by Mac Fortner
“We’re good ole’ boy, quit worrying.”
“Just think about it. Don’t rush into anything.”
“I will, and I have.”
The waitress returned to take our order.
“Are you gentlemen ready to order?” she said in a friendly tone. “I can come back if you’re not.”
“I’ll have the porterhouse, medium rare,” I said, “and the check. My friend here has just announced his engagement.”
“Congratulations,” she offered.
“Thank you,” Chad said. “I’ll have the same, only rare.”
“I’ll bring them right out.”
“We’ll have another round while we wait,” I said.
“When is the big day?” I asked him.
“We plan to be married in August.”
“That soon?”
“I don’t want to give her a chance to change her mind,” he joked.
“Not much time to plan a big wedding.”
“We’re keeping it on the down-low. Just us, you and Robin. She is going to invite a few family members.”
“I’ll keep it hush-hush then.”
“I would like for you to be my best man.”
“I’d be honored.”
Our drinks came. I downed what was left in my glass and exchanged it for the full one.
Alexis Arlington is the thirty-five-year-old, tall, gorgeous, and well-built daughter of William Arlington the third. William inherited a mass fortune from his father who inherited it from his father. It is traced back several generations to a lucky gold strike. None of the men in the family have done anything to contribute to the wealth. They have all tried to spend as much as possible, but can’t manage to put a dent in the fortune.
Bill Arlington is the only one who has actually increased the fortune, but not without innocent people getting hurt, and I mean hurt.
Alexis was indicted on embezzlement charges by the FBI for skimming some of the icing off the cake before it was legally turned over to her in her trust. The Feds didn’t have all their ducks in a row. We easily got the charges dropped. We also uncovered evidence of her involvement in the embezzlement, in the process. It wasn’t our duty to disclose that evidence.
She still denied any involvement in the embezzlement. She said someone set her up.
She was in line to inherit over six hundred million, and the rest after her father’s death. It amounted close to two billion.
Chapter 3
I watched Diane walk through the sliding doors and into the illuminated night from the back seat of our company limo. I noticed a few of the men turn to look at her. She’s five-foot-two with long blond
hair that reaches the center of her back and has a very athletic body.
The driver stood at the rear of the car and opened the trunk, then hurried to take Diane’s suitcase.
“Thank-you,” she said.
I opened the door and got out to hug her. She hugged me back and kissed me on the cheek.
Before the driver could close the trunk, I stopped him.
Turning to Diane, I said, “Is there anything in your suitcase I might want to eat?”
“That’s for breakfast,” she said.
“I have milk in the back seat.”
She rolled her eyes. “Okay.”
She walked to the back of the car reaching in and opening her case. She retrieved a white sack, which I could smell from where I stood, ten feet away.
I stepped aside, bowed, and gestured for her to enter the back seat.
“Your chariot awaits.”
She laughed and got in.
I pulled two plates from a compartment neatly hidden in a side panel. From another, I retrieved two napkins and laid them on the plates. I then opened a refrigerated compartment and pulled out two bottles of milk.
“You’re something else Cam,” Diane said.
She opened the sack and laid a huge chocolate cinnamon honey bun on each plate.
“Bon Appétit,” she said.
I couldn’t answer back. I already had a piece of honey-bun in my mouth. I just looked at her and nodded my head.
“I guess you’re not taking me out to dinner tonight,” she stated, with a hint of disappointment in her voice.
I swallowed. “Of course I am,” I said, neatly folding my napkin around what remained of the roll. “I just wanted a taste. Something to think about while we eat at–I hesitated, trying to think of a good restaurant I could get into with this late of notice–Per Se.”
“Per Se, I always wanted to go there,” Diane said excitedly.
I saw the chauffeur reach for the phone and make a call. After a short pause, he looked in the mirror and slightly shook his head back and forth. He wasn’t able to get us a reservation at Per Se.
I excused myself for a moment from Diane. She was busy looking out the window and hardly noticed. I leaned forward, and whispered in the chauffeur’s ear, “Try Chad please.”
I leaned back in the seat and Diane looked at me, “Do you think Chad can get us in,” she said smiling.
I gestured a surrender. “I hope so.”
“It’s okay if he can’t. Maybe we can go tomorrow night.”
Five minutes later the chauffeur replaced the phone and nodded his head up and down.
“We’re in,” I said.
“Great. I knew you would own New York in no time,” Diane said looking out the window. “I never get tired of all the glitz and glamour.”
“Once around the park,” I told the chauffeur. “I always wanted to say that,” I said smiling at Diane.
“You’re an old romantic,” she said.
“I know.”
Chapter 4
The limo stopped in front of the Time Warner Center at 10 Columbus Circle, in Manhattan. Diane and I exited the Limo and entered the building.
“Wow,” Diane said with a slight gasp.
“Yeah, pretty impressive isn’t it.”
“Wow.”
We took the elevator to the fourth floor to Per Se, where a charming hostess greeted us at the restaurant entrance.
“Mr. Derringer, how are you today?”
“Couldn’t be better Chelsey, and you?”
“Life is good.”
I introduced Diane, and we were led to our table.
We started with a fantastic wine and then ordered our meal.
We chose from the Prix-fixe menu, a nine-course vegetable tasting and a nine-course chef tasting menu. Prix-fixe meaning (fixed price), but still costing around $300 each.
“So tell me about life in Key West,” I said, “and don’t leave anything out.”
