The Deception (32 page)

C
arrie made the final adjustments on the bridal veil while Allison watched in the mirror. She nodded as soon as Carrie stepped back.

"This is it, Allie. Are you ready?"

"I guess I'm ready as I'll ever be, although I never thought I'd feel this anxious."

"It's just a little stage fright," said Carrie, reassuringly. "You'll be fine. This is your moment to shine. Steve's out there waiting for you."

Carrie followed her out the dressing room door and into the church foyer where her father was waiting. Much to Allison's relief, her family had finally come around and accepted the fact their oldest daughter was breaking tradition by marrying a Protestant. They realized her happiness was what mattered.

Carrie walked up the aisle, ahead of Allison and her father. Steve's face was beaming. He looked handsome in his tuxedo, while his cousin, serving as his best man, stood next to him. Carrie smiled and nodded at Alex as she passed by. He was seated next to his parents, who had come for the wedding. When Carrie reached the altar, she turned to face the bride, taking the bouquet from her as her father handed her off to Steve and stepped away.

As the ceremony began Carrie couldn't help but wonder about her own future with Alex. She had, for all intents and purposes, moved out of her apartment and into his home, but so far they'd not discussed any long-term commitment. Earlier that day Alex's father had tried to broach the subject. Both times she and Alex told him they would make those decisions when they felt the time was right. She had a nagging feeling, however, that they hadn't heard the last of it.

The ceremony ended with the traditional kissing of the bride before the minister formally introduced Mr. and Mrs. Steven Hudson to their guests. Carrie felt happy and relieved as the best man escorted her back down the aisle and out the sanctuary, where they quickly formed a receiving line to greet their guests. Once the photographer finished, the wedding party hopped into the waiting limousine and headed to the reception. As soon as they arrived, Carrie joined Alex and his parents at their table. While his parents were polite, she noticed they just didn't seem like themselves. She felt relieved when the time came for Allison to toss the bridal bouquet.

"Ready ladies?"

Three other women had joined Carrie, but Allison made note of where she was standing. She turned her back and tossed the bouquet in her direction. Carrie stepped forward. Much to her surprise, the flowers landed squarely in her hands. She smiled to the sound of everyone's applause. She turned to see a smile break out across Alex's face. He immediately walked up to give her a congratulatory kiss, and when the deejay began to play the next song, he asked her to dance.

"Is everything all right, Alex?" She tilted her head toward their table as they stepped onto the dance floor.

"It's fine. They're just trying to get used to the idea of us living together. My mother was quite fond of Casey. Apparently, she was harboring some far-flung hope that somehow she and I would get back together someday. She didn't realize until today that Casey's now married to someone else."

When the dance was over, she excused herself, explaining that she wanted to say hello to Reggie and would join them later. Alex returned to their table alone.

"Alejandro, we need to talk," announced his father.

"Gee, Dad, I can hardly wait." Alex pulled at his cuffs after he took his seat. "So what could possibly be the matter?"

His mother tried to soften the blow. "It's about your relationship with Carrie. Please understand, son, your father and I both think the world of her and she's been a part of the family for years."

"I can hear the 'but' coming, so let's not mince words, Mother. What exactly has Carrie done that's upset you, besides the fact that she's not Casey?"

"This has nothing to do with Casey," said Armando. "This has to do with Carrie and her background."

"Oh wait, I think I see it coming." There was a hint of sarcasm in Alex's voice. "She's not from a moneyed family, so she's automatically disqualified from being a Montoya. Is that it?"

"Keep your voice down," hissed Catherine. "It's not about her family. Linda was a lovely woman whom I considered a friend as well. This has to do with our family traditions and values. You keep forgetting the fact that your father wasn't born here and that he still has the morals and standards of the old country."

"We're not in Spain, Mom. We're in America, and yes, we are different here. You're forgetting that I'm American born and I live my life the American way. Here in America, we're free to marry the people we love. Look at Steve and Allison. Her parents came to this country from Mexico, yet they consider themselves Americans. They managed to come to terms with the fact that their daughter fell in love with a man from a different culture and tradition then theirs, yet they've accepted Steve as a part of their family. Carrie and I grew up together. You've known and loved her for years. So why is it that now, when she's living under my roof, that all of a sudden she's not good enough?"

"We understand Carrie is still your friend," said Armando, "however, you lost touch with her for ten years, and during that time she changed. She's no longer the Carrie we used to know."

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean, Dad?"

"Come on, Alex. First she posed nude for a photographer, and then she had an affair with a married man. Where I come from that's what a harlot does, not the woman my son's in love with. I'm sorry, Alex, but I don't want her for my daughter-in-law. Even if you do marry her, it will be without my blessing, because I'll never accept her. I don't mean to upset you, but that's the way I feel. You're still a young man. You have a lot to offer. There's no reason in the world why you can't find someone more suitable."

It was one of the rare moments in Alex's life when he suddenly found himself at a loss for words. It took a moment to find his voice.

"Did I not explain this to you properly? I mean, what did you not get? First of all, the man in question led her to believe that he was single, and she ended the relationship once she realized things weren't adding up. As for the photo shoot... did I not tell you that she was homeless at the time, that she was going broke trying to pay off her mother's medical expenses, and her so-called friend swooped down on her like a bloody vulture to take advantage of her vulnerability? Do you not recall me saying that the day she showed up at my office she hadn't eaten for two whole days because she had no money for food? That she almost fainted, literally, at the conference table."

