Eleven Years

CHAPTER 11

SADIE

MY aunt Molly went to Atlanta, Georgia for a two-week trip together with her new man. They met through online, what a typical story. I wondered about it a lot. I saw the guy last Sunday … his name was Paul. He was a gentleman, polite, kind and well-educated individual who graduated in NYU. They were both perfect together but deep inside there was something I couldn't stop thinking about and that was the pain. The 'pain' that might happen again if such things wouldn't work out.

Now, my head was leaning to the couch. Being alone was my situation these days. I called my aunt earlier and said that she was just fine. It seemed that Atlanta really liked her a lot or maybe likewise.

I ate my breakfast, got dressed and headed to Dale Cafe.

The light of the sun twinkled in the pine trees as it appeared to me. Most teenagers were taking selfies in the main streets and they looked so much exciting. Watching them made a great hole in my heart. I thought about my so-called friends in Nebraska and how they ignored me after I failed the exam. Even though some of them sent me a birthday gift, it seemed like they did it because of pity. How sad.

I stepped my feet in the cafe and put my apron on and started making a delicious milkshake. Pouring, stirring, and mixing, doing all those things repeatedly. The customers were increasing as the early afternoon hit and everything went busier.

There was a man. Standing with a bouquet of pink roses. How cute, I thought to myself and got back to my track.

"For Sadie Wynn"

I almost spilled my vanilla tea cup when I heard my name. I stared at the man who was standing in front of me. He was a big man with a serious aura. Who the hell would this be?

"I'm Sadie Wynn"
He placed the bouquet of pink roses in front of me. I held and smelled it. The scent that was exceptional and romantically roaring in my nose.

"That's for you Miss Sadie Wynn", the man added. I made a gasp and noticed the tiny note in the bottom of it.

“Sadie,

       My cousin's birthday party tonight. It's a formal party. I want you to be there. I hope you like these pink roses.
       I'll pick you up at six. See you.

                                   - Jared”


I blushed with the effort and of course with his words. The man bid his goodbye and I thanked him. He told me that he was one of Jared's drivers. I waved at him and put my gaze on the pink roses. How could a man like Jared Boston do this? I mean, this was my first time. This would be written in the most beautiful exciting history of my life.

Miss Morgan saw the bouquet in my chair. She asked where it came from and somehow, I had the wrong feeling of admitting it to her but she was my boss and I had to be honest at least, "It's from Jared".

She nodded with no delight on her face. She seemed upset or what. I couldn't even understand. Until I remembered her words that Rosie was her niece and the woman left Jared. I closed my eyes and tried to ignore it but I just couldn't help my damn self. I wanted to know more about what happened between Rosie and Jared but I knew that it wasn't a good question to ask nor open any topic about it.

Early in the evening, I focused on my sandals. I turned around, rotated my feet and even jumped. I wasn't fond of being so formal like this with my plain ivory dress and a hair that I turned into a bun. There was a car that parked in the front lawn, it wasn't familiar at all. Not until the man in a uniform came out. It was one of Jared's drivers, the one who brought the bouquet for me in the cafe. So, I wore my favorite perfume, grabbed my grey handbag and locked the house.

"Good evening Miss Sadie", greeted by the man while he opened the car's door for me.

I sat and smiled at him, "just call me Sadie"

*

Different men and women were standing in the entrance gate. I bet they were all adults and professionals. My heart started to beat faster and the tension ate my aura. I found myself folding my arms in such a cold breeze of the night and stared at the fancy entrance of the bar. Jared's driver told me that this was the venue for the party. Grand and spectacular, I had a feeling that I wouldn't belong here.

The security guard stopped me as I was about to enter, "An invitation card is needed Ma'am"

"She's with me"

There was him, Jared, standing behind me with his tuxedo and a dazzling quiff-hairstyle. I love his smell, so powerful. He seemed so prepared for this party while I had just a few hours to do my own stuffs.

We went together inside. There was a huge mirrorball and a silver clothing that covered the tables. Glass of champagnes were served by the waitress and women with their red lipsticks were whispering while laughing. My eyes glued to the whole venue, it was huge, spacious and so alive.

"You look beautiful", Jared whispered to my ear. I thanked him for the compliment. His words electrified me a lot.

We went to the table of these unfamiliar faces. They were four women, dressed to the nines and their jewelry were the highlight of their body. Their eyes were pointed at me and to Jared. I didn't know what to do. If I had to run, I would love to. If I had to leave Jared at this very moment, I think he would understand. I wasn't fit for this nor trying to fit for something extravagant like this.
Jared greeted them with a good evening and I found out that they were all in their fifties. I couldn't believe it because they looked like so much younger. They happened to be the biggest clients of a real estate company.

"We would like to know who you are with tonight Mister Boston", said by the woman in a purple long dress. Whose gaze were judging me from head to toe.

Jared held my hand, "This is Sadie, my date for tonight". I closed my hands and beamed to them.
"Nice to meet you", I added simply.

