Yearning for Love (22 page)

“Hold onto him,” she said removing her compact from her purse to fix her makeup.  When done, she stood up from the table preparing to leave. “Well, I’ve taken up enough of your time.  I wish you many blessings on your upcoming marriage, Nicole. Thank you, for permitting me to talk to you one last time.”

The words flew from her mouth before she could stop them. “The wedding is in two weeks at the Courthouse on Superior Avenue.  You are welcome to come but please don’t tell Theodore.  There is not enough forgiveness in me to want to lay eyes on him ever again.”

Octavia smiled cracking her stiff face. “I’ll be there and Theodore won’t hear a damn word about your marriage from me.  Goodbye, Nicole,” she said sashaying from the restaurant.

Walker rushed to the table. “Babe?”

“I’m fine, Walker.  I did a stupid thing and invited her to the wedding.  I don’t know what I was thinking doing that.”

Walker massaged her shoulders. “It’s the bond that mothers and daughters share no matter how rocky the relationship.  Sweetheart, you offered the olive branch; the next step is up to her.”

“We will never be close but maybe we can be friends,” she said rubbing her head against Walker’s hand.

Chapter Fourteen

New Beginnings

Walker paced back and forth across the polished tiled floor. He stopped when that wasn’t working at calming his nerves.  Cracking his neck he bounced up and down on his toes, shaking the nervousness from his arms.  His throat dried and tightened.  His chest burned.  The anxiety attack was beating the hell out of him.

Was he doing the right thing?  Was he ready to take on the responsibility of a wife who had just learned to open herself to others?  What if she recoiled and pushed him away deciding her idiosyncrasies and aversion surrounding her closet-led life, better suited her than marriage.

He sat in a chair before the light-headiness had him sprawled on the floor in his black classic tuxedo.   He dropped his upper body to rest between his knees taking deep breaths.

The door opened and Jeremy entered the judge’s chamber. Judge Patrick Lassiter’s office was old school.  Dark mahogany wood surrounded with hand-crafted bookcases of the same material, held century old law tombs. Framed pictures of famous judges, presidents and landmarks graced the walls.

Laughing and leaning against the large oak desk, Jeremy said, “You have the worst case of cold feet I have ever seen.”

Walker lifted his head with air filling his jaws. “Did you go through this?”

“Well you would’ve known what I went through had you been there.  You were my best man remember.”

“I deserved that.  I was pissed.”

“That was my fault.  I got something for you.  I want to give it to you now before the wedding gets underway.”  He pulled a white envelope from him suit pocket handing it to Walker.

“What is this?”  Walker asked.

“Open it and see.”

Tearing the envelope open at the seal, Walker removed the contents.  Straightening his back he scooted to the edge of the chair to he read the document. The clocking was ticking to the last minutes of his bachelorhood and his brother added to his stress by giving him this.

“What the hell is this, Jeremy?”

“Those papers include the deed to your shop and a little gift to get you started in married life.”

He got out of the chair facing his brother. “I specifically told you I didn’t want anything from Mitch.”

Jeremy’s crystal blue eyes narrowed. “Nothing is from Mitch—it’s from me. Dammit take it! It’s my wedding gift to you.”

Walker shook the paper with an ill timbre. “You are giving me a million dollars as a wedding gift?  A waffle iron or toaster oven is considered a thoughtful gift, Jeremy.”

“I’ve thought about this long and hard. I even factored in you drilling me a new asshole once the shock wore off.  However, you’re going to listen to me for once.  I’m the older brother and handing out the advice to you.  So sit your ass down and listen!”

Walker retreated to the chair and sat down crossing his right leg over his left knee.  He would let Jeremy do his sales pitch.  He would even pretend to be listening, but there was no way in hell he was accepting a damn dime from Mitch Collingsworth.

“Go ahead, I’m listening,” he said being facetious.

“All right, we don’t have long so I’ll do the condensed version I rehearsed in case you were chasing me to beat me down.  “Dad’s Will was read and executed last week.  In it, he left everything to mom.  That was expected.  What I didn’t expect was him to leave me and my sister equal shares of his company and a hefty trust account we weren’t to receive until he died.  I’m splitting my share of the trust fund with you.”

“It’s great you’re filthy rich, Jeremy.  I still don’t want your money.”

