The Perfect Candidate

by Sterling, Stephanie

  Ashley’s parents arrived the night before the wedding (she had refused to have a hen night). There was no way for her to keep them away. She wished that she didn’t have to embroil them in the lie though. They found it strange that Michael hadn’t come to meet them (Ashley imagined that he would have had she asked him to), but they were very understanding, and actually made excuses for him and his hectic schedule.

  She could see that they were a little star-struck at the thought of having such a prominent public figure as their son-in-law. They were going to be so disappointed when they never even got to meet him.

  Despite all of her fears to the contrary, Ashley slept like a baby the night before the wedding. Her mother had to come into her bedroom and nudge her awake to endure that she didn’t oversleep!

  “Come on sleepyhead!” she cooed happily. “Rise and shine. You have a big day ahead of you!”

  Ashley groaned, and tried to pull the covers back over her head, but her mother whipped them away, and produced a breakfast tray, laden with all of the delicious foods that Ashley had loved as a child.

  “Mom,” Ashley said weakly, tearing up at the gesture.

  “Oh, don’t you start that, you’ll have me going!” Mrs. Kendall scolded her daughter, as she dabbed at her eyes with the corner of the apron she was wearing. “This is going to be the happiest day of your life, Ashley, and one of the most tiring,” she said with feeling. “So you need to eat something now to keep your strength up. Lord knows you won’t snatch another bite to eat all day!”

  “I’m not hungry, Mom,” Ashley said softly. In all honesty she felt rather sick! She didn’t have a clue how she was going to get through the day… and the thought of Michael… waiting for her at the church, being humiliated in front of all of those people- the whole world…!

  “I know, you’re excited, but please, just a few bites?” Mrs. Kendall urged, smiling encouragingly. “I’ll run you a bath, and then we need to start on your hair, and your make up, and your dress, and oh! I need to organize your father, because you know he can’t be trusted, and then there’s-” she walked off still muttering to herself.

  Ashley watched her go, and then glanced towards the telephone that was sitting on her bedside table. Perhaps- perhaps she could call Michael? Just to say- well- to check- to hear…

  Ashley hadn’t even realized that she was holding the phone in her hand, until her mother reappeared and shrieked at her.

  “You’re NOT phoning Michael are you?”

  Ashley didn’t know how her mother had just to that (albeit correct) assumption. “I was just-”

  Mrs. Kendall snatched the telephone away. “I’m sure that would count as being as bad as seeing the groom before the wedding!” she railed. “And we don’t want any bad luck today, do we?”

  “No, Mom,” Ashley said, and managed a weak laugh. Bad luck… as if an extra little touch of bad luck could make any difference to her disastrous wedding day!

  Mrs. Kendall put down the cordless telephone and looked over the tray of food that Ashley hadn’t even touched. She sighed. “Well, if you’re not going to eat anything you my as well get out of bed,” she urged. “I’ll see if your father wants any of this,” she added, picking up the tray and then heading for the door.

  “I’m sorry, Mom!” Ashley apologized suddenly.

  She sounded so very sorry that her mother turned around to look at her. “Don’t be silly, Ashley! It’s only breakfast,” she chuckled. “Go and have your bath, I’ll be back with your stylist in a little while.”

  Ashley nodded unhappily, and slunk into the bathroom. She wished- well, she wished a whole host of things if she was honest- but one of the things that she was starting to wish was that she and Michael hadn’t agreed with Norm to play the jilting out on the actual day of the wedding. It would have been almost as effective if she had broken off the engagement the day, or week before! And less traumatic for everyone that way.

  Once she had bathed, Ashley felt as though everything was slowly slipping out of her control. She wasn’t left alone for a single second after she emerged from the bathroom in a fluffy white robe. Waiting for her in her bedroom, there was someone to dress her, someone else to do her hair, someone for her nails, her makeup, while her mother and her two bridesmaids were dashing around at the last minute trying to find something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.

  Ashley had asked two women she had gone to college with and had been in the same sorority with if they would mind doing her the honor of being her bridesmaids- little did they know they wouldn’t have to do anything but ride to the church and back.

  “I don’t know where we’re going to find a silver sixpence!” wailed Stacey.

  “Oh, don’t worry, that’s taken care of, Ash can borrow the one I used at my wedding,” Cat said, producing the ancient-looking coin from her purse. “I don’t know what we’re going to do about something blue though…” she mused, anxiously.

  “You really don’t need to bother-” Ashley tried to tell them, but was interrupted by her mother.

  “Ashley! What's the matter with you today?” she demanded, taking the sixpence from Cat and placing it in one of Ashley’s gorgeous white wedding shoes. “Oh!” she squealed happily, turning her attention to the bridesmaids as she held up the slippers. “Something blue,” she beamed, showing them the shoes’ pretty blue soles.

  Ashley rolled her eyes, and was immediately told off by the makeup artist, who was trying to apply her mascara.

  “Sorry,” she mumbled weakly.

