Work Before Play

Wine in Cincinnati

One day. That's all what was left on my phone count down. I put my phone back into my clutch after checking the time.

I looked up to meet Molly's eyes and smiled back at her. She was excited for me, probably more excited than I was for this night.

"What?" I asked her, she looked at me expectantly.

"I said aren't you excited?" Her voice was high pitched now.

"Yes! Sorry, I was checking the time!"

The girls giggled, they could tell I was a extremely nervous. Signe, Molly, Mandy, and Maggie- my maid of honor all flew into Cincinnati for the wedding tomorrow. So tonight was my Bachelorette party, and Mark was out with his guys for his own party. Luckily, with Mark, I didn't have to worry about him being hung over for the wedding in the morning.

Maggie looked up a high end spa to be pampered for the big day. I bought the package for all the girls so we could get manicures, pedicures, facials, and massages all while drinking glasses of Rosé. It was my bridal gift to them.

We all sat around with our feet in bubbling warm water. I held my glass close to my lips, "So how much you want to bet, Mark is actually babysitting tonight rather than enjoying his own party?"

"Oh, I bet he's gunna have to keep them boys in check. Thomas and Tyler like their beer." Mandy replied holding her glass of red wine.

"I can't believe you got this place!" Molly said happily leaning back in her massage chair.

"It was a fair price for the group I had, and who needs a trinket of a wedding favor on it anyways. I thought this would be more rememberable than some cheap bracelet of some thing." I waved my hand nonchalantly.

Signe looked my way, "So, have you guys talked kids?"

I almost spit out my wine. "No, no we haven't actually. It's kind of of hard to talk about having children when you're getting married to one." I joked.

The girls laughed at that one. Mark was always a funny guy, even since college. Called the smart class clown they said.

"But in all seriousness, he is a wonderful man." I clarified.

"Oh we know." Molly and Mandy nodded to me. Their husbands being such long time friends with Mark they knew how great of a guy he was.

"I am so grateful Mark has you. He's been through so much, I have seen him hurt beyond belief. But with you, he's a brand new man." Mandy softly smiled at me.

After the massage, we were sent to a jacuzzi with our bottomless drinks. We all slipped into the bathing suits we brought. Mine being my normal white suit. Signe and Maggie had black bikinis and Mandy had a pretty ruffled turquoise colored one piece. Molly walked out last with a sheer cut one price that was purple.

Everyone but Maggie was hesitantly glancing at me.

"What? Do I have something on me?" I asked getting self conscious now.

Signe spoke up. "It's just you're scar. I just can't wrap my head around that it actually happened." Her eyes fell to the ground.

Molly and Mandy continued to look me, their eyes full of pity. "What happened to her?" Molly asked, stroking her hair nervously.

"Well, I was told I got guaranteed approval for the lifetime restraining order from her outburst at the trial. And she has 7 years in jail, the judge ordered that she is not allowed within 500 meters of a convention center with Mark or I being invited to it." I touched my scar lightly. I always knew it was there. It never bothered me, it was the past.

"It doesn't bother me, girls. It hasn't for quite some time now. I learned to live with it, I survived and that's all that matters." I said with a triumphant smile.

That got them loosened up. The girls went back to being bubbly and happy again.

"So is anyone from back home coming to the wedding?" Mandy asked after we shared our awkward stories of high school.

That question took me off guard. Behind closed eyes I remembered my home. Back home, a place full of rows of beans and corn and gravel roads for miles. I opened my eyes to Mandy, "No I didn't send any invites to Missouri." I said with a small smile.

Molly eyes shot open wide, "But who will walk you down the isle?"

"Thomas so graciously offered. He is an absolute gentleman." I smiled back shyly.

Maggie cleared her throat. "So what color should our nails be, Lydia?" She flexed her hand from the water. She knew how I had desperately tried to think of some man to walk me down the isle, she even offered. Mark called his mother telling her how I was getting nervous for the wedding because of my non present father for my wedding. Turns out Thomas happened to hear the whole conversation and intervened at the moment to ask Mark if I would be willing to let him do the honors. Needless to say I was taken aback by his graciousness and gladly accepted.

"With the main colors being fall colors- dark red, a burnt orange, and warm yellow, I'd think it'd be best to stick to those colors. But I won't complain if you find something else that falls to you more." I chuckled.

We got out of the jacuzzi and was dried off and sent to personal rooms for massages and facials. After our personal time, we were escorted to the manicure section.

I wasn't big on colors on my nails. So I picked an almond shaped acrylic nude. I was getting one hand done when my phone buzzed Mark's text tone.

Mark: Hey, how's it going your way Stiff?

All I could do was smirk, after all this, I still get called Stiff. One handily, I struggled to text him back.

Me: Great. The spa day was well worth it, the stress from planning and traveling is all gone.
Me: Please tell me you're not going to ruin my stress free night, babe...

Mark: That's great! I'm glad you're relaxed! Wait. Why would you say that?

Me: It's your last night as a bachelor, shouldn't you be at a strip club or something? Like not texting your future wife.

Mark: No, things are great! Catching up with the guys has been overdue! I went to the bathroom, and just thought I should check in on you.

Me: Thanks babe. All is well. Go on, go enjoy your night.

Mark: I have a feeling you'll make tomorrow night better. ;)

Me: Oh you perv. Get out of the bathroom and go back to the guys before they think you died in there.

Text bubbles popped up and then disappeared. So I assume he either manned up and got out of the bathroom or he guys drug him out of it. With that thought I laughed silently as the stylist asked for my other hand and put my painted one off to the side to dry under the lamp.