When Angels Play Poker

by Maura O'Leary

  Once they were settled and comfy in the dark, Maura pulled out the champagne she had brought as well as the card and present. She opened up the bottle of champagne, cuddled up to Bob, and said, “I have something special for your birthday, but I want you to read the card first.”

  Bob rolled his eyes in response. “I forgot my glasses. You’re gonna have to read the card to me, hon.”

  Maura smiled and said softly, “I don’t mind doing that at all.” She pulled out the card, and while leaning on his broad shoulder, she described the card—how it had an antique pocket watch on the front with the words on the cover “As time goes by.” Inside were the words “always remember to live life to the fullest—in every moment.”

  Then Maura read what she had written on the inside of the card for him,. “Ever since I met you, when I was only 18, one of the most important things you said to me was to live for the moment. It’s a message I have carried within me since then. In many cases, it’s what has gotten me through so much over the years—remembering to focus on those precious moments I had captured. It was one of life’s most important messages, but not many people had taken the time to master it like you had.”

  Maura continued to read, telling him not to dwell on the past. “Let those that had died rest in peace.” (At this point she went into a coughing fit.) Once she had recovered, she read on and told Bob that he needed to focus on the future and on the wonderful events and moments that would unfold and be shared with others—like her.

  When Maura finished and looked up from the card, Bob’s eyes were glistening again, and without saying a word, he pulled her into his arms and said into her ear, “That was the most beautiful card and note that anyone has ever written to me.” Then he slowly kissed her.

  Maura ran her hand over his handsome face, looked into his kind brown eyes, and said, “But wait! There’s more. I haven’t given you your gift yet.” Smiling, Maura pulled away and reached for the French Champagne. Then she pulled out a velvet pouch she had in a beach bag, and she asked him to open it. Bob pushed open the drawstrings and pulled out two wrapped items, which he carefully unwrap, revealing two fluted champagne glasses. Maura filled both of the glasses with champagne and handed one to him. Bob looked at his glass and then over at Maura, mystified. He could see she was watching him intently.

  Maura said, “You have no idea how upset I was earlier today when I found only one of this pair. I ripped apart my house looking for the other glass. Luckily I found it. You don’t know where these plain fluted glasses are from, do you?”

  Bob replied quietly, “No, I’m sorry I don’t. Why don’t you tell me?”

  “These champagne glasses are from the first New Year’s we spent together—and it’s the first keepsake I still have from our time together over twenty years ago. These glasses have survived all my moves, all my changes in taste, and all my failures and successes. I could afford Waterford glasses now, but the plain, ordinary fluted glasses are worth one hundred thousand times the value to me, because they represent you, all our good times together, and my love for you, then and now. I could never part with these two glasses. It’s as if I knew I would see you again and use them. What better time than tonight?”

  By this point, Maura was too overwhelmed and choked up to say anything else. She also was waiting for Bob’s reaction. He looked at her, and she could see tears in his eyes. He put his glass down in the sand and took her face delicately in his hands, stared deeply into her eyes, and said what she had been waiting to her all her life from him. “I love you, Maura. I always have. I don’t say that lightly. You know that. You are the most remarkable woman I have ever known. You are so brave, so strong to overcome everything that you have in life, and yet here you are with me after all these years.” Then he looked away and out at the pond, with the moon shining down, and murmured, “What’s my problem? What the hell am I waiting for?”

  He then turned back to her and said, “I should have asked you to married me the first night we reconnected last year. Maura, you and I should just go to Vegas and get married—like right now. Let’s not waste any more time.”

  Maura was too stunned to speak. Finally she found her voice, “We can’t do that, Bob. The last flight already left tonight.” And with that, she added with a smile, “But there’s always tomorrow.”

