The Wedding

Chapter 7

Cedric mouth dropped open. “Have you lost your mind? Nababaliw ka na ba?”

Tears filled Cora’s eyes. “You’ve already decided that I have, so why do you keep asking?”

“Cora”. Cedric’s voice softened.

Cora shook her head.” Stop. Just Stop.” Then she took a deep breath and turned to Tanner. “My Mom wants my Dad to formally introduce us to their friends.”

He started to say something, but she held up her hand.

“Yes, I know. We’ve already talked to every single one of them, but nevertheless………” Her voice trailed off.

Cedric’s anger voice returned “If you think I’m going to stay here and watch this. . . . .”

“Go!” Cora said her eyes blazing. “If you can’t watch this, then go. No one is making you stay.”

“Cora” Tanner interrupted, his guilt crushing him. He couldn’t let her ruin a decade’s long friendship over him.

“So mas pinipili mo sya paniwalaana kesa sa akin?” Cedric demanded. When Cora didn’t answer, he pushed on.

“You’re picking a man whom you’ve known for approximately Ten hours over your friend of twenty five years.”

“No. Ced. You chose for me.” Cora grabbed Tanner’s wrist and pulled him down the hall leaving a stunned Cedric.

“Okay lang yun.” She said, forcing a smile. “Okay lang ako. Let’s go get introduced.”

By the time they reached the kitchen, her hand trembled in his clasp. She was upset whether she wanted to admit it or not.

“Cora” He pulled her to halt. “Hold on for a second.”

She stopped in front of him, looking up at him with questioning eyes. She was so agonizingly close and she looked so vulnerable.

All he wanted to do was take her in his arms and kiss her, assuring her that everything would be okay. . . . . . But he couldn’t.

He wasn’t sure everything would be okay once the dust finally settled.

“Give me a minute okay?” he asked certain would afford him the time she thought he needed to collect himself.

He felt less guilt over this small duplicity. It was her benefit, so he could live with it.

They were still holding hands, he suddenly noticed. He thought about dropping his hold but couldn’t seem to let go.

“He’ll get over it.” He finally said.

She let out a deep breath, and then forced a smile. “I’m not so sure.”

“Jackson will smooth things over.”

Her smile turned genuine. “Yeah. He can’t stand when we fight.”

“I like Jackson.” He reached his free hand around Cora’s back and pulled her to his chest before he realized what he was doing.

Touching her was as natural as breathing, and while that was dangerous, he didn’t much care at the moment.

She relaxed into him, resting her cheek on his chest.

They stood still for nearly a minute and with every ticking second, Tanner felt more and more certain this woman was different than every other woman he had ever met.

The question was what did he do with that information? He didn’t see any way to achieve a positive outcome.

Francy Waddel poked her head through the back door.