Chapter 15

The wedding day finally arrived. After a beautiful ceremony at the local church, the bride and groom as well as the guests, headed to the Peterson farm for the reception. The tables had been placed on the orchard, right by the apple trees. Pending from the tree branches, there were fairy lights creating a magical atmosphere. On the tables there were beautiful and colourful flower arrangements that contrasted with the white linen tablecloths and small lanterns with scented candles. A bit further away from the tables, there was a tent with the dance floor and space for the band and a bar. Everything looked beautiful, but most important of all, the bride and groom looked beyond happy.

Mira's dress was long-sleeved, with an open back and a long tail, covered in intricate lace from top to bottom. Her hair cascaded down her back in soft waves with little white flowers and pearls carefully placed throughout it. She looks stunning...Straight out of a fairytale... Faith though, smiling, as she looked at Mira and Richard getting their pictures taken.

Callum glanced at Faith from a far, she looked so happy while watching Mira and Richard pose for the photographer. Beautiful... He thought while taking his time walking back towards her. Faith always looked pretty, but as she stood there, under the dim light of the golden hour, surrounded by trees and flowers, he couldn't help but to think that she looked almost ethereal. And as she smiled, Callum felt as if he's surroundings were fading. His gaze was only on her and her alone.

"Would you like to get married one day?" Callum asked showing up besides Faith holding two glasses of champagne. He couldn't help but to wonder after seeing the way she was looking at her friends. With so much love in her eyes, but something else was there, but it wasn't envy, it was something more like longing that was hiding behind the light in her eyes.

"You know I've been engaged, right?" Faith grabbed a champagne flute. Her fingers brushed against Callum's, and she felt a shiver. This is getting ridiculous... I'm ridiculous...It's just a simple touch. Nothing else. She said to herself while taking a huge sip of the champagne.

"Yes, but do want to?"

"Yes, just not with Ronnie, with someone I'm madly and deeply in love with." Faith felt herself turn red as soon as she realized she said those words out loud. "You?"

Callum felt a knot in his stomach. He set himself up by asking Faith about it. The truth was, he had almost proposed to someone. But he didn't want to talk about it. He was starting anew, and he didn't feel like bringing up the past, especially not around Faith. Being around her made him forget, for the most part, about what had happened to him a few months earlier.

"If I ever meet the one," he said cryptically, staring at the bottom of his drink.

"So, who's the hopeless romantic now, Dr Grant?"

Callum smirked. "May I have this dance, your majesty?" He asked while putting their champagne flutes on the nearest table.

"Changing the subject, are we?" Faith raised an eyebrow.

"And you? Afraid you are going to step on my toes?"

"Definitely. I'm going to step on your toes, trip on my dress and Josh will be hiding behind a bush, snapping pictures of me as I fall on my ass."

"I won't let you fall. I got you. Just follow my lead."

"Callum..." she sighed as he started to drag her towards the dance floor.

"Come on. You look stunning, and it would be a shame if you didn't dance at least once in that dress." He had one of his usual dazzling smiles, and as per usual Faith blushed.

Unable to say anything in the face of such compliment, Faith let herself be dragged onto the dance floor and a swarm of butterflies invaded her stomach has Callum grabbed her by the waist and pulled her closer. His honey-coloured eyes were on hers, and his gaze was intense, even though the expression on his face was of his usual playful grin. She felt her heart skip a beat.

"Can I have the next dance?" Ronnie asked showing up as soon as Faith and Callum stepped away from the dance floor.

"Your date won't mind?" Faith asked glancing at the beautiful model looking brunette that had spent the whole evening besides Ronnie.

"No. And yours?" Ronnie glared at Callum.

"Of course not." Callum clenched his jaw before forcing a cordial smile.

"Let's go then." Ronnie grinned and grabbed Faith's hand. "So, how are things going on with the doctor?"

"We are not dating, Ronnie. But why do you care?"

"Looking out for you. That's all."

"How are things going with the model?"

"She's a lawyer. We met through work."

"She seems nice."

"So does the doctor. You moved on pretty fast, huh?"

"Ronnie, I told you we are not dating."

"Well, with the way he looks at you, it sure as hell seems like you are."

