Too Deep
Melodious music swaying through the large hall. It’s the wedding of the century, opulent, a grotesque display of wealth and fortune. Every detail of this wedding welded to create the perfect romantic atmosphere for the bride and groom. The wine was flown from Italy, the flowers from the Netherlands, the location: Connecticut on a large isolated estate.
The wedding hall is grand with beautiful marble flooring and pillars. There are flowers adorning the pillars and the floor. The decorations are simple, elegant, all in a soft pink and a touch of gold here and there.
The bride and groom gaze in each other’s eyes as they waltz to the orchestra playing. It’s so perfect, the wedding appears to be straight from a fairytale book. After all, It’s the Ellingtons, they aim for nothing less but perfection. The ceremony was crafted to be perfect, every little detail meticulously planned to result in the perfect aesthetic, the perfect romantic atmosphere to feel the love. Except of course some people’s love have wilted and ceremonies like this do nothing but remind her of the one mistake she committed.
Vanessa Ellington, the sister’s bride condemned to sit at the single’s table rather than up there with her family. But she doesn’t mind, she’d rather be far away from all the love and the romance. Plus, she’s alone at this table. What’s better than being alone?
She sits there mindlessly, her hand swirling the drink in her hand. The dark red wine did not seem so appetizing, especially not in her state. She’s sick, everything about this makes her sick.
“Vanessa. Tighten up!” Her mother scolds. Nadine Ellington is a by the book type of woman. She’s traditional, making sure she does everything perfectly so she never knows ridicule. She’s tried to do the same with Vanessa but all her attempts were always dismissed and just flushed down the toilet.
She gasps as she feels her mother’s whisper hit her ears. Her mother is a ninja, her presence is always a surprise. Is it always a pleasant surprise? Sometimes. “Manmi. Mwen-” She starts. “I’m sick, okay?” She whispers back to her mother. Vanessa doesn’t enjoy being here, she’d much rather be lazing in bed for the weekend in her apartment
Her mother shakes her head in disbelief. This girl! “This is your sister’s wedding. Plus you’ve been sick since you found out about this wedding,” Nadine claims as she slides into the seat left of her daughter.
Vanessa’s eyes widen when her mother mentions how long she’s been feeling unwell. That’s right, Vanessa's been sick for a few months now. A malaise that is just stuck to her and won’t go away. “I’m trying to but you know I’m not well. Plus I’m all the way in the back, sitting at the table you chained me to so I can find a good husband just like Mariyanna.”
Nadine stands there zooming in on her daughter. Her eyes drift up and down. She can’t believe Vanessa is her daughter. “One question: did I make you or did you make me? Tell me. It must be that you’re the mother!" Nadine says with her arms crossed keeping a strict eye on her daughter. "You must know I don’t appreciate your sarcasm! I mean all you’ve done is mope. You were no help with your sister with the planning and you didn’t even want to be part of her bridal party. The least you can do is put on a smile and pretend you’re enjoying it!” Nadine takes a breather. She loves her daughter how could she not, it’s her daughter but sometimes she just wished Vanessa had shaped up to be more like Mariyanna and less like the aloof woman she’s sprouted to be.
Vanessa closes her eyes trying to… understand. Her body is going through a malaise and she’s so much more emotional. She puts her glass down and she just looks down at the table. “I told you I didn’t want to be here…” She says as her eyes rove over the fine tablecloth, taking in the details of it, distracting herself from her sadness.
Nadine couldn't understand Vanessa at all anymore. When you’re sick you suck it up and take the medicine and you get over it. This is why she’s still sick because she doesn’t look after herself and take the precautions and the medicines. “Just stop moping! You’re not married yet and you don’t see me moping.”
The surge of audacity on her mother, wow. Now it’s not the time to reproach her about her single status. “Manmi…”
“Yeah, you’re three years older than her and still single. Both my daughters should be married now! You had three extra years to find a man and yet…”
Nadine has to be joking right? Vanessa wants to let out a cacophony of laughter as she feels her mood being lightened up. But this isn’t the time or the place, and her mother wouldn’t appreciate her laughing like a mad woman. “Manmi, I’m going to the bathroom!” Vanessa stands up revealing the rest of her beautiful golden dress that's tight at the top but becomes flowy in the bottom.
“I like this on you!” Nadine comments. “That’s a dress to find you a man right there.
She shakes her head as she brushes past her mother. Vanessa scampers away but as she does so her eyes rover the bride and groom on the dance floor having their moment. She can’t help but feel a sense of admiration for her sister. Mariyanna really does make a dazzling bride. As she watches the pair sway to the melodious music, she starts reminiscing on the times with her sister. All the times Vanessa would compliment her sister she’ll always return it with a ‘well we do look alike so that makes two of us!’
