Disillusion Meets Delight (18 page)

“Oh yes, it was very romantic.  Ladies if you don’t mind, I think I need my darling to escort me for some fresh air.”  The middle aged ladies, including my mother all
aaahhh
at the same time and let us make an exit. 

“Are you kidding me?  You actually told them the real story of how we met?  You remember that?”  I ask somewhat surprised. 

“Of course I remember.  It’s not every day that you step on a beautiful woman in the video aisle.”  Ian replies while taking a sip of wine. 

“Beautiful huh?”  I blush.

“So, Jessica Fletcher, what did you find out while snooping down the hall?”  He changes the subject a little too soon for my liking but since it’s on to even more exciting news, I’ll let it pass.  He is after all my pretend boyfriend.  I can’t expect him to dote on me all night.

“Look around the corner.  Are we alone?”  I don’t want anyone else to hear this.

“For real?”  Ian looks at me like I am certifiably insane.

“Do you want to hear this or not?”  I insist.  Certifiable or not, what I’m about to tell him should not get around as gossip at the engagement party.

“Okay, the coast is clear.  What in the world is going on?”  I can tell at this point he is intrigued.  So, I explain to him almost verbatim what I hear outside the den and to my amazement, he doesn’t seem surprised.

“Hello, this is juicy stuff!  You aren’t going to drop your jaw a little bit?” 

“Well, first impressions don’t lie and I figured out quickly what type of woman that Jan Wellington was.  Secondly, Natalie, I already knew that this guy is a piece of work.  I know he’s dating Jenna.”  Ian replies.

“Who’s dating Jenna?”  We both panic for a split second only to realize it’s just my mother. 

“Oh nobody mother.  What’s going on?”  I ask trying to change the subject, quick. 

“I wanted to check on you to make sure everything was okay.  Also, it seems that the party is winding down.  Odd kind of engagement party wasn’t it?  I don’t think that I was able to say more than two words to the lad before he left.”  My mother said matter of fact.

“He left?”  Ian and I ask in unison. 

“Well, yes.  He said he just got an important call from one of his clients and had to leave.  I didn’t realize the real estate business was so demanding.” 

“I think we will be heading out then ourselves.  Do you need a ride home Caroline?”  Ian asks. 

“Oh no darling.  I came with Linda and James Smith.  But thank you anyway.”  My mother hugs both of us and heads back into the party.  The Wellington’s appeared to be pre-occupied so we made a quick departure. 

“So what else do you know that you’re not telling me?  And how do you even know about Jenna and Rob anyway?”  I am certain that I did not tell him about it, which worries me somewhat. 

“Okay, do you promise not get mad and defensive like you do?” 

“Excuse me?  Mad and defensive?  What exactly is that supp…?  Of course.”  I respond with a smile.

“I heard you tell that Italian lady about it.  I wasn’t meaning to eavesdrop it was just, well, I was right there.”  Oh god, I forgot that night.  The night I had an emotional breakdown in the middle of Mama’s.

“Oh, well I guess I can understand.”  Embarrassed, I was at a loss for words, which doesn’t happen often. 

“So, what are you going to do Natalie?  Are you going to tell Jenna about Rob?  You can’t honestly pretend like you don’t know anything now.” 

“You know, it’s easy for you to say.  You aren’t the one who has to tell her that the man she thinks she loves is a fraud!  A cheat and a scumbag!  What if I tell her and she runs away Ian?  The short period of time that I spent without Jenna in my life was the saddest I have had in a very long time.  I don’t want that to happen again.  Why does it have to be me?  You know too Ian.  You are just as involved in this as I am.” 

“You are her best friend Natalie!  Who would she rather hear it from?  Her best friend or her running buddy?  Are you kidding me right now?  I cannot believe how selfish you’re being.”  Is he reprimanding me? 

“You don’t know the first thing about me Ian O’Reilly.  For you to sit there all high and mighty is pretty rich.  Oh fine!  Go and answer your cell phone!”  How could I for one second think that Ian was different from my first impression of him?  He was right about one thing- first impressions don’t lie.

“It’s Jenna.”  He responds in an irritated tone and picks up the phone. 

“No, I will be there in a just a few minutes.  I’m just dropping off Natalie now.  Yes, we had a nice time.  See you in a bit.  What?  I’m a block away from her place.  Okay, yeah that’s fine. I’ll stop by the house first.”   

“Jenna wants us to stop by my house before I drop you off.  She probably wants to see you.”  Ian’s tone was no longer friendly and calm.  He seemed tense and cold, much like my first encounters with him.  How can one guy change in such a short period of time?

“Okay here we are.  It looks like someone else is here.  I don’t recognize the car though.”  Ian says confused.

We step out of his Land Rover and walk up the steps and I begin to feel nervous for some reason.  Maybe it’s because I know where I just was and now I have to face Jenna in person and act as though everything is perfect. When Ian opens the door to Jenna’s greeting, I realize it is for much more than that.

“Hi guys!  Meet my boyfriend Rob!  Rob, this is my best friend Natalie and our friend Ian.”  Jenna exclaims as Rob’s George Hamilton tanned face turns a tender shade of pale.  I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Mr. Alexander at the party due to my, well, snooping.  Ian however did and it was apparent on the two men’s faces that they recalled the meeting from only a short time ago quite vividly. 

Walking into my apartment, I felt as though I was in a dream, nightmare actually.  I couldn’t believe that my life had become so dramatic.  Standing in the same room as that wretched man and lying to one of the dearest people in my life made me sick to my stomach. 

