The Fourth Day of November

by Mark Campbell

  It was seven a.m. when we locked up and made our way downtown. When we arrived, Lee and I joined the growing queue at Kew Gardens City Hall as we awaited our witness—Lacy. She was mystified by the fact of being asked to be at City Hall so early in the morning. When she arrived, Lacy donned a grey dress, similar in color to my suit, a string of pearls and matching grey shoes. I almost didn’t recognize her since I had never seen Lacy without scrubs.

  “Hi sis.” I grinned greeting Lacy.

  “Hi Alistair. Are you two doing what I think you’re doing?” she asked curiously.

  “Yes.” Lee answered. “Alistair and I want to get married today. We wanted you to be here as our witness.”

  “I knew it!” Lacy jumped up exuberantly. “What about mom, dad, grandpa and grandma? You wanted them to be here, didn’t you little sis?” Lacy inquired.

  Lee answered yes with a look of despondency on her face. She explained the unbearable thought of their father not wanting his daughter to be happy.

  Lacy held her sister close, reassuring her support of our union. “This is Alistair’s and your day. Let the three of us make it a memorable one.”

  “Your not going to get drunk, Lacy, and start dancing on tabletops in public; embarrassing my wife and me, are you?” I joked.

  “First off mister, you’re not married yet to my sister.” Lacy playfully snapped.

  “I will soon be.” I grinned.

  “That can still change mister. Furthermore, you I will embarrass, but my baby sis, I won’t.”

  Lee shook her head as she watched Lacy and I jokingly egg each other on. The doors of City Hall suddenly opened, and people started filing in slowly. Security guards checked each visitor, making sure no illegal contraband was detected. After clearing the security check, I asked for directions to the chapel. The guard pointed us to the right towards a room with limited space.

  The longer we waited, the more anxiety worked through me. I went to the men’s room several times in fifteen minutes. When I returned from my final restroom visit, I saw Lee stand up. She slipped off her trench coat, revealing a white Katharine Hamnett strapless gown. She looked aesthetically pleasing to my eyes.

  “Alistair, you’re drooling.” Lacy said to me as she pretended to wipe my mouth with a Kleenex.

  Before I could respond, a slender African American woman opened the chaplain door and called for Alistair Scott and Lee Chang. She asked Lee if we had a witness. I pointed to Lacy. The woman led us through the wooden double doors, closing it behind us. She returned to the podium and asked if we were ready. I nodded my head, showing signs of nervousness. Lacy put her hand on my shoulder and whispered, “relax; don’t be nervous Alistair,” as she joined my hand with Lee’s. Lee turned her head towards us and mouthed I love you to us both.

  The chaplain went through the reading of the vows, and near the end asked for the presentation of the rings. Lee and I exchanged rings, and we were officially pronounced man and wife.

  Upon leaving the chapel, a man with a camera around his neck handed me a business card, and asked if Lee and I wanted our wedding photographs taken for a reasonable fee. I agreed and Chris—the name from the card—started snapping pictures of the three of us. Afterwards, he told us to give him a call in a week to purchase and pickup the photos. As we departed City Hall, Lacy offered to take Lee and I out for a celebration dinner later that evening. We agreed to meet up later and parted ways.

  Lee and I drove to Manhattan to check into the Hilton Hotel.

  ---

  “Welcome sir. Welcome madam.” A young woman with short brown hair greeted us from behind a large wooden desk. “Would you and your wife like to check into the Hilton, or do you already have reservations?”

  “My wife and I would like to make a reservation for three nights.”

  “Okay, sir.” The desk clerk said before adjusting her glasses and tapping on the computer keyboard. “It seems, sir, that we’re fully booked with the exception of two presidential suites. They go for three times the rate of a regular double occupancy room.”

  “That will do. We just got married today, and nothing is going to spoil our honeymoon.” I beamed.

  “Congratulations, sir and madam.”

  “Hello mister.” A little girl with long blonde hair wearing a pink and white dress tugged my pant leg. “Are you staying in my house today?” The little girl referred to the hotel as her home.

  “Yes, my wife and I are staying in the presidential suite.” I answered.

  “Oh, good. You will like it in there. We have one of our own.” She smiled.

  “I’m sorry. Is my daughter bothering you and your wife?” Said a woman approaching the counter.

  “Not in the slightest.” Lee replied to the woman who introduced herself as Mrs. Hilton.

  She turned her full attention towards me and Lee, looking at us peculiarly. “Have we met?” Mrs. Hilton asked.

  “I don’t think we know each other.” Lee answered.

  “I remember now! You and your husband are the World Dance Champions. Who could forget that passionate kiss you shared on national television?” she blushed. “Are you staying here for the night?”

  “Actually, my husband and I are staying for a few nights.”

  “In that case, Karla?” Mrs. Hilton called for the young lady behind the front desk.

