Heathens Need Love Too - Chapter Seven

Marcus stood in the rotunda of the castle-like mansion, admiring his surroundings. The setting was surreal: white marble floors and walls accentuated the room, along with a large, three-tier water fountain, which rested in the center. The ceiling extended through all three upper levels, each level with its own catwalk. Two stairwells on opposite sides of the massive room curved inward, facing one another.

"Your house...I don't know what to say," Marcus told Ted and Josephine Jenson, owners of the fairy tale home and parents of the groom.

Josephine smiled. "Thank you Marcus. We're just glad you're here. Mary has spoken repeatedly about what an amazing voice you have. We are looking forward to hearing you sing."

As Marcus looked at the happy interracial couple, they reminded him of Tom and Helen Willis from the sitcom "The Jeffersons."

There was hustle and bustle throughout the entire main level as hired staff frantically did their last-minute cleaning and added finishing touches to the wedding layout.

"This is where the ceremony will be," Ted informed Marcus, pointing to the one hundred or so chairs that had been set up and decorated in elegant white satin bows. You can stand in front of the fountain when the ceremony begins, and sing as I escort Mary down the stairs. She asked me to give her away, since her father is no longer living."

"Oh," Marcus said, suddenly realizing how little he actually knew about both Mary and Heather. "Where is she now?" he asked.

"Mary's upstairs with Heather and their mother," Josephine replied. "And I'll be joining them momentarily so that I too can get ready for the ceremony."

"And what about the groom?" Marcus inquired.

"You'll get to meet Anthony shortly," Ted responded. "He had to make a run but should be back in a few minutes. For now though, let me get you situated. You can hang out in the media room and watch television. There's a bar in there, so feel free to help yourself to a drink."

The media room, which was off a ways in the far rear of the main level, was plush with a dozen large black leather recliners facing a large plasma television. Off to the left was a full bar and on the right were two large pool tables.

"Make yourself comfortable," Ted said before departing. "I would stay and hang out with you for a few minutes, but I've got to get dressed. Our guests should begin to arrive shortly. I'll tell Anthony you're in here when he returns. Here's the remote to the television. Go on and kick your feet up."

"Thank you," Marcus responded. He sat down in a recliner, intending to spread out and take a quick nap. However, he was fully dressed in a black tuxedo and was unable to recline like he wanted. Instead, he sat upright and watched televsion by himself, wondering what it must be like to have a house like the Jenson's.

An hour or so later, a tall, athletic-looking man with fair skin and wavy brown hair entered the media room wearing a white tuxedo. He startled Marcus, who had been immersed in ESPN News.

"Hey, how are you doing? I'm Anthony," he stated, extending his arm for a quick handshake. Marcus stood to shake his hand.

"Pleasure," Marcus replied. "So you're the lucky man who snagged Mary, huh?"

"I guess you could say that," Anthony answered, looking uncomfortable. He was fidgety as his pensive green eyes glanced nervously around the room.

"What's wrong, man? Got the pre-wedding jitters?" Marcus asked.

"I found out some disturbing news earlier today, and I'm just trying to sort through it all in my head," Anthony replied.

Not knowing quite what to say in response, Marcus shrugged. "Well let's have a drink. Maybe that'll help take your mind off whatever's bothering you," he suggested.

"I doubt it, but let's have a drink anyway," Anthony said. He walked over to the bar and pulled out a bottle of Goldschlager and two shot classes.

After Anthony had poured both glasses, Marcus raised his glass in the air to propose a toast.

"To love and happiness!"

But Anthony said nothing. He just took a quick swallow and poured himself another shot.

"You might want to slow it down, man," Marcus warned. But Anthony swallowed and poured another glass.

"Dude, you alright?" Marcus asked.

"Yeah," Anthony replied after taking another shot and then pouring another glass, which he subsequently consumed. He then reached into the refrigerator at the back of the bar and pulled out a Corona. "I just need to sit here for a few minutes and get my head together."

Marcus shook his head. He felt sick just watching Anthony gorge himself.

After their awkward moment at the bar, the two men relocated to the recliners and sat beside one another in silence - Marcus flipping through the sports channels and Anthony zoning out, obviously preoccupied and very disturbed over something.

