Page 38 of All In
With that, she turns around and slams right into the shed door before stepping back, opening it, and running out into the night.
I fight it. I fight it harder than I have fought anything.
I swallow the tears.
My God. What kind of hold do these people have over her? Or is this Maria just being the people pleaser she is?
It’s clear that I won’t receive answers to these questions in the near future. Which sucks.
Stepping out of the shed, I roll my shoulders and try to get myself together as I retrace my steps back towards Big C’s car. He watches me approach. With each slow and heavy step, regret weighs down on my heart. As I reach for the door handle and before I get in, I turn to look at the house one last time.
I. Am. Done.
With a burst of energy, I yank open the car door and throw myself inside, slamming it shut as the vehicle rocks from the force.
“Didn’t go well?” Big C asks as he turns the ignition, the engine roaring to life. He pulls the gearshift into drive, and the car lurches forward. We drive down the road when I answer.
“You can get my room ready.” His head whips in my direction.
“I’m coming to Georgia.”
Chapter thirteen
June 2001
Maria
I’m squished into the corner of a bustling reception hall, the lively chatter of my friends and family ringing in my ears. We have decorated the large room within an inch of its life, thanks to my mom. She strung lights everywhere. Gaudy centerpieces rest on the tables, napkins with our names and wedding date embossed in gold adorn the table that houses our monstrous cake. The guests wear gorgeous party dresses and their best suits. Every guest is here to celebrate us.
Nate and Maria. Mr. And Mrs. Connelly.
An eager energy fills the room with laughter and conversations of old friends catching up. Faint dinner music plays softly in the background. My stomach churns. The rustling of my dress is filling my ears. A wedding dress that, at one time, I thought was gorgeous. But now it’s constricting, binding, and suffocating. As if I’m trapped, a prisoner in this life that I have chosen for myself.
And that’s because I am trapped. The officiant’s utterance of those magic words, ‘I now pronounce you man and wife,’ sealed my fate.
I am now officially Maria Connelly.
Sure, I could have bolted. I thought about it from the minute I woke up. I assume most brides wake up on their wedding days, happy and excited. Full ofelation over the life that they are about to form with their fiancé. Thoughts of forever plastered across the smiles they have. Not me. I woke up with only one thought in my head.
Sam.
Not my fiancé and now husband, Nate.
But Sam.
He knows I’m getting married today. After seeing him last night, holding him, and hearing him say that he wanted to marry me, my head hasn’t been where it needs to be.
I wonder what he is doing right now?
When the officiant said, ‘Should anyone present know of any reason why this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, let him or her speak now or forever hold your peace,’ my lips trembled as tears brimmed because I am the person who should have spoken up.
Me.
With a smile on his face, Nate locked eyes with me. He thought my tears were for him and a reflection of my happiness. Just like everything else, I let him believe that lie.
I hurt Sam deeply last night. Again. I saw the pain etched on his face. More than anything, I wanted to grab his hand and run out of that shed and leave it all behind. But I couldn’t. At this point in my life, I can’t choose myself. When I told him that too many people were involved, I meant it. I couldn’t do it to my parents. Maybe I’m a little traumatized from the entire experience with Chad, but I honestly was afraid of what Nate would do. He hasn’t laid a finger on me. But would he? Could he?
Plus, Nate’s father is a powerful man in the community. What would he do to Sam in retaliation? I know what he would do to my dad. He has the power to ruin my father. He is ruthless. I didn’t want to risk it and find out, which factored into me walking away from Sam. For the third time.
