Guilt

Edith's POV

“We should call Heather,” Dad broke the heavy silence between us, “She was worried throughout the night. We even had to lie to her that you weren't feeling well and went home to rest, before she agreed to go on her honeymoon.”

Guilt shot through me tremendously at his utterance.

Truly, I deserved the cold shoulder mum was giving me.

Although I had kept my interest in their honeymoon extremely minimal, because of my lingering feelings for Murphy, Heather had still made sure to give me every single detail.

They were honeymooning for a week in Vienna.

Just thinking about them having fun on their honeymoon, felt like someone slowly driving a sharp screw into the core of my heart.

“Okay.” I quietly said, as my dad dialed on his phone.

“Hi, dad,” Heather's voice came from the other end barely a minute later, “Is Edith awake yet?”

Looking at me, dad nodded, “Yes, sweetheart. She's standing here with me. Do you want to speak to her?”

“Yes,” Heather replied, and dad handed me his phone, which I took with anxiety clasping my chest.

“Hi, Heather,” I said, remorsefulness lancing through me.

“Don’t,” She retorted, and I swallowed harshly, “Couldn't you have just held it together until the wedding ended? Do you remember how I had to forgo a rave, just to sit through your boring high school graduation back then? You should have also sacrificed for me!”

She really was hellbent on never letting me live that event down, as though I hadn't told her to go for her precious rave back then when she'd complained.

Rather than missing out on my graduation like she’d preferred to, Heather had attended, just to act obnoxiously rude throughout the whole thing.

While I took pictures with dad and my other cousins that had attended, she stayed back with mum to blatantly roll her eyes and make distasteful remarks about the ceremony.

I loved my big sister, but sometimes, she could be quite inconsiderate.

“I'm sorry, Heather. I really tried but I just couldn't stay. Please forgive me.” I replied calmly.

“Just give the phone to dad.” Heather replied, her tone scathing.

She wants to speak with you,” I told dad as I returned his phone, “I will be in my bedroom.”

I decided I wasn't going to get mad at Heather for her manner of speaking.

I wasn't about to let the illicit affection I harboured for Murphy change the way I felt about my sister.

It was her big day after all, and as her maid of honor and little sister, I was supposed to have seen it through no matter what.

Regarding her display of obnoxiousness at my graduation, I had chosen to leave that in the past as well.

Walking into the house, my thoughts strayed to the crazy night I had yesterday.

Especially the part where I'd married Caruso, who was now laying absurd conditions for a divorce.

To think I had assumed he was a normal person, because he'd taken off his coat and given it to me in the cold evening.

Not knowing he was a mad man in a suit.

Merely thinking about him was enough to get me agitated.

The appearance of my mum in the living room interrupted my train of thoughts, instantly replacing my anger with contrition.

“What time do you leave for the airport?” Mum asked, her expression blank.

I was heading back to New Jersey today.

“By 4pm,” I replied, relieved that she was speaking to me again.

“I thought you were leaving earlier,” Mum said, confusing me, “There aren't enough ingredients to make you lunch. Just for your dad and me.”

I didn't need to put two and two together to know that I wasn't welcome at home anymore.

Simply because I had left Heather's wedding.

I knew I was in the wrong for doing that, but neither of them knew how hard it was to watch the love of your life marry your sister.

Especially when I had tried my hardest to get over him.

“It’s fine. I will manage.” I said, and my mum just hummed, before heading into the kitchen.

The first thing I did when I entered my room was take an aspirin from my travel medication kit, and down it with the remaining bottle of water on the nightstand, for my hangover.

After plugging my phone in, I waited for it to come on, then checked for any available earlier flights to New Jersey.

Fortunately, I found one, which was scheduled to take off five hours earlier, and it was departing in the next two hours.

Then, I slipped out of my clothes and stepped into the bathroom.

When I was done, I came out, donning my bathrobe.

I was about to scour through my luggage for an outfit to wear when my phone chimed with a call.

Upon grabbing it, my breath hitched, as I saw my brother-in-law's name displayed as the caller ID.

Swallowing harshly, I unplugged the phone and sat on the bed, my thoughts unhinged.

Swiping right, I held the phone against my ear, with a pounding heart.

“Hello, Edith,” His velvety voice made my heart flutter, “How are you feeling now? I heard from Heather.”

How was I supposed to move on when he showed me this much care?

“I feel better, thanks. I'm really sorry for just leaving like that,” I replied, my voice an unfortunate croak, that made me squeeze my eyes shut in shame.

I was always like this whenever Murphy called me.

Clearly, my brain just couldn't come to terms with the fact that he would never be mine.

“It's fine, Edith,” Murphy replied, and I melted at the softness in which he used to say my name, “I'm glad to hear that. By the way, we landed in Vienna thirty minutes ago.”

“Nice,” I said, my heart sinking, “How was your trip?”

“Pretty great,” Murphy said, “Give my regards to your parents. Although we did speak earlier.”

“Alright,” I told him, “I will be sure to do so. Give mine to Heather.”

“Noted. Take care of yourself and keep in touch, okay?” He uttered.

“Okay. You too.” I said, after which the line went dead.

Before my thoughts could wallow into an abysmal pit, my phone dinged with a text.

When I saw who the sender was, my lips automatically curved into a smile.

“This place is hell. The network is poor. I can't even make calls, I literally had to walk several feet away from the house to send this message. I don't know when you will get it at your end. How was the wedding? I should have just gone with you to San Francisco because the family function was boring as hell.”

Poor Yvonne.

She was right though.

Had she attended the wedding, I wouldn't have gone outside and met Caruso, let alone ended up married to him.

“I'm sorry to hear about the poor network, babes. The wedding was okay. Don't worry, we will talk more at home.” I typed and sent.

Hours later as I walked onto the airplane, I felt significantly relieved, because I was now free from the travails of San Francisco.

So long as my official documents still showed my actual marital status, I couldn't care less about the accidental marriage.