Dangerous Confessions of the Heart (Dangerous Secrets of the Heart) (12 page)

Back in the room Austin and Jesse were still talking:

              “What!?” Austin exclaimed. “Jamie just went up to the groom’s room to see YOU!” he said.

              “Jamie is here?” he asked excitedly.

              “Yes. She thought you were the one getting married.” Austin said.

              “Come on.” Jesse said leaving the room as Austin followed.

              They rushed up the stairs and into the groom’s room. Bill was standing in the room with James.

              “Austin! We need you buddy.” Bill said. “Sarah added an extra bridesmaid; we need another groom’s men. Here is a matching tie. ” he said handing him a bow tie.

              “I can’t stay sir…I have to get going…” He tried to speak.

              “Nonsense…!” Bill chimed in interrupting him. “You need to be here for your friend.”

              Austin rolled his eyes as Bill turned around.

              “See you boys down stairs.” Bill said and left the room. As soon as the door shut Jesse started.

              “Where is she James!?” Jesse said.

              “She left.” James said.

              “Damn it! What did you do to her?” Jesse asked.

”She thought I was you. I told her what was needed to be said.” James said trying to defend himself.

              Jesse jumped on James and began to strangle him again. “Tell me now James, what did you tell her?”

              “I told her… you were happy with Sarah… and she should go back … with her new love… Austin.” James said.

              Jesse shot a hurtful glance at Austin as he got off of James.

              “When were you going to tell me that, Austin?” Jesse asked as tears filled his eyes.

              “She’s been dating him for eleven months now.” James said.

              The room was silent as it began to settle in Jesse stomach.

              “I can’t trust any of you.” He said pushing past Austin.

              “Jesse!” James said. “Please, dad will kill Sarah and JJ if I tell you where we hid her…and if you don’t show at the wedding then he will know something is wrong.”

              Jesse rolled his eyes as his hand touched the doorknob.

              “She’s in Hawaii.” Austin spoke up. James looked at Austin hatefully.

              “I’ll tell you everything!” James said. “Just don’t leave yet.”

              He began to franticly tap on his phone. “Look, her plane doesn’t leave until 5pm; please…I can’t lose Sarah again.” James pleaded. “Doesn’t my happiness mean anything to you? I’m you brother.”

              Jesse hung his head for a moment. “Does mine mean anything to you!?” Jesse yelled back. “All this time you could have told me, but you didn’t! It’s all about what you want!” He said. “Get ready, your bride is waiting.” He said as he opened the door to exit the room.

“Does that mean you’re staying?” James asked with relief.

“Despite what you think, James, I do care about you… “I’m your brother.””  Jesse quoted James as he left the room. Austin followed.

              “What about Jamie?” Austin asked.

              “It would be wise for you to not talk to me.” Jesse warned.

              “It’s not my fault she was being lied to.” Austin said. “She thinks you hate her…and I was there for her.”

              Jesse became angrier “I SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE FOR HER!” he yelled back.

              He looked around and remembered he needed to be quiet. “I...should have been the one…not you.” He whispered hatefully to Austin. “Let’s get this over with.” Jesse said as he walked down the hall and back down the stairs.

“I’m not staying.” Austin argued.

“Look, he’s right. If we leave, Bill will know what’s up and go after Jamie.” Jesse explained.

“Are you sure we will get out of here on time?” He asked.

“If I have anything to do with it we will.” Jesse said. “Let’s go.” He walked down the stairs and Austin followed. The time was 2:30pm.

Chapter 14

              As the three of them argued in the groom room, I had made my way down the fire exit. I searched franticly at the bottom of the stairs for Austin, but after about a minute I gave up. I figured it wasn’t worth the risk of getting caught by Bill and headed back to the cab.

              “He’ll figure it out if he’s still here. I’m going back to the hotel.” I said to myself in defeat as I opened the cab door.

              “Take me back to the hotel, Conner.” I said as I climbed in.

              Tears began to fill my eyes. I looked down at my neck. I studied the two rings on the chain. My heart broke as I began to play both proposals in my head:

              Austin’s- His sweet dolphin proposal on the day I broke his heart and basically told him my heart belonged to someone else.

              And:

              Jesse’s- The night of my birthday, candle light dinner, dancing to our favorite song, wearing my mother’s dress, all our friends there. The perfect night that went terribly wrong.

              “Why do I want a remembrance of that night? It’s over, right?” I asked myself as I began to play Jesse’s rejection in my head.

I began to graze it with my finger “…Return it…” I said to myself.

              “Conner, take me to 302 Dale Rd.” I said.

              “Okay.” He said with a smile. “Heading back home?” he asked.

              “I have some unfinished business.” I admitted.

              Conner and I drove in silence as we approached my long, graveled drive way. We slowly crept up just in case someone was home. As we approached the house we noticed that no cars were in the driveway.

              “Okay Conner, do you have a cell?” I asked.

              “Yeah?” he said.

              “Good, if anyone starts to come, you notify me immediately.” I said.

              “Sure. Where are you going?” he asked.

              “I have somewhere I have to go. I’ll be right back.” I said as I climbed back out of the car. The storm clouds were moving in. 

