Chapter 23
“What has got in to you?” said Liz as she sat by her
husband on the bed.
“Nothing!” he stood up and made it to the restroom. He
didn’t need this right now, his wife trying to be all comprehensive. All these
years and to be honest he wasn’t happy. Liz was not what he wanted, what he
expected, she was more like a backup plan. A front to show everyone he had
moved on. But, the truth was he had always wanted to get revenge and now the
opportunity was here and he wasn’t going to let it. Nobody messes with Victor
and gets away with it, that’s what he had learned. Sure Liz was a great person
and to some extent he did love her, she was the mother of his sons. For right
now though he needed her to go away with his kids too. He sighed and turned
around to see Liz with a worried face. He smiled and for a second he felt like
he should forget about his revenge. But, then he spoke, “listen I am just a
little pressured with the paper and all but why I don’t make it up to you and
the kids. I am going to send you to Paris for a while so you guys can enjoy
yourselves. My treat, I will pay for everything including the boys tutoring
since they won’t be going to school and as soon as I have finished this
business investment I am doing I will join you all for while what do you say?”
“Victor, I don’t need another vacation. I want you to be
open with me and for us to talk like before. Lately you have been weird, coming
home late and also you have been ruthless with us! You treat me and the kids
like your employees. Why don’t you forget about this new business thing and fly
out with us and enjoy your kids, in a couple of years they will leave to
college. Of course we could also enjoy sometime alone me and you in Paris.” She
hugged her husband and tried to see him in the eyes.
He pushed her off him harder than he wanted making her hit
the wall hard. “No, he yelled I need to do this, your leaving with out me and I
will join you later! Now get your stuff ready you will leave tomorrow. We have
nothing more to discuss!” he walked out of their room and out of his house all
the while feeling guilty for treating his caring wife like he had. He just didn’t want his family to suffer for
his actions, he had made his mind up and was going throw with this.
******
“You look beautiful,” he said, as he kissed her softly on
the cheek. He was nervous, he was going to propose to her today and he was
worried she would say no. but she loved him right? There was nothing to worry
about this time there was nothing holding her back.
“You don’t look bad yourself, can you believe this Howie
finally giving in to the marriage life?”
“Yeah, I knew sooner or later he would. So the guys are
eager to see you again and of course they want to see Amber too.”
“Well, I am anxious too, I haven’t seen them in seventeen
years per say.”
“What do you mean per say?”
“I did go to this
one concert you four gave in Mexico, City once Amber was only a year old. I
also saw Kevin in a Broadway show that he was in when me and Amber took a
vacation to New York, that time Amber was five. I guess they don’t count though
because no one saw me.”
“Yeah, they don’t count. So we should head out we have to
be there early I have to rehearse something before the ceremony. Ready?”
“Yeah, let’s go. What do you have to rehearse, I’ve heard
your speech its good. Don’t tell me your nervous cause that would be a lie.”
“Well no I am not nervous, but I do want this speech to be
perfect!” he didn’t want to tell Pamela that he was actually going to rehearse
the song Howie wanted all of them to sing at the reception.
********
“There was no denying the fact that Pamela and Alex were
together. She did tell Pamela she was ok with it, she loved her sister and the
truth be told she knew Alex loved Pamela not her. “When you love someone you
want them to be happy even if it makes you suffer,” she wiped her tears and
just in time to hear Pamela and Alex call for them to come out. They were ready
to go; she fixed her make up and took a good look at herself in the mirror. She
needed to get over with this and find someone for herself that would like her
and eventually marry her. With that in mind she walked out her room.
Amber smiled as she saw her mother and father holding
hands. They looked happy and that made her happy. She was going to meet her
fathers friends and that made her nervous, she had already met Howie but, not
the rest them. “You’re looking nice aunt Grace, maroon brings out your eyes.”
“Thanks sweetie you’re looking stunning yourself,” she
responded as she joined her niece.
“Where is Grandma Vicky?” asked Amber as she and Gracie
joined her parents.
