The Marriage Contract (13 page)

Cara reached up
and gripped the golden roped pole in front of her as the carousel began to
move.  The music blared, drowning out the sounds of the crowded wharf.  She
hadn’t felt so much excitement in years.  And it was just a carnival ride! 

As the horses
moved up and down on the platform, the familiar tune Let Me Call You Sweetheart
played.  It fed the festive mood riding high inside her.  The sweet smell of
fried dough and cotton candy hung heavy in the humid night. 

Unlike the
dream she had the other day, Devin was here beside her instead of standing on
the sidelines.  She glanced over at Devin and smiled.  The wind whipped through
his dark hair as if he was riding a real wild stallion.  As he reached up to
catch the brass ring that teased them with each passing, the blur of the crowd
in the perimeter took on a surreal look.  All she could focus on was Devin.

If it hadn’t
been for the fact that she knew Roger wasn’t having a good time, she’d be
having a fabulous time.  That crack shot comment he’d made about the wooden
carousel was something she’d become immune to.  She’d let it go, rather than
make a scene in front of Devin or hurt the saleswoman’s feelings. 

She saw the
look on his face when they'd seen the wooden carousel, and she knew he saw how
much she loved it.  When they walked away from the table empty-handed, his face
registered pure shock, as if he were disappointed by her cowardice.

With that
embarrassing scene behind them now, Cara was starting to relax again.  She
couldn't remember having so much fun.  At least not in recent years.  Her face
muscles actually hurt from laughing and smiling so much.  She knew without a
doubt that it was being with Devin that had cut through the melancholy she'd
been feeling over her parents move.  When she was with him, she didn't feel so
alone.

His laughter
broke into her thoughts and she was once against transfixed by the magic of the
moment.

“Here comes the
brass ring,” Devin called out to her over the music. 

“Try to catch
it.”

Laughing, he
reached one hand up while holding the twisted gold pole in front of him for
support.  Her eyes fixed on the brass ring speed toward him.  When it was
almost upon him, he reached for it, but brushed right by his fingertips.

“Missed!” he
said, settling back down on the saddle.

Cara had to
wonder just what else she’d missed as the ride wound down and the revolving
motion of the horses finally came to a halt. 

Next was the
double Ferris wheel, which they decided to ride three times before the cotton
candy in Cara's stomach told her it was time to get off.  When they walked
through the gate at the end of the ride, Cara spotted Roger, who again decided
to stay behind. 

“Are you
finally ready to leave?” he said, more than a little annoyed.

“Already?”

“I'm sorry, but
a guy can get kind of lonely standing on the sidelines all night.”

Cara's heart
sank.  Roger was right.  Although she was having the time of her life with
Devin, it couldn't have been much fun for him.

“I had more fun
tonight than I've had in years,” Devin said, looking at her with what she
thought was regret in his gaze.  “It's a shame to have it end now.” 

With that Devin
turned his attention in the opposite direction.  Cara used that opportunity to
talk to Roger privately.

“You really
want to leave?”

Roger sighed. 
“Look, you know this whole thing isn't my kind of entertainment.  If you want
to spend some time with Devin, that's okay with me.”

“You won't be
upset?”  She knew better than to think Roger would be jealous.

Roger made a
face.  “Cara, I like to think of myself as an open guy.  I know how you feel
about me.”

“We all drove
together.  I don't want you to have to come back and get us.”

“Actually, I'm
not sure Devin would mind if we both left now.”

“What do you
mean?”  

Cara twisted
around and looked in the direction Roger was staring.  Devin was turned in the
opposite direction, talking to someone.  He was standing in front of the person
and all Cara could see were long slender fingers with bright red painted nails
brushing up and down Devin's arm.

Her stomach
recoiled.  She would have liked to think that all this person was doing was
asking for directions to the port-a-john, but that would be ridiculous.  Almost
as ridiculous as the jealousy that gripped her when she saw the woman standing
in front of Devin was Penny Brunelle. 

Yes, this time
she knew what she was feeling was jealousy.  She'd been having a wonderful time
having Devin all to herself.  She didn't want to think about sharing him.