  Bob burst out laughing, pulled her back into his arms, and started passionately kissing her. As Maura pulled away to catch her breath, she started to say, “I love you too!” but Bob cut her off. “Let me show you how much I love you,” he said. And then he turned and pulled her onto the blanket with him. Maura was pretty overwhelmed by that point, so she actually sat up and said, “Gee, Bob! We’re missing out on the beautiful view the pond and moon are giving us, as well as the rest of the champagne,”

  Bob replied, “I would have to agree with you. Let’s have another glass and toast to us—our past and our future.” He poured them each another glass. Maura sipped slowly at her champagne and looked out over the serene pond. She instinctively wanted to say, “Hang on, Bob. Let me think this through for a minute.” But as she looked over at him, she realized he was drinking the champagne much quicker than she, as if it was beer. But she decided not to say anything, lest it destroy the loving atmosphere surrounding her.

  Instead Maura lay back, breathed in deeply, let out a big sigh, turned to Bob, and said “I want you to make love to me here—at Walden Pond—tonight. It’s just too magical a night not too.”

  Bob softly replied, “How could I not make love to you here tonight? There is no other place I would want to be.” He pulled her back into his arms.

  As things started to passionately progress and clothes were quickly coming off, Maura had two distinct fears: of wild nocturnal animals in the woods wandering by for a sniff—or a chew—during the night and the fear that local cops would discover them buck naked at Walden Pond. There was no telling what the charge and fine would be for that.

  Maura started to slow things down in protest and brought up those gnawing but important concerns to Bob as he was unhooking her bra. Without hesitation, he replied with a classic response: “Live for the moment, Maura.”

  With that, she let herself be engulfed by his slow, sensuous touch. They made love on the sand with a level of emotional intensity they hadn’t experienced before. Luckily, during their passionate lovemaking, the cops did not show up—if they had, Maura and Bob would have never know.

  Afterward, Maura lay in Bob’s arms, staring out at the pond. She pulled the big blanket up and wrapped it around both of them to keep warm and to keep from being exposed to any unwanted visitors.

  As she went to lean on Bob’s shoulder, Maura stopped and noticed from the moonlight that there was a bug on his shoulder. She went to flick it off, and then suddenly stopped short. “Bob,” she said, “you’re not going to believe this: … but you have a ladybug on your shoulder! I guess it was your lucky night, honey.” And then, with a contented smile, she snuggled up to him, closed her eyes, and whispered, “Wake me when it’s light out, Bob.” With those words, she quickly fell asleep.

  Meanwhile, Bob was lying in the sand with his head spinning and his stomach rolling. He realized too late that he’d had too much to drink and that beer and champagne do not mix. All of a sudden, he leaped up, causing the ladybug to fly off his shoulder, and dashed into the woods to get sick. He stayed there for a while until he was certain his stomach had settled down. During his misery, he failed to notice the ladybug take flight above him and turn into an angel with huge beautiful wings as she reached the stars.

  Bob slowly went back to the sand, lay down on the blanket, and saw to his relief that Maura was still asleep. He stared at her Irish face in the moonlight and thought, What an amazing night. And with that he passed out.

  Pat hovered high in the night sky, watching Bob. If he had looked straight up in the sky, he would have seen a brightly lit star. With distress
on her face and her wings fluttering in anxiousness, Pat quietly said over and over, “No! No, Bob! Please don’t black out!” But as hard as she tried to wish it different, her wish didn’t happen. Her worst fear of the night was realized: Bob would not remember the incredible night when he woke up.

  With that, Pat spread her wings out as far as they would go and frantically took off toward heaven to warn Jimmy of what was to come.

  CHAPTER 10

  The Championship Game

  While Maura and Bob were at Walden Pond, back up in Heaven, Jimmy was playing the most challenging poker game of his eternal life.

  Damn, this woman EB was really good! he thought. Each time he had her figured out, Edwin would jump in, play a hand, and throw a wrench in any progress Jimmy had been making in the game. He couldn’t figure out any of E. B. and Edwin’s tells, because they kept switching things up. It was as if E. B. was saying, “Come on, big shot, show me what you’ve got!”

