Second Thoughts

“Will you marry me?”

Denise looked down into Justin’s hopeful brown eyes and she knew that she would never find a man who loved her as much as he did. This was the moment that every girl dreamed of, but all Denise could feel at the moment was panic.

Oh, she loved Justin with all of her heart, she just wasn’t ready for this. It seemed like yesterday that they had met, fallen in love….and now they were getting engaged? They had only been together for a year. Some would say that that’s long enough, but not her. She was thirty and had been in a relationship or two. She knew that it was possible to fall out of love in a year or discover that someone else was sharing his bed. Don’t get her wrong, Justin was everything she could have wanted in a man. He was sexy, attentive, kind, intelligent….he was perfect, and that was the problem.

Her mother always told her if it’s too good to be true, steer clear. Following that advice had saved her a lot of trouble over the years. She had avoided several bad investments, scams, dead end jobs, and relationships that lacked potential. Her mother gave good advice, and she was usually right about a lot of things. She wished her mother was around to give her advice now, but she died two years ago from breast cancer.

Denise was going to have to make this decision on her own. She could either steer clear and say goodbye to her possible soul mate, or accept his proposal and pray that mom’s old adage did not apply this time. She wished she had more time to think his proposal over, but they had an audience. Everyone in the restaurant was looking at her expectantly for an answer, including Justin.

He really did look handsome in his black pin striped suit, it went well with his short black hair. She had dressed up in black as well. She wore a little black dress with thin straps that hugged her body in all the right places. Her red hair was swept up in a chignon and her green eyes sparkled. She should have known that he had something up his sleeve, when he mentioned taking her to Eaton’s. It was one of the most expensive restaurants in town, and it had gained a reputation as being one of the best restaurants to pop the question in.

Damn Justin and his bright ideas! People were staring at her and she knew she should say something; but she couldn’t seem to find the words to say anything. She wanted to escape, she felt trapped. She scanned the room for the nearest exit; was she actually considering running out of the restaurant in the middle of his proposal? What was wrong with her?

“Ahem,” Justin cleared his throat and looked at her expectantly.

The noise brought her back to reality. Denise focused on Justin and his warm brown eyes. Those eyes always had a calming effect on her. She knew what to do. “Yes. Yes Justin, I will marry you.”

Justin slipped the ring on her finger and leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. As his lips brushed her skin he whispered in her ear, “You sure know how to make a guy’s heart stop. You really had me worried there for a moment.”

The restaurant exploded in applause! Soon the noise died down and Justin sat down across from her. He gave her an odd look as he sipped from his glass of wine. Justin wondered what was going on with her. It seemed like it took her five minutes to answer his proposal. He knew that it was probably no more than a minute, but it seemed like a lifetime to him. Justin couldn’t imagine his life without Denise. He knew she was the one for him the moment he saw her; but if she was having doubts…

“I’m sorry. I just wasn’t expecting all of this, I just got a little overwhelmed. I love you and I am looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you Mr. Martin.”

Justin smiled, he liked it when she called him by his last name. She was teasing him, which was a good thing. Everything was going to be OK, she wanted to spend her life with him. Justin breathed a much needed sigh of relief.

“Let’s go home and get some rest, I’m sure that we both could use it. Besides, I have been itching to get you out of that dress ever since you put it on.”

Denise blushed. She took his hand and let him lead her out of the restaurant.

The next morning Denise awoke to an empty bed. She put on her robe and went downstairs in search of Justin. She found him in the study talking to a pretty, blonde in a form fitting, pink pant suit. They seemed to be talking about something important, she was halfway in the room before they noticed her presence.

“Denise, let me introduce you to Ms. White. Ms. White, this is my fiancé Denise.”

Ms. White shook her hand. “I look forward to working with you Denise. I have some wonderful ideas for your wedding that I’m sure you will love. I will see you tomorrow at 10am. Justin said, that you would be available at that time. Well, until tomorrow. I will leave you two love birds alone.”

Denise stood there staring at Justin with her mouth open as Ms. White took her leave. When did he have time to find a wedding planner? They had just gotten engaged last night! Had he even slept? She was about to ask him these questions, but he spoke first.

