Overprotective

Chapter 13

May faded into June, and Aunt Gwen was diving into plans for a July wedding. This was all a bit soon, but I went along with whatever she thought was best. Trina Welch was more active. She ate on a regular basis, and spoke to people. She was almost back to normal, despite the nightly sobbing.

I walked downstairs to the kitchen, to find my kitten, Ellie, crawling around on a light blue pillow in a wicker basket in the corner. I scooped her up into my arms and brought her over to the counter, where the maid immediately placed a saucer of milk down. I ran my finger down her spine, causing her to stop drinking the milk and purr.

Once she was done, I placed her down in the basket again, and she curled up to sleep. Then I went to the dining room, which was empty at the moment.

"Miss, would you like some tea?" Tracy asked as she walked by.

"Yes, thank you." I responded, and she disappeared into the kitchen.

Spencer walked into the room, and leaned down to kiss my forehead before sitting down beside me. "Good morning, sweetheart."

"Good morning'." I replied. My tea was set down in front of me, and the maid retreated back into the kitchen.

"Sleep well?"

"Yes. You ask me this every morning, Spence, and every morning my answer is the same."

"Sorry, Mer. I'll refrain from it." he leaned back in his chair. "What's going on for today?"

"I believe my aunt has asked the dress maker to come over, and then after that we're having lunch, me, you, my aunt, and your mother. We'll be discussing plans, dates, etcetera."

"Oh. Sounds exciting." he commented with obvious sarcasm.

"Definitely." I smirked.

"So, I was giving some thought to our honeymoon."

"What about it?" I asked.

"Well, I thought perhaps you and I could tour Europe. It's in vogue right now. We could go to London, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Vienna, Amsterdam. Anywhere you're heart desires."

"Anywhere?" I asked, smiling.

He smiled back, "Yes, Merry. Anywhere."

"I'd like to at least stop in Wales to visit family. I know my parents are going to come for the wedding, and my brothers too, but I'd like to see my home again. I've missed it."

"Of course we can go to Wales. I want to see this wonderful place."

"It's a lovely place. Trust me. You'll love it. We'd be going at a favorable time of year. It can get very chilly there in the winter months. My home town is way up north, and it's near the water. The grass is lush and green, and the sky is the most breath taking hue I've ever seen. It's so natural and unpolluted."

"Sounds like Heaven. We'll definitely go there. I'll work on the plans for that, alright. We just need to know the wedding date first so we know when we can leave."

Aunt Gwen and Trina Welch appeared in dining room, chatting casually. "Oh, good to see you both. We needed to speak to you two."

"About…?" I inquired a bit rudely.

"Well how would you feel about a wedding on independence day?" Trina asked with a smile, one of the only few I've seen her sport in awhile.

"Excuse me," I spoke up, "But when is independence day?"

"July 4th, dear." Aunt Gwen responded. "It's the day America gained independence from the British. They celebrate every year with fireworks and picnics. I figured it might be a lovely and exciting day for your upcoming nuptials." she clapped her hands together with delight, "It'll be wonderful, don't you think?"

"Yes, it sounds lovely." I agreed, and then I pushed my chair back and stood up. "If I may be excused for a moment…"

"No, dear, you may not be." Aunt Gwen stopped me. "The dress maker will be here in fifteen minutes."

I sighed and sat down again. For some reason I felt uneasy with all these wedding plans. I liked Spencer, and he liked me. If I had to marry anybody at the moment, I'd want it to be him. We're friends and we do get along so well. But my heart was still aching, and nagging me about James… I was thinking about him more and more lately. Yes, our time together was short, but still meant something. He died, with me in his heart. And he took a piece of my heart down to the bottom of the North Atlantic with him. If this had been any other fling, that ended in any other way, I wouldn't feel this way. But it ended so suddenly and tragically, there was no closure. All I have is memories and thoughts of what could have been.

I must have blanked out, because suddenly I was brought back to reality when Aunt Gwen entered the room with a short, chubby woman, carrying all sorts of papers, with at least five measuring tapes around her neck.

"Meredith, dear, this is Marjorie Kernmayer. She is the dress maker, and she's here to take a few measurements, and find out which type of style would look best on you."

I looked around and noticed Spencer and Trina had left, and the three of us were the only ones left. Aunt Gwen led us to the parlor, and she shut the doors behind her. I began to sit, but Marjorie cleared her throat obnoxiously. "Please remain standing." she walked towards me, pulling a measuring tape off of her shoulder and placed her papers down on the coffee table. "Arms up, dearie." I did as she told me. She measured every possible thing she could, and recorded the numbers on her papers.

"Now with your height, which is quite average, I think we'll need something to make you seem taller. So nothing separating the skirt from the bodice. No bows or belts or anything. And what do you think about satin material, with off-white lace on the sleeves and bodice, and beads around the hem of the skirt, getting less and less up until perhaps where your knees are, so they'll look like they're fading upward. Then a veil of similar white lace to your dress, and it'll go down to about your waist, and white flowers in the top."

