"Look! Here comes the happy couple now!" Aubrey's shrill voice rang out above the gentle murmur of the crowd and the small string quartet sitting in the corner providing just enough ambiance to keep the space filled and lively.
The large parlor was filled with family and friends, and others that Jude didn't recognize, most likely people from Tommy's past, a feeling of isolation took a hold of her heart as she looked around, desperately searching for a familiar face to go and congregate with. She just wanted to mingle, plaster on the face smile everyone wanted to see, and go and curl up into her hotel bed with a box of chocolates and a chick flick. Maybe she'd ask Mason to come over for a little bit too. They could talk about how much they hated men together.
All eyes turned to Jude and Tommy as the descended onto the crowd from the grand staircase. Clapping and cheers rung out and instinctively Tommy reached out for Jude's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze and he glanced at her from the corner of his eye, catching the large calming breath she took before flashing the crowd the smile they all gathered to see.
Standing in the crowd, you'd never be able to notice their shamble of a relationship that stood as the couple before everyone. They smiled brightly, their fingers intertwined, and they stood in a proximity that only a couple would. The dim lighting hid the fact that their eyes were dead, and their smiles never moved past their lips.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, they were quickly engulfed in hugs and well wishes by friends and family, pulled in separate directions, Jude was dragged off by her close family friends and Tommy by his. He carefully gave her a look to see if she was okay, but she averted her eyes, keeping them downcast and avoiding his gaze.
"Do you want a drink?" Jamie's voice broke through her reverie and she shook her head, snapping herself out of the moment.
"I, would love a drink." A waiter passed with a tray of champagne flutes and he deftly snatched two as he passed, "For you m'dear."
"My hero, as always." She smiled at him carefully and took the crystal flute form him, easily downing half of the drink in one sip.
"Woah there missy, slow down. We need you to be as gracious as ever tonight." His arm wrapped around her waist in a friendly gesture, "You okay, Jude?"
"Oh, I'll be fine. Just need to get through tonight, and go back to my room with a box of chocolates from the gift shop and snuggle with Mason while we watch a sappy chick flick."
"Well if you need anything-" Jamie stopped short, looking over Jude's shoulder, he acknowledged Tommy with a nod of his head, "you know where to find me, but I think someone is waiting to introduce you to the family."
Jude turned around to be face to face with Tommy, his eyes calm and begging for her to help them get through the night without incident.
She nodded slightly without saying a word and let him take her hand in his as he guided her towards the awaiting friends and family. Nearing a group of people nestled in a corner, Jude recognized Anna chatting away animatedly with a few other women close in age.
"Jude, darling!" Anna perked up even more, if possible at the sight of Jude. "Claire, Beatrice, this is the Thomas' wonderful fiancé, Jude." They all greeted her warmly, each woman a perfect replica of Anna, their grey hair pristinely set atop their heads, not a strand would dare to move or fall out of place.
"It's so nice to meet all of you." Jude reciprocated remotely, her smile slightly faltered. Anna was the only one to notice and she nodded reassuringly.
"We've all heard so much about you from Anna, she says you're an absolute doll." Beatrice leaned in next to Jude's ear, "And that you know how to keep your young man in line." She pulled away and winked. Jude laughed uneasily and took another large sip of her champagne, finishing off her glass just as another waiter passed by and she quickly switched out her glass for a new one.
"Well we'll leave you two love birds to be, I'm sure you have plenty of people to meet, Jude, it was lovely to meet you and we'll see you at the wedding, of course."
"Of course." The smile was back, and Tommy swept her away from the three older women.
"Jude, Thomas!" Jude flinched as she recognized the voice, like nails on a chalk board. Aubrey and her entourage of 3 others met the pair in the middle of the room, weak smiles on their faces as Tommy's mother neared them.
"How is the happy couple?" Aubrey's voice was laced with saccharine disdain.
"We're fine, mother." Tommy's hand left Jude's and his arm wrapped around her waist, possessively.
"Jude, I'd like you to meet my sisters and brother. This is Ariel, Charles, and Isabelle. I've made sure to tell them all about you." Her voice drawled out, and her intended meaning was clearly conveyed.
"Oh, only good things I hope." She gave a faltered laugh when Aubrey gave her a pointed laugh and quickly halted her forced chuckle.
"It was what I believe to be an honest mixture." Aubrey gave a tight lipped smirk before turning to one of the sisters, "Isabelle, I don't think I told you," She turned to the rail thin sister, her hair pulled back in a tight twist and she looked as frigid and cold as her sister.