It’s true the two did look alike. Both had full pink lips, the same straight eyebrows, the same face shape, and the same melanin rich skin that glows. They could be twins. Both stunning beauties. Mariyanna’s skin was more rosy, her face more inviting. She just looks like she smiles a lot. While Vanessa on the other hand, she had more prominent cheekbones, and there’s no twinkle in her eyes. The eyes are the portal to the soul, they hold all the secret emotions, all the secret feelings, all the secret feelings on display for the world to take a quick look but not Vanessa’s eyes. The world could look and look but they will see nothing in her eyes, they were just eyes to Rebecca to see, nothing less and nothing more.
Every time she would hear that comparison, Vanessa's heart would palpitate and her chest would tighten as a surge of ache races around her body. Everyone thinks Mariyanna is the kinder sister. While everyone saw her as a bitch for lack of better terms.
She takes a deep breath and continues on her way. Vanessa walks and walks until she’s outside on the balcony overlooking the gardens on the estate. There’s a soft breeze that flows with her dress and plays with her beautiful curls.
“Guess we’re both trying to escape huh?”
Her soul escapes out of her body when she hears a voice next to her. People need to stop walking up to her so quietly. She’s easily startled and one of these days she’ll get a heart attack. Her eyes are closed as she places her palm on her chest feeling her galloping heart rate. “Whoever you are, please don’t do that again. Lord.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” That voice, it sounds… like velvet, like smooth jazz on a rainy cozy day. It’s smooth, creamy, like a good bottle of cremas. His voice is a harp and a violin paired together to create the most heavenly sound.
Her eyes open to the sight of a heavenly man. For just a moment, the world has stopped, for just a moment, her and this beautiful stranger are the only two people left. Attraction has fallen out of the sky right into this moment. “Hi,” she whispers with a soft but hesitant smile.
“Hi, I’m Bernard…” he says, extending his hand, enamored by this beautiful woman standing in front of him. She’s this beautiful woman with the fullest lips, the most beautiful brown eyes and she’s glowing. Her skin was glowing, her big beautiful long curls were glowing, everything about her was perfect. This is the most beautiful woman his eyes have ever laid on.
It’s a basic instinct to give her full name, but she hesitates. Tonight she just wants to be “Marie!” She didn’t want to carry that heavy reputation of being Vanessa Ellington, tonight she could just be Marie. Her hands grasp onto his firmly as her eyes rover him lapping up his features. This man is gorgeous. He’s so gorgeous he turned on a lightbulb she thought burned out long, long ago. His eyes are addictive, they’re as blue and just as deep as the ocean. His blonde shaggy hair falls perfectly framing his face. Plus he has these dimples, they’re uneven but that just somehow makes him more attractive.
“Marie? Well you sort of look like the bride. But you- you glow…” he says stumbling over himself. He can’t believe he’s embarrassing himself in front of this woman.
She doesn’t let go of his hand. Her cheeks rouge as she takes in the flattery. "Thank you!" She clears her throat. She needs an excuse and it suddenly pops into her mind. "Cousins, very distant cousins." Her hand finally lets go of his. They both just stand there. Inches apart. Their eyes fixed on the other, tranced by the other.
His face lifts up in surprise. Cousins? The resemblance is striking, they could be twins. "This is why I love genetics."
"I'm not a biology or genetics person myself. I'm a chemist!"
He chuckles. "Coincidence? I'm also a chemist!"
Her smile widens. Coincidence? It's starting to feel like her mother's prayers are being answered. Though she's not complaining. This new little fact just enlarges her curiosity and attraction to this man. "Yeah, cool," she mutters nervously.
The conversation is dead. But it is a comfortable death, it's one that's quiet and smooths the way for the rainbow after the hurricane. They both stand there silently taking in each other, their gaze soft as they look each other up and down trying to decipher the meaning of any little movement. Both Bernard and Vanessa are looking to lose themselves in each other's world, to know all the depths and losses and secrets but they just met. It's a bit too soon to go so deep so quickly. This would take time and preparation like a good research experiment.
"So um... how do you know the groom... or bride...?" She asks nervously.
"Are you trying to find out if we're distant cousins?"
She chuckles at his absurd joke. "Perhaps... but that will be such a shame."
"Well don't worry. No relations. One of the groomsmen invited me. He thought..." he halts himself. He doesn't want to reveal too much right away. Maybe he shouldn't be so open. He clears his throat and he faces away from her. "I would love this wedding. I'm such a fool for love." He lies.
"Not a big fan. she admits. Haven't been for awhile," she admits.
"Weddings?"
She takes a step and she leans on the railing looking over the gardens. "Yeah. One time..." she clears he throat. "And you know?"
"We don't have to get too deep. You know? Let's go see them close." He holds out his hand, inviting her to come closer and accepting his offer.
Her eyes fall onto his hand. It doesn't take her a second, her hand is intertwining with his, accepting the offer. Like he says they don't have to get too deep and going to see flowers together is not that deep.
