Writer's Note: I just wanted to thank you all for the positive comments, and the constructive comments. I love the fact that people are enjoying this despite some of the OC moments that I know pop up, it makes me feel great to hear that you all like it and look forward to reading the next chapter. Since I can't thank you all personally, as I don't want to spam inboxes or some have IM's disabled I just thought I'd thank my readers here. So Thank You All! Also just a warning now Kathy dose become really out of character from what some people expect in the next two chapters, and I apologize if it upsets anyone as I am a Kathy fan myself, but it keep the story interesting so I hope you will all bare with me and still enjoy.
Chapter 7: Beautiful Wedding
The snow was falling gently on the day of Renee and Toby's wedding as I dressed for the occasion. I had still had a special calf length sterling silver colored dress made despite my choice to not be in the wedding, and despite not wanting to listen to Kathy's words about the gloves for my scared up hands, they still rattled around in my mind as I slipped on a pair of wrist length silky gloves that were just a touch darker then my dress. As I placed a headband in my hair to hold it out of my face I looked at the simple spaghetti strap dress that made several criss crosses in the back and had an intricate lace design around the waist. I loved the simpleness of the dress that clung to my body gently, now I only wished I still had that ruby necklace to complete the look. Of course I wouldn't let that stop me from trying to complete the look as I whipped out some makeup to place on my eyes and lips, being slightly allergic to the stuff I decided it was safest to place it just on those two spots.
Sighing softly I placed a thick wrap around my shoulders and started out, grateful that the path was beaten down by other peoples shoe prints, so that I didn't have to walk through several feet of snow in the small heeled shoes that I wore. Making my way to the church I shivered slightly in the cold, as lonely thoughts echoed in my head, I didn't bother to notice the person making a bee line straight for me until I nearly bumped into them. Giving a gasp I looked up to offer an apology when I came face to face with Chase who tilted his head at me, his amethyst eyes curious. "I'm sorry Chase! Are you alright?" I probably should have been more concerned with myself as my foot wound up in a freezing cold and wet snow bank.
"It's alright you just looked like you could use company is all. Here let me help." He noticed me struggling to pull my leg out as it had sunk into the soft snow pretty deep. Offering me a hand I took it as he pulled me free, the force of the pull sent me against his chest as his arms wrapped around me to keep us both balanced.
"T-thanks…" I gave an embarrassed murmur as I kept my gaze down, not wanting him to see the pink that tinted my cheeks now.
"No problem… sorry if I pulled a little hard." He responded to my tone by letting me free of his grasp. While I felt relieved I also felt the chill air catch me off guard as I shivered slightly. However ignoring it as best I could I looked up at Chase and smiled, surprised to see the surprised look on his face as he looked at mine. I know that I didn't wear makeup often… nearly at all but I didn't think it made me look that different.
"You okay?" I asked looking at his shocked face as I heard him swallow and give a small nod of his head.
"You… look different with makeup on… it looks nice, the entire outfit dose too." He murmured still staring at me with a surprised look, I was starting to get uncomfortable with the constant stare.
"Well I'm heading to the chapel for Renee's wedding… were you heading that way? If so we could always walk together." I suggested as he gave a nod finally breaking eye contact with me as we started walking in silence, although that uncomfortable feeling still stayed.
As we walked into the church I gave a slight bow of my head as I smiled and left Chase to sit closer to the front. Renee had requested that if I wouldn't be in her wedding I would at least sit in the front row as her guest, of course it still made me feel so out of place as I walked past Hanna and smiled to her before sitting down on the end. I watched as the older woman dabbed the corner of her eyes slightly. Hanna wasn't the weepiest person I had ever met but it was nice to see she was happy enough to cry for her daughter. "How are you holding up Hanna?" I asked softly in case she didn't want to talk. The woman looked over at me with a watery smile.
"Well… just thinking about how my one and only daughter is growing up so fast. It's not a bad thing, and Toby is such a nice young man, but I just can't help but hope that my Renee is happy." She murmured in a low voice that cracked slightly from the tears.
"I understand Hanna. But try not to worry too much about Renee's happiness. She is your daughter after all and she knows what she wants." I placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as she looked to me again with the weak smile on her face.
"Thanks Juliet… I just want her to be as happy as her father and I have been since we got married." She responded before growing quiet as Mira began to play the organ gently I watched as the Best Man and the groomsmen made their way up to the podium that Hamilton stood behind.
My breath caught in my chest as I saw him making his way up the aisle; apparently Toby had asked him to be a groomsman for the wedding. My chest ached slightly as I stared at the nervous face that Owen had. He stood there in a black vest with a white dress shirt a black tie and black pants, all of that seemed to look foreign on the red head. I watched as his eyes fell on me, I noticed his body physically tense up as he took in my appearance and I felt as if maybe I had been walking on clouds as I saw a familiar look enter his eyes… it was similar to the one he had on my birthday as he stood gazing at the necklace that had adorn my upper chest.
