Trent was about to open his mouth, but Maylene put her hand up, stopping him. "The rough patch in our marriage falls squarely on my shoulders."
"Maylene," Roger pleaded again.
"No, you forgave me and loved me after everything I'd done." She sat down in Roger's lap, and he kissed her cheek. She turned to face us, and I knew it was story time. "Not long after I turned forty-five, I started putting on weight. It wasn't a lot, but it was enough to bother me. It didn't bother your father, but I wasn't happy with myself. I was starting to show my age, and short of plastic surgery, there was nothing I could do about it, but I could lose weight.
"I joined a gym. I started working out every morning after Trent left for school. It was about that time that Roger started working later. He'd always put his family first, and so I thought I wasn't keeping him happy at home if he didn't want to come home to me."
"He was cheating!" Trent snapped.
"NO, he wasn't. I know this for a fact, because I'd take dinner to him in the evenings, and he'd be up to his elbows in work. He was working late because of me, but not for the reason you might think. Of course, I wasn't aware of his surprise and took offense to his newly developed workaholic tendencies. I started spending more time at the gym."
"Maylene, please don't do this," Roger begged one last time.
"I'm the one who had an affair," she confessed.
Trent sat back, looking confused.
"A man had shown interest in me. He'd complimented me several times and finally got up the nerve to ask me out. He made me feel young and beautiful. Your father has always provided for me, so I wouldn't have to work, and I took advantage of the free time to cheat on him. You were in your senior year in high school. I'd explained that to Jack, and he was willing to wait for me until you graduated and left for college. You see, I was leaving your father for him."
"What?" Trent's eyes darted back and forth between the two of them.
"It was the night I'd confessed to Roger about the affair and told him I was leaving him that he told me the real reason he'd been working so late. It was for me. I was the ungrateful whore who cheated on her devoted husband and served him with divorce papers, when he was just trying to make one of my dreams come true."
"What are you talking about?" I asked. I was sure I wasn't the only one who wasn't following.
"All through high school, I was the biggest fan of Lunar Steps. It was a band I could never get enough of. I played their music non-stop. Roger had taken me to several concerts, and he even had backstage passes for us. I always said I wished I knew them on a more personal level. I wanted to be part of their inner circle, their friend, and you know that isn't something you can buy.
"When Roger heard they were switching to his firm, he decided to fight for the account. Preston always took on the famous people, and your father was happy to let him deal with the divas, but he was determined to get their account. You see, it's common practice for the famous clients to stay at Preston's home. It helps keep the paparazzi away. Basically, the clients live in your home for up to a month! Roger knew I'd be on cloud nine if he showed up on our doorstep with Lunar Steps and told me they'd be staying with us.
"It was the night before his big presentation that I told him about the affair. He drank himself into a stupor and bombed the next day. When I brought him the divorce papers, the Lunar Steps were standing outside of Preston's office. He gave a smug wave to Roger. After what I had done, your father didn't care that he'd lost the account to Preston.
"Your father moved in with your Aunt Katherine, but you never were home, so you didn't notice. It was during our separation that he had the affair with Sabrina. She'd been flirting with him, and after I ripped his heart out, he fell into her trap. They were together for about a month and only had intercourse twice. He thought she was an intern from college, not high school. His affair with her was short-lived, and it only made him want to fight for me instead of let me go. We went on a two-week vacation that year, do you remember?" she asked Trent.
He nodded yes.
"That was him doing everything he could to win me back. You may also remember that your Aunt Katherine and I were very close up until that point. She never forgave me for cheating on her baby brother. I think that was why she didn't bat an eye, when it came to taking care of Emily and not saying anything to me about it."
Trent looked upset with his mother, but he didn't say a thing. He stood up and walked out the door. His father called after him, and Trent spun around, eyes blazing. "No, don't talk to me. I don't want to talk to either of you."
He stormed out of the house, and I worried he might have changed his mind about getting married. I really hoped he wouldn't leave me at the altar.
