I awoke the next morning with a new found confidence that things were really going to be alright in the end. Listening to the breeze from the window, I laid in bed for a few more minutes enjoying Fulton's arms around my waist. I turned my head to look at him, I really didn't want to get up yet. The morning was quiet, as the house lay deserted; everyone was sleeping in this morning. I slowly stood from the bed, as not to wake my future husband. He had been so tired lately with everything he had to do. The muscles in my side were cramped up from the position I had chosen to sleep in and I stretched from side to side, leaning back to glance at his sleeping face. Fulton had pulled the pillow over his head and moved to lay on his stomach, arm outstretched to my side of the bed. I smiled to myself; he was so cute when he slept. Too bad, I had to wake him; we had a lot to get done today.
"Sweetie?" I questioned, crawling back onto the edge of the bed, the soft linens grazing my exposed kneecaps. I got closer and peeked under the pillow to find his eyes open and looking back at me. His arms shot out and snaked around my waist before I could move, pulling me back into the soft comforts of the blanket. I laughed, looking up into his chocolate orbs and smiled. He smiled too, placing a soft kiss on my lips and pulling the pillow back over our faces to hide us from the rest of the world..
"Morning." He whispered.
"Morning, when did you wake up?" I asked, placing my hands on his arms that were wrapped around me and stroking his upper arm.
"When you got up." He whispered, kissing me again and bringing one of his hands up to my golden locks to gently rub my temple with his thumb. I smiled against his lips and brought my hand up to his face, pushing the hair that was falling into his face back behind his ear.
"I really love you." He whispered into my ear as we lay there, holding each other.
"I really love you too...and I can't wait to be your wife." He smiled brightly and brought his lips down on mine again, tangling his fingers in my hair.
"You think my Mother's still asleep?" He questioned. I laughed again, biting my lip in contemplation.
"I don't know." I said mischievously. A moan from the other side of our door confirmed that she was indeed awake and back to playing sick. I sighed; I guess she doesn't want to leave.
"I guess she's awake." He mumbled as we laughed together. I softly touched my fore finger to his lips and my bit my bottom lip in nervousness. I had never really been a seductress but I was learning fast.
"Tonight?" I asked, hopeful. He laughed, running his hand from my hair and down my bare arm.
"Absolutely." We started to kiss again and Eve's mumbling could be heard.
"I should go see how she is." I mumbled, breaking away from his kiss and getting up. The mood was completely lost again because of that woman. He lay back down and I grabbed my robe to start my morning routine. Peaking him on the lips, I left the room, closing the door behind me.
The hall was cold for an early September day, but we are in Minnesota I reasoned, making my way across the hall to Eve's room. The door sat slightly open and I peered in, hoping to find her bag packed and ready to leave. No such luck, everything sat in the same position it had the day before. Pushing the door open a little, Eve sat facing away from the door on the floor with a stream of candles surrounding her. If I had to guess, it looked like some black magic and Eve was the witch but instead she sat mumbling to herself. I doubt she'd go as far as to put a curse on me.
"What are you doing?" I asked, confusion written on my face.
"I'm meditating, it helps relax me, if you don't mind." She said motioning for me to leave.
"You better get back in bed, Fulton's up, he might catch you." I mocked a little, picking up the dishes on the bedside table and headed for the door. She didn't move but continued to mumble to herself. "Fine, suit yourself. Let him come find you." I said heading out of the room and towards the stairs. She stood after a moment and followed me into the hall.
"Just who do you think you are?" She sniped at me. I turned to look at her,
"You better get back in your room before you blow your cover." I warned, a hint of enjoyment at the edge I now held over Eve. Her face reddened with unrelenting anger.
"I'm not leaving!" She announced, turning in a huff and heading back for her room, slamming the door in the process. Fulton stuck his head out of our door and looked at me,
"Everything alright?" He asked.
"Your Mother got the feeling back in her legs. She's walking around, Isn't it great!" I told him, heading down the stairs. He looked at her door and headed across the hall to check on her.