They go down the stairs together, hand in hand. They travel together throughout the gardens, looking at the array of colorful flowers. It all feels magical. Their steps halt at a bush of vibrant pink Camellias.
"These are beautiful," she utters as her hand reaches out feeling the soft petals.
"Here." Bernard reaches out, plucking the very flower she just touched. With one swift movement he sweeps a strand of her curly behind her ear, planting the flower there to keep her hair in place.
Her gaze never leaves him as he places the flower behind her ear. She's enchanted, captivated, hypnotized by those blue eyes and that smile. At a moment his fingers stroke her skin. A gentle fleeting moment that was a catalyst. Her body shivers both longing for more and processing how a simple touch can erupt such fireworks.
"Are you cold?" He whispers.
"It's... it's fine."
"No, no." He quickly slides off his suit jacket draping it over her shoulders. He holds the corner of the jacket holding her close to him. "What type of man would I be if I let you freeze to death huh? I wouldn't be a man."
She chuckles. He's such a gentleman. And the way he looks at her. Like she's the brightest star.
"Out of all, you are the prettiest flower... I bet all the red roses envy your delicate beauty." His hands waterfall to his side as he stares deep into her eyes in awe.
For a few more seconds they gaze into each other's eyes, willingly hypnotized by each other. They're lost in the quiet moment not caring what's going on outside.
"Would it..." she starts off quietly. "Would it be too deep if we kissed? I know we said not too deep but..." she lets her thoughts trail off quietly. This is stupid. He's a stranger, why would he want to kiss her?
His lips widen to a smile, his dimples on full display. Without thinking about it, his hands come up, cupping her face. His smile widens into a smile. "Not at all," he whispers as he bridges the very little space between them. His lips softly rests on hers before they join hers in a passionate, intimate dance.
This was a kiss for a lifetime. It brought out this feeling they both longed to felt for so long. A feeling that was both missed but feared. This feeling wasn't new but the intensity was.
Vanessa breaks away from him, awe swimming in her eyes. Her lips caught in between her teeth as she admires the new man of her dreams.
"Wow..." he utters. "Where have you been all my life?" He asks jokingly.
"Oh just glowing away!" She responds matching his tone. "Come on let me show you my favorite part of these gardens." She grabs his hand and she leads him deeper into the garden.
They're both giggling away as they run off like secret lovers in the night. Vanessa stops when she has found what she was looking for, Bernard stops a few steps behind her.
In the middle of this garden is this fountain. It's a marble fountain crafted to perfection. It's immense and circular with intricate details, details only Vanessa noticed and loved for so long.
This is the perfect spot for it as the fountain adds just a little bit of magic to its surroundings. It ties it all together.
"A fountain?"
"A fountain. I mean come on. How come you not like fountains?" Vanessa walks closer to the fountain, sitting down on the edge, feeling the cold water with her hands.
"How come you don't like genetics?" He retorts.
"I didn't say I didn't like genetics," she says as her head snaps back to him. "I'm just not a biology person. I'm a chemist remember? I'm all about creating magic, well at least people think I'm a magician," she jokes.
"Seems like everyone in the family is a chemist" He says stepping closer to her. "One of your cousins, my new boss, also a chemist she runs the Curl Chemist."
There's a tight smile on her lips. How can she conceal her identity? That'll be like the sun trying to hide from earth with the reputation she's amassed for herself and the brand she's built.
"But you're much nicer!" He says as he sits down as well plunging his hand in the water.
She smiles at the compliment, but... "What do you mean?"
"You know? Her reputation... as a stringent authoritarian, a despot."
"Excuse me?" She stands up looking down at him. "What are you trying to call my cousin a... bitch? Just say it! Don't hide behind your fancy words."
He stands up. There's a misunderstanding here. "Whoa... I'm just saying what I read. Frankly I'm a little nervous working under her."
From salt and vinegar to oil and water. This is why she doesn't date. They will never understand the hard work, the dedication, why she's a despot. It's different when it's gossip but it's a different sting to hear it to your face. A despot huh? The opposition to her sister, the sweet angel everyone cared about.
Dating was a waste of time anyways. "Save it!" She takes off his jacket, chucking it at him. He doesn't catch it and it falls into the fountain. "And by the way I'm Vanessa Marie Ellington, owner and founder of the Curl Chemist nice to meet you!"
His eyes widen. Uh oh. "You lied..."
"What? That's not the issue here." She takes a second to take a good look at him. Damn it she still finds him handsome. "You really had me going! See you at work!" With that she storms away from him. I mean come on. The one guy she finds attractive in years, she wanted to kiss is a jerk. If only her mother had a dream so she could've avoided this whole stupid thing.
He watches her storm away. Whatever just happened... he knows... he's screwed!