Aunt Gwen was smiling, "Marjorie, that sounds magnificent. What do you think, Meredith?"

They both looked to me expectantly. "It sounds spectacular. Thank you, Ms. Kernmayer. I'm very pleased with your ideas."

"Very well. I will get started on this immediately. You'll be a beautiful bride, miss." she gathered up her papers, and Aunt Gwen showed her out.

I sat down, finally, and dropped my head into my hands. This was all coming too soon. It was only early June. If the wedding was to actually be July 4th, I only had a month left as just me. As just Meredith Wynne Lowe.

Aunt Gwen entered the room again. "I think Ms. Kernmayer had some very lovely ideas. And she was absolutely correct, you will be a beautiful bride."

"I'm sure." I replied, forcing a smile.

"Now go on upstairs and put on something nice. We're all going to lunch."

I went up to my bedroom, and opened my wardrobe. I pulled out a light pink dress with a white lacy undershirt to cover where the pink material did not in the front since it went in a V shape from my shoulders to my waist, and a pink sun hat to match. I called for a maid's assistance, and Tracy arrived shortly to help me into my dress.

Once I was ready, I left my room, and saw Spencer doing the same. "Hello, stranger." I greeted.

"Oh, well hello there. What's a beautiful young lady like you doing in a place like this?" he joked.

He reached out his hand towards me and I took it. "I'm about to go out to lunch with a charming young man." I smiled, "And two older women." I added plainly.

"Might I know this charming young man?"

"You may. He is quite like you. You two would get along very well."

"Well then, I must be introduced."

"Very well." I gestured to Spencer, "Mr. Welch, allow me to introduce," I spun around fully and gestured to Spencer again, "Mr. Welch."

"Oh, well good afternoon, Mr. Welch." he spoke while staring at the wall as if somebody were actually there. "Very nice to meet you." then he turned to face the opposite wall, "And you, sir. Might I say you are very handsome." he turned again, "Ah, and you as well." then he faced me and smiled broadly, offering me his arm which I took and we walked down the stairs together.

There we met Aunt Gwen and Mrs. Welch, and entered the cars waiting outside.

Spencer and I got one car while the older women took the other.

I was being quiet, and Spencer noticed, so he took my hand in his and caressed it gently. "Everything alright, Mer?"

I turned my head suddenly away from the window to look at him. "Yes, I'm perfectly alright. Just tired, I suppose."

"How about I wake you up a bit then?" he asked in a lower voice than usual, checked to make sure the driver was keeping his eyes on the road, and then kissed my neck.

"Spencer…"

He didn't answer, and kissed my neck again, and again. Then he moved up to my earlobe and nibbled lightly, which felt weird to me.

"Spence…" I said again.

He rested his head on my shoulder, "Yes, Merry?"

"That's not going to wake me up, you know."

"Oh really? Then what will."

I smiled, and kissed him lightly for only a second.

Before I could completely pull my face away he leaned in and kissed me strongly. I placed my hands on his shoulder, and he placed one of his on my knee, the other around the back of my neck. After a minute of intense embracing, I somehow ended up on my back, with him leaning over me. If the driver didn't notice this, he must have been dead. I think at on point I may have accidentally kicked the driver's seat. I'm not sure, I was completely lost in the moment. He moved away from my lips and began kissing my neck again, and trailing down my collarbone.

"Meredith, I love you." he said between kisses.

My eyes were closed as I was enjoying the intimate moment, and that's when I made the worst mistake ever, "I love you too, James."

He stopped and looked at me. "James?"

I froze. Had I really just gotten his name wrong? Damn!

"Spencer, I'm sorry. I-" I didn't know what to say, "I made a mistake. It's just an honest mistake, Spence. Please… Don't be angry…"

He looked at me, "I'm not angry, Mer. I'm just…. Confused. You say you love me, but you also love a dead man. Who really owns your heart, Meredith?"

"You!" I yelled, trying to make him believe me.

"Then why did you call me James?"

"Because… I miss him. But I love you. I wasn't thinking straight. You had me a bit distracted." I smiled, hoping he would soften a bit.

"Is this what you really want, Meredith? Be honest."

"Yes. Of course I want this." I said confidently, and he smiled widely.

"Good." he kissed me again. "We should probably straighten ourselves up again. We're almost at the restaurant and don't want my mother or your aunt scolding us for our disheveled appearance. And perhaps we can pick this all up again later." he smirked, as did I.

I smoothed down my hair the best I could and adjusted everything so I looked like I had been up to absolutely nothing, and I believe it worked. When we exited the car nobody said a thing.

We went into a large fancy restaurant and sat right in the middle at an average sized round table with four chairs. Just perfect for us.

