Late Consequences
Hours passed as David sat on the beach trying not worry and create scenarios about why they hadn't been rescued yet. He kept his eyes and ears open, looking intently for the sight or sound of a boat moving in the water, but none came. He stifled a yawn. The sounds he did hear were threatening to lull him to sleep. Sounds like, the waves making their way up and back across the sand, the ocean breeze rustling through the trees, the gentle breathing of Mary Margaret.
He watched her sleeping. Her beauty was almost ethereal. The luminescent glow of the fire, giving her pale skin a warm golden blush. A tiny curl from her hair had fallen over her eye. He ran his finger gently across her face to push it out of the way. She had cut her hair at some point in the two years he'd been gone. He had loved her long unruly curls, but this pixie cut suited her too. It fit the dichotomy and depth of her personality. Effervescent and fiery one moment, incredibly shy and gentle the next. Most guys might have considered her difficult to figure out, but he had loved her even more for it.
He thought back over their time together and wondered how it had all gone so incredibly wrong. He had been so certain that she had loved him. That they belonged together. Soulmates, two halves of a whole, true loves…whatever the world wanted to call it, she was it for him. Until the moment he was left picking his crushed heart up off the ground. He often wondered if things would have gone differently for the two of them if not for the circumstances of that day. Or did things happen for a reason, and he was lucky to have found out the truth before making an even bigger fool of himself.
He could still remember the details of that night as clearly as if they had happened two days ago, not two years ago.
He had known she was upset as he had watched her walk into her house after that final date, but she had still left him with hope. He would see her the following night, and he would make sure it was a night the two of them would never forget. A night to make up for the mess he had made.
He had gone straight from her house to his apartment. He quickly packed an overnight bag and made a cup of coffee before getting back in his truck. It was late. He briefly considered waiting until morning to leave, and trying to get a few hours sleep. Truthfully, he doubted if he'd be able to sleep. Thoughts of Mary Margaret would have likely kept him up all night anyway.
It was a three hour drive from the city, to the small farm where he had grown up. He called his mother from the road to tell her that he was on his way home. He couldn't contain his excitement as he explained the reason for his late night trip. He told her all about the wonderful, amazing, woman that he wanted to give her ring. He briefly wondered if Mary Margaret would like the simple ring. It wasn't a fancy diamond, and her family came from money. He pushed those thoughts aside. Even if he had been able to afford a better ring, he wanted her to wear this one. It had meant so much to his mother for him to have it. So that he could one day give to the girl who captured his heart. They had been drowning in debt most of his childhood. At one point, they had been about to lose the farm, but even then, she had refused to sell it. It was the one thing that they owned of any value, and she was determined to keep it for David. Rather than sell the ring, she had taken on extra work, staying up late into the night, sewing and doing other people's laundry, to save the farm. David hoped when Mary Margaret heard the story, she would come to love and appreciate that ring as much as he did.
After assuring his mother that there was no need to wait up for him, that he would see her in the morning, he hung up. He placed his phone on the seat next to him and settled in for the drive. It was a quiet drive through the winding country roads. There was almost no traffic to speak of. He was surprised when the first vestiges of sleep hit him. He had been sure the adrenaline would push him through the night. He still had about an hour to go. He rolled down the window hoping the cool breeze would reinvigorate him. The last thing he remembered was drumming on the steering wheel and singing along with the radio before the sound of a horn blasted.
It all happened so fast…the horn…the blinding lights directly in his path. He wasn't sure whether it was him, or the other vehicle, who had crossed the line into the wrong lane. He had no time to think, or process what was happening, as he slammed on the brakes and jerked the wheel on instinct. The sound of crunching metal and breaking glass came, but it felt unreal, as if it was part of a dream. The odd sensation that he was tumbling in space overwhelmed him. There was a brief moment of pain, before there was nothing but black.
The first thing he was aware of was the incessant steady beeping, and the feeling that his head might explode. He was laying on a bed somewhere. He tried to open his eyes, to move his limbs, but everything felt so heavy. Slowly, the memories crept back through his mind, until one name jarred him into action.
Mary Margaret. He jerked up stiffly, ignoring the searing pain that went through his body. He was forced to close his eyes at the brightness of the lights. He fumbled frantically at the sheets, trying to free himself. His only thought was her, on getting to her.
He felt a hand on his arm, and with it the gentleness of his mother's voice. "David, honey, you need to calm down. You've been in a car accident. You're going to hurt yourself. I need you to lay back down, while I get the doctor."
