Chapter 50: Dinner Parties Are So...For People Who Actually Cook...and Have Friends

*ZOEY'S POV*

"Are those two eating?" Amy yells across the house.

"Yeah, but I keep waiting for food to go flying...I'm telling you...I don't like the look of that one...he's already an asshole."  I say this because I have been pelted by peas, toys, and a stuffed bunny rabbit just today from this kid...sounds like asshole material to me.

"Yeah, that's all we need, the kids going home with foul language in their mouths." Amy says.

"Hey, he is one, he should learn to recognize it in my opinion." I tell her.

The daycare is going really well, but I think we're getting a little burned out on it all, which throws a monkey wrench right in our ideas to have children soon.

"If I eat another PB&J, I'm going to throw up," Amy says, biting into yet another sandwich.

I agree, "Same here, I hope when we have kids they don't like these."

Bright side?  To add to our boring fuddy-duddy reputations, Amy and I have recently bought reading tablets for ourselves and let me just tell you...I LOVE it...you can read anywhere, order books from anywhere...they're made of awesome!

Between playing with those and taking care of kids, it's a wonder we even have time for our double date, but I make sure it happens.

On a particularly calm day after the kids leave and we have both showered all the kid-caring gunk off of us, I ask Amy about having them over.

"Yeah, sure, that's doable...do they want to come over for dinner?  I can cook." She answers.

"Hmm, sounds good to me.  What are we having?" I ask, my mouth already watering.  Thank the stars she can actually cook.

"Hmm, men usually are all about red meat...how about steaks?  I have some t-bones I can marinate." She offers.

Tongue, meet eyebrow, steaks are awesome.  She eats hers damn near raw, but she always makes sure and fixes mine well-done.

So I call Terry to invite them.

"That sounds awesome!"  He replies, "I haven't had a good meal since I left home.  I can't cook a lick."

Shit.  I was kind of hoping he could cook...I sure as hell can't.  Strike two.

Wait, what does it matter?  It's not like I'm going to marry him.  Oh well.

He shows up, gorgeous as ever.

"Hey V," he greets me with the nickname he came up with just for me.

He hugs me, kissing me on the cheek, and my heart flutters.  How can he have this kind of effect on me?  I never thought it was possible.

Another man walks up behind him and he introduces him as his buddy, Mac.

Mac has long dreadlocks, big brown eyes, and a big smile.

"Hey, thanks for inviting us over, we haven't had a good meal in like, forever," Mac says.

"I wasn't aware that you cooked..." Terry adds.
"Me?  Hell no, I don't cook...Amy's doing all that, I'm sticking to setting the table and filling the drinks," I joke, "what can I get you?"

We walk into the house and Terry offers a bottle of wine he brought, so I open that up and serve it while Amy is finishing up in the kitchen.

Finally, after another half hour of torturing us with delicious aromas, Amy calls from the kitchen, telling us that dinner is ready.

Amy has prepared steaks with her mother's special marinate, baked potatoes, a side salad, and summer squash.  Delicious!

Terry is more excited than I have ever seen him about food.
"Oh man, she made steaks?" He exclaims, his eyes growing wider the closer he gets to the plate.
"Steaks are my absolute favorite!" He continues as he gets his plate and heads to the dining room.
Hmph, I guess that's good...as long as he doesn't expect me to fix them.

*AMY'S POV*

"You have to tell me what is in your marinate...this is too good to never eat again," Terry is buttering me up after dinner, and to his credit, it's working.

"I'm sorry, I'm sworn to secrecy," I tell him.  I honestly am, one thing my mother has begrudgingly shared with me has been her recipe book, where her special marinate is listed, but she has threatened to cut me off me if I ever tell a soul what's in it.

"Hmph, I'm just going to have to come over here for dinner more often," he resolves.

This makes Zoey choke on her food and I chuckle under my breath.

They really do seem like a cute couple.  He's pretty easygoing in areas where Z is uptight, but he's uptight where she's easygoing.  I think it's cute...and they seem to be pretty smitten with each other.

As for Mac, I have to admit that the super skinny dudes typically don't get me going, but he is really cute with his big brown eyes and really chill attitude.  He's also quick to laugh and his smile goes all the way up to his eyes.  I like that about a man.

