Chapter Sixteen
~Bailey~
A chuppah was draped with miles of toile and white wisteria, or at least what I recognized as a chuppah, set on the beach and at least fifty white folding chairs facing the water. There was a fence of tiki torches along the shore with ribbons of white satin draped between them like a barrier. A young man stood at each end like guards in black tuxes, I felt bad for them in the heat. Everything was pretty, every bride’s idea of the perfect beach wedding. I laughed to myself picturing Simon dressed in a flowing white gown, hopping through the blanket of sand while swinging a bouquet of roses in the air. Yep, this evening was going to be something else.
“I think we’ve been had,” I whispered to Nolan.
“How so?”
I tipped my head and raised my brow suggesting he should think. “Simon was scared no one would show?”
“Well, what do you expect?” Jeff snickered. “Everyone loves a circus.”
“So how does this work, is it like a real wedding?” Pete asked, peering over the heads of the people in front of him.
His question would have sounded stupid had it not been Pete with his air of childlike innocence.
“It is a real wedding dumbass,” Jeff tutted shaking his head.
“Can you two please act like adults tonight?” Nolan asked. “It’s like any other wedding you’ve ever been too. They say some sickeningly sweet shit, the official has them say some vows and then he announces them joined together for all eternity and it’s over. Then we find the bar because I’m in the perfect mood to drink.”
Nolan was a touch on the snarky side today. I wanted to ask why but I had my suspicions. I guess I pushed him to come to Erik and Simon’s wedding for some kind of closure, although he assured me he had long closed that door. Only I was hoping that being witness to the wedding would seal that door permanently with a padlock and a few dozen chains. Not that I thought for a minute that Nolan wanted Erik back. I guess because Erik was everything I was not, I somehow needed finality. It didn’t make much sense in my mind either.
“I get that part,” Pete huffed, slapping Jeff’s arm.
“Why don’t you guys go find our seats, we’ll follow along in a few minutes,” I coached, hoping for a moment alone with Nolan.
“If you had a tie,” I stood in front of Nolan and fiddled with the buttons on his shirt. “I would straighten it for you and ask you if you’re okay. Are you okay, Doc?”
“Stop worrying about me,” Nolan lovingly touched my cheek. “And then stop reading things into my silence. I don’t love him, you know? I haven’t for years. It’s you that I love, you’re my future and the only thing I’m looking forward to is spending my life with you.”
I knit my brows together questioningly. “Was that a marriage proposal?”
Nolan laughed, butting our chests together. “No, it was not. If and when we’re ready for a proposal, it won’t be on an island at my ex’s wedding. Let’s go sit.”
Simon’s father stood out like a sore thumb, he was the exact opposite of how any of us had imagined. With a name like Vladimir Valentinos I was expecting a mobster type like Marlon Brando in The Godfather, not the happy smiling face of the man who walked up and shook our hands. In one fleeting moment, he was there and then gone. He was a lot like Simon.
Guests were all seated, their whispers like a soft roar, the waves washing quietly against the shore, and the sun threatening to make its retreat. Simon was standing off to the left, dressed in a light cotton shirt and matching white pants and bare feet. A purple orchid pinned to his shirt contrasted well and his platinum blond hair swooped over his brow setting off the electric blue in his eyes, catching the light from nearby torches.
“Shouldn’t this have started by now?” Nolan whispered. “That sun’s setting pretty fast.”
The cacophony of whispers grew louder still as the hush turned into gossiping questions and giggles. My heart went out to Simon pulling at his shirt sleeves attempting to maintain a cool composure. Simon’s dad, on the other hand, was losing his shit by the minute.
“Simon’s dad looks like he might be on his way to a meltdown,” I watched the man pull a hanky from his pocket and wipe his brow as his eyes darted back and forth over the crowd.
“I refuse to get involved,” Nolan straightened in his seat, stiffening his chin defiantly and gazing up at the sky. “It’s none of my business, but Erik’s gonna fuck up Simon’s day… just saying.”
“Uh oh,” I nudged Nolan’s shoulder. “Don’t look now, but Simon’s practically doing cartwheels to get your attention.”
“Don’t care,” Nolan busied himself picking at imaginary lint from his slacks. “Simon can be his father’s problem.”
“Well, I hate to break the news, but Mr. Valentino’s problem is coming this way.”
Nolan closed his eyes reaching for my hand, squeezing it harder as Simon drew closer. Simon knelt down beside Nolan with a panicked smile cemented on his face, talking through clench teeth while trying to appear collected. Nolan looked everywhere but directly at Simon, finally giving it up and meeting his eyes.
“I need like the hugest favor,” Simon waved to some of the guests while he spoke. “Erik isn’t answering his phone. I’ve tried and tried and I’m worried something has happened to him.”
“And?” Nolan asked, with an obvious wariness in his tone.
“Could you go check on him?” Simon asked. “Tell him to hurry up, the sun is just about gone.”
“Really, it’s not my place,” Nolan squirmed in his seat.
“I’d go, but what would people say? It’s bad enough the groom is nowhere to be found, I don’t want anyone to leave before he gets here. Please?”
