Acts of Desperation(65)
The door to the room cracked open, and the nurse peaked her head in. “Is everything ok in here?”
I looked over and responded, “We’re fine. Just working through some emotions.”
The nurse nodded her head and gave what I imagined was her go-to sympathetic expression of saddened understanding.
“It’s all yours, Sarah,” I said, as soon as the door clicked shut.
She looked at me, confused. “No.” She shook her head and shrugged her shoulders. “It can’t be.”
“It is.” I nodded.
“I signed those stupid papers, Sember—those stupid freaking papers!” She put her hands up to her face and covered her eyes. “Jax tried to tell me but I wouldn’t listen to him. I can’t believe I—”
“The papers you signed don’t exist. And the hearing that took place in this room never happened. Do you understand?”
“No,” she said, confused.
“It never happened,” I said, raising my brows. “You got me?”
After a few seconds, she said, “Ok,” and nodded her head.
“We took care of it and that’s all you need to know,” I added.
“Got ya,” she said.
We sat quietly for a while listening only to the sounds of Anders’s shallow breathing and the machine’s beeping in the room.
She looked at me. “Where would I be without you? You never believed him. You defended me and protected me. Thank you.”
“You always stuck up for me when we were little. This was the least I could do. So, don’t mention it. Really,” I said with a wink.
Sarah stared at Anders. “We should go,” she said.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Yes.”
We stood up, and I move our chairs back over to the window. When I turned back to Sarah, she was leaning over his body.
“Rot in hell, you son of a bitch,” she said into his ear.
Anders opened his eyes and smirked, and then with a slight shrug of his shoulders, he turned his head away and closed his eyes again.
When we walked out into the hallway and past the nurse’s station, the nurse asked, “You guys taking a little break? It’s a very hard process to go through, don’t feel bad. Everyone needs a break from time to time.” She smiled compassionately.
“A break? No,” said Sarah with a laugh. “More like a new beginning.”
“I’m sorry?” the nurse said, but Sarah and I continued our walk down the hall and out the doors, never looking back.
Later that night, Anders died completely alone.
After the death certificate was signed, Sarah donated Anders’s body to science.
Chapter Thirty
About three years later…
“Ok everyone.” Liz clapped. “Time to take your places. It’s show time.”
As soon as Liz’s staff heard her, they began shuffling about the room putting the finishing touches on hair and makeup, and getting everyone into position. Liz straightened the veil while I contorted my body to adjust the train. Then, Liz tugged on the microphone daggling from a wire attached to her ear piece.
“Are the groomsmen in place?” she asked. There was a delay and she nodded her head. “Great. The bridal party is on their way. Give the pianist her signal.” She turned and spoke into the center of the room. “Ladies, I need everyone to line up over here by the door, in order please.”
“Nervous?” I asked, looking at Sarah.
“Nope.” She smiled.
“Good, you shouldn’t be. He’s a great guy,” I said.
“Thanks. I think so too.”
Liz touched my arm. “Alright maid of honor, I need to steal you away. Front of the line please.”
“Yes ma’am.” I teased. I gave an excited grin to Sarah then took my position.
Liz smoothed my hair and secured a loose flower. The stylist I’d gone to wove my hair in an intricate braid, and then pinned in sprigs of lily of the valley. “You look beautiful,” she said then flared out the ballet-slipper-pink chiffon on my dress.
“Thanks.” I sighed. “I feel like a beached whale.”
“I’m sure you do because you’re you, but you do not look like a beached whale. The A-line flatters your figure, and you’re positively glowing.” I guess she was right to some degree. The dress minimized my six month baby bump, but it didn’t make it disappear by any means. But, I was ok with it because the day wasn’t about me anyway; this day belonged to Sarah, and she deserved every bit of the happiness it would bring.
“If you say so,” I said, rubbing my belly, having just been kicked. I looked around at the scenery as everyone took their final positions. “I should be mad at you,” I whispered. “This wedding is way prettier than mine was.” I smirked.
Liz laughed. “Nonsense dawling. They are all unique and equally beautiful in different ways. To compare one to the other would be unfair.” She winked.
Then I looked back at Sarah. Our mom was making sure her tiara was secure before draping the veil over her face. Liz grabbed a bobby pin out of her pocket and placed one extra one in place to guarantee it wouldn’t shift. Sarah and I briefly made eye contact, and she raised her shoulders and smiled her girlish smile. She was the most gorgeous bride I’d ever seen.