Stop That Wedding!
Chapter 9
“What is this I hear?”
Brad glanced up from the computer screen. “Hello, Uncle Chauncy. Not sure what
you heard. Why don’t you fill me in?”
Chauncy was obviously agitated. His features were twisted into a fierce scowl that
would have most people running for cover, but not Brad. He was used to Chauncy’s
moods.
Brad felt out of sorts himself. He fought a strange ache deep within himself, a pain
that grew ever since he’d walked out of Zenith’s condo four days earlier. He didn’t
understand it, wasn’t sure what to label it, but he recognized that he missed her. But he’
d have to get over it. She’d made her choice. He wasn’t about to beg.
“I heard that Zenith hasn’t reported to work for days,” Chauncy growled. “Is this
true?”
Brad’s ache stabbed at him at the mention of Zenith’s name. He schooled his
features carefully to show no reaction. “She has succeeded in shutting down the hotel
restaurant for an entire day, costing us thousands in repairs and lost revenue. She lost
irreplaceable files, angered customers and business contacts, terrified hundreds of city
residents, almost killed an Ambassador, not to mention nearly drowning herself.
“Despite all this, I’m trying very hard to find her a place where she can’t bankrupt
the company or kill herself. It’ll take some time.”
Chauncy harrumphed loudly as he lowered himself into the chair opposite Brad. “I
don’t want her sitting around. Find something soon. I never imagined Zenith to be such
a klutz, though.” He tapped the floor with his cane. “Did you hear the wedding is back
on?”
“I heard.” Brad tapped a few more keys, telling himself not to care. He knew the
engagement was a sham, but it wasn’t his place to tell Zenith’s grandfather this. He
might not agree with her choices, but he’d respect them.
Which was why he hadn’t called to see why she hadn’t reported for work. He
understood exactly why she couldn’t see him; he felt the same way. This ache inside,
this burning, didn’t get any better. It grew in strength, eating right though his gut. He
didn’t think that seeing Zenith at work would ease it.
“This is a farce,” Chauncy grumbled, and for a heart-stopping moment Brad
thought he’d read his mind. “She can’t love that toad. She can’t want such an empty
life.”
“She knows what she wants, Uncle. We should respect that.”
“We don’t always know what’s good for us until something comes along and shakes
up our world. That’s what I’ve been trying to do with Zenith.”
Brad’s eyes narrowed. “Are you trying to tell me that this entire ‘You’re going to
learn the business inside-out’ requirement is an attempt to get Zenith to change her
mind about marrying Chadwick?”
The older man didn’t even have the grace to fidget. “If it had worked, you would
have thanked me. I’ve seen the chemistry between you two; you’d be a great couple, I
know.”
“I’m not looking for a wife, and she’s not the kind who would settle for anything less.”
Chauncy snorted. “I hadn’t been looking either when I fell in love with my Rose. I was a
happy bachelor, always one for the ladies. Never once thought about marriage and
family. When she moved on and started being courted by someone else I realized how
empty my life felt without her. It was like a gnawing emptiness inside me that kept
growing larger instead of disappearing. That is, until I got down on one knee and
begged her to take me back. Best thing I ever did. I was lucky I didn’t lose her because
of my stubbornness.”
Chauncy stood up, balancing the cane in front of him. “Well, I have to be fitted for
my tuxedo today. Zenith’s chosen some penguin suit. At least I get to wear a top hat. If
I have to be part of this fiasco, I might as well look good.” With a nod toward his nephew,
Chauncy left.
Leaning back from the desk, Brad frowned in thought. Without meaning to,
Chauncy had named the ache inside of him. Brad was suffering from emptiness.
Bottomless, uncontainable emptiness.
He heard a light tap at his partially opened door. Riley’s head peeked around the
corner. “You have a minute?” he asked. At Brad’s nod, he entered, carrying a package
wrapped in brown butcher paper. “This just arrived from the art department. They said
you wanted it as soon as possible.”
Brad stood up, signaling Riley to lay the package on the small round table set up in
a corner. Quickly Riley unwrapped it, pealing away several layers of packing foam to
reveal four framed pieces of artwork and a presentation folder.
Laying the four pieces out, Riley gasped. “These are exquisite! Look at the
detail!” He gazed at Zenith’s sketches, now professionally framed, looking just as Brad
had envisioned. They were indeed incredible. Brad knew that she had rare artistic
talent that could envision such beauty.
