OK folks. I got this idea while finishing up 'The Affair'. I'm not really sure how this came to me, since angst is kind of foreign to me, but it did. Forewarning! Remember, its fiction…
Route 99
1. The Wedding
Saturday, June 21 2014
2:45 PM
Bushwell Plaza
The Shay Apartment
Carly is working on Sam's makeup. It is, after all one of the most important days in Sam's life. Today, at four in the afternoon, Samantha Puckett will wed Fredward Benson. Carly, the Maid of Honor, is already impeccable in her appearance, of course. Carly is nearly finished with Sam though, and she's glad of it. Sam wasn't ever one to like to get 'made up'. She has voiced her opinion regularly over the past hour Carly has been touching up here and there.
Carly's finished… "Stand up, Sam. Let's get a look at you."
Their friend Wendy, a Bride's Maid, steps in the front room of the Shay apartment to help straighten the bride's gown and take a few pictures with her digital camera. The gown is beyond beautiful. It's a Stretch Satin fitted A-line gown featuring delicate braided shoulder straps echoed in triplicate at the empire waist and at the back. Samantha is a vision. Even Sam smiles while looking at her reflection in the mirror.
"Damn" is all she says.
Wendy takes the photo's and reminds them that they should be getting to the church for the official wedding pictures.
"Oh, that's OK" said Sam "I asked the photographer to wait to take the photographs until after the ceremony."
"Oh" Carly and Wendy said, not quite simultaneously.
"Why would you do that?" asked Carly.
"Freddie has ordered a limo for after the wedding. I wanted to get some pictures in it and around it. In fact, he has them picking me up so I don't have to drive his car or mine to the wedding. This way the gown won't wrinkle."
"Oh! Good idea! But we'll need a car, so you're going to wait here by yourself for the limo?" Carly asked.
"That's the plan, Carl's. OK, give me a hug, and you two had better get going! Don't you dare be late to my wedding!"
Saturday, June 21 2014
3:30 PM
Philadelphia Church of Seattle
The Bridegroom and Best Man were fidgety and nervous. Not so much because of the upcoming ceremony, their nerves were due entirely to the Grooms mother, Mrs. Benson, driving them insane. She was re-doing their ties, waistcoats, checking their shoe's polish and a thousand other items. What finally broke the camels back was when Spenser, the Best Man, needed to use the restroom. Mrs. Benson began to follow him in, claiming she didn't want to see the pants get wrinkled.
"MOM! MOM! .THERE! You are not following him into the bathroom. Go out and take your place with the wedding party, we'll be starting soon."
"But Freddie, you might need me for…"
"Mother, go, now please…"
Mrs. Benson gave her son a sad look, turned and went to join the rest of the party waiting in the chapel. As she opened the door, a boy of about twelve or thirteen stood, ready to knock.
"Is there a Fredward Benson in here?" he asked.
"That's him, there." Mrs. Benson replied, pointing out her son.
Freddie looked at the young fellow as he approached.
"Mr. Fredward Benson?" he asked.
"That's me." Freddie said.
"Then this is for you, sir." He said as he gave Freddie an envelope.
Without saying another word, the boy turned and walked out of the room. Fred looked at the envelope, ready to open it, when Spencer came out of the restroom.
"Hey, Freddie, will you chinch this waistcoat back up for me? I can't reach the belts."
Freddie stuffed the envelope in his coat pocket and stepped over to help Spencer.
Saturday, June 21 2014
3:50 PM
Philadelphia Church of Seattle
Freddie and Spencer are still waiting to start, stuck in the anti chamber. Both men still seem a bit nervous, but after all, one of them is the leading man in this production. Carly knocks, and then comes in, looking around the room.
"My, aren't you two handsome! Freddie, what time was the limo supposed to pick up Sam? It's nearly four."
"What limo? You guys got us a limo?"
"No silly, the one you ordered to bring Sam here and for after the ceremony."
Freddie looked confused. He turned to Spencer; "got any idea what she's talking about?"
Spencer shrugged his shoulders, and turned to his sister. Freddie walked over toward her;
"Carly, I didn't order a limo for Sam. We didn't even discuss anything like that. Who told you that?" Freddie asked.
"Sam did, just a while ago. She told Wendy and me both that."
"No…" Freddie mumbled, his face going grey.
He ran out of the small room, through the side doors and out to where his car was parked. He got in his car, and sped away.
Carly sent Spencer to find Freddie's mom, while she waited at the Benson's mini van franticly dialing Sam's then Freddie's number on her cell phone. She dialed again and again, dialing repeatedly. No answer. Mrs. Benson finally arrived with Spenser and they drove back to the apartment building.
They found Freddie sitting on his bed, rocking back and forth, clutching Sam's wedding gown. He was oblivious to them. Mrs. Benson noticed the envelope and note lying on the floor. She picked it up, read it and collapsed in a corner of her son's bedroom. Carly was still trying to get Freddie out of his trance. Spenser picked up the note and read:
Freddie,
I'm so sorry, but I just can't do this right now. I do truly love you, but I can't. I will be back, please wait for me. I promise I'll be back, and I will try to make it up to you.
Love, Sam
Freddie looked up at Carly.
"She's gone…" is all he said.
This story is going to get very dark soon. If you don't like that type of thing, stop here.