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Carl, my fiancé, and his parents could not forgive me for standing him up at the altar. My father wished I would have arrived at that decision before he had signed all those checks. My mother suspected I had my doubts. My bride's maid and my best friend, Jackie, was relieved - she always felt he was a misogynistic jerk who had no business being married. I knew that all along in the back of my mind, but managed to deceive myself for nearly two years.

Carl got on at the same engineering firm where my father is Vice-President. They got along well and even played golf on Saturdays, weather permitting. We started dating after meeting at the company picnic. I never gave it too much thought until now. Carl will manage though - guys like Carl really just need one functioning hand.

My misgivings were finally brought to the forefront of my consciousness as my father escorted me to the altar.

His final words to me before he took my arm were, "I just want my little girl to be happy!" Why wouldn't I be happy? You and Carl are buds! When I looked over at Jackie for reassurance, I instead saw her horrified expression, like someone witnessing the moment before the hungry lions were released upon the Christians.

I turned to Carl and read so clearly what I had denied all this time. Carl must have been dating me to see how far he could climb at the firm. My father was like a mentor to him, and I began suspecting if he weren't eventually angling for my father's position.

And what about me? Carl was never very romantic. We seldom, if ever, cuddled after sex. Sex seemed so perfunctory for him, at least with me. I often wondered if he were truly monogamous. His eyes targeted other women whenever we were out in public, oblivious to my pain as I observed him.

So when the minister finally asked me if I would forever honor and cherish Carl, yah-de-yah-de-yah, I just had to answer, "I CAN'T!"

Jackie cried out, "Thank, God!" She flung the bouquet in Carl's face and grabbed my hand to make a grand escape. I heard a furious "WTF!" sputtered by Carl, but we were already half way down the aisle. The limo driver appeared nonplussed as he saw us dash into the back, and Jackie commanded him to "Hit it!"

The driver was instructed to drive to my apartment to gather some clothes for me and then to Jackie's apartment to do the same. Jackie texted my mother that we were laying low for a couple of days. I had already scheduled time-off from work for the honeymoon. Jackie was between gigs as an accountant.

We were dropped off at the airport where we decided to catch a flight to Vegas, for no other reason than to perhaps commit another breach of faith, and news of it would never leave Vegas. I figured there'd still be some repercussions when we returned home.

#

News traveled fast. When we returned home a couple days later, my father informed me that Carl had resigned from the company. Apparently, the embarrassment of being abandoned at the altar by the Vice-President's daughter was more than he could bear. Co-workers had described Carl as a real brownnoser and was not popular among the other staff members. I knew that, but my father seemed so fond of him, and he took it pretty hard hearing about Carl. I was just grateful that our family had dodged a bullet.

#

I realized I needed to be wary, but still have enough confidence in myself to meet someone decent. I may have met someone, this writer, but it won't be rushed. The one vow that I will make and keep is to friendship, and Jackie had my back on this episode of my life.

#

END

Description

Carl, my fiancé, and his parents could not forgive me for standing him up at the altar. My father wished I would have arrived at that decision before he had signed all those checks. My mother suspected I had my doubts. My bride's maid and my best friend, Jackie, was relieved - she always felt he was a misogynistic jerk who had no business being married. I knew that all along in the back of my mind, but managed to deceive myself for nearly two years.

Carl got on at the same engineering firm where my father is Vice-President. They got along well and even played golf on Saturdays, weather permitting. We started dating after meeting at the company picnic. I never gave it too much thought until now. Carl will manage though - guys like Carl really just need one functioning hand.

My misgivings were finally brought to the forefront of my consciousness as my father escorted me to the altar.

His final words to me before he took my arm were, "I just want my little girl to be happy!" Why wouldn't I be happy? You and Carl are buds! When I looked over at Jackie for reassurance, I instead saw her horrified expression, like someone witnessing the moment before the hungry lions were released upon the Christians.

I turned to Carl and read so clearly what I had denied all this time. Carl must have been dating me to see how far he could climb at the firm. My father was like a mentor to him, and I began suspecting if he weren't eventually angling for my father's position.

And what about me? Carl was never very romantic. We seldom, if ever, cuddled after sex. Sex seemed so perfunctory for him, at least with me. I often wondered if he were truly monogamous. His eyes targeted other women whenever we were out in public, oblivious to my pain as I observed him.

So when the minister finally asked me if I would forever honor and cherish Carl, yah-de-yah-de-yah, I just had to answer, "I CAN'T!"

Jackie cried out, "Thank, God!" She flung the bouquet in Carl's face and grabbed my hand to make a grand escape. I heard a furious "WTF!" sputtered by Carl, but we were already half way down the aisle. The limo driver appeared nonplussed as he saw us dash into the back, and Jackie commanded him to "Hit it!"

The driver was instructed to drive to my apartment to gather some clothes for me and then to Jackie's apartment to do the same. Jackie texted my mother that we were laying low for a couple of days. I had already scheduled time-off from work for the honeymoon. Jackie was between gigs as an accountant.

We were dropped off at the airport where we decided to catch a flight to Vegas, for no other reason than to perhaps commit another breach of faith, and news of it would never leave Vegas. I figured there'd still be some repercussions when we returned home.

#

News traveled fast. When we returned home a couple days later, my father informed me that Carl had resigned from the company. Apparently, the embarrassment of being abandoned at the altar by the Vice-President's daughter was more than he could bear. Co-workers had described Carl as a real brownnoser and was not popular among the other staff members. I knew that, but my father seemed so fond of him, and he took it pretty hard hearing about Carl. I was just grateful that our family had dodged a bullet.

#

I realized I needed to be wary, but still have enough confidence in myself to meet someone decent. I may have met someone, this writer, but it won't be rushed. The one vow that I will make and keep is to friendship, and Jackie had my back on this episode of my life.

#

END