I stepped out of the car and shut the door. I looked myself over in my reflection on the driver's side window. I still looked a bit tired, but at least my eyes weren't puffy. Thank god for cucumbers. After Greg left, I almost called Janet to tell her that I had changed my mind, but then thought about the promise I had made to Greg and it was just easier to put up with her shenanigans than to stay home and be alone with my thoughts. So I called her and asked if she could meet up with me a little sooner and she happily obliged.
I took a deep breath letting it out slowly as I replaced my sunglasses and flattened down my hair a little. I was in the garage, but I am going to play the role of the superstar I am supposed to be and wear them anyway.
I entered the lobby and looked around. The place was very top notch with beautiful chandeliers that threw tiny rainbows everywhere from the lights that shown through the larger teardrop shaped beads that hung down. I could tell this was an older hotel from the architecture, but it is beautifully modern with its décor. An image of the ballroom from Rena's party came to mind then and I had to shake myself free of the memory before it could take hold.
Looking over the people in the lobby, I realized Janet had yet to arrive and so I made my way over to a set of chairs next to a tiny fountain. I took a seat and pulled out my phone to send her a text. A few minutes later, my phone buzzes.
Parking now. See you in a few.
We rode the elevator up to the garden terrace where the ballroom is located. According to the staff event planner the entire floor used to be multistory penthouse suites for Boston's high society, but was turned into the ballroom and garden due to being more cost effective among other things.
"This is fan-tastic! This place is top three definitely."
"Wow!" I exclaim in agreement, my jaw practically hitting the floor.
I looked all around the room taking in everything from the lighting style to the huge floor-to-ceiling windows. Then I noticed the view that came with those windows.
"Oh my god, the view!" Janet said suddenly after her eyes followed the direction that mine were in. She practically ran over and plastered her face to the glass like a kid looking through the window of a candy store.
I laughed at her as I took a picture to send to Greg. "This is awesome!" I typed quickly before hitting send and putting the phone back into my purse.
I saw a door off to the side that led to the garden, so I changed direction heading that way. I opened the door to step out. The entire garden was open, but there was an enclosed conservatory at the end of the stone path. I heard excited foot steps approach me from behind and a second later she was next to me "Oohing" and "Ah-ing".
"Gabe! Do you even think that we need to see any other place?" She said as she started down the path toward the conservatory. "I am seriously wondering why my sister did not choose this place. The only thing I can think of is that it might have been out of the budget, but she could've asked for some help from Mom and Dad."
"Wasn't that the whole issue to begin with? That she didn't want any outside help?" I asked a little uncertain as I checked my memory of the conversation that we'd had.
She nodded. "Yeah, but I am pretty sure that if either of my parents had given this place a look, they would have just paid for half of it behind her back or something.
"Well in that case, bring them down and let them see it, then tell them when they can write the check." I followed her down the path to the glass enclosed building.
She stopped suddenly whirling to face me, her hair whipping about her face as if she was modeling for a hair commercial, a hopeful smile on her face. "So does this mean that you will consider this place? Are you starting to at least warm up to the idea that planning this wedding can be fun?"
I took out my phone again to take another pic to send to Greg. "Not sure about all that yet." I said as I caught up to and passed by her. "But this place is still amazing. I may tell my friend Rena about it though, she was asking me about a unique venue to possibly host one of her fund raising events."
"Oh come on Gabe! Just think, dancing in there and then coming out here for a photo shoot."
"It will be cold though if December is going to be the date."
"Then this is your chance to talk to him and push the date back. Seriously, you need to have it here."
We entered the conservatory.
"Gabe! Gabe, you need to have this wedding here!" Janet shouted as she ran off into the garden.
There was a large clearing before us with a decent sized reflecting pool that had a small fountain with water cascading down from the story balcony. There were trees and flowers that created a wall to enclose the field and lanterns that hung on chains from the rafters while huge cast iron chandeliers hung from the ceiling.
"This is so awesome!" Janet's voice echoed back to me from somewhere beyond the tree wall.
"It really is." I agree taking several more pictures to send. I put my phone away then followed the sound of Janet's voice toward into the tree line.
"So how did you like it?" Asked Danielle, our on staff event planner, as we re-entered the ballroom.
"I don't think I can say this enough, it is amazing!" Janet said excitedly while clapping her hands.
Her enthusiasm is more than slightly contagious and I can't help but to clasp my hands together also and grin from ear to ear. "It is very awesome and definitely a contender for top spot. The only thing is, my fiancé wants to get married in December. I want to see if I can push the date back to the spring because I would really love to be able to use the garden as well as the conservatory without having people freeze to death."
The woman laughed. "That would not be ideal, no. If this venue is a high contender however, I would be more than happy to at least put you down for your December date because we will soon be filling up once summer is over. If you manage to push the date back, we can work with it."
My stomach took this moment to perform a gymnastics routine. "Um, sure, I think that should be ok?" I look at Janet as I finish speaking and she nods excitedly.
"Great! Come with me back down to my office and we will get you on the schedule and work out the down payment."
"Great!" Janet says as she grabs my arm dragging me behind her.
We stepped off the elevator and started across the hall to Danielle's office as I retrieved my phone from my purse. What I saw when I went to unlock it stopped me dead in my tracks. "Uh, Janet?" I said unable to take my eyes away from the phone screen. "Going to the bathroom. I will be right back." I didn't notice her bewildered stare as she watched me walk away without waiting for a response.
