My Best Friends Wedding

It's Been A Long Time

"Would you mind calling these last two to set up home inspection?  Thanks Linda"

I sat back in my chair and stared at the case load on my desk. The stack of files was overwhelming and I knew some of these kids needed immediate help that I couldn't give because I was already bogged down. I was trying to blow through some of these as quickly as possible, but I liked to be thorough and being thorough takes time. I took a file off of the pile and opened it. I put my head in my hand, leaning on my desk and started thumbing through it to determine the severity. Some of these kids were in such horrible home situations it was hard to ignore some of what was going on because there was just worse cases out there that needed more attention. I sighed and kept reading until a hand slammed down on my files

"HEY!"

I looked up and smiled  "Hey Daniel"

"You...me...lunch...now."

"I can't go right now. See this pile...I have to go through this before I go home today. Plus I brought my lunch"

I held up my bag. He grabbed the brown bag and searched through it. He held up my sandwich and dangled it in front of me

"Peanut butter and jelly? What? Are we 5?" He grabbed my hand and pulled me around the desk "Come on. We're going to get real food downtown. Adult food."

I rolled my eyes "You just want to see if you can see that waiter again"

"So...he gives great service"

I laughed "I'm sure he does"

"Gross"

We laughed and headed out to the car. Danny pulled up to his favorite restaurant and sure enough his favorite waiter was working. I laughed and shook my head as he made sure that the hostess sat us in his section.  I scanned over the menu and peered over the top to see Danny staring

"Just talk to him Jesus. Who's 5 now?"

"Shut up Maddy."

We ordered our food and sat and enjoyed each other's company. Danny was my close friend. The best friend I'd had in years. He was funny and liked scoping out hot guys just as much as I did. I shoveled a fork full of lettuce in my mouth to avoid laughing as Danny stared at the waiter as he walked by

"Danny...my God be a little more obvious!"

My phone buzzed in my purse. I looked down and pulled it out and stared at the screen blankly. I looked up at Danny and then back at the phone unable to bring myself to answer it. A knot formed in my stomach and my heart started pounding in my chest. It'd been 8 years since we said goodbye and 6 years since we actually had a conversation. The call ended and I sat and stared at it until the voicemail symbol flashed on the screen.

"Earth to Madison!"

I looked up with shock in my face

"There you are! Jesus. Who called you? I've never seen you freak out like that  before. Must've been someone important"

"Um...I told you about my first boyfriend, Jon right?"

He nodded and smirked. Danny knew that the reason all of my relationships for the last 8 years have failed because I was still madly in love with Jon. But he also knew that we hadn't talked in ages and that I should be long over him by now. In fact the last time we talked about Jon I SWORE I was over him and that I just wanted to be single.

I held up my phone "that was him"

"So play the voicemail"

I stared at him blankly and shook my head.

"What are you so afraid of? Do it or I will do it for you"

I pressed the play button and turned on the speaker so Danny could hear it too

Hey...uh...Madison it's Jon. It's been a really long time. Good for me that you never changed your number.  Um...hey...I really need to talk to you. It's very important...call me back...same number as always

I smiled at the phone and closed the screen. I tucked the phone back into the pocket of my purse and looked up at Danny who was smirking at me. I knew what he was thinking, but I wasn't about to call Jon and talk to him in front of Danny. I picked up my fork and continued shoveling lettuce into my mouth as Danny just stared at me. It was annoying and I finally had enough

"What!?"

"That's it? You're not going to call him back??"

"Not right now. Maybe tonight when I'm at home."

He made a face at me and I shrugged and dove back into my salad. Our drive back to work was a pretty silent one. I was lost in thought about what could be so important that Jon would be calling me after all of these years. I finished my case load for the day and went home.

I opened the door to my apartment and sighed. I loved the way it always smelled like the lavender vanilla body spray I used when I walked in the door. It was always Jon's favorite. I never stopped wearing it. I changed into something more comfortable and sat on the couch with my legs crossed in front of me, hugging a throw pillow and staring at my phone. I had tried dialing Jon's number several times and couldn't bring myself to do it. I started to doze. My eyelids became heavy and I could feel my head fall back when suddenly the phone buzzed in my hands. I jumped and nearly threw the phone across the room. Completely disoriented I fell off of the couch and threw myself across the floor grabbing my phone and answering

"Hello?"

"MADDY!!!"

"Hi Jon." I laughed  "I was just about to call you."

"You were?"

"Well, yeah you called me first remember??"

"Yeah I know, but that was hours ago"

"Mmmhmm...well, I have a job. I just got home. Where are you it's so loud?"

"I'm at MY job."

I laughed  "So, what is this BIG news that you just HAD to tell me after all of this time?"

"Are you sitting down?"

I looked around  "Sorta...why? Do I need to be?"

"Madison....I'm engaged"

I dropped the phone on the floor and fumbled with it to pick it up

"You alright?"

"Yeah...umm...wow that's big. Umm...congratulations.....that's amazing news"

I did my very best not to sound disappointed, but the truth is I was really really disappointed.

"I need you Maddy. This is a big deal and I need my best friend with me. I'm really nervous. It's in a week. You'll just love her Maddy. I promise. She is just the sweetest girl."

"Wait? A week? How long have you been engaged?"

"For a while. I just haven't had time to tell you yet. Please say you'll come and be with me up at the alter...please Madison. I need you"

I wiped away a tear that had escaped the corner of my eye. I cleared my throat to keep from sounding shaky and then sighed

"Yeah...where?"

"Vegas. You OK? You don't seem excited."

"I'll be there tomorrow. I'll send you the itinerary OK. I need to go. Something is boiling on the stove"

I hung up quickly and grabbed the throw pillow, hugging it tight and sobbed.