  Ashley was quiet and obedient for the rest of the time that it took the ladies to get her ready. It was starting to feel… very frighteningly real… and when she was finally allowed to look in a full-length mirror and see her own reflect she was literally struck dumb for several seconds.

  “I look like a real bride,” she whispered shakily, once she found her voice again, at which her mother and everyone else had laughed.

  “Well, of course, you do!” Mrs. Kendall chuckled. “That’s what you are! Now then, the photographer is going to be here any minute!” she cried, glancing at her watch. “And I need to check-” what she needed to check Ashley didn’t hear, because her mother had darted hurriedly from the room, leaving her daughter to gaze at her reflection for a little longer.

  “You look beautiful, Ash!” Cat gushed.

  “Michael isn’t going to know what’s hit him!” Stacy agreed with a giggle.

  Michael wasn’t even going to get to see her… Ashley thought gloomily. She sniffed, dangerously close to tears, and both Cat and Stacy leapt forwards with shouts of ‘don’t cry! you’ll smudge!’ which succeeded in drawing a half-amused smile to Ashley’s lips.

  “Are you all right?” Cat asked gently, frowning with concern. “You don’t seem very… happy,” she said weakly.

  “It’s just last minute nerves,” Ashley laughed shakily. “I hear every bride has them?”

  “I guess…” Cat said doubtfully, but wasn’t able to say anything further, because the photographer had arrived, and wanted to take a few pictures before they set off for the church.

  Everything was spinning rapidly out of control, before Ashley knew what was happening she was placed in a limo with her father and they were on their way to the church! Ten minutes… Norm had told her to wait until they were ten minutes into the drive and then tell the driver to turn around. Fifteen minutes passed and Ashley had said nothing.

  “You’re very quiet, love,” Mr. Kendall said softly. He took her hand. “Is everything okay?”

  “I can’t-” she blurted, but the rest of the words stuck in her throat. She felt as though she was on a roller coaster that she couldn’t get off! She didn’t want to get off!

  “You can’t?” Mr. Kendall frowned.

  “I can’t…” she paused, and that was when Ashley knew she wasn’t going to be able to walk away, that was when she made her choice. “I can’t thank you and mama enough for everything you’ve done for me, dad
dy!” she cried, hugging her father fiercely, as she saw the outline of the Cathedral appear at the end of the road.

  31

  Michael breathed out slowly, and glanced down at his watch again. Ashley was late.

  He smiled bitterly, well, of course she was late- she wasn’t coming! For some reason, part of his brain (or was it part of his heart?) didn’t seem to be able to comprehend that fact.

  Michael glanced over at Norman, who mouthed ‘wait five more minutes’, and then he went back to staring straight ahead at the altar. A few moments later, he accidentally caught the eye of the priest. The old man nodded his head and flashed him a reassuring smile. Michael sighed heavily, and shifted his weight from foot to foot. He couldn’t believe how tense he was feeling- well, that wasn’t true, perhaps he could. He started to crack his knuckles, until his best man softly cleared his throat, and Michael realized what he was doing. He stopped, just as he saw Norm slowly getting to his feet out of the corner of his eye. This was it then, he thought to himself, as his heart sank into his stomach.

  Michael nearly jumped out of his skin when the organ started to play the wedding march. He saw Norm freeze, halfway between sitting and standing, and then all of the guests slowly got to their feet when the back doors of the cathedral swung open.

  Maybe he was still asleep? He hadn’t really woken up that morning and this was all just part of a dream? It didn’t feel like a dream though. It felt completely real!

  Michael craned his neck to look up the aisle. Someone hissed at his to turn around, but the second he saw Ashley he couldn’t possibly have looked away, even if his life had depended on it! She was beautiful- but she was so much more than beautiful, in fact, beauty didn’t even begin to describe the vision of loveliness that was floating down the aisle towards him, as far as Michael was concerned at any rate. She was everything that he had ever wanted and more. It was as if someone had looked into the secret hopes and desires of his heart and crafted a woman from what they had found there.

  The spell was somewhat broken for Michael however when he realized that Norm seemed to be having some sort of an attack in the pew behind him. Michael glared at the man and shook his head sharply, not exactly sure what he was trying to communicate. He didn’t actually know what the hell was going on after all! But he didn’t want Norman ruining it!

  When Ashley drew nearer his side, Michael realized that she was shaking. He tried to smile at her, he wanted her after all, but he couldn’t quite manage it. He was just too overawed. He couldn’t quite believe she was really here. Had she misunderstood her instructions? Was she going to run out on him in the middle of the ceremony? Michael honestly didn’t have a clue! But, if there was a way for him to drag the marriage vows from Ashley’s lips then he was determined to find it!

  The Priest spoke, and Ashley stayed, the chosen hymns were sung, and Ashley stayed, the marriage vows were started, and Ashley still stayed.