Not to mention he has good manners.  Once he's done eating, he clears the table without any direction.  Not that I would have asked a guest in my home to do the dishes, I'm just saying.  Terry notices me staring at him as he heads to the kitchen and seizes the opportunity.  

"Yeah, ya' know, Mac works with me at the police station, he's a good guy," he starts, "has a good job, wants to buy a house soon, settle down...I've known him my entire life, he's always been a good friend."

"Yeah," I reply, "he seems nice."

"Well, uh, why don't you all chat for awhile..." T continues.

I look over at him and smile, "Don't worry, I'm going to leave you all alone."

I look over at Zoey and wink, and she changes three different shades of red.  Then I head to the kitchen where Mac is standing.

"Thanks for picking up the dishes, you didn't have to do that." I offer.

He smiles and shuffles around, "Yeah, well, my mom would kick my ass if she knew I went to someone's house and they fed me as good as y'all did and I didn't even have the decency to clear table." 

"So, you're close with your mom?" I ask.
"She raised me, along with having two older sisters, I am used to taking direction from women." He laughs.

I can't help but laugh too.  My brothers were raised by a house full of women too and never learned squat.

"So you and Terry know each other from childhood?" I ask.

"Yeah, back in the B.A. the three of us were good buddies, Terry, AJ, and me." He explains.

"That's cool...so you and Terry became cops together?"

"Yeah," he starts, "we really couldn't get in with the precinct there though, so we moved here."

"Oh," I reply, "What happened to AJ?"

"He's still there...he's kind of...still finding his way..." 

We continue our conversation, a deeper one than I was expecting to have with this near stranger, but we also agree to make plans to hang out more often. 

He seems like a sweet guy and I wouldn't be opposed to seeing him more often.

After the guys leave, Zoey and I meet in the kitchen to talk about how the night went. 

She and Terry spent their time in the hot tub...

"Oooh, wee!" I exclaim teasingly.
"It wasn't like that, dirty mind," Zoey responds.

"Uh-huh, sure...so what was it like then?" I ask.

She looks bashfully at me and I realize something.  She genuinely likes this guy.

I have known Zoey for over ten years and I have never seen her look this way about a guy.

On one hand, I couldn't be happier for my friend...

On the other hand...I worry...what if I'm losing her?

Chapter 49: Two Wild and Crazy Gals

*ZOEY'S POV*

It has been the longest day ever.  Rebecca called us and told us that she has packed herself and Brody up and they're going to live with Josh.  Well, damn.  That was quick...either way, I'm exhausted.  I do nothing but go upstairs, peel out of this dress, take off my hair, and go to sleep.

A few days later...

It has been quiet since Rebecca and Brody left.  Amy and I have really become home-bodies, so we stay home, write, run the daycare, and she cooks dinner every night.  Ho-hum...seriously.  I think we're getting old.

Amy had the vegan, hemp-loving activist around for a little bit, but he's been an asshole, so she kicked him to the curb.

And I'm still talking to Terry...I won't admit this out loud, but I really do think I like him.  He always makes me laugh when I talk to him and he's got a good heart, at least so far.  I'm hopefully skeptical at this point.

*AMY'S POV*

As soon as Rebecca and Brody leave, I move into Rebecca's room.  She has her own bathroom after all, and we re-route Zoey's room so that the bathroom there goes into her room.  We're both happy with the arrangement...of course this huge ass mirror shows how much I need a new hairdo.  I'm sick of the dark brown and I'm ready to go back to my original color.

There, that's better...at least a little bit...I'm going to get new clothes soon too.

Zoey gets a makeover as well and of course we go about being fun-loving, crazy girls...or not...

"Hey friend," Zoey starts, "I got a call from Terry today, he wants to come over for dinner and he's bringing a friend..."
"Want me to run interference?" I ask.
"Wellll..." she looks guilty.

"It's cool, will do.  What's his friend's name?" I ask.
"You know I don't remember...I'll ask him...he's always talking about his best buddies Mac and AJ, so I'm sure it's one of them...whoever it is lives in his hometown." She tells me.

Mac or AJ?  "Okay, that's cool.  I'll keep them entertained while you all do your thaang."  I joke.

She glares, "There won't be any thaang going on..."
"Yeah, okay." I reply.

"Oh, I just remembered something..Rebecca, Josh, and Brody just moved into a house and they're having a housewarming."

"Oh, cool..."

