Only You - Part 8 & 9
YEAR 1996
Part 8
She looked into her mirror as the wedding planner was busy fussing over her head dress, her mother sat silently on the edge of the wedding bed. Once in awhile someone will knock on the door and walked in just to get a look at the beautiful bride dressed in off white wedding dress. “A bride should be smiling on her wedding day,” the wedding planner scolded her, her mother interjected, “Carly it’s your wedding day, be happy dear.” She turned and looked at her mother, “Mummy, I’m happy, don’t worry, marrying Ace is the best thing that happened to me.” Her mother smiled at her but knew that her daughter is not in love with her husband, she knew that someone had crushed her daughter’s heart and she no longer have a heart to give. Her mother had advised her to think it thoroughly but she had been adamant in her decision to marry him. She had told her mother, “Mummy, I’m twenty eight now, it’s time I get married. David is a catch, he’s good looking, rich and successful, what more can a girl ask for.” She had made her decision and no one could change her mind.
They had decided to spend their honeymoon in Casablanca as he has a business meeting at Maracas the same week, she doesn’t mind as it is logical to kill two birds with one stone. They had chosen to stay at a seaside hotel, the view was magnificent and since it was spring the weather was lovely. David had booked them a beautiful honeymoon suite and she had fallen in love with the authentic Moroccan décor of the room. As she checked on the bathroom she was pleasantly surprised, there was a Jacuzzi tub in the middle and she turned to her husband, “Ace, there’s a Jacuzzi, let’s have a nice warm bath.” David smiled at his beautiful wife and agreed as he starts to unpack his suitcase. She drew the warm bubbly water in the Jacuzzi and gently entered the water; the water massaged her tired body, tired after the long flight. She closed her eyes blissfully and later felt a strong movement in the water; she felt her husband’s warm body slide besides hers. She snuggled towards her husband and he pulled her in his arms, they softly kissed each other, “Carly, thanks for marrying me, I’ll make you happy, I promise.” She smiled and gently caressed her husband’s strong body, “Shh, let’s enjoy our honeymoon, don’t make promises darling,” she whispered. She stopped trusting promises since someone had broken his promise to her. David pulled her body on top of his, the Jacuzzi water made it easy for her to stay afloat, she bend down to kiss him and they started their honeymoon in a frenzy.
Both of them dressed nicely for a candlelit dinner by the terrace, the night breeze from the sea was soothing and the wedded couple was enjoying their romantic dinner. However anyone nearby would be amazed at their conversation, people would thought they will be uttering loving words but instead they were talking about work and business. David had noticed her when her company was assigned to design and built the landscape for his chains of hotel. He was attracted to her looks but once they knew each other more, he realised that this is a beauty with brain, at first it was lunch meetings, then it turned into dinner dates. She enjoyed his company, he is one of the most sought bachelors in Miami, born into a rich family but made his own money through his businesses. Her respect for him and her knowledge of business made him fall for her, not deeply in love but at last he had found someone he wants to spend his life with.
He had his fair share of beautiful women from actresses, models, socialites but they all seemed shallow to him, he needs a clever woman by his side to help him move forward in building his hotel empire. She was ready when he proposed to her; she knew he was attracted to her due to her knowledge and not purely for her looks. She was also looking out for a partner in life, it’s time she moved on and not get stuck in bad memories, she knew she’ll be marrying for convenience, cause she no longer have trust in love. Love had made her stupid and she had faced the consequences of her stupidity, not one day she did not remember her lost, what made it worst she could never tell anybody. The proposal was simple, they had just finished the opening ceremony of his latest hotel, and she was invited as the landscape was done by her company. After the ceremony, he had offered to send her back with his limousine and she had accepted as her car was in the workshop.
They sat at the back and as she sat back on the luxurious leather seat, he started talking, “Carly, I think by now you already know me well. I hope you like what you had seen and got to know.” She turned slightly towards him, “David, you been a great guy, I love being around you. We share the same perspective in a lot of things.” David smiled at her and nod in agreement, “Yes, we seem to agree on various issues, to me that indicates we complement each other.” She looked straight into his eyes, “David, what’s in your mind, tell me. Don’t twist and turn.” He chuckled, “I can’t hide anything from you, okay, this is the deal. I’m forty this year, my family had been screaming at me to marry. My shareholders and partners had also advised me that a married man can get investors in easier than a bachelor. So what do you think? You’ll marry me?”