  Michael stared down into her face, and began to trust that she was really going to stay until the end of ceremony- until the Priest asked if their was anyone present who knew of any reason why they couldn’t be joined together in holy matrimony, and then Michael was gripped by fear that one of two things would happen, either Ashley would bolt, or Norman would blow the whole thing.

  Nothing happened though, nothing at all. There was blissful silence, and then the moment of terror was over.

  Michael had been such a mess of fear, confusion and hope, that he hadn’t been able to pay attention to very much of anything that he had said… but when the Priest beamed and pronounced them husband and wife and told Michael that he could kiss his bride he knew exactly what to do. He covered Ashley’s lips, bestowing a deep soul-stirring kiss that sealed the promises that they had just made to one another.

  Mine… Michael thought to himself, as a deep, a male satisfaction sweeping through his body. He didn’t have a clue what had just happened, but Ashley was his wife now, she was wearing his ring… she belonged to him. As these thoughts flashed through his mind, he couldn’t help but notice that she also looked incredibly dazed.

  “Michael?” He heard her croak, as they followed the Priest with their witnesses to sign the register. She sounded as terrified as he had felt throughout the ceremony. Michael laid a possessive hand on the small of her back and kept her moving forwards. He did not want to hear that she regretted it or that it had been some huge mistake.

  “Later,” he whispered, hardly moving his lips. He fixed a broad smile in place, it wasn’t that hard to maintain. He was inordinately pleased with how things had turned out, and he was going to work extremely hard to make sure that Ashley stayed his wife- just as soon as he figured out how that had even come about.

  They didn’t have an opportunity to speak alone however, once they had signed the register they were hurried outside for a photo shoot. Michael hadn’t been aware of the crowds when he entered the church, he had been rather preoccupied, but he couldn’t fail to see and hear them now. There were thousands of people outside cheering!

  “Michael?” Ashley whispered again. There was a desperate sort of urgency to her voice, and the fear was still there too, Michael noted.

  “Smile,” he murmured, as the cameras flashed. He didn’t know what she wanted. Reassurance, maybe? But then he was hoping that she would be the one with all of the answers!

  They posed for more photographs than Michael could imagine that they would ever need, and then they were allowed to climb into a waiting limousine, and were finally accorded some privacy.

  Michael sank back into the comfortable leather car seat, trying to work out exactly what he wanted to say to Ashley, but he couldn’t find any words! He stared at her, taking an extra few moments to work out exactly what it was that he was feeling. Relief was one of the strongest emotions that he was experiencing. He had really thought that he’d lost her! Complete and utter confusion was also pretty high on the list of things that he was feeling. Could they truly be married? It hardly seemed to be real!

  “Say something then?” Ashley whispered shakily. She was looking over at Michael with wide, frightened eyes. He frowned when he realized that her back was practically pressed up against the door, ensuring that she was as far away from him as was physically possible.

  “What would you like me to say?” he asked, neatly dodging the question, although he feared that he had just wasted a prime opportunity to confess to Ashley how he really felt about her. He shuffled across the seat, reached for his wife and tugged her into his arms.

  Michael’s frown stayed exactly where it was when he didn’t feel Ashley soften in his embrace. She was as rigid as an iron girder.

  “I’m sorry!” she cried, and Michael saw that her eyes were swimming with unshed tears. “I didn’t- I couldn’t- I’m so sorry, Michael!” she wailed.

  “Aww, hell, Ash!” Michael swore roughly, searching his tuxedo for tissues or a handkerchief, something that he could wave in her direction in an attempt to stem her tears. “Please don’t cry?” he begged.

  “I c-c-can’t help it!” she sobbed. “You married m-me!”

  Well, if that wasn’t a verbal equivalent of a kick in the gut he didn’t know what was, Michael thought miserably! He cleared his throat awkwardly. “You didn’t want me to marry you?” he asked slowly. “I thought-” but he suddenly didn’t want to tell her what he had thought about her changing her mind- about them being able to have a real marriage. “You came to the church,” he pointed out baldly. “I don’t see what else I was meant to do given the circumstances.”

  “I kn-know!” Ashley wailed. Michael waited for her to add something further, but she didn’t, she just cried into the serviettes that he had found and pressed into her hands.

  Michael sighed heavily. A glance out of the window told him that they were almost at the Art Institute of Chicago, and a glance at his wife told him that they weren’t at all ready to get out of the car! He pressed the button for the intercom to talk to the driver, and requested tha
t they drive around the block again… slowly.

  Ashley managed to look at him when she heard that- her cheeks had turned a delightful pink. “People will think that we-we’re…”

  “I know,” Michael smirked. Personally he would rather that people thought that than for them see his bride with an obviously tear-stained face. “Dry your eyes,” he said gently, frantically trying to work out how he was going to turn this situation around into a positive.

  Ashley was his wife, he was still pleased about that, but she didn’t seem to be terribly happy about it! He wondered if her parents had somehow forced her down the aisle? He hadn’t met Ashley parents, his in-laws, but he supposed that he couldn’t discount that possibility. Something had clearly forced Ashley to wed him against her will!