I decided that I had better go after him and quickly ran to my room and threw on some clothes. I jumped into my car and pulled up his number on my Bluetooth. There was no answer. I didn't know where to go. I finally just texted him, asking him where he was.
I was relieved, when I received a reply. He had gone to the lake to think. I had a pretty good idea where he was and went to find my man.
I didn't have to look for him long. He was sitting on a large rock, staring off into the distance. I sat down next to him, and he pulled me into his side and held me. I was relieved to know he still wanted me around.
"I'm sorry," he whispered into my hair.
"What do you want to do, honey? If you want to call off the wedding, we need to do it now," I suggested with a lump in my throat.
He squeezed me tighter and then let out a deep breath. "I love you," he said not answering my question. The pain in my chest tightened. "Nothing is what it seemed. Everything I thought I knew about marriage was based on a lie."
"What about us? What do you know about us?" I asked, hoping to make him see that his parents' issues weren't our own.
He smiled down at me and kissed me softly. "I know you're everything I want in a woman, in a wife." He looked at his watch and smiled. "We're not late yet. Can we sit here a little longer?"
"Sure, I was pretty much ready anyway. I just needed to put on my jewelry and dress."
"Thanks," he said and kissed me again. I could tell by the way he held me that he was hurt by his parents. I couldn't blame him. I would have never thought Maylene would have ever had an affair. The story she had told us made her sound shallow and selfish, nothing like the woman I had come to know. Ten years could change a person, and it was obvious that it had changed both Roger and Maylene. The fact of the matter was it was their marriage, not ours. I hoped Trent could focus on our future and let his parents' troubled past go.
When it was finally time to leave, he followed me to Maylene's home, where my dress was located. "What do you want me to tell them?" I asked, as he helped me out of my car.
He shook his head.
"Is it alright if they attend?"
He shook his head no again. "They can sit in the back. I don't want them to talk to me. I don't want them fucking up the best day of my life."
I pulled him down for a kiss. "They won't," I promised and rushed into the house to get dressed. We were supposed to be at the church in fifteen minutes. I knew I'd be late, but I also knew Trent wouldn't think I had abandoned him at the altar. I did wish Maylene would have saved her story for another day. We didn't need the extra drama on our wedding day. Things already felt crazy, as we tried to coordinate the florist and the caterer, and we certainly didn't need the extra crap on top of it.
The girls were all dressed and in a panic, when I finally walked into the house. "Clara, oh heavens! Where have you been? Did you change your mind?" my mother asked.
"Did he?" Maylene asked nervously.
I glared at her, pissed that she had the nerve to mess up my day and make Trent question himself. I was half tempted to tell her to stay away from my family and wedding, but Trent had said she could sit in the back with his father. "He doesn't want either of you speaking to him, or me for that matter. Just do us a favor and don't talk
to anyone!" I snapped at her and rushed up the stairs to throw on my dress.
My mother hurried in behind me. "What was that all about?"
"I'd rather not talk about it. The wedding is still on, and that's all that matters. Just keep her and Roger away from us."
"What happened, honey? I need to know. Are you okay? Is there something illegal going on?"
"No, just immoral, and it really upset Trent. I don't want it to ruin my day."
"Of course, sweetheart, now suck it in, so we can get this zipped up," she ordered. I shouldn't have had those pancakes for breakfast.
Once I was finally ready, I headed for the door and passed Roger and Maylene. "Not a word," I warned. "You're lucky you're invited at all. Sit in the back and act like you're not there."
"You shouldn't have told them," Roger chastened Maylene.
"It was worth it, now we can both watch our baby boy get married, even if it's from the back. We'll be together, so it'll be worth it," she said smiling up at him.
It was obvious that they loved each other. I didn't understand how, but they had moved past their mistakes and betrayals. I didn't want to look at them. I had no excuses or words of defense for them like I'd had in the past. I had nothing to give either of them, and it wasn't my place. It was their marriage, not mine.
