Love Entwined (2 page)

I opened my eyes and was greeted by my favorite pair of blues. So many emotions rested inside Staci’s eyes. Why did she look so forlorn, so confused even? I looked over her shoulder and saw Tanner, our son, standing behind her. For some reason, he looked taller, older even.

“It’s OK, I’ve come back to you—to both of you. I’m here now,” I whispered, my throat still raw from the ventilator tube.

I wasn’t sure what had happened, but I knew I was in a hospital room. I’d heard doctors and nurses discuss my accident, but I wasn’t sure of the details or the severity of my injuries. I remember waking up and calling for her earlier, but instead I was greeted by a stranger in my room. There was something about her—something comforting and so familiar even. I assumed she was just a nurse and probably made all of her patients feel that way. She held my hand and I swear she even had tears in her eyes, but I could have been imagining it, or just so hopped up on pain medication that my mind was playing tricks on me. After all, why would a nurse cry for me?

“Oh thank God you’re awake,” Staci said with relief. “I’ll go get the doctor. He should probably examine you now that you’re awake.”

“Just give me a minute with you,” I pleaded. “I just want to hold you.”

My entire body was screaming in pain, but in that moment I didn’t care that my arm was bandaged and in a sling, or that every time I took a breath my chest burned. I would worry about the doctors later. All I wanted and cared about right now was my wife and my son.

“Jamie,” she said, pulling back. “Do you remember anything—anything about the accident—about falling?”

“No, I didn’t even know I’d fallen. It’s all pretty fuzzy. I only remember waking up briefly and calling out for you. The nurse said she would get you.”

“The nurse?” she questioned.

It was when Staci turned her head that I noticed the woman, who I assumed had been my nurse, sitting on the bench positioned near the window. She did in fact have tears streaming down her face, but I still had no idea who she was or why she was crying.

"Jamie, she isn't your nurse. That's Ireland," my wife explained.

"Ireland?" I knew an Ireland once, but we hadn't seen each other in nearly two decades. Why would Ireland be in my hospital room?

"I don’t understand. Why is Ireland here?"

"Because you were planning on marrying her, Jamie."

“Staci, you aren’t making any sense. How can I marry another woman when you’re my wife?”

“Jamie, we haven’t been married for nearly a year,” she said, biting down on her lip. “I really think I should go get the doctor now.”

Her words stunned me. My world as I knew it was crashing around me. I wanted nothing more than for deep sleep to consume me once again. I shut my eyes and prayed that when I opened them this nightmare would be over and I would remember—everything.

Ireland

Six months earlier

I
fingered the silver, heart-shaped locket around my neck as I waited for my best friend to step out of her bridal suite. I always envisioned this day when I was growing up, but in my dreams I was always the little girl in the puffy, white dress and flowing veil and not the one wearing a strapless, Merlot bridesmaid dress playing second fiddle to the bride.

I was a bit of a tomboy as a child, not really into dresses—truth be told, I still preferred a silk pantsuit to this chiffon number that Katie insisted worked perfectly with my sun-kissed skin tone. But, on those rare occasions when I could convince my then best friend, Bentley, to dress up and play pretend wedding with me, I transformed into a girly princess.

My mom had even bought me a fluffy white dress and draping veil for such occasions. Bentley always wore jeans and a white, button-down shirt with a matching denim vest. I always tried to get him to wear a white suit as he had the day we’d met, but he always pouted and stomped off at even a mention of the idea. I chuckled to myself at the memory. “I miss you,” I whispered to myself, opening the locket to thumb over the pictures I’d placed in it.

My dreams turned into nightmares the day they all left me. From that moment on, I vowed not to let anyone in again—that was until Katie’s family moved to Knoxville and she started at my high school. I’d been forced to move into a group home for children across the state when my mom died. I hated calling it an orphanage, but that’s what it was and who I was—
an orphan
. The word seemed to have such a stigma about it. When most people found out I was an orphan they would always look at me in one of two ways.

They would either give me a look of pity, or one of mistrust. I guess being an orphan meant I was a bad kid, destined to live a life of crime on the streets. When in reality, my only wrongdoing was not having any parents. It was not a crime that my family had died, but in strangers’ eyes, I’d already been convicted.

Katie was different. She looked at me like a regular kid—like a teenage girl who had a family. She only lived in Knoxville for about five months, but in those months she made me forget the pain and loneliness I’d been feeling. She also made me forget—
him
. It took nearly two years, but someone had finally eased the pain of losing everyone I’d ever loved.

I remember crying for days at the thought of her leaving me like everyone else had. Her family’s newly built home was nearing completion in another school district about thirty miles away and I knew the time we had together was limited. She would be moving and I would be alone—again. One by one everyone I’d ever loved had left me.

“You’re leaving tomorrow, aren’t you?” I sobbed. “I’m going to be all alone again.”

“I am leaving tomorrow, Ireland, but my parents and I have a surprise for you. I couldn’t say anything sooner because they had to go through the court first, but you’re coming with me,” Katie exclaimed, jumping up and down.

“What do you mean I’m going with you? Like for a vacation?” I asked.

“No, you’re going to come and live with us in our new house. We’re going to be sisters.”

I couldn’t believe the words I was hearing.

“What? How?” I questioned, scratching my head.

“My parents went to your social worker and got everything approved with the courts. They could adopt you if you’d like—to make it official—but since we’ll be eighteen next year anyways, your social worker said that adoption wouldn’t be necessary for you to come live with us.”

That day I started to believe in life again. Maybe there was hope for me after all.

