Heart of the Wolf

Her Story: The Andrew’s- Part One

     “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now kiss your bride.” Archie pulled Betty close as he kissed her lips, relieved she was his at last. I got you, you

fuck. She’s mine! Archie knew he won the big prize over Reggie. Betty was his wife. He laughed aloud in glee, and as she kissed him back passionately he

became aroused and couldn’t wait to claim her body as well as her heart.

     This was an almost perfect day for Betty. She missed Reggie and had prayed he would surprise her come to the wedding, but he hadn’t.

 She eagerly looked around the crowded church as her father walked her down the aisle and fought back tears of bitter disappointment when she didn’t see him.

So she flashed everyone a fake bright smile and pretended to enjoy the lavish reception given in the Lodges great lawn: a gift from Veronica to Betty and Archie.

Veronica forgave them for being in love, and was now going out with Jason Blossom.

Betty looked beautiful in the white satin princess style dress she made herself.

 Ethel, Veronica and Nancy were her attendants, dazzling in peach chiffon dresses, also designed by Betty. Jughead was Archie’s best man, Chuck and Moose

were the groomsmen.

     The reception was a grand affair of one hundred and fifty people and everyone had a great time. Finally, it was time for the bride to throw the bouquet and

Veronica caught it.

“Your turn next Ron!” Betty cheered and off the bride and groom went to their honeymoon in the Bahamas.

***

     Jughead had text Reggie the week before to inform him of the wedding in case he had gotten over Betty and wanted to attend.

When Reggie text back: good for them, Jughead knew Reggie still carried a torch for Betty. Jughead sighed. He had hoped Reggie had gotten oven Betty but had

even more hope that Archie would treat Betty right. But he had his doubts. Time will tell, he thought as he signaled the waiter to bring him another plate of the

delicious food served. Jughead, even though he was Archie’s best friend, easily recognized how much Reggie was suffering from the loss of Betty and felt deep

sympathy for him. Jughead knew Archie only asked Betty to marry him in order to hurt Reggie, and it worked. Jughead made it his business to keep in touch with

Reggie, and surprisingly, Reggie was as eager being in touch with Jug as well. Jughead mentioned Reggie’s love to Ethel and she agreed that Reggie loved Betty.

Ethel remembered how Reggie watched Betty with an intense look of longing when he thought no one else was looking. Betty seemed to be the only one who did

not see how deep Reggie’s feelings for her went. She was totally blinded by her love for Archie.

***

    Archie’s parents, Fred and Mary, were very happy for them to live with them until they got on their feet. The plan was for the young couple to live with them until

after they both graduated from college, and then they would move into their own house.

***

     Archie was surprisingly devoted to Betty and after two years into the marriage, Betty became pregnant. The couple was very happy when they learned of her

pregnancy. They were planning on renting a house until they could purchase it. There was a lot of rejoicing at the news, but sadly, Betty lost their baby after the

fourth month of pregnancy.

     In her excitement about Betty’s pregnancy, Veronica forgot that her name was taboo to Reggie and innocently informed him of Betty’s impending motherhood:

Surely after all this time he’s fine with them being together, she thought as she happily dialed his number to tell him the great news. She and Ethel were going to

be the baby’s godmothers.

     “Hi Reg, guess what? Betty’s pregnant! She wants the baby to have two sets of godparents, and she would like you to call her because she wants you to be

one of the godfathers. Isn’t that great? We’re all so excited about this baby. When are you coming to visit?” Veronica was too busy talking to take note of the

ominous silence on the phone. “Reg, are you there?” when she heard nothing from the usually talkative Mantle.

     “Look Veronica, I thought I made it crystal clear that I don’t care to hear about the Andrews!” Reggie bellowed and immediately hung up on her and he did not

answer any of her calls for nearly three months. Reggie had raged and cried about the pregnancy during all of that time, until the day he received a distressed

voice mail message from Veronica.

     “Reggie, please pick up! I am sorry I mentioned Betty’s baby to you before, but just so that you are aware, she miscarried yesterday. She’s been asking for you.

Please call her. She needs you so much, Reg.” Veronica was in tears by the end of the message.

     Reggie also cried when he heard about the miscarriage. He hated the fact that she carried another man’s child, but didn’t wish the baby dead. He knew Betty

would be devastated, but he could not risk seeing her or hearing her voice over the phone. He wouldn’t be able to take it so he sent her a sympathy card and a

huge bouquet of flowers with his condolences, no return address or phone number on it. When Betty received his gift, she held the card to her breast, crying at

another deep loss she felt.

“Oh Reggie, where are you when I need you so much?” she whispered as the tears rolled down her face. She held her dead baby boy to her chest, crying her

heart out alone.

***

     Archie was upset at Betty over losing the baby and started cheating on her soon after she got home from the hospital. At least she started seeing signs of

cheating after her miscarriage. “The baby would have lived if you weren’t always busy doing stuff.”  He found all kinds of ways to let her know he held her

responsible for the tragedy.

She was so distraught over his accusations that she insisted he come with her to her obstetrician for verification on what caused her to miscarry.

“Mr. Andrews, this was no one’s fault. Sometimes nature has a way of dispelling an imperfection. You two are young, you can have other children,” the doctor had

told them.

Archie didn’t buy that, so he made sure he stayed away from home as much as possible.

“Let’s try for another baby, Archie,” Betty would say, and all he’d say was, “We’ll see.”

     Archie was a music teacher at Riverdale High, and occasionally he would play gigs at the local clubs for fun, and soon enjoyed the supply of available women

he met there. Archie hated when Betty came to listen to him play because he couldn't play around, and she attracted admiring stares, at first. But as the years went

by, because of his cheating and neglect, Betty's beauty began to fade and he hated to be seen with her.

      “Hey Betty, I'm going out. You look tired, get some rest. I’ll see you later,” as he went out the door, intent on the fact that he was going to meet with Cheryl,

Maria, Theresa, Amber, whoever tickled his fancy. To Betty, Archie was worse than Reggie. At least Reggie hadn’t gotten married and she had never heard any

gossip saying that Reggie went out with married women.

     “Why do you stay with him Betty? He’s no good,” Veronica would ask Betty for the thousandth time. Betty’s parents asked her even more times than Veronica

did, but Betty always felt as if Veronica had ulterior motives for asking her to leave Archie.

“I love him, Ronnie, you know that. Please let's change the subject.” And they did, but heir friendship was very tense and cool after that. In fact Betty slowly cut off

anyone who criticized her husband. So those who loved her kept quiet, but they also kept watch so they would be there if she ver left Archie. But would she?