Page 57 of Wild Card
“All these years, I thought he was a friend.” Earl is rambling and looking so confused.
“Earl, you have to tell me what's going on,” I beg him, feeling time running out when I see the mayor starting to march down the aisle toward us.
“What’s the damn hold up? Is your sciatica playing up or something? I told you I would give you away,” he whispers under his breath, his top lip sweating as his face turns even redder.
Snatching my arm, he takes a long, deep breath and starts walking me up the aisle, himself. I look back at Earl helplessly as he shakes his head and looks disappointed in himself.
“Smile for Christ's sake. It’s your wedding day,” Mr. Porter reminds me from the side of his mouth, not letting his own smile falter as we make the journey to the altar, where he hands me over to his son. It takes everything inside me not to cry or scream out for someone to help me. I look back at the doors and see that Earl has taken a seat at the back, and when one of the groomsmen closes the door, I realize how much I wanted it to be Ash who came to stop this.
I’ve thought about calling him so many times over the past twenty-four hours, telling him I’ve changed my mind. But I’ve sealed my own fate now, and I’ve got to live with it.
I look at Esmé; she’s barely spoken to me all morning, and I get that she’s mad and frustrated with me, but I really need her right now.
Priest Wilson starts talking, and when I notice the way Esmé is looking at Hack, I try to discreetly turn my head so I can see what they’re trying to communicate to each other. Brett squeezes my hand to remind me to focus, and I fake him a smile before I let my mind take me away to a different place. A place where this man is not about to become my husband. I picture myself on that ride I took on the back of Ash’s bike, and recall how free I felt.
“Repeat after me, Ruby.” I hear the priest say my name and snap myself out of the daydream.
“I, Ruby Saunders, take this man to be my–”
“She doesn’t.” A rough voice interrupts him as the door crashes open and someone in the room makes a loud gasp of shock. I close my eyes as relief crashes over me, and when I open them again and turn my head, I do not expect to see the person I see, standing in the middle of the aisle.
“Grizz!” I stare at him in disbelief.
“You can’t marry him. I won’t let you.” He shakes his head and starts marching toward us.
“Byron, rein in your boy!” Mr. Porter quickly stands up to block him, but Grizz keeps on walking. Pressing his forehead into his and stepping him backwards.
“Grizz, what the fuck are ya doin'?” Byron stands up and moves to the front. “Sorry, Father,” he apologizes before looking back to Grizz for some answers.
“Sit down, Byron,” Grizz warns through his teeth, looking ready to unleash hell. “Sit thefuckdown before I let this whole congregation know what you’ve been doin’.” He lowers his voice and dares him with his eyes.
“I’m sorry, but this has got nothin’ to do with you.” Mr. Porter tries to intervene again.
“This haseverythingto do with me, that's my fuckin’ daughter.” I hear that loud gasp again when his finger points at me, and this time, I realize that it came from me.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t let you marry him, darlin’.” Grizz looks real serious as he steps a little closer
“Grizz, let's just take this outside.” Byron presses his body up against him and whispers in his ear. He doesn’t seem shocked like everyone else in the room is; he just looks nervous. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look that way before.
“I ain’t goin’ nowhere.” Grizz forces him out of his way. “I’m sorry, darlin’, I didn’t want it to be this way, but I’ve had some things to deal with,” he starts to explain.
“Does someone want to tell me what the hell is going on here?” Brett tries to stand between us, and Grizz makes the entire room go silent when he punches him straight to the floor.
“That's assault! Someone call the cops.” Mr. Porter rushes to his son’s aid.
“Objection!!!” A loud voice comes from the back of the church, and when I look back at the doors and see Ash, I feel my heart start to flutter.
“What the hell happened here?” He stares in shock when he sees Brett on the floor and Grizz clinging to my hand. “I’m not too late, am I? Tell me I made it on time.” He rushes toward me, looking at Grizz oddly before lifting up my other hand to check it.
“Phew, no ring.” He holds his other hand up, telling me to wait while he catches his breath. “Ruby, you can’t marry him. You can’t marry him, because I’m in love with you,” he confesses, and I feel my jaw drop open as I stare back at him. “Well, ya gonna say somethin’? That's the first time I ever said that to anyone. I was kinda hoping for at least a smile.”
I can see that he’s teasing me to deflect the fact he’s embarrassed to be in front of all these people, and when I try to form words, nothing comes out.
“Grizz, we’re kinda havin’ a moment here.” Ash leans into him and whispers. Clearly, having no idea what bomb he just dropped.
“He’s my dad,” I explain, trying to absorb the words as I say them. “Areyou my dad?” I turn my head to look at the man I’ve known since I came to town. He’s hardly ever said a word to me. Why choose now to tell me this?
“I’m sorry, darlin’, but I am. I only found out a few days ago, and I’d have been here to stop this sooner if I could have, but…” He turns his head to where Byron was standing, but he’s gone.
