in a quest for love = Test for Three
Test for Three is the final short story in The Lexie and Rhett Chronicles trilogy. After a serious accident leaves Lexie in the hospital fighting for her life (and with Rhett away at basic training), she struggles with memories of the past, desires for the future, and the pain of the present.
Please note: This is a short story (approx. 6000 words).
**This short story is not intended for children under the age of 14.**
About the Author:
Marcy Blesy is the author of several middle grade and young adult novels and short stories. Her picture book, Am I Like My Daddy?, helps children who experienced the loss of a parent when they were much younger. She has also been published in two Chicken Soup for the Soul books as well as in various newspapers and magazines. By day she runs an elementary school library and enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys.
Marcy is a believer in love and enjoys nothing more than making her readers feel a book more than simply reading it. She likes to connect with her readers via twitter, email, or her blog.
@marcyblesy
mablesy(at)yahoo.com
www.marcyblesy.com
