Chapter 3 3. Anne - Where is the groom? 2
After an hour passes, it’s more than clear that he’s either late or not coming. I hope the latter.
The wedding officiant keeps glancing at his watch while my father rises to his feet and begins pacing the room. He’s furious. And that’s never a good sign, because when he’s furious, he’s unpredictable. But for once, I don’t care, because deep down I feel that God has finally heard my prayers and put an end to this ridiculous marriage–if I can call it that–before it ever had the chance to begin.
Eventually, the wedding officiant gets to his feet. “I’m afraid I can’t wait any longer. I have another appointment.”
My father tries to stop him. “I am sure the groom will be here any moment now.”
The wedding officiant moves past my father. “You can reschedule this for another day,” he says before leaving.
I should be relieved that Dimitri didn’t show up, but now I’m afraid of how my father will react.
To my surprise, he only says to me, “Go to your room while I make some phone calls.”
He goes to his office as I leave the living room. While I climb the stairs to my room, I pray that something has intervened, making it impossible for Dimitri to come today. Or ever.
My prayers have never been answered, but despite it, I never stopped believing that one day, God would take pity on me and allow me to know what happiness is. All I know is sadness. I doubt there has been a moment in my life when I’ve felt anything but sadness.
Once in my room, I change from the dress into something more comfortable. Then I pick up one of my books–about ancient Mayans–and sit at my desk to read.
Rayan comes into my room a couple of hours later. I’m still reading.
“What are you doing?” he asks while he peeks from behind my shoulder. “Reading?” he scoffs. “So boring.”
“It’s not boring,” I contradict him.
He snatches the book away from me and sits on my bed, flipping through it. “It is when it’s about–” He pauses to look at the cover. “Ancient Mayans?” He looks at me. “Why can’t you read what other women do? Dirty books,” he adds with a grin.
I blink. “Dirty books?”
“Smut. It’s all Lucy reads. She’s obsessed with this male author. What’s his name?” He takes a couple of seconds to think. Then, he snaps his thumb and index finger. “Tyson St. Clair. She’s always horny after reading one of his books. She just gave me a blowjob in the laundry room.” A smile tugs at the corners of his mouth. “You should have seen how she was gagging on my dick.”
I sigh. “Why are you here, Rayan?”
He looks surprised at my question. “I promised Lucy to take her out tonight. Can I borrow some money from you?”
“I don’t have any.”
His smile fades away. “Come on. You know that I’ll pay you back.”
“You always say that, but you never keep your promise.”
It’s my fault that Rayan keeps asking me for money because I always let him use me like I’m an ATM.
Rayan never takes ‘no’ for an answer, so he starts to explain, “Look, I’m in a really tight spot right now.”
“You always say that,” I remind him.
“It’s not my fault that your father refuses to give me any more money–until I get my shit together–whatever that means,” he mutters. “Come on, Anne. This is the last time I’ll ask you for money. Lucy’s father is offering me a position at his company. I start next week.”
I doubt he will last more than a week. He was fired from his last three jobs, either for arriving late too frequently or for sitting at his desk all day doing nothing.
“I’ll pay you as soon as I get my first check,” he keeps insisting.
“Even if I want to lend you money–” which I really don’t, “I don’t have any,” I lie.
Of course, Rayan doesn’t believe me.
“You always have money.”
My passion for history has led me to study historical artifacts and discover just how much people are willing to pay to get their hands on a piece of the past. Buying and selling historical objects has allowed me to gain a couple of hundred dollars a month. Sometimes more than that.
Rayan keeps talking, “Besides, you’ve been working in the same place for more than a year. I am sure you have money saved up.”
I do, but I will never let Rayan know. So, I lie to him again, “How can I have anything saved up when I keep giving you money?”
“I don’t understand why you always have to bitch about it,” he says as he gets up from the bed and goes to where I keep my purse, pulling my wallet out.
I stand. “Give that back!”
“Chill, little sister. After all, we are family, and family takes care of each other,” he says as he takes three hundred dollars from my wallet.
“That’s all my money!” I complain.
He laughs. “This is all you make at your lousy job?”
“Yesterday was my last day. Father told me I had to quit since… I’m getting married.”
He tsks. “Too bad the groom never showed up.”
I don’t tell him how relieved I actually feel.
He steps in front of me and reaches out a hand to touch my face, but I flinch away before his fingers can brush my scars.
“Do you think he learnt that a dog almost bit your face off, making you look like Frankenstein?”