“I know what you’re thinking; it’s too soon to hire a wedding planner, but if we’re to be married in two weeks we’re going to need a professional to makes things move smoothly.”

What? Did he just say two weeks? Denise opened her mouth and then closed it again. She couldn’t seem to form words to speak. How could they get married in two weeks? Was that even possible and what was the rush?

“Why do we have to get married in two weeks?” She had finally found the words to speak.

Justin walked over to her and cradled her face in his hands. “I should think after last night’s proposal that you would already know the answer to that. Now that you have consented to be mine, I’m not taking any chances. You’re mine, Denise, and I’m never gonna let you go,” and then he kissed her.

Denise’s knees grew weak. She couldn’t think straight when he was kissing her. He nibbled on her bottom lip and then he traced the outline of her lips with his tongue. Slowly his tongue entered her mouth as he pulled her closer to him. Whatever objections she had to a two week engagement were gone in an instant.

The next week went by quickly. She had met with the wedding planner Ms. White, and she was right. She loved all of her suggestions. They had booked a church for the wedding, picked out decorations, and they had also found her dress. It was a cream colored off the shoulder number. Ms. White had said that cream would go well with her coloring and complexion.

Justin had agreed with all of her suggestions as well. It seemed like he would agree to anything as long as the wedding was on schedule. He did go with her to pick out the cake, the floral arrangements, and the menu for the reception. Now all they had to do was get fitted for their wedding attire.

Everything was moving so smoothly that Denise didn’t have any room for doubts. She knew that she was making the right decision. She was marrying the man that she loved. What could be wrong with that?

Today was her wedding day. Denise smiled at herself in the mirror. Ms. White had just finished pinning up her hair; she stepped back to look at her handiwork.

“You are a beautiful bride, Denise. I’m going to go check on things inside the church, locate your father, and then we can begin.” Ms. White closed the retiring room door behind her.

Denise was still smiling at herself in the mirror, she did look beautiful. The dress went well with her complexion and she had a warm glow about her. She was going to marry the love of her life and they were going to be a family. She was overjoyed.

Someone opened and closed the door behind her. She turned expecting to see either Ms. White or her father, but it was neither one of them. It was a pretty brunette, dressed in a floral sundress. Denise assumed she was one of the guests and had gotten lost.

“Hello, thank you for coming. The entrance to the chapel is the next door on the right out in the hallway.”

“Oh, I’m not here to attend the wedding. I came to put an end to it. Justin isn’t going to marry you, he’s going to marry me so that we can raise our child together as a family.”

Denise’s blood ran cold. Who was this woman and what was she talking about? Justin had a child with her; she refused to believe that. He would have told her something like that, wouldn’t he?

“I can see by the look on your face that you don’t believe me; but it’s true, we have a six year old son together.”

Ms. White and her father had entered the room. The whole atmosphere of the room had changed. Ms. White stepped forward, she could tell that something was wrong.

“Denise, do you know this woman?”

Denise barely managed to shake her head no. She was still trying to wrap her mind around Justin and this woman having a six year old son.

“Ma’am, you need to leave.” Ms. White reached for the woman’s arm, but the woman stepped back out of the way.

“I’m not going anywhere. I demand to see Justin, now!”

“I’ll go get him,” her father said as he left the room.

Moments later he returned with Justin entering the room behind him.

“Rebecca, what are you doing here?”

“You, know her? You actually know her.” Denise had been secretly hoping that none of it was true. However, that hope died the moment he recognized her and said her name.

“Could everyone give us a moment alone please?”

Ms. White and Denise’s father hesitated for a moment before slowing closing the door behind them as they left the room.

“Denise, I can explain.”

“Explain what? Rebecca has done an excellent job of explaining the situation for you. What else could you possibly have to say to me, Justin?”

“Denise, it’s not what you think.”

“Really? Do you or do you not have a six year old son with this woman?”

“Yes, Rebecca and I have an adopted six year old son together. We have never been romantically involved, we just adopted a child together.”

“Do you think I’m stupid? Why in the hell would you adopt a child together with a woman you’re not romantically involved with and keep it a secret from me? It just doesn’t make any sense.”

