Chapter 13
13 RED TULIPS
ABBY
What I never expected about my visit is his proposal. It’s a little bit overwhelming, and I can’t help but giggle and now that I’m engaged. I know I have to get ready for the worst part, and I’m scared I will fall so hard.
He gave me Mom’s necklace and the engagement ring, and he said I deserved to have them. My best friend was so happy to hear the news. I talked to my dad after dinner that I wanted a private ceremony, and he wasn’t happy about it but promised him that one day he would walk me down the aisle, but I could still see the disappointment in his eyes.
I know Dad wants to give me the wedding of my dream, and I’m his only daughter after all, but I’m not ready for that. I still have a lot of things to fix, especially myself.
Since I already have something to wear for my wedding and I already signed the prenup, I have nothing to do but go to a spa and pamper myself with body massage, facial spa, foot spa including waxing which hurts like hell. I don’t realize how my body was so tensed and stressed out until I’m done. I get home and plan to spend dinner with Dad.
I arrive before dinner, but my best friend is nowhere to be found. After receiving a text from Drew that he’s going to be home late tonight, I leave my phone in my room and go down to the music room where my mother used to play the cello. I do play too, but I am not as good as her.
I start to play her favorite piece and closed my eyes. I imagine her watching me play, and my tears start falling down my cheeks, but I continue playing until I hit the last note.
My therapist told me it would help me a lot to engage in some activity. So I played sometimes when I was not too busy. I swim too, which helps me relax once I’m in the water.
Someone applauds after I finish the piece, and when I turn around, I see my fiancé himself. Yeah, it still feels strange that I have a fiancé today, and a husband tomorrow. I’m so getting married.
I smile at him, and he saunters to me with a bouquet of red tulips in his hand. How did he know I like red tulips? This man is full of surprises.
“Hello, future wife. You played the cello well.” He kisses my forehead.
“Why, thank you, husband-to-be, and hello to you. What’re you doing here? Don’t you have friends or family to see before we’ll get married tomorrow?”
“For you.” He offers the flowers, and they’re gorgeous. “I know that’s your favorite. Pushing me away again, I see.” There’s a little mischief in his voice, and I like the fact that this arrangement doesn’t bother him that I think it will. “I have to see you before the wedding. They said it’s a jinx to see the bride before the special day. So I came to see you today.”
“Thank you, and how did you know this is my favorite? And wow, you believe in those traditions. I thought only girls knew that, and not someone like you who has no plan on getting married.”
“Hah! Don’t make fun of me, baby. One of my friends got married last year. His wife didn’t allow him to see her before the wedding, and I happened to be the best man. And yeah, your mom told me that you like red, and she liked purple.”
My heart aches every time he mentioned my mother. I still wish I can turn back the time, and I want to be there before she passed away. “Did you happen to catch the wedding garter?”
“Wedding garter?” he asks.
“The garter is taken from the bride by the groom and toss it to the bachelors during the reception?”
He freezes, and his eyes are so wide. “Holy shit! I forgot. Yeah, I happened to catch it. No, I didn’t. It just fell on me, and they forced me to join that stupid thing, and I couldn’t refuse the couple. So yeah.”
“Oh, my god. Sebastian, really? So, it’s true then. Would you stay for dinner?”
“Are you sure?” he asks me back.
“Why are you seem so surprised? We’re getting married, of course, I’m sure. I can’t thank you enough. Drew won’t be here for dinner, so it’s just me and you and dad.” I say while I smell the flowers.
“Abby, you already thanked me. Your dad won’t be here for dinner. I happened to call him before coming over, and where’s your phone? He tried calling you.”
I suddenly smell something fishy is going on. Did dad set me up?
“I left it in my room. Come with me. Dinner would be ready in an hour.” I don’t realize I just invited him to my room.
I don’t want to faint or do something stupid, but I started to feel comfortable around him. The tension between us is still there, and he seems so distant, and it annoys me. I still feel the tingles whenever we’re near, but I try to remain calm. And after two days, I’ll be hundreds of miles away from him.
Whenever I think of being far away from Seb, it makes me sick. I want to be wanted, I want him to force me to stay, and I want him to make love with me on our wedding night, but I’m sure it will never happen. And I will just go back and be that virgin again.
I open the door of my living room and let him sit on the couch.
I go to the bathroom vanities put the flowers in the empty vase. I notice a card tucked into it, I pick it up and read.
To my beautiful bride Abby.
Seb
I cover my mouth with my hand. He’s so sweet and thoughtful. And I’m scared that I can’t control my feelings anymore. My mind says that I’m not falling for him, and I’ll be gone after tomorrow, and he’ll be free.
I’d be a fool to believe if something is going to happen between us because it’s obvious that he doesn’t feel the same towards me.
“Abby, are you okay in there?” I jump in surprise when I hear him calling me from the living room.
“Yeah. Just a sec.” I hurry up and carry the vase with me and enter the living room. I put the vase where it’s placed before.
“Sorry. I took so long.” I sit on the loveseat to his right side. I check my phone, and I have missed calls from Dad and Drew.
“Can I return a call to dad and Drew?” I ask him.
“Of course, I don’t mind. Take your time.”
I’m about to stand when he stops me by placing his hand on my knee that startles me. Shit.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to startle you, but where are going?”
“Sorry. It tickles,” I lie. Since I’m only wearing shorts, the warmth of his touch sends tingles in my entire body.
“I’m going to call Dad and Drew.”
“Can’t you call here with me?” he asks with a glint in his eyes.
What is he trying to accomplish? I know I’m overthinking everything.
“I thought it would be rude to have another conversation while you’re with me.”
“I don’t mind. Unless you need your privacy, so it’s okay with me.” Privacy my ass.
“I will just call them later.”
“Call your dad, Abby, before he worries about you.”
I dial my dad and tell him that I’m with Seb.
“Aren’t you going to call Drew?”
“What is with you telling me to call them, Sebastian?” I face him, and he just smirks at me.
We both stare at each other longer than we ever had. I finally give up because the more I look at him, the more I become vulnerable.
“Do you feel something for me, Abbygail?” I think I just choke on my own saliva.
I swallow hard because I never expected that question, and I can’t look at him in his eyes anymore.
“I’m asking you, and I need an honest answer.”
