Nuptials for Sale (4 page)

As soon as they went to commercial, the host, our interviewer, came over to greet us.  My nerves overpowered me and I could barely form the words to speak.  Josh was friendly and joked around with the host.  They talked and laughed all through the commercial break, while I just sat there in a daze.

“Welcome back!  By now, I’m sure you’ve all seen the video.  Customers in a Virginia SuperMart got more than a bargain as they shopped late one night.  A normal night at the store turned into a scene from a romantic movie as a young man took control of the PA system and surprised his girlfriend with an impromptu proposal.”  He smiled at the camera as the video played on the monitors. 

I wasn’t sure if we were still on camera so I sat nervously with a fake smile plastered on my face.

When the video ended, the host smiled at the camera again.

“Here with me now is that couple, Josh Matthews and Melody Holden.  Josh, Mel, welcome to Wake up America.”

I smiled and nodded.

Josh squeezed my hand and spoke, “Thank you Kevin.  It’s a pleasure to be here.”

“So, Josh, we’re all dying to know your side of the story.  Did you plan this or was it truly a spur of the moment thing?” Kevin, the host, asked with a smile.

“It was completely spontaneous.  I don’t think I even knew what I was going to do when I grabbed the phone, but once I started, it all just felt right.” Josh said with complete ease.

“So, what made you decide to do it?” Kevin asked.

“We had so much fun that night and I was waiting for her to meet me in the front of the store,” Josh turned to look at me, “and I thought ‘I just had the best night of my life running around SuperMart doing nothing.  This is the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.’ So I asked her.” 

Several people behind the camera sighed admiringly at Josh’s performance.  I tried my best not to laugh.

“So Mel, were you surprised that Josh was proposing to you?” Kevin asked me.

“Definitely,” I answered easily. 

“What were you more surprised about, the fact that he was proposing or that he was proposing at a SuperMart?” he asked me with a laugh.

“The location was surprising, but it couldn’t top the fact that he was proposing.”

“You two have known each other for awhile, correct?”

“Yes.  Trip and I met in high school and we’ve been friends ever since.”  Josh answered.

“Trip?  Is that a nickname that you have for Mel?” Kevin looked to me.  I could feel my cheeks blush.

“That’s how we met.  She tripped down the stairs on her first day at our school and I tried to make her feel better.”  Josh winked at me.

Everyone in the studio laughed.

“When did the friendship turn into a romantic relationship?”

Kevin looked at me, but I froze. 

Josh stepped in and saved me. “About a year ago, Trip got out of a relationship and moved into my apartment with me.  A few months later, we just started talking and realized that we would make a great couple.  Now look at us!”

Another round of sighs came from the other side of the camera.

“Times are tough for you two, financially, right now, right?” Kevin asked us both. He smiled at me then turned back to Josh, “In the video you said, ‘We may not have much money, and I can’t give you a ring right now’, is that still true?”

“We’re both working, but with student loans and the economy being the way it is, we pretty much live month to month.  But like most people out there, we make it work.” Josh squeezed my hand again.

Kevin smiled widely, “Well, I have a surprise for the two of you.  The people over at SuperMart got wind of your story and have something for you.” 

A man in an expensive looking suit stepped out from behind the camera and walked towards us. 

“This is Nathan Gregory, an executive with SuperMart.”  Kevin introduced us to the suit.

“Josh and Melody, SuperMart is happy to have been a part of this memorable moment in your lives.  As a token of our appreciation, we’d like to offer you this ring.”  He handed Josh a box.

Josh opened the box and his eyes widened. 

“I think that now that you’ve got the ring, maybe you should ask her that important question again.”  Kevin laughed and gave me a wink.

Josh and I made eye contact, and for a moment, I thought we’d been caught.  Josh gave me a little wink then dropped to one knee.

“Trip, you’re the girl of my dreams.  You’ve already said it once, but now I’ve got a ring for you.  Mel, will you marry me?” Josh knew the cameras were on him, so he didn’t make a face, but I could see the twinkle of mischief in his eyes.

I simply couldn’t find words to answer him, so instead I just nodded. 

Josh slipped the diamond ring on my finger as everyone on the set clapped loudly.  Josh stood up and pulled me into an embrace. 

“Let’s make this a good one for the cameras,” he whispered and then pushed his lips against mine. 

It felt weird to be kissing Josh, but after a few seconds, I forgot who I was kissing and relaxed into it.  I hadn’t kissed anyone since Stephen, so it really felt good to be kissing anyone at all.  After another second or two, I pulled away from Josh and the kiss.  He pulled away slowly and shook his head slightly. 

“That’s not all,” the suit said when the cheering had died down. “SuperMart would like to offer you a year’s worth of groceries and some furniture to help you furnish your apartment.”