“She doesn’t feel to well so she won’t be going she
apologizes for it. But she wants to rest,” answered Gracie as she patted Amber
on the shoulder and looked at Pamela with a worried face.
Pamela didn’t like the look Gracie gave her. She was going
to have to have her mother see the doctor as soon as possible. She was getting
sick a lot lately and now she was worrying.
“Ok, well let’s head out. So do you guys like the view of
the beach from the house?” asked Alex as he opened the door for them.
“Yes,” said Amber as she walked out the door…
*******
Liz had left without a word to him and to no surprise. It
was the first time he had ever raised his voice to her. He knew he would have
to apologize to her and there would be enough time for that after he finished
his plan. He swallowed the rest of his Jack Daniels and continued his planning.
He had made some calls to people he knew wouldn’t mind doing some dirty jobs.
Through his years in the business he had met all sorts of people so he knew he
could get someone to dig up some addresses and what not. Monday would be a very
important day at the office he would meet with Tony a grubby spy who would do
the spying for him.
*******
Nelly looked around the reception and could not find her
now husband anywhere. “Denise, have you seen Howie?”
“No, honey but don’t worry maybe he’s in the men’s room.
Take a seat I’ll go see if I can find him. Maybe Alex knows where he’s at.” She
smiled as she walked to the DJ at the reception and handed him CD, he of course
already knew what it was for. She quickly walked to the room where the guys
were at giving a one last practice. “She’s looking for you so I would do this
now, I got her to sit but I don’t think she will sit alone for to long.”
“You’re right Denise, ready guys? I want to thank you guys
again for this and for doing it in such a short notice it means a lot to me.”
“Oh, this so exciting seeing you guys all together again,
let me go give the DJ the ok.” With that Denise left the room and gave the DJ
the nod. She took a seat by Amber and Pamela as the DJ stopped the music
playing and took a hold of the microphone.
“At the request of the groom, could the beautiful bride come
to the dance floor. He has a surprise for you.” He saw the bride step to the
dance floor so he started the music and out came Howie followed by the rest:
“It's in the
silences,
the words you never say
I see it in your eyes,
it always starts the same way
It seems like everyone we know,
is breaking up
Does anybody ever stay in love, anymore?
I promise you,
from the bottom of my heart
I will love you till death do us part
I promise you as a lover and a friend
I will love you like I never love again
With everything I am
ooh I see you look at me,
when you think I'm not aware
You're searching for clues,
of just how deep my feelings are.
How do you prove the sky is blue, the oceans wide?
All I know is how I feel,
when I look into your eyes
I promise you,
from the bottom of my heart
I will love you till death do us part
I promise you as a lover and a friend
I will love you like I never love again
With everything that I am ooh yeah
Oh there are no guarantees
That's what you always say to me
But late at night I feel the tremble in your touch
Oh what I'm trying to say to you,
I never said to anyone I Promise
I promise you,
from the bottom of my heart
I will love you till death do us part
(I do my darling I promise you)
I promise you as a lover and a friend
I will love you like I never love again
With everything I am I promise you,
from the bottom of my heart
I will love you till death do us part
( I love you I love you I love you I love you)
I promise you as a lover and a friend
I will love you like I never love again
With everything I am
You're everything I am oh yeah
With everything I am
After they finished singing Howie walked up to Nelly and
kissed her in front of everyone. Everyone applauded and to everyone’s surprise
Alex took a stand on the DJ’s stage. He cleared his throat and everyone
silenced to this. “I have something to say to this happy couple so I would like
your attention please. Howie it was about time man it took you long time but
now there is no turning back, ok there is my teasing for you Howie! But
seriously man I wish you the best, I’ve known Nelly since back when we were
together with the guys and let me tell you she complements you. You have found
your soul mate and that is great. As I prepared for this speech I realized that
I didn’t need to write it down, that what I had to say was in my heart. Nelly
you know Howie like the palm of your hand so I really don’t need to warn you
about his snoring right? Kidding, Nelly I just want to tell you that Howie
really loves you and you mean the world to him so keep making him happy. When
he called me and told me about the wedding I was hit in the pit of my stomach
as I realized my brother was finally getting hitched but, it was good feeling.
