Chapter 23

Bridget had not clue what she was in for as she followed Abe into the den, but Nick and Bear recognized the look and followed the two women. Abe glared at them as they scooted to a halt just inside the door.

�Shut the door,� ordered Abe, her voice cold.

�What is your problem,� demanded Bridget, complete with foot stamp.

When Abe turned her gaze upon the girl she was smiling and when she spoke her tone took on a soothing tone. Both men swallowed, this wasn�t a good sign.

�This is my best friend�s wedding day. Do you understand what that means?�

�No.�

Abe began walking toward her slowly as she explained. �It means this her day. The day she has dreamed of since she was a little girl. A day when she gets to make a lifelong commitment to the man she loves. A man that has helped her absolutely blossom, because his love gave her the courage to let her walls down and shine so everyone could see. It is her day�their day and I will not have you messing it up.�

She was still smiling and her tone had not altered one bit, but now she was standing toe to toe with the other girl. Bridget felt the couch against the back of her legs, but would not be intimidated. Instead, she looked down at the woman in an attempt to use her height for intimidation.

�How am I messing it up?�

�You were not invited. You brought photographers with you.�

As she was talking, she leaned closer causing the younger woman to unceremoniously take a seat on the couch. Bracing her hand on the back of the couch, Abe continued to lean over her to make one last point.

�You�ve pissed me off.�

�God! Are you a dyke?�

�What?� The other three people in the room asked the questioned simultaneously.

�I mean you act like it was your wedding or like you have feelings for your friend. Is that it?�

�No,� exclaimed Bear and Nick.

Looking around the other woman, she asked, �You sure Bear?�

�Yes, he�s sure,� answered Nick

Standing up, Abe said, �It figures you would think that and it is really sad.�

�Why,� she asked.

�Because Bridget, it means you�ve never really had a true friend. True friends will stand up for each other. Now do us a favor, take the paparazzi, go home and please don�t do anymore damage to her wedding day.�

She was surprised to see the tears welling up in the other girl�s eyes. She hoped it was, because she had gotten through to her.

�Come on Nick.� Bridget said as she stood up.

�I�m staying.�

�What,� asked the other three in the room.

He folded his arms across his chest and firmly planted his feet. �I said I�m stayin�.�

�Why,� asked Bear.

�I was invited.�

Striding across the room, Abe was now toe to toe with Nick. �That invitation was given to you a long time ago, when things were different.�

�So,� he said, the insolence thick.

�So, you�re causing all this trouble.�

�Me?�

�Yes, you! You came to cause problems or you would have brought your girlfriend. If you hadn�t come by yourself, she wouldn�t have followed you. She and I wouldn�t have had the conversation we just had. There wouldn�t be all these issues.�

The tension in the room was so thick that every one jumped when the door opened.

�Winslow, there you are.�

His mother entered the room and took quick stock of everyone there. Abe had reached her limit and took this interruption as the opportunity to get away.

�Excuse me.�

�Bella,� called Nick.

She looked at him from the door. �Go home Nick.�

He never saw the look on his girlfriend�s face, but Bear did, who now shifted nervously from one foot to the other as he watched her turn toward him.

�Bear, what is Abe�s full name?� He shook his head no. Her tone sounded defeated. �Tell me�please.�

�Anna Bella Cavett,� Nick replied.

�I think you do need to stay, Nick. Goodbye Bear.� Bridget squared her shoulders and left the house.

Bear was clenching and unclenching his fists. One look from Nick and he was on him quickly. He got in one good punch.

�Winslow!�

�She deserves better than you,� yelled Bear, ignoring his mother.

�I love her!�

�So do I!�

�Oh! I see, you both want Bridget Goldsmith. Well honey I think you should give her a day or two then call her. She obviously broke up with him.�

�Mother.�

�It�s all right honey. For a moment there I thought you were fighting over that dreadful Cavett girl.�

�Bitch! Sorry, Bear, but your mom�s a Bitch.� AJ was standing in the doorway.

�Mother, do not say anything hateful about Anna ever again. AJ, don�t call my mother that again. And Nick, you stay the hell away from Abe.�

With that last order, Bear took his mother by the arm and lead her out of the room.

�Damn! I missed all the fun.� The smile on AJ�s face was a mile wide.

�Fuck you!�

�Yeah, yeah, I know.

Chapter 24

AJ snickered. Nick elbowed him in the side. AJ had to swallow his laughter. The minister was performing the service and they were relegated to the back row of chairs.

Nick gingerly pressed his fingers under his left eye and glared at AJ, who had snickered again. Slumping down in the wooden folding chair, his mind wandered. He replayed his phone conversation with Bridget.

