Who Loves Her? (8 page)

Susan was always scared of something
.  She was always just one second away from losing it all the way.  Nina wasn’t sure about the whole idea of getting married to Harris or Bob.  Susan needed routine, when she was orderly and working within her own boundaries, there was little reason for Nina to be close and ready to answer in a moment’s notice.” But with Harris, he just did not seem up for it.  Someone had made Susan believe that Harris was to be trusted, and that he would be able to keep Susan on the straight and narrow path that she needed to avoid one of her meltdowns.”  Nina tried to tell her that Harris was not the guy to do it, but Susan got it stuck in her head and was hell-bent on marrying Harris.  So here they were once again.  Susan had a meltdown and destroyed property and relationships, and Nina would pick her up and cart her to safety.  Nina knew it was not finished.  Tomorrow she would have to do a sweep of the restaurants and pay for any damages later.

“Just drive
, Nina.”

Susan was crying and shivering with anger, confusion and shock.

“Where is your car, Susan? For God sake, tell me, are you all right?  You are really scaring me.  I am all spooked out, dear.  Relax, just relax, have some water, here.”

Nina
passed her a water bottle, as they sped away, and looking behind in the rearview mirror.  She wondered why Susan had told that strange little band that she had stolen a dress.

“Just don’t ask me anything, just…just drive
.  Let us reach Mom first.  Give me some time.  I’ve had a trip of my life.  Let me just cool myself down a bit,” Susan replied.

“Okay
,” Nina replied and sighing as she looked up at the top of her car.  She couldn’t get her brow to uncurl and she had the knot in her shoulder again from when she got too stressed.  Susan was exhausted.  It was getting late, with shadows stretching into dusk.  After ten minutes of driving at high speed, Susan came back to herself.  She enjoyed just watching the yellow dotted lines fly by.  It was soothing.  Comforting.  Predictable.  Before that she was just sitting in the passenger seat with her eyes closed, breathing deeply.

“Don’t you think the day
went quick today?  How long have I been away?”  Susan finally broke the silence that had been building between her and Nina.  She hoped it was the right time to start the conversation.

Nina looked at her friend in curiosity
.  What the hell was Susan talking about?

“We all left the house at ten in the morning
.  Reached here at almost eleven a.m., and now it’s almost five.  I think you disappeared for three to four hours, I suppose.  Your parents have called the police, too, as you’re missing,” Nina replied.  Her voice was clipped and tired as if she was reporting to a doctor or the police for a little kid who was lost in the neighborhood.

“Well, it seemed to be happening so quickly
.  I mean, since the time I lost you, I just fainted for a while, but seems like the time is two times faster than usual.  I just lost track.  First there was Anna and there wasn’t Anna, and my purse was here and I couldn’t get through.  I tried to call, honest, I did.  But my phone didn’t work, and then I lost my purse and my phone…it was just awful,” Susan shot back, trying to stay calm.  She didn’t want to get agitated again.

“Fainted?  You fainted? 
For what?  Why?  Where?” Nina asked, pausing a bit before continuing.

“You saw Anna today?”
Nina kept her eyes glued firmly to the road, holding her breath as she waited for the answer.

Susan swiped one long curl from her face
.  She was sharp as she answered Nina.

“Don’t hound me
.  I’ll tell you.”

The conversation stopped
.  The yellow lines kept clipping by, but Susan could tell her friend was holding something back.

“There’s more to it than
you know.  Well, what is it?  Spill it, tell me,” Susan pried.

“I don’t know your side of the story, but before I listen to that, I have something to tell you.”

“Yeah, go on, I can take anything after what has happened to me today.  Well, you know, I might be a little superstitious or over-reactive, all I can say is that I lost you guys, fainted in a restaurant, and got some help, that’s all.  I probably am not used to being alone.  I guess I panicked and got terrified.  Even if Anna is in the car, next time, no way I am driving alone to a new place.  I was afraid there could be something happening that is terribly wrong; today is my wedding day.  I should have been careful and shouldn’t have been over-reactive, and God knows what would happen with the police, shoplifting, and that parked car of mine behind us.”

