Murderous Matrimony(66)

Half the Village was there, and we had a champagne toast. I cried and laughed at the same time. I had never been so happy. There were hugs all around from all the people I knew so well who had shared so much of my life.

Chase’s parents and brother weren’t present. They would be at the wedding, but their feelings about our marriage hadn’t changed. We’d had dinner again with them, but it had been a cold, angry affair.

“This is the way my family is,” Chase joked. “We only have to see them once a year.”

I could see the hurt in his eyes, but there was nothing I could do about it. There was no magic spell for making his parents different. And I didn’t want us to be different.

Manny’s parents, on the other hand, had been delightful. They might be royalty, but they weren’t a bit pompous or overbearing. I didn’t understand why Manny had felt the need to run away, but it must have made sense to him at the time.

There had been dozens of rehearsals for the actual wedding. Not only did it have to be good for us, it had to be right for the cameras. Our movements were choreographed, and hairstyles approved.

One of the producers from Adventureland had wanted me to wear a corset. I flatly told him it wasn’t happening. He’d talked to Merlin, and I’d told Merlin the same thing.”

“But just think how—” he held his rounded hands out in front of his chest—“great you’d look.”

Merlin even went so far as to send me a new corset from Adora’s shop, Cupid’s Arrow.

I tried it on for Chase and he gasped. “I don’t think you should wear that for the wedding either, but you could wear it around here any time!”

“Thanks.” I kissed him. My breasts felt like they were in my face. He didn’t seem to mind.

The wedding gown was finished, and approved. It didn’t clash at all with Livy’s dress. Our rings were ready. Eve had my bouquet set. We’d been consulted about the food, but I’d approved it without really looking at it.

What did it matter what we ate? Chase and I were finally going to be married.

There were huge screens that would show all the couples getting married at once from different angles. It was going to be like going to a concert.

A huge round dais was set up where Chase and I would stand. We’d practiced that too. It made me feel like the figure on a wedding cake. It kind of looked ridiculous and cheesy.

But that didn’t matter either, right? Because Chase and I were going to be together.

It hit me when I saw the two-hundred-and fifty couples coming into the Village with their families, clothes, and wedding gear. We were going through with this. It wasn’t what I wanted. It had been created by people I didn’t even know to please an audience of strangers.

I panicked.

At noon, I slipped out of the Village. I caught a bus a few blocks down. I joined other people on their way to work, school, and entertainment. They didn’t know me. I wasn’t wearing Ren Faire garb. I was just another person.

I stayed on the bus until it reached the north end of Myrtle Beach. It was Friday, and a good crowd was gathered for the weekend. I’d seen dozens of posters put up for the wedding at the Village. Not that it mattered by then—the event was sold out.

My cell phone rang over and over again. I ignored it. I knew it was Chase, and I didn’t want him to worry, but I couldn’t talk to him. I needed some space.

I finally got off at a public access spot to reach the ocean. I wandered over the stairs, sand dunes, and plants surrounding them. Every spare inch along the road that faced the ocean was taken up with hotels, except for these places. Here, anyone could spend time at the beach on a sunny day. Anyone could get lost in the cry of the seagulls and the roar of the Atlantic.

I sat on the sand and watched the children at play. It was too cold for most people to actually go into the water, but there were a few swimmers and surfers who weren’t too timid. I heard languages from all over the world being spoken around me.

A little crab was trying to burrow into the sand to get away from the noise and the people. I helped him by getting out of his way. I picked up a few shells and put them in my pocket.

The wind whipped at my hair, and the sun burned my eyes. I didn’t care. I needed that moment of peace and quiet.

It didn’t really matter about the wedding. I would have been happy living with Chase in the Dungeon without a ring—or an enchanted house. I just wanted us to be happy, and love each other. I didn’t care about anything else.

I had to remember that today while I was standing on top of the ‘cake’ and trying to pay attention to all the people shouting orders at me. This day was for Adventureland and Renaissance Faire Village. After today, was for us.