"Now Jude, Jude sings for a living. So, it makes perfect sense for Thomas to marry her." Her hand waved around loftily as if neither Tommy nor Jude existed at the moment. "She is honestly, worth nothing other than her money, so I assume Thomas is with her since he's run through all of his father's inheritance and his silly career in music has long since passed."
Everything froze around Jude and the chatter, laughter and music all faded away as Aubrey continued to babble on. She barely felt Tommy's grip tighten around her waist. The flute of champagne slipped from her fingers and she watched in amazement it slowly fell to the floor.
The crystal flute splintered into tiny shards, the light catching the facets from every side. As the sparkling liquid splattered against the floor, time caught up when Aubrey let out a shrill scream as it hit the silk fabric of her dress.
Jude felt hot tears drip down her cheeks as she wordlessly pulled away from Tommy and pushed herself through the crowd, not caring who was in her way. The room was suffocating and she felt as if everyone was closing in on her. Finally making it to the kitchen, she scared the staff, as she ran through heading for the back door.
Finally making it outside, she kicked off her gold heels and held them in one hand, quickly making it to the center of the garden that Anna had shown her before. No one would be able to find her there. The air was warm and heavy as it clung around her, the smell of rain was in the air.
Winding her way through the tall hedges, the air was heavily perfumed with the blooming roses, She wiped the tears from her eyes and continued as she tried to reach the center of the garden. Finally, the benches came into view and the fountain in the center was lit, the trickling sound of water could be heard as it softy cascaded down into lower basins.
Sitting down on one of the stone benches, she dropped the heels on the ground next to her and rested her head in her hands, the tears flowly freely. So that's what Aubrey really thought of their relationship.
An easy way for Tommy to make money. Well it wouldn't matter now. They were all but over at the moment.
The sound of crunching gravel alerted her of the presence of another person, her head snapped up, and she quickly wiped her eyes again, trying to wipe away the running mascara. The lighting of the fountain revealed Tommy, his hands in his pockets as he stood at the entrance of the garden center. He felt a drop of rain hit his face and the scene before him was all too familiar.
"I'm probably going to be disowned by my mother's side of the family." He tentatively walked towards her.
"I'd hate for that to happen on account of a failing relationship. Just go back, tell them that it's over. I'm tired Tommy," A new wave of tears cascaded down her cheeks, mingling with the falling drops of rain, "I'm so tired of the lies, just go be honest with someone, please. Even if it's not me. Just go and tell them." Her voice broke with the sobs that overtook her body.
He felt a pang of guilt, knowing that he caused this to happen, and there was nothing he could say to make himself believe differently. Making his way towards Jude, he knelt in front of her, taking a hold of her hands within his own.
"None of them knew," his words were tentative, as he saw her study the way her hands looked held in his own. "They all just assumed I was my fathers. Even he didn't know. Never did either. He died not knowing." A crack of lightning lit the sky and the clouds opened up, the rain now falling in a steady rhythm.
"He asked me to take care of my family, on his death bed. That's all he wanted from me. To be happy, find a love of my own, and never forget my family. He left his entire inheritance to me, and I used it to take care of my mother, and everyone else."
Jude lifted her head, looking at the pain in his eyes, "Tommy, I-" He shook his head, the rain still falling steadily, neither of them noticing or bothered by it.
"Every penny I got, went back to her. She was the one who spent it all. It looked like I just ran off with his money, forgetting everyone, but every check that I wrote and sent was from him. From the man who didn't even know I wasn't his. She married him because it was convenient. And because he was wealthy.
"She hates us because you aren't her. Because I didn't get you pregnant, because you aren't looking for money, you're perfect, with every single flaw, you're prefect and I wouldn't change you for the world Jude, you need to know that."
"Tommy,"
"No, wait. I was an idiot, I didn't want to face everything she did, and admitting it to you meant that it all really happened. I wasn't ready to face that, and I didn't want you to have to deal with that."
"You don't have to protect me." She freed a hand and wiped away the drops of water trailing down his face.
"I never want anyone to hurt you, and I'm always the first one to do it. I love you, Jude." He leaned up, kissing her gently before pulling back, the rain water and salty tears mingled on his lips as he studied her carefully.
She gave him a small smile, the first genuine smile he had seen from her the entire night before her hand found the back of his neck, and pulled him into another kiss. Sighing contentedly she was reminded of the warmth his kisses held. Pulling away the faint taste of champagne lingered on her lips as she rested her head against his, "I love you, too" she whispered.