He opened the folder to find hand-painted fabric squares and wallpaper designs, all
incorporating Zenith’s ideas. It was perfect. His heart lifted. He knew he’d found Zenith’
s niche. Now he just needed to show her.
“These are Zenith’s drawings, Riley. Inside that cool exterior beats the heart of an
artist.” He smiled at Riley’s astonishment. He studied the closest drawing, one depicting
two tiny fairies asleep on a rose petal. Deep intense longing shafted its way through
him, and he glanced away abruptly.
Did he really want what she offered? Marriage, family, a stable home life – he’d not
experienced that as a young child. Could he find something like that as an adult? Even
if he wanted her back, would it be too late?
One thing was certain. If this didn’t stop soon, he told himself bitterly, he’d die of
his need for Zenith.
A fist clenched around his heart; the emptiness flared into agony. He needed to do
something soon, or he wouldn’t survive.
^^^^^
Unrequited love sucks, Zenith decided grumpily as she dug through her closet for
something to wear to her ‘fitting’. Aunt Lydia, enjoying the engagement charade, had
found a bridal gown that, although not as splendid as the first one, was very lovely. It
was a muted antique rose color with an intricately beaded sleeveless bodice and a lightly
embroidered tulle skirt. It complimented her perfectly and Zenith didn’t care.
All she wanted was to curl up and nurse her broken heart, but the world didn’t work
that way. It kept demanding her attention and she had to keep pushing her pain away to
respond. Even now, she could swear someone knocked at her door.
Buffy’s fierce bark told her that she wasn’t imagining things. Grabbing a robe, she
covered up her bra and panties and padded to the door. Not sure who to expect, she
was nonetheless surprised to see Riley standing there.
Her lack of a welcoming smile didn’t stop the saucy assistant at all. “This is for
you,” he told her as he whisked past her into the condo. He carried a package wrapped
neatly in butcher paper and string. Since Zenith had developed a dislike for packages,
she eyed it with distrust.
“I’m not sure I want that.”
“Oh, no, you’ll love this,” Riley exclaimed as he busily opened the package and
spread out the contents for her to see. She gasped in delight.
“And there’s more.” Riley handed her the folder, then watched in anticipation as
she opened it.
It contained designs that incorporated her fairies. She was dazzled by the ideas,
especially for the reprints of the original artwork. There was even a lamp! Zenith felt
her excitement bubbling over.
“And that brings us to this.” Riley handed her an envelope. She looked at him with
trepidation, but he nodded encouragement. Not sure what to expect, she opened it.
Brad offered her a job. And not a temporary job this time. The offer listed benefits,
hours, a job description and a salary. It was for a designer. She stared at the offer,
then at Riley.
“Is this for real?”
He nodded, smiling. “Oh, yes, it’s real. Brad feels that you’re very talented, and he
wants to use it to help the company. I’m willing to bet this will be our best-selling design
ever.” He added softly, “It has nothing to do with your grandfather’s edict. This has to
do with what’s best for Somersbee’s.”
She smiled tentatively, then the realization set in that she held a job offer. She,
Zenith Somersbee, socialite and darling of the upper set, would soon become a working
stiff! She laughed happily. Brad felt she could add something tangible to Somersbee’s.
Brad’s faith in her touched her deeply.
Somehow it felt like Christmas.
^^^^^^^^
The presents started arriving soon after that. She came home from the fitting to
find a box leaning against her door. Deja vu hit her so strongly she thought about
tossing it away until she noted that it was from a famous men’s wear store. Yet it was
addressed to her.
She and Buffy went inside. After settling the dog down, she retrieved the package.
Inside the box was a pair of sexy - and very brief – men’s underwear!
It contained a note, handwritten, as if to allay any doubts she might have over its
authenticity. It said simply:
I would be honored to model these for you, any time you like. For as long as you
want me, however you will take me.
Brad.
Zenith’s heart bounced, then fluttered uncontrollably. Brad had never uttered a
word of love to her, or of permanence. Could he possibly mean what she thought he
meant? She read the note over and over again, trying to understand.
She clutched the card to her chest, the bright red silk briefs hanging from one
finger, as she hoped against hope that she was right, that he wanted a future with her.
The second gift arrived the next morning. A uniformed messenger handed her a
simple envelope.
She thanked him with a smile and a large tip, then whirled back inside the condo.
Shutting the door with her foot, she tore into the envelope.