  Needless to say, she was really starting to annoy him. The only bright light, literally, at the table was Jenny, and Jimmy was glad to have her at his side. In her motherly, celestial way, she calmed him down. She whispered words of encouragement each time he lost a hand, which was often, so truth be told, he needed it. E. B. was unnerving him. Had he been in human form, he’d be sweating profusely by then.

  In addition, because of the pressure, Jimmy found himself craving a Martini in the worst way. “How is this even possible? I’m dead, right?” he mumbled to himself.

  Jimmy had stopped keeping his eyes on the viewing screen to see what was going on at Walden Pond. The last time he had glanced up, they had just arrived there. As Jimmy looked at his dwindling pile of poker chips, he realized that taking a break was absolutely needed. He got up from the table, and stated, “Ladies, and Edwin, I need to take a break for a few hands. Please continue playing. Consider me on pass for now, and knock yourselves out while I’m gone.”

  With that Jimmy quickly went over to Uncle Joey’s table and murmured, “Take a break with me now.” Uncle Joey looked a bit taken aback, but got up and said, “Okay, Jimmy. Sure,” and told his table he’d pass on a few hands.

  Outside in the cloud hallway, Jimmy started to pace up and down the corridor. Uncle Joey watched in amusement and said, “What’s got you SO fired up? Didn’t I warn you about E. B.?”

  Jimmy whipped around quickly, stopped in front of him, and said “It’s SO intense in there! And E. B.—” He stopped, at a loss for words. “Man, it’s like she can predict or see through my cards or something. What am I gonna do now? She’s about to shut me down—and damn it, I need a drink!”

  Uncle Joey burst out into a loud, deep laugh, and said, “Sorry, buddy, but it’s a dry town up here.”

  “I’m aware of that, but it doesn’t help to be reminded at the moment,” Jimmy snapped. “Besides, I have more important things to worry about, like how am I going to survive in this tournament, against E. B. and Edwin, never mind win?”

  Uncle Joey said, “Look, I used to crave cigars something fierce when I first came up here. But trust me, the cravings fade over time.” He started to pace the hallway, in deep thought. Finally he stopped, turned back toward Jimmy, and said seriously, “There is only one solution if you’re going to win this championship.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You have to go ALL IN when you’re back at the table and get dealt the next hand. You only have two more hands left anyway, so you don’t have a choice.”

  Jimmy looked at him incredulously and said, “Are you nuts? ALL IN? I can’t believe you’re even suggesting this. I’ll be out of the game in the next five minutes—or less. No way, Uncle Joey.”

  Uncle Joey walked closer and stared him in the face. “Look at me. Trust me, Jimmy! They won’t expect it from you. That’s the beauty of making this move,” he said excitedly. “E. B. will never believe you have the guts to do it. Prove her wrong. Your move will throw her and Edwin way off, and that’s what you need to keep in the game.”

  Jimmy looked at him warily. Uncle Joey took that as a good sign and continued. “You need to stay in this game; it’s too important. Why else would Norm have brought you here? It’s not just about the championship, Jimmy. It’s about the outcome tonight down on earth more than here in that room. And you hold the opposing view to everyone else at that table! You and I both know that Bob will never pull the trigger and ask Maura to marry him. The bet tonight was that he will ask her, but you know better. And besides if you win the Poker championship bet, you take home all the Roman coins. And that earns you respect in heaven, even though you can’t buy things.”

  Jimmy murmured, “The Roman coins are kinda cool.”

  With that, before Jimmy could object further, Uncle Joey walked him to the Poker Room entrance, pulled back the door, and said, “Get back in there and go all in. Make the family proud, Jimmy! I totally believe in you, buddy. You know that.” And with that, he gave him a big smile and a bowing gesture at the door.

  Jimmy hesitated at the entrance. Then he felt the love emanating from his favorite uncle, so he slowly grinned and said, “Okay, I’ll do it. I’m all in!” With that he stepped back into the room, ready for more poker action.

  “That’s my boy!” Uncle Joey exclaimed from the hallway.