Taking her by
the arm, Roger said, “Maybe it’s time for us to go.”

“You’re
leaving?”  Devin was standing by Cara's side now, a look of regret etching his
features. 

It hadn’t taken
but a moment for Penny to cozy up next to him.  She wore a provocative black
catsuit with plunging neckline.  She was on the scoop for a husband all right. 
And what better place to advertise than a festival where there were certain to
be eligible men.

“Afraid so,”
Roger said, holding out his hand to shake Devin’s.

“I hope you
don't mind if I hang around for a while,” Devin announced, which brought a
thorough smile from Penny.

A frosty chill
filled Cara and she hoped it wasn't evident in her tone.  “I don’t feel right
leaving you.  We drove, so how will you get home?”

“That won’t be
a problem.  My car is certainly big enough for the two of us,” Penny said in
her throaty voice.  Cara wondered if it was natural or years of practice with
husband number one, two and three.

“Then I guess
it's all set then,” Cara said quietly. 

“I'll see you
tomorrow,” he said.

“Okay.”

It wasn’t like
Cara to be jealous but she was.  No doubt about it.  And she hated the feeling.

She turned and
walked away, through the crowd.  Just like in her dream, except this time she
was with Roger.     

Her foul mood
hadn’t eased up when she and Roger finally reached the car.  Jovial voices of
the people having fun, and the sound of carnival music, drifted through the
air, letting her know what she was missing.

She looked back
at the bright lights staining the night sky and remembered the fun she’d been
having with Devin, his lighthearted smile, and his taste for adventure that
matched her own.

She sighed, her
shoulders sagging. 

Roger revved
the engine as she got into the front seat next to him, slamming the door.

“Everything
okay, Cara?” he asked, reaching over and taking her by the hand.  It was a
gesture that used to bring her comfort and now held no magic.  

She hesitated a
moment.  Everything was not all right.  She'd just left Devin at the festival
with Penny Brunelle and she was jealous as all get out, regardless of whether
or not she had a right to be. 

“I'm fine.”

As they drove
away from the festival, she turned back once and realized she'd just left a
piece of herself behind.  Maybe that was the demon she’d been fighting all
along.  This feeling that something was missing, something that only seemed to
fade when Devin was near, was her wake up call, a magical fire that brought her
to life. 

And she'd just
left all her magic back at the carnival.

# # #

Chapter Seven

“What do you
mean you’re not going?” 

Ruthie stood
over Cara as she lay in her bed.  Although Cara had pulled the pillow over her
head, she was more than certain her mother’s hands were propped on her hips and
she was scowling.

She whipped the
pillow off and sat up straight.  “I just don’t feel like going down to Penny’s
shop to try on bridesmaid dresses.  You have to admit that having bridesmaids
for renewing your wedding vows is a little...”  She searched for the right
words that wouldn’t offend her mother.

“Un-traditional?”
Ruthie supplied for her.

Cara shrugged. 
“Why don’t you just pick out the most beautiful dress in the shop and I’ll pay
for it.  I thought I’d stay back here today and help Daddy with some packing. 
You only have another week before you’re moving.”

Ruthie groaned
and placed the back of her hand on Cara’s forehead.

“What are you
doing?” Cara asked.

“You must have
a high fever if you’d rather stay here and listen to your father scream about
missing the Yankees game tonight, instead of going shopping.”

Cara plopped
her hands down on the bed sheets.  “Great.  You planned my birthday party for a
day the Yankees are playing the Sox?  Is Daddy even going to be here tonight?”

“Of course, I
had Larry lend him a watchman.  Even if his mind is on the game, he’ll be with
us in body.  Besides, I didn’t know about the game when I planned the party. 
It’s not like your father gives me a rundown of their schedule.” 

Ruthie took
both of Cara’s hands and began tugging her.  “If you don’t go down to try on a
gown, your father will get suspicious.  Remember, he thinks this wedding is for
you.”

Cara had to
laugh.  For once it seemed that her mother was working her antics on someone
other than her.  She had to admit that she’d expected things to be a lot worse
on this vacation than they had been so far.