Feeling my breathing quicken I forced myself to look away, Kathy had him… I had to remember that he was Kathy's and I wasn't going to intentionally try to break them up as much as my heart ached for him at this very moment.
The wedding was beautiful, unfortunately I couldn't watch all of it as Owen's eyes kept meeting my own making me long for the man even more. Cursing my heart the entire time I tried my best to focus on the wedding at hand. Tears built up in my eyes as I listened to the two exchange vows they had written themselves, it was beautiful to hear the words that came from both the bride and groom as I found myself wiping away a small tear from the corner of my eye. As the newlyweds shared their bonding kiss as husband and wife a loud round of applause was given as the guests rose to their feet as the two ran out of the church towards the inn where the reception was to be held.
I was one of the last people to leave, not because I didn't want to congratulate the couple but I wanted to avoid Owen and Kathy for as long as possible, however I discovered it's hard to hide from everyone as I looked up watching Calvin approach me. I hadn't really seen him for a while, ever since the accident in the mines that made Phoebe start speaking to him again I had been avoiding him so that he would have time to figure stuff out. Well maybe it was really for me to figure stuff out, and I realized I no longer had feelings for him, I had moved on and I wanted him to as well. "Hey Cal." I said in a low voice giving him a wave as he grinned and approached.
"Hey there beautiful how've you been?" He asked grinning as I shrugged my shoulders.
"Moving along, keeping busy, you know normal farmer stuff. How are your injuries healing? You look a lot better than the last time I saw you." I commented crossing my arms subconsciously as I tilted my head at him.
"Yeah definitely better than last time. I… wanted to thank you… well Phoebe and I both but she's not as vocal as I am. Anyways, we've patched things up thanks to you and so… well thanks for everything and I'm sorry if I was coming on to you a little strong. I hope you'll still want to be friends yet." He looked at me with a bit of a shy gaze as I smiled slight feeling relieved as I mentally released a breath I had been holding.
"No worries Cal, sometimes I'm a farmer, sometimes I'm a miner and sometimes I'm cupid. I'm just glad you two patched things up, and I hope I'm invited to the wedding." I responded giving a slight laugh and winking at him before leaving the church, him and I being the last two in there. As I exited I saw Phoebe standing there shyly waiting for him. Pausing I looked to her before giving a slight smile. "I'm happy for the two of you. Good luck." I cast her a small smile before leaving for the inn where lunch was at.
"Th-thank you!" she called after me as I looked back and waved before heading down through the snow, thankful that everyone ahead of me had packed down the snow. It wasn't long before I made my way into the building, grateful that despite the snow flurries in the air it was still warmer out then it had been. I saw many of the towns people already sitting down and eating the great food, at least I assumed it was edible. Looking back behind the counter I gave a silent sigh and smiled as Yolanda moved busily around the kitchen and Maya was nowhere in sight. Giving a slight sigh I sat down at a table that had been moved to the corner, knowing that I would wait a bit longer to get up to the counter to order myself some lunch. As I sat there listening to the mayor announce the dances that were taking place, the first dance that Renee and Toby had, the father daughter dance, and a few others that were rattled off I sat sipping water from the glass that had been placed on the table.
"Hey… you can't be the only one not getting a chance to dance…" A voice commented from behind me. Tilting my head back I came face to face with Chase, the corners of his mouth were lifted up in a small smile.
"I'm… not much of a dancer." I commented blushing brightly.
"Neither am I, so let's be a pair." He suggested offering his hand to me. I found myself taking it hesitantly before standing as a few other couples stood in the dance floor enjoying a slow dance. Gently I wrapped one hand around his waist as the other rested on his shoulder while he mimicked the hold on me. "You seem so down lately, what's going on Juliet?" He asked seriously as he looked at my face that fell slightly.
"Just… guy issues…" I mumbled looking away. I noted that he glanced off to the side at Owen before his amethyst eyes arched my way. Why did things have to be so complicated?
"Well… do you need a friend… or… someone else?" he asked sounding like he wasn't sure how to help me as I managed a small laugh before sighing.
"Right now, I think a friend will do fine… I'm not looking for anything else, just a shoulder to lean on…" I mumbled feeling sadness well up inside of me, I felt him gently push my head so that it was resting on his shoulder.