  Jimmy quickly sat down at his table with an air of confidence and determination that hadn’t been there before. He glanced at the viewing screen to see that Bob and Maura were settling in at Walden’s beach. Then he looked around the table, and said, “I’m ready now. Hit me.” E. B. dealt a new hand of cards.

  Thus began a new poker game and strategy by Jimmy. The hand that was dealt was a good one for him, a pair of Jacks. Edwin called, Jimmy matched him, and as each person around the table stated his or her position and all cards were dealt, it was time to turn over the final cards on the river. At that point, Jimmy said, “I’m all in.”

  Watching everyone’s reaction was priceless. Jenny gasped, Edwin had a coughing fit, and E. B. looked stunned and said, “I beg your pardon?”

  Jimmy repeated his call then sat and waited on E. B. She sighed loudly and in a huff said, “Alrighty then. I’m all in too.” She put her hands under her chin, stared at Jimmy, glanced slightly to her right, and said, “Edwin?” Edwin was silent for a minute, pondering the situation, cleared his throat, and finally said, “Um, I’ll pass.”

  Jimmy did everything he could do not to fist pump the heavenly clouds and scream, “Yes!” He tried to contain himself somehow. He had found his ace in the hole; Uncle Joey had been SO right. Edwin didn’t have the guts to go all in, and thus E. B. didn’t have her sidekick. It was a critical turning point in the game.

  The poker game proceeded, and when all cards on the table had been turned over, Jimmy ended up winning over E. B. with his pair of Jacks. It was a beautiful sight to see the Roman coins coming across the table from E. B.’s pile to Jimmy’s side. He couldn’t help but turn and sneak a big fat grin at Uncle Joey. What a great uncle, he thought. His advice had always been wise, and in heaven it’s the best.

  With each game onward, he started winning big with his new strategy, and the coins started piling up. Eventually Edwin folded for good, and Jenny was much more focused on the happenings at Walden Pond than the poker game. In Jimmy’s eyes, that was a very good thing, because he had been laser focused on the game, and winning instead. As he was taking the game more seriously, he noticed that Jenny, in her cool angelic way, had her hands folded in her lap and was praying while watching things unfold at Walden.

  All of a sudden, in the middle of a hand being dealt, Jenny exclaimed, “E. B., look at what’s happening at Walden. I told you I had a great feeling about tonight, and I was right!” Then she clapped her hands in ecstatic happiness.

  E. B. put her cards down and focused on the screen to see Bob proposing to Maura on the sand. “Well, I’ll be damned. Who knew? It’s about time
. I am so happy for her.” Jenny leaped up, and went over to hug her, and started to cry.

  E. B. looked over her shoulder at Jimmy. “Looks like your brother finally came through.”

  Jimmy, on the other hand, was too shocked to respond. He was trying to figure out what was going on. He had missed the whole event leading up to the proposal. He looked at the screen and then at Jenny, and said “Wait, how did I miss this? Bob proposing to Maura? Are you sure? That can’t be happening.”

  Jenny said with a huge smile on her face, “Well, yes, it is!”

  Jimmy looked concerned as his viewed the screen and scene below. “Honestly, ladies, my brother is the most commitment phobic person I know. He got really burnt the first time around and vowed he’d never marry again—to his whole family. So I just can’t believe this just took place.”

  Jenny turned to him and said, “Noooo, please don’t say that, Jimmy. Everyone has a change of heart over time, and Maura must have softened his. All I know is that Maura loves him deeply, and why doesn’t she deserve that in return?”

  “Look, I don’t want to be the buzz kill for the happiness vibe you’ve got going on here. I’m just saying I know my brother well, and this is not what I would have expected—ever,” Jimmy stated seriously.

  E. B. jumped in finally, saying in a clipped tone, “Well, you’re wrong! And besides, the bet tonight was for whether Bob would finally propose to Maura—and he did. So I win the pile of coins.” She started to reach for Jimmy’s pile.

  Jimmy exclaimed, “Whoa! Hold on, Ms. Energizer Bunny! What the heck are you talking about? The championship is based on poker card playing skills, not on some made-up wish or bet before the game started.”