Breaking Me Slowly

Fifteen

“Stop whatever it is you’re doing,” Vern says, bursting into my room. I jump at her intrusion. “I’m bored.”  

My eyes snap open and watch her as she plops herself down on the armchair across the room.

“There’s nothing to do here,” she says.

I close my eyes, trying to focus on what I was doing earlier.

“Why don’t you check out the library? It’s really nice.”

“And do what? Read?” she questions. “No, thank you.”

I shrug, doing my best to stay focused.

“What are you doing? Meditating?” Vern asks.

“Something like that.”

“Oh, I see,” she muses. “You’re trying to get a premonition.”

“Key word, trying.”  

I hear her chuckle. “What exactly are you trying to see?”

“Nothing in particular.”

“Mhmm,” she says, sounding as if she doesn’t believe me. “What are you really trying to see?”

“Nothing, honestly. I just haven’t practiced in a while,” I lie. I want to open my eyes and sneak a look at her face, but I felt that would be too obvious. So, instead, I keep them closed.

“I know you’re lying. Your heart starts to speed up when you lie.”

I open one eye to see she’s laying back in the chair, a smirk on her face.

I sigh, opening the other eye. “Fine. If you have to know, I’m trying to get a premonition on Isabel.”

“Isabel?” Her eyebrows furrow, confused. “Why?”

I shrug. “I don’t know, okay? Something just seems… off.”

A brow of hers piques. “Off?”

“Yes,” I say, firmly. “Off.”

She leans forward, elbows resting on her knees and her hands clasped between them. “How are you feeling today?”

“What, why are you asking me that? I’m fine.”

“Last night at the restaurant, Isabel came back from checking up on you and she said you were feeling really sick and you were… you know.” She makes a gesture of someone throwing up.

I shake my head. “No, that never happened.”

“Really? She seemed very concerned about you. Why would she make all that up?”

“I don’t know!” I jump up from the bed. “This is exactly why I’m trying to get a premonition about her.”

Vern narrows her eyes. “You were trying to get one about her before I told you this.” Her eyes never leave mine. “She said something last night.” She hears my heart speed up and it makes her eyes widen. “I’m right! Oh my God, what did she say?”

I shake my head, not wanting to remember.

“Come on, tell me! You know I’m team Jules, especially after this.”

My shoulders slump in defeat. I sit back down on the bed and motion for her to come sit next to me. Eagerly, she obliges.   

“You can’t say anything to anyone.”

Excitedly, she nods.

“I’m serious, Vern. You have to swear on your life.”

“I won’t say a word.”

I take a deep breath. “Basically, she said I wasn’t good enough for Grayson,” – Vern’s mouth drops open – “especially since I can’t give him kids.”

“That bi–”

I cover her mouth with my hand. “You have to be quiet!” I hiss.

When she’s calms down enough, she removes my hand. “You have to tell Grayson.”

“No,” I say. “And you can’t say anything.”

“But–”

“No, Vern. You can’t say anything.”

She frowns, obviously want to argue further. “But, why?”

I couldn’t tell her that I was too afraid to bring that fact to his attention because Isabel was right. As much as I hated to admit it, I probably couldn’t give him kids. I think about Sydney and how she’s struggling with her pregnancy.

“It’s my word against hers.”

“He would have to be a dumbass to believe her over you. Grayson is many things, but an i***t isn’t one of them,” she argues. “You should tell him.”  

“I will, just not yet.”

She looks at me in disbelief. Vern doesn’t get the chance to push the issue any further because Rebecca comes knocking at my door.

“Juliette, you mind if I steal you for a bit?” Rebecca’s gaze flicks to Vern. “You can come if you’d like.”

Twenty minutes later, we’re passing the large blue sign that reads Welcome to Porter Lake. I glance at Rebecca wondering why we were back here. She keeps a smile on her face as we pass through the small town, heading towards a large bank of trees before making a left onto a dirt path that looks like it heads to nowhere.

She continues down the trail and I can’t help but turn in my seat to throw a confused glance at Vern. She looks just as confused as I do until the trees begin to thin out and a large building slowly comes into view.

Rebecca pulls the car into a large parking lot where only a few other cars are sitting. I stare in aww at the huge hall made of mostly glass, sitting in the middle of the lake.

It takes us a few minutes to trudge along the path that snakes around the back, where you enter from. The entrance is made up of two large glass doors that swing outwards. Vern and I enter into the entrance hall, looking up through the glass dome. At night, you could probably see the stars perfectly.

A woman walks into the hall, a bright smile on her face. “Mrs. Mitchell?” The woman approaches Rebecca with an outstretched hand. “I’m Judy, we spoke on the phone earlier.”

“It’s great to finally meet you in person.”

“I’m glad you made it.” Judy turns to me. “You must be Juliette, the bride.”

I nod and shake her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“I’m excited to show you around. Please, follow me.”

Judy leads right to the back, opening up another set of double doors. The room on the other side is much bigger and is made entirely of glass where you have the full view of the lake. Rebecca and Judy go off to the side for a moment to talk details.

A huge thicket of trees covers around the lake and the glass has thick bushes and vines all around the side windows, making you feel like you were in a completely different place.  

“What do you think?” Rebecca asks, coming up behind me.

I’m too much in a daze to jump. “It’s beautiful.”

“Grayson said the venue is completely up to you.” I look at her, confused. “I found this place a couple month ago and I remembered how much you liked my tearoom.” She looks away from the window and at me. “We could have the wedding here, if you’d like.”

I look out the window. “I would love to.”