She turned to look out the window, her memories went back to that time, a time when her love proposed to her, her tears started to well and she quickly shook it away. Love has no meaning, security is more permanent, and she looked back at him and smiled, “We should agree on the date when you’ll be asking my hand in marriage from my parents. We better make it fast, the month after next we’ll be busy with your new hotel.” He smiled at her and nods in agreement, “Ok then I’ll ask my family to make the arrangement, we’ll marry early next month, I’ll be busy next month as I have to meet new investors in Morocco. Hmm what say we honeymoon there?” She agreed with him and he leans toward her to seal their agreement with a kiss, and she readily accepts his kiss. They had kissed before and it had always made her wonder why she had not felt the same urgent desires she had before, she thought to herself maybe she’s getting older and therefore no longer easily excited, she hoped that the desires will come with the marriage.
Just as they were about to leave their romantic honeymoon dinner, someone recognised Ace, “David, is that you? Hey it’s me Archie.” Ace turned to the person and grabbed him for a bear hug; he turned to her and introduced his friend, “Carly, this is Archie, my old friend. He’s also the person who introduced me to the investors here. Archie, this is my beautiful wife, Carly.” David’s friend extended his hand and she shook it and she smiled up to him, even though he is not tall, he is still a very good looking man, younger than her husband. “My God David, I never thought you’ll ever get married!” The three of them laughed as they walked together towards the lobby lift. Once in the room, she changed into her sexy lingerie and waited for her husband, she lay on the bed and when her husband came out from the bathroom in his birthday suit, she laughed out loud. He closed the lights and in the dark they continued what they had enjoyed in the Jacuzzi earlier that day.
In the middle of the night, she woke up and extended her arm to touch her husband but was surprised to find she was alone. She quickly switched on the bed light and saw a note on the pillow by her side. “Carly, Archie told me earlier that the Moroccan investors are having a private party in one of the suites here. I’m joining them as this is great PR opportunity, sleep tight honey.” She couldn’t believe her eyes, her husband left her on their honeymoon night to socialise for work, then she realised he was right that this is good for his PR. She switched off the light and went off to sleep, what she did not realised was what type of party her husband went to. It will take her three years down the road to discover exactly what type of man she had married, three long years of sleeping alone almost every night of their marriage. Their marriage was indeed a marriage of convenience but she did not realise that she was merely a puppet, his show to the public. She had been cursed for the second time in her life.
Part 9
It was his son’s first day at primary school; he had taken the day off from work to send his son for his first day. He knew it will be a difficult task as his wife had spoilt his son, his son will find it difficult to be away from his wife for a long time. Even in kindergarten his wife had made sure she sends his food and drink during the break. He had often advised his wife to teach their son to be more independent but his wife had ignored his words, “You don’t have to worry, I know what I’m doing.” It had been her way since day one, she had never let him assist her in taking care of their son, it made him sad at times, his son seemed reserved from him and he always felt as an outsider. He sometimes wondered why she did not let him be close to their son, but he made an assumption that it might be the way his wife’s family brought her up. There were times that he had felt hurt when his wife had contravene his decisions pertaining to their son, worst she had made them in front of his son, making him feel like a fool, without any respect.
He showered and rushed to change so he’ll be early to send hi son, his wife had not been in the room when he woke up, that is usual as she often woke up much earlier than him. As he went down the stairs, he noticed breakfast is ready but there were no signs of his family, he noticed a note by the coffee pot. “I’m sending Junior, you don’t need to take the day off.” He looked at the note in sadness, he wanted so much to be apart of his son’s first day at school, again his wife had taken her own decision when it comes to their son. He sat down at the dining table and ate him breakfast alone, he let him mind wonders, to a time when he never ate alone. He remembered how he would turn up at her flat door an hour before their lectures start, she would already prepare their simple breakfast, just toast with jam and butter and hot drinks. As they have their breakfast they would tell each other their schedule of the day and he would walk her to her lecture hall before heading to his Management School, he would then just eat sandwich during lunch in his Management School’s study room which she had prepared earlier for him and in the evenings they would again have their dinner together.
