Hell Hath No Fury

Part 12

At 2:30 on the dot as promised, Ruben knocked on Kim's door. He was wearing a black suit with a red tie.

Kim answered...she was wearing a purple knee length dress and her hair was down.

"Wow..." Ruben breathed. "You look so beautiful."

"Thanks. You don't look half bad yourself."

"Thanks. Come on, we don't have that much time."

Despite a traffic jam that left them stuck for 15 minutes, Ruben and Kim made it to the chapel at 3:30. They walked in and saw no one there.

"Oh, man...think we're too late?" Ruben asked.

"No way."

"But what if Clay told Amber to say that the wedding was at 4 when it was really at 3? He would do that, you know."

"Amber wouldn't lie...and she wouldn't get married without me."

"You're damn right I wouldn't!"

They both turned around to see Amber behind them. She was looking radiant in a white satin pantsuit with matching pumps, and her hair was curled and hung past her shoulders.

"Wow! You are looking fabulous, girl!" Ruben said.

"Look who's talking! You two look like you're getting married instead of me!" Amber responded.

Kim blushed. "Not yet." Ruben said. "For starters, that dress has to be white or..."

"Hey!" Kim playfully smacked Ruben.

"I've got a little something special for you." Amber said, indicating a box of flowers she held. She opened the box and handed Ruben a rose for his lapel, and Kim a small bouquet of red roses. Amber's bouquet was larger and had white and red roses.

"I'm so glad you're here. There's something we have to tell you-" Kim started, but was suddenly interrupted by Amber's cell phone.

"Excuse me." She turned around and talked for about a minute. When she was done, she turned back to face Kim and Ruben. "That was Clay. He's going to be here in about 15 minutes. He's not supposed to see me before the wedding!"

"Just relax, Amber. I saw a free room a few doors down the hall." Ruben said. "Why don't you and Kim go and talk? I'll be out here waiting for Clay."

"Great." Kim said.

"I had an idea in the car. See, I'm going to tell him you couldn't make it. Then when it's time for the march, you come down the aisle first. O.K.?"

"O.K."

"Good. I'll see you in a few." He kissed her cheek.

"Kim and Ruben sitting in a tree..." Amber sang.

"Shut up, Amber!" Kim replied.

"What? I just needed a way to calm myself down!"

They all laughed.

"Come on, girl." Kim said as she and Amber went to an empty room and closed the door.

"O.K. I'm listening. What's going on?"

"Well...there's something I need to tell you...and it has to do with Clay."

"O.K."

"See, last week, something happened-"

"Kim...I think I know what you're going to say."

"You do?"

"Yeah. You wanted a night with Clay, right?"

"Well-"

"I totally understand. I mean, I know you and Clay are very close-"

"Amber-"

"And you go back long before I came along. If you really wanted a night with him so badly-"

"Amber!"

"What?"

"Clay..." She felt tears spring to her eyes at what she was about to say. "Clay raped me."

Amber stared at her. "What did you say?"

"I said...Clay raped me." Kim said just before she burst into tears.

"Clay raped..." Ashleigh's hand flew to her mouth as she realized what Kim had just said. She was stunned that her fiance would do such a thing. 'Kim, you better not be lying to me...'

"Kim?" She kneeled down in front of her. "I...I don't know what to say. I mean...is this true?"

Kim simply looked at her and nodded.

"Oh, my God..."