From now on, no one else would matter but my husband and children. I wouldn't let anyone else's drama interfere with our lives. I only had a wonderful future to look forward to, and I couldn't wait for it to start.
Chapter 34 – Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy
My mother and Meredith helped me dress. My mother didn't ask what had happened, but I think they both knew Maylene had nearly ruined our wedding. I hadn't stuttered at all, when I had told Maylene to sit in the back and stay out of sight, so I was pleased that Meredith and my mother had taken that to heart.
"Could you take the kids to Waco with you after the wedding and watch them for us?" I asked my mother.
Her eyes darted to Meredith before she answered. Maylene was supposed to have watched the kids, while Trent and I went away for a week. "Yes, of course, honey. Meredith, do you mind helping me pack up the kids' things?"
"I'd be happy to get them out of this nuthouse," Meredith said sympathetically and left the room.
My mother helped me put on my necklace. "It's bad, isn't it?" she asked.
"Yeah, Trent's furious. I'm glad I was able to find him and talk with him. Just…he doesn't want to talk to either of them, and I don't blame him. I'd really rather not speak to either of them right now myself, but I don't want him to regret them not being here, if we do ever reconcile with them."
"If…?" my mother asked worriedly.
"If," I said with a sigh.
My mom leaned down and kissed my cheek and squeezed my hand. "Now's not the time to discuss upsetting things. Now is the time to dream about honeymoon vacations and getting tipsy at your reception. You're going to have a wonderfully perfect rest of the day, and you're going to thank me and your father for it by giving us more grandbabies."
"I already gave you two!" I giggled.
"Yeah, and they're the most adorable grandchildren ever. How can you not make more? I've seen Trent without his shirt on, Clara, don't even try and tell me it'd be a hardship to make more babies with him."
I burst out laughing. "Don't perv on my man, Mom."
"I wasn't perving, just making an observation. The timing would be good. Katie and the new baby wouldn't be spaced too far apart."
"Mom," I whined.
"Fine…two's good," she pouted a little, and I laughed.
"I didn't say we were only having two kids. We just want things to be settled a little more before we have another."
"So, you've talked about it?" my mother asked excitedly.
"Yes, Mom, we've talked about it," I conceded. We had, sort of. We both knew we wanted more kids, we had just never said when.
My mother squealed a little and then settled herself down. "That's all I ask. If it's something you both want, just know you have mine and your dad's full support."
"I know, Mom. I love you guys." She helped me out of the chair and gave me a hug.
Meredith stepped into the room, carrying the kids' little suitcases. "Can I have your car keys, Karen, so I can put these in your trunk?"
My mother looked over at me before she passed them to Meredith. I knew she was dying to find out what had happened, but wisely, she didn't want to change the focus of the day.
I didn't know what Meredith had done, but she had made it so I didn't even see Maylene and Roger as I left the house. I sort of wondered if my feisty sister-in-law had locked them in the basement. I think I would've been okay with it if she had.
She and my mother snuck me into the bride's room at the church, and Meredith went to make sure everything was ready for us. Emily came running into the room, excited to show me her dress. She twirled for me, and my heart broke a little. She wanted so much to be a part of our family, but I doubted we'd ever see her much.
Tyler came charging in and roared at me, "I'm a bear, Mom! I'm a big ring bear! RAWR!" He was too cute to correct, so I didn't. My little Katie was trying to get her hands on the makeup on the dressing table. I'd only brought a few items, but now that Katie could walk, she was always trying to climb things. I patted her little ruffled bottom and handed her to Emily. "Are my flower girls ready?" I asked with a smile. My mother took a few pictures of us, as we made our way to the door.
My mom poked her head out of the waiting room. "Are they ready?" my mom asked my dad.
"Almost, Meredith asked us to hold on for a second," he informed us. I hadn't realized she'd slipped out.
