“Pretty good actually. I had to go to three different shops and a tailor but, I got exactly what I was after. I just have to pick it up on my way home Tuesday.”
“What did you get?”
“You will see on our wedding day. I don’t see you in the dress so you don’t see me. Seems pretty fair to me.”
“Alright, be that way then, I’ll see you soon enough though. I would like to know what you think of Mom coming to our wedding though.”
“Do you think that’s a good idea? I mean your grandparents wouldn’t want her there would they. After all, you told me at your dad’s funeral they wouldn’t even let her out of the car.”
“Well I talked to grandma earlier to see how things were progressing up there and I asked her what she thought. I had to explain the whole meeting mom thing to her but she said she would talk to grandpa. She called me back about a half hour later and said if we wanted her there they would allow her to come to the wedding. Grandma did say that they could not see keeping any mother from her daughter’s wedding, even my mom.”
“If they are fine with it and you want her there then it is fine with me. But I can’t see her riding with us. All our vehicles are too small and we’re going straight on our honeymoon afterward.”
“Maybe but I can at least offer.”
Norman takes some things to the other room while Wren calls her mom.
“Mom, would you like to come to my wedding?”
“Wren, I thought you said it was on the ranch in South Dakota. They will not want me there. I'll be happy with a photo to add to my collection.”
“I talked to grandma and she to grandpa, and they said it would be fine for you to come. But I hate to say you're going to have to find your own way up there because we’re going straight from there to our honeymoon.”
“Wren I would drive to the end of the earth to be there. To be welcome at such a major event of yours is a dream come true. When are you heading up there?”
“We still plan to leave on Wednesday morning. We’re going to the Cracker Barrel by the Chrysler plant at six then out from there.”
“Then give me a call when you leave there and I’ll meet you at the rest area just after Wright city. In the meantime I need to call my boss and let him know what’s going on.”
“I didn’t think about that, is he going to be alright with that?”
“Oh he’ll be just fine with it.”
“You seem pretty confident about that.”
“I should be he’s my boyfriend.”
“No! You’re dating your boss?”
“It does have its advantages. So like I said he’ll be fine with it. Problem is he might want to come along. But I’ll deal with that.”
“Sorry mom, that sounds a little like the old you. Just a little cold.”
“Alright so not all of that part is gone. Besides, he really likes that part of me.”
“Mom I’m going to let you go now before this conversation gets any weirder.”
“Like hearing my daughter is a stripper isn’t weird? But I get the idea, I will see you Wednesday morning.”
“Good-bye Mom.”
“Well Norman, what do you want for dinner? I feel like cooking.”
Norman comes up behind her and wraps his arms around her pulling her tightly to him.
“How about we keep it simple and call it a night.”
“Norman I didn’t know I was marrying such an insatiable man.”
“It’s all your fault for leading me down such a path.”
“My fault? How do you figure that?”
“The way you filled out that rubber dress, the way you look, the way you smell, taste, just being you is enough.”
Norman starts nibbling on her ear lobe and down onto her neck. He raises his hand up from her waist and rubs her breast with his thumb while he holds it in his hand. She turns to face him and they share a long passionate kiss. Dinner is very late that night even though they never leave the kitchen.
They start the next morning in what has become their typical Sunday fashion, late. Once cleaned up they go to church where they sit in the last pew holding hands throughout Mass both very self conscious that neither of them can attend communion because of their living arrangements among other things. After church they do a little shopping, picking up a cooler and a small stove for their trip, then some food and other odds and ends. The rest of the day is spent with pizza and beer going over the maps so Norman knows where they’re going.
“Hey, wake up sleepy head. We have to get some miles in before we can pick up my truck.”
“Norman, what time is it?”
“Four-fifteen, so up and at’em.”
“Could you please explain why you are waking me at four-fifteen?”
“Because you said you like to get in ten miles every morning and the last few mornings you haven’t. So come on let's go.”
“You do know if you were anyone else I wouldn’t have any problems with shooting you right now.”
“And you would do well to notice that I put your gun away BEFORE I tried to wake you.”
After their run and cleaning up they head in to pick up Norman’s truck from the dealer grabbing some doughnuts and coffee on the way.
“I’ll see you later tonight.”
“I wish it was earlier than later.”
