Where few fear to tread: Chapter Eleven

Cursed Love: You never know when you will fall in love

Bram knew Natalie was approaching him from the way her heels hit the cold cobblestones outside of the café. It was a beautiful November morning. Not too cold, which is why he was outside drinking coffee that morning. Natalie slammed the open society pages on the table, in front of him. As she sat across from him fuming. “Did you see this?” she asked. Bram looked down on the paper seeing it was Nadir and Serilda dancing. The paper of course had almost taken the whole page with just that photo.

“Of course I’ve seen it. I work at the newspaper. Colin was very proud of catching that moment.” Bram said. “And you didn’t think to call me?” Natalie said with a huff. He looked up at her, crimson lips and button-up shirt that was open way too low, and felt his heart beat faster. “I don’t know what you want me to tell you,” Bram said tossing the paper aside and going back to his coffee. “Really. You don’t find it odd that they are suddenly having dinner together?” Natalie asked. “She made me her maid of honor. I’m supposed to be heading down to go look at dresses with her now.” She said her eyes comically wide.

Bram sighed. “I don’t know why you're surprised about that.” He said putting his coffee down. “You have the best taste of anyone in society. And Serilda hasn’t been one to want luxurious décor or fancy dresses.” Bram said. “She’s been most comfortable in oversize sweaters and thigh-high boots. She’s a simple traditional girl. Her only ask about the wedding, was to make me her best man.” Bram said. Natalie’s looked at him shocked. “You’re going to be best man at my brother’s wedding?” Natalie asked. “Yeah. I know. I didn’t exactly see that coming either.” He replied with a laugh.

“No. That’s great.” She said with a smile. “I actually do have an idea for the wedding,” Natalie said. “You see. That’s why you make the perfect maid of honor.” Bram said. “Which was clearly my brother’s doing,” Natalie said shrewdly. “How do you know so much anyway,” Natalie asked. “Nadir, and Ry-Serilda, and I all hung out at a pub the other day. We came this close to getting your brother to sing.” Bram said putting his thumb and forefinger an inch apart.

Natalie raised her eyebrows. “Wow. So this is actually a thing. Serilda and my brother?” Natalie asked. “Your brother finds Serilda interesting. She piqued his interest as she did with me.” Bram explained. “Once you really get to know her you will see that she’s great,” Bram assured her. “I already think she’s sweet,” Natalie said getting up and giving Bram a kiss on the cheek before he could say anything else. He flushed at the move. “Thank you. I Knew talking to you would ease my worries.” Natalie said as she walked away. “No problem,” Bram said, watching as Natalie waved goodbye. He hoped Serilda knew what she was doing letting Natalie take the reins in the wedding.

Bridal shop

Taffeta and lace covered most of the available room on the tables around the bridal shop. Serilda had already tried on five dresses all long and was seriously about to murder her assistant. Serilda came back out in a beautiful lace monstrosity that had no back and long sleeves. Serilda stood on the pedestal furious. “You know what my favorite part of this dress is,” Serilda said, glaring at Christina. “The sleeves.” She said.

“OH NO,” Natalie said as she walked in and saw the dress. “Mermaid style is not for you.” She said. Christina slapped her forehead. “I LOVE YOU,” Serilda said, jumping off the pedestal nearly slipping in the train of the dress. “Seriously I will marry you right now.” She said looking at Natalie who laughed. “Nadir told me I was the maid of honor. And as your maid of honor, I will make sure you have the perfect dress.” Natalie said.

“I’m going to go change and then we are going to reevaluate this whole thing,” Serilda said. Natalie followed her and stood at the wall while Serilda changed in the curtained-off change room. “So I’ve been thinking about the wedding. How do you feel about having a themed wedding?” Natalie asked. Serilda groaned. “What theme?” she asked. “I was remembering the beautiful dress you were at the wedding.”