David forced his eyes back open and grabbed his mother's arms. "Mary Margaret? Where is she?"
"She wasn't with you son. You were by yourself. You managed to swerve and keep from hitting the other car, but you rolled your truck."
That's right. He remembered now. The ring. He was on his way to get the ring. Mary Margaret was safe. She was at home. He was meeting her tonight. He was asking her to marry him.
"What time is it?"
"Seven o'clock."
He shuddered in relief as he laid back down. He had time. It was going to be okay. He looked at his mother. "So what do we have to do to get me out of here? I have a date to get to and I can't be late."
His mother looked at him sympathetically before pushing the call button to inform the medical staff that her son was awake.
A medical assistant came in and took his vitals before the doctor entered the room a short time later. "You're quite the lucky man," he observed, as he looked over his chart. "A couple of broken ribs and some bruising from the seatbelt. A sprained wrist, and a few cuts on your face, from the broken windshield, including one on your chin that required a few stitches. It's likely to scar."
"Great," David said with relief. "When can I get out of here?"
"You had quite a bump on the head. I'd like to keep you here under observation for 24 hours, just to make sure you don't have a more serious head injury going on."
"What! No way. I have plans tonight. Important plans. I have to get out of here."
"Mr. Nolan, I'm afraid that's impossible. You have a head injury, and were asleep for more than 12 hours. I can't release you."
David's heart rate increased as panicked confusion overtook him. "What are you talking about?" He looked at his mother. "You told me it was only seven o'clock."
His mother placed her hand on his face, "It's seven o'clock in the evening, son."
"What? That can't be" He pushed his mother's hand away and jumped out of bed, hissing at the pain in his ribs, but refusing to let that deter him. "I need to go. I'm late. I was supposed to pick her up at seven. I was going to meet her family tonight. Where are my clothes?"
The doctor spoke up, insistent. "Mr. Nolan, you are not going anywhere. You are injured."
"You said yourself it was a only a couple of cracked ribs and bruises. You can't keep me here against my will."
"I refuse to sign off on your release papers."
"That's okay. I'm checking myself out." David moved desperately around the room, ignoring the doctor and his mother. "Where the hell are my clothes?"
"Mr. Nolan, you came into the emergency room unconscious. We had to cut them off of you."
David only hesitated for a second, before shrugging his shoulders. "I guess I'll have to wear this. My tux is at my apartment. I need to get it anyway. I need my phone too, so I can call Mary Margaret. Let her know what happened. Let her know I'm still coming. Where is my truck?"
Ruth stepped in front of him, forcing him to pay attention to her. "Son, do you hear yourself? Your talking crazy. You're wearing a hospital gown. Your truck is at Tillman's garage. You rolled it. It's totaled son. You can't drive it."
"Then I'll borrow your car."
Ruth Nolan looked to the doctor, pleading for him to stop this.
"I can't stop him from leaving. I can note that he checked himself out against medical advice, but that's the best I can do."
David opened the door to the room. "Let's go mom, we have to hurry. Did you bring my ring?"
Ruth grabbed him by the shoulders and turned him forcefully to her, shocking David by her strength. "Listen to me. I am not giving you the keys to my car. You can call Mary Margaret. You can tell her what happened. If she's anything like you describe, she'll understand. In fact, if you take off like this just to get to her and she finds out about it, I have a feeling she won't think you're a hopeless romantic, she'll just think your an idiot."
By the time Ruth had finished she was on the verge of crying. David relented at his mother's words and the sight of her tears. He reluctantly made his way back to the hospital bed. His hoped that his mother was right about Mary Margaret, but he couldn't help but think about how this would be the second night in a row he ruined for her.
"Where's my phone, so I can call her?
The doctor pointed to a small cabinet. "We put the items you had when you came in, in there. Now that things are calmed down, I will see about setting up that cat scan. You should probably try to eat something. I will tell the nurse to get some dinner brought in."
The doctor exited, as Ruth went to the cabinet and retrieved a bag containing David's belongings. She opened it, pulling out his shoes, and his wallet, before finding his phone at the bottom of the bag. She gingerly pulled the phone out, careful to not cut herself. The phone screen was completely shattered, and a corner of the glass was completely gone. She's not sure why they had even kept it.
David grabbed it from her, not even making an effort to be careful about the possibility of cutting himself on the broken shards. He attempted to turn it on, but the screen remained black. Tears filled his eyes, as he flung the phone across the room and into the wall. The pieces of glass that had managed to remain intact from the force car accident did not survive the impact with the wall.