I couldn’t sleep all night.  I tried sleeping with the TV on; I tried turning the TV off.  Nothing seemed to work.  Even Van Morrison couldn’t make me feel better.  My cat, who realized early on that I would be disturbing his slumber, actually retired to the overpriced cat bed that he never, ever uses.  It was a loss cause until my body finally caved in out of desperation around 4:30.  Luckily for me, it was a normal autumn morning in Portland, which meant no bright sun to creep through the blinds; only raindrops to tap on the windows.  Rain equals no screaming children to wake me at 8 o’clock on Sunday morn. Therefore, rain is my friend-on Sunday’s anyway.

My normal routine would entail a nice eye opener and good hearty yawn around 9:30.  After I realize how late it actually is, I waltz into the kitchen where my coffee brewing begins.  Extreme multi-tasking is too strenuous so a shower is not in order yet.  No, at this point, I would perhaps scramble some eggs, make some toast or even, if I’m feeling very Martha Stewart, slice up some fresh fruit.  Once I have made my coffee and prepared my breakfast, I can then sit down on the sofa, still in my PJ’s and watch
This Week with George Stephanopoulos
.  He makes current events and politics so easy to watch.

Now, you may be asking yourself why this Sunday would be any different from any other Sunday, right. 
Natalie, why don’t you just get up and do your normal Sunday routine
, right?  Um, hello, do I need to re-cap?  MY LIFE IS HELL.

“Natalie, your life is not hell.  It could be worse; you could be in Jenna’s predicament.”  Mya replies as though I am overreacting.  At this point, I am blubbery and not handling my emotions very well.

“Do you want to come over?  We could go get some coffee or breakfast or something, if you want.”  I say in what has to be the most pitiful tone yet.

“Sure, but aren’t you going to watch your show?  It’s almost on isn’t it?”  My friends know me so well.

“I can’t.  It was on this morning at 6 instead!”  Okay, seriously, please tell me I have PMS or something.  Is George Stephanopoulos that important to me?

“Okay, Natalie, I’ll be there in an hour or so.  You figure out where you want to go, okay?”  I think I have officially scared Mya.

I pull myself together and thrown on some clothes and a baseball cap and like clockwork, Mya arrives an hour later.

“I’ll drive.  I don’t know that I trust you right now behind the wheel.  Besides you don’t have your glasses on.”  Mya replies.  I thought she was here to cheer me up!

“Mya, the eye doctor told me that I don’t
have
to wear them when I drive.”  I reply defensively.

“Well he obviously has never driven with you!  Get in the car Daisy Doldrums, we got pancakes to eat!” 

There is a little breakfast hole in the wall in Sellwood that makes the best breakfast ever.  There can be a long wait but it is so worth it.  Mya and I always sit at the counter where the waitresses can fill up our coffees as they pass by each time.  Every time I go, I always expect to hear Flo shout from kitchen, “Kiss my grits, Mel.”  But she doesn’t because it isn’t a 70’s sitcom and I don’t think any of the waitresses’ names are Flo. 

“Okay, so you overheard the girl’s mom yelling at her and she knows that Rob has a chippie on the side?”  Mya ask as she pours more cream in her coffee.

“Let’s not forget that the chippie is our best friend.  But yes, pretty much.” 

“Well Natalie, it sounds to me like the night actually went pretty well.  You didn’t have any major encounters with the couple, that Ian guy held more than his end of the bargain and although your mom was trashed on rich people champagne, she didn’t blow your cover either.”  I hate glass half full people.   

“I’m not done with the story.  When we were driving back home, Ian completely went off on me, basically saying what a selfish cow I am for not telling Jenna about Rob.  He is such a jerk.  I can’t believe I ever thought he could be a decent guy.”  I’m getting mad just thinking about his self-righteous, holier than thou attitude.

“Permission to speak freely without pissing you off, dear friend of mine?”  Oh great, here it comes.  She’s taking his side!

“Ok, don’t look at me like that Natalie.  You know he’s right.  Well, not that you’re a selfish cow but that you should tell Jenna.  This has gone on far enough, don’t you think?  You’re just mad because he put you in your place.  Admit it.”

“I will not admit it.  Why has it become my complete responsibility?  I didn’t sign up to represent The People’s Republic of I Don’t Want To Get Involved!  When you guys agreed to listen to my story and hear the situation, you agreed to be involved.  I’m not taking one for the team!”  I declare as I dance my pancake laden fork in maple syrup.

“So, what happened after he dropped you off?  Did he seem like he wanted to see you again?” 

“Mya, Ian and I are not compatible.  He hates me.  It was quite apparent from the look in his eyes when we walked in his house to see Real Estate Rob sitting on the sofa with Jenna.”  I knew that would get her back.

“Rob was at his house with Jenna?  Oh Natalie, now he really is involved.  No wonder he’s so pissed off at you!”  Mya says chuckling as though something is funny!

“Thanks.  I am so glad you find this humorous.  I can’t deal with this Mya.  I just can’t.  Between this drama and the crap I have to deal with at my horrible job, the only thing that helps is to know that I at least have a date with Jake this week.  Fun, nice smelling, Ben Affleck look alike Jake! That’s if he doesn’t have his work buddy call and cancel on me!”      

“Natalie, I know that right now it seems as though everything is going wrong and nothing can go right, but it will get better.  We will figure out what to do about Jenna together.  You will continue to look for a more fulfilling job and find one if it kills me and you will realize that Ian actually may be good for you at the end of the day.  I can feel it in the water.” 

“Except for the Ian crap, I really hope you’re right.”  I say as we exit the diner 5 pounds heavier and none the wiser.

Ian didn’t feel like going for a run on this Monday morning.  He didn’t even feel like getting out of bed.  He spent the whole Sunday going over what he said and how he could have said it better and realized that he was a total ass to Natalie, yet again.