"Hey guys, it's time!" Ted said thirty minutes later as he came rushing into the media room. "The guests are all here and Mary is ready. Just give me a minute to get upstairs to her so that I can walk her down."

Five minutes later, Anthony and Marcus made their entrance into the large room that was now filled with guests. Marcus cleared his throat and reconnected with his inner child - the one that used to sing from the depths of his soul every Sunday at church. He tuned all of the guests out and focused his glance on the top of the stairwell that was to his left as he began to sing a capella:

You are so beautiful ... to me
You are so beautiful ... to me, can't you see?

He almost forgot the rest of the words when he saw Heather at the head of the staircase. A beautiful Maid of Honor, she was dressed in a full-length, champagne-colored gown with a semi-modest split that stopped just above her knee on the right side. Her long hair had been pulled back into a simple but elegant bun, with just a few curly ringlets that framed her angelic face.

Heather froze when she saw Marcus, whose eyes penetrated right through her as he sang:

You're everything I hope for
You're everything I need
You are so beautiful ... to me

When Heather neglected to begin her descent on cue, Marcus decided some improvisation was in order. In what appeared to be a well-choreographed move, he slowly walked up the stairs toward her and continued singing:

You are so beautiful to me....
You are so beautiful to me....
Can't you see....

Heather's tight-lipped expression caused Marcus some concern as he thought about how far and how hard he'd fall if, in a fit of rage, she pushed him backward. He dismissed the negative thoughts from his mind and decided to take a leap of faith. When they were eye-to-eye, he pivoted to the left, poked out his right elbow and motioned for her to grab hold of his arm. Fortunately, she cooperated and he escorted her down the stairs, singing the entire time:

You're everything that I hoped for
You're everything I need

You are so beautiful
You are so beautiful
You are so beautiful to me....

"I miss you," he whispered in her ear when they reached the bottom. Heather rolled her eyes and assumed her position in front of the crowd. The wedding officiate, a middle-aged gentleman who looked like he could be related to Ted, stood beside her.

Next came the bride. Everyone in the room stood as Mary made her way down the stairs with Ted. She had on a simple yet elegant off-the-shoulder white satin gown that tapered around her waist and stopped just below her knees. Her hair hung in curls to one side, and she wore a white rose on the other. A vision of loveliness, she looked like an angel floating down from Heaven.

"That's my baby!" an attractive woman who was an older version of Heather declared proudly from the first row of chairs.

Anthony tugged nervously at his bowtie while Mary walked down the stairs with his father. His face was expressionless, even though his beautiful bride smiled at him.

Marcus continued to sing:

You are so wonderful to me....
You are so wonderful to me....
Can't you see....

Ted and Mary reached the bottom of the stairs and Ted prepared to hand Mary over to his son. Mary turned to face Anthony and placed both of her hands in his. She mouthed the words "I love you" to her groom and a series of "Aw's" and "That's so sweet's" echoed throughout the room.

Marcus chuckled. Memories of the foul smell of Mary's breath came back to him as he reflected on their brief night together. He was thankful that it was Anthony, not him standing face-to-face with her.

Anthony gave Mary a lukewarm smile, which almost instantly changed into a frown. Then without warning, his body began to jerk in a series of convulsive motions. Suddenly, his mouth was forced open by a tsunami of slimy fluid that landed mostly on Mary's dress. The rest landed in a puddle on the floor.

In total shock, Mary looked down at her soiled dress.

"Ewwwwww, that's gross!" a small child yelled from the audience as other guests gasped in horror.

Anthony, who was now doubled over, spat out the last few drops while Ted and Marcus went to his aid. Heather rushed over to her sister.

"Uh - ladies and gentlemen, it appears that the groom is ill," the wedding officiate announced. Please bear with us for a few minutes."

"I can't do this!" Anthony said loudly.

"What's wrong with you?" Mary cried.

Anthony stood upright and looked her in the eyes.

"You lied to me," he said.

"What?" Mary asked.

"You lied!" Anthony yelled. "I thought you were carrying my baby!"

"I am carrying your baby!" Mary responded frantically.

"Then why are you taking fertility pills? I found the prescription for Clomid on the floor of your car this morning. It was written just last week. I didn't know what it was 'til I looked it up on the internet. Why would you need fertility pills if you're already pregnant?"

Mary's lips quivered as though she were caught in an ice storm. She was speechless.

