Groomless - Part 3 (18 page)

When I looked back up again and saw that he had opened his eyes, I gasped.

“Daddy!” I said. “I’m here.”

He squinted at me, looking deep into my eyes with every last bit of energy he had left. He gestured for me to give him a hug, then pulled away. “I-I love you, Julia,” he said weakly, in a frail, dying voice that was not his own.

“I love you too.”

“Just promise me you’ll be happy, maybe climb a mountain or two like your old man.”

Beeeeeep
…

I looked over at the machine and saw only a green, flat line, rather than the small icon of a beating heart that had been flickering before. I screamed for the nurses and the doctor as my dad fell into unconsciousness again. Everything was a blur, and I was absolutely hysterical.

“Code!” a nurse yelled.

I softly kissed my father’s forehead as the hospital staff shuffled in to help him. “Dad, you’ve got to fight.”

“Code blue, two east,” the hospital intercom announced. “Code blue, two east.”

I don’t know what else to do, so I started praying. A sea of nurses and doctors flooded into the room. A redhead pushed a cart of life-saving supplies and equipment in, shoving me out of the way. I refused to leave the room, so I stood against the wall and watched until another nurse and a tall man escorted me out. I shouted and cursed at them, begging them to let me see my dad one more time, telling them he needed me, but they simply ignored my pleas and ushered me to the waiting room. Tears dripped down my face, and a sense of all-consuming helplessness overwhelmed me as I crumbled into Kate’s arms.

I felt someone grab my hand, and I recognized that touch right away. “Oh, Luke,” I cried, looking up into his sad blue eyes.

“I’m so sorry, Jay. I got here as quick as I could when Kate called me.” He pulled me into a hug and just held me as I sobbed into his chest. “That man loves me more than anyone else ever has or ever will. He’s been a good friend to me, like a father of my own, right up to the very end.”

No words were needed, for I mostly craved and appreciated his comforting touch in such a difficult time. It meant everything to me that he was there for me. He led me over to a chair, and I piled mindlessly into it, with him on one side and Kate on the other. Knots formed in the pit of my stomach, and I felt like I needed to throw up. Luke said a few more encouraging words, and Kate tried to console me as well, but I couldn’t even focus on what they were saying. It was as if I’d been transported to some alien world, and nothing made sense at all anymore. I should have been somewhat used to it, after losing Mom, but death was not something I could ever get accustomed to. It was a cruel bastard who kept stealing the people I loved.

“I wasn’t even able to give him that father/daughter dance he wanted so bad,” I whispered. “He did so much for me, and I couldn’t even give him that. We turned it into a damn media circus, a huge production. We should have just had a simple backyard barbecue, and he would have been around to see it!” I fumed.

“He knows how much you love him, whether you get the chance to dance with him or not, and when you do get married someday, he’ll be there with you in spirit,” Kate said.

I suddenly felt lightheaded, and my knees wobbled “I can’t believe this is happening.”

Luke softly stroked my back. “Don’t give up hope. It’s not over yet.”

“I want to believe you,” I said. “I really do. I just don’t know if I have the strength to face this. Tragedy always strikes, and I’m always left to pick up the pieces.”

“Nothing is impossible, babe. Just stay strong like your dad and never give up.”

“I guess being strong is the only choice I have right now.”

He gripped my hand. “Yes, and we’ll be strong together. I love your dad too.”

I leaned my head into the crook of his neck, and he softly stroked my hair as we waited.

Time passed ever so slowly, but the redheaded nurse finally walked out of his room.

As soon as I spotted her, I immediately rushed over, desperate for answers. “Well? How is he? Were you able to revive him? Tell me what’s going on with my dad! We’ve been out here forever, and nobody’s told us a damn thing!” I demanded.

Her lips pressed into grim lines. “It’s not good. I’m so sorry.”