"Mom?" I heard him ask from the bottom of the stairs. I quickly dumped the dishes in the sink, I'd do them later and sighed, heading for the large couch in the living room. I plopping down on it before grabbing the phone and trying to remember a number. I assumed everything was alright upstairs as there was no shouting or slamming of doors, so I guessed it was safe to use the phone. The wedding planner Scott and I had used was great, so I quickly dialed the number from memory. The line rang once before someone picked it up.
"Melissa's Wedding Boutique." A soft voice answered.
"Hi, I'm not sure you remember me, my name is Tammy Duncan, you planned my first wedding last June..." She let out an annoying shriek of laughter, I had to hold the phone away from my ear.
"Of course I do, how are you Miss Duncan?" She laughed. I chuckled a little at her Brooklyn accent,
"I'm fine. Great actually. I'm calling because I'd like you to do my wedding coming up in November." She laughed slightly,
"Wow, two weddings in one year. You must be a very popular girl." She joked as I tried to make sense of the joke. I brushed it off and continued,
"Right, so I was wondering if you would have any time today to meet with my fiancé and I to look at some arrangements?"
"Oh, yes, of course...I have an 11:00am. Will that do? I can always push a couple back for you." She said. I groaned at the special treatment she was giving me. It was because of the high profile of the last wedding. Trust me, this wedding wasn't going to be like that.
"No, that won't be necessary, 11:00 will be fine."
"Alrighty, sweetie so I'll see ya then. You have yourself a nice morning." She said as I mumbled a good-bye and hung up the phone. She was a little eccentric but she was an excellent wedding planner. I put the cordless phone back on the hook and stood to make my way to the kitchen.
Madison came bounding down the stairs, her hair standing up on one side, no doubt from all the hair products she usually used.
"Morning." I said as she let out a groan and stumbled down the rest of the stairs and into the kitchen, sitting on one of the stools. She really wasn't looking that healthy lately. All the color had left her usually rose-colored cheeks and her hair, which was usually a vibrant red, now looked to be a brassy auburn. I wanted to ask what was going on...besides her mother turning her back on her completely...but I was afraid to ask. I found my self staring at her as I began to wash the dishes. I looked away, staring out the window.
"So I talked to Eve. " I started a conversation hoping to get her to talk. She groaned a little, moving off the stool and walking to the refrigerator, sticking her head in the open door. I watched her with curiosity before she turned around, ice cream in her right hand. I quickly looked away, as to not let her know I was staring at her behavior again.
"Madison...I don't mean to butt in but...you're going to get…."I paused trying to find the right word. "Big if you keep eating that way." I told her, trying not to sound rude but helpful.
"Shut up, Tammy. Just because you're perfect. I'm going to get fat anyway." She yelled at me. I quieted and looked down continuing with the dishes. I finished the few that were there and began to make an attempt at making breakfast. Maybe I'd try a more tactful approach,
"What's wrong, sweetie?" I asked, in my best motherly tone. She stabbed her spoon into the ice cream and for a minute I thought she was ready to jump down my throat for even asking such a question. Instead her face turned up into a grimace and she let out a sob.
"Oh, Maddie. I didn't...I didn't mean to." I tried to explain myself and at the same time comfort her but it wasn't working, she started to cry more.
"I am going to get fat and I'm going to get ugly." She whined as I rubbed her back. Portman and Fulton entered the kitchen at that point, looking at the two of us standing in the middle of the room. Portman's face turned to one of concern and he rushed to her side, grabbing her shoulders.
"What did you do to her?" He asked pushing me out of the way and into Fulton's arms.
"I...I didn't do anything." I continued to try to explain myself. It was irrational, they way they were acting. Portman took her head in his palms, facing her towards him.
"Madison, what's wrong?"
"I'm going to get fat and ugly. Tammy said so." She whined.
"I did not!" I raised my voice in defense. Portman shook his head,
"No, you're not ugly or fat." He reassured her. Fulton was finding the whole situation rather funny and let out a small laugh. Portman shot him a dirty look.