  “Yes, Mrs. Hilton.”

  “Karla, I would like you to give Mr. and Mrs. Scott the Presidential Suite free for the length of their stay.”

  “Free, Mrs. Hilton?” Karla wanted to make sure she had heard correctly.

  “That’s right Karla, free.”

  “Very well, Mrs. Hilton.” Karla smiled and started entering information into the computer.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Scott, it was a pleasure to meet you two.” Mrs. Hilton shook our hands. “There’s going to be a charity social gathering tomorrow night. It would be a pleasure if you two would join us.”

  “May I ask what cause this soiree will help?” Lee inquired.

  “It’s an event to help raise money for breast cancer research.” She beamed. “There is also going to be a special guest performance. Will we see you tomorrow?”

  “Absolutely.” Lee accepted. “My husband and I will be there.”

  We bid adieu to Mrs. Hilton and her daughter. Karla completed our reservation, and handed keys to a bellboy, instructing him to show us to our room.

  Room 500 was just steps away from the elevator up which we came. The bellboy retrieved what little luggage Lee and I had from his cart, and placed it in our room before giving us a brief tour. He showed us the suite’s many modern amenities, before leaving with tip in hand.

  “It was very nice of Mrs. Hilton to offer this suite to us for free, don’t you think so, Alistair?” Lee walked around the room fascinated.

  Neither one of us had expected such a magnificent wedding gift. I couldn’t resist the urge to run and jump on the bed, bouncing up and down like a schoolboy.

  “What are you up to?” Lee asked flirtatiously telling me to act my age, before joining me on the bed.

  “Now what were you saying about acting my age, Mrs. Scott?” I cornered her and we fell together on the bed. Panting, we laid next to each other, looking up at the ceiling.

  “Thank you Lee.” I said between deep breaths.

  What for?” Lee asked.

  “For being my wife. I will never let you down.”

  Lee turned towards me and looked at the profile of my face. She then swung one leg over my torso, straddling me. My body immediately responded to the touch of my new wife. We locked eyes as she ran her hands down my muscular chest.

  “Don’t start something, sweetheart, that you cannot finish.” I teased.

  “I always finish what I start.” Lee unbuttoned my shirt and pulled it off without unlocking her lips from mine.

  ---

  Two hours later, there was a knock on the room door.

  “Honey, can you get that?” Lee shouted from the bathroom. />
  “Okay.” I answered.

  “Hello, Alistair. Where is sis?” Lacy asked as the door swung open.

  “She is in the bathroom.”

  “Just look at this place. How can you and sis afford this on your emolument?” Lacy teased.

  “We can’t.” I confirmed her suspicions.

  “Did you steal this room?” Lacy joked.

  “How can someone steal a room, as you so bluntly put it?” my forehead wrinkled playfully.

  “Whatever.” She rolled her eyes.

  Lee opened the door to the bathroom. “Are the both of you arguing again?” she asked eyeing Lacy and me.

  “She started it by saying we stole this Presidential Suite.” I jokingly wined.

  “Is this a Presidential Suite?” Lacy gasped.

  “Yes, is there a echo in here?” I poked fun.

  “Sis, let’s go and leave Alistair here. You married a flimflammer. If I knew, I would have told you not to marry him.” Lacy eyed me playfully.

  “I’m beginning to think that you’re a bad influence on my wife.”

  “Alistair, put your shoes and shirt on. Lacy leave him alone and let him get dressed.” Lee chided. “Furthermore, we did not purloin this room.” She eyed Lacy.

  “Then how are you and it over there going to pay for this?” Lacy curiously inquired.

  “We don’t have to. It was a gift from the owners.” Lee smiled.

  “No way!” Lacy squealed.

  “Oh, yes way. Alistair and I met Mrs. Hilton. She gave this to my husband and I as a wedding gift.”

  “Well, thank God I won’t have to come up with bail money.” Lacy giggled.

  “Don’t worry yourself cheapskate. Al Sharpton will bail us out. He’s got our back.” I added.

  “Oh, shut up stupid. Lacy replied.

  “How dare you talk to me like that in our humble abode? Show me some respect.” I pressed with a grin.

  “Here’s your respect.” Lacy gave me the bird.

  “The two of you are like infants going back and forth. Let’s go.” Lee exited the room with Lacy behind her.

  “Sis, you look nice by the way.” I kissed Lacy on the cheek, only to get pushed back.

  Lee was growing tired of our playful banter. “Lacy you’re just as bad as he is.” Lee whined. “Come on Alistair.” Lee held my hand as a mother would her little boy.

  ---

  “Sis, how was the meal? Did you and Alistair enjoy it?”

  “It was truly delicious.” Lee replied, putting her elbows on the table and folding her hands underneath her chin.

  “What about you, Alistair?” Lacy directed her attention towards me.

  “I would have to agree. The meal was fit for a king.” I smiled.

