4: 4
The moment I walked in, their voices cut off.
"Elaine, you're back? See anything else you feel like eating?"
This time I didn't take the menu his mother held out.
I dug the diary out of my bag.
And threw it on the table.
Mason's face went bone-white.
"Call the wedding off tomorrow."
His mother's expression froze, then she smiled. "What's this all about?"
Alison shot to her feet, worked up. "You can't call it off!"
"Is it so bad, me letting you be with Mason?"
Maybe it was the mocking smile on my face that set her off.
Her eyes went red as she stared at me.
"Elaine, don't be so ungrateful. Look at what you've got. How would someone like you ever have climbed high enough to reach our family?"
"If it weren't for us, do you think you'd be at the company you're at now?"
The company had sent me the offer before I'd even graduated.
They actually believed I only got in because of them.
"Sneaking around with Mason every single day. Aren't you exhausted?"
"Elaine, what nonsense are you spouting!"
Mason's shout made me turn to him.
"Mason, in the whole time we've been together, when have I ever wronged you?"
He lowered his head and said nothing.
I went on.
"You deleted the proposal I'd stayed up all night to finish, and I didn't say a word. You said you didn't want to do long distance, so I turned down the company's overseas assignment."
"Elaine, calm down."
I blocked his mother's hand as she reached over to soothe me.
"I am calm."
I let out a breath and looked at them.
"Mason and Alison want each other. Just give them your blessing, and stop letting them ruin other people's lives."
Seeing how set I was, Alison finally started to panic.
"Elaine, you always used to go on about how great my brother is. That's all me, I trained him to be that way, and I don't even mind you enjoying the shade. So just don't make a thing of all this."
"I do mind."
I picked up my bag to leave.
But Mason grabbed me, panic flickering in his eyes.
"You can't go! We're getting married tomorrow."
I looked at the piercing in his ear.
And remembered that a boy who got his ears pierced had made a promise with someone for the next life.
"You and Alison don't need to save it for the next life. I'll hand this one to you both."
Mason went rigid all over, but he still wouldn't let go.
"You're supposed to be marrying my brother, and you'd walk out on us? With a personality like yours, who's ever going to want you?"
"All this time, I've been your only friend. And I'm the only one willing to be your bridesmaid."
Alison edged closer to me.
Every word landing straight in my chest.
I raised my hand and slapped her.
She clapped a hand to her face and stared at me, unable to believe it.
Like it had never crossed her mind that I would hit her.
Then, furious, she ran out.
Mason's face was frantic.
"Elaine, you know how Alison can't stand pain, and you still hit her."
Finally he sighed.
"I'll come to fetch you for the wedding tomorrow."
And with that he went chasing after Alison.
"Elaine, Alison's right. If it weren't for her, you'd never have touched a class like ours. Think it over carefully."
His mother said her piece and left too.
I went home, turning their words over in my mind.
I gave a cold laugh.
Then took my suitcase to a hotel near the airport.
Alison had gotten one thing right.
I was starved for love, and I don't walk away from people easily.
But I'm stubborn too. Once I've made up my mind, I don't look back.
The next day, on the way to fetch his bride, Mason's heart was in his throat.
"Alison, I keep feeling like Elaine's gone."
"Didn't she already turn down that overseas assignment? There's no way she'd leave us."
Seeing how sure Alison was, Mason let out a breath.
He took out the key and opened the door.
The moment it swung open he went rigid all over. There was no one inside at all.
