And If there was a tomorrow

Chapter 19

 The first hearing between Ed, Peter and Linda would take place one week after the wedding. Ed was hopeful that he could make Linda regret having broken up with him and, with that, gain a competitive advantage in the prosecution. He still wondered how he would meet her, because he was certain that she wouldn't allow him to visit her apartment again and, at the hospital, they wouldn't be in a neutral zone. He needed to find another way, but he kept asking himself what it would be.

One day, on his way back from work, he noticed a pretty invitation over his desk. He decided to take a closer look at it and realized it was the invitation for the wedding, which Mary had left there. If he wasn't mistaken, Linda had been important in that relationship, so it would be a great place to talk to her, because, in his mind, she would be alone in that party. He smiled upon the opportunity that was starting to appear in front of him and noted that the ceremony and the party would happen on the next day. He was happy for having found the invitation, after all it was the chance he needed.

Linda went back to her regular activities. Everything was business as usual, and Charles and she met discreetly every day. They had planned everything for the wedding, but also decided to go separately, in order to avoid speculation.

The big day arrived, and the ceremony would start at seven p.m. Everything was ready and Linda managed to arrive together with her mom and her brother, which also made her very happy. She liked to see her brother interacting with people and doing stuff. The civil ceremony would happen first, and then the religious one, in which she was a maid of honor, so she was still not worried about Charles' absence. He would be there soon.

Everyone was ready for the civil ceremony, lots of guests squeezing to listen to the justice of peace, and that's when Linda spotted Ed walking into the room, clearly looking for someone. She felt chills down her spine. She wanted to run away from him and started to move to the back of the room, hoping he wouldn't see her, but it was already too late. He walked firmly towards her. On his way, he saw her brother and her mother, which made him smile and think: 'Poor girl, she really didn't have anyone to bring, so she ended up coming with her mom and her problematic brother. I hope he doesn't make a scene here.'

He had barely thought that, when her brother saw him and started yelling, pointing at him, and moving away. His mother tried to calm him down and get him out of there, while Linda went further away to the back of the room. Since many people were already familiar with the case, they just ignored. But Suzanne and Alan, upon seeing Ed, looked for Linda and almost paused the ceremony, but she noticed and gestured for them to carry on.

Ed managed to get near Linda and said:

─ Did you really come alone?

─ No. I'm here with my brother and my mom, as you probably have noticed. ─ she tried to stay calm, but wasn't sure it would be easy.

─ I did notice. He's already putting on a show.

She didn't reply.

─ But I'm here to talk to you.

─ About what?

─ About you giving me another chance. You know that this riot you and Peter decided to make against me will fail miserably, so if you don't want to be dragged by the torrent, I'd take this chance life is throwing at you, and get back together with me, and say that it was a misunderstanding.

She couldn't help smiling.

─ You're thinking that this is great for you, and that's why you are smiling, am I right?

─ Not at all. I'm just thinking about how pretentious of you to come offer me a chance of getting back together with you. Which is something I wouldn't do, even if you were the last man on earth.

He got angry and started attacking her.

─ At least it would be someone who would still take you. Do you think you'll ever find someone, with this lawsuit in progress and with this complicated family of yours?

She was ready to respond, but someone intervened and replied first. She hadn't seen Charles arriving, probably because she was blinded by the rage that talk was causing on her.

─ She has found someone who accepts her, and from what I heard, much better than you, since I don't intend to change her a bit. If her family is complicated, well, it seems to me that yours is not much better, is it? So, if you excuse me, we must take our position as maid of honor of the bride and groom.

Ed turned red from all the anger and mumbled:

─ So, are you together?

None of them confirmed nor denied. They just ignored his question.

─ Great, you won't answer. Who are you? ─ he asked, looking at Charles, but before they answered, Suzanne said:

─ Oh my God, Charles Verne, is that really you?

He looked at the lady and noticed who she was by her dress.

─ That's me. It's nice to meet you, Suzanne. Am I right?

─ Yes. ─ and she waved at her fiancé. ─ That's my groom, Alan.

He extended his hand and greeted the groom. Ed was still around them, with a lot of anger.

─ Are you the famous missing author? The one that reappeared a little while ago with a Brazilian doctor. I heard something about it, but I never imagined...

─ That's me. And Linda helped me a lot. Therefore, I found that she was coming alone, and I volunteered to make her company.

─ Shall we go? ─ she invited.

─ Of course! ─ he replied.

Ed was about to follow them but was stopped by the grooms.

─ You're not welcome here, Ed. Please leave.

─ Or what?

─ Or we are going to ask security to kick you out. After all, wedding ceremonies are private and we can choose who we want in here, and certainly we don't want you.

Ed became moody. He considered talking back, forcing his presence, but with everything that had been happening, another scandal could damage his reputation even more. He decided to leave without saying a word. He walked past the grooms and left.

In the meanwhile, Linda held Charles' hands softly, and said:

─ Thank you so much.

─ Don't mention it. The more I get to know this guy, the more I'm sure he's not a good person.

After saying that, he was hugged by someone he didn't know, which surprised him. He got uncomfortable, until Linda intervened.

─ Augustus, honey, please let go of Linda's friend.

He nodded his head negatively, and then Charles realized it should be Linda's brother.

─ Are you Linda's brother?

Augustus nodded his head positively.

─ So, I'd like to hug you too.

After saying that, her brother relaxed his arms and they hugged for a while. Her mother took a relieved breath.

─ Later, I'd like to talk to you and get to know you better. Can we do that? ─ he said, looking directly into his eyes, but using a friendly and warm tone of voice.

─ Yes, we can.

─ See you later, then.

After all the hugging, Linda and Charles walked towards the altar.

─ He usually doesn't do that.

─ It seems like he liked me.

─ I think so too.

As she said that, she thought about how great her brother was in judging people's energy and character, so she was probably right in her bet.

Theycontinued their duties as best man and maid of honor, then stayed for theparty, ate, drank, talked, and danced. The night was very pleasant andeveryone, even her mom and her brother had a lot of fun. Everyone but Ed, whowas back home in an awfully bad mood, watching his plans going down the drain.