  Lacy returned my smile, but then her countenance turned stoic, signaling the seriousness of her next question. “We have to face mom and dad sooner or later. We cannot hide this forever. Besides, I’m a part of this now. I’m what the law calls a coconspirator. In some counties that’s a death sentence!”

  “Let’s get real, Tinker Bell. We’re in the United States. Going off and getting married is not a crime the last time I checked if you’re over the age of sixteen.” I rolled my eyes.

  “In that case sis, you’re in big trouble. He’s only fifteen and three quarters.” Both women guffawed.

  “What are you doing now, Alistair? Why are you looking around like a mad man?” Lee inquired.

  “I’m making sure that your sister didn’t set us up. Usually, in the movies when a coconspirator spills their guts, that means that they have grassed us up to the other party to save themselves. Isn’t that right Lacy?” I grinned.

  “We’re not in the movies. Furthermore, look who’s living in Never-Never Land. Sis and I will have to visit you someday Alistair when we want a trip from reality.” Lee laughed once again at Lacy’s antics. “By the way, Mr. Overly Suspicious was right about some of what he said, though.”

  Lee stopped laughing. “What part is true Lacy? Did you tell mom and dad?” Lee anxiously asked after hearing Lacy’s confession.

  “No they don’t know. I couldn’t help but put my two cents worth in.” Lacy answered.

  “Then who did you grass us up to Mrs. Benedict Arnold?” Although concerned, Lee tried desperately not to encourage me by laughing. Instead, she pressed for more answers from her sister.

  “Grandma and grandpa know about you and Alistair.” Lacy admitted.

  “Why on earth did you have to tell them?” Lee gasped.

  We’re talking about grandma and grandpa; there’s no hiding anything from those two. Besides, they threatened me.” Lacy continued.

  Lee inquired nervously. “So what did they say?”

  “Nothing really. They just said to give you and Alistair these.” Lacy reached into her handbag and pulled out two small boxes, and handed them to us.

  “What is it?” Lee asked inquisitively.

  “I don’t know. It’s some kind of symbol called tom-something.”

  “Don’t you mean Taoism?” I asked as I opened my box, revealing a Taoism hanging from a silver chain. Lee had one in her hand also.

  “What does it mean?” asked Lacy.

  “From what little I know, the Taoism—Chinese Buddhism and Confucianism—is an object of spiritual practice used to become one with Tao’ (Tao Te Ching), or to harmonize one’s will with nature in order to achieve effortless action and virtue.” I answered.

  “Alistair, where did you learn all this?” Lee asked.

  “My mother is, or should I say was, a history teacher back home in England. That was one of the only subjects that I really excelled in?”

  Lee and Lacy looked at each other dumbfounded.

  “You’re so smart and sexy, honey. That’s a huge turn-on. Give me a kiss.” Lee cooed.

  “Eww! Now, I’m sick. Get a room.” Lacy kiddingly chided. “Okay, stop that! The waiter’s here.”

  The garcon stood by a metal cart which held a large cake with a bride and groom on its top tier.

  “I thought it would be nice if my sis and brother-in-law had a wedding cake.” Lacy smiled.

  Lee and I expressed our gratitude, and the three of us enjoyed the scrumptious yellow cake layered with delicious icing.

  6:00 pm

  It felt great being off my feet and relaxing. I couldn’t recall the last time I had walked that much in a single day. Lee was just as beat. We had spent our afternoon in and out of numerous boutiques and stores until we found the perfect attire to wear to the charity event that evening.

  “Would you like a Pepsi, love?” I asked Lee before getting off the incredibly comfy settee to get a cold one for myself.

  “Yes, please.”

  “Oops, there’s no more Pepsi left in the fridge, sweetheart.”

  “Would you mind going to the soda machine and get a couple honey?” Lee asked.

  “Okay, love. I’ll be right back.” Locking the door behind myself, I strolled down the corridor. I was met by the sound of chatter as I approached the vending machines. A man and his daughter were refilling their ice bucket at the ice machine.

  “Hello, mister.” said the little girl from her father’s side.

  I froze, temporarily, after realizing that the young girl’s father was one of the biggest names in the music industry. I was standing behind Lionel Richie.

  “Wow, you’re Lionel Richie!” I said excitedly.

  “Yes, I am. And who are you?” Lionel smiled, extending his hand to shake mine.

  “I’m Alistair Scott.”

  “I know who you are.” He squinted slightly.

  “You do?” my brow furrowed.

  “Yes, now that I’ve gotten a good look at you. You’re the young man who kissed that beautiful young lady at the dance competition they showed on television. Everyone is still talking about that.” He chuckled. “Where is she?”

  “Oh, my wife? She’s in our room.” I pointed in the direction of our suite.

 
; “You two are married?” Lionel asked with a surprised look on his face. “How long have you been married?”