“Why won’t you let me do this for you?  Do you hate me that much?”

“Man, I don’t hate you.  I love you, Jeremy.  You gotta understand you can’t fix that Mitch was a fucking bastard to me! Money won’t make me forget I was nothing but a sperm deposit that hit the target.”

The room got quiet as Jeremy slumped against the desk with his head down.  “He made so many mistakes.  If I attempted to right any of them, the world would end before I got to the middle of the pile.”

“Then don’t take on his burdens, Jeremy.  My childhood was rough, but I survived.  I matured into a decent hard-working man.  I’m getting married to the woman of my dreams and I have a brother I admire for trying to right the wrongs his old man caused.  I’m happy, Jeremy; I have no regrets.”

Jeremy chuckled. “Most people would call you a fool for turning down cold cash.  Walker, you’re a putz, but one helluva guy.”

“Thanks for reminding me I’m an ass at times.  Well, I should see if Nicole changed her mind about marrying me.”

“Patty would have been knocking down that door hysterical, if Nicole had run screaming from the courthouse. How has Nicole’s health been lately?”

“She’s on top of her health, why do you ask?”

“Jeremy rubbed his hands together. “She has been under a lot of stress with her parents appearing out of nowhere and dealing with the wedding.”

“She is handling it like a trooper.  Octavia is taking it slow and not forcing Nicole to accept all at once.”

“That’s good, Walker.  Listen, I have one last pitch to make for this money.”

Walker turned his wrist to check his watch. “Don’t have time for more of your ramblings, dude.”

“This will be the last one—promise.”  Jeremy set the stage by drawing on an imaginary canvas. “God forbid, you have to quit work to care for Nicole if her diabetes worsens.  Or what if you lose the shop because her care is so extensive you are never at the shop anymore to handle your business.  You lose the shop, now you got bills up the ass.  Walker, if you take this, money won’t be an issue if you or Nicole suddenly hit rock bottom.”

Walker wiped beads of sweat from his forehead. “I thought we were starting over?”

Jeremy lifted his brow. “I’m all for new beginnings and closing the door on the past, Walker. You can’t deny Nicole’s health could take a turn without her purposely causing it to happen.  One bad pregnancy could put her life at risk.  Protect your family and take the money as a precaution, or give it to her to open another boutique.”

Walker messed his hair by fingering through the fresh cut layers. “You win.  I will take the damn money if it gets you off my back.”

“Finally—I win a battle against you.”  Jeremy checked his watch. “We have to get going or you will be late to your own wedding.”

Walker rolled his eyes, folding the envelope to fit safely in his pocket. “I’m ready to do this.”

*****

Nicole fanned her face feeling flushed and sick to the stomach.  What was she doing?  She questioned if she was emotionally stable to take on the role of wife and, one day, mother.  Six months ago, she worried about finding a job to keep her head above water.  The last two months she sat on the couch in the evenings, hand-stitching beads on her wedding dress, while Walker read descriptions of houses to her from the newspaper.

Life was moving too fast.  Time was moving too fast.  She checked her makeup in the mirror for imperfection, not finding any she didn’t dare touch her makeup and piss Curtis off.  For a bank executive, he had an excellent eye for style and fashion.

Patty came in the small dressing room carrying two large boxes. “I have your veil and flowers.”

“Awesome, I was worried the flowers wouldn’t arrive on time.  We have a few minutes before the ceremony starts.” Nicole switched to the floor length mirror to admire the gown.  The full-length eggshell silk and beaded wedding dress clung to her shapely figure as she’d hoped it would.

“I have to admit, you look stunning, Nicole,” Patty said fixing sprigs of Baby’s Breath in her hair.

“I am pretty as a princess.  I made this dress as a prototype for my bridal line I was going to launch when my brand took off.  Since that didn’t happen, I altered the dress to be my wedding gown.  I added beading to bodice, attached the silk train and red trim.  This is the end product.”

“You are a princess today. I have to say your prince is very handsome also.  I saw him in the hall with his face full of smiles.  I’m so happy for you.”

“Patty, do you suppose I am rushing into marrying Walker?”

“My answer would be
no
since I’m a true believer of love at first sight. Look in the mirror, Nicole.  Ask yourself if you love him.  Does your heart yearn for him?”

