Love’s Suicide(16)
Author: Jennifer Foor

“He isn’t jealous in general. It’s only when it has to do with Brooks.”

She shook her head and laughed. “Girl, I wish I had the man problems that you have.”

“Don’t say that.”

“It’s true. Anyway, maybe after you’re wed Branch will finally settle down.”

“Just help me get through things until then. I’m going to need the support.”

She laughed and put her arm around me. “I’ve got your back, chick. Nobody’s going to ruin your day, I promise.”

I wish that I could believe her, but a feeling in the pit of my stomach wouldn’t go away. With less than a month to go, I worried more than ever if I was doing the right thing, and if I wasn’t, would I be able to walk away from both of them, to keep our family together?

Chapter 8

December 21st 2010

I woke up next to Branch wide-eyed and smiling at me. “Good morning, beautiful.”

After yawning and giving my arms a stretch I fell into his chest. “Good morning to you.”

He rubbed my back as he spoke. “You ready to get up and head to the hotel, where we’ll be married tomorrow?”

I leaned up and kissed him. “Yes.”

We’d been getting along better after our date night from Hell weeks ago. As long as we didn’t talk about his brother, everything was fine with the world. Our sex life sucked, but considering the stress we were under, I felt it to be normal.

While getting ready, I silently thought about seeing him again after so long. I’d missed him so much, but didn’t want to offend Branch the night before our wedding. We just needed to get through the rehearsal dinner and wake up and get married. It was going to be easy enough.

Branch and I had much to discuss on our way to the city, like what time people were arriving and where I needed him to be. I’d also booked everyone’s room in advance, putting me and Melissa on a separate floor than him and his brother. After all, it was bad luck for the groom to see the bride, so we were spending the night apart.

My jitters weren’t really apparent anymore, as I just wanted to be married so we could finally stop living on edge. Once Branch knew that I’d committed my life to him, he’d be able to settle down and let Brooks back into our life.

I wasn’t asking to spend every moment with him, but seeing him every few months would have been nice.

We’d arrived at the hotel before anyone else, and I couldn’t help but watch the sliding glass doors for Brooks to enter. It had been so long, and even though I knew Branch was going to be mad, I wanted to at least say hello.

When Danica and Walt arrived, they had a bunch of things to carry. Branch headed outside to give them a hand, while I was talking to the concierge about the banquet room and what time we would be able to get in and start setting up.

Now, there is something to be said about any man in a uniform. It’s like it makes even the most non-attractive man much hotter, but when I heard someone behind me clearing his voice and turned around to see him in full military fatigues, I thought I was going to pass out.

He sat his bags down and opened his arms for me. Without regard for who could see us, I fell right into him, not willing to let go. “I missed you so much,” he said into my hair.

I pulled away and looked up at him. He’d changed.

His baby face was gone and replaced with a roughly shaven, more squared jaw. His hair was short, around the same length as his brothers, except his was covered by a hat. Those blue eyes that I looked into every single day shone back at me, but were somehow different than Branch’s. “It’s been a long time.”

He smiled and wouldn’t stop looking at me. “You look great, Kat.”

“Can I help you, sir?” The lady behind the desk interrupted.

He stepped forward and pulled out his wallet. “I’m here to check in. The name is Valentine, Brooks Valentine.”

I stayed back letting him finish his transaction. I couldn’t explain it, but it seemed like I’d forgotten what I was there for in the first place. All I wanted to do was sit down and have a drink with this person that I’d known my whole life.

“Well look at what the cat dragged in.” Branch came walking in with his arms full of boxes. He sat them down in a chair and walked over to greet his brother. I was actually in shock that he seemed genuinely happy to see him. They hugged, before Branch backed up and put his arm around me. “It’s real good to see you, bro.”

Brooks smiled. “Yeah, you too.”

I watched as his parents took their turns hugging and checking out that their son was really standing in front of us in one piece.

While they seemed occupied, I took it upon myself to walk away and catch a breather. I didn’t know why, but something felt wrong, as if it was rehearsed.

I grabbed the boxes and started carrying them into the banquet hall.

Once inside, I sat down on a chair and tried to calm down. For a couple moments I felt like I couldn’t catch my breath. The room was spinning all around, and I had to put my head between my knees to stop it.

I heard the door open and someone approaching me, but I didn’t look up to see who it was.

Danica sat down beside me and put her hand on my head. “Just breathe.”

“What’s happening to me? My chest feels tight and I can’t catch my breath.”

“You’re having an anxiety attack.” She pulled me into her arms and started rubbing the back of my hair. “Just take nice even breaths and focus on one thing. Block everything else out.”

I tried doing as she said, but the room was still spinning. “I think I’m going to pass out.”

“You won’t.”

After ten minutes, when I still wasn’t feeling better, she helped me up to my room and removed my shoes while I laid down on the bed. She pulled the covers over me and got me a damp towel for my head. “You’ve gotten yourself so worked up. We need to get you feeling better before dinner time.” I watched her walk over and grab something out of her purse. “Take one of these. It will help.”

I put it in my mouth and accepted the plastic cup of water to swallow it down with. “What is it?”

“Xanax. It’s for anxiety. In a couple of minutes you’ll start to feel better.”

She sat with me and held my hand until I finally started to relax. All of the sudden I felt so tired. “I can’t fall asleep. There’s too much to do.”

Danica leaned down and kissed my forehead. “You need to rest. There are plenty enough people here to take care of things while you get yourself feeling better.”