"What if we were? What would be the problem?"

"So, you are."

"Jeez... How many times do I need to tell you that we are not? What's up with you?"

"Nothing, Fay."

"We breakup and suddenly you become the jealous type?"

"I'm just trying to be a good friend. But what if I am the jealous type? What If I want you back?"

"You can't be serious?" Faith pulled away from Ronnie and started walking towards the house and away from the wedding venue. There was a knot in her stomach. She wasn't sure where she was going, but she knew she wanted to get away from Ronnie as far away as possible. And she wasn't about to make a scene at Mira's wedding, either. Just get away from him quietly... Where's Callum? Or Lydia, or Mr Grant? Or mum and dad? Anyone... For some reason Faith started to panic a little a bit. She knew Ronnie was just behind her and his behaviour felt off.

"Fay, wait." He grabbed her wrist once they were far away enough from the crowd that no one could hear them. "I want you back."

"Let go." Her voice trembled. Faith felt like crying. She didn't recognize Ronnie, nor did she understand what was happening. But she knew she didn't feel safe. And the feeling of being unsafe was what was scaring her the most in that moment. She never expected to feel like that because of Ronnie. The Ronnie she had been friends with, that she had cared for...

Mira's intuition was telling her that something felt off as soon as she saw Callum approaching them without Faith by his side, and that feeling only grew stronger when she realized that Faith had walked away with Ronnie right behind her.

"I don't like that. Something feels off. We should go over there."

"I'm sure it's nothing," Richard said while holding Mira's hand tightly. "They're probably just talking."

"Babe, I know he's your friend, but..."

"We're not actually that close," Richard grumbled.

"Fine. Whatever. He may be one of your golfing buddies, but something is not right. I know it. Callum, can you go?"

"Of course." Callum didn't even need to think twice about it. In fact, he was only waiting for an excuse so that he could intervene. He also felt like something was off and could see how uncomfortable Faith was.

"Callum," Faith said with relief as she saw him.

"Mira is looking for you. Something about wanting to take some pictures before the sun sets completely."

"Oh, right... yes. I had promised her."

"I don't think we have been properly introduced yet," Callum reached out his hand, but Ronnie turned his back towards them and walked away from the venue.

As Callum escorted her back into the crowd, Faith couldn't help but wonder if she knew Ronnie at all. The man that had just stood in front of her, the man that was being jealous and possessive, wasn't the Ronnie she knew. Or was it? Were there signs of his true character and she just hadn't seen them? Have I been this blind all this time? Putting him on a pedestal... When he's been just a prick all this time? Or was he pretending around me? The thought that Ronnie had somehow been deceiving her during their entire relationship made her sick. Who was the real Ronnie, after all?

She didn't look up, nor did she say a word on their way towards Mira and Richard. I just hope that bastard didn't do anything to her... Callum cursed to himself, as he saw the expression of Faith's face and how she was holding her right wrist. He was a calm person most of the time, but he could feel his blood boiling with just the thought of someone laying a hand on her.

"Are you okay?" Mira asked as she dragged Faith away for a photoshoot.

"I... I don't know. Ronnie is acting weird." As much as Faith would've liked to lie to Mira and tell her that everything was okay, she couldn't. She wasn't a good liar, and she could never lie to Mira. There were no secrets between them. Her best friend could always see right through her. It was her gut or intuition or whatever the hell Mira liked to call it. It would be pointless to try to hide anything. But the last thing Faith wanted was to have Mira worry about anything but her own wedding to the man of her dreams. The day was about Mira and Richard and no one else, and no one or anything was going to ruin the good mood.

"Weird how?"

"It's probably nothing. Don't worry."

"You sure?"

Faith nodded. "I'm sure it's nothing." Faith forced herself to smile and put her arm around Mira's. "Where do you want to take the photos?"

"Over there. Under the flower arch."

"Let's go."

"And afterwards I'm throwing the bouquet."

"I'm not interested, M. Count me out." Faith sighed. The idea of catching the bouquet made her feel a little nauseous. She knew it was just a silly little tradition, but for some reason it felt like a bad omen. It was her fault she wasn't a married woman, so maybe she didn't deserve the chance of catching the bouquet and being blessed with the good luck it came with it.