******** �Nick, what do you want?�

�Where are you,� he asked, pressing a bag of frozen stir-fry vegetable medley to his eye. He wanted ice, but Abe�s father insisted this was better.

�I�m on my way back to the airport. Where did you think I�d be?�

�I dunno.�

They remained silent for a moment.

�You know I remember now.�

�Remember what?�

�I remember you saying her full name the first time I met her.�

�Oh,� he said. �Sorry about that.�

�Good.�

More silence.

�Are we breaking up,� he asked.

Anyone else, she would have ripped a new one, but he sounded so small. �Looks that way.�

�Do you hate me?�

�I should, but we never had that kind of relationship.�

�We didn�t?�

�No. We were casual. We never got in too deep. Now I know why you held back.�

�Why?�

�Because you love her, Nick.�

�I�m really sorry Jet.�

�Yeah. Whatever,� she sighed.

�You okay?�

�I�m always okay. Don�t you have a wedding to get to?�

�Yeah.�

�I�ve got a plane to catch. See ya round.�

�Yeah, see ya around.�

Bridget ended the connection and was surprised to feel a tear slide down her cheek. It wasn�t because she had lost Nick. The tear came from the place inside rarely acknowledged. The part that knew she didn�t have anything.

********

Feeling the sand squish between his toes brought Nick out his reverie. It was cool how they had encouraged everyone to leave their shoes in the house. It would have sucked to walk on the sand in shoes. This was the best wedding he�d ever been to, because of this. Brian and Leighanne had been way too uptight to let folks go without shoes. Hell, it had been a big deal when guys started loosening their ties. And he remembered how all the fans loved that Kevin and Kristin were barefoot at their wedding. But Mr. Anal let anyone else be barefoot? No! Although looking back, it was probably a good thing. No tellin� what backwoods shit you could have stepped on.

He focused on the couple up front. Tim had looked like he was going to puke when he first walked out to stand at the altar with his guys. Now he looked sappy, but in a good way. Michele was glowing and her eyes held unshed tears. They looked so happy.

For a moment, he imagined himself standing up there. If he ever did a wedding, he�d want this kind. Small and intimate, with friends and family in front watching and the ocean breaking against the shore as a backdrop. And just like them, he would time it perfectly to have the last bands of the setting sun warming the sky.

His eyes drifted to the woman standing beside the bride. Bella�he cringed momentarily remembering Bridget. He hated how it had all come out and he had to own up to his part, but now things were right again. Well almost right.

She was beautiful, in her silver dress. It was simple which suited it best. Her shoulders were bare except for tiny straps. He remembered kissing those shoulders. Her hair was up in messy curls. Some of them had escape and were brushing her neck as each wave carried in a breeze.

He was surprised when Abe turned her head and looked directly at him. Her eyes widen slightly when she saw him staring back. Quickly, she turned her focus back to the ministers, but he knew she was blushing even if he couldn�t see it from there on the back row. He set up straighter and waited. One�two�three times, she tried to sneak a look at him. He glanced around to see if anyone else noticed. Someone did...Bear.

From his seat, Nick could see the other mans jaw tighten. Touching his eye again, he felt dejected. For a moment, he had forgotten she was with Bear. It didn�t matter that he loved her. His stupidity had cost him her love. He slumped back down in the seat and burrowed his toes further into the sand.

�Stand up,� hissed AJ.

�Huh?�

�The wedding�s over dip shit. They�re coming down the aisle.�

He stood up in time to see Michele and Tim walk past. Abe and Tim�s best man followed them. She winked at AJ then her eyes moved to Nick and he saw it. She smiled at him. It was a shy one, a real smile none the less. He felt his pulse quicken.

�Close your mouth and don�t look so shocked,� chided AJ.

�Shocked about what,� asked Nick, his tone more sullen than he intended.

�She smiled at you.�

�So.� He downplayed as he made circles in the sand with his big toe.

�Don�t even try to act like you don�t care. I know you still love her.�

�Don�t matter, because she�s with Bear.�

�Why do you keep sayin� that?�

�Cause its true.�

�Know it ain�t! He wants her, but she don�t want him.�

�She don�t?�

�No and do you wanna why she don�t want him?�

�Why,� he asked trying not to hope.

�Because she�s still in love your dumb ass!� AJ let loose with a cackle, but quieted when curious looks from other wedding guests fell on him. �I ain�t sayin� ya can get her back. What I am sayin� is that ain�t nobody else got her heart.�

�Really,� replied Nick, perking up.

�Really and I�m telling you Carter. You hurt her again and I will gut you like a fish.�

Nick punched his friend�s arm. They watched in silence as the last guest headed off in the direction of the house.