"I understand she was going through some hard times, but surely there had to be a better way. She has friends. She could have gone to some charity or women's shelter or somewhere to get help, but she didn't. Instead, she chose to make a whore out of herself."

For the first time in his life, Alex had to fight the urge to strike his father. He took a deep breath as he fought to keep control.

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Dad, but you're treading on dangerous ground. You're my father and I love you, but please, I'm begging you, don't ask me to choose between you and her. You won't like the choice I'll make."

"All right, son. You think you're in love with her, so I guess we'll have to let you get it out of your system, but don't you dare marry her. She won't be welcome in our home."

"You know, considering our own family history, I'm surprised at your attitude."

"Your mother may have been a divorced woman when I married her, son, but at least she'd been properly married to her first husband. Your mother was, and still is, a proper lady. She would never have her photograph taken in the buff."

"Well, Dad, as Carrie herself once told me, it's really easy to be virtuous when you have food in your stomach and a roof over your head. We'll have to continue this conversation at a later time." Alex stood from the table and grabbed Carrie's purse. "In the meantime, do you need directions back to your hotel?"

"We're fine, son," he replied.

"Where do you think you're going, Alex?"

"Away from here, Mom. Goodnight you two. It's been... interesting, seeing you again. Have a safe trip home to Boulder City."

He turned and walked away.

"Alex!"

"Let him go, Catherine. He thinks he's in love with her. He'll come to his senses, eventually."

"What if he doesn't? I don't want to wake up one morning and find myself cut off from my grandchildren."

"There won't be any grandchildren, Catherine, at least none with her."

"How do you know, Armando?"

Carrie looked up to see Alex approaching. He had a troubled look on his face.

"Is everything all right?"

"Not really." He handed off her purse. "Would you mind if we called it a night?"

"Of course not."

After saying a quick goodnight to Reggie and the bride and groom, they headed out to his car. Carrie noticed his hands were shaking as he turned the key in the ignition.

"What's wrong, Alex?"

"Trust me, you don't want to know."

"Yes, I do want to know. We don't keep secrets from one another, remember?"

Alex let out a long sigh. "It's my parents. My father, to be exact."

"So, what's the problem?"

"He was born in Spain. He didn't come to this country until he was ten. He's still what you would call, old world, in many ways."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning he has issues with your relationship with Scott and for doing that damn photo shoot for Louise."

"It's okay, Alex." Carrie tried to reassure him. "I can talk to him. Once I explain that I didn't know Scott was married, and the reason why I had to do the photo shoot, he'll understand."

"He already understands. It's all been explained to him, many times. He thinks, however, that you could have handled your homeless problem differently."

"Really? How so?"

"He thinks you should have gone to a woman's shelter, or something to that effect."

"I see. So what you're saying is that he thinks I'm a tramp, doesn't he?"

Alex didn't respond. He kept his eyes on the road. Carrie felt the tears welling up in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Alex. The last thing I ever wanted to do was to come between you and your family, I still have a couple of months left on my apartment lease. Maybe I should move back in."

"What! Oh now that's just great. I just went to bat for you, and now you want to leave me?"

"No, Alex, that's not what I want at all. But I can't be the cause of trouble between you and your parents."

"Please, Carrie-Anne, just let me handle this, okay. I know them and I know what I'm doing. Every once in awhile my father has to pull this old world crap on me. It's unfortunate that both he and my mother thought Casey walked on water, and that no other woman can possibly take her place. Trust me, they'll get over it, eventually."

"And what if they don't."

"Then I guess they don't, and it'll be their choice. I'm not a kid anymore, Carrie-Anne. They're not going to tell me how to run my life."

"I understand. So what do we do in the meantime?"

"We live our lives and we let them live theirs."

Carrie was silent for a few minutes. Finally she spoke up.

"It can be very lonely when you don't have a family, Alex. Trust me. I know."

"I know you do, Carrie-Anne, and we still have family. Aren't you forgetting about my brother? He and his wife both loved you and Jacob keeps asking about you."

"He does?"

"Yes, he does," said Alex. "You have an amazing way of handling kids, Carrie-Anne, and when the time comes, you'll be a damn good mother to ours."

"Really?"

"Well, of course. I wouldn't have asked you to move in with me if I wasn't willing to make a long-term commitment. It's just that between your case, Steve and Allison's wedding, and you getting ready to relocate your business, we just haven't had much of a chance to sit down and discuss our future." He reached over and patted her hand. "In the meantime, if push comes to shove, Mark will be on our side. Mom and Dad did a similar number on him before he married Olivia, although I can't recall the reason anymore. That's how petty it was. It's just how they are. They're doting parents, both of them. No one is good enough for their sons."

"Except Casey."

"Except Casey, and that's probably because I wasn't really in love with her."

The Camaro soon turned onto Alex's street.

"Then I guess you must really love me, a lot."

"Yes, I do. You're it, Carrie-Anne. It's either you, or I spend my life alone."

I
n the weeks following Steve and Allison's wedding, Alex and Carrie's lives fell into a comfortable routine. Carrie moved into her new photography studio and started up business as L. J. Reed Photography. It seemed to have the desired effect. Maggie Andrews' harassment appeared to be over and business was booming. She moved her remaining belongings out of her apartment and into Alex's home. It was now her home too. She and Alex had even redecorated some of the rooms.