"Doesn't matter. Everyone needs to at least pretend they're trying to catch it." Mira had one of her mischievous smiles, and Faith realized she wouldn't be able to escape it.

***

Somehow, Faith managed to last until the end of the wedding. She wasn't even sure what time it was when she walked into the house and sat by the kitchen island. Her feet were sore, she was tired and sleepy and yet, for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to walk up the stairs and go to bed. She had gone through a roller-coaster of emotions in just one day. From sobbing inside the church as she witnessed Mira and Richard exchange their vows, to being in disbelief by finding out that Ronnie wasn't the person she though he was, to being flabbergasted as the flower bouquet hit her face without her even moving an inch to try to catch it. Faith sighed as she glanced at her bruised wrist.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Callum asked as soon as he entered the kitchen. Faith was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't even hear him come in.

"Callum? What are you doing in here?"

"What do you think? Checking on you before going home. And please start locking the doors. I know you think that this is the safest place in the world, but just lock the doors, okay?" Callum didn't know what had gotten into him. He wasn't usually this bossy but as he glanced at Faith's bruised wrist and as he remembered the look on her face as he rescued her from Ronnie, he could help but to feel an overwhelming desired to protect her and to care for her well-being.

"I... I'll start locking the doors. I promise." Faith didn't know what else to said, she had never seen that look on Callum's face before, so serious and concerned.

"Good." He ran in his fingers through his hair as he took a deep breath. "Do you want me to make you some tea?" Faith nodded.

Callum brew some lavender tea for Faith and a cup of coffee for himself and sat beside her. "Does it hurt?" Callum asked as he gently grabbed her wrist and analysed the bruise. Faith shook her head. "Do you need to talk about it?"

"This is ridiculous. I'm ridiculous. I shouldn't feel so down right now. This was, without a doubt, one of the most memorable days of my life. My best friend got married, and here I am in a bad mood because of a silly little thing." Faith's voice trembled as she tried to hold back the tears.

"It wasn't a silly thing, Faith. Otherwise, I don't think it would've affected you as much as it did. You're clearly upset by something that guy did, and it's okay to talk about it. Talk to me." Even though there was concern in Callum's eyes, there was also anger as he glared at the bruised skin on her wrist. I hope I don't ever see that guy again...

Faith took a deep breath while trying to find the best way to phrase it. "How do you cope with finding out that someone you thought you knew very well isn't the person you thought they were, after all?"

Callum clenched his jaw. "I don't know, Faith. I'm sorry." He really wished he had an answer for that. It would've been a lot easier to deal with happened to him if he knew the answer to that. If only there was an easy way to understand why some people deceive others and how they manage to do it for so long.

A tear rolled down Faith's cheek. All the emotions she had pent up throughout the day were resurfacing. "You should go home." She sniffled.

"I will," Callum cleaned the tear with his thumb, "after you finish your tea and go upstairs to your tower."

Faith nodded. "Thank you."

"Anytime, princess." He smirked and Faith smiled back.

"Will you ever stop calling me that? Or Rapunzel? Or all the other things you come up with?"

"No. No, I don't think so."

"Why? Do you just like to annoy me?"

"I do. I actually do. You have no idea how adorable you look when you're annoyed." Another one of his charming smiles and Faith felt herself turning red from head to toe.

Her heart was fluttering, and she couldn't help but to notice how good he looked, which made it even worse. His dishevelled hair was endearing, the first few buttons of his shirt were undone, and his charming smile could win over any women. He probably charms everyone all the time... This thought made her feel slightly grumpy, although she wasn't exactly sure why. "I... I should go upstairs."

"Then I'll leave. Lock the door behind me, please."

Faith chuckled. "I will, don't worry."

"Are you sure you're okay, Faith?"

"No," she sighed. "But I'll be. Thank you, Callum."

"Good night." Callum gave her a quick hug. Faith wished she could've stayed in his arms just a little longer, and she was sure he would've obliged if she had asked, but she couldn't utter another word and she was exhausted and about to cry so, she just waved him goodbye as the butterflies flew around in a soft slow dance.