~*~ A Race Against Time ~*~
Time was running out. In just thirty minutes, she would be headed down the aisle to Seth. She adjusted her dress one final time before looking at herself in the mirror. A tear formed in the corner of her eye as she admired the dress. Alex had helped her pick it out….a 2 piece, floor-length ballroom gown with a three-quarter length sleeve bolero jacket and a strapless satin corset bodice; the skirt was organza with beaded/sequined deep re-embroidered lace appliques. AJ had said she looked like a princess in it…his princess. Now, well, no use thinking about that now.
Tabitha knocked on the door then stuck her head in. "WOW! You are a knockout. AJ is going to flip when he sees you."
"Alex isn’t gonna see me in it," said Andi sadly.
"Oh, come on. You aren’t gonna tell me you’re giving up?"
"Tabitha, in thirty minutes, I’m suppose to walk down the aisle and I haven’t heard from Alex in three days. There’s not much hope that I’ll be walking down the aisle to Alex."
*************
AJ looked at his watch and then out the window. Reaching into his pocket, he
pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and puffed nervously. He’d promised her and he
had what he needed to stop her wedding to Seth. Would he get there in time
though?
Howie took a seat beside him. "I just spoke to the stewardess. We’re thirty minutes out and we’ve been cleared to land first."
"The wedding starts in thirty minutes."
His voice was devoid of emotion but the way he puffed on the cigarette told Howie the story. "Hey, we’ll make it but you can’t get married in THAT!" teased Howie hoping to cheer AJ up.
AJ looked down at his clothes. "What’s wrong with this? It’s what I was wearing the day I met her."
"Good for an accidental meeting but NOT for a lifetime commitment. Come on, please tell me you’ve got your tux or a suit in your bag."
AJ laughed and it was a relaxed laugh. "Yeah, I have my tux. I guess I should go change, huh?"
"Uh, yeah. I’m sure Andi would appreciate it." AJ started to get up but Howie put his hand on his arm. "We’ll make it in time, ‘J’."
**************
Tabitha and Andi were in the living room when Seth came bounding in the door. He stopped short seeing Andi though, his mouth hanging open.
"WOW! You’re gorgeous."
"Thanks, Seth. Why are you here?"
Andi’s tone and whole demeanor was sweet, friendly despite the overshadowing sadness that was obvious in her eyes and Seth was suddenly embarrassed by why he was there. Hanging his head, he said, "Making sure nothing stopped you."
"You mean no one!" hissed Tabitha. "She shouldn’t be marrying you!"
"Why don’t you blow?" barked Seth.
"You two STOP IT," said Andi sternly. Taking Seth’s hand in hers, "Seth, I told you I’d be there."
Looking at his hand in hers, Seth saw the rings AJ had given her and his temper flared. "What are these?" he asked holding her hand up to see the rings better.
"Rings," answered Andi pulling her hand from his.
"Rings HE gave you! Don’t you think that’s a little tacky? And where’s the ring I gave you?"
"Look Seth, I’m marrying you. Please, let me have this little bit."
"Yeah, don’t be such an asshole," mumbled Tabitha. Andi and Seth both glared at her and she held her hands up. "I’m going out on the porch to wait."
Alone, Seth glared, "Andrea, get rid of the rings. There’s no sense holding on to what you can’t have…and once we’re married, you are NOT to see him again. You’ll quit your job at ‘Tabu’ and I trust your debt to him is paid off."
Andi spun away from Seth, her own temper starting to get the best of her. "You don’t OWN me! I’ll be your wife…dutiful and obedient, but I will NOT be told what to do, who I can see, or where I’ll work. I’m NOT your property!"
********************
As the plane touched down, AJ looked at his watch…1:55 PM. Five minutes. Please, Mama, stall! You’re my only hope.
Howie glanced at him. "There’s a car waiting, ‘J’. Just hang tough a little longer. We’ll get there in time."
"And if we don’t?"
"It can be annulled. There’s no way her grandfather will allow her to stay married to him when he finds out what Seth has been doing."
"That’s gonna take time."
"But you’ll be together, AJ. That’s what matters. Besides, it’s a Catholic ceremony, right?"
"I think so."
"That takes an hour and the important stuff…that’s near the end. Now, do you have the rings?"
AJ reached into his pocket and pulled out two gold bands. "Here."
"Let me have them." Seeing AJ was going to protest Howie went on, "I AM the best man, ya know. What about the marriage license?"
"In my pocket," said AJ patting his jacket.
"What about the tape?"
"Kevin has it. How do I look?"
Howie turned to adjust AJ’s tie as he said, "Andi’s gonna be impressed."
****************
Seth stormed into the house letting the door slam behind him and bellowed, "Enough of this crap! We should have BEEN at the park and the wedding should be starting. We’re ten minutes late with your damn stall tactics, Andrea."
"I’m not stalling, Seth. Just relax." Squeezing Denise’s hand, she looked at her and said, "Thank you for coming. It means a lot to me."
"You look so beautiful," whispered Denise as she carefully hugged Andi.
"Let’s GO!" demanded Seth.
Andi stood, straightened her dress, and stepped out onto the front porch. The sun was bright and the birds were singing cheerfully but Andi’s heart was shattering into a million pieces. She took a deep breath, took her father’s hand, and let him lead her down the steps to the car. She was headed to the park…and a life of misery, so she thought.
******************
AJ leaned forwards, "Can’t you go any faster?"
"AJ, he has to go the speed limit. Getting stopped by a cop NOW would only delay us more," pointed out Brian.
"But it’s 2:15! The wedding…."
"Calm down, ‘J’. We’re only a few blocks from the park now," soothed Howie.
AJ leaned back and stared out the window. They were getting closer but his thoughts were on Andi and the wedding. Had his mother been able to stall?
The ring of a cell phone broke the silence and Kevin reached in his pocket to pull it out. "Hello?…Thanks, Denise….We’re almost there…Yeah, he’s a wreck….We’ll see you in a few."
As Kevin disconnected, AJ practically pounced, "What did she say?"
"She said that the wedding is late getting started. Andi just left for the park about 5 minutes ago," smiled Kevin.
"See, everything’s gonna work out," said Nick.
AJ breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, "Thank you, Mama."
