1-17-2024 12:20am

Chapter 6: The Marriage..."Deceptions in the Air"

Beth Callahan Editor

Cover by Peter Poast Publications with Photo by Junior Cruz

Similar to what newspapers in the 19th Century did the www.warrencountypost.com. will publish a chapter a day from the book Deceptions in the Air. This fictional book is a blend of reality and conspiracy with a mix of Biblical Prophecy. My hope is that you enjoy the story, while it puts a desire in your heart to seek Truth.

Chapter 6: The Marriage

Bri’s mind went back to the next time she made contact with Alex after the Georgia visit. At first, they stayed in close touch. But back in their college days, which were prior to cell phones, long distance plans and the Internet, a long distance relationship was almost impossible to maintain. Over time, as the letters became less frequent, both found themselves in relationships with people who lived in their own city.

Bri, whose family had the mindset that women were to marry young, always gave her a hard time on why she wasn’t married.

She remembered her grandfather asking her in front of all her girl cousins, “Bri, you’re the prettiest of my granddaughters, yet you do not have a husband. What’s wrong with you?”

While Bri admitted she liked the compliment that her grandfather thought she was so pretty, she hated that he did that in front of her cousins. She knew her grandfather just felt that way because Bri was the one who looked the most like her mother, her grandfather’s only daughter.

“I don’t know grandpa. Maybe I’m not to get married.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, a girl like you?” her grandfather said, as if scolding her about the thought of not even marrying.

Bri would often find herself wondering about Alex while being a bridesmaid in weddings, at bridal showers and even baby showers. It seemed as if everybody she knew was either engaged, married or starting a family. She had tried contacting Alex once right before graduating from college, but had never received a reply. She figured he was probably married by now, too.

About a year after graduating with her bachelor’s, Alan came along. He was a local who seemed to get along well with her family. And, that seemed to be what her family wanted. So, when Alan asked her to marry him, Bri said yes. She was in her late 20’s now and he was close to 30.

She remembered thinking to herself, I better say yes. I’m not getting any younger. This might be my only chance according to Grandpa.

Two months before Bri was to walk down the aisle, she received a letter. It was from Georgia. While her heart raced with excitement as she tore it open, her heart suddenly came to a complete stop. Tears filled her eyes as she read the letter.

Dearest Bri,

Please let me reintroduce myself. My name is Alex K.

Jones. That’s A-l-e-x K. J-o-n-e-s. We met several years ago on the beach. I told you I would never say goodbye. I forgot to tell you though, that sometimes I am really stupid and forget to write. Bri, I am so sorry.

See, when I got your letter about two years ago, I was so excited. I wanted to write back right away, but I was dating a girl whom I recently broke up with. I knew the feelings I had when I got your letter shouldn’t be feelings someone should have when they are dating someone else. I really didn’t know what to do.

Bri, I would really like to pick up where we left off if we could. I mean, if you’re not seeing someone…”

Alex continued on about things he was doing and how he felt about her for another 16 pages.

Bri sobbed. What was she to do? She didn’t want to hurt Alan, and she didn’t know if she could handle another goodbye from Alex.

As she sat on the floor writing Alex a letter sharing that she was engaged, she was hoping with everything she had inside of her that he would contact her and tell her — DON’T!!!

But, that letter never came causing her heart to shatter. As her wedding day grew closer, her heart began to fill with a strange emptiness rather than the feeling a bride should have — the feeling of happiness, joy and love.

Bri did marry... but within days she found herself living in one of the biggest mistakes she would ever make in her life. Alan spent most of his nights out drinking with his buddies leaving her at home alone. After 18 months of marriage and a stillborn child, Bri wanted out of this mistake.

But marriage was supposed to be forever... at least that is what she had been taught in church. What was she to do?

Several weeks after losing her baby boy, Bri and her sister Pam took a trip to Florida to spend some time together with their older brother. The trip was supposed to help Bri get her mind off the baby and get her thoughts together. And, it was then, on her way back from Florida to Michigan that she briefly made contact with Alex one more time.

“Pam, can we pull over when we get to Atlanta? I want to call Alex.”

“Bri, you’re married.”

“Please, Pam. I just want to see what he’s doing,” she pleaded.

Pam saw the look in her sister’s eyes and felt the pain she was going through and gave into her.

“Do you even know his number? And do you know it’s 5 a.m.? Do you think he wants called at this time of morning? He could be married Bri!”

Nothing her sister said to try to convince her otherwise worked. Once inside the phone booth, Bri pulled the phone book out and looked up Jones. There were hundreds. And to make matters worse, she couldn’t remember Alex’s dad’s name.

“I’m going to try this one. I think this is the street he lived on,” she told Pam as she quickly put her quarters into the telephone slot and began dialing. Bri grew nervous as the phone rang several times. Maybe he wouldn’t even remember who she was. Maybe she had the wrong number. Maybe he’s married and his wife would answer.

“Hello,” replied this manly, still awakening voice with a Southern accent.

“Alex?”

“Yeah.”

There was silence for a second.

“Bri?” asked Alex.

“Alex, I’m sorry. Did I wake you? I was just driving through from Florida and wanted to see how you were.”

Deep down she wanted to yell, Alex, I’ve made a terrible mistake. Please help me. I love you. I’ve always been in love with you.

“No. No. It’s okay,” Alex said, sitting up in his bed trying to figure out if this was a dream or reality.

“I had to get up to answer the phone,” he said, trying to make the surprising moment a little more relaxing.

“So, what have you been up to?”

“Well, I’m getting married in a few weeks.”

With that answer, Bri knew her chance for love with Alex had died. That horrible feeling that would sometimes overcome her, completely overtook her, giving the vessel of emptiness a permanent home in her heart as it pushed the chance for love with Alex completely out of her life.

“Oh... that’s wonderful. Well, I have to go. Pam is waving for me to hurry. Nice talking to you.”

Bri ended the conversation quickly not wanting Alex to hear her cry or even giving him a chance to let her know that he, too, was having doubts about the woman he was about to marry.

That was 20 years ago.

If you wish to purchase the book visit www.amazon.ca