Ruth pulled her phone from her purse and handed it to her son. "It's okay, you can call her on mine. I know she won't recognize the number, but if you leave a message and keep calling, I'm sure that she will answer. I'll clean up this mess and then give you some privacy."
Ruth left the room shortly after and found a vending machine to get herself a cup of coffee. She glanced briefly through a magazine in the waiting room before venturing back into David's hospital room. It appeared that he hadn't moved since she left. The phone was still in his hand, and tears were flowing down his cheeks.
"David, what's wrong? Did you tell her what happened? Surely she understood. Is she coming to the hospital?"
David didn't look up at her, just continued to stare at the phone. He looked so lost, his voice cracking as he finally spoke. "I can't call her. I don't know her number."
"What do you mean, you don't know her number? Are you telling me that you're seriously considering asking a girl to marry you, and you don't even know her phone number?"
"Current phone technology was probably beyond his mother's understanding, but he tried to explain it to her anyway. It was in my phone, under her name. I didn't memorize the number. I didn't even put it in there myself. Her friend Ruby did."
He couldn't help but think about that day. He had been hanging out at a local bar with a few friends, when Mary Margaret's friend Ruby grabbed his phone from his hand. She had said she was tired of the incessant flirting between the two of them, and somebody needed to make the first move. And since it didn't appear that it was going to be either of them, she would do it. She had put Mary Margaret's number in his phone before handing it back to him with the command that he call her and ask her out…sooner rather than later. It had been rather embarrassing for the both of them, as their friends began discussing their apparently less than discreet way of making eyes at each other, and pretending to accidentally touch all the time. Mary Margaret had turned completely red, and berated her friend for being a busybody, and insisted she and David were just friends. But when she had finally braved a glance his way, her smile was unmistakable. He had called her about five minutes after getting home that night.
He looked up and met his mother's eyes. "That's why I can't call her. What am I going to do?"
Ruth saw the heartbroken expression in his eyes, and her own mother's heart broke. Her son truly loved this girl. She dug through her purse to retrieve her car keys, and held them out to her son. He grabbed the keys from her and pulled her in for a hug, ignoring the pain.
"Thank you mother. I love you. You're the best mom ever. You can stay at my apartment tonight and I'll take you home in the morning. I have to go home and get some clothes anyway."
"Yes, best not be showing up in a hospital gown. And just so you know, those keys come with a caveat," she said her voice turning stern. "You will not take me home tomorrow. You will march yourself right back here to this hospital and follow everything that doctor tells you to do. Is that understood?"
"Yes, ma'am." David grinned at her and kissed her cheek before heading to the nurses station to sign for his discharge.
He had refused any pain medication, so the pain in his ribs, along with his mother's repeated admonition to slow down and be careful, hindered him much more than he would have liked. It was nearing 11 p.m. when he arrived at the convention center. He was four hours late. He hoped she would still be here. Maybe he should have driven by her house first.
He was stopped by a security guard at the front desk on his way to the elevator. "Can I help you sir? This building is closed for a private event this evening."
"Yes, I know. That's what I'm here for. I know I'm extremely late."
"May I see your invitation."
David tried to act nonchalant as he tried to bluff his way past the guard. "I'm Ms. Mary Margaret Blanchard's escort for the evening, but I was unavoidably detained, so she asked me to just meet her here."
"What is your name, sir?"
"David Nolan."
The guy eyed him curiously. David knew he looked suspicious. For one, it was 11 o'clock. He was way past late. And it spite of the tux, he could only clean up so much. His face was full of scratches. He had stitches on his chin, bandages around his wrist. He wondered briefly if he should mention the car accident, in case the guy thought he'd been in a brawl of some sort. Before he could decide, the security guard picked up the phone and called upstairs. He explained the situation before hanging up the phone.
He turned his attention back to David. "If you'll have a seat, they are going to find Ms. Blanchard and tell her that you have arrived."
David took a seat in the waiting area and began contemplating exactly what he would say to Mary Margaret. Would she be angry, or would she be relieved to see him? At the sound of the elevator ding, he jumped to his feet, expecting to see her face. It was not her, but another security guard, who exited the elevator.
"Mr. Nolan, I presume. Follow me please." He held the elevator open for David, and gestured for him to step inside.
David entered the elevator, and they rode it up to the top floor ballroom. The elevator opened up to a foyer in front of large double doors. There was a sign announcing the reception honoring the former Governor, Mary Margaret's father, Leo Blanchard. The guard escorted him towards the doors, but turned him left into a small side room just before they reached them.
