Unwanted Heat

I place our plates in the sink before heading to the library to get lost in a book before Cara, Vivienne and all the dresses arrive. I am surprised when I walk into the library and see an oversized chair sitting near the large window that wasn’t there the other night when Nicholas showed me the library. As soon as I find a book, I head over to the chair, finding it just as comfortable as it looked. It’s one of those chairs that is large enough for you to get really comfortable in without being cramped. After a couple of hours of reading, I realize I need to get ready for the rest of my day. I’m once again surprised when I walk into my room to find two small boxes on my bed.

“What?”

Opening the larger box first, I find a brand new laptop; the small box contains a brand new iPhone, which puts my cheap smart phone to shame. I open the card that was on top of the boxes last:

Kenzie,

Thought this might help you with the wedding planning. Your phone number has been transferred to this phone. A few important numbers have already been programed in it for you. Both are connected to the Wi-Fi in the apartment for your convenience as well.

Take care,

Nicholas

I can’t believe he gave me a laptop and a phone! I admit looking at the pictures yesterday on my phone was challenging, but it worked perfectly fine. I certainly did not need a brand new phone or a laptop! Part of me is touched that Nicholas would think I might find these items helpful, but the other part of me doesn’t like that he continues to buy me things. When I moved in here the other day, I found the walk in closet of my bedroom filled with more clothes than I could possibly ever need. Not just dresses and gowns for when we go out together, but jeans, sweaters, pajamas and even undergarments. I don’t think I want to know how the personal shopper was able to determine the perfect bra size based on a picture of me that the press had taken.

Thank you for the phone and laptop, but I cannot accept them K

Is something wrong with them? Do you prefer a different brand or model? N

There’s nothing wrong with them. The brand is fine K

I’m not sure I understand what the issue is. N

I don’t need them K

The laptop will help you with the wedding planning, right? It will make it easier for you to plan all the details of the wedding. N

Yes, but K

The phone, is more about your safety than anything. This phone is the latest model which means that it has all the top security features already installed. Additionally, it is linked to PFS’s account which means the phone cannot be easily hacked. My IT department installed several firewalls on both the computer and the phone to prevent anyone from gaining access to your emails, pictures or any documents you have saved on there. Your old phone was not capable of sustaining these firewalls. N

I suppose that makes sense. KCopyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

The laptop was just to make things easier for you. I saw you trying to look at things on your phone last night and thought it would be easier to see all the information and details if the screen was bigger. N

You’re right. K

You okay now? N

I’m good. K

I have to get back to my meeting. Alex is giving me mean looks because I’m not paying attention. N

I’m sorry! You shouldn’t have responded if you were busy. K

The meeting is boring anyway. I’d rather be talking to you than listening to this presentation. N

I’ll see you tonight. Stop texting me. K

Have fun dress shopping. N

I smile at our text exchange and while I still don’t feel comfortable accepting the laptop and the phone, at least now I understand the reason behind it. When this arrangement has ended, I vow to leave the laptop, phone and all the clothes behind. The prenup arrangement was clear, in exchange for marrying him, I will walk away with the condo downstairs and hopefully a college degree. I don’t feel right accepting other things from him; it makes me feel like I’m using him for his money or something.

“Kenzie?” Hunter knocks on my door, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Hi, Hunter,” I open the door to greet him.

“Mrs. Parker and Ms. Parker are on their way up,” he announces.

“Thank you.”

I quickly head down to the great room; by the time I reach the bottom of the steps, Cara and Vivienne are exiting the elevator with a long rack of dresses with them and another woman I don’t recognize. I’m introduced to the woman, who I learn owns a very exclusive bridal shop in the city. She has brought at least a dozen or so dresses for me to try on. After going through several, I only decide to try on a couple. All of the dresses are beautiful, but some of them just don’t look like they would work well for a small private wedding. Maybe if it were a larger wedding but for something this small, I wanted something simple.

“Good afternoon,” Julie joins us as we are looking through the dresses. “I have some refreshments that I will set up over here. If you would like something else, please let me know.”

“Thank you, Julie.”

