Haley Cass
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Midnight Rain - on this day...
🕑 Added 2024-08-22 23:37:24 +0000 UTCI told you all that I wouldn't stop posting MR content even if the story is coming to an end, and I stand by that!
If anyone is in the mood for some pain -
On this day in the Midnight Rain parallel universe, Sutton and Layla get married (ft. Charlotte not handling it well)
--- without further delay, I give you Sutton's wedding day ---
Sutton paced back and forth, pressing her hands to her stomach where the butterflies were absolutely going crazy.
This was normal, right? To feel this way the morning of your wedding?
Sutton had to believe that was the case, because she’d felt this crazy twisting and turning in her stomach since she’d woken up this morning.
“Oh, good, you’re awake!” Regan’s voice snapped Sutton out of her thoughts, and she turned to look at her best friend as she let herself into Sutton’s hotel room.
“How did you get in here?” Sutton asked, staring incredulously at Regan.
Who grinned, totally unashamedly, as she held up a key card. “I grabbed your spare last night from your dresser. My plan as your maid of honor was to surprise you with breakfast and tea in bed, before your mom comes in and then the hair and makeup people and all that jazz.”
True to her word, she held a tray with Sutton’s favorite breakfast foods and a tea kettle in her hands.
Sutton really couldn’t hold that against Regan. Her best friend had been a very involved, supportive maid of honor throughout the last year, and Sutton had appreciated every second. She’d planned excursions with Sutton’s bridal party – consisting of Regan, Emma, Alex, Jane and Isla – Sutton’s sisters-in-law – all down to Sutton’s exact interests. She’d come to every cake tasting and meeting with the wedding planner that Layla hadn’t been able to come to at the last-minute due to her work schedule.
So Sutton wasn’t all that shocked when Regan was showing up bright and early to continue her support on the day of.
“I expected to find you sleeping in bed, a smile on your face as the visions of white gowns danced in your head,” Regan commented, her mouth pulling into a slow frown. “I didn’t expect to find you holding you hands against your stomach like you’re going to be sick. Are you going to puke?”
Sutton shook her head, before pausing to wonder – was she?
But, “No. I’m not going to be sick.”
Skepticism slid over Regan’s face. “Uh, okay.”
She took a few steps into the room, put the tray down, and marched over to Sutton, landing her hands on her hips. “Tell me what’s going on in that magnificent brain of yours.”
Sutton closed her eyes, as if Regan could read through them into her soul or something. “Nothing. Really. I’m – I’m excited.”
“Oh, no,” Regan gasped. “Are you going to be a runaway bride?!”
“No!” Sutton yelped, affronted by the very idea. “I’d never do that to Layla, are you kidding me?”
Regan shrugged. “Well, I’m mostly upset because I don’t have a go-bag to whisk you away to a tropical island for a week while you heal your wounds. But we can buy stuff on the journey, it’s fine.”
Sutton huffed out a breath, rolling her eyes as she turned away from Regan.
“We aren’t running off.”
“Okay. I mean, there’s still time, so…” Regan trailed off. “I’ll handle everything if you–”
“Oh my god, I’m not leaving Layla at the altar,” Sutton cut her insane best friend off, scoffing out a laugh. “Why do you sound so gung-ho about it?”
“I’m… not,” Regan spoke carefully. “I’m just, you know, in support of your happiness.”
Sutton turned back to her best friend, studying her through narrowed eyes. “And you don’t think Layla is going to make me happy?”
“Uh, no. I do. I mean – you feel happy, right?” Regan’s voice was soft and probing.
“Yes,” Sutton answered, immediately.
And she did. Her life was in a good place – a really good place.
She was in her final year of getting her Ph.D., she was surrounded by supportive friends and family, and she loved a beautiful, brilliant woman. A beautiful, brilliant woman that loved her back. Who wanted to marry her. Today.
They’d planned their wedding day around Layla’s crazy residency schedule as best as possible, and so far, everything was going off without a hitch.