He sighed and reached for his mobile to call office cancelling his leave; as usual his hand will play with the ring attached to the chain he wears. As he drive to his office, his eyes started to glass with unshed tears, his heart ached as it ached everyday, wishing the memories and pain will disappear in time. It had been four years since he ran away from the hospital ward in Miami but the memory of that day stayed on. He wished he had been clear headed so that he had confronted her, asking her why she killed their labour of love, but he was too shocked with anger and pain. Looking back he knew he should have not judged her action, he knew it was his own lies and deceits that drove her to carry out the abortion. He had been such a coward not telling her the truth; maybe she could have accepted the truth. If only he had the courage to explain to her, to give her insight to his marriage. Would she have loved him, knowing he was a married man, he knew she won’t, and he had therefore taken the road of a liar.
He had just graduated from University with BA Honours in Business Administration, the first person in his family to graduate with a degree. He came home with a hero’s welcome, his family and friends had gathered for a congratulatory party at his house. It had been wonderful for him, almost every night he had been out with friends partying at bars, coming home only in the wee of the morning drunk. His parents had scolded him often but he had told them it’s only for the time being until he starts work in a week’s time. He had managed to secure a job as the Company had interviewed and offered him work during the Career Week at his University, a week after he graduated. If only he had listened to his parents, if only he had not loved drinking so much, his life would have taken a different turn where he would have ended up with his true love as his wife and not trapped in his loveless marriage, a prison he had built due to his own stupidity.
He had noticed that his mother’s distant relative kept coming to their house since his return from his studies, he has a strong dislike for the guy, a man who likes to sponged on his family and friends. He also has a heavy gambling problem and had sometimes asked Mike’s mother for money. He His name is Bucky, and Bucky has a son Todd who does not have a permanent job but is good with his hands where he likes to repair things around the house. Usually family and neighbours will call on Todd to help fix things around the house and hence he was referred to as a handyman. Bucky’s wife had left him years ago, after she couldn’t take his husband’s abuses and gambling problems. However she left her niece Stacey with Bucky and he had taken care of her like his own daughter. Stacey is a beautiful girl but like most girls in his family her education is limited to high school, after that she had stayed home as a housekeeper to Bucky and his son. Often Bucky had asked Mike to escort Stacey to watch movies or to clubs at night, but he had often gave excuses that he preferred to hang out with his male friends. Mike did find Stacey attractive but after meeting her and talking to her he realised she only had her beauty to offer and that alone will not satisfy him.
It was a Friday night and his friends had urged him to follow them to a new bar, he noticed that in their group Todd was there. He did not have any problems with him as Todd is a quiet guy who followed everything Bucky ordered. The club was new and quite presentable and as usual his friends will start chatting up the women there, he would just sit at a corner and enjoy the music and his drinks. His friends had asked him to join them but he was in no mood to dance and chat with women. Suddenly a familiar voice approached him, “Hi Mike, how are you? This is a nice surprise.” He looked up and saw Stacey’s pretty face and offered her to seat. They sat together and he ordered them drinks and watched other danced away the night, when his glass was empty he raised his hand for a waiter to replenish their drinks, but Stacey stopped him, “I’m going to the bar, I’ll refresh your drinks.” He agreed and let her bring over his drink. After finishing his drink, he stood up to excuse himself from her as it was getting late. However, once he was on his feet, he felt as if the room was spinning and the last thing he heard before he passed out was, “Todd, help me carry Mike….”
He had woken up the next morning in a small bedroom, he noticed he was undressed under the covers and as he stretched he was shocked, his hand had touched a warm body beside him. It was Stacey and she was also naked under the covers, he quickly got up and dressed and walked out the room quietly, only later he realised it was a small motel near the club. Along his way home he tried to remember what took place, he can’t recall anything after he had his drink. Did he get so drunk that he can’t remember sleeping with Stacey? He really can’t recollect what happened. He had then went on with his life without mentioning the incident to anybody and prayed that no one will ever know. Whenever he saw Bucky, his son or even Stacey, he had always tried his best to avoid having to make conversations with any of them.
After three months working, he had totally forgotten about the incident, his thoughts were concentrated on his new job which he loves. He spent long hours at work and only came home to rest and sleep, he only saw his parents for breakfast as they were usually asleep when he returned home at night. He was therefore shocked to see the lights were still on at his house, it was past 11:00 p.m. As he entered his house, his face became white. There were Bucky and Stacey with his parents, when Bucky saw him he hollered, “You must take responsibility! Do you think Stacey is a whore you can sleep and throw away! The child is yours!!!!” He stood still and did not argue, he saw the disappointment and shame on his parents’ faces, he knew there was no way out, he made his bed and he must sleep on it. A week later he had taken a wife and he had assured himself that he will make a good husband and father. How was he to know that his heart and soul had been reserved for another?