Page 33 of Night Wedding
Once Diego joined me here later, we’d warm each other up.
I woke before dawn. I’d dreamed about something disturbing again, but the images faded once I opened my eyes. Diego still wasn’t here in my bed. After taking several deep breaths, I told myself I had nothing to worry about. He must have been tired after work and had gone to his room instead.
Oh well, we’d catch up later on today. It wasn’t like he was far away.
Chapter 9
Nova
After sleeping for a few more hours, I woke up and climbed out of bed. Diego still hadn’t come over. I sat up and rubbed the sleep from my eyes, aware of the presence of the new ring on my finger. I moved the round jewel to and fro. It was beautiful even amid the dim light of my room. How strange that a piece of jewelry could symbolize so much. I’d be wearing this ring for the rest of my life.
I opened the shades, letting the sunlight in. Its reflection on the diamond sparkled in all directions. Something as basic as the sun I’d taken for granted until I started dating Diego, yet now I was intimately aware of its power to destroy as well as stimulate growth.
Now that we were engaged, would we talk about our differences as we aged? I was mortal while Diego was not. I would age while he’d remain forever young. I would live out my lifespan and die while he would live on forever barring the few things that would kill him, including something as innocuous as opening a window shade like I’d just done.
He had flatly refused the idea of me ever turning since he’d done so for his ex, and it had turned out to be a tragic mistake after their relationship fell apart. Yet, we were a different couple and as far as I could tell, we didn’t have any of the toxic components of their relationship.
A desire to see him rose. I wished he was there with me since I loved waking up spooned in his arms. Maybe he came over during the night but then returned to his room. He often did that as he rose much later than I did. But I usually stirred, waking when I sensed him in the bed and cuddled against him. I didn’t think I’d slept so hard to not even know if he’d been in my bed last night but maybe so.
I checked my phone. No message from him.
Good morning,I texted him.Come by when you’re up.
I charged my phone and prepped for the day. I’d work for a couple of hours for the publisher before I went to the Network later on, so I started with a shower. While under the stream of hot water, I lifted my hand to examine the ring once more, this time under the light. Would I be checking out my new bling for weeks to come?
I dressed in black-and-white patterned leggings and a soft blue tunic and then brushed my hair.
There was someone I should call to tell the news that I was now engaged—my mother. Our relationship was strained, but she was still my mother.
I boiled water for tea before the dreaded phone call. Tension slithered beneath my skin, adding to the creeping anxiety. When the water boiled, I poured it over a Darjeeling tea bag and dunked it more times than necessary. After taking the mug in both hands, I relished the warmth flowing through me. Although it was a summer day and might be too hot for some, there was something so soothing about a hot cup of tea.
Carrying the mug into the living room, I placed it on a coaster on the coffee table. I sat down and rolled my head from side-to-side, stretching out the tension in my neck. My gaze cruised over the many books on the shelves with their enticing invitations to escape reality for a little while by entering a new world. The yearning grew strong now as I’d been putting off this call, wary of how my unpredictable mother would react. Books always had a way of comforting me, which was one reason why I ended up pursuing a career in publishing. That pursuit had shifted somewhat once I’d discovered my hidden magic and moved to Salem, but that was how life went. Plans change, goals shift, and you move ahead the best way you could.
Some of the books were my aunt’s. Many were about magic, but she did have a small collection of Agatha Christie novels. I read a couple of them since moving in here, thinking of it as a shared connection. With my enjoyment of cozy mysteries, books might have been a topic we would have liked to talk about. We never had the chance to have those discussions, however, and that loss was still a sore point with me.
I leaned forward to pick up the cup and raised it to my lips. I blew on the hot liquid, and the steam curled up to my face. After taking a sip of this mental fortification, I put the mug back down on the coaster.
“Let’s do this,” I said aloud. And get it over with.
I Facetimed my mother. After a few rings during which time she didn’t answer, anticipation rose. Maybe she wouldn’t answer, which would let me avoid this conversation even longer.
“Hello, Nova.”
Ah, no such luck.
She had her hair done up, and her makeup was perfect. As usual, she wore an outfit that completed the put together a look. Since I bumbled through life in clothes that were comfier than fashionable, it was one of the vast differences between us. She often told me to put more effort into my appearance. A bit harsh, I thought. I had all my hygiene taken care of. I brushed my hair and sometimes wore makeup, but I didn’t have the overdone look that she often had. And no, I didn’t toddle around in heels or uncomfortable designer clothing. That wasn’t my style, and I couldn’t force myself into a mold that I would never fit.
“Hi Mom. How have you been?”
The slight smile she gave appeared ungenuine, likely as she’d intended. “I haven’t heard from you for a while.”
The hint of chastisement in her tone indicated I was right to be apprehensive about this call. That was the thing about conversations like these. The person gave you a hard time for not calling more often yet by doing so made the conversation unpleasant. Who wanted to call more often to be faced with a guilt trip around the family farm?
“Yes, I’ve been quite busy,” I replied.
“Too busy to call your mother?” One of her brows twitched, remaining a notch higher, before she lowered it.
Wonderful. I bit my bottom lip to bite back that her phone was just as functional as mine. That wasn’t the reason of my call, so I had to keep my temper in check.
