Kate was pleasantly surprised when she got a wedding invitation in the mail from a friend of hers she'd known the longest. Anna was finally marrying her boyfriend Tim of five years. There was just one problem. Money. Well, money in general but she had none to stay at the fancy hotel Anna and Tim had picked for the out-of-town guests. Thankfully Kate didn't live as far as some of the people that were invited. Three hours through each way, she'd either have to leave the reception as soon as it started or come clean with Anna, pray that there was a spare room.
Here goes nothing. Kate picked up the phone and dialed Anna's number. "Hello." Anna's voice said from the other side.
"Hey! It's Kate. I'm so excited about your wedding. I can't wait to be there for you...there's... just one little problem." Kate said nervously.
"Kate spill the beans what's going on?" asked Anna. They had been friends long enough that they could say or ask anything of each other.
"Nothing major and I feel like a total loser for even asking this, but do you happen to have anywhere free I can sleep for the night of the wedding?" Asking made her feel about the size of a child.
Anna let out a relieved laugh. "Oh, I thought it would be way worse than that. Like you weren't coming or something. Yeah, for you absolutely." Anna paused for a moment thinking about the rooming accommodations. "Crap would you be okay if you suffered with a couch and not a bed," Anna asked.
"Yeah, that's fine with me. I just need a few hours of sleep before I hit the road back home." Kate was gracious that Anna was able to find a place for her. She should have just called sooner instead of waiting until the last minute.
"You won't be staying at our place. It would be at my dad's house." This was where Anna and Kate would play for hours when they were little, running the yard for hide and seek, picking blackberries (well more like eating.), and spending hours on the trampoline or pool. before Anna's parents would yell for them to come in for whatever reason. "My house is full with mom, the in-laws as well as Tim's sister and husband. At least my dad will have a friendly face around. Well, one that won't stress him out. My brother still lives there. You remember Chad. Besides he's also stuck with my Uncle Howard and Aunt Betty. You know how much fun they are." With a sarcastic note in her voice. "Mom would drop us all off there on days she had to work during the summer, and you happened to be spending a few days with me. You got off lucky. That's where me and Chad went all summer. We worked from the moment we got there until Mom came by to get us. I only put up with it for the delicious food. Anyway, I'm getting off track. So yeah, you'll be at Dad's"
"That summer I couldn't eat chicken after I saw how they make it to the plate." Kate joked.
"Yeah, I remember. But you must have gotten over that because you love Chick-fil-A." Anna joked back.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, I will see you soon then." Kate said.
"Okay cool," Anna replied and they both hung up the phone.
'
Shit!'
Kate thought. There was no way she could be alone with Anna's dad. Ever since her 21
st
birthday, she has seen him as a different man, a sexier man. That night even though her head was flooded with alcohol, she knew when he laid her down, safely that night that when she went to kiss him good night on the cheek but landed on his lips that was something she always craved to finish. He was a gentleman, walked away, as well as told her that the kiss never happened, to forget about it. It was alcohol talking. If it was then why now five years later, she still got a low-down tickle secretly every time anyone brought him up?
'Breath.'
She told herself
'This is not something you need to think about right now. Put it to the back of your mind.'
The wedding day had finally come. The weather could not have been better. Clear skies, the heat was not overpowering even though it was July, and there wasn't a threat of a rain cloud for miles. When Kate arrived at Mr. Moore's house, she was relieved to find that everyone was still out to lunch.
She settled on the couch. There were still a few hours before she needed to change into the dress she had brought for the wedding since Anna and Tim decided to marry later in the day.
'I knew I should have left later.'
Kate thought.
Her eyes wandered around the living room. Yup, it was the same place as she remembered it all those years ago as a child, even the last time she was here. The tv stand was one of the old-time TVs that came built in a box. It actually would look nice if only he would take the time to remove the old tv, clean it up, and repaint. Turn it into an updated tv stand. Then mount a newer television on the wall above, but he always said that if something works why do you need to replace it? Didn't matter if it was way past its date of being cool. The furniture, however, looked new. Anna must have talked him into finally getting rid of this lazy boy set. Kate wasn't sure but it could have been as old as her. The only thing that looked out of place was that dam TV stand. Her fingers were itching to get at it. But that wasn't why she was here.
When everyone got back, they all said their hello's to one another. "Hey, Mr. Moore." Said Kate giving him a big hug.