“Denise, you don’t understand. Rebecca, has some issues. We were friends in college and somehow she got it into her head that she was in love with me. She has been fixated on me for years, despite me telling her that I’m not in love with her. She wanted a child and I was against it at first. However, her doctors agreed that adopting a child would change the focus of her fixation from me to the child. We signed an agreement that as long as she was on her medication she would retain custody of the child and I would provide for the both of them. If she violated the agreement, I would retain custody of the child. Everything had been fine, until now. She had stopped obsessing over me and was focusing on being a good mother.”

“What a load of crap. You, her doctors, and the adoption agency are a bunch of morons! Who lets a lunatic adopt a child? Why would you think that she would forget about you when she had a constant reminder of you and your misguided heart in the form of your child? When did you plan on telling me this, on our honeymoon?”

Denise was so angry, she felt like hitting something. She needed to calm down, but how could she? The story just got worse every time he opened his mouth.

“Denise, I wanted to tell you a thousand times; but, there never seemed to be a right time. I was afraid that I would lose you and I couldn’t bear it if that happened. I love you so much, and it hurts me to know that I’m the one that hurt you. I never wanted to do that to you, sweetie.”

Justin took a step towards Denise. He wanted to hold her. He couldn’t stand to see her angry and upset. It was breaking his heart. He knew that she was probably going to walk out on him and he was going to have to let her, but not like this. He couldn’t let her leave when she was so upset. She wasn’t thinking clearly. He didn’t want anything bad to happen.

Denise backed away. She couldn’t take it, he was being too nice. She was being mean and hateful, and all the while Rebecca was standing there with a smug smile on her face. Tears began to stream down Denise’s face, she had to get away. It was just all too much. She turned on her heel and ran out the door. She ran out of the church and down the steps. She wasn’t paying attention to where she was going, she just ran.

She heard the horn blow a second too late as she turned and saw the car bearing down on her. She had lost her soon to be husband and now she was about to lose her and her baby’s life as well. She hadn’t even told Justin that she was pregnant. Those were her last thoughts as she was slammed against the pavement…

She was running, like he knew she would. Justin ran after her, he couldn’t let her leave like this. She wasn’t paying attention and she was about to run into the street. Justin didn’t have time to think, he dove and knocked her out of the car’s path.

Denise, didn’t feel like she had been hit by a car. She was a little sore, but nothing was broken. She got up out of the street and when she turned she saw a man lying in the road bleeding. Oh no, it was Justin! He must have pushed her out of the way. She ran to him and cradled his head in her lap. Please don’t let him die. She yelled to the driver to call 911!

“Denise,” he whispered.

“Justin, don’t you die on me. I love you and I’m not mad anymore. Please, don’t die. I can’t lose you; we can’t lose you.”

“We?”

“I’m pregnant. I was going to tell you on our honeymoon, I wanted it to be a surprise. So, if you won’t live for me, live for the baby. I know I don’t deserve you, but the baby does.”

Tears were streaming down Denise’s face. He was bleeding and broken, because of her. He had saved her and she had been so mean to him. He was her hero. He had to live, so that she could spend the rest of her life making it up to him.

Justin reached up and wiped her tears away. “I did a good thing. I love you, only you. Even after I’ve drawn my last breath, I’ll still be loving you sweetie. Don’t you forget that and you tell our child that too. I wouldn’t change a thing, the best days of my life were spent with you.”

“Justin, no!”

She heard the sirens from the ambulance, but it was too late. He was gone, she had felt him leave. Her life had been turned upside down in a matter of minutes.

The funeral was very nice, she thought that Justin would have liked it. Ms. White had helped her make the arrangements. It turned out she had more skills than just wedding planning. Thankfully, the baby was ok. She didn’t know what she would have done if she had lost it too. Right now, it was the only thing keeping her going. She knew she had to stay strong for the baby’s sake.

Denise looked around the gravesite. She kept expecting Rebecca to show up and ruin Justin’s funeral. Thankfully, she never did show up. Denise found that strange for some reason. She hadn’t seen Rebecca since her almost wedding day. Why wasn’t she here? Something wasn’t right. Obviously there was more to this Rebecca person than Justin knew. Denise vowed then and there that she was going to get to the bottom of it, and once she did she was going to make her pay.