*ZOEY'S POV*

Famous last words...we drive to their new house...out to where there's no cell phone signal, curvy ass roads, and wild animals ready and waiting for unsuspecting cars that pull over because they have car sickness from all the sharp curves...thank God Amy's driving...I just close my eyes and pray.

We get out of the car and Amy starts, "Well, that was..."
"Terrifying," I finish her thought.
"Yeah, not so much fun..."

"What is it with her and living out in bum-fuck?

We go inside and Rebecca greets us.
"How do you all like my house?" She asks.
Amy leans next to me and whispers, "Lie."
"It's great...the trip up was so...scenic..." I answer.
"I know the roads are bad, and we're not going to stay, but it's good for right now..." Rebecca continues.

Hmph.  If you say so.

***THIS IS KIND OF A FILLER CHAPTER...I'M HAVING A HARD TIME GETTING FROM ONE POINT TO ANOTHER, SORRY IT'S NOT UP TO PAR!***

Chapter 48: You Say Tom-ay-to, I Say Tom-ah-to, Let's Call the Whole Thing Off

*REBECCA'S POV*

"Going to the chapel and I'm...gonna get mar-a-aried...going to the chapel and I'm gonna get ma-a-aried..."

Yeah, I'm humming to myself.

"Gee, I really love you and I'm..."

I'm kidding myself.

Yeah, Bec, you've really stepped in it this time.

Last night...well, you all can guess what happened last night...Josh and I...yeah...I don't know what I'm going to do.  I love Lukas, but I am so in love with Josh...it's an earth-shattering, spine-tingling love...Lukas it's maybe earth-denting, spine-buzzing...and that's a maybe.

"Becca-boo!" Amy calls to me, "You're going to be late for your own wedding,"

I sigh.  I look perfect.  Hair and makeup are done perfectly, but I feel awful.  I'm not exactly showing up with bells on.

We get in the limo and Zoey and Amy look gorgeous.  They are in the simple bridesmaids dresses I chose for them and their hair is up in a bun with a bow, their earrings and bracelets are on and they're chattering away.  They wouldn't make such a big mess of their lives, would they?

"Bec, I have a grievance," Amy starts, "I can't keep my legs together in this dress..."

"Uh-huh,"

"Damn, are you nervous?" Zoey asks, "There was a joke, perfectly laid out for you and you didn't take it."

"Uh-huh,"

Amy looks at me concerned, "Spill, what did you do?"

"Nothing," I insist.

Something.

I continue, "I'm just nervous."

Because I slept with my ex-boyfriend.

"And excited,"

Liar.

Yeah, that's what I've come to.  I have to marry Lukas.  He's a doctor, he's got direction, he makes good money, my mom likes him, I can be taken care of...

But then there's Josh...

"Where in the holy hell is this place?" Zoey asks, breaking me out of my fog.

"I told you," Amy says.

I laugh but reply, "It's up in the mountains."

"What mountain?  Mt. Olympus?" she asks, "I think I feel the atmosphere getting thinner."

"We're almost there," Amy looks out the window.

"How can you tell?" Zoey asks, "Can you tell one tree from another?"

Just as Amy said, we pull up past one more turn and we're there.

We are walking in the door just as people start arriving.

My dad and Jake come in first.

"There's my little angel-faced girl, getting married!" my dad exclaims, clearly excited.

"Hi Daddy," I smile, hugging him.

"Are you excited, girl?" He asks.

"Yeah," Cue fake smile.

He looks concerned.  "What's wrong?"

I should have known I can't keep anything from my father.  He's always been good at telling exactly what's on my mind.  At least I can still play it off.

"I'm just nervous."

Lukas is already here and waiting to get going...

I head into the dressing room to make some "touch-ups" aka freak the hell out some more.

While I'm standing there, I look out the window and see another blue vision in the form of Kelsey heading toward the church.  I run out to meet her.

"Hey, aren't ushers supposed to be greeting people?" she asks when I come up to her.

"Something happened, I need to talk to you..."

"Aren't we late for the wedding?  Shouldn't it be starting about now?" Kelsey asks me.

It's true, the wedding should have started by now, but I can't get married with all this on my mind.

"I did something," I stare at Kelsey.

"Oh no, what?" She asks expectantly.

"Know how I went to Josh's last night?" I start.

"You didn't..." She looks shocked, "Did you sleep with him?"