�I should get a bit part on The Sopranos. Seriously Nick, don�t hurt her again man, because you won�t get another chance.�

�I won�t need another chance,� replied Nick.

Chapter 25

Allen was very proud of himself for thinking this up. He had spent most of the reception watching his sister and her ex pretend they were fine with not being together. Okay, he had spent an equal amount of time staring at Chele�s hot niece, but still he�d noticed. It didn�t take a rocket scientist to see they were still in love. They�d been stupid and broke up instead of talking, but didn�t mean they had to keep being stupid. He knew they were good for each other. Like this morning there had been this ease with them. It reminded him of his parents. It was that same connectedness.

So when the DJ said he was taking requests, Allen jumped on it. Abe had about driven him batty over the last few weeks listening to Keith Urban. He thought he might have a new crush to tease her about until he realized she was listening to one song in particular, �Whenever I Run*.� One day last week, he had been stuck in the car with her, when his mom had made them go to the store together. He had no choice to listen to the song. It was then he realized the song said what his sister wished would happen. That is if they would get a clue and actually do what the song said. Tonight, he decided he would drive the clue bus right up to them.

The DJ said, �I had request folks. It�s for a Keith Urban song. Allen requested and said there were two people who really oughta listen to it real close. So, I hope they are listenin� real close now.�

Abe was sitting at the wedding party table with her chin propped on her hand. Within to notes of music she was searching for Allen. He defiantly met her lethal stare. Without even a hint of pretense, he walked over to where Nick sat slouched next to AJ.

Thumping him on the back of the head to wake him out of his reverie, Allen said, �Dude, pay attention to the song.�

Nick sat rubbing the back of his head while he watch Allen walk over to Chele�s niece and ask her to dance. Focusing on the lyrics of the song, Nick sat up a little straighter.

Nick locked eyes with Abe. For a brief moment, it was like everything fell into place. The moment was interrupted when she looked away. He followed her gaze to the retreating back of Bear as he disappeared off the deck. To his displeasure, Abe soon disappeared down the same steps. A hand on his arm prevented him from following suit. He turned to glare at AJ.

�This is tween them,� stated AJ.

�But she can�t be with him. I have to stop her.�

�Not your call.�

�What am I suppose to do?

�Sit here an wait.�

�AJ,� Nick started.

Leaning in so they mere inches apart, AJ calmly said, �You accomplish nothing by chasing after her, cept maybe pushing her further away.�

�Man, I�ve lost her,� asked Nick, slumping in his chair.

�Then going down there ain�t gonna change her mind. Now sit and be patent. Something you ain�t even half way mastered.�

�Like you have?�

�Thanks to your little solo deal, I�m learning.�

�You going to bring up that shit here?�

�No, but one day little man you will have to deal with the fall out. Now I�m gonna dance. Sit here and let things play out the way they are suppose to.�

********

The sun had set and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust after leaving the light of the deck. The waves were dancing along the shoreline, bringing in a gentle breeze. Abe lifted her skirt to keep it from dragging in the sand as she moved closer to Bear. He was motionless as the water lapped around his ankles.

�Bear?� Her voice was more tentative than she intended.

Without looking way from the expanse in front of him, he said, �This has got to stop.�

�Explain,� she prompted.

�Nick. You put a stop to him coming around or I will.� Had he looked at her, would have realized her silence was not acquiescence, but he didn�t look. �We are trying to build a life together. He needs to accept that and move on with his life. I understand that you may feel uncomfortable with being stern with him. That�s why I think I should probably be the one to talk with him.�

�I�m sorry.�

�It�s not your fault he can�t let go.� Turning for the first time to face her, he reached out to fold her into his arms. �Don�t worry about it Anna. I will make it clear to him that we are together and there is nothing he can do about it.�

Bracing her hands against his chest, she prevented him from coming closer. �I�m apologizing for letting this go on for too long, but I didn�t realize.�

�That he was so hung up on you?� He caressed her cheek.

�No,� she stated, pulling her face away from his hand. �For not realizing I had allowed you to have the wrong assumptions.�

�What?�

�Bear, I didn�t know you were�that�s a lie. I didn�t want to think about you making permanent plans that involved me.�

His face clouded over. �What the hell did you think I was doing Anna? I was looking at houses in Nashville for Christ�s sakes

� �I know.�

�You think I�d do that for just anyone? I was planning my future with you We are going to get married, have a family and all of it. I love you Anna �

�Have you ever heard that old saying, a man marries a woman thinking she will never change and a woman marries a man thinking he�ll change?�

�Yeah. That has nothing to do with us.�

�Yeah it does. Well�in a way. Bear, you don�t love me. Not really. You have this idea of what you want your wife to be and you�re trying to make me fit that idea, but it�s not me.�

�But it could be,� he countered.

