by Cee, DW
“What do you mean?”
“Rhys met a girl this summer and within the month, he’s decided she’s the one. He popped the question before she went back home. He’s met her family and they’re having an engagement party tomorrow.”
“Yeah? Good for Rhys. You see, when you know, you know!”
“Why don’t you and your parents come to the party, tomorrow? It’s at The Kent Hotel in the grand ballroom. It starts at six.”
“All right. I’d love to come. Dad and I can make it but Mom might be busy.”
“It’ll be good to have some more people showing up from our side of the family. Rhys’ fiancée comes from a huge family. We’ll be dwarfed by all the Americans.”
“Where’s she from?”
“Your neck of the woods. I think most of her family lives somewhere in Los Angeles.”
“How old is she?”
“Twenty-two like Rhys.”
“What does she do?”
“Not sure. She just graduated from college.”
“Is she pretty?”
“She’s gorgeous, Nole. She’ll remind you of a quintessential American—blonde-haired, blue-eyed. Rhys picked a beautiful woman.”
“You all approve, I take it?”
“Mum and Dad are in love.”
“That’s great. Dad and I will attend tomorrow.”
It was nice seeing Ron again. I’d think through what he’d said about joining his business venture. It might be what I needed before approaching my future bride.
“By the way, Ron, what’s the girl’s name? Maybe I know her?”
“Delilah something. I can’t remember her last name.”
“Say what? Can you repeat yourself?”
“Delilah. Do you know her?”
Shit! It couldn’t be the same Delilah. No. I would’ve heard if she was engaged. There was no way I’d be in the dark about something this huge.
“No. I don’t think I know that Delilah. I’ll see you tomorrow, Friend.”
“Come ready to party, Mate. It’s going to be a wild time.”
Nolan: Where and When
I couldn’t help thinking about what Ron had said last night at the pub.
It couldn’t be Delilah Reid. Rhys’ Delilah had to be a different Delilah than my Delilah. Though it wasn’t a common name, there had to be more than one Delilah who lived in Los Angeles and had a large family.
I still had three hours before the engagement party was to begin and nervous energy ate at me. If this was the same Delilah, when had she met Rhys? Where could she have met him when he’d been in England and she’d been in the US? What if it was the same girl? What the hell would I do?
Naw. There was no way it was my Delilah. All these years, I knew she was popular, but I also knew she’d never had a boyfriend. Unknowingly, she was holding out for me as I had been holding out for her.
This scare pushed up my timetable. No longer was I keeping myself back until I thought I was worthy of Delilah Taylor. As soon as I returned to the States, I was heading straight to her cul-de-sac and revealing my intentions to everyone. Even if it took years, I’d convince my future bride that I was the man for her, that we were meant to be.
“Nole. Your phone’s ringing.” Dad alerted me. “It’s been ringing for the past few minutes.”
“Oh.” Tonight’s revelation was all that I could think of, which was not good. “Sorry, Dad.”
“You might want to call that person back. Obviously, someone wants you badly.”
The phone told me Cam had attempted to get a hold of me three times since morning. It was dead of night for her when she first tried to reach me. I called her immediately. “What’s up, Cam?”
“Where’ve you been, Nole? Have you not read any of my texts?”
“No. Where’s the fire?”
“The fire is in Los Angeles where you should be, Nolan. Have you forgotten our national debate tournament where you are the lead debater? We are supposed to meet today but I was told you’re in London. What’s going on? We only have a few weeks left to prepare.”
“Cam. We’ll be fine. We’re all ready.”
“What’s going on, Nole? You’re distracted and distant. What aren’t you telling me?” How had she known there was something wrong? I guess that’s why we were best friends.
Cammie Hillhurst and I met in undergrad and we became fast friends. Two years my senior, we were as opposite as night and day, black and white, summer and winter. Cam was the stereotypical homecoming queen, sorority girl, cheerleader, stunning California girl. I was the nerdy genius with thick glasses and an SAT-caliber vocabulary. Somehow, our love for debate brought two unlikely people together as the best of friends.
During our years in school, we spent an unusual amount of time together. Nobody understood our “relationship.” The frat guys wondered why she’d hang out with a geek rather than partying with them. The football players asked her out constantly but she always refused them for my company.