It was a Valentine’s Day card. A small, cheesy card like the ones children
exchanged with one another at school. It showed a bee buzzing around a yellow daisy.
Underneath the bee, it said ‘Will You Bee Mine?’ It was cheap, silly and Zenith loved it.
The third present arrived later that afternoon. It came in a large box with silver
wrapping paper decorated with large red lips and a gaudy red bow. She laughed at the
sight. She didn’t wait for the delivery boy to leave. Setting it on the carpet she ripped off
the paper.
Inside, she found a huge straw hat with slender silver-framed sunglasses attached to it.
Littering the bottom of the box were several brochures of exotic destinations, all sunny
and romantic. A small card was amongst them.
Clearly snooping, the delivery boy asked, “What does it say?”
Pulling the card out, she screamed in excitement. Reading over her shoulder, the
teenager whooped and gave her a hug.
The card read,
Do any of these look good for a honeymoon?
^^^^^
Flowers arrived that evening, a bouquet of wildflowers with a card that stated, I will
never mistake you for a hothouse flower again, when you’re truly a wild thing of beauty.
She cried. She called Tiffany, who cried with her.
She tried calling Brad, but his cell went straight to voice mail. When she called the
office his secretary delivered a message: for her to be patient.
The next morning strange things began to arrive. The first one was a small bottle
of sand, the second a piece of seaweed. At first she thought it was to remind her of the
lobsters, but the third package told her otherwise. It contained a clock, stopped with its
hands at eight-thirty. Sunset.
The last gift arrived before noon. A tiny resin beach house, it portrayed a couple
enjoying the day under a large umbrella.
Zenith understood immediately. She changed swiftly into a sundress, then
snatched up the straw hat, the sunglasses, her purse and her pooch. Opening the
door, she hesitated briefly, then turned back to the entry table. Pulling off Chadwick’s
engagement ring, she set it down firmly.
“We’re going to the beach, Buffy. And if we’re lucky, we’ll come home much
happier than we’re leaving.”
^^^^^
He stood outside the family beach house, dressed to the hilt in a tuxedo, the sun
glowing orange behind him. A few yards away a table set with champagne and
strawberries waited for them. The lace of the tablecloth billowed gently in the wind.
Glass-contained votives added their own glow to the setting. Soft music played from a
stereo, hopefully completing the romantic setting he’d strove so hard for.
His heart constricted in his chest and his throat closed as he saw Zenith walking
towards him. She wore a beautiful jade sundress that curved around her enticing legs.
Her shoes dangled from her fingers. Next to her, Buffy bounced merrily along, her tiny
face the epitome of canine joy.
Zenith was so beautiful. He couldn’t imagine his life without her. Her spunk, her fire
under that cool exterior, the way she laughed up into his eyes, it was all precious to him.
When he’d started thinking about the future, one that didn’t hold her in it, his chest felt
as if a great hand clamped down. Yet when he fantasized about him waking up next to
her, of her complaining about him hogging the remote control, of her joining Lydia and
himself for the ballet, pure happiness would pour through him like a drug.
And he’d discovered that marriage and all it entailed no longer frightened him.
What scared him more was the idea of losing her. His heart filled with hope as he gazed
into her dancing green eyes.
He walked across the sand toward her. When he stretched out his hand to her,
she placed her ringless left hand on his palm as her eyes searched his face. He smiled
faintly, wondering why he’d ever had doubts.
Smiling up at him, Zenith felt the love emanating from him like a tangible force. He
pulled her into his arms and without a word began to dance. Laughing, she rested her
head on his shoulder, enjoying the warmth of him seeping into her. He felt solid and
secure against her. He was capable of great strength, yet he held her with such
tenderness she wanted to cry.
She lost track of how long they danced, of how many times his hand caressed her
bare back or his lips pressed kisses into her hair. It seemed like forever, this healing
dance, yet the sun hadn’t set and the music still played.
Finally he stopped dancing. Letting go of her, he dipped to one knee into the
damp sand, mindless of the tuxedo he wore. Taking her hand in his, he slipped a
slender platinum band decorated with one large diamond onto her finger.
“Zenith Priscilla Rose Somersbee, will you do me the honor of becoming my bride?”
Tears streamed down her face as she gazed down at him. She searched his eyes
for the answer. It was there in his darkened depths, blatant and strong. It said she’d
found her destiny.
It told her she was home.