So… yes.
Sutton was happy.
“It’s just – I’m getting married today,” she breathed out, feeling the weight of those words settle over her. Not necessarily pushing down or suffocating, but it was a big thing.
“Which is your dream,” Regan cautiously spoke, still studying Sutton through narrowed eyes.
“Exactly.”
“And… you can’t think of anything or anyone that would make this dream better or more exciting than Layla makes you feel?”
Unbidden, Charlotte’s face popped into her mind.
She didn’t think of Charlotte Thompson often. Not anymore, not after almost four years. Sutton told herself she’d think of Charlotte even less frequently if Charlotte was just… any normal person in the world.
But she wasn’t. She was Charlotte Thompson, rising star politician, whose popularity had only continued to skyrocket since their time in one another’s lives had ended.
As a consequence, Sutton couldn’t avoid her all of the time. Charlotte’s speeches in congress or on the news would inevitably pop up, and Sutton would see her, hear her. All perfectly styled hair and satisfied half-smiles and curvy hips under well-tailored clothing.
Sutton quickly shook her head.
It seemed normal to think of the only other person she’d been in love with to pop into her mind on a day like today, right? Besides, having this dream with Charlotte didn’t make Sutton feel whimsical or excited – which she’d felt for the majority of her engagement to Layla.
It mostly reminded her of that dull ache Charlotte had left her with when she’d chosen her career over Sutton. In fairness, Charlotte was a politician of her word; she’d never made a promise to Sutton that she didn’t keep.
And that was great.
Charlotte got to live out her dreams, and Sutton now got to live out her own.
Everyone wins.
“No. I was just having some pre-wedding butterflies. But I’m ready for a celebratory breakfast, now.”
***
Charlotte walked into her apartment, kicking the door closed behind her, as she spoke into her phone, “Yes, Bryce, I’m meeting with Senator Pike next week about it… great. All right. Have a good night.”
She let out a deep breath, exhaustion from her very, very long day finally edging in and demanding to be felt.
She’d kept herself very busy today, deliberately scheduling as many meetings as possible. As it was, she’d just returned home and hung up with the Governor at nearly nine o’clock pm, despite having been out of her apartment by six this morning. And she hadn’t gotten very much sleep last night, either.
Today was the day.
The day Charlotte had learned about unwittingly, but had since been burned into her memory as if it were a core, defining moment.
It had started a few months ago, when she’d been at a fundraiser upstate. And she’d overheard a small group of people talking, including a current Massachusetts senator. Who mentioned Jack’s daughter’s upcoming wedding.
Charlotte had been really on her game that day, up until that moment. She’d been schmoozing and wheeling and dealing, and then her stomach felt like it fell to her fucking feet.
Jack was a common name, Charlotte knew. But she also knew Senator Eaton didn’t have any family members named Jack, and therefore, he was likely talking about a friend. Likely a co-worker, given this event and who she was talking to.
No, Jack – coming from Melody Eaton – could only be one man; Charlotte was sure of it.
She’d known Sutton was dating someone.
Against her better judgement, Charlotte had never been able to bring herself to block Sutton’s social medias. She’d never been able to stop herself from looking at Sutton’s socials every so often, when her curiosity – longing, regret – got the better of her.
She didn’t do it frequently, which was why it was okay. Only once or twice a year. That was sane. That was fine.
This woman Sutton had been dating for over a year was… attractive, Charlotte had to grudgingly admit that. She was apparently a fucking doctor. Layla West.
Charlotte was able to draw the line at looking anymore into Layla West, only learning what she knew about her from Sutton’s posts.
She’d excused herself outside in the still-chilly air, her hands shaking slightly as she’d pulled out her phone and looked at Sutton’s Instagram.
The first post felt like a stab to the heart.
Sutton’s beautiful, beaming face. Her blue eyes shined into the camera and the large, diamond engagement ring glinted from her finger. Engagement photos. August 22nd was written under them, and Charlotte truly might have thrown up had dinner already been served.