"Damn, Kels, do you really think that badly of me?" I am hurt.  I know I did sleep with him, but that's beside the point.

She gives me a look like she's reading my mind, "Well, did you?"

"Yeah...but that's not the point...you shouldn't just automatically think I'm a whore." I reply.

Kelsey throws her hands up, "Okay, okay, I don't...but...you did sleep with Josh..."

"Yeah..." I start.

"...and that doesn't make you a whore, but it probably wasn't the best idea." Kelsey finishes.

It seems like that always occurs to me after the fact.

"What are you going to do?'  Kelsey is looking at me expectantly and I have no clue how to answer her.

"I don't know...I think I'm still in love with him." I admit.
"And by him...?"

I sigh before admitting, "Josh."

"If that's true Bec, you can't get married today." She tells me the cold, hard truth that I have always known, I just didn't want to admit it.

"I can't just cancel my wedding..." I try one last effort to hold on to my fairy tale wedding.

"Yeah, but Bec, marrying him would be unfair - to you, him, Josh...not to mention Brody.  How much more upheaval does he need?"
"I know, but..."
"But nothing, get in there and call the whole thing off,"

"I really wanted to get married," I tell her.  I can't help but start to cry.  Wonderful.  Now I'm going to have to cancel my wedding with runny makeup.

"You will, but you need to marry the right guy."
"What if Josh never marries me?"
"He will, if he is who you really want, you have to wait for him," Kelsey says.
"Wait for what?  Until I'm an old woman?"
"Well, if it looks like you are going to have to wait that long, just marry a nice gay man and be his beard."

"I hate you, you know that, right?" I ask rhetorically. 

"Nah, you love me," She smiles and hugs me.

I sigh.
"Okay, you're right.  Here I go."

I head inside and run right smack into my mother.  Oh great.

She gives me a big hug, "Honey, I'm so excited for you!  I can't believe my baby girl is getting married!"

"Thanks Mom," Guilt, guilt...ugh...how am I going to do this?

"Where's Lukas?  I need to talk to him." I ask.
"You can talk to him after the wedding," She replies.
"It can't wait," I tell her.

She pulls away from me and glares, "You can talk to him after the wedding and that's it.  Go get in your place." She demands.
"Mom, please, I need to..."

"No, you do what you're told, get in your place and marry this man, or that's it." She threatens.
"What's it?" I ask, shocked.
"I'm done.  I want you to lose my number.  I'm tired of this crap Rebecca.  Your son needs a father that you're married to.  You fucked up when you didn't marry Richard to begin with."

My eyebrows couldn't go any higher.
"Richard was a prick, Mom."
"Who could have provided for you better than any other man could, and you screwed that up royally."

I can't believe the way my mom is talking to me right now.

Hearing all this, my dad comes over.

"What the hell is going on?  Baby, why aren't you ready to get started?" He asks.

"Sam, our daughter is about to make a massive mistake.  Can you please tell her to marry this boy today."
"I just need to talk to Lukas..." I try to defend myself.
"So you can break his poor heart," Mom says, "and where is that going to leave you?  You are going to end up marrying some washed up has-been if you even marry at all and you won't have anyone to take care of you."
"Mom, I don't need anyone to take care of me," I reply weakly.

My dad steps in, "Kyra, stop it.  If she doesn't want to marry this boy, that's her choice."
"Her choice to have a miserable life," she retorts.

Wonderful.  My mom thinks I'm a colossal screw-up.

My dad turns to me, "Do you want to marry Lukas today?"

I start crying, "I don't think so."

He sighs and hugs me before sending me into the dressing room.  I can hear my parents arguing behind me, but I have bigger problems.

I walk in and he knows it's me because he speaks to me, "It's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding."

"Lukas, we need to talk," I tell him.
He turns around and looks at me.

He gasps, "You look beautiful...I couldn't have imagined you any prettier..."
"Thank you...but..." I start crying.  I can't help it.
"Baby, what's the matter?" He asks.
"Please stop being nice to me," I manage to get out between sobs.

"I have to tell you something," I get out.

He sighs, "Look, whatever it is, it doesn't matter.  Let's just go and get married, we'll work on it later."

"I can't."

"Why?  Whatever it is, I'll forgive you, we'll get through it, I swear, we have to...let's just go."  He keeps trying to get me out there, but I can't.  I have to do this even though I know it is going to break his heart.