Nolan turned to me with the look of desperation in his eyes, I couldn’t think of what to say to save him and gave him the only thing I could, a shrug. The idea of Nolan going to Erik’s room to get him bothered me. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Nolan, Erik was the one causing my uncharacteristic insecurities.
“What do you think?” I was flattered that Nolan asked.
“Do it for Simon,” I looked over at the poor kid so close to tears.
“Fine,” Nolan grumbled as he stood, tugging at his shirttails. “What’s the room number?”
Simon sat down beside me as we watched Nolan run towards a man with a golf cart and he jump on. They sped off towards the hotel and the next thing I knew, Simon had wrapped his arms around my chest, his head tucked under my chin as my hand patted his back. I truly did feel for him. No one deserved to be kept waiting at the altar.
~
~Nolan~
After a third series of knocks, the room door finally cracked open. Erik considered me for a long second, expressionless, before swinging the door open and walking away. My eyes were immediately pulled to the unmade bed where Erik was packing a large suitcase. He was dressed in ratty old denim shorts and a plain black t-shirt.
“Simon’s going to be devastated,” I stated the obvious, tucking my hands into my pockets as I walked past him to the window.
The view from their window looked onto the beach where the torches were lit in the shape of a heart circling the waiting guests. The sun was all but gone and I knew better than anyone how Simon was feeling. The crushing ache, the indescribable pain almost too much to bear.
“One thing about Simon,” Erik said, with his back turned. “He’s a survivor.”
“How very callous,” I snorted.
“Look,” Erik spun to face me, throwing the shirt he was holding onto the bed. “It has to be this way. You wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me, I may just shock you.”
From the look on Erik’s face, I could tell he was unwavering. Truthfully, I didn’t want to know. I was sent here for one reason and that was to find out where Erik was. He was here and since he was packing, I was pretty sure he had no intentions of going back with me. When he didn’t answer, I walked to the door and opened it, then closed it again. I walked over to where Erik stood and stared, studying the face of the man I had once been fool enough to love.
“You’re a real piece of work, Erik,” the taste of his name on my tongue felt vile and disgusting. “I can’t believe how easy it is for you to fuck with people’s lives. You must have no conscience whatsoever, you heartless prick. Simon is waiting for you to marry him… were you going to tell him or just fuck off and leave him always wondering why?”
“Finished?” Erik asked, as he stuffed the last of his things into the suitcase and closed the zipper, its rasp echoing in the stone silence.
“I was finished with you years ago,” I declared, happy in my confident stare.
“I owe you nothing,” Erik started, retrieving a tiny bottle of Bacardi from the bar fridge and removing the lid. “And I owe Simon even less, in fact, you can both go to hell.”
“I’m not even going to waste my breath on you,” I stood resolute. “Your leaving is probably the best thing to happen to Simon.”
“You’ve been talking with his old man.” Erik glared.
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
“Did he send you here to make sure I left?” Erik quizzed, taking a slip of paper from his pocket and unfolding it, shoving it into my face. “I have fifty-thousand reasons to leave Simon at the altar and I’m more than willing to keep the old man happy while I’m spending it.”
Words were coming from Erik’s mouth faster than I could keep up. Was he saying Simon’s father paid him off? Seriously? Did that really happen? Nothing would have surprised me when it came to Erik. I snatched the check from his hand and studied it, fifty-thousand dollars paid to the order of Erik Easton. It looked real alright.
“You should leave,” Erik snarled, stuffing the check in his pocket and retrieving his suitcase. “I have to go.”
“What do I tell him?”
Erik shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. I wanted to wipe the smug smirk off his face with my fist. “Tell him whatever you want, tell him I’m a selfish bastard. Or tell him the truth about his daddy. Or both, I so don’t give a rat’s ass.”
He brushed past me with a smile pasted to his face, patting his breast pocket. What a piece of slime.
“Hey, Erik?” I yelled. To my amazement, he stopped and turned. “Karma’s a bitch, man.”
“Oh, please,” Erik huffed, walking down the hall towards the elevator as the room door closed. “Cut the drama.”
“Where have you been?” Bailey asked, as I placed my hand on Simon’s shoulder. “Where is Erik?”
“Give us a minute, okay?” I asked Bailey, Jeff and Pete gladly joined him. I held my arm out to Simon and smiled. “Want to take a walk with me?”
Simon stood, he swallowed hard as tears filled his eyes. “Erik’s not coming, is he?”
“I’m afraid not,” I spoke quietly, sensing the pain welling up inside of Simon. Tearing off the Band-Aid was probably best. “Erik decided not to go through with it.”
“Where is he? I’ll go to him and we’ll talk,” Simon tried to get around me, but I held him in place.
“He was leaving the island last time I saw him,” I told Simon, watching the tears roll off of his cheeks onto the cotton fabric of his shirt. I fought with telling him the whole truth. “Simon, he doesn’t want to marry you. There’s not going to be a wedding tonight.”
“You knew…” Simon’s sad eyes stared into my face, “That he would do this, didn’t you?”