“You mean the beautiful short blue and gold dress I wore,” Serilda asked as she pushed the curtain away, coming out in an A-line navy blue dress. “I loved that dress. It had actual metal vines sewn in.” Serilda said thoughtfully. “What about having a fairytale wedding?” Natalie asked. “Have the ladies wearing mauve or dusk tone dresses,” Natalie said.

“And I have an idea of what your wedding dress should be,” Natalie said looking over at the front counter where they had books of designs of wedding dresses. Natalie and Serilda walked over, waving a hand at Christina who looked darkly at them both. “Don’t forget that your grandmother said long dresses only!” Christina said. She pulled up a photo on her phone and showed Serilda. “I saw this photo when I was browsing on the way here, and that’s why I thought about the fairytale theme,” Natalie said.

Serilda looked down at the dress that had a trail behind it and was short enough to show a hint in the front of her dress. The dress wasn’t fully white. The top of it was all silver lace flowers of silver and pink all around the dress. The top of the dress had sleeves that went to the elbow that looked like it was painted on. The back of it had mother of pearl buttons going from the top all the way to her waist, and the bodice looked like it was backless if it wasn’t for the buttons. “Wow this looks amazing,” Serilda said.

“What looks amazing?” Christina said as she came over a glass of champagne in her hand. “Wow, that looks amazing!” Christina said as she spotted the dress. “You could put up your hair in one of those bridal up-do’s it’ll look amazing.” She said taking a sip of the champagne. Natalie grinned. “Fairytale wedding. Dusk and mauve toned dresses, flowers absolutely everywhere, and the guys instead of wearing suits wear brocade vests, whatever color the groomsmen want to wear, and black shirts under them. While Nadir could wear a dark blue brocade with silver detail. And a white shirt with black gem buttons. “Ooh. I like that. But would Nadir be okay with wearing that?” Serilda asked.

“I’m his sister he doesn’t have a choice,” Natalie said. “So fairytale with a Victorian twist?” Christina said. “Your grandmother will love this, and it would be a very tasteful and unique wedding. That everyone will talk about.” Christina said. “My grandmother will be happy about it too,” Natalie said. “That’s good. I was wondering. Since you’re the maid of honor why don’t you wear something different from the bridesmaids?” Serilda said looking at Natalie. “What about a dusty blue similar to the skirt from your engagement party?” Natalie said.

“I love all of these ideas. We need to get all of these ideas down.” Christina said. “See aren’t I great?” Natalie said making Serilda laugh. “I knew you would be. Although I have an idea for the band for the wedding.” Serilda said with a smile. “No. Not those crazy guys.” Christina said. Serilda scowled. “Not the guys your thinking of.” She said. “I met this band a year ago. They are really good and they do instrumental sonata’s as well.” Serilda said. “Also this is my wedding. I should at least get to choose the first band I get to listen to when I dance with my husband.” Serilda said with a cheeky grin.

“Speaking of dancing, did you see that picture they got of the two of you in the society pages?” Natalie asked.

“What picture?”

DINER

Nadir walked into the diner lining up for the to-go Coffee. He looked around and noticed with some surprise that Cate was there sitting by herself a pile of textbooks beside her as she wrote feverishly in a notebook. He smiled. It made him think of simpler times. When he went to school to get his master’s at Boston University where he met Cate. He walked to the counter and ordered his coffee, taking it, and walked over to Cate’s table. “Hey.” He said smiling when she looked up harried.

“Nadir?” she asked surprised to see him. “What are you doing here?” she asked scrunching her face in confusion. Nadir smiled. “I came for coffee. Are you okay?” he asked glancing at the textbooks. “Yeah. Assignments. All due at the same time.” She said in an aggravated tone. “So same as usual in the school world?” he said as she nodded. “Yup.” She said putting her head upon a hand as she looked up at him. “How have you been? I heard you got in a fight with Jake during your engagement party.” She asked.

Nadir smiled but sat across from her on the table putting an arm around the textbooks. “Is there anyone that doesn’t know about that fight?” He asked bemusedly. “Natalie came to see me. Apparently, Serilda blames herself for all the trouble that the engagement caused.” Cate said making Nadir sit upright. “What?” Nadir said.

