Honor: a novella (11 page)

“Tell aunt Sunny congratulations and Mr.Miller…uh, I mean Bob also.”

She snickered at me. “I sure will. I just wanted to give you the update and I will call you once we are back home.” I heard someone talking to my mother in the back ground. “Also, your father says he wants Osric to redo the cabinets in our bathroom once we are home. He also says he loves you!”
 

I couldn’t bring myself to tell her we weren’t together any longer, not just yet. I would wait until they were home. “Okay, and I love you both. Have a good time in Vegas!” Then we disconnected.

Chapter 18

It was about five-fifteen the next day and I was ready to go for the dress fitting. I actually had nice clothes on for a change, had fixed my hair, and put makeup on. I decided to get a cup of coffee on the way. I pulled into the coffee shop parking lot and made my way inside.
 

The young barista greeted me, “What can I get started for you today?” I looked over the menu and decided I would try the house blend. “Good choice,” she said smiling. I paid and waited for my coffee. I stood by the wall thinking about how the music in this place was almost as loud as a bar. Though, as I scanned the room, I saw people working on their laptops just fine. “Here you go! I hope you enjoy it,” the barista said while waving her hand
goodbye
.

I turned to walk out and then I saw him. It was like someone punched me in the gut and all the wind was knocked out of me. Osric sat at a table, book in hand, with the voluptuous brunette that had thrown herself at him a while back. I wondered how I had missed them when I walked in. She wore a bright orange top that showed way to much cleavage and was definitely not cold-weather friendly.
 

I was going to have to pass by them. I couldn’t show that this bothered me. I had been lying about my feelings for so long, one more good show wouldn’t hurt. I put on a happy face and walked to the door and he turned to look at me. I smiled at him, and then at her. I smiled even though it felt like someone had just stomped on my heart.
 

“Hi there!” said the tramp. She clearly remembered me and was taking great pleasure in sitting with the only man I had ever loved.
 

“How are you?” I asked, looking only at Osric.
 

He smiled his incredible smile. “I am well. And you?” He was so attractive it hurt to look at him knowing at one point in time he was mine.
 

“I am doing fine. I am on my way to Lilly’s wedding dress fitting.”
 

He watched me intently. “Tell her congratulations again for me.” I noticed from the corner of my eye the tramp was playing with her phone. He wasn’t wearing his hat and I saw he had cut his hair.
 

“You cut your hair,” I stated.
 

“I did,” he said while running his hand through it.
 

I had to get out of there. “I better get going,” I said as I turned to leave.
 

I had made it to my car, when I heard footsteps behind me. “Honor,” he called after me. He had his hat on and his book in his hand. “I want you to know she just sat down at the table right before you walked past to leave.”
 

Relief did wash over me, but I still was going to play it off as if all was well. “Osric, you don’t have to explain anything to me. It is fine.” I smiled. “It was good to see you,” I said as I opened the car door.
 

He stood there a moment longer. “It was good to see you too.” He had a blank smile on his face. I backed out as he walked back to his car.
 

I was the last one to make it to the dress fitting. Everyone had been given their dresses, and they were about to try them all on. “There you are!” Lilly said as she hugged me. “Stephanie, pour Honor a glass of champagne.” I noticed everyone had a glass. “We are going to start with the bridesmaid dresses first then do my dress,” she said. “Stephanie, this is Honor. Honor, this is my little sister Stephanie.” She was a younger version of Lilly, except she seemed a little shy.
 

“Nice to meet you Stephanie,” I said.

She smiled at me. “Lilly talks about you all the time. It is nice to meet you too.”
 

Stephanie handed me the glass of champagne and I downed it in one gulp. “Can I have another glass please?” I said taking the dress from Lilly.
 

“Whoa…I need you to be able to stand to try on dresses.”
 

I frowned at her. “I ran into Osric on the way here. He says congratulations,” I told her.
 

“Oh…how was that,” she asked while handing me another glass.
 

“He was polite and charming, just like he always is.” She squinted her eyes at me. Some of Lilly’s cousins had started coming out of the dressing rooms. “Lilly, right now is about you, let’s not talk about it.” I went to try the dress on. It was a nice dress, though I wasn’t too fond of the maroon color. I stepped out and Lilly had already decided that it would be the one for her bridesmaids.
 

“Lilly, where is your mom?” I asked.
 

“My stepdad had a business trip and took her with him.”
 

Stephanie walked up taking pictures of all us. “I am sending pictures to her as we speak.”
 

We all laughed.
 

“What about Ryan’s mother?” I asked.
 

Lilly frowned at me. “His dad has the flu and she is taking care of him. Stephanie is sending pictures to her too.”
 

While Lilly was trying on her dress, Stephanie introduced me to their four cousins. There was Rhonda and her sister Riley. They were in their late twenties and both were married with children. Then there was Ashley, who was nineteen and kept trying to sneak off with everyone’s glasses of champagne. Lastly, there was Bethany; she was in her mid-thirties and unmarried. They were all so sweet and it made me wish I had cousins growing up.
 

“Lilly, we aren’t getting any younger out her!” yelled Bethany.
 

Lilly pulled back the curtain and stepped out. She looked beautiful. The dress fit her perfect as she twirled around to show all of us.
 

“That is the one,” Riley said.
 

We all agreed with her. The salespeople said we had been the first group ever to take the first dresses we tried on. Though, all of us, except for Lilly, had to get our dresses altered in one way or another. After the dresses, we all went out to dinner and it felt so nice to be out and having fun for once.