“Cheer up! I’m only working till seven tonight and I’m off at three tomorrow then I leave that all behind me forever just like I promised.”
“Maybe I should swing by for lunch today or tomorrow just to see you.”
“No, because you have too much to do at the office to get ready for our trip and you would just hang around there if you came over.”
Wren grabs his tie, straightens it, then snugs it up.
“Besides, I'll be home early enough for you to see me.”
She gives him a long hard kiss and they part ways. She heads off to work dreading every minute of the drive. She knows she should have come over last week and talked to uncle Mike but, her week had been such a whirlwind that she completely forgot. But she made a promise to Norman and that was something she had to keep.
She pulls up behind the building and grabbing her backpack and purse walks up to the employee entrance. She punches in her access code and the buzzer sounding the doors release goes off. She steps into the building and heads straight to her uncle’s office and knocks on the door.
“Come in Wren.”
She steps into the bright office and walks up to the large desk.
“How did you know it was me?”
Pointing at a small monitor on a bookshelf he answers her.
“I’ve been watching you since you pulled in. I got a call from your barrister about fifteen minutes ago, nice man don’t normally hold to kindly to their type but he’s different. Anyway he told me you were on your way and that you wanted to see me.”
“Just how often have you and Norman been talking lately?”
“That be a manner for us men folk to be discussin.”
“Uncle Mike, how would you like a knuckle sandwich? Just give me a straight answer.”
“Definitely your grandmothers temper you have. Get you in trouble it will. But in answer to your question most everyday for a couple of weeks now.”
“So, since you seem to be all knowledgeable, why am I here?”
“Oh no you don’t lass! You have to do that yourself.”
“Alright then, Uncle Mike I made a promise to Norman that once we were legally married I would quit working for you. Due to a miss-understanding on my part initially that day is fast approaching. To be exact we see a judge tomorrow, so I hate to leave with so little notice but I’m afraid I must.”
“That’s alright dear, an oath to your spouse is an oath you must hold above and beyond all others. To break that oath is to break a mutual trust; and a marriage is based entirely on that trust. I hold you to no such oath here and if I were you I’d be gettin home and not even worry about today’s and tomorrow’s shifts. Showing more respect for Norman’s feelings you’d be then.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Absolutely.”
Wren goes around the desk and hugs her uncle. “Thank-you uncle Mike, for all you have done for me. I may drop in now and then just to see how you’re doing.”
“Now don’t be such a stranger you can come by here or the house anytime you be wantin.”
Wren leaves his office and heads to the undressing room. Once again she is glad it is too early for most of the girls to be there as she packs her stuff into her backpack to leave a job for the second time in a month.
She slings the pack over her left shoulder as she walks out of the room and wanders the club looking around before she leaves. She couldn’t imagine herself working here just a month ago and yet now she hates to leave. She assumes Bill is right about the stage because she knows that’s what she’ll miss the most. She heads back toward the back door feeling forlorn as she does and standing beside it is uncle Mike.
“Tis a shame to see’ya go lass but remember; this door is always open to’ya.”
“I’ll remember that.”
She looks around the back hall once more before pushing on the release bar to go out.
“I’ve seen that look before. A long time ago when she that is your grandmother left. She told me then what many a girl has told me since, that this place is addictive. The dim lights, the music, the rush of running around naked, it all gets into your blood and doesn’t let go. I hope you have a prosperous and long life my little one.”
“Good-bye uncle Mike.”
Blinking Wren steps out into the sun, tosses her pack in the seat beside her and heads toward home. Once home she wanders around the house in a downcast mood. She pokes around in her photo albums and rummages through her nearly empty closets. As she looks she starts gathering clothes for her trip with Norman, causing her to slowly come into a brighter mood as she does. While she is packing her phone starts ringing.
“Is this Miss. Robbins?”
“Speaking.”
“This is Jena we met the other day when you and your Mom dropped off your wedding gown for alterations. I just wanted to let you know it’s finished.”
“So quickly?”
“Well there really wasn’t that much that needed done to it and your Mom is an old friend so I kind of pushed myself as a favor to her.”
“So I can pick it up anytime?”
“Anytime you’re ready.”
“I’ll see you in half an hour then.”
Help support Maura's goal of having a workshop with space to work on more writing at MauraAlwyen.com
No comments:
Post a Comment