"I know it's not what you meant, but it is a shoulder to lean on if you need it…" he whispered in a low voice in my ear. I was grateful that he was trying to be a friend not a boy friend… I couldn't change the fact that there was really only one guy I wanted for that… yet I knew eventually I'd have to get over him too and move on… whether that meant by myself or finding someone else I wasn't sure. I felt my body finally start to relax from its uptight zone as I rested gently on Chase's shoulder until I heard someone approaching. My body tensed up again, because even without his boots Owen still had a particular walk that I recognized.
"Mind if I cut in? Just for the rest of this song then you can have her back." He asked in a low voice as we stopped and I looked over at him as Chase glanced between the two of us, his grip on me a little bit tighter just in case I declined. Looking back to him I smiled slightly happy to have his security but… I knew we should take care of this now.
"Do you mind? Just for the rest of this song, then you can have your no talent dancing partner back." I smiled as he gave a slight chuckle his grip loosening on me as his hands fell to his sides.
"Alright, but keep in mind, you've always got a shoulder." He grinned before letting the grin fade as he glanced back to Owen and then left.
"Are you and him…"
"He's being a good friend to me now when I really need one most. Sometimes they're the only things that can get you through a difficult situation." I commented sharply to stop his assumption before turning back to him and gently placing my arms in the same hold I had done with Chase, my eyes however remained glued to the floor. "Kathy's not going to come over here and start something is she? I don't think I can handle that today. I'm trying really hard not to go off on her…" I mumbled slightly as we swayed to the song.
"She's actually working right now as the drink waitress… as far as I know she won't make her way over here… what did she say about your hands?" He asked so suddenly, changing the topic that it took me a second to realize what he was talking about. Quickly it dawned on me and I sighed.
"When I was leaving the Tailors to talk to Renee she mentioned that I should make sure they do an outfit with gloves to cover my farmer scarred hands…" I growled slightly, still angry about the comment as Owen glanced at my hands before back to me.
"And you listened to her?" He sounded astonished and a little irritated as he stopped dancing and gently began to remove the gloves that covered my hands before slipping them in his pocket to give back after the dance. "You shouldn't have listened to her. You're hands are very beautiful, and a little work wear shows just how dedicated you are… I'd rather see your hands bare than covered." His comment struck me as a little bold. Apparently he had learned to express his opinions a little better. I couldn't help but issue a small smile and look up at him. That was a mistake; I simply looked up and found myself lost in his brown gaze as he looked down at me.
"By the way, it wasn't nice to give me that look today." I managed to speak still staring at him with my brown eyes. I watched as he tilted his head to the side somewhat and cast a puzzled frown my way.
"What look?" he finally asked still puzzled.
"It was the same look you had on your face on my birthday when you were staring at my reflection in the mirror." I responded feeling my cheeks grow warm, we were a lot closer during this dance than I thought and I just now realized the heat I felt radiating off of his body. He blinked his eyes in thought and then I watched as that same look slowly entered his eyes, probably at the memory of my birthday.
"I guess I didn't realize I had a look but you did look beautiful with that necklace on…" he commented as a small smile played at the corners of his mouth.
"The same necklace you gave to Kathy…" I reminded him feeling hurt start to build up in me.
"Heh, heh so I fooled you too? I knew I had fooled Kathy when I gave it to her. That wasn't your necklace, I kept that one even if it hurt to see it on my nightstand or in the drawer. I gave Kathy a second one that I had crafted… I feel kind of bad because I couldn't put the same passionate detail into the design of that one as I did to yours and the gem wasn't as high quality as yours was. She kept begging me to make her one though. I'm not the jeweler though… that's Julius." He commented as my mouth dropped open some in surprise.
Suddenly I clenched my teeth as I felt something cold and wet spill down the side of my dress. My hands were clenched tightly at my sides as I looked down to see a deep red color staining the side of my dress. As my eyes glanced up I saw Kathy standing there with her hand over her mouth. "Oh Juliet! I'm sooooo sorry." She said in the most apologetic tone she could manage, but I saw that her eyes were dancing with laughter and malice at the situation. I felt my whole body begin to shake and I knew that there were a lot of people staring at me at the moment.
"C-can't ruin Renee's wedding… she's my best friend… can't throw a punch… don't… do… anything… you'll regret." I was trying to process the thoughts that went through my mind as I felt my teeth clench hard and I tried to resist everything my body was suggesting about dukeing it out with this witch in front of me. Suddenly a little smile appeared on my face as my eyes blazed with anger.
"Don't worry about it, not everyone has the coordination to be a waitress, I guess you just need more practice before serving at an event like this. Maybe next time you'll be able to do it." I insulted her as much as I dared to do in front of everyone in the sweetest voice I could manage before turning on my heel and walking out of the door to the inn. I couldn't stand to be there any longer, and I only hoped that Renee would accept my congratulation's when she and Toby got back from their honeymoon.
