Chapter Nine #2
Then the music ended all too soon and Michael released her.
George was waiting impatiently. They were introduced and Michael nodded to the other man’s greetings.
George possessively threaded Ann’s arm through his.
Michael disliked him greatly and excused himself as soon as he could.
If he was abrupt, it was because he could not stand to stay there any longer and pretend to be happy for Ann.
Wanting to escape he headed to the terrace.
Michael breathed in the cool night air and looked over the impressive landscaping.
He wanted to be home where he could lay in the chair with FedEx and ignore that the world had turned itself upside down.
His feelings felt raw, like they had gone ten rounds with a heavyweight champion and come out the loser.
Ann engaged. Ann married to that odious man. Ann having little Stapleton children. Michael felt like cursing a blue streak, throwing something. Instead, he stood and concentrated on breathing.
“Michael?”
Elle had come out. Probably to check on him. He wished she would not. He didn’t feel good. He wanted to be left alone.
“Michael, are you okay?” Elle asked, laying a hand on his arm, obviously concerned.
No, he was not okay.
Then suddenly, his body stiffened, he turned toward the right, his eyes rolled up in his head and he fell convulsing to the ground.
∞
Ann felt bereft. She had danced with Michael one last time.
It had been a final goodbye and she had savored every moment of her time with him.
The rock on her left hand felt heavy, a burden.
George insisted on dancing with her afterward and so she let him lead her out on the floor.
She had the feeling George was jealous of Michael, which was ridiculous.
He was the one she was engaged to. Plus, George had been the one who had insisted on going to the wedding.
Against her will, she watched Michael leave through the doors to the terrace. Elle followed so she knew he was being looked after. Ann gave George a smile but really didn’t want to talk.
George, however, did want to talk. He talked about the wedding and how they would have something splashier, bigger, more expensive.
Nothing but the best for his Ann. She didn’t even want to think about it.
Suddenly, the idea of just having a small wedding on the beach appealed to her.
Simple. The guys didn’t even have to wear full suits.
The problem was she could only see Michael as the groom.
What was she doing? Who was she kidding? She was miserable. She would have to return the ring. Maybe Ann would just pack it all in and forget about the husband part entirely. It was not like it was uncommon for a woman to go out and order a pregnancy from the local sperm bank these days.
But she didn’t want to raise a child alone.
She was not going to get what she wanted, Ann admonished herself.
She smiled and automatically nodded to something George said because he seemed to expect it. Then there was a commotion near the terrace. Elle motioned frantically for Noah and Max.
Michael. Something had happened to Michael. Ann’s breath caught in her throat at the certainty of the feeling and she froze, watching the brothers and Piaget head out the doors.
“Ann?” George asked her, mildly annoyed that she had stopped dancing in the middle of the song.
She slowly let go of him and walked toward the terrace.
“Ann!” Now he really was annoyed.
Ann ignored him and picked up her pace. People were milling about, talking and she pushed through them and saw the most terrifying thing. Max had his arms around Michael is torso, holding his arms while Noah held his legs. Michael was convulsing. Piaget was on a cell phone.
Someone suggested using a spoon to make sure he did not swallow his tongue.
Another person said that was a myth.
Ann knelt before him and grabbed his hands. Michael didn’t squeeze her hands back. He didn’t know that she was there. She looked at Max and was frightened.
Max was focused on Michael, speaking calmly.
“It is going to be okay Michael. The ambulance is on the way. You are very strong, and you will get through this. We are all here to help you. And you have to stick around you know, because who else is going to teach the kids to sail a boat? Noah and I would not know where to begin.”
Michael was drooling, so she used the skirt on her dress to wipe his face even though it was difficult to do with his jerky movements. There was red mixed with the saliva. “Blood.”
“What?” asked Max, distracted.
“I think he bit his tongue,” her voice waivered.
It seemed to take forever for the ambulance attendants to arrive. They checked Michael’s vitals before injecting something into him and asked what had happened.
Elle spoke up, her arm around Mrs. Ramesly. “I came out to talk to him and he just started shaking.”