“Apparently you put quite an impression on her during one of your first meetings. She had a crush that her grandmother teased her about at one of those lady's social gatherings. And your grandmother was there.” Cate said. “And the rest is history,” Nadir said with a sigh. “I am sorry about everything that happened,” Nadir said softly. “It was out of our hands. You would never have fought your grandmother because she would’ve changed tactics and set Natalie up with someone.” Cate said.

Nadir looked up at her with relief. “That’s exactly what I thought,” Nadir said. “I’ve been around your family to know how they work. I never would’ve asked you to take happiness at the expense of Natalie. If you had talked to me before she made the announcement we both would’ve chosen this.” Cate said. Nadir smiled. “For the record,” Cate added. “I really like Serilda.”

Nadir grinned. “So does Bram.” He said. Cate laughed. “I heard. Maybe there’s some way we can all be friends after all this.” Cate said softly. “I would like that,” Nadir said. “I think we all would like that,” Cass said as he walked up to the table.

“Here honey. Since you finally took a break.” He said putting a grilled cheese with apple slices on her table. “Thank you for that,” Cass said looking at Nadir. “She’s been working nonstop for three hours.”

“Hey!” Cate said. “You can’t do that.” Nadir groaned. “Breaks won’t kill you.” He groused. “They might,” Cate said sulkily. “Can I get a mocha since you insist on being a pain?” she asked Cass. Who grinned widely. “Coming right up!” he said with a salute making them laugh.

“I miss your friends,” Nadir said. “I think they miss you too,” Cate said taking a bite of her sandwich. “I saw your picture in the society pages,” Cate said. Nadir narrowed his eyes. “What picture?” he asked. “A lovely picture of you and your bride-to-be.” She said with a smile. “The two of you look good together.” Nadir smiled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. But I really do like Serilda. I wasn’t expecting that.” Nadir said. “Sometimes things do have a way of working out regardless of what you previously wanted,” Cate said.

Nadir took a long deep pull of his coffee thoughtfully. “Serilda told me about meeting you in the cemetery,” Nadir said. Watching as Cate’s eyes widened. “Why were you wandering a cemetery at four am?” he asked. “Confusion mostly,” Cate said. “Over Jake?” he asked.

“Yeah,” Cate said. “You really did talk about me didn’t you,” Cate said with a laugh. “She’s a sweetheart. She was worried about how I might react. I’m guessing that you and Jake might be starting something?” he asked uncertainly. “Maybe,” Cate said glancing at Cass who was about to come over. “It’s fairly new.” She said. Nadir smiled. “I don’t think it’s new at all.” He said with a smile as Cass came over with a mocha and a coffee for himself.

“So what are we talking about?” he asked. Nadir grinned. “About how I miss you, Cass.” He said. “Oh, Nadir your’ such a flirt.” He said with a laugh. Then he launched into a story about the lunch rush that had them both laughing until their sides hurt. Cate hoped that she was right and there was a way for all of them to be friends but Nadir and Jake had fought for so long she wasn’t entirely sure how such a thing could be possible.

Things might always be unnecessarily complicated but some things didn’t have to be, as her smile grew when Sophia materialized and removed her textbooks from the table much to her chagrin. And then it was almost like old times. The three musketeers and D'Artagnan. Nadir had been quite the trouble maker at school earning the name D'Artagnan from all the times he spent with Sophia, Cass, and Cate. Things had been more simple when they had all been friends. Her trouble making friends but her friends nonetheless. But that had been before her parents had died.

She had no trouble remembering that day. Nadir had been with her and stayed with her through all those terrible days. Falling into a relationship with him had been effortless. Like falling. She had never imagined a life without him. Maybe she wouldn’t have to she thought as she looked around the table, at the easy friendship that came quickly but stayed forever with you. The way friendships are meant to be.