When I asked why she pushed everyone away, her answer remained constant. “I’d like a boy to like me for me, rather than for my looks. I want someone genuine like you, Nolan. When a sweet boy comes along and loves me for me, then I’ll date him.
Our friendship bled into all facets of my life. Cam came to holiday dinners at my parents’ when she didn’t head back home. In fact, Mom and Dad expected her at all our family functions. She had even vacationed with us a few times during our time in college.
Though I dressed funny, spoke differently than others, and found odd things in life fascinating, Cammie never tried to change me. She accepted me for who I was.
That was my best friend, Cam. I loved her for making me the best I could be.
“It’s nothing, Cam. I’ll be home in a few days and we’ll all get together for a few more practices.”
“When did you start keeping secrets from me, Nolan? I thought we were best friends. Where is your mind at?”
I’d never told Cam about Delilah. For some odd reason, I wanted to keep my future bride to myself. After I found out who tonight’s Delilah was, I’d tell Cam everything.
“Give me a few days, Cam. When I come home, I’ll tell you everything.”
“All right. I’m trusting you.” Her tone doubtful, the trust wasn’t quite there. It was my fault if she didn’t believe me.
“I’ll see you soon, Cam.”
“OK. Bye.”
It was time. I needed to go face the future. I’d put it off for too long.
“Dad. Let’s head out.”
“Already?”
“Yeah. My future awaits me at this reception.”
Dad looked at me as if I’d gone nuts. “OK, Son. Let’s go.”
Delilah—here I come.
Nolan: Why?
“Why are you so nervous, Son? What’s going on in that gigantic head of yours?”
“I think I messed up, Dad.”
“How so? What could you have done wrong enough to make you this jittery?” Dad veered us to the nearby coffee shop rather than hailing a cab for the engagement party. “Sit. Let’s talk before we meet Ronald. We’re too early, anyhow.” Once he ordered our coffee and settled the payment, he came back to our table and said, “Tell me why you haven’t been yourself since yesterday.”
“You noticed, huh?”
“Of course. Your mother and I both noticed. We were hoping you would say something. You’re a grown man so we don’t want to pry, but you’re also our only son. We worry when you don’t talk a mile a minute.” Dad kidded with a smile.
“Do you remember Delilah Taylor?”
“Somewhat. I remember she was a beautiful little girl with brainpower to match your own. I thought she was the perfect complement to you.”
“You thought so, too?”
“I did, but that was at age five. People change, Nole. It’s not fair to think she’ll still be that cute little blonde you saw seventeen years ago.”
“Delilah has remained the same, Dad. In f
act, you’re right when you say that she’s my other half. She and I have much in common.”
“How do you know all this if you haven’t kept in touch with her? You and Delilah come across one another at school functions? That can’t be. You never attended regular school until college and even then, you were much younger than most collegians.” Dad was figuratively scratching his head.
“How I kept in touch with her isn’t important. What is important is that I thought she was still the woman for me until yesterday.”
Dad stopped drinking his coffee and asked, “What happened yesterday to change your mind?”
“While meeting with Ronnie, he told me about Rhys’ engagement. That news made me want to crawl out of my skin, beat my head against the wall, and even yell in the middle of the restaurant. I was dying for relief and I won’t find it until I get to this engagement party.”
“Why were you about to go batshit crazy like that? That kind of behavior is unlike you.”
Only for a split second did I wonder if I should tell Dad. However, I needed to tell someone, and my father was the best person to talk to, man to man.
“Ronnie told me that Rhys is engaged to a blonde-haired, blue-eyed American girl named Delilah who comes from a big family.”
Dad had the same reaction I did. It started from incredulous to doubtful to worried. “Naw!” He declared a few times over. “It can’t be her.” He shook his head to support his “naw,” “no,” “nuh-uh,” and “damn!”
“I know, Dad,” was all I could say.
“There has to be at least a hundred-thousand girls with that name, Nole.”
“What about the fact that she’s from LA and has a large family?”
“Do you know how many people live in LA? Also, the word large is subjective. Who knows what large really means?”
Dad knew in his heart that Rhys’ Delilah might be the same as my Delilah.
“What do I do if she is one and the same?”
