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| Chapter 5 1922 For two days they avoided each other as though nothing had happened. They knew, Nick knew and yet one word was not uttered on the subject. His father would have killed to have broken Maria's spirit and if he'd only known what had happened, he'd have taken matters into his own hands. Nick on the other hand, had to play the unsuspecting boyfriend; pretending his sweet little Maria was still sweet so his Daddy wouldn't suspect. Every man has his breaking point and Nick was just about to hit his. You'd have never known he was about to burst but he played it cool til the very end. Maria was going over a song with the orchestra when she turned to find Nick dismissing them. He escorted her to the piano's bench."So how's everything going with the song there?" "Good I guess. Is there a reason for your little interruption because I have two hours before the show." "Actually there is. I had a lot of time to think while I was away." "And what did you come up with?" "You and me forever,"he presented the diamond engagement ring to her. It must have shown on her face because he came back with,"What? No tears of joy or "Yes Nick I would love to share forever with you"?" "Did you expect a pledge of eternal love after the way you treat me like an object?" "Let's put it this way, if you don't say yes, my father finds out about your little weekend escapade with Howard and we know how my Daddy is, especially when it comes to you." Painfully, she let him slide the ring on her finger as her eyes met Howard's slowly turning away from her from across the room. Present day Any fool should have seen Nick and Howie could barely look each other in the eye for the past two days. They drifted aimlessly past each other on stage every night as Maria watched the situation she had created come full circle. Why she did it she'd never understand. Howie made love to her and she was lucky if Nick screwed her once a week. It was never true love for Nick and Maria but Nick knew he didn't want to be alone the rest of his life and Maria had seemed to be the perfect choice; even his mother loved her. After the run through that afternoon, Nick pulled her aside to the piano's bench still in the center of the stage."We need to talk Maria." "About?" "About our future." "What future?" "Oh come on Maria. I think you and I have both made our fair share of mistakes if you know what I mean," directing his nod toward Howie. "Point taken,"she reluctantly agreed because she knew it was Howie she loved. "I'm willing to put all that behind us and start on a new future together." "What are you talking about?" "You and me forever,"the words coiled in her ear as if out of some distant memory. She wanted to say no as he presented her with a ring that looked vaguely familiar. She studied every nook and cranny of the ring."It was passed down from my great, great grandmother." "I don't know,"her eyes drifted over to Howie and AJ talking on the corner of the stage. She knew the answer in her heart was no but she knew destiny was going to take an ugly turn if she didn't say yes. It was going to anyway. She held all their destinies in one little box and she answered,"I can't." |
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