              The wind began to pick up as I ran towards the woods. As I came upon the red building I realized I was getting close, close to where it all began. I began flashes of the horrible day of my mother’s death. I ran toward where she was shot. I kneeled down and touched the ground. Tears filled my eyes.

              “I love you mom.” I said as I gently rubbed the ground. “I have to… say goodbye.” I began.

              Tears were rolling down my eyes as it began to rain. I laid my head upon the wet soggy ground.

              Back in the church:

              The church was filled with Bill’s “subjects” as James, Jesse, and Austin walked to the altar to wait for Sarah. The church was dressed up in beautiful red roses and red ribbon. The men had red ties on with black suits. They were striking and very handsome.  The wedding was about to start.

              Meanwhile:

              I finally got the strength to pick my head back up. I stood up and began to walk towards the river. As I reached my waterfall I slipped off my heels. I climbed up the cliff and entered the cave. I unclamped my necklace and gently slid E’s ring off. It was dark, empty, and cold in my special place. I pulled out my cell and shined a light to see the compartment that I had found this stuff in. I placed the ring in there. I pulled out the two notes from my handbag and placed them in there as well. I gently rubbed the wall as the tears continued to fall and I kneeled down in front of it.

              At the church:

              Sarah’s bridesmaids, dressed in beautiful red dresses, were descending towards the altar to join the men, followed by a little flower girl dropping red rose peddles and JJ as the ring brier holding a red heart-shaped pillow with two golden rings on top of them. After a few moments, the entire church rose and the bridal’s march was beginning to play. Sarah showed up at the double doors facing the altar. She was in a beautiful white dress with a red sash. The dress had a long trail and was short off the shoulder sleeves. Bill was on her side with his arm laced with hers. In her other hand was a large bouquet of red roses. They began to walk towards the altar.

              After I had the strength to move again, I picked myself up and climbed back down the waterfall. I blew a kiss to my once sacred place, turned around, and headed back to the cab. Once I entered the cab, Conner asked if I was okay, but I didn’t speak. He realized I was ready to head back to the hotel. He started the car and began to drive. After we reached the road, I began to speak:

              “I could really use Cody right about now.” I said out loud.

              “What?” Conner asked.

              “Cody…He’s my dog.” I said.

              “Oh, man’s best friend” he said.

              “Yeah…”

              “Where is he now?” He asked.

              “Back home, In Hawaii.” I admitted.

              I thought about that, “Home”. Hawaii was my home.

              “When are you headed back there?” He asked interrupting my thought.

              “Tonight, my plane leaves at 5pm.” I admitted.

              “Well good luck.” He said as we pulled up to the hotel.

              “Thanks Conner. It was really great to see you.” I said placing $300 in his hand.

              “Oh, I couldn’t take this much Jamie.” He admitted.

              “Call it a summer bonus.” I said as I climbed out of the car. “Take care of yourself, and your family.” I said with a smile. “I hope to see you again.” I said.

              I closed the door and walked into the hotel room to pack my bags.

              Back at the wedding:

              The service had begun. Jesse impatiently watched as they said there vow’s and exchanged words of commitment to each other. He couldn’t help but to think about me. How beautiful I would, and will look standing in front of him, in a beautiful dress pleading my eternal faithfulness and commitment to him.

              Little did he know, Austin was thinking the same?

              At last the ceremony was over and the kiss had sealed the deal. James and Sarah were now husband and wife. The church cheered as the two walked towards the church doors and descended the stairs for the reception. Bill put his arm around Jesse and Austin.

              “Thanks again boy.” He said to Austin.

              “It’s Austin.” He said annoyingly.

              “Yeah, I know.” Bill lied. “Let’s go get some wine!” He cheered. “And I think there is a cake too.” He said dragging the boys down the stairs to the reception room.

              “Okay, let’s get out of here.” Austin pleaded.

              “Okay, let’s go.” Jesse said. They turned around and were about to walk up the stairs when James begin to speak.

              “Jesse? It’s toast time.” He said.

              Jesse rolled his eyes and turned around.

              “Oh right, the toast.” Jesse said.

              Austin leaned against the wall as Jesse poured words of congratulations and happiness to the newlyweds. After the toast they attempted to leave again.

              “Guys…?” James caught them. “Look, please don’t leave. Dad will still be able to figure it out. It’s only 3:45.” James said.

              “Fine, you have 15 minutes to wrap this shit up.” Jesse warned.

              30 minutes past and the guys became restless. It was now 4:15pm.

              “We have to get our tickets and go through security. Please, let’s go.” Jesse pleaded with his brother.

              “Go...Go where Jesse?” Sarah asked overhearing the guys.

              “Jamie…She was here…He messed it up for me…again” He told her.

              “James…What happened?” She asked.

              Jesse told her the whole story.

              “Let’s go.” She said.

              They began to think their guests and told them they wanted to get to the honeymoon now. Sarah told her aunt to take JJ and leave right now, before it got crowded. She did as she was told. They offered the guests to stay, drink, and eat.  They had wasted another 25 minutes.

              As they walked over to Jesse and Austin they had planned to leave. But unfortunately Bill was around the corner and heard what was being said.