His Perfect Match

He climbed into one of the available cabs.

“Where to?” the driver called over his shoulder.

Darius gave his home address and a few seconds later the car was in motion. He settled back in the seat knowing it would be at least twenty minutes before they reached his apartment complex.

He stared out the window at the passing cityscape as his problems raced through his mind. Whatever was going on with Liz had started over a month ago. She’d changed almost overnight. Now, if he said up—she said down. If he said left—she said right. He’d tried to talk to her before leaving on his trip and she’d just brushed him off.

Which was extremely unusual. Liz was the most agreeable person he knew. He thought back to the last getaway they’d had. He’d planned a romantic weekend retreat to a local medieval-style castle. She’d not even known where they were going until they had arrived, and the surprise on her face when they pulled up to the castle had been well worth the effort. They’d had a terrific time that weekend, but that was before all the wedding plans had begun.

At first, he’d assumed it was just the usual nervousness that came with getting married. After all, he was experiencing his own share of it. The idea of taking responsibility for the financial and emotional well-being of another human being was daunting to say the least.

But he was prepared. Probably more prepared than most twenty-four-year-old men. After all he had a successful business to provide for them. And not only was it successful but thriving.

At the age of eighteen, straight out of high school, he’d signed up for the franchise-training program at the deli he worked in. Within a year, he was opening his own store. Two years later, another, and another across town, and now he was returning from a planning meeting in a city fifty miles away where he was preparing to open more delis and supermarkets.

Liz, a recent college graduate with a philosophy degree, could do much worse than him, he thought. So, what was her problem? His phone rang and he quickly answered it.

“Hey, man, where are you? I called the hotel you were staying at and they said you checked out.”

“Hey, Darren. Yeah, I decided to come back a day early. What’s up?”

There was a long pause before his brother finally said, “Nothing—nothing, just wanted to see if you needed any last-minute help with anything.”

Darius frowned. “No, you just make sure you bring the ring.”

“Of course.”

His frown deepened. He loved his big brother, but Darren wasn’t exactly the reliable type. “Did your tux arrive?”

“Um…yeah, about that.”

Darius laughed, already knowing what his brother’s complaint would be. “What about it?”

“It’s green.”

“Sage.”

“What?”

“Sage. Liz picked the colors—not me.”

“At the shop we tried on black tuxes.”

“That was just for sizing. I thought I told you that?”

“You know damn well you didn’t say anything about green tuxedos.”

Darius laughed again. “Sorry, brother, but I’m just trying to make my new bride happy.”

“Are you sure you can?”

Darius felt a chill of premonition run down his spine. “What’s that supposed to mean?” He waited for several seconds but when no response came he prompted his brother again. “Darren, what the hell did you mean by that?”

Darren’s only response was a grunt.

Darius instantly realized his brother knew more than he was saying. “Look, Darren, if you know something, say it.”

“Nothing to say—I don’t know anything.”

“Then why did you say that?”

“Just messing with you. It was a joke. You’re too sensitive. Chill.”

Darius’s eyes narrowed. His brother was lying. “Darren, as my brother I would expect you to tell me if you saw something or even heard something about Liz while I was away.”

“Man, you’re overreacting.”

“Am I?”

“Look, I just called to see if you needed some help with the wedding stuff. Never mind.”

Darius listened as the phone went dead on the other end before turning off his own. Darren knew something. Something he was obviously hesitant to share. That short conversation was just enough to confirm Darius’s suspicions.

Before he could change his mind he leaned forward and knocked on the glass. “Instead, can you take me to 5682 Willard Avenue?”

The driver gave him a quick annoyed glance. “That’s thirty minutes in the opposite direction.”

“I know. I’ll make it worth your while.”

That seemed to appease the driver because as soon as he could find an appropriate place to turn around, he did, and headed back across town in the direction of Willard Avenue.

Thirty-five minutes later Darius was stepping out of the cab and paying the driver his fee and a fifty-dollar tip. The man nodded his satisfaction before pulling away.

Darius stood in the drive of the small family home belonging to the Donovans. Liz’s compact car was sitting in the drive right behind her father’s pickup truck.

He walked to the door and knocked. It was a warm June evening, so although he waited a few minutes and knocked again a couple of times, it was not an uncomfortable wait.

Finally, the door cracked partially and half a face topped with a couple of pink rollers appeared. “Darius? What are you doing here?”

“Evening, Mrs. Donovan. Sorry to disturb you so late. I was hoping to talk to Liz.”

Marian Donovan closed the door to remove the chain and opened it wide. “I’m sure she’s in bed already. Is something wrong?”

“Who is it, Marian?” A gruff male voice called from the top of the stairs.

“Sorry to wake you, Mr. Donovan, I was hoping to see Liz,” Darius called up the stairs.

The stairs creaked as the large man descended. “Darius? What’s wrong, son?”