Cold Feet

Chapter 10

VIOLA

I can’t believe him. He gave his business card to Trish’s mother? How insensitive can you be? I want to explode right there and then but I think there’s more than enough drama already and this is not about me and my opinion. I crush the urge to go after Rick and tell him just how cold-hearted, selfish, and opportunistic I think he is.

I step up to Trish who is still being held by her father. I put my arm on her back.

“I am so sorry, Trish,” I say.

She nods but does not look at me. I can’t tell if she even knows who I am right then but it’s not important now.

The bathroom door opens behind me and Eric and the bridesmaid, Cherise steps out. They blush immediately when they see the people that are still standing there and then they look at Trish and her parents.

Trish’s father tenses and he tries to get Trish to release him but her mother steps in.

“No George,” she says firmly. “We’re better than this.” Her words hit home and George listens.

Eric takes off quickly with Cherise heading for the lobby. I watch them go. I want to follow them and scream at them. I have so many obscenities aching to be released from the tip of my tongue but I know that as much as Eric is the villain here, he is also my client and I shouldn’t be taking sides. Or should I?

I bite my tongue as Ashley arrives beside me. Her eyes are filled with tears and I can tell she has already been crying for some time.

I look at her and place my hand on her arm. She doesn’t look at me but looks down at her hands as I quickly steer her away from Trish and her parents.

“Oh God she was right,” Ashley whispers. “She was right and I pressed her to go through with it. Made her go through with it. What have I done?”

“Ashley don’t,” I whisper as I look around hoping that we are out of earshot of her parents and the other onlookers. “You can’t blame yourself.”

“Why not?” Ashley asks. “Why shouldn’t I blame myself? She didn’t want to go through with it. I convinced her she was wrong. I convinced her to go ahead and that she would see she was wrong. It’s all my fault…”

“It’s not your fault, Ash,” I reply. “That’s what I hire you for.”

“Yes. And I did it because it’s my job! That’s what I get paid to do! Since when did someone’s happiness come to mean less than my job and the money I get paid? She’ll carry this with her for the rest of her life.”

“Don’t beat yourself up Ash,” I say trying to comfort her. “You were only trying to do the right thing.”

“Which is what?” Ashley asked suddenly turning on me. “Which is what? Protecting your name? Making sure your clients are happy? Who do I blame if not myself? You?”

Ashley is unraveling fast and I need to get her away from here. “Ash, please. Calm down. You’re not thinking clearly. You’re upset. I get it and I’m sorry. Just go home. Have a drink, relax and we can talk later or tomorrow.”

Ashley looks at me saying nothing.

“Please?” I asked.

“I’m out,” Ashley says before she turns and heads for the lobby.

I sigh as I watch her go. Could this night get any worse? I have never had a situation like this in my life. I am badly unprepared for it. The best in the game just got beat by a cheat. Beat by a cheat, I think to myself. Maybe I can become a poet I tell myself sarcastically as I head back to Trish and her parents. They are now seated in the lobby and Trish is still crying.

I approach her and her parents. I kneel before Trish. “I am so, so sorry,” I say looking into her eyes. Trish says nothing but simply looks down at her hands that are holding a business card. I glimpse the name on it. It’s Rick’s card. I feel my anger flare again but I keep it to myself.

I look at Trish’s parents, “Why don’t you go on home? I’ll clean up here. Don’t worry about anything.”

“Thank you,” Trish’s mother, Emma says. She nods to her husband and they help Trish up. Together they lead her to the lobby and I watch them go.

After they depart, I look around. What a mess, I think to myself.

I key the walkie-talkie in my hand and speak to the team, “Pack it up. The show’s over.” Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

As I step into the garden, I wonder what happened to Eric’s parents. I did not see them leave. Like father, like son, I tell myself.

I reach the reception area where the team has started packing up and I watch them as if in a daze. I can’t believe it all went so wrong so quickly. I had prepared for every eventuality except this. I feel as if Rick was a jinx on the wedding. A man who has no faith in marriage and makes a living off divorce cases shows up at the wedding reception and it all goes to hell.

One by one the team approaches me. They all say sorry for what happened although they don’t have to. I know the bigger question on their minds is whether they’re going to get paid or not. I assure them

all that they’re going to get paid. I decide not to make any profit from the wedding. I’ll give it back to Trish’s family once the team has been paid.

The team packs up quickly and efficiently and leaves the place as they found it. I am the last to leave and I speak with the manager. I settle the balance of the bill and leave a generous tip as always before leaving.

As I wait for the cab to arrive, I get a message from Steve, the lead singer for the band. It’s a video from the wedding.

I watch the video and feel my stomach turn. The video shows Eric and Cherise in the bathroom. Then it pans out and takes in the crowd in front of the bathroom. I see Rick and myself behind Trish with the cake knife. A banner moves across the bottom of the screen.

OMG, I think, it’s just like a damn news report! It could just as well have been live-streamed! I feel a headache coming on as I rest my head in my hand while I watch the video.

When I look up my cab has arrived. I tip the concierge and get in the cab. I give the driver my address and sit back watching the video again. A horrible idea strikes me and I search for the local news channel. I watch the news and feel sick as I see the local news channel air the video from YouTube. They have overwritten the banner on the YouTube Channel with their own and as I read it, I see my name and my business name cross the screen.

I close my eyes and lean back in the seat.

I know how Trish feels.

I am screwed. So, fucking, screwed.