David was surprised by how dark the room was. The only light coming from a small desk lamp, that put out more of an eerie glow, than actual light. There was a distinguished, slightly balding, gray-haired gentleman seated behind the desk. He didn't get up as he addressed David.
"Mr. Nolan, please have a seat. We have not met, I am Leopold Blanchard, Mary Margaret's father."
"A pleasure to meet you Mr. Blanchard." David held out his hand to shake. Mr. Blanchard ignored it.
"I'm afraid Mr. Nolan, that I am going to have to ask you to leave. My daughter doesn't want you here, and frankly, even if she did. I'm not so sure I would."
"I understand how you feel, Mr. Blanchard, but if you'd only let me talk to her I can explain everything."
Mr. Blanchards voice was calm, but seething, as he questioned David. "You understand how I feel? Are you a father Mr. Nolan?"
"No, sir, I'm not."
"Then you have no idea how it feels to have your daughter come home from a date, and hear her crying in her room over a young man. To be unable to comfort her. To watch as the same man is the cause of more tears this evening. To watch her wait and wait, only to have you not show up. She refused to leave the house this evening because she was waiting on you. My family finally had to leave for the reception without her or I would have been late. Thank goodness for Frank, who was able to talk her into finally coming."
"I'm very sorry sir. If you would just hear me out. I was in an accident, but I'm here now. Your daughter means the world to me, Mr. Blanchard. I promise you that I would never intentionally hurt her. I love her more than anything. I want to marry her."
"But you have hurt her, and now you tell me that you want to marry her. What exactly do you expect me to say to that? I'd be a fool to allow that. I've checked you out Nolan, you have very little to offer my daughter."
"I have love, sir. I can offer her love." David answered with as much confidence as he could muster, but Mr. Blanchard had hit on a secret fear of his. That she deserved more than he could offer her.
Leo laughed before rising from his chair. "I was going to just have security kick you out, but do you know why I didn't? Why I had them bring you up here? I want to show you something Mr. Nolan." He crossed to the window and pointed for David to follow him. He opened the blinds just a crack and allowed David to peer out into the ballroom where the party was still going strong in spite of the lateness of the hour. The ornateness of the room and the decorations, overwhelmed him. He had certainly never been anywhere half as nice. There was a full orchestra settled on a stage, playing something classical. The kind of music he was forced to listen to back in high school music class. Lights rotated and reflected off an ornamented crystal chandelier onto a marble floor, that was currently home to a bevy of dancing couples, all dressed to the nines. Waiters circulated the room with silver trays of full of fancy hor d'oeuvres and bubbling champagne.
"This Mr. Nolan, is the life that my daughter is accustomed to. It is the life that I have worked hard for her to have."
David searched the room until he found her. His breath caught in his chest when he saw her. She was a vision in a form-fitting, sleeveless, black, full length gown with lace detailing along the low-cut, without being too revealing, neckline. He couldn't help but wonder if she had worn that for him, knowing exactly what it would do to him. As he was watching her, a man he didn't recognize approached her with two champagne glasses in his hand. She smiled at the gentleman as he handed her a glass, and together they sipped. He stood awkwardly next to her father, as he watched them talking. Something the gentleman said, made her laugh. He couldn't hear it from where he was, trapped behind the window, watching. He couldn't control the noticeable swallow as he saw the man casually reach up to brush her hair from her shoulder before running his hand down her arm. He jumped when Leo Blanchard began to speak again. He had been so lost in watching her, he had almost forgotten the circumstances of where he was.
"That, Mr. Nolan is Frank Steinman. He and my daughter have been friends since they were children. Mary Margaret has loved him since she was ten. He's grown up practically a part of our family. He has also expressed to me his interest in my daughter. He is exactly the kind of man that I want for her. He has the means to give her the life that she deserves."
David never looked at Mr. Blanchard as he was speaking. He was unable to take his eyes off of Mary Margaret. He watched as the man he now knew as Frank, took her empty champagne glass from her and set it on a nearby table, before taking her hand in his. He led her out among the other couples on the dance floor and twirled her to him. They danced effortlessly together. She laughed as they danced, and he pulled her closer. Closer than any other couple on the floor. He whispered something in her ear, and she leaned back to smile at him. David felt like he couldn't watch anymore, and yet he couldn't make himself look away.
"As you can see, Frank makes my daughter smile Mr. Nolan, while you, on the other hand, seem quite good at making her cry. You'll understand if I ask you to not see her again."