"Lukas, I can't."
"Do you love me?" He asks and looks at me hopefully.

He is looking at me with such hope in his eyes, and I start thinking about it.  I really thought I loved him.  He is so good to me.  He's infinitely patient, kind, and would be a great provider for me and my son.  But I can't get past this one thing.

"I'm sorry, I don't."

His face falls and I think he's trying not to cry.  I hate doing this to him.  As much as I would love being a doctor's wife and having tons of money, that's not the future for me and I know it.  I can't marry him with a lie in my heart.

"Did you ever love me?" He asks.
"I care about you, but I'm just...not...I can't...I won't...I can't marry you knowing that I am never going to be able to love you like you need."

"I can't believe this," he fumes, "what kind of person does this to someone else..on the day of their wedding?"

"I'm sorry, Lukas."  I start, "I wish I could have had it figured out before now."

"I'm sorry..."
"Save it," He pushes past me, "I just want you out of my sight."

He runs outside and gets into the limo that was supposed to drive us to our honeymoon.

I run out behind him and watch him leave.  Well, I guess my life can never be normal.  I would walk out on a perfectly good wedding.

I start heading back when I see my mother, so mad her face is red.

"What in the hell is wrong with you?" She screams, "I hope you're happy, you just completely ruined your life!"

"Stop screaming at me!  Damn, I don't know why you're so angry with me, it's not like I refused to marry you."

She gets silent and looks away from me.
"Why are you insistent on ruining your life?" She asks.

"Mom, I'm not..." I start to argue.
"I can't sit here and watch you,"

My face falls, "What are you talking about?"

"I can't do this anymore, Bec.  You continually ruin your life and I can't just watch it.  It's too much for me, too stressful."

I have never seen my mom like this before, at least not to me, "But...what am I going to do...without you?

"That's for you to figure out," She looks at me, very calmly and I realize where Amy gets it from.  She's really cutting me out of her life.

"I'm sorry Bec, I wish you the best." 

Then she walks off...my mother walks away from me...in one day, I lose a fiance and a mother.

Amy walks over to me and asks, "Baby, what's wrong?"

I lose it at that point, "Mom...*sob*...Lukas...*sob*...really pissed...*sob*...I can't...*sob*

She grabs me and holds me tightly while comforting me, "Shhh, baby, it's okay.  It's okay."

When I pull away from her, she asks me what happened and I tell her.

She is fuming, "And Mom actually said that?"
"Yeah," I reply, tears welling up again.

"Hold on." She tells me.

She runs over to mom before I can stop her and slaps her across the face.

Mom fumes right back, "What is wrong with you?"
"Your daughter, the only one that will put up with your ass is over there bawling because you are being an intolerable bitch, once again.  What the hell is wrong with you?"
"How dare you!" She yells.

Oh, Lord, this is not going to be good.

"You have some kind of nerve," Mom continues.
"Ha!  I do?" Amy laughs, "You're always telling me how selfish I am, it seems like you are more selfish than I could ever be...and you don't even realize it..."
"Hold on there, girly," Mom counters, "just you wait until you raise six children..."
"I have!" Amy screams, "Who do you think takes care of everyone?  Rebecca, Kelsey, Jake, Robbie...if they needed money, an ear, a shoulder to cry one, something to eat, whatever...I always do it!  There's not a fairy godmother that swoops in and takes care of everyone whenever you lose your shit, that would be me."

It's true.  Mom has gone off the deep end a few times and Amy, being the oldest was always there to pick up the pieces...and in truth, I think Mom has always resented her for it.

As much as I would like to stick around for the inevitable beat down, I get in the limo that brought us here and leave, in search of what I have really been looking for all this time.  And I refuse to let it go now.

I see him standing near a gas station, with his broken truck...that always stays broken...and should probably be a warning not to get involved with a person that doesn't even have a working vehicle, but it's too late, I can't reason with my heart.

Josh looks confused, "What are you doing, Bec?  Aren't you supposed to be getting married?"

"I couldn't do it." I tell him.

Whew, breathe.  Here goes nothing.
"Why?" He asks.
"I can't marry a man when I'm in love with another one..." I tell him.

"What?"

I smile, how can he not believe this?  "I'm in love with you, you idiot."

He's silent for a minute, but then he cocks his head and smiles at me.
"What do you say we go home?"