Her laughter sounded hollow even to herself. �But I don�t wanna be. In a few years we would both hate each other. Especially, because I�m not in love with you.�

�Why not? Because of Nick?�

�In part, I don�t want to hurt you, but I�ve been floating around long enough and not been honest with myself or anyone else. I still love him. I�m still in love with him.�

�Even after everything?�

�Yes.�

�But I could give you everything.�

�Not everything. Besides, I couldn�t give you what you need.�

�What do you think I need,� he asked, his tone sullen.

�Someone who will love you completely. Someone who will be that person you want and need. Someone for whom that role is just apart of who they are and their love for you. Someone who will knock your socks off without even trying. And you can�t find that person, if I�m in the way.� The waves flowed over their feet as she watched him work through everything. Finally, his shoulders slumped.

�I know I should be calling you a bitch and hate you.�

�And I�m suppose to respond to that statement�how?�

�You�re not.�

�You can�t tell me you were that attached to me.�

Taking her face in his hands, he said, �You really need to stop selling yourself short. I don�t think I can say we can be friends right now, but give me time.�

�I�m sorry.�

�I know. But you can�t help your heart. Just like I can�t.� He pulled her in for a hug and felt his chest constrict. �Go back to the party. I�ll be there in a few.�

Caressing his face, she said, �okay.�

********

Nick had seen them hug. He hadn�t followed after her. He�d only gone far enough to see them. Now he felt sick and what he wanted to feel was nothing. He began ordering shots. By the time Michele and Tim were running the rice gauntlet to the car, he was comfortably numb.

Standing directly behind Abe, he whispered, �So that�s it.�

�What?�

�You�re with him now.�

�Why do I keep having this conversation,� she asked spinning around to face him.

Her quick movements caused his head to spin. He grabbed her should to steady himself. Suddenly, he was feeling again as a sharp pain shot up his arm. He was surprised to find it now twisted behind his back.

�Dad! �

�Don�t worry Lil Bit. He won�t be pawing you. Right son?�

�Ow. OW No sir.� Nick exclaimed when his arm was torque more.

�Let go of him Adam,� ordered Barbara Cavett.

�Barb.�

�I said let go him.�

Nick breathed a sigh of relief and gingerly moved his around.

�Nick, go out back and sit down.�

�Huh?�

Abe�s mother grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and pointed him in the right direction. �You heard me. Go sit down.�

Nick obeyed.

�Now everyone else go enjoy the music. There is more food so eat up.�

The crowd dispersed. Barbara caught her husband�s hand when she saw the look on his face.

�Adam, now is not the time or place. AJ will take care of Nick. Won�t you AJ?�

�Yes ma�am,� replied AJ with a salute.

�Don�t worry Dad. Me and Allen got this.�

�Oh no you don�t Andrew Bennett. You are going back there and dance with your wife.�

�Mom,� he whined.

�Shut up and dance with me,� ordered his wife, Tracy.

�Don�t worry mom. I�m cool,� offered Allen, heading around the house without any prompting.

Satisfied everyone was safely out of the front yard, she turned to her daughter. The girl�s eyes welled with tears. She opened her arms and Abe fell into her arms.

�It is really that bad?�

�Yeah it is.�

�Did you and Bear break up?� Abe nodded. �You and Nick fought?�

�No�Daddy stepped in before we could.�

�I guess that is a good thing.� Abe pulled back and sniffled. �You still love Nick.�

This brought more tears and nodded.

�So, what do you want to do?�

Heaving a shaky sigh, she said. �I need to think.�

�When do you want to leave?�

�I�d love to go tonight.�

�Well it just so happens Allen was going to drive Michele�s car to her parents, but I guess he will just have to put up with riding with his parents.�

�He�ll hate me.�

�Only until he needs something.�

�True,� Abe chuckled. She studied her mother for a moment. �So why are being so��

�Cool?�

�Yeah,� replied Abe.

�I�m mellowing. Go in and pack. I will tell everyone you are turning in for the night. I�ll leave the keys on the table by the front door. Will you be okay driving this late?�

�Yes.� Kissing her mother�s cheek, she said, �Thanks for understanding mom.

*Written by Keith Urban

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"Heartbreak's Interlude" is a work of fiction.
The characters and events portrayed are fictitious,
and any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental.

Used with Permission
Copyright ©2003-2004
All Rights Reserved
No part of this text may be copied or reprinted
without the author's permission.

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