It shouldn’t have shocked her, shouldn’t have stolen the breath painfully from her lungs. She’d always known Sutton was the kind of person who wanted to get married. To settle down and build a life with her partner. It was why Charlotte and Sutton were never meant to be more than they were to one another.
But god, it fucking hurt.
Even though Charlotte hadn’t looked at those photos again, she could see them so vividly emblazoned into her mind’s eye. And the last few months, weeks, and days felt like Charlotte was living with a ticking time bomb.
In her wildest fantasies, she imagined showing up today at whatever beautiful venue Sutton had inevitably chosen. Telling Sutton that she’d never really gotten over her. That when Charlotte closed her eyes and thought about when she’d been the happiest in her personal life, it had been with Sutton, and that she couldn’t even fathom that ever changing.
And then Charlotte snapped herself back to reality. That wasn’t her life, it wasn’t the path she’d chosen for herself. That Sutton had – clearly – moved on and found someone who wanted the same things.
Yet…
As Charlotte poured herself another glass of wine, two hours after coming home from work – oop! That was the whole bottle! – she found herself living in those thoughts.
The fantasy of it made her feel good. Made her feel like she hadn’t made a mistake. While she was drunk like this, she could be the most honest with herself in that… she did regret it. She regretted everything, especially the way she could still see Sutton crying.
Charlotte inhaled sharply, only realizing she was crying, herself, when she blinked and felt the tears fall down her cheeks.
Unable to stop herself, she blearily reached for her phone with the hand not holding her wine glass, and searched Sutton’s name with slightly clumsy fingers.
Sutton Spencer-West popped up instead.
The glass slipped from Charlotte’s hand and shattered, the glass and dark red wine spreading over her kitchen floor, and Charlotte couldn’t care less.
She pressed her now free hand over her mouth, stifling any of the ugly, heartbroken sounds that wanted to escape.
“No, no, no,” she whispered against her palm, before she tapped on Sutton’s name and pulled up her page.
Right there, a picture of Sutton in her wedding dress – luminous and radiant – clutching the hand of her new wife, as they walked down the aisle.
Charlotte closed her eyes tightly, hiccuping as she tried desperately to stop crying. But that only served to make her cry harder.
What did she fucking expect?
She broke Sutton’s heart years ago, and Sutton Spencer wasn’t a woman that would be on the market for long. She was someone that wanted and deserved to be loved and cherished, and Charlotte had been unable to do that, and now she was married, and Charlotte…
Charlotte had to let go.
She had to really, truly, finally let go. Of these ridiculous, baseless dreams that she and Sutton would somehow find their ways back to one another.
Because Sutton was happy, and Charlotte didn’t deserve her. No, wait –
Because Sutton was happy, and Charlotte was, too, her drunk mind told her.
Or, she could be.
Her heart ached, god it ached, as she stared down at Sutton’s picture.
Charlotte knew what she needed to do. She knew it was finally time.
With that resolve in mind, she blocked Sutton’s profile.
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Comments
Trix
THE PAAAAAIIIIIN (i love it). I know i asked for this but maaan, I feel so bad for Charlotte here. 💔 🥺
Dani Roberts
Yeah I’d love this too, I still feel upset that Sutton called Charlotte bearing her soul so vulnerably “pretty words”
Procrastireader
In the first chapter of this AU, it was mentioned that Sutton got married in April. But in this 'on this day' post, it's August? Also, in Chap 20, during Lucy's show and tell at school, Layla was referred to as "Dr. Bilson". Is Bilson Arianne's last name? Because her maiden name here is 'West'. Coming fresh off a reread - I love this AU so so much and reread the whole thing immediately after this chapter :(( Im hanging on to the epilogue release!
Claire
Well that was rude.
