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Juniper picked meup to bring us to the Marina.
Alyssa had closed the restaurant for the party, and half the town would be there. I never understood why people needed to put on a big show for something. Like a birthday or an anniversary. Why would you want to spend that amount of money on just one day?
Regardless, I was the photographer for this, and I planned to take that job seriously.
“Wow, you look… so beautiful.” I scooted into the passenger seat, scrunching up my long legs. She wore a white bandage dress that hugged her body like a glove. She rarely wore her hair down, and it nearly reached her thighs. I reached out and fingered the locks, marvelling at her glowing skin.
“You clean up pretty nice, too. Greek boy.” She giggled and shifted into drive.
My stomach was in knots.I couldn’t do this. Any of this.
I couldn’t go to this party. I couldn’t marry Kostas. The worst part? I couldn’t be with the person I loved.
What the fuck had I done?
I stayed up almost all night trying to figure out a new plan. I failed miserably and ended up with two empty bottles of wine and a headache. Ten more days… just ten more. Just because I went to this ridiculous party didn’t mean I had to marry him. Once I was gone, no one would even remember the party or the wedding date.
I had mailed out the postponed wedding date, set for October 31, this morning. I didn’t know what to do about Judas. I had to tell him how I felt. I just never felt like the time was right. It needed to feel right. I had dressed up to make myself feel better, applying a thick makeup to my skin and still unsuccessfully covering the cut across my cheek. I looked at my phone in my Hermes bag; the party started in exactly two hours and Kostas was nowhere to be found.
Since the fight, he had been sleeping in the guest bedroom. We hadn’t spoken or even texted. Maybe he wouldn’t show up. I had no interest in waiting around to see what Kostas would do, so instead I headed to the Marina to help set up.
It felt likeI was setting up for my funeral. I had gotten myself into a situation I couldn’t just back out of.
Kostas scared me. I wanted to get as far away from him as I could. But how? Disappear? Always worry he would track me down and beat me within an inch of my life, or… all the way? I swallowed down the bile that creeped up the back of my throat. I felt like I might vomit. I just had to fake it for one more night.
I could survive one more night after a lifetime of appeasing men. I had to be allowed this one evening of lies. Karma owed me that. I needed to figure out how to break this off with Kostas before it was too late.
A touch on my arm pulled me away from the tray of finger sandwiches I was lying on the platters. “Alyssa?”
She extended her hand to me, her fingers covered in rows of silver rings, clinking together as she moved. Jeno stepped up beside her, draping his arm around her shoulders. He stood almost two heads taller than her. I would never get used to seeing a teenager with the body of an Adonis.
“You must be Juniper! Oh, I’m so glad you came!” My voice came out overly excited and loud, my nervousness taking over my senses. I was just happy about the distraction from the horror movie I was playing in my head. Jeno had mentioned Juniper to me a time or two if I asked where he was going. Which wasn’t very often.
With just a few simple questions, I could figure out who her parents were. They were both NHHS alums, which was the same school I attended. I had to try hard to remember their names. We stood near the entryway, and people arrived. I felt displaced without Kostas here. I greeted family friend after family friend. People that watched me grow up and judged me while they sat in their deck chairs.
What was the point of it? A tally at your funeral? The number of people who paired kind words with your name. They may all smile at me, but I know most haven’t said gracious words following my name. I didn’t care anymore. When you fear for your life; things looked a little different.
A glass of wine didn’t even represent what it used to. The joy replaced by need. Even when I was in an unhappy marriage, it may have been boring, but it was never aggressive.
“Alyssa, my sweet girl. My real estate agent tells me they have accepted everything, and we are ready to sign. Congratulations! I’ll see ya’ll on Monday morning.” He hugged me tightly, and my eyes travelled to where Jeno and Juniper stood. Jeno kept his eyes on me.
“Thank you, Richard. I’ll see you Monday.” I smiled and waved and as he and his wife headed to the bar.
“Juniper and I are going to go down to the docks. I wanted to show her the boats.” He placed his hand on Juniper’s lower back and led her to the back entrance.
“Don’t forget to get photos!” I called, secretly hoping he would forget entirely, so I never had to remember this fucked up day.
He gave me a thumbs up over his head, leaving me standing alone.
I ledJuniper down the stairs and onto the docks; the water sloshing against the pier.
“Dang! These boats are huge! I’ve never seen one this close.” Juniper grabbed my hand and walked along the rows of boats.
“I’m going to go grab something I forgot in the boat shack. I’ll be right back. Don’t get on one!” I called. She looked over her shoulder at me, grinning.
I entered the small space under the stairs and walked to the desk. The top was organised neatly, a large calendar and PC at the centre. File organisers and notepads lined the side. I doubted Alyssa was dumb enough to hide anything in plain sight- but she would keep documents somewhere other than the beach house. That, I was certain. Besides invoices and receipts, there was nothing. I didn’t want to leave Juniper alone too long or get caught snooping.
I exited the door, and Juniper had grabbed a seat at the end of the connecting docks. I walked the length to join her but stopped to marvel at the beauty of the sunset and her vulnerable awe.