On the other
hand, Devin went home with Penny Brunelle last night.  The last thing she
wanted to do was get pinned in a dress and listen to every detail of Penny’s
evening with Devin.

“You’re
supposed to be my maid of honor.  I want everything to be perfect.”

Cara chest
squeezed at that.  It was truly romantic that her parents were renewing their
wedding vows after all these years together.  Having her brother perform the
ceremony made it all the more special.  The least she could do was to rise to
the occasion and help her mother with the details.

“I'm not being
a very good maid of honor, am I?” Cara said with regret.

Ruthie smiled
and gave her a hug.  “I couldn't ask for a more perfect person for the job.  Now
let's get dressed so we're not late.”

To Cara’s
dismay, when they arrived at the shop it was empty except for Penny.  That
meant they had Penny’s undivided attention.  They’d spent the better part of an
hour sifting through gowns on the racks before they headed into a large back
dressing room with an armful of dresses to try on. 

She was happy
when her mother took the lead in keeping the conversation going with Penny. 
Ruthie went into her usual monologue of wanting grandchildren and how she’d
never have that particular pleasure in life if she left it up to Cara. 
Normally, Cara would have been annoyed and fired back with some quick retort
about how she was a grown woman who didn’t need a man to take out of garbage or
add a can of oil to the car. 

But she took
the small blessing that Ruthie was keeping Penny occupied for the moment.  Cara
didn’t have to hear any details of the previous evening.  

 The first two
dresses Cara tried on were awful.  They belonged back on the rack.  She stood
in front of the full length mirror holding the third dress to her chest and
stared at her reflection.  The dress was beautiful and she immediately fell in
love with it. 

She slipped
into the dress and stood with her back to her mother.  “Button me, will you?”

Ruthie gasped. 
“Oh, I think this is the one.”

When her mother
was through, Cara climbed up on the podium, and looked at her reflection.  The
pale peach gown had a jewel-neckline and delicate lace covering the
form-fitting bodice.     

Her mother held
her hands to her chest, tears glistened in her eyes.  “You look simply
beautiful, darling.”

Cara couldn't
help but feel giddy.  The dress looked almost magical on her, as if it was made
just for her and her alone.  “I can’t wear this one.”

Ruthie wilted. 
“Why not?  You don’t like it?”

“Perhaps you’d
like something more formal.  Because of the tea-length style, a lot of women
choose this type of dress for second time around weddings.  But it could
certainly be worn for a first wedding.”

Cara stifled a
retort, wondering what Penny was going to wear for her fourth time around.

She spun on the
podium in her bare feet and watched as the chiffon skirt lift with the motion. 
The peach color was a nice contrast to her tanned skin and dark hair and eyes.

Penny smiled
with businesslike satisfaction married with her uncanny charm.  “It truly is a
beautiful wedding dress.”

Ruthie coughed.

“Yes, it would
be perfect for a simply wedding, except I’m not the one who’s getting married. 
Didn’t you tell her what was really going on, Ma?”

“I, ah, yes,”
Ruthie stammered.

“This is a
beautiful dress.  But I think it’s a bit too showy for a maid of honor.” 

Cara stepped
down from the podium and took her mother’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. 

“It's supposed
to be your day.  All eyes should be on you, Ma, not me.”

“Thank you,
dear.  But I really do think this is the one.  Don’t you, Penny?”

“Simply
beautiful.  Devin will think so, too, I’m sure.”

Cara crinkled
her eyebrows.  “Devin?  What does Devin have to do with all this?” 

“I thought
Devin was the-” Penny began to say before Ruthie cut in.

“Devin is going
to be the best man,” Ruthie blurted out.

Turning to her
mother, Cara felt suspicion raking up her spine.  “Why Devin?  Why didn't you
ask one of Daddy’s friends?”

“I can’t risk your
father finding out until the morning of the ceremony.  By then it will be too
late for him to back out.  He'll have already spent his money.  I simply can’t
risk it.”

“I’m not sure
that Devin will still be in town on Labor Day.”