In Holy Matrimony

Chapter 3

Through some diligent working, Casey had gotten a hold of Lita's number, and I talked to her for a while, and we finally settled on lunch for three o'clock, Wednesday. Lita had sounded distinctly depressed over the phone, and had told me-quite firmly, in fact-that she wanted nothing to do with any details for the wedding. I insisted that she meet me about the wedding. There must have been something in my voice that convinced her, because she finally relented.

That phone conversation led me here, to Louie's, a quaint little pizzeria. I knew Louie personally, and he was a great guy. The pizza was amazing in the least, and the pizzeria had a homey, calm air to it.

It was nearly quarter after three, and I was beginning to think that Lita had stood me up when the door opened, along with a burst of warmth from the burning heat of the outside. The redhead looked around quickly, and I motioned to her. She found me and sat down, placing her messenger bag on the empty seat next to her. "I'm sorry I'm late," she told me, offering no explanation for why she was here, and I wasn't about to ask.

"It's all right," I replied. Until the waitress came by, and our orders were place, I kept the conversation to small talk. As soon as our drinks were placed in front of us, and a promise that our pizza would be out soon, I folded my arms on the table and looked Lita directly in the eye. "I sort of lied to you on the phone. I'm here to discuss the wedding, but not the way I led to you believe."

The sadness in her eyes just seemed more acute in that moment. "I know," she replied truthfully, her tone deadpan. I didn't bother to press a smile onto my face.

"You're getting married in five days," I said matter-of-factly.

"I am."

I eyed her carefully. "Are you sure you're marrying the right person?"

"Hell no," she replied, and for the first time, I saw a glimpse of rebellion in her eyes, but it died almost instantaneously. "Listen, Miss Wade..."

"Kathy," I interrupted swiftly.

"Okay. Kathy, I know I'm not marrying the right guy for me. He's the worst guy for me, frankly. I'd rather marry Sudan Hussein than Kane," she declared.

"Then why are you doing it?" I asked.

Lita averted her eyes from mine for a moment, and then met them again. "You know I'm a wrestler."

"Yes."

"I don't suppose you watch the WWE, judging by the fact that you didn't react when we came in."

"That's not a hobby that's struck me yet," I admitted carefully.

She bit her lip, twisting her hands together. "Kane had been bothering me for a few weeks. He kept hurting my boyfriend, Matt. I told him to leave us alone, but he said he never would, and I know he meant that. That man's a monster. He said he'd leave Matt alone forever if I slept with him," she looked down again, shame covering her face like a mask.

Pity welled in my stomach for this woman. "You did, didn't you?" I questioned softly.

"Yes," she admitted, her voice cracking, her eyes lifting. "And he kept his word...until..." she paused, biting back a sob. "I found out I was pregnant. I didn't even think of Kane. I told Matt, and the next week, in the middle of the ring, he started to propose to me, but then Kane came on the screen, and said that the baby is his." She clenched her fists. "I found out a couple weeks later that it was his baby. Matt was angry."

"Did he still want to marry you?"

"I guess," she shifted. "I mean, he'd said no matter whom the baby's father was, he'd marry me, but when I told him he went berserk. He was so pissed off it was hard to tell," she twirled a strand of her red hair around her finger. "I think he still did, though. The General Manager of our show made a match for the Pay-Per-View coming up, Matt versus Kane; 'til death do us part; winner marries me match. Well, I signed the contract, Kane signed the contract, and Matt signed the contract. Kane won the match. Kathy, I have to marry Kane. I have no other choice."

I was silent as their pizza arrived. Lita looked down at the food, seemingly entranced by it. I took a few bites, and she started to eat as well. Silence continued to hang over us, and I didn't break it. I was too busy brooding with what I'd been told.

She was being forced to marry a man she despised with all of her heart. The thought sickened me. If she did sign a contract stating that, then there was no other choice. She'd sold her soul to the devil, so to speak. But there had to be a way to get her out of this! It just wasn't right! I frowned deeply, trying to think of a solution.

The answer still hadn't come to me by the time we both finished with our meal. We spilt the tab, Lita grabbed her bag, and we both stood, walking outside of the pizzeria. I turned to Lita once we had stepped outside. "You shouldn't have to marry him," I stated firmly.

"I signed a contract," she responded dismally.

"Lita..." I paused, fishing in my purse for a business card, and handed it to her. "My fax number is on there. Fax me a copy of the contract, and I'll see what I can do."

"You won't find anything," Lita responded dismally.

"It can't hurt to try," I replied nearly simultaneously. "Humor me, okay?" Lita nodded, pocketing the business card. I took it as a good sign she didn't rip it into shreds just yet. "Listen to me. I will do everything in my power to stop this marriage from happening," I squeezed her shoulder in reassurance. "If I have anything to do with this, you'll never have to call that monster a husband."

Lita nodded, making eye contact with me. She didn't have to say thanks; I could see the gratitude in her eyes. There was hope, but I could tell that she was squelching it. We both departed quickly, she, climbing into a cab, and me, walking off toward my apartment.

As I walked, my thoughts turned back to Lita, and the promise I'd given her. A frown appeared once more on my face. How, exactly, was I going to do this, and plan out the wedding for the groom-to-be in five days? I groaned.

Dumb morality.

Always getting me in trouble.