Nicole looked into her own eyes staring back at her in the mirror, doing as Patty suggested.  She answered
yes
to the love and a double
yes
to yearning for him.  Her nerves instantly calmed and her racing heart returned to a normal beat. 

Patty came up behind her looking over her shoulder.  “Well, did you get your answer?”

Nicole’s eyes shifted to Patty.  Her ginger-colored hair swirling with curls and delicate sprigs of Baby’s Breath flowed over her bare shoulders.  She’d asked Patty to stand with her since she was her only friend and Walker had asked Jeremy.

“I did.  I’m marrying the man I love and ain’t nothing gonna stop me,” she said laughing and twirling her finger in the air.

Patty wiggled her hips. “Go girl—go get your man!”

They shared a laugh as Curtis entered the room hurrying them along. “Clap, clap ladies; the big show is ready to begin in five, four three,” he said handing Nicole her bouquet of red and white roses.

Patty shuddered excitedly.  “The next time we meet you will be Mrs. Nicole Albright.  And as I make my toast to you, I will take full credit for bringing this union together.”

Curtis popped his fingers. “Un-huh and I will sit quiet and not spoil your glory for not finding a love for me.”

“All right, Curtis, I promise I’ll pay closer attention to the people I meet and find you a life partner.”

“You do that and remember I’m picky.”

Nicole affixed her veil, adjusting the brim of the lace to cover her eyes. “Curtis, don’t fret.  There is someone for everyone and I’m a testimony to that.”

“Nicole, it’s not fair you are taking that hunk of a man off the market.  You broke my heart; I’m a little resentful.”

Patty tapped her pointed-toed shoe. “Curtis…”

“I know I didn’t have a chance in hell with him—he isn’t gay. That tidbit doesn’t stop him from being whatever I want him to be in my dreams,” Curtis said snapping his fingers.

Nicole frowned. “I did not need to hear that.  Anyhow, let’s go guys.  I don’t want to keep Walker waiting.”

*****

The ceremony began with Walker and Jeremy entering the rotunda decorated in hues of soft red and white and flowers of the same color decorating the rows of gold tall-backed chairs.  Sweat returned to Walkers forehead.  The anticipation of seeing the woman he loved, his bride walk down the makeshift-aisle had his knees knocking.

The few friends Walker invited, sat in the gold chairs waiting for a first look at the unknown woman that’d stolen his heart. Nicole persuaded him to invite his closest friends to celebrate his wedding day.  In the last row, Octavia Carpenter sat all alone.

He leaned over to Jeremy.  “I gotta do something real quick.”

Jeremy turned to him. “Walker, the ceremony is about to start.”

“It won’t take but a second,” he said walking away.

He walked to the last row where Octavia sat.  “Judge, will you come with me?”

“What is it, Walker.”

“Just come with me please,” he said extending his hand to her.

“Well, all right, she said taking his hand.”

He escorted her from the back row to the front to sit with his friends and some of Patty’s family members.  “Sit here.  It’s not right the mother of the bride is sitting in the back.”

Octavia hugged him. “Thank you, Walker.  Thank you.”

Taking his place next to Jeremy, he fixed his tie.  Jeremy whispered in his ear. “You are a class act, man.  That was really nice of you to do that.”

“I’m doing my part to repair the wounds.  Besides, my mother can’t be here, so there has to be one mother at this wedding.”

Missing from their courthouse ceremony, were bridesmaids and groomsmen. There wasn’t a cute flower girl wearing a frilly ankle length dress, dropping rose peddles nor was there a toddler ring bearer entertaining the guests as he danced around not paying attention to his mother directing him to stand still.  Also missing was Leslie Albright.  The depression she suffered following Mitch’s death forced Walker to put her in an institution. She had tried to commit suicide twice. The second attempt came close to being successful.

As the string quartet began to play, Air on a G String, Walker’s wobbly legs barely held his 175 pound frame.

Jeremy nudged him, whispering, “Breathe, before you pass out.”

“I’m freaking out, man.”

“Stop freaking out and focus on your lovely bride walking down the aisle.  She’s gorgeous man.”

The grin breaking across his face as Nicole glided down the aisle to the music resonating from the acoustics the space offered, made it feel like a royal event.  He couldn’t take his eyes off how elegant she looked in her dress with the train flowing behind her.  The veil covered her eyes but left her trademark smile open for all to see.