After that interaction with the four women, Jared and I headed to the table far away from the crowd. Once again, unfamiliar faces appeared in front of me. One man, with his serious aura and rising eyebrows stared at me as if I was that someone he hadn't seen in a long time. I tried to catch Jared's attention but he was way too oblivious of what I was doing. I wanted to go anywhere, far away with this stranger's stare.
"You look familiar", the man complained. Jared heard the man's voice and quickly changed the topic.

"Sadie, we'll talk about some important matters. You can go and grab a drink over there", Jared pointed the tiny bar that lead to the open window of the venue. I nodded and went there.

I look familiar? What was that again?

I removed my thought about that thing and asked the barman for a drink. There he placed a shiny champagne in the counter. "Enjoy your drink Ma'am"

It tasted good. I hadn't drink champagne for like a long time now. The host suddenly came in the little stage and introduced the birthday man. It was Cole Boston, turning 35 tonight. He looked charming and sharp. He thanked all the people who came in his party and wished everybody a good time.

The music began to explode in upbeat songs. Some women were dancing with their men and some were just banging their heads up and down. It was cool, frankly, I wanted to dance but it would be awkward. The only person who knew me here was Jared and by that I started to find him again. He was lost in my sight, where the hell he would be? The table where I left him was empty now. I had this feeling that I would be enjoying this moment...alone.

There was a cute garden outside. I headed there and took a deep breath. Everybody was dancing inside but my feet were here and the air was good enough for me to crossed my arms.

"Rosie?"

A man's deep voice existed. Did I hear it right? Rosie?

I took a moment to let that name sink in my roller coaster thoughts. There was confusion, indifference, perplexity and botheration in my mind. The first time I heard it was from Miss Morgan and when I opened that topic in front of Jared, he almost ate me alive with his silence and empty eyes.

I moved my body to face the man. In my surprise …  he looked glorious. His eyes were amber and he stood tall with his fantastic manlike figure. I held my glass of champagne real tight. This man's eyes still glued at me. It felt like I was his long-lost sister or lover or something.

His face lit up and chuckled for a bit. "Sorry, I thought you were someone I knew".

There was a big question that left in me again when he said those words. "It's okay Sir"

"I saw you with Jared earlier. Are you his date?", he managed his question to be a little direct to the point.

"Yes", I answered simply.

There was a dead air after those short exchanged of words but the man didn't move not even a single step. The music inside became a little louder, so, I decided to move a little far away too. I thought the man would leave but he kept following me. It didn't sound uncomfortable but it also seemed necessary for me to talk to a stranger in this party.
"A glass of champagne?", I offered him but he shook his head.

He pressed his lips and raised his left eyebrow, "how's Jared to you?"

"He's good, I mean he's a pretty good... friend", there was a little ache in my voice as I said that word 'friend' but I didn't let him notice it.

"I knew that man for a very long time. He rarely brought a woman or a date and for the first time in eight years, in this moment, I finally see him with someone new. How'd you changed his mind?"

I never changed Jared's mind, he’s the one who’s changing mine.  Neither one of us made an impact yet to each of our lives. I placed my glass of champagne in a little table near the garden, "I don't know how to answer that"

"That man was unpredictable sometimes. There would be a day that his vision turned to a devil's fire. He's living his life with such dreams that some of those are quite impossible to come true. I've seen that man in loneliness, in anger, in annoyance and in the verge of death. I know Jared hates being a topic to people especially about him or his past but I feel like you're special. I feel like things will get better and you can bring such changes in his life and... maybe in his heart"
The man's voice almost crack at the very end but he composed himself directly with his serious tone. There was also an emotion in me as I heard the man's words about Jared.

"I'm lucky as I realized that I already found the missing piece and the special one who completed my life. It is my family.", he remarked. "I also hope that Jared would find the astounding essence of life".

"May I know your name?", I asked out of the blue.

He offered his hand to me, "I'm Jake". He shook with my snappy palm, "Jared's stepbrother", he added.

"He has a stepbrother?", I gasped.
"Jared is complicated", he forewarned, "we aren't that buddies anymore, well, I'm just trying to let you know because it seems like you know nothing about that man"

He was right. Jake was right that I knew nothing and it broke my heart to realized that stupid thing.

"May I know your name too?"

"It's Sadie", I answered. He nodded and waved someone near to us.

"It's nice to meet you Sadie. Hope to see you next time". He said his goodbye and ran to the other table. I felt disturbed, I had this feeling to question Jared about everything. The more I met a lot people, the more questions in my head that asked for infinite answers.

I headed back to the center of the venue but Jared wasn't there. I wanted to go home, have some rest and sleep, not here in this party filled with different people who weren't my age and status. I placed my glass of champagne back to the counter, the barman wanted to give me more but I refused. I went outside and looked for Jared's car but it wasn't there also, maybe the driver parked it far away from here. I cursed at the wind and tried to call Jared but it was unattended. Damn.


The unlikely wind slapped me hard, oh yes time to walk home alone.