And with that, I crashed into Luke’s arms. We both fell to our knees, overcome by grief, as if our whole world had just crashed down around us. I felt like I was in a raging ocean, helplessly drowning no matter how hard I tried to swim. I didn’t know how I was going to keep going, and it was as if Poseidon himself was jerking me down by the feet. “I-I can’t do this, Luke,” I said, sobbing.

“You can, Julia. Because you’re
his
daughter, you can!”

“And you won’t go through it alone,” Kate said sweetly, patting my trembling hand.

***

Luke held me through the night, sitting right next to me in the uncomfortable, awfully gaudy orange vinyl chairs in the waiting room. The nurses and doctors tried to implore me to go home and get some rest, but I wouldn’t hear of it. I wanted to be there, in case my dad woke up, and miraculously, he did. As he’d done so many times before, my amazing father survived, against all odds.

As soon as I was allowed to go in his room again, I rushed over and held his hand, thankful for every minute I still had with him.

“Told ya. I’m too stubborn to go,” he said.

I smiled. “You amazed everyone.”

“I can’t die without that dance. Besides, all of New York is dying to see us.”

I laughed. “Well, then it’s a good thing you stuck around!” I said, crying as he pulled me into a hug I thought I’d never have. He meant the world to me, and that hug was one I would never, ever forget.

Chapter 13

The day of the wedding reception finally arrived, and I went over to my dad’s house to help him get ready for his trip to the hotel suite, where he could dress for the big day.

“My girl, you’re a natural beauty, just like your mother was,” my dad said, looking at me lovingly as I adjusted the nasal cannula on his oxygen and patted his shoulder, “but know where you are the most beautiful?”

“Where?”

“On the inside.”

Tears welled in my eyes as I gave him a long hug. “Are you ready to cut a rug with me tonight?” I asked.

“Anytime, girlie,” he said with a far-off smile. “I don’t want to wear all this getup though. For that dance, I want to be free of all these tubes and gadgets. I can do one dance without it.”

“Okay,” I agreed, knowing there was no point in arguing with someone who was even more stubborn than I was.

It was a short and easy trip to the hotel, and once Dad was comfortably settled into his suite and was immersed in watching ESPN, I handed Aunt Lizzy a midafternoon white wine spritzer, told her to look after him, and retreated to my own room.

In that luxury suite, the dress was hanging on the bathroom door, in all its splendor. I sat for the hairdresser and then the makeup artist, marveling at the transformation they were able to pull off. By the time they were done, I barely recognized my own reflection.

It wasn’t long before Kate walked in, wearing her gorgeous fake bridesmaid dress in a deep rose, a strapless little number with a cream-colored sash to accent it. I tried to hug my friend but was pinned in the makeup chair by the face-painter and her uppity assistant, so I just waved.

“You look amazing,” Kate said.

“Thanks. So do you.”

The photographer, the most prestigious of the nine who had offered gratis services for the day, took a picture of me talking to my bridesmaid while the professional attached individual false eyelashes with tweezers. Meanwhile, Kate leaned over to take her own picture of me with her phone.

“I have to,” she said when I rolled my eyes at her. “You know Zack will wanna see it, and he’s still got that cast on one arm. If I don’t take a thousand pictures, he might club me with it.”

I laughed, and the makeup artist barked at me, “Please sit still, miss.”

“Do you want me to get her, mess her up a little?” Katie asked in a mischievous whisper.

“No! She’s only doing her job.”

“Right,” she said, winking at me.

“The pictures are really supposed to be me and my dad, maybe a couple from the party but she’s doing this pro bono, so let her photograph whatever she wants. It may be for her portfolio,” I said softly.

“So you want your sneezy-looking eyelash face in her portfolio?”

“I don’t really mind,” I said with a shrug.

Again, the snooty makeup artist glared at me. “Miss, if you don’t sit still, this tan is going to make you look like an orange. It’s all about blending it perfectly,” she said as she airbrushed me like a t-shirt at the county fair.