More cheering erupted from the crew and the crowd behind the glass wall of the set.  Josh and I stood open-mouthed staring at the suit.  A ring was one thing, but groceries and furniture seemed to be taking it a little too far. 

“I’ve got more surprises for you two,” Kevin looked at us then turned to the camera, “Wake up America is sending Mel to Newsome’s, the world famous Bridal shop, to pick out any dress in the store.” 

The crowd roared again, and I felt my knees go weak.  Josh was literally holding me up.

“We haven’t forgotten about you Josh, we’re sending you to Buxton’s Tuxedo to pick out a tuxedo to wear for your wedding.”  Kevin handed Josh and I envelopes. 

We both took the envelopes with hesitation.  I couldn’t risk a glance at Josh’s face.  Clearly, this was not going as planned.  What we thought was going to just be a quick interview had snowballed into a publicity scheme. 

Josh and I stood there dumbfounded as people around us cheered and Kevin sent the show to commercial. 

“What the hell just happened?” I whispered to Josh when the cameras were off of us. 

Kevin and the suit were shaking hands and talking to the producer. 

“I don’t know,” Josh whispered back.

“How the hell are we supposed to get out of this now?” I quipped as the suit and the producer walked towards us.

“I don’t know,” Josh said just as they got to us.

The producer smiled at us as he spoke, “We’d like to talk to you two.  We think we’ve come up with something that can solve everyone’s problems at once.  Come with me.”

We followed them down one of the hallways.  The producer and the suit talked excitedly as we walked.

“This has gotten completely out of hand, Josh.  What are we doing?” my voice was frantic, but I kept a smile on my face since we were still being watched by the crew.

“I have no idea, but I’m not sure we can go back now.” Josh nodded at someone as we walked.

We all ended up in a small room with a couch and a few chairs inside.  Josh and I sat on the couch, while the producer and the suit sat in the chairs facing us.

The suit smiled at us and began talking, “As you know, our company has had a rough time in the media these last few weeks. Your story has the potential to change things around for us.  That ring,” he pointed to my hand, “and the stuff we gave you on the air is just the beginning.” 

He stopped and looked at the producer who was smiling broadly at us.

He looked back at us and said, “SuperMart and Wake up America would like to sponsor and televise your wedding.” 

I flinched back at the idea, but didn’t get a chance to respond.

The producer jumped in.  Leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, he spoke excitedly to us, “Think about it, you two could get married live on the air in the same SuperMart where you got engaged.  SuperMart will handle all the details: the cake, the food for the reception, the music.  They’ll take care of all it.” 

He winked and smiled, “Wake up America can cover it for the show.  I’m telling you, wedding segments always bring in the ratings.  This is a marketing dream come true!  You guys get your wedding for free, SuperMart gets their reputation back, and Wake up America gets a ratings jump!  What could go wrong?”

Both men smiled and stared expectantly at us.

5.

“I can walk!” I shouted as Carrie handed me off to Josh, who was waiting for me in the parking lot.

“Sure you can, you’re just stumbling around to test my reflexes,” Josh answered with a laugh.

“I’m so sorry about dumping her on you like this, Josh, but I’ve got three more like her in the car that need to get home too.” Carrie apologized as she headed back to the car.

“Don’t worry about it.  I’ll take care of her.  What are roommates for, right?” Josh dropped his arm from my waist to wave at Carrie and I stumbled.

“I think maybe I am a little drunk,” I giggled when he caught me just before I hit the ground. 

“Come on, let’s get you to bed.”

He practically carried me up the steps since my feet didn’t seem to be working.  I giggled the whole way up and offered absolutely no help to him at all.

We finally made it up the stairs to our apartment.  Really, it was his apartment and I was just staying there.  I had only intended to stay there for a few days after Stephen and I broke up, but five months had already passed. 

Once Josh had me in the apartment, I flopped onto the couch, and moaned loudly, “I need some water.”

Josh put a glass of water down on the floor next to my head.  He picked my feet up and scooted onto the couch next to me then put my feet back on his lap.  He slipped my heels off and tossed them onto the floor.

“Did you have fun tonight?” he asked as he rubbed the lines on my feet left by my fashionable, but painful, heels.  He massaged my feet as he listened to my answer.

“Aren’t bachelorette parties always fun?” I said dryly after I took a sip of water.

Josh laughed, “I wouldn’t know, since I’ve never attended one.”

“I’ll invite you to my bachelorette party when I get married.”  I sat up, “Actually, you’ll probably have to plan it since you’re my best friend and all.”

Josh laughed again, “Does that mean I’ll be your maid of honor?  I hope you pick a color that is flattering on me, because I’m telling you right now, I’ll wear a dress but it better be a color that suits my skin tone.”

He probably would have continued on, but by that point, tears were streaming down my face and the sobs were about to start.