Chapter 53
A CRUEL TWIST OF FATE
After Jimmy's death I decided not to take on any more serious cases until after the wedding. June 24 came quickly. Fortunately, Monique proved to be an excellent wedding planner and had everything arranged for the perfect affair. Bart and I spent a lot of time together those last few months before the wedding and became best friends as well as lovers. We decided to spend our honeymoon in Tahiti as we heard it hadn't become a tourist trap like most of the exotic places in the world.
On Friday night we had the rehearsal dinner at Baby Doe's as we had planned. It started out to be a small affair with just family, the wedding party, and a few friends, but as time went on more and more people somehow made the invitation list. By the last count there were 42 attendees sitting down for various salads, cheeses, cheese soup, filet mignon, shrimp, numerous vegetables, and strawberry cheesecake for dessert.
There were many toasts, a few speeches, and lots of laughter as the evening progressed. By 10:00 p.m. many of us had made more trips to the open bar than we cared to count. I was feeling a little light headed and decided to go the ladies' room and throw some water on my face. As I approached the restrooms, I saw Stan go into the men's room. I know it was a stupid thing to do on the eve of my wedding, but I suddenly got the urge to tease Stan one last time.
I looked around and spotted a small storage room. I opened the door and saw there was just enough room for two people to go inside and close the door. When Stan emerged from the men's room, I stepped in front of him and put my hands on his shoulders. He looked a little startled, but didn't resist.
"This is your last chance," Stan.
He looked at me thoughtfully but said nothing, so I took his hand, led him into the closet, and closed the door. Before he could say anything, I placed my lips over his and pulled him close. There was no response for a moment, then his lips opened and let me in. A rush of excitement resonated through my body as I pushed my tongue deep into his mouth.
We made out for several minutes until he finally pulled away and said, "Okay, you proved your point."
"My point?" I said.
"Yes, isn't that what this is about—that you could seduce me? That I couldn't resist you?"
I didn't know what to say. Was that it? Did I want him only because I couldn't have him? No, I loved Stan. I tried to remember when I fell in love. It was in law school when we used to hang out together between classes. But he was married and wasn't interested in anything but friendship.
"Well, you win," he said and started unbuttoning my blouse. My pulse quickened and I could feel my body temperature rising as I anticipated his next move. He slid his hand around my back and started to unlatch my bra. My nipples felt like they were going to explode."
There was laughter in the hallway outside the door. Stan stopped and we both quit breathing. I knew that laugh. It was Bart and one of his friends. Stan pulled me up close and held me so tightly I thought I'd pass out. When the voices faded, he let me go and without a word opened the closet door and left.
For a moment I stood there in the dark trying to regain my composure, then the tears began to pour from my eyes. As much as I tried, I couldn't keep from sobbing. My legs felt weak. I fell to my knees. It was over between Stan and me. I knew that now. He'd never be mine. It wasn't right. It wasn't fair. It was a cruel twist of fate to have the man you loved dangled before your eyes, just out of reach.