I entered the lounge area of the ladies room practically falling onto the nearest chair. I hadn't even realized that I had missed the call. I had only fished my phone out of my purse because I wanted to send an image of the lobby to Greg. I tapped on the voicemail and raised the phone to my ear not quite sure of what I was about to hear.
"Hey, Gabe. I was hoping that you would've answered, but it's probably better for me that you didn't, I might've hung up on you instead of saying what I called to say.
You might be wondering why I am calling you when I should be busy with my wedding. I just felt that I needed to call you. I wanted- needed to hear your voice. Sorry for being invisible these past weeks, I have been busy, but I shouldn't have neglected you or our friendship. I miss you Gabriel. How can I get ready for what is supposed to be the biggest day of my life, when all I want to do is see you? When I only want to be with you?"
Silence ensued and I went to move the phone away thinking the message finished, but then he continued.
"You see Gabe, the thing is, I think that, no, I know that I lo-"
"Kai? What are you doing in here?" Another man's voice said suddenly. "Come on, or we are going to be late! Leave it to you to go missing on your special day. Who are you even calling? Anyone you could possibly want to talk to is already here!"
The call ended at that moment.
I couldn't breathe as I stared at the blank screen of the phone I held in my hands. I have never felt this helpless. What did he mean by calling me? Was he about to say what I think he was going to say; that he does have feelings toward me? Something wet dropped down onto my arm momentarily shaking me from my thoughts and only then did I realize that tears were finding their way down my cheeks. I wiped at them with the back of my hand as I took in a shaky breath, my mind going a mile a minute, which seemed to be the only speed it knew these days. What should I do? I unlocked the phone screen pulling up Greg's number, but my thumb stopped short of hitting the "call" icon. I already knew what he would say and it would be something along the lines of "Get your self together", and "You need therapy". I needed to ask him plainly and I needed t do it now, and there is only one way to do that.
I exited the ladies room in a flurry, taping away at my phone. I didn't even notice Janet as she called out to me; I simply tapped the "purchase" button on my screen before breaking into an all-out run.
It was definitely the longest, of all long shots, but my instinct told me that this was the only way.
I pulled out of the parking garage with a loud screech as the engine in my little Hyundai roared picking up speed.
I will be cutting it close. The thought with sudden panic as I glanced over at the clock on the dash board. "Really, really close."
I sigh as I swerve around an SUV in order to make it through the light causing the driver to honk angrily in my wake. Who would have thought that this would me? That I would be that love-sick girl putting all her chips down and betting everything she owned on even the smallest chance that the guy she loved, loved her back?
I seriously thought that I had my shit together, that I was knew what I wanted, and had gotten over him. Of course, Greg would beg to differ on that last part, and he would be correct, I could never be over him, ever. I played the voicemail again and again as I ran to the car and while pulling out of the garage just to make sure that I was hearing things or imagining things, and no, there was no mistaking the sound and tone of his voice or what it was he was trying to say.
"If you don't calm down Gabriel Leighton, that will be you in a few years." I say with hysteric laughter because the old lady that I cut off seconds ago, just flipped me off.
The moment of truth lay ahead in the form of a ramp that merged onto the highway. I veered off the road I was on ready to fight my way down the interstate driving on the shoulder if I had to the four miles to the exit for the airport.
"ALL RIGHT!" I shout as the highway comes into view before me. There was no traffic, it was going to be smooth sailing from here. Maybe my mom was watching over me right now, I never had such luck before. I stepped on the pedal and held on as my little sedan picked up speed. I had tried my best to ignore the clock up to this point because it was only going to stress me out even more, but my eyes drifted over to look anyways.
02:52
I mash the pedal down instead and almost lose control of the car, the second longest five seconds of my life. "You won't get to Chicago if you are dead." I tell myself as I swerve onto the off ramp and onto the road that leads to the departure gates.
I park my car, sort of, and jump out throwing my keys at the young valet standing by the curb and take off running through the entrance. He wants me to wait for my voucher but I can't and now I think he is following me.
I hear an announcement over the loud speaker for my flight. "No! FUCK!" I pick up the pace as dozens of people stare at me.
When I reach the first gate, I want to scream. Why are there so many people waiting to get through security? My world started to crumble as I realized, I wasn't going to make it. Then I see a sign saying "passholders this entrance", and I suddenly remembered my TSA pass in my wallet. I change direction sprinting through the gate slowing down enough to scan my card and phone.
I hear a very breathless "Wait!". I turn to see the valet I had tossed my keys to, he is holding out a ticket. I reach over the fence to take it then resume my sprint. I reach the gate for my plane just in time to see the two attendants there closing the gate. "Stop! I am coming!" They looked around frightened and bewildered a moment before one them sees me coming. Thank goodness I take this airline often and so the one attendant recognizes me and reopens the door while the other picks up the phone to call the cabin. I scan my phone again as I manage to say "thank you" to them both and then disappear down the ramp.
The captain also recognizes me when I enter the plane and smiles giving me a nod. This isn't the first time I did this to him. "I wondered if it was you, and here you are."
"Thank you so much John." I say over my shoulder as I find my seat, a seat that happened to be next to a handsome, if some what obnoxious individual. I realized today that I was over flowing with luck, because my favorite attendant Chris appeared with a pair of head phones giving me the opportunity to enjoy the ride undisturbed.
Moments later, the plane took off and I took this time to get some rest because I was going to need all the strength that I could get in a few hours.