In fact, it was because of what Katie’s parents did for me that I decided to pursue a career in children’s social services. I wanted to work with orphaned children—children who I understood. I wanted them to know they weren’t alone, and they were still loved. They weren’t outcasts and they still had their entire lives ahead of them.

The sound of a door opening alerted me to the present.

“Oh.em.gee!” I squealed as Katie emerged from her bridal suite. “Katie, you look absolutely stunning. Greg is going to pass out when he sees you!”

“He better not,” she chuckled. “I’m not sure Jamie could catch Greg’s ass if he goes down.”

“Speaking of this notorious Jamie . . . what kind of best man misses the rehearsal?” I question. “Seems pretty lame if you ask me.”

“It’s not a big deal, Ireland,” she assured me. “And, you’re right. No one asked you,” she added, nudging me in the ribs.

“It might be your wedding day, but don’t be a bitch,” I said, trying to hide my smile.

“Whatever! You’re just lucky I’m not a Bridezilla like those girls in that crazy TV show!” she sassed. “Really though, like I said, it’s not a big deal. He had some big corporate function last night and apologized profusely to Greg and me.”

“Still seems like a lame excuse to me,” I quipped. “What does this guy do again?”

“He’s Greg’s partner at the architectural firm here in Detroit. You know—Roberts, McMillan & Associates? How do you not know any of this?”

“Oh, well I knew Greg owned the architectural firm with someone. I guess I just never realized that his business partner was his best friend and his best man. I guess I just assumed it was some old guy who had a perma pole stuck up his stiff ass. If he’s Greg’s best friend, then why have I never met him? They’ve been partners for a while, right?”

“Yeah, well he is and I guess they’re in some bidding war with another company on a pretty big project in the city. So, that’s where he was last night—rubbing elbows with corporate bigwigs so their company would get the project. It’s really not a big deal. Besides, it’s not like Greg could very well go in his place and one of them had to be there in order to help pay for this wedding. So, really, he did me a favor,” Katie explained.

“And, all he has to do is escort you down the aisle, hold my ring and give a speech at the reception—easy peasy, right?” she rambled. “And, Jamie never came out with us because he was married. He and his wife just recently divorced. Thank god for Jamie really. Staci’s a real twat. I do feel sorry for their son, Tanner, though. He’s in middle school and doesn’t need his parents’ bullshit piled on his shoulders.”

I hardly heard a word Katie said after architect. My mind immediately drifted to Bentley begging me to play Legos or Tinkertoys with him.

“Please, Shamrock,” he begged. “I’m sick of playing dress up. I want to build something cool. Build the tallest skyscraper with me.”

Off in the distance I heard Katie clearing her throat, bringing me back to the present. “Ireland, did you hear a word I just said?” she asked with a hint of annoyance in her voice. “You need to get your head in the game!”

“Uhhhh, right. Yeah, whatever you say. I guess if you don’t care then I should cut the guy some slack.”

“Where do you keep drifting off to?” she asked.

“Just thinking about someone. It doesn’t matter.”

“Just someone, or him? And, by the look on your face and the unshed tears in your eyes it most certainly doesn’t look like it doesn’t matter. Talk to me, Ireland.”

“Just drop it, Katie. Not today—today is about you. Now let’s go meet this mysterious Jamie and get you married to your Prince Charming.”

“Pffft,” she laughed. “We both certainly know that Greg will never be Prince Charming, but he certainly does try and I love him for it.”

“You’re such a sap,” I teased as we walked to the church’s vestibule, stopping to continue our conversation. “I can’t believe you’re leaving me all alone in the world of Singledom.”

“Oh come on. We both knew that Greg had to put a ring on it eventually. We’ve been together over a decade. We’re in our thirties for god’s sake—that’s practically forty!” she exclaimed.

“Thanks! Way to make me feel even better about myself,” I said, rolling my eyes at her. “Maybe I should leave the reception early so I can head to the animal shelter and pick up a cat . . . or two.”

“Shut up! Oh, but if you do get cats, make sure they are gangster kitties and name them Bonnie and Clyde!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “Oh, I changed my mind—Thelma and Louise!”

“Oh my god. You’ve actually put thought into this. I’m destined to live the life of a cat lady,” I sighed, shaking my head.

“Of course, I’ve thought about it. Mom and I have actually had several conversations about this. She wanted to get you into counseling back in college, but I talked her out of it and convinced her that you were actually seeing someone. You can thank me later,” she said with a wink.

“You’ve got to be kidding. You’ve talked about this with Shannon?” I screeched.

“What? Don’t act so surprised. You know I don’t hide anything from my mother. Well, except for the fact that her baby girl isn’t walking down this aisle with her cherry intact,” she giggled. “Besides, it’s not like you’re actually willing to date anyone. I’ve known you for nearly twenty years, Ireland. You haven’t had one serious relationship. If you weren’t fucking and chucking ‘em, I’d think you were sexually impaired, or something,” she said, eyeing me up and down.

“We’re not continuing this conversation right now. Let’s go and get you hitched. Oh, and for the record—your mother caught you and Greg screwing like rabbits about five years ago. She came to me in tears and I talked her off the ledge. I told her you were a smart kid and were using protection . . . blah, blah, blah. She was so embarrassed. She begged me to never tell you,” I said, opening the doors into the vestibule where the rest of the bridal party minus Greg was waiting. I turned back to find Katie’s jaw nearly hitting the floor. “So, I guess you’ll actually be the one thanking me later,” I said, grinning.