Anthony doubled over again and the next wave hit, this time splashing all over his shoes.

"I can't believe this!" Mary sobbed, covering her forehead with her hand.

Just when it appeared that his sickness had immobilized him, Anthony stood up once again and continued: "You've been lying to me the whole time, and I have finally figured out that you're just another gold-digging tramp!"

"You will not speak to my daughter that way!" The older version of Heather yelled as she jumped up from her chair and rushed over to the bride and groom.

"Hattie, please!" Josephine pleaded with Mary and Heather's mother while she made her way over to diffuse the rapidly escalating situation.

But Mary and Anthony ignored them both.

"Anthony, don't do this. I'm so sorry!" Mary cried.

"I'll bet you are, now that I've caught you in a lie. I was really tempted to go through with this whole wedding, even knowing the truth, Mary," Anthony replied. "But you haven't been honest with me and I suspect that it's not me, but the lifestyle you thought you'd have as my wife that you wanted. The wedding is off."

Anthony snatched his bowtie off, threw it down in the messy puddle on the floor and stormed out of the front door, leaving a trail of vomit-stained footprints behind as Mary stood there bawling in front of everyone like a two-year-old. Her mother, sister, Josephine and Ted all attempted to comfort her.

Marcus threw his hands up in frustration. As the guests stood around gossiping about the sequence of events that had just taken place and the clean-up crew came to the rescue to get up the mess that had been made on the floor, he too left the scene. He watched Anthony hurl one last time in the driveway before getting into his car and making a dramatic exodus out of the estate.

Marcus paced back and forth outside, trying to figure out what to do. He got into his car and sat there for what felt like an eternity. He watched guest after guest slowly depart from the premises.

"I can't leave now, or I may never see Heather again," he said to himself. Then he took a deep breath, got out of the car and went back inside.

Ted and Heather were saying goodbye to the last few guests that remained as Marcus re-entered the house. Mary, her mother, and Josephine had disappeared into another area of the house.

"I can't believe this has happened, but my sister is strong and she'll get through it," Heather told an elderly, sympathetic couple. She had her back to the door and didn't see or hear Marcus return. She hugged both the male and female she had been talking to. As she turned to walk them out, she ran right into Marcus.

"Oh my God!" she gasped as she put her hand over her chest. "You scared the mess out of me."

"That's the singer!" the elderly woman that Heather had been talking with turned and said to her other half. She turned toward Marcus. "You have one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard in my life. You can sing to me any day!"

The old lady winked at Marcus, causing him to blush. Her husband shook his head. "Let's go Nellie Ann," the man playfully warned his wife. They bothed waved goodbye on their way out of the door.

As Ted continued to talk to a small group of people nearby, Marcus turned to Heather and tried to find some words from somewhere deep within to say to her.

"Heather, I'm sorry about what happened today," he told her.

"Is that why you came back?" she asked angrily.

"No, I came back because I really need to talk to you."

"No need to apologize," she said, holding her hand up to stop him from continuing. "I know you wanted my sister and that's fine. That's the way it's been with every man I've cared for who's ever laid eyes on her, but I'm over it. I've moved on."

"It's not like that, Heather!" Marcus insisted. "Please give me a chance to tell my side of the story. My whole purpose for being here today was to see you. I know you probably think I'm just like all those other guys, but I'm ready to come clean about everything. Just give me a chance."

"Now is not the time for this," Heather stated. "This day isn't about me. It's about Mary, and right now her heart is broken."

"Okay. When, then? Better yet, I want you to meet me somewhere tomorrow morning."

Marcus was grateful for the idea that had suddenly popped into his head.

"Marcus, I can't do this," Heather refused.

"You are a woman of faith, right?" Marcus asked her.

Heather paused to look him in the eyes.

"Heather, have faith. Not in me - I know I haven't proven myself to be trustworthy. Just have faith that there's a reason why we met and why we're standing here together today. Give me a chance to make this right. I'm going to get some paper and a pen and write an address down for you. I just need you to meet me there around six in the morning."

"Six in the morning? You're crazy!" Heather replied.

"Come on Heather. I'm begging you."

Heather looked away and she thought for a moment. "Okay Marcus," she agreed. "But this had better be worth it."

Marcus let out a sigh of relief. That was all the reassurance that he needed to move forward with his new plan.