Forbidden Love

VI - 1986

Pier looked at me wide eyed. "I think it's for the best if I-" I paused,"go with Gregory." He moved his tongue to the edge of the inside of his mouth and said,"Oh okay, I see. So what we had just didn't matter to you?" He seemed angry, and I knew he was. "It meant everything to me." I said. I started crying. I never wanted things to end this way, but I knew they would end eventually- maybe there was just a part of me that thought I could get away with it, and just stay here with Pier. But I couldn't do that- I couldn't do that to Gregory. Pier started crying, too. "You are the best thing that's every happened to me," he said, "and what we have is special. But if you think that any kind of relationship you could have with that man is better, then you are wrong." He pointed over to Gregory, and stormed off. "Pier, Pier wait," I yelled. I began to cry, cry harder than I ever had before. Harder than when I found out I had to leave Gregory for a year. Harder then when I auchally left Gregory. Harder then I ever will in my whole life. Gregory ran towards me, "Everything alright, my darling?" He held onto my shoulders, slightly massaging them. I wiped my tears. "Yes, yes. I say we leave as soon as possible." He looked very relieved, for I suppose he thought I wouldn't go with him. "Pack your bags, my lady, for we leave tomorrow at 9am- sharp!" He said excitedly. He kissed me and then ran to his car.
I began packing my bags, and I looked out the window. Flash backs of everything that happened with Pier and I sank in. I remembered everything, every detail, every word we had spoken. But I remembered this is for the best.

***

My alarm clock rang, and Gregory and I headed to the airport. At around 8:50am, Gregory asked me,"Are you sure you want to do this? If this isn't what you want, I.." I stopped him,"This is exactly what I want." I smiled, grabbing his arm. He looked relieved, and then it was time to board the plane. A 12hour fight, I thought. What was I supposed to do for 12 hours? I had completely forgotten what I did last time. I shrugged and got on the plane. When we got our seats, Gregory immediately put his arm around me. "I put you these" he said, and he handed me a box of chocolates. I opened my mouth wide. I kissed him. "Thank you sweetie, thank you." I opened them and started eating. "Hungry, my dear?" He laughed. "Very." I answered with a half eaten chocolate truffle in my mouth. You could tell that Gregory was concerned, for I had already ate almost the entire stash of chocolates. Gregory and I laughed and talked almost the entire plane ride, and we talked about how much we've missed. Like what's been going on with our friends, how Paris is, what I did there- and by the way, I didn't mention Pier in any of the stories. Eventually we didn't have anything to talk about, so I decided to go to sleep. By the time I woke up, we had to un board the plane. The airport was very busy. Businessmen, women and children, and soldiers flooded the building. We quickly speeded to find his car. When we found it, we put our stuff in the trunk and then headed to Manhattan. On the way there, Gregory began to talk about how his mother had been feeling. "She-" he paused,"isn't doing so well." I looked at him in disbelief. She seemed perfectly fine when I left, what had I missed? "What do you mean she's not doing well? What's wrong with her?" He sighed. "They think she has cancer," he began, grabbing my hand. "She offered me the house when she...you know." A tear rolled down his face. What was wrong with me? I had the best year of my life, and Gregory had the worst. I cheated on him, and his mother is dying? I felt like a horrible person, hell, I was a horrible person. "Gregory, I'm- i'm so sorry." He looked over at me. "It's okay, I have you." He grabbed my chin a little and continued driving. I realized at that moment how lucky I am to have a man like Gregory.
We had arrived at his mothers house. He had parked the car in the grass, which made it hard to get out of the car because of how muddy it was. I looked over and saw his mother in a wheelchair, bald, being pushed by his father. "Mrs. Jackson!" I exclaimed. "Oh Mrs. Jackson." I covered my mouth with my hand and hugged her. "Oh darling, I'm fine no need." She said, grabbing my arm softly. "How are you feeling?" I said. "Alright, I think." She laughed. I rubbed her back slightly. "How do you do, Mr. Jackson?" I said. "Fine, and you?" He said, putting his hands in his pockets. "Good." I answered. Gregory put his arm around me. "Shall we go inside?" He said. Everyone nodded their heads. "I've cooked a delicious meal, spaghetti with fresh creamy garlic bread. You like marinara sauce, don't you?" Mr. Jackson started to stir the spaghetti noodles and then looked over at me. "Yes, of course." I answered. "Honey, did you include meatballs?" Mrs. Jackson said. "No, should I get them?" He asked, heading to the fridge to find them. "If you don't mind," she said, opening the newspaper and reading the newest article. "So mother, how have you been feeling since I've been gone?" Gregory said, taking a sip of his drink. "I've been better," she answered, frowning. She turned towards me. "So, I've got your wedding all planned out, and guess what? It's tomorrow!" She started clapping her hands with excitement. "My little boy is growing up!" She squeezed his cheek, and began giving me the details. "Any-who, you wanted a plain white cake, correct? Oh and for the entree, I chose this delicious garlic chicken meal with sides of green beans with bacon and creamy Mac and cheese. Sound delicious? I thought so. So what do you think?" She finally let me speak, and I said, "Sounds great. A white cake is exactly what I want!" I smiled big and hugged her. "Oh, thank you so much, Mrs. Jackson! I don't know how we would've planned the wedding without you!" She looked pleased, and Mr. Jackson started the set the table. "Who's ready to eat?" He exclaimed. The food was absolutely delicious, creamy marinara sauce and soft meat balls on the soft and sticky spaghetti noodles. After dinner, Mrs. Jackson asked to speak to me outside. "Your father called-," she began, looking disappointed. I wondered what was wrong. "He said that you-" you could tell she didn't want to continue, for something had happened that she didn't want to explain. "He said that you met someone else in Paris." My mind went blank. How could he? How could he do that? How could he tell Gregory's mother that I had fallen in love with someone else? "What?" I said, acting confused. "He said that you had cheated on my Gregory." Everything went silent. I looked at Mrs. Jackson in disbelief. I couldn't trust anyone anymore. I couldn't even trust my own father, who had been there for me through thick and thin. He was the only person I knew I could trust when I couldn't trust anyone else. I looked around. "Sherrie, honey, are you alright?" I felt at that moment that I was going to pass out. And I did. Everything went black.