“So, are you ready to try on a dress, Kenzie?” Cara asks. I’m convinced she is more excited than I am.

“I think I’ll try on this one first,” I pull the first dress that initially caught my eye when we were looking at them. “I’ll take it upstairs-”

“Why don’t you change in bedroom down here, Kenzie? I’m sure it will be easier than going back and forth upstairs,” Vivienne suggests.

“Um, sure, I’ll be right back,” I quickly grab the dress and head towards Nicholas’s bedroom which thankfully is unlocked.

I close the door behind me and lay the dress on Nicholas’s bed. I feel odd being in here without him being home or even knowing that I’m in his room. It sort of feels like I’m invading his privacy by being in here, but Vivienne had a good point that it would be easier to change in here than go back and forth to my bedroom.

How’s it going? N

Trying on the first dress now. K

Found a couple you like? N

I think so. Hope you don’t mind, your mom suggested I try the dresses on in your room rather than going up and down the stairs to change. I’ll be in and out quickly. K

It’s fine. Take your time. N

Thanks. K

See you tonight. N

I have to admit, I’m enjoying texting with Nicholas, which is something we weren’t able to do with our previous arrangement. He did eventually text me while we were still under contract with Bridget, but it took him a while to do that since he didn’t have my number.

I quickly take off my clothes and slip into the dress that I had chosen. As soon as I put it on, I realize there is no need to try on the other dresses; this dress is absolutely perfect. The dress has thick spaghetti straps holding it up, the front drops just enough to show a very small amount of cleavage while the back is open to about the center of my back. There are small stones sewn into the shoulder straps and on the bottom of the dress which adds just enough sparkle in the light. The dress is fitted to my waist and then loosens up slightly but not to the amount of your typical wedding dress. There’s no need for a big slip or anything under this dress. Glancing at Nicholas’s mirror in the bathroom, my decision is finalized that this is the dress I will wear.

“Oh, Kenzie,” Vivienne gasps when I walk back into the great room.

“You look so pretty!” Cara exclaims.

“Thank you!” I’m so glad they think so highly of this dress.

“We have a few others to try on yet-” The shop owner begins to pull another dress from the rack.

“I don’t think that will be necessary. This is the dress that I would like for the wedding,” I interrupt.

“Perfect! I wish all brides decided as quickly as you did! Now we need to talk about your shoes so I know how much to hem from the dress.”

“Actually, I won’t be wearing any for the ceremony itself.”

“None?”

“No, the wedding is on the beach, so I’m going to walk down the aisle bare-foot.”

“How romantic!” Vivienne gushes in the background.

“And for the reception?”

“Flats… probably ballet type flats. Definitely no heels,” I answer.

“Perfect, other than hemming it a little, I don’t see the need for any other alterations.”

Cara, Vivienne and I chat long after the shop owner leaves with the dresses. Using the new laptop, I show them the pictures of the flowers that the wedding planner sent me yesterday. They both seem to like the flowers which are simple yet colorful. It was nice to have someone to share the ideas with and to get someone else’s opinion on things for the wedding. I haven’t wanted to bother Nicholas with the small details, considering how busy he has been with PFS.

The next few days go by slowly; Nicholas works late most nights, comes home for dinner and then works again until long after I’ve gone to bed. I’ve come to enjoy our breakfasts together: it seems to be the only time of the day that he isn’t distracted by incoming emails on his phone or reviewing files for meetings the next day. Our wedding plans are coming together quickly-I took his advice and gave the wedding planner the suggestion to present full options to us rather than each individual choice for each item. It worked well and after reviewing the choices, we both agreed to a menu, bar option and ceremony set up.

By some stroke of luck, I haven’t had a nightmare since I moved in. My nightmares aren’t regular; sometimes I go weeks without one, and then there will be weeks when I have several. There never seems to be a reason to the pattern, but right now I’m thankful that I’m not having them. I wish I could say the same about Nicholas-he seems to have them almost every single night. Each night, I sneak downstairs and sit outside his bedroom door until the nightmare ends. Of course, I knock on the door and try to call his name, but it never works.