That’s What He Said

By:  Lara

 

There are people who say what you wanna hear…even on a rainy day they’ll tell you the sky is clear…when you really really love someone am I right when I say that you want them near…and if you can’t even tell them things that they wanna hear…

 

She blindly turned the key, begging the motor to come to life.  The outboard motor sputtered once, twice, then the boat jumped into motion.  She smiled in grim satisfaction as she carefully guided the small motorboat back from the dock.  Wasn’t it ironic that Nick was the one who had insisted that she learned to drive the boat on her own?  “In case you ever overcome that silly fear of yours and decide to go out boating on your own.  Jaws can’t chew through the boat, honey.”

She snorted as she made the boat go faster.  She shouldn’t have been afraid of the sharks out in the ocean.  Sharks at home were much more dangerous. 

 

Always forever…all the things he said…never say never…those simple lies he fed…I will never leave you…but can you blame me no…Cuz that’s what he said…

 

“This is the happiest day of my life,” Nick said softly as he slid the diamond and sapphire ring on her finger.  “All of my dreams have come true today.” 

The rice, the bouquet, the well-wishes and toasts, the glazed look in her new husband’s eyes as he made love to her again and again into the wee hours of the morning…these moments flashed before her eyes as the wind blew through her long hair.  She sighed, remembering how happy they had been.  What had gone wrong?

She glanced down at the silver sapphire bangle bracelet he had bought for her on their first anniversary.  He had almost bounced up and down as she opened it.  Her gasps of pleasure made him smile.  “See how you can’t count the number of sapphires in the bracelet?  Each stone is for every year we will be together.  We can’t count them because it will be forever.  I love you.  I’ll love you forever.”

“Oh, he’s the most wonderful man in the world!”  Her best friend Melissa was gushing.  “He’s handsome and RICH…so rich!”

“That’s wonderful,” she replied absentmindedly, twirling her bracelet around her wrist.  “So what’s the bad news?”

“He’s married,” Melissa said softly.  “He’s married and I don’t think he’s ever gonna leave her.”

“Of course he isn’t,” she replied.  “Find a single man, Melissa.  Find a great, handsome, rich single man to take care of you.”

 

And there are people who say what they really mean…he said he’s always be there…he said he’d always care…but just when you think that you can trust that someone in love…tell me, well, how do you know, how stars can fall from above…

 

“Baby, I’m so sorry…something is all screwed up with the sound board, and we may have to be here really late.  I’m sorry.”

“Nick, it’s our anniversary!”  She said, tears streaming down her cheeks.  “Couldn’t you slip out for a little bit?”

“I’m sorry, honey.   They need me here.  I’ll be home as soon as I can, okay?”

“Did you dump him yet, Melissa?”

“N-no…”

“Don’t you see how wrong this is?  Wrong for him, wrong for his wife, not to mention wrong for you?  He’s just gonna break your heart…wait and see.”

“I can’t.  I love him too much.”

 

Cause you made promises that you couldn’t keep…but you’re not hurting yourself you’re only hurting me…why would you say things that you really didn’t mean…oh how can I make you see what you did to me…

 

“Do you like it?”

“Yes, Nicky, it’s beautiful,” she said, sighing as she pulled the strands of diamonds from the velvet box.

“I just knew it was made for you,” he told her, fastening it around her neck.  “I promise, things will be different from now on.  The album is done, and we can spend all kinds of time together.”

They were stretched out naked on the deck of his yacht, bouncing about in the middle of the Caribbean.  They had just made love for the first time in weeks, and it almost felt like old times.  “I’ve missed you, Nicky.  I feel like we’ve been growing apart.”

“No…God, no…baby, I love you more than ever, and I’m gonna make this all up to you.”

“I feel like you’ve chosen your work over me,” she said, trying not to whine.

“Never, baby doll…never…you will always be first in my life.”

 

You said how much you really cared…just when I thought I was in love, boy, how could you dare…if I were you I could not lie even once to the face of the one that I love so much…

 

She had whistled cheerfully as she strolled down the main street of the city.  Nick had promised to come home early from a production meeting that afternoon, and he was going to take her out to dinner.  She was in town buying a gift for her sister’s birthday, and she thought maybe she’d even slip into Frederick’s of Hollywood to find something special.  She was trying to decide between a wine red negligee or midnight blue teddy when two people in a boutique caught her eyes.  She stopped and stared as a blond man and a blonde woman looked at the cradle in the window of the baby store.  He put his arms around her from the back, kissing her cheek and gently rubbing her stomach.  Melissa put her hands over Nick’s and smiled up at her.  Nick looked out the store window, his mouth dropping as he watched his wife drop her bags and take off running.

“I’m pregnant…isn’t that fantastic?  He’ll pick me for sure now,” Melissa said excitedly.  She stared at her best friend.

“Melissa, are you CRAZY?  How can you be happy about this?”

“I’m not, really, I mean, I don’t want…” Melissa faltered.

“And what’s to say that he won’t choose someone else over you if he leaves her?”  She continued. 

“Be strong for me, please.  I need you to help me,” Melissa begged.  She sighed, looking into the eyes of the woman who had been her best friend for so long.

“All right,” she said finally, sighing again.

The pain was like a punch in the stomach even hours later.  She turned off the motor, allowing the boat to bob on the waves.  She couldn’t believe she had been so stupid.  It was all right in front of her.  All the lies, all the stories…all the promises.  What a fool she had been.  She sat down on the seat and prepared to wait.

“Did Mrs. Carter come down here?”  Nick demanded as soon as he saw their private dockmaster.

“Yes, sir.  She took out the small boat about twenty minutes ago.  Said she was heading out to the usual spot.”

“Dammit!”  Nick swore.  He jumped into the fastest boat he owned, cursing as he brought the motor to life.

She was rewarded soon, for she heard a motor in the distance about twenty-five minutes later.  “Honey…please…come up here…let’s talk!”  Nick called down from the larger boat.

“We have nothing to talk about,” she replied, but she climbed the ladder to where he was waiting.  He had the grace to look ashamed.

“How long has this been going on?”  She snapped.

“About six months,” he whispered.  “But I don’t love her!  I love you!”

“That’s not the way it looked,” she told him.  “And I know she loves you.  She’s been going on and on about you for months…about this wonderful married man…I was damned stupid not to realize she meant you…who is more handsome, more wonderful, then you?”  Tears filled her eyes as she slowly slid the bracelet off and handed it to him.  He took it almost unconsciously.  Her wedding band and engagement ring soon followed.

“Baby, don’t…”

“They should fit her…we were always about the same size.”  Without another word, she turned and stepped off the deck into the swirling blue water below. 

“NOOO!”  He screamed, but it was too late. She made absolutely no attempt to stay above water, and her slender fingers were the last thing he saw before her body slipped below the surface.

 

Always forever…all the things he said…never say never…those simple lies that he fed…I will never leave you…all the love I thought he had…but can you blame me, no…cuz that’s what he said…

 

The End

 

Please tell Lara what you thought of this story!