Cold Feet

VIOLA

When life has a plan for you, it has a way of bringing you round to it’s plan sooner or later. That chance meeting that totally surprises or upsets you. That’s life’s way. We seldom see it or accept it for what it is but it sets the trajectory for our life that follows.

I have a meeting with Lara at her office. When I arrive she’s in a client meeting and I wait outside her office making small talk with her secretary.

When Lara opens her office door, I don’t see who her client is immediately. She’s looking back at her client as she talks to them and then she turns and sees me.

“V, sorry I’m running a bit late. I’ll be with you in a minute.”

I open my mouth to answer but then I see him. The first thought that runs through my mind is, Oh, Shit! Shit! Shit! No! WTF?” I can’t speak and simply nod as my eyes meet her client.

It’s him.

Rick.

He looks at me and seems about to say something. Lara is looking back at him and I quickly shake my head. He gets the message and says nothing. Lara realizes he is looking at me and introduces us.

“This is V, Viola. She runs our elopement services business I mentioned to you. V, this is Rick.”

“Um, hi,” I say as I hold out my hand. He takes my hand and shakes it firmly. “Pleased to meet you,” he says smiling.

“Likewise,” I add lamely.

“Okay, well call me when you’ve considered the options we’ve discussed and then we can move forward with bookings, and so on.”

“Great, thanks Lara,” Rick says. He throws me a quick glance and then greets us before leaving. I can feel his eyes on me as I enter Lara’s office. Despite my golden brown skin, I’m sure I must be glowing bright red.”

Lara doesn’t need to explain but she does. “He’s getting married to my best friend, Christine and he’s making all the arrangements. I think it’s so romantic. She’s said yes to marrying him but the whole wedding, even the date, is going to be a surprise.”

“Christine Jackson?” I ask.

Lara looks up quickly from her desk as if I’ve just dropped a bomb.

“Actually yes. Do you know her?” Lara asks.

know she’s famous in the industry but we’ve only

looks at me as if she’s trying to decide to believe me or not. Then she seems to brush aside her

not feeling too well and that maybe I’m coming down with something. My mind is stuck on Rick. He’s marrying Christine? WTF? How in God’s name did they meet? I feel hurt, lost, adrift, angry. My thoughts are also stuck on the fact that Lara is best friends with Christine. Doubts begin to creep into my mind. I’m sure Christine must know I’m

Lara ends and she greets me with a look of concern. “Go home and get some rest. You’re burning the candle

I will,”

the most gorgeous man in the world and we almost get it on

my face. You like him. You want to see him. You want to be with him. You can’t

search for them in my bag my digging and scratching getting more and more

harder for men to find things in a woman’s handbag. We all agree those things are magical with endless bottoms, but

I know that voice. What is he doing here? I give up and straighten meeting

dig in

say nothing but look away for a moment. Then he fishes out my keys and holds both the keys and my bag out to me. I take them

“Thanks.”

and unlock my door. I step inside and he follows me

stops. “I was

talk about,”

Let’s just

at him and then finally I sigh and leave the door open as I turn away and drop my bag on the floor. I kick my shoes off as

the kettle on and be

Then I head to my bedroom and get changed. I’m so happy to get rid of my formal clothes and feel like I can breathe once I’ve got a pair of white shorts and tank top on. Then I return to the living room where Rick is looking at the ornaments on the shelves.

these yours?” he asks when I enter the

is temporary. Do

his face flushes

come to talk or appreciate

opposite me. I pull my legs up onto the sofa and I

I’m

“I do.”

when I got engaged. I thought

I’m not

understand why. When I gave it some thought I asked myself the same question. I mean we’ve never actually

come,” I