"So we have a month left until the wedding. The dress is being prepared, I've found bridesmaids, and the invitations will go out next week. Everything seems to be going smoothly." Aunt Gwen explained.

"Meredith, I have this for you." Trina Welch dug into her small purse and pulled out a silver diamond ring and handed it to me. "For your engagement."

I stared at it, and the more I looked, the larger the diamond seemed to get. I couldn't possibly wear this. It'd weigh me down. Although perhaps that was the plan. I faked a smile and looked to Mrs. Welch. "It's lovely. Thank you." I was about to slip it onto my finger when she interrupted.

"No. Spencer," she looked to her son, "You have to put it on her hand."

He awkwardly reached across the table, but then decided standing up and coming over to me would be a better idea. He slipped it onto my ring finger and smiled meekly before going back to his seat.

It was official for everyone to see. I was doomed to become Mrs. Spencer Welch. My heart and my head could not seem to agree with one another. I was facing an internal civil war, and there was no way to squelch it.

I would rather be with James. He made me feel better. Spencer was great, and I cared for him too. But something just didn't feel right. He was all I had though. This was the only thing I had in my life now, and I'd have to follow it, or else I'd be nowhere.

"To the joining of our families." Aunt Gwen raised her glass in the air as we received our food.

We all raised our wine glasses with a clink, and then took a sip.

Back at home that afternoon, I went up to my room, and took off my hat and unpinned my hair. I crawled onto my bed and laid down for awhile, staring up at the ceiling until I heard a knock.

"Come in." I said, too lazy to answer the door myself. Spencer walked in.

"Hello, Meredith." he greeted, walking into my room and shutting the door behind him.

I sat up, "Oh, hi Spence."

"I was a bit bored. Decided to come visit my beautiful fiancé. I hope you don't mind." he smiled.

"No, not at all. I don't mind."

He came over and sat on the edge of my bed. "So…"

"So…" I said, trying to avoid the awkward silence between us.

"You look even prettier with your hair down."

"Thanks." I said, looking down away from him.

He put his finger on my chin lightly and lifted my face up so I looked at him. "Are you alright?"

"Yes. I'm fine." I lied.

"Good." he placed a light kiss on my lips. "Because if something were wrong, you could tell me. I'll do whatever I can for you."

I pulled him in for another kiss, wrapping my arms around his neck. I didn't want him to doubt that I cared about him. He was kissing me back, and slowly pushing me back onto the bed.

He was now hovering over me, playfully nibbling on my ear. "I love you." he whispered.

"I love you too." I whispered back seductively.

I could feel something hard against my thigh, and when I realized, I moved a bit and looked at him.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"No, not at all. This is just getting a bit intense."

"I'm sorry. Should I stop?"

I shook my head. "No, it's alright."

"If you say so." he pressed his lips against mine again, and began to touch me in places he never had before.

"Spence…" I said breathlessly.

"Meredith, I really do love you. Ever since I met you. When we get married next month, I promise I'm going to take care of your for as long as we both live." I could see the sincerity in his eyes, and I kissed him lightly, again and again. Something didn't feel right, but eventually I'm sure this all would be fine. I just had to push James out of my thoughts and try to give my whole heart to Spencer. Easier said than done, I suppose…

"I know we're getting married in a month, Mer, but I can't take it." he buried his face into my shoulder. "I need you so bad." he whined.

I gulped nervously. "Oh… Well, then… I guess it'd be alright." We were getting married in a month after all. What could be the harm?

"Are you sure, Meredith? I only want to do this if you're absolutely certain." he looked me straight in the eyes.

"I'm sure, Spencer." I said confidently, surprising myself.

He kissed me again, forcing his tongue into my mouth, as he fumbled with the hooks on the back of my dress awkwardly. Finally he succeeded, and well, you can figure out what happened from there.

Once he finished, Spencer was buttoning his shirt, and he saw me staring emotionlessly at the floor. He kissed my forehead sweetly. "I guess we should make some sort of appearance downstairs before somebody thinks we're up to something."

"I actually would rather lie down, if that's alright."

"Of course it is. I'll see you later, alright, sweetheart?" he kissed my cheek, and then my mouth.

I nodded, and watched him leave and shut the door behind him.

I was already under my covers, wearing nothing at all, and I pulled the blankets up more until they were right under my chin, and I began to cry. I couldn't help it. It was painful, and it just did not feel right with him. Not now… But it was too late to take it back. I wiped my tears furiously with the back of my hand, and I straightened myself up the best I could. I put my dress back on, except for the hooks which I couldn't reach. Thank goodness Tracy was in the hallway and came in to assist me. Once I was looking presentable, I went downstairs for dinner. Probably one of the most awkward dinners of my life…

I'm sorry this took me awhile. I had some personal things going on. But I worked on this when I could. I'm also sorry it is shorter than the other chapters. Anywho, please read and review. I love you guys. Thanks. Chapter 14 will be up as soon as I'm able to write it. -Kell.