“I had my suspicions,” I confessed, witnessing Simon withdraw into himself. “Don’t do that, don’t let that bastard win. Never let this moment determine who you are and who you are destined to be. Erik doesn’t deserve that kind of power.”
Simon’s forehead rested against my chest, my arms reluctantly folded around his shoulders, my chin sitting atop his head. He stopped crying, this was a good thing, but the moment was lasting an incredibly long time just as his father came over with a querying frown.
“Simon?” his father made no attempt to reach out and sooth his son. “What’s going on here, and where is Erik?”
With dramatic flair, Simon turned and tossed himself into his father’s arms. At that moment, the waterworks returned. Simon held nothing back as his father rubbed his hand up and down Simon’s back, his eyes locked to mine. The look I awarded him was intended to make him aware that I knew what he had done to his own flesh and blood. Vladimir Valentinos was one cool cucumber as his eyes never left mine and his brow ever so slightly twitched. As if he was acknowledging success, that he was the victor. Heartless fuck.
“Daddy, he’s gone,” Simon shrilled. “Erik left me.”
“There, there, Simon,” his father cooed, concern absent as he spoke. “It’s his loss, son. You don’t need him, he’s obviously not good enough for you. Now go give your face a wash and change your shirt. Mr. McAllister and I will wait right here for you.”
“But, daddy-” Simon began to protest.
“But nothing, Simon,” Vladimir talked to Simon stone-faced. “Erik won’t get away with breaking my babies heart. We will go on with the reception and celebrate new beginnings. There’s no sense wasting good food and the entertainment has been paid. Go on,” he waved Simon away. “And daddy will send you on a nice cruise to help you get over what’s-his-face.”
“Okay, daddy,” Simon’s shoulders slumped forward as he turned and walked away.
Simon had been thoroughly dismissed. His father had, in part, bribed him into doing as he was told. Like an obedient dog, he followed his master’s orders. Vladimir looked over the gathering that stood whispering, the gossip so heavy in the air it made your ears ring. The knowing glances, the titters of delight for someone else’s pain disgusted me. This entire circus, as Jeff had put it earlier, was a joke.
“For your sake, I hope Simon never finds out the truth,” I spoke calmly, clenching my jaw until it was painful. “Do you think he would be so quick to please the one person in world that should love him unconditionally?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Vladimir looked straight through me, his icy stare so cold it sent a shiver up my spine.
“Please,” I snorted. “I saw the check.”
“Were you shocked?” he finally asked, reaching out to brush the wrinkles from my shirt. “Can you honestly tell me that Simon’s life would have had a happy ending with that man? How long do you think it would have been before Simon came home and found that bastard with someone else in their bed? Think wisely before condemning me, Mr. Brahms. I may not be the best father and I’ve made my share of mistakes with Simon, but you try raising a child like Simon on your own. Now tell me you wouldn’t have done the same thing, had you been in my shoes.”
The man was right. Had it been my son who was about to make the biggest mistake of his life, I probably would have. Probably not by writing a check, but I would have somehow opened his eyes to the truth about Erik. As much as it pained me, I had to give him credit where it was due for loving his son enough to risk losing him if he found out.
“Yes, sir,” I held his stare. “I believe I would have.”
“Then I suggest we forget this conversation,” Vladimir proposed, his focus moving I suspected to Simon as his voice quieted. “I love my son, he happens to be my entire world. I will never, as long as I live, allow anyone to hurt him.”
Vladimir’s conviction warmed my heart, though I would remember never to cross the man in the future. Not that our paths would ever cross again.
“Consider it forgotten,” I assured, offering my hand and waiting until he shook it with a smile.
~
~Bailey~
Nolan looked cheerier than he had five minutes ago as he walked over to where Pete and I were standing, next to the bar. The conversation he had with Simon’s dad looked intense, I had expected a full out brawl, happy it had not gotten to that.
“Can I get you a drink?” I asked, as he slipped into my side. “Champagne?”
“Pass,” Nolan kissed my cheek. “I need something a little stronger. Two fingers of Jack.”
“Let me,” Pete offered.
“Rumor has it, the groom flagged down a passing ship and high-tailed it out of here,” I joked.
“I’ll tell you all about it once we’re alone,” Nolan whispered against my cheek as if he was concerned someone would hear. “But yeah, he’s gone.”
“Gone, gone?” I felt my brow rise as he relaxed.
“As in far, far, away,” I tittered, as Pete came back handing me a glass of amber liquid.
“Wasn’t sure if you liked it with rocks or not so I skipped them,” Pete said, drinking from the straw in his tropical concoction, holding another of the same in his other hand.
“Hitting it hard tonight?” Nolan asked Pete.
“Someone has to turn this night around,” Pete chuckled. “This one is for Jeff. They seriously need to get the music started, this crowd is fading fast.”
“Maybe that’s where Jeff went, to mix it with the DJ,” I said, helping myself to another glass of champagne as a server walked by with a tray. “Did he have anything to drink?”
“No, he didn’t, don’t even start,” Pete grumbled, setting his and Jeff’s drinks on the table. “I’m going to look for him.”