I knew then that your were it for him you are his other half. I am happy for
you both as everyone else in this room and may you continue to be happy for
many years more. Life has it struggles but together you two will over come
whatever comes your way. Now everyone listen, with the permission from the
bride and groom I was given a little extra time up here before the DJ breaks
down with the dancing music for a reason. Just like Howie found his other half,
I also have found mine. Actually I was given another chance to correct my
choices and find the correct person in my life. God wanted me to find her again
and do the right thing this time. So I will.” He started walking toward the
table where Pamela was sitting; she was already in tears. Kneeling down on one
knee as he took out the ring from his coat pocket and spoke, “Pamela I know
we’ve only been together for a little while but we’ve known each other a long
time and I let you go once. I don’t want that to happen anymore because during
those years you were gone I made many mistakes, to which I was miserable for.
Pamela I love you and want to be with you for the rest of my life. Your it for
me and it would make me happy if you accept this ring and become my wife till
the end time.”
She didn’t know what to say she was to emotional. She
looked at Alex kneeling in front of her saying those wonderful words; she
looked at Amber and saw the huge grin on her face. She sighed and answered,
“Alex I love you too and I would love to become your wife.” With that Alex stood up and gave her a hug
and peck on the lips. She responded to his embrace and could not believe this
was happening she had accepted his proposal…
******
She didn’t want to be in there after the proposal; she
walked out entering the restroom. She tried to calm herself she had to stop
this obsession for that man. It was infatuation she did not love him? He had
vanished for so long and she never felt anything for him then. Why now that he
was back and proposing to the mother of his daughter, her sister that she felt
like this? She knew this was not love it was jealousy and she was not going to
let it get the best of her. She was not going to let jealousy overpower her,
she was not going to harm her sister; she loved her sister! She splashed some
water on her face and took deep breaths till she felt calm. With that she
walked out the restroom and without noticing bumped into someone. “Oh, I am so
sorry I am so clumsy.”
“Its ok really I wasn’t watching myself...” she was
gorgeous and wow, those eyes trying hard to look happy. “Hi, I’m Nick.”
“Hey, Nick you’ve changed since the last time I seen you!”
he looked good in fact really good. He was hot and she felt herself flush.
“Don’t tell me you don’t who I am!”
“Well, I hate to say so but I just can’t remember who you
are. Are you related to Howie? Or Nelly?”
“No silly it’s me Gracie, Pamela’s sister!”
“NO you’re kidding right? Oh, my god I am so sorry for not
recognizing you but I was so nervous with the singing. So what’s new with you?”
“Nothing really, just trying to stay sane, you?” she looked
at him as she asked him.
“Oh, not much just being busy with my business and my son.”
“Oh, yeah I heard about that. So how is the father role
going for you?”
“Good when I get him, I still haven’t won custody, so I get
him only a few days a week. Its ok he needs his mother I guess. How about you
any kids?”
“No, not yet anyway; I haven’t found the man I want to have
kids with yet.” As she said that Alex’s face flashed through her mind.
“So you’ve been single all this time, that’s not believable
you’re too pretty.” He smiled as he saw her blush, she was cute and available.
“Thank you for the compliment but, I haven’t really let
anyone in I guess.”
“I think its time you do. So how long are you going to be
in town?”
“We head home tomorrow afternoon.”
“Well how about I invite you out sight seeing tomorrow in
the morning.”
“Really that would be nice, I am not going to like impose
in your schedule am I?
“No, it will be ok besides we have a lot to catch up with.
So how about we go back into the party.”
“Yeah we should.” With that she started walking back to the
ballroom.
“Hey want to dance?” he blushed as he asked her to dance.
“Sure.”
***