She hurried back into the foyer from a little hallway on the opposite side of the chapel. "Okay, we're all set!" she said with a huge smile.
"So, Trent made it?" I asked. A flash of worry crossed my parents' faces.
"Yup, he's anxiously waiting, so let's get this show on the road!" Meredith nearly cheered.
I hadn't even fully realized I had been worried he wouldn't show until that moment. Even still, I held my breath until the doors opened, and I saw Trent dressed in a tux at the end of the aisle. He was there, and he was smiling, happy to see me…happy to marry me.
The rest of the day and evening were perfect. My mother shared the mother-and-son dance with Trent instead of Maylene. She did it so naturally that I doubted people really noticed, and when my dad took over dancing with her and passed me to Trent, Trent told me a few of the funny stories she'd shared with him while they had danced. Of course, he also mentioned that she asked him to give her more grandbabies as well.
I only worried about Maylene and Roger's whereabouts once. It was when I had noticed Emily sitting with Meredith and Trevor. When I spoke to Meredith, she let me know that Emily would be going back to Waco to spend the week with them. I decided not to dwell on it, and I'd ask Meredith about it after my honeymoon.
We left our reception amidst a shower of birdseed and catcalls. We had just made it down the building steps, when Trent scooped me up and dove into the back of the limo with me. "Get us to the hotel fast, driver!" he shouted chuckling. I was pretty sure he was buzzed.
He was up my dress instantly, and I was glad someone had had mind enough to shut the limo door, so we could get out of there with minimum exposure. My man was determined and got right to the good stuff. Our driver must have been experienced, because he conveniently didn't arrive at our hotel until after we were done with round one and had thoroughly consummated the marriage.
We were both a rumpled mess, when the driver knocked lightly on the door window. Trent double checked both of our clothes before he opened it, and the driver held it for us, acting like nothing had happened. Trent slipped him a nice tip with a grin. We'd have to find the guy online and give him glowing reviews for his professionalism.
The hotel was only the first stop on our honeymoon. We'd spend the night in Houston and then fly out of their airport the next da
y. Of course, neither of us planned to get much sleep. It'd been a while since we'd had a night of us both at home with no children to interrupt us. We were both looking forward to some hot honeymoon hotel sex.
"I love you," he mumbled into my neck.
"I love you, too."
"You owe me pie," he said and bit my shoulder playfully.
"I do?"
"Yes, you're supposed to have my babies and make me apple pie," he whispered nibbling against my skin.
"I've had two of your babies, are we having more?"
"You're mom seems to think so. Now would space them perfectly," he chuckled and kissed me.
"Yeah, it would," I answered back, but we became too lost in our activities to discuss it any further.
After a long exhausting night, I woke to Trent on the phone. "So, would you mind doing it? I know you have rights at a hospital here in Houston."
I squinted against the sun and his smile, trying to figure out what he was doing.
"Excellent! Thanks, McKenna, we'll see you in two hours," he said excitedly and hung up. He pounced on me, grinning widely. "Did you hear who I was talking to?"
"McKenna? What were you calling her so early for?" I asked then looked at the clock. It was nearly noon. "We're going to have to pay for another day in the hotel, we've passed checkout."
"We have late check out at one thirty, beautiful. By then, we'll be on the way to the hospital."
"Hospital?" I sat up, a little more aware now. "Is someone hurt? What's going on?"
"No one is hurt. After our chat last night, I thought you'd want to get your IUD out, before we left for the rest of our honeymoon."
I stared at him wide-eyed. I did actually want it out, but I had never thought to call McKenna to get it done immediately. I guess there were perks to having an OB/GYN as a close friend.
"You did want to have more kids…didn't you?" Trent asked a little unsure.
I nodded. "Yes, yes I do. That's great…a honeymoon baby." I jumped on him and showed him my approval so thoroughly we almost missed the late checkout as well.
A Life Unplanned Page 25