It took Dad a while to answer, “I think you need to back up and ask yourself, ‘why’ you want this girl to begin with, Son. Sure, she was smart and cute as a little girl. Even if she hasn’t changed and is beautiful and brilliant, you know nothing about her on the inside. Let’s say she’s the kindest girl on earth—that doesn’t make her right for you. You can’t commit yourself for life to a fantasy, Nole. Truly ask yourself, ‘why?’ you think she’s your future. If you can convince yourself, Delilah, your parents, and her family that you two were meant to be, then let’s talk.”
“I can’t quite answer why she’s the one for me, Dad—not yet. But, she is. In my heart, Delilah Taylor is my future.”
Dad shook his head at me. “What will you do if you find that the girl tonight is your future girl. Do you have a plan B?”
Wasn’t that the question of the century. “Drag her out of that engagement?”
“Shit,” Dad groaned. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
“I’m not, Dad.”
“Damn, Son. You might be declaring war on your buddy’s family.” Dad wasn’t happy. “Nole,” Dad almost begged, “Let’s assume Rhys’ Delilah is not your Delilah. Let’s finish our coffee, clear our heads, and walk into the party with happy thoughts. What say you, Son?”
“I say you’re right, Dad. There’s no point in assuming the worst. I’ll do as you say. We’ll go to this party, have a great time, but as soon as we get home, I’m heading to Reid Place and letting my intentions be known. No more hiding. I’m done admiring from afar. From here on out, I will woo Delilah Taylor.”
“You go, Nolan O. That’s my son.” Dad exclaimed proudly.
“Speaking of, let’s go and get this over with, Dad. I need to face the future now.”
Nolan: How (ya doing)?
“Damn, Nole. This is where your roommate’s brother is getting engaged?”
“I know, right, Dad? This hotel is the poshest one in town. Their family is loaded.”
“Apparently so, judging by the engagement party. How many people did you say were coming tonight?”
“I think upwards of one-hundred fifty. The future bride comes from a large family, I think. I’m not sure. Ronnie hasn’t said much other than the fact that he’d like for us to attend.”
“Too bad your mother couldn’t make it. She would have loved to have been here.”
“What can you do when, even at her age, your mother is a sought-after model?”
“Nothing but enjoy the perks of her job,” Dad answered with a grin.
This conversation may have been carried on with a devil-may-care attitude, but we were both nervous. The closer we got to the ballroom, the more ridiculous our conversation became.
“Did you say Ronnie’s family owned this hotel?”
“Yes, Dad. This hotel has been in the family for generations. It’s one of the oldest in the city.”
“It must be nice to be this rich.”
“Yeah, but I believe they’re all hard workers. They haven’t exactly been living it up off their trust funds.”
“Still, must be nice.” We arrived at the door and paused. Dad was first to say, “No matter what happens, no matter which Delilah is in the room, I want you to think with your head first. Use that big brain of yours and make good decisions.”
I nodded, walked in and looked for the bride-to-be. There were too many people for me to make any sense of what was happening. Before I spotted any of the Kent family, I heard, “Brendan? Is that you? Oh my gosh, is that little Nolan O’Shaughnessy?” Shit. I knew this lady. It was not a good sign that I remembered this pretty lady as Chloe Darcy Bennington and that she was related to the Reids.
“Chloe!” Dad greeted her warmly but not calmly. Brendan O was not a stupid man. He knew there was trouble ahead. “What brings you here? Are you with the soon-to-be groom side or bride’s side?” He was ferreting information for us.
“I assume you know the groom?” she asked with a chuckle. “Because for sure, I know Nole won’t be happy if he understands who the soon-to-be bride will be.” Ah damn! It was at this moment Dad and I knew the inevitable. As soon as Chloe said those words, everything happened at once.
I saw my future bride standing at the head of the table with her future husband who wasn’t me. I shouldn’t have done what I did, but I couldn’t help myself.
“Delilah Rose Taylor!” I called out from the back of the room as I hurried up to the head of the table. “I told you to wait for me because I was going to marry you one day!”
With that declaration, I grabbed the bride and kissed her like I did so many Christmases ago.
That was just the beginning of the chaos. The angry fiancé pulled me off my future bride and punched me hard in the face. My sweet bride-to-be, worried about my well-being, held onto me to make sure I didn’t fall. However, I did fall. In fact, we fell together and I made sure she fell on top of me so she wouldn’t get hurt.