“Yeah, I know
.  I was about to tell you about that,” Nina replied.

“About what?
  My car?” Susan questioned.

“Yes,” Nina confirmed, and started telling her what she could not believe.

“Susan, soon after you went missing, I got a call from Bob.  I just couldn’t believe it after everything you told me about the hardware store.  I mean, really, you know it was
Bob. 
Anyway he said it was weird, but that he thought he saw your car being driven by a couple somewhere in town, and you know Bob.

I asked him if he was sure because there are
a lot of Hondas on the road.  He said he was sure because it had that faded bumper sticker:  “
My kid is on the honor roll at Leif Erickson Middle School
.”  The way he said it he was so concerned.  I mean, honestly, you guys could have made a wonderful pair.  Maybe you could just give him one more try before the big day.  You know a wedding is the biggest day of your life?”  Nina didn’t know why she was filling her head with all of this.  Susan needed to calm down right now.  Not get more and more confused about a decision.  When it boiled down, it was always just safest to report the facts of the day to Susan as they occurred and let the chips fall where they may.  Or in Susan’s case where the shrapnel may hit from the bomb she lit off in somebody’s little life.

Susan was shocked
.  “But my car was parked right in front of me.”

“T
hen I left it at the Bistro?  I was having that nice Jim guy look into it when the band showed up.”

Nina looked at Susan,” Tell me about the band
, Susan.”

“Well the fools just showed up out of nowhere
!  I mean they blew the whole story out of the water.”

“Did the band say they know Bob?
Or maybe Harris?” asked Nina.

“
What the hell Nina!  Now you are you talking crazier than me!  What are you talking about?  And out of all the people--Bob?” Susan looked at Nina as the pain pounded hard behind her eyes.

“Nina
, I am exhausted and frightened,” Susan took a long slow drink of cold water.

“Bob was here?
  Here in this town?  What’s he doing here anyway?”

“
Calm down,” Nina admonished Susan.

“The poor boy is jaded and he was p
robably drooling here for a last glimpse of the bride.”  Nina got passionate again, “Besides, he sounded like he was more than just a little concerned,” Nina mocked.

“
Anyway, you must have lost track of time.  It happens.”

“No it doesn’t,” Susan
said, crossing her arms in a huff.

Nina
slammed on the brakes.  Bouncing Susan against the tight part of the seatbelt.  She was pissed.  “Can you just shut up and listen to me?  Because I am not taking you back to the church.  Not now.  Not after seeing Bob today.”  Susan sat in utter silence for only a moment.  Suddenly all she wanted was the familiar comfort and safety she had come to know with Harris.  How dare Nina talk to Bob on her wedding.  She turned to Nina and screamed:  “Today is mine and Harris’ wedding day!  How dare you bring Bob into my life on a day like today.  Bob had his chance and he is either too shy or too dumb to want to fight for me.  Harris loves me.  That is final.  Harris loves me and we are going to marry.  Bob loves only his boats and those icky little worms so leave me alone, Nina!  You are no longer allowed to use Bob’s name when I am in the room.”  Susan shouted with vehemence, but still there was shame.  Shame that she had yelled at her friend, the person she trusted and knew better than anyone else on this planet.

“I think Bob loves you
.  And I think he was the only one looking for you because Harris surely did not,” Nina answered quietly to Susan’s crazy tirade.

With incredulity, Susan whispered,
“What?”

“
You can’t be serious!” Susan curiously replied.

Nina
answered, “I am serious!  Honey, that is why I am telling you to PLEASE LISTEN TO ME.”

“OK,
” Susan looked at Nina, “go on.  Is he okay?  Where is my car?”