Lexi Le
Holy… my heart was not ready for that. Will this be in MR being published? I would really hit that second chance Romance button
Katie
All hurt, no comfort???? You’ll be hearing from my lawyer!!!! 😭😭😭😭
Procrastireader
This was sooooo good. 🔪🔪🔪💔
Dianne
I'd love to read that too
Nyx0217
The image of Charlotte sobbing just breaks my heart.. A side of her that I imagine only her grandmother ever got to see. It really puts into perspective of how someone can be having the best day of their life, while another person is having one of the worst days that they’ve ever experienced. Heartbreak can be just as bad as physical pain. I’m so thankful that Charlotte got her happy ending in the end. She deserves it. They both do ❤️
Dalila Ribeiro
Oh my poor baby Charlotte! Although I do love to read your scenes of pain 🙈
Amani Barnett
This was such a good tear-jerker 😭 I love me some good angst! Ik during MR we see Charlotte get the talk from Sutton's family and friends abt how she hurt Sutton, but I would lovee a snipbit where we see the opposite - Sutton realizing how hard Charlotte took those years apart
Jessica Woodcock
Owwwww 😭😭😭 that was mean
MC
Soooo good!!!
Vesta Charleshouse
Would love to know what Sutton’s and Layla’s vows were to each other!
Vesta Charleshouse
Nope nope nope nope. Ouch. Far to emotional for that. When you wish you could step in and just shake people to their senses! I had to watch the episode of Vicar of Dibley after this when Dawn French imagines the wedding and busts in singing “it should have been me”. (Probably more relevant to those of us in the UK)
AF
Ooh that hurts so good!
Chus Lerma
OMG!! I can’t bare it! 🥺🥺🥺🥺
AD
Lovely. Just lovely. (Not 😑). A nightmare as I sit here with my morning coffee. Haley, I’ll be sending you my therapist bills for the next six months. 😉. Oooof!!!! Well written, but god can you not cut us open with a such a serrated blade???🤪
Kayla
Ummmm Haley you will be speaking to my lawyer after this one because this was painful omfg
Gem Arnedo
I’m not ready….
Mary Ann Bosworth
Wow. So painful.
Marissa Robinson
Oh no!!!! Ewwww gross! MY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY IS SUTTON AND LAYLA’S!?!? This is legit horrible news! 🤮 Ps. But a lovely add on scene gah. And a cute way to tie the AU together!
suesue
Haley, this was so incredibly well written, and an absolute drop kick to the feelers….
Lauren
🥺 Thank you for keeping MR alive ❤️
el
unrelease this right now haley😭 (jk i love suffering)
Autumn
I’m not crying, you’re crying. Damnnnnn
Angelica
That was equally beautiful and sad. Excuse me while I go cry for the next 10-15 mins
Angelica
Excuse me while I grab my own bottle of wine and blast Adele
Angelica CK
😭😭😭
Bridget
The angst! It hurts so good! 💔
Haley Cass
I do have another MR post queued up for this month... much happier than this one!
Daniella Garcia
Nope nope can’t do it. I love you, but 🙅🏽♀️
Meg H.
Repeats to herself over and over, "Even in the AU they end up together. Even in the AU they end up together..."
kimberlys323
I love the midnight rain universe so much!
Jess Bullock
Excuse me that was hurtful! I loved every second of it but it was very hurtful!
Diana Santamria
🥺🥺🥺🥺
Stephanie Leeth
Am I in the *mood* for pain? 😐 Will I, even against my better judgement, continue subjecting myself to MR content regardless? 🙃
Danielle
Angst level: acceptable
Kayla Bhadra
That hurt but it’s nice to see that even when they were apart they were meant to be!
Alex L
Oooh Charlotte 😭
Tina M
Well, that was heart rending. Well-written, fitting well in the AU, makes sense to the timeline. But oh, Charlotte, such a gut punch!
Kim Bond
Your timing is, as ever, impeccable. Not for the first time, or third time, you've posted content on a day when that day really needed some rebalancing. Thank you 🫶
Juliana
Omg omg I wasn't ready for this!!! Hayley for Aphrodite's sake!
