Shattered Wings by Healey Bryan

Author:Healey, Bryan
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Littera Press
Published: 2011-05-01T04:00:00+00:00

I remember sitting in the kitchen.

On the couch that evening sat Cassie, snoring loudly with the television still on while we were flipping through brochures of various wedding venues in and around the city. I don't know exactly where he got them all, or how he got them so quickly and in such volume, but there were dozens of them and I was having trouble keeping up with his enthusiastic demonstrations.

"This is the Freemont, on the North Side." Another brochure, open, flickering colors as he unfolds and runs his fingers across the visuals. "It's a little more expensive than the Nexus, but it has one of the most beautiful reception rooms I've ever seen." And he pointed to a photo in the upper right hand corner of the page he was on, and there was a quite lovely photo of a grand room. The walls were an off-white, covered in tapestry, and the ceilings were high enough to be almost invisible in a panoramic picture.

"It is beautiful," and I smiled. Again.

Another brochure.

"This is Brennen's, on the shore line." Opened, more flickering colors, this time of an outdoor setting, an open red brick patio covered in lights, tables and a sea of white linens. The backdrop was a nearly still harbor, shimmering blue with lightly reflecting orange light from a setting sun. "This is the most expensive of them all," he muttered, "but by far the most beautiful! Don't you agree?"

"Beautiful," I repeated.

Charlie looked up from the pages and his smile tempered. "Am I boring you to tears?"

"No!" I reacted defensively.

"You seem bored?"

"I'm not bored," and I put my arm around his back, resting my hand on his shoulder. "This has just been... overwhelming," I thought it was a safe choice.

"Oh," and he closed the brochure. "I guess I have been flipping through these pretty fast. A little too much?"

"It's okay."

And then quiet as he rubbed his hands along the glossy photo of the Brennen's shore, praises across the top of the page in magnificent font, eyes low, thinking, waiting, but for what I didn't know.

"John, are you okay?"

I sat back, confused, and "yes, why?"

"You've seemed... a bit distracted lately."

I had?

"I'm not distracted."

"Is everything okay at work?"

"It's been a slow winter," with a head nod, "but I'm sure it will pick back up in the spring. I'm not worried."

"Is anything else bothering you?"

My eyes scanned the room, unsure where he was going with these questions, confident that there was nothing wrong with me and wondering if there was something wrong with him. Was he looking for a segue?

"I'm okay."

"Okay," and he pursed his lips, biting his bottom lip. I smiled and looked back to the living room, checking to make sure Cassie was still sleeping soundly. "I talked with your father today." And my skin went cold.

"What?" As I turned back.

"I called your house today and he answered.

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