*****
(Stevie said)
I have not seen Ally since Shannon and Cammie's engagement party. She has refused to answer any of my calls and texts.
I have been passing by her apartment but her neighbors said she has not come home yet. I have been dropping by her office but Donna, her executive assistant, has been telling me she has been out of office.
I thought of talking to Hera's mom but Hera suddenly stopped showing up at the daycare. I tried reaching out to Danny but he told me keeping the distance is probably for the best.
I am not sure if Ally is still looking for a way to get out of it. She could have given up. I am not even sure if she is still thinking about me. She could have been exhausted.
What I know is today is Ally's wedding--the lifestyle headlines of every magazine and newspaper say so.
I busied myself at work, finishing off lesson plans for the whole month. Moping would not do me any good.
The daycare landline rang and I was expecting a parent to be on the other line--but it was a call from my insurance firm.
"Hello. Good afternoon. May I speak with Miss Stevie Boebi please?" a man asked formally.
"This is Stevie Boebi. Who's this?" I answered.
"This is Shaun of Premium Assurance Board or PAB Insurance. This is to inform you that the daycare's insurance policy is expiring next month. I would like to schedule a meeting with you at your most convenient time next week."
"Of course there is Mel's insurance! Why didn't Ally think of that?"
I remembered when Mel talked about how her life insurance coverage and her investments could buy out her uncles in their conglomerate. She kept it a secret from her family for security reasons.
"Excuse me, I didn't catch that."
"Hey Shaun, you know what? I would really love to talk to you about the insurance renewal but can I refer you to Moonshine, my co-owner? I have an emergency to take care of. THANK YOU!"
*****
(Ally said)
Donna called me while I was at my suite on my wedding day. I was still waiting for the response from offshore banks, prospective investors and angels who may be willing to fund us. For the past week, I have been looking for a miracle in different places.
"Allison Don," Donna said. She only calls me by my complete name if I need to shut up and listen. It is our code. "Stevie's here again. She is approaching me right now. I am sure you want to listen."
Donna has been doing her job well--including pushing Stevie away. She hated it because she likes Stevie for me. She also had late nights reaching creditors and investors in different timezones.
"Hi Donna!" I heard Stevie. "You have to let me see Ally if she's here. I need to tell her something."
"Honey, Stevie, Ally has not reported for work since last week. You know that already since you've been here everyday. But I would gladly take your message to her," Donna answered. "Besides, it's her wedding today, I do not think Miss Rachel would allow her to be here."
"Please tell Ally to call Mel's broker at PAB Insurance. I remembered Mel telling me her beneficiary is the company."
"Oh my god. Why didn't we think about Mel's insurance?! I hope you are right about this because the wedding is in thirty minutes."
"What?! That's too soon!"
"Miss Rachel may fire me for telling you this--but the wedding is at their hotel. If the insurance claim won't work, you are the only person who can stop Ally."
"Thank you, Donna."
I assumed Stevie left. I heard Donna's excitement. "I am calling PAB Insurance now, boss. If this won't work, listen to Stevie--listen to your heart."
"Please keep your fingers crossed for me, Donna," I replied. "Thank you for all your help."
"I will, boss."
*****
(Stevie said)
I drove like a maniac to try stopping Ally and Rachel's wedding but I arrived forty minutes later--there is traffic when you do not need it.
"Hi, is the wedding here over?" I asked a waiter who was cleaning up.
"Yes. It is one of the quickest ceremonies. I heard the couple did not want to waste any second. It was a lovely story that they were each other's first and last. Well of course there were some in between. I also heard they are going abroad for their honeymoon. Are you a relative or a friend? There is an after-party at the yacht of one of the brides," the waiter answered.
"Yes I am. Thank you."
I almost collapsed. I felt like crying but I could not bring myself to tears--I was still in denial.
I went to the cemetery to visit Mel and to clear my head. I needed to be alone.
"Hi Mel," I said. "The last time I went here, I found out you passed away. I could never be whole again because you took a piece of me with you. I think I died a little again today. Ally just got married."
"I knew I would find you here," I heard a familiar voice. I did not look back. I was afraid not to find Ally there because hearing her voice was only a fantasy in my head.
"Mel, I am crushed because I like Ally. I really do. I am sorry for only telling you now. I was not sure about it before--I was doubting it because maybe I was just missing you, maybe I was only seeing you in her. But I realized I like Ally because she's Ally. Too bad I was too late."
"No, you are not." The voice spoke again. I thought I was hallucinating.
A lady suddenly appeared at my side and I was frightened to death. She was wearing a white dress! I looked away.
"Mel, do not scare me. The sun is still up, you know."
She held my hand and I froze. My heart almost got out of my chest.
"Look at me."
I wanted to scream for help but I could not. "Please don't hurt me." All the ghost movies I watched flashed in my mind.
"I will never ever hurt you. It's me, Ally."
I slowly turned and faced her--it was indeed Ally. I breathed a sigh of relief. I tried letting her hand go but her grip became tighter.
"How dare you scare me like that!"
She just smiled. She placed my hand on her chest while our fingers intertwined.
"Mel, you have found the perfect girl who has loved you unconditionally and I know you have loved her back in magnitudes that no one could measure. Let me take care of her now in the best way I know how. Well of course, if she will allow me to."
"Are you saying you did not get married?!"
"Yes, I did not. I saw you at the hotel and you asked a waiter at the wrong function room. I tried catching up with you but you were walking too fast."
"What happened?"
"I objected my own wedding. Thank you for the tip by the way. All you have to know is everything is settled."
I finally cried because of relief, because of happiness, and mostly because of the hope that Ally and I could have a real chance. She pulled me closer to her and then wrapped her arms around my waist.
I embraced her back. "I will take care of you too, Ally."
We stayed that way for a while as our hearts beat in harmony.
"So what do we do next?"
"Run away with me to New Orleans."
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