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Join in wedlock: Talynn Rae Caldwell of Calumet City, Illinois
And Colin Joseph Bueller of Calumet City, Illinois
Location: Get Lucky Chapel
I cannot be married to Colin Bueller. Oh no, that’s why he’s been calling me. I haven’t answered because I didn’t want to put my relationship with Tackett in jeopardy.
Megan’s here. I hear her keys banging against the steel front door of my apartment. In seconds, I’m in her arms and wailing like a kid lost in the mall. She rubs my back, making circles which reduces my sobs to soundless tears.
My body shakes as she pulls away with her hands firmly on my shoulders. “He knows?”
Her lips flatten into a thin line as she nods. “That’s why he hasn’t called me.” It comes out nasally and feeble.
In a hushed tone, she answers even though it wasn’t a question. “Probably.”
I fall back into my sister’s arms. With everything I’ve been through in my life, this is the first time, I feel like I’m slipping into the deep end and drowning.
Parents dying.
Foster homes.
Separated from my biological siblings.
And all the rest.
None of it felt like this. None of it felt like a table saw slicing my heart in two pieces.
Maybe I was too young to feel the weight of those events. I was with my last foster family for nine years. Megan carried the burdens for our brother, Josh, and me.
“Why didn’t you tell me you’re married. Is he an asshole? Did he do something bad to you?” Megan’s a fast talker and says what’s on her mind. I have to slow her roll before she has him arrested.
I cry. “I didn’t know.”
With that revelation, her eyes narrow, eyebrows pinch, and every other facial clue that suggests she doesn’t believe me. My chest heaves as she corkscrews her lip to one side. “You do know how ridiculous you sound.”
“Colin has been calling me for the last month or so, but I never answered.”
“Why?”
My tears taper off but in their place is a nervous stomach. Placing one hand on my stomach and the other on the back of the chair, I push off and run to the bathroom. I’m overheating and it’s making me nauseous. I don’t know whether to sit or stand, I can’t get comfortable.
What am I going to do?
He’s the only man I’ve ever loved except for my dad. I can’t even truly say I love my brother. I knew him for five years and have seen him occasionally, but his demons have kept him from me since I turned eighteen.
I’m in the bathroom so long that Meg knocks on the door asking if I need anything. Finally, I make my way to sink wash my hands and face. My stomach settles temporarily. I walk gingerly to the kitchen; open the fridge and I all see are fruits and vegetables for Tackett’s smoothies. Tears fall again.
Who’s going to make me eat healthier?
Megan grabs a club soda from the door compartment, pushes the ice maker, and pours the soda into a glass. “Here. Now tell me why you didn’t answer Colin.”
Sipping my drink, I say, “Because I’m happy, and I don’t want reminders of my past life. Surely you can understand that. I never realized until now that it’s hard for you to look at me. I’m a reminder of your past.”
Her voice booms, “Do not ever think it’s hard for me to look at you. I worked hard to make sure you could be in my life and so did Archer. I love you.” I obviously hit a nerve.
Before sitting down at the table, Megan spots a pen on the counter. She immediately starts clicking it. Archer says it’s her tell that she’s unsure or contemplating something. She just keeps clicking the damn pen.
“Okay, we’re calling Colin right now. We’re getting to the bottom of this.”