David opened his mouth to plead with her father, but he had already turned and was walking from the room. David didn't stand a chance with him. Suddenly he realized that, even without his accident, even if he had been on time tonight, he had never stood a chance with him. As soon as Mr. Blanchard exited the room, his security stepped from the shadows and grabbed David hard by the elbow.
"I'll see you out, Mr. Nolan."
David sat flabbergasted for several moments in his mother's car before making a decision. Love was worth fighting for. He would not let her go like this. He had to at least talk to her. To let her know how he felt. He drove to her house and parked down the street so her father wouldn't notice a strange car, and kick him out before he could get to her. He waited patiently for about half an hour before a car drove up. He stepped behind the bushes checking that it was her before he made himself known. He saw her exit the vehicle the same time as Frank jumped from the drivers side and ran around to her. He put his arm around her waist as they walked together towards the front door. David remained frozen where he was. He hadn't anticipated a man escorting her home.
Mary Margaret knew that Frank intended on trying to kiss her before they had even left the party. He had been extra flirty and handsy all night, something that he had never been with her before. She had tried to call him on it earlier in the night. He had simply commented that she had certainly grown up since he'd been in Washington. She had made a joke, telling him that she was 24 years old, and had been grown up for a while. He had remained completely serious, and stroked her cheek, saying he was so glad he had finally taken notice.
She had played nice all night. Partly because she refused to do anything that might ruin this night for her father, and partly because she was just a little tipsy from the amount of champagne she'd had on an empty stomach. She also must admit that it felt good to be wanted by someone. The last two days with David had left her questioning if something was wrong with her. She hadn't stopped thinking about David the entire night. She had been worried at first, and had refused to leave the house certain that something had happened. Then she just got angry. By the time Frank had shown up to get her, on her father's orders, she was livid. Why had he not called? What kind of game was he playing? He could have just ended it last night after the embarrassing incident in his truck. Why was he leading her on?
These thoughts were still going through her mind as she and Frank walked to the front door after the party. If she was honest, that, coupled with the champagne was probably why she didn't stop him. Just as they reached the front door, he took her in his arms and pulled her close, kissing her.
David stood silently hidden near the bushes just feet from them. His view was partially blocked, but the sounds alone let him know that it was not exactly a chaste kiss.
''Frank." Mary Margaret pushed him back slightly, as she came to her senses. She didn't want Frank, she wanted David. There was no spark, no butterflies, no heat moving through her. Kissing Frank was like kissing her brother.
"Mary, I have feelings…" Frank started, but Mary held her hand up.
"No, don't say anything. I don't want to talk. I can't. Not tonight." There was a beat of silence between the two of them before Mary opened the door. "Are you staying the night?"
"I was planning on it. That is if you're okay with it."
Mary entered the code for the door, and opened it. Frank followed her inside and shut the door. David didn't see Mary quietly tell him goodnight before heading by herself upstairs to her own room, while Frank turned and headed for the guest room on the main floor. The guest room where he had been staying whenever he visited, since he was a teenager.
David stood there in the bushes trying to make sense of what he had just seen. Had Mary Margaret really just invited a man to sleep over at her house? Had she been sleeping with him this whole time? Had she ever really loved David? Confusion, and fury, and jealousy surged through him. Unable to hold it in, he kicked at the wall, not noticing the water spigot protruding out from the brick. He made contact with the spigot with enough force to bend the pipe and break the handle clean off. Water began spewing forth in all directions, quickly soaking him. He was forced from his hiding place, tearing his tux pants as he went. He took off running through the yard toward where he had parked his car. He had forgotten all about his broken ribs until the searing pain hit him mid-run. Between that and his now injured foot, he limped the rest of the way to his car. He was beaten and bruised physically, as well as in spirit.
He got in his car and drove back to his apartment. By the time he had gotten there he had decided there was only one thing left to do. His heart belonged to Mary Margaret, but it was obvious that hers didn't belong to him. He could fight for her, but that would force her to choose between her family and him. He couldn't make her do that.
He walked into his apartment resolved to walk away from her. His mother looked him over when, unsure what to even say. He was wet and dirty. His clothes were torn. His eyes were bloodshot. She could tell by the way he was holding himself that his ribs were hurting, and his facial expression let her know that his heart was hurting.
"Oh, son." It was all she could get out.
"It's okay mom. I'll be okay." For the first time since he was ten years old, he lied to his mom. He reached in his pocket and brought out the ring, pressing it into her hand. "I guess it just wasn't meant to be."