The Brooch

Are You... Ready?

But Andrew didn't leave that small closed off room. In fact he stood stronger than he ever did, as he boldly faced Maple. As if it were even remotely possible, daring to stare her down as he never done before....

"Why are you doin this?" Maple hissed.

"Cause I know, I perchance, lost whatever chance I had to ever be yo one and onlay. I know that it will be finally gone forever when you walk down that isle. Nonetheless, I can't help but wonder, still in the back of my head, till you actually say I do, has Tator lost you too?"

"You don't know whut you are talkin bout!"

"Don't I?"

"No! Dagnabbit! How dare you even suggest that?!?"

"I'm onlay suggestin whut everyone is thankin. Includin Tator, himself!"

Maple scowled at Andrew with such ire, as the intensity in her eyes suddenly became a question of was there any truth to what Andrew had even suggested? Just as she was about to respond...

"Maple?"

Out of nowhere, it was Haley... She had suddenly walked into the room unnoticed and unannounced to both Maple and Andrew's eye view...

How long had she been standing there? Moreover, how much and what exactly did she here?

"I uh... I forgot my bridesmaid bouquet." She said staring peculiarly and intensely at Andrew.

But Andrew didn't even notice, as he kept his intense laser eyed focus on an uncomfortable Maple, as Maple's were now even more nervously on Haley's...

"Um, Mr. Wellington, was jest leavin." Maple said striding over to the vanity and getting the bouquet for Haley.

Maple tried to hand the bouquet to an awkward gazing Haley.  In that moment, Haley temporarily took her focus off of Andrew as she now gazed at Maple as she said...

"The door was locked. And I thought you already were gone with yo daddy to prepare. So I came in through the side door, that lucky for me, Aubrey left open."

"Oh..." Maple said once again fidgeting with her brooch.

"Did I... did I walk in on some em?" Haley uneasily asked.

"No." Maple hesitantly said.

But Haley, suddenly saw something in Maple's eyes that suggested otherwise...

"Umm.. Here ya go." Maple uttered trying to once again hand her the bouquet. But Haley didn't respond as her eyes danced back to Andrew's as if he were back on spotlight. Center stage and all... "Haley?"

"I know who you are." Haley eloquently voiced instantaneously staring down Andrew.

"Do ya now?" Andrew replied still staring at Maple as if she were the only one in the room.

"Yes suh. Oh I know exactly who you are!"

"Hey Haley... umm why don't you__"

"She's gone marry my brotha ya know?" She suddenly interjected cutting off Maple in mid sentence. Not once taking her intense glare off of Andrew.

Andrew's eyes suddenly met hers. And without so much as one flinch, with her scolding deep sea green eyes, she strongly replied...

"And there's not a darn thang you kin do about it." She boldly stated. "So I suggest you find a seat with the rest of the guests and yo wife... Miss Josephine. Or do us all a favor and take a long walk on a short pier!"

"Haley!"

"Haha! It's alright Maple..." Andrew said amusingly smiling widely at Haley as he was entertained by her sheer boldness of spunk. Walking up to her he said... "You look like him, ya know?"