"You want to get me in trouble?" He mouthed to him. Madison cried more,
"You're right...I'm a bitch too. I may not be fat yet but I will be!" She cried. This was the first time I'd seen Madison Evans shed a single tear about anything.
"No, no one thinks that!" He said helping her up from her chair. "Thanks for all the help guys." He mumbled, leading her out of the room. Fulton and I looked at each other and let out a small laugh as the smoke alarm started to go off, I'd burnt breakfast again.
The morning was quiet except the occasional whine from the top of the stairs. Fulton was taking care of her today to take the stress off of me. Eve had finally admitted she could walk but was playing up the fact that she still was having trouble. On the third time she whined it was already 10:30. We were going to be late.
"Fulton, I really need my pills!" She acted as I stood in the doorway and watched him wait on her. I was actually a little annoyed that I couldn't say something; she kept shooting me dirty looks every time he looked away.
"Fulton. We really have to go." I reminded him bouncing from one foot to the other in nervousness.
"Yeah, I'm ready." He said plugging in Eve's laptop for her.
"Where are you two off to?" She asked curiously. I shook my head at her, as if to say, don't even try it.
"Oh, we're just going down to that wedding planner's shop in town." He said facing away from me.
"Melissa's?" She questioned, eyes lighting up. I wondered what tricks she was pulling out of her sleeve. I hoped she didn't find a way to get Fulton to take her with us.
"Yes, Melissa Burns." I questioned, looking at her suspiciously.
"Oh, Fulton, tell her I said hello...would you...since I'm bound to this room and all." She chuckled to herself.
"How do you know Melissa?" I asked, curiosity setting in.
"Oh, Fulton never told you? Oh, Tammy, Melissa was Fulton's girlfriend in high school." My face dropped as I looked back at Fulton. His eyes stared back at me,
"It wasn't like that. We went out on a couple of dates. She was one of the neighbor's kids. I wasn't like we…." He tried to explain as I shot my hand up to stop him,
"Oh." My lips formed, turning on my heels, I made it out the door in one motion. I tightened my lips to my teeth as I headed down the stairs and through the house. So this was what jealously felt like. I had never felt this angry before, this betrayed. I could almost guarantee that Eve now had a smile plastered on her face. I would deal with her later.
"Tammy!" His voice was behind me. I rushed out the back door without a second thought, rushing past Madison and Portman who were seated on the back step. I didn't stop until I was at the edge of the lake and then I burst into tears. Was it selfish of me to think that I was the only one Fulton ever wanted, ever thought about, ever loved? I'd never been presented with the idea that someone else could have been there for Fulton in my absence. Someone else kissing him, someone else in love with him, no, I didn't want to think about anything else. How could he not tell me, he told me I was the only one he ever wanted! Did he lie? Was this all a lie and I was the fool? My thoughts were interrupted as his hands found my shoulders turning me to him. I buried my face in his shoulder. I couldn't let him see how upset I was. This was so stupid that I would jealous of someone that had come and gone. I knew this deep down but I couldn't help feeling that twinge in my heart that someone may have been in his heart besides me. God, I was so stupid to leave and now I was paying for it.
"I'm sorry..." I began apologizing before he could get a word in. He laughed a little and cupped my face with his hands.
"Tammy, I'm the one who should be sorry. I should have told you. I didn't because I didn't even consider her a girlfriend; we only went on a couple of dates. I love you. You are all I thought about for 7 years, she was just a distraction." He whispered. I suddenly felt even stupid and I tried to stop the mental pictures that were making me tear up. If I didn't think I wouldn't cry,
"Hey...I love you. Not anyone else, ever." He reassured me. I nodded as best I could and pressed my lips to his to tell him I was sorry for being upset.
"I don't know why my mother felt the need to bring that up and get you all upset." He questioned. I knew why but I wasn't going to tell him just yet, I wanted to have my own talk with Eve when we got back.