Within minutes, I was in the dream dress, and Kate was fastening the entirely-too-glamorous shoes for me, the insanely high heels Maeve had insisted that I get.

The photographer’s flash fired again, and my wince from my foot pain turned into an embarrassed giggle. I so wasn’t used to heels.

A knock at the door was answered by the makeup assistant, and she tried to stop him. “It is bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the ceremony!” she squealed.

“Only in real weddings,” Luke said, then strode right past her.

I nearly fainted when I caught sight of him in the perfectly tailored tuxedo, with his gorgeous hair brushed back and his sapphire cufflinks gleaming in the makeup artist’s spotlights.

“Ladies, if you don’t mind, I need a moment alone with JJ,” he said coolly.

They all smiled sheepishly and actually scurried to vacate the room. Kate was the last to go, and she flashed me a wink and a thumbs-up, then pointed discreetly to Luke’s ass on her way out the door.

“Luke, you look—”

“Shh,” he said softly, then took me by the shoulders and pulled me in. He held me carefully and let me lay my head on his shoulder, shut my eyes, and enjoy a moment of calm silence. “The big day’s finally here. Just think about it,” he said.

He was right. Finally, I would be able to give my father his dying wish. The whole big, gaudy spectacle clearly made him happy, even though hospice had to be called the very next morning to give him the morphine his doomed body was crying out for. In that moment, I realized that I wouldn’t be a daughter any longer, not after forty-eight or seventy-two hours. I tried to hold it back the tears, but there was no use. My shoulders shook with sobs, even under Luke’s steady hands.

There was a flash and a loud click, and Luke’s eyes suddenly blazed with rage.

“What the hell are you doing?” he asked, glaring at the photographer who’d somehow managed to stick around. Luke shrugged me off and marched over to her. “Didn’t I ask you all to go?” he snapped. “I swear, if her father or anyone else catches one glimpse of that unauthorized photo, I’ll see your studio ruined. You won’t be able to get a job at Sears, taking baby portraits. Hell, the DMV won’t hire you for driver’s license photos!” he harshly said.

“I-I’m sorry. Please don’t tell Mr. Trump.” The woman nodded, quickly bundled up her equipment, and hustled out of the room.

I wanted to reproach him for being so stern with her, since she really was only doing her job, but he was just looking out for me, trying to protect me, and I couldn’t scold him for that. I laid a hand on his back, desperate to be held in his consoling embrace again. I felt so at a loss, so hollow and brittle and fragile, as if I might break and crumble to dust any minute.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

I tried to smile, but it was totally ineffectual. I could feel the pasted-on quality of my fake smile, the one that didn’t reach my eyes.

He winced and touched my cheek lightly; it was clear I couldn’t fool him either. “Hang in there, Jay. Just make as many memories as you can today. Don’t think about anything but this moment.”

“I’ll try,” I said, trying to sound certain.

Luke kissed my cheek. “It’s about that time. Are you ready?”

“As I’ll ever be, Luke,” I said.

“Jay, you’ve got this. You’re tougher than anyone I know.”

“Thanks. I think you’re seriously overestimating me, but I’ll take it,” I said.

“Let’s go.”

I took his arm and held my breath as the double-doors to the ballroom opened. It was a vision, breathtaking and perfect. Pink lighting gleamed from above, tinting the crisp white linens a rosy hue. Pink peonies and white lilies of the valley stood in fluffy bunches in small square vases on the tables. The cake, frosted with creamy white, stood sleek and tall, six tiers high, surrounded by a ring of pillar candles. The amazingly well-stocked bar was flanked by two intricate ice sculptures: the doves I had ordered and an unexpected Sith lord. The hulking Darth Vader sculpture had me laughing out loud.

“Did you do that?” I accused Luke.

“Me? No way! I’m just here to look pretty,” he said mischievously. “Clue to life though. If you don’t want
Star Wars
statues at your fake wedding, stop using Facebook to openly confess your undying love for Anakin. Nothing about Zuckerturf is private, you know.”