From that day on, things seemed to be getting less and less miserable, like there was life after Osric. New Year's Eve came and I went to Lilly and Ryan’s new apartment. We ordered pizza and drank wine from a box while watching the countdown on TV. I wondered what Osric might be doing, but I had to push the thought from my mind.
 

I was happy when it was time to go back to work. I apologized to Celia and Brenda for my behavior. Both were forgiving and I was thankful they were.
 
It was like things had become normal again.

Chapter 19

I was shelving books one Friday afternoon when Lilly came over to help. “Hey, I just got off the phone with Ryan, and a guy he works with has tickets for Wyatt Merrick tonight!”
 

I stopped what I was doing. “Wyatt Merrick! I love his music, you guys are so lucky,” I responded.
 

“Ryan says Paul has four tickets. Do you know what that means?” I looked at her for a moment. “That means you are going,” she exclaimed.

I smiled at her. “Wait, like we are going as a date, or we are just going to hang out?” I asked.
 

“Relax, you are riding with us. Paul invited us, then his date canceled, and he told Ryan just to find someone to use the ticket.”

“That sounds fabulous to me. What time are you guys picking me up?”
 

“The show starts at nine, so probably about an hour after we get out of here.”
 

I hugged her with one of my free arms. “Thank you for thinking of me!”

She hugged me back. “No problem.”
 

For the rest of the day I rushed around the library to get everything done. After work, I told Lilly I would see her soon, and drove home happy to have something to do for the night. I washed my face and reapplied my makeup. I quickly scarfed down a sandwich and changed clothes. I heard a honk out front and rushed out the door. On the way there we jammed out to Wyatt Merrick’s latest CD.
 

“Paul told me he would meet us up by the entrance,” Ryan said as we got out of the car.
 

Lilly and Ryan walked hand in hand beside me as we approached a skinny guy with brown hair. He wore glasses and a smelly cologne. I was glad he was so unattractive—I could see why his date bailed. Ryan shook his hand and then introduced us. “Paul, this is Honor. Honor, this is Paul.”
 

He looked me over like I was dinner or something, and I wasn’t sure I liked that too much. “I like your name,” he said.
 

“Thank you, I will let my parents know.” Lilly elbowed me in the side.
 

“Let’s go find our seats,” Ryan said while holding the door open for us.
 

“You don’t have to be rude,” Lilly whispered as we walked behind the guys.
 

“I am sorry. That just came out.”
 

“Sure it did.” She giggled.
 

Luckily, Paul walked into the row of seating first, followed by Ryan, Lilly, then myself. Once we were seated, the opening act came out. It was an older guy named Jack Adams. He was good and I wondered why I hadn’t heard of him before. Lilly and I bumped into each other as we danced. Finally, Jack introduced Wyatt and the crowd went crazy.

He walked on the stage and they grew even louder. He came to the microphone. “How is everyone tonight?” The crowd erupted again. “Good! I am doing good too.” Everyone grew quiet, waiting for him to talk. He adjusted the microphone. “The love of my life, who is here tonight, has just agreed to marry me.”
 

The crowd started up again. Someone behind us yelled
congrats
and it carried up to the stage.
 

“Thank you! So this show is one show I will never forget.”
 

The crowd exploded yet again.
 

He started playing and then the band joined in. Lilly and I started dancing again, not caring that we looked like idiots. The drink attendant passed by and Paul bought us all beers.
 

During intermission Lilly and I squeezed through everyone to head to the ladies room. We were lucky and got there before the crowd did. While we were at the sinks washing our hands, Lilly looked over at me. “Whoever Wyatt is going to marry is one lucky girl.”
 

I agreed, as a beautiful lady with long brown hair began washing her hands also. “She is very lucky!” the lady said smiling from ear to ear.
 

We were turning to leave and I looked over at her. “I love your shoes!” I said to her before we walked out.

She called back, “Thanks!” as we started making our way back through the crowd.

We hurried back to our seats and watched the rest of the show. When it was coming to a close, Ryan got up to use the restroom and Lilly went with him. I stayed in my seat until Wyatt sang his last song and I began to clap. Wyatt thanked everyone for coming out and started to put his guitar down as the same lady from the restroom met him on stage. They hugged each other tightly and began to kiss. The crowd roared as they did, and I smiled as I realized that she was the
lucky lady
.

 
I felt someone brush up against my arm and looked to see that Paul had moved right next to me. Everyone started to get up from their seats. “Are you coming?” Paul asked.
 

“No, I will just wait here for Ryan and Lilly.”
 

He got up and walked away. The exiting crowd began to grow as people were leaving their seats. I got up and followed the crowd out to the main lobby. I couldn’t find Lilly or Ryan anywhere. I tried to call her, but if she answered I couldn’t hear her. I tried to text her, but the message wouldn’t send.
 

Paul walked up to me. “I can’t find them anywhere,” he said.
 

“I didn’t see them and I can’t get Lilly on the phone.”
 

Paul pulled out his phone and told me he was calling Ryan. I tried Lilly again and now that the crowd had started to thin out I could hear but it went to voice mail.
 

“I can give you a lift home,” Paul said.
 

I really didn’t want to, but I thought at the very least I could see if Ryan’s car was in the lot. “Thanks,” I told him.
 

We walked out the doors and I looked over to where we had parked. Ryan’s car was gone from our section and all that was left was a jeep and a truck. “I am over here,” Paul said pointing in the opposite direction. I reluctantly followed. “Where do you live?” he asked. I gave him directions as he drove.