“You say a word and I am going to drop you off ri
ght here on this deserted road!” Nina threatened.  She just snapped.  She wasn’t Susan’s private bodyguard.  Just because she had worn out her parents.  She certainly had lost all her points with Anna.  Anna couldn’t care less if Susan walked off a cliff or into the middle of a bank robbery where everyone was shooting machine guns.

“No, you won’t, and this is NOT a deserted road
.”  Susan was back again to her bright mood.

Nina took three deep breathes and continued through the green light
.  She kept on going with her side of the story.  “Yeah, when Bob called me and told me about the old couple in the car, I probably thought you had been kidnapped, or your car had been stolen, so we called the police.  In the meantime, Bob asked me to meet him at a place near the church, so I went to see him, and he told me that he wants to get married to you.  So you, Queen Apple Fest, should think for one last time before settling down to this.  I can’t even believe I’m telling you this.  You’re just a mess.  Today is just the tip of the iceberg for whomever you choose.  I just mean…” but Nina had to stop her tirade.  Susan’s smile was like the sun parting a raincloud.

“Bob actually told you that?  Wow, I mean it
is shitty timing, but wow!” Susan had a broad smile and a twinkle in her eyes.  As Nina looked at her in surprise, Susan answered.

“B
ut seriously, I would love to.  I mean, I’m not sure, since Harris is there.”

Nina interjected, “That is right
, and all those plans have been made.  How much money did you guys spend, anyway?”

Suddenly Susan straightened, “Hey
!  Where is my car?”

“Yes, I was about to tell you that
.  Bob followed that couple to an old store house and called the police.  That is what started the big search for you.  After Bob told them about your car and that weird couple driving, you and your car have been on every radio in the state.”

Susan added, “But I don’t see any police out here Nina
.  What’s with that?”

Nina
squirmed in her seat and bit her pinky nail, confirming Susan’s suspicion.  “I don’t know.  That is strange, all right.”  Nina’s brow thickened as she surveyed the area, even stopping to check behind.  Well, the cops have been alerted, and they are looking.  Thank God I found you when I did.  “Look,” said Nina, “for now, let’s just go find Bob so we can find out where everything stands.  Maybe he has seen Harris, too.  In fact, I bet Harris is fine, and they are all now looking and waiting for us.”
What a strange town,
Susan thought.

“I know where he is.
I met with him four hours ago.”

“Four hours ag
o? You didn’t mention that you met him at all.  You just said you got a call from him.  What’s going on?” Susan inquired.  “I just saw my car four hours ago and you hadn’t given me a chance to give you the entire story.  I gave it to Donna and Jim back there, but then they all thought I was crazy!  Nina, you’re supposed to be my friend.  I can’t believe you would lie to me about meeting Bob.  I bet he doesn’t want to even get married to me!”

“Calm down
.  I’m not sure about all the details, but I know he wants to marry you.  I’m not trying to lie to you, Susan.  It’s just been a crazy day.” In her mind Nina said a BSSCD!  It stood for Bat-Shit-Susan-Crazy-Day which hovered somewhere just under the Twilight Zone and above getting tossed into jail because your evil twin sister shoplifted something at Tiffany’s.  Susan looked at Nina in silent amazement.  Suddenly, the joy of knowing Bob wanted her was replaced by the stark realization that she was, in fact, marrying Harris.  What right did Nina have to confuse an already confusing day? And what was this foolishness she had met with Bob only four hours prior? Has the whole world gone mad?

“
What makes you think that would be okay?” Susan turned angrily on her best friend,

“
Am I not already late for my wedding?  Has the whole church resigned itself to a lost wedding, or are they sitting around waiting for the bride to arrive? And what about Harris? Either he is there waiting for me or he is out looking for me.  Which is it Nina? Has Harris cared enough for me that he is now out with the police searching for my body?” Susan demanded.  “My body? Did I actually say Harris should be looking for my body? Oh well, okay, so maybe someone is going to try and kill Susan the Bride.”  Susan waited.