Shattered

Cold feet or cold heart?

My eyes flutter awake. Today is the day, the big day.

I'm marrying the love of my life. And my feet? Toasty as a fireplace.

My heart flutters at the thought. I look at my clock hanging just above the bedside lamp. Its ten past eleven.

I havent heard from any of the boys maybe they havent made it home yet. Elizabeth is going to have my balls if we're late.

I get up and clean up the house. Anything that will keep me from calling Elizabeth. She said something about it being bad luck or something.

I jog downstairs and am met by Mrs Hart .

"Morning." I say to her. She holds back her laughter.

"Morning? At this time? Son you have got to be kidding me. Is this morning?" She chuckles while fixing the pillows on my couch.

"I was so tired from last night." I tell her, sitting on the barstool, she scrunched her face up.

"Dont tell me you were up to mischief?" She says , as if shes prying for information.

"No. But I met someone." I tell her.

"Oh no." Her face falls.

"No, no. Not like that Mrs Hart. Her name is Gabriella and she married." I tell her. She pats the seat next to her on the couch.

"What was she doing visiting a strip club?" She asks.

"She works there. Shes a stripper." I tell her. Her eyebrows raise as high as her hairline.

"Her husband isn't working and her mother has a brain tumor. Shes just trying to make ends meet. " I tell her. She nods her head.

"Poor thing." She says, landing her hand on her heart.

"I gave her a job. She's starting on Monday." I tell her. Her head nods.

"You're a good man. God sent man , you Nathan Meyer are!" She tells me.

I enjoy these moments. When she and I sit and just talk and she advices me. It fills the void I never knew I had of me needing a mother.

"Nate, you have to get ready. Help prepare the venue." She says.

"Or Elizabeth will have my balls." I say and she swats my arm.

"Hey! Get dressed and help prep the venue.  Now!" She urges.

I smile widely at her and do as she says. By four PM Sandy is breathing down my neck. The wedding starts at six and I have to be preparing or so she says.

"Hey!" The boys yell as soon as I reach the little tent they have built up for us to dress up. 

"If it isn't the man of the hour!" Cody yells as he Pat's my back.

"Yes it!" Riley peps, both the men embrace me but my bestfriend doesn't. Usher is sitting in the corner, he seems to be distraught and distant. I can barely tell what's happening to him.

What could have him so deep in his thoughts. I then realise that all the men are dress in a three piece organic tuxedo. Black and white, they all look pretty good.

"Let me dress up boys." I tell them, they leave me to dress up.

The entire time I'm thinking to myself what will go down. My wedding is said to be the event of the hour. Mainly because I'm named the "sexiest man in America"

I expect to see alot of people. Especially considering I didnt spread the invitation papers, it was Sandy who did. And the number of chairs there are in that room.

The room is big enough to be two separate rooms. The other half of the room is the little seating area. For those who would be eating with us.

And finally. It's time, I pad my feet onto the grass. As I await my cue to walk in. Its first Cody who walks in. Followed by a nervous Riley. Followed by a distracted Usher. Then it's me.

I notice celebrities from everywhere. It feels as though they took the entire Hollywood and sat it in my wedding venue. A few models wave at me as I walk past them.

Everyone has a smile on their face.

And then the doors close. The pastor ushers me closer and tell me the words.

"If you feel nervous, just try to have flashbacks as to why you decided that it's her that deserved to share this moment with you. And I promise you will calm down." He says and then shakes my hand.

The doors open. Hailey and Cody's girls walk in tossing white flower petals all over the white carpeted floor.

They are followed by Hailey who seems so happy she could burst into song. She's in a gold dress. I turn to Cody to see his reaction.   His eyes cant find a way to move from his wife's face.

Annette walks in next. She too is in a gold dress. I watch as Riley has the same reaction as Cody had.

Charlotte walks in next. I realise that unlike others, she is not in a knee length dress. Instead she is in an ankle length dress. She looks absolutely stunning.  I throw her a wink and she chuckle a bit.

Her sister is my queen and shes our little princess.

Then the music gets louder. The crowd of celebrities rise. I can hear the hushed whispers when a flicker of white flashes and stands in the door way.

The she is, my heart stops beating. I can feel myself shattering to my knees.  Gosh she is gorgeous. The dress is form fitting, her golden locks fall restfully under the veil. And just like that, I might be falling to tears.

Mummers spread like wild fire through the crowd. When she stands next to me, I feel the heaviness she is carrying in her heart. Because we are one.

"Dearly beloved..." the pastor begins. I zone out staring at the beautiful woman before me.

It's her voice that brings me out of the trans.

Is it our turn to speak already?

She pulls off the veil. I turn to Usher looking for reassurance but he seems to be shaking his head at Liz.

What the hell is happening here? My heart is beating at an irregular pace. I stare at Elizabeth as she prepares herself to speak.

"I'm so sorry Nate." She says before anything. Tears brim her eyes. She looks at me then someone behind me. I follow her gaze and I see a petrified Usher.

"No Liz." He whispers.

"I cant do it anymore Ush." She says to Usher now. She has about four rows of tears on her cheeks right now.

Not caring about the crowd around us, I await to hear what she has to say. But my body has already gone numb.

"Usher and I have been having an affair..." she begins.

I look at Usher, his face looks pale. I throw him a glare.

Gasps run around the building. I look at the woman I love break my heart to pieces.

I see her mother who looks so shocked, it's almost as if she could have a heart attack at that moment. Charlotte looks embarrassed.

Who wouldnt guys? Who wouldnt feel any of those things you are feeling?

"I'm so sorry Nate." Its not Usher who speaks.

I calmly façade the green house. Walking at the same pace, with the same confidence as when I had walked in.

Trying to keep the perfect image while inside? I am about to explode.

She cheated? With my best friend? And then humiliated me infront of business partners , celebrities and her own family for christ sake.

I'm not having none of this crap.