“Not much to tell,” Diane said, teasing me.
“Bull, there’s got to be something. Give me something.”
“Okay,” she said, turning in her chair and laying her hand on mine, “But don’t get mad.”
Oh, oh, what now.
“Of course not,” I said.
“I’ve been dating Jack,” she said bluntly.
Jack is my sometime partner in Key West when I’m working as a private eye. Although he is a dear friend, he is also a real rounder with the women.
I just stared at her. I could feel my face turning red.
“Are you okay?” she said with a slight smile.
“Really?” I managed to say. “I leave you for a few months, and you’re dating Jack.”
“He’s a good man,” she said defensively.
“I know that, but….”
“Don’t worry Cam; we’re just taking it easy. I’m not falling in love.”
“Okay, okay, but promise me you’ll be careful.”
“In bed?”
“No, with your heart.”
“I promise.”
Changing the subject before I might say something I’ll regret later I said, “Okay give me something else.”
“Crazy Wanda ran off with Dave again.”
Dave is an old friend who bartends at Schooners down by the marina. He and crazy Wanda
went on a week-long fishing trip a couple of months ago. When they arrived home, Dave’s wife knocked him out with a frying pan while he slept.
“They’re both crazy,” I said and chuckled.
“His wife said she would shoot him this time.”
“I doubt if she’ll do that.”
“I don’t know; she was pretty ticked off.”
I thought on that for a few minutes while I nibbled on some vegetables.
We ate in silence for a while. I thought about Jack and Diane, and the song started going through my head–“a little ditty ‘bout Jack and Diane….”
“Cam,” Diane said, “quit worrying.”
“I’m not worried about you,” I said. “I’m worried about Jack. He has his hands full.”
~***~
The next morning I woke, showered and shaved all while trying not to wake Diane.
I tiptoed to the kitchen thinking of the remaining portion of my chocolate cinnamon honey bun. The white sack was in the microwave where we thought it would stay the freshest. I opened the door as quiet as possible and retrieved the bag. It was empty except for a note. It read–Really, you were going to eat without me.
I glanced toward Diane’s bedroom door. I noticed for the first time that it was ajar.
Standing there with the empty sack in my hand, and a dumbfounded look on my face, I couldn’t help but laugh. Then the front door to my apartment opened, startling me, and Diane entered dressed in her running clothes, covered in perspiration.
“Ah ha!” she said. “I knew you wouldn’t wait for me.”
“I thought you were asleep. I was going to lay yours out on a plate with a glass of milk before I woke you.”
“Sure you were.”
“Where is my honey bun anyway?”
“I ate it before I went running. I thought it might give me some extra energy.”
“No. Tell me it ain’t so.”
“I’m sorry, but it is so.”
I couldn’t believe it. She brought me a chocolate roll all the way from Key West and then she ate it. I felt nauseous. Not to mention, disappointed in Diane.
“Why would you do that?”
“Because it was getting stale and most of it was gone anyway from your attack in the limo.”
“Yeah, but….”
“Cheer up ole’ man, I have reinforcements,” she said smiling.
She went to her room, returned with a plastic food box and laid it on the table.
“That should hold you for a while.”
I opened the lid of the food container and gasped. Lying there neatly in a single layer were six chocolate honey buns. I thought I was going to cry.
“Now, don’t you feel sorry for thinking the worst of me?”
“Get the milk.”
Chapter 5
That evening we were joined for supper by my girlfriend Robin, and Chad. The four of us had drinks on the rooftop patio, of the Chelsea Stratus Building, where my apartment is located.
The grill was fired and warming to five hundred degrees.
I lit the three pole heaters we installed for just such an occasion. It is early spring and a little chilly. They warmed the area nicely.
“The view is magnificent from here,” Diane said, taking in the jetliner view of Manhattan.
“I never tire of it,” I said.
“It’s even more magnificent with you two lovely women in it,” Chad said looking at Diane.
He was right. Diane was beautiful, and so is Robin. Her five-foot-six frame and short black hair show off her model-like figure.
“While that is true Chad,” I said, “don’t get any ideas. That’s my daughter you know.”
“Just saying,” Chad said, holding his glass up in a mock salute, “You know I’m happily engaged.”
Diane said, “I can make my own decisions on men,” then adding quotation marks with her fingers, “Dad.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll back off,” I said.
“Don’t worry Cam,” Chad said, “I’m just enjoying all the beauty.”
We laughed.
“A father’s work is never done.”
“It is for now, Cam,” Robin said, and turning to Chad, “Why didn’t you bring Alexis with you tonight?”
“She had a prior engagement with her father. Something to do with the family fortune and the embezzlement charges.”
The grill was ready. I took orders and cooked the steaks to perfection.
We made small talk while we ate. Chad questioned Diane on her favorite places in Key West.
“Sounds like a fun place,” he said.
“It is,” we both said in unison, then laughed.
After supper, Chad and I lit two Romeo and Julieta 1865 Cuban cigars. Excusing ourselves from the women, we took them to the railing to enjoy.
“Chad, these are marvelous,” I said, imitating Billy Crystal, who was imitating Fernando Lamas.
“Fresh from Cuba.”
We smoked a few minutes just staring at the beauty that was Manhattan.
“Has Alexis’s father decided she is innocent yet? He seemed to be quite angry at the trial,” I said.
“I don’t think he believes her. That’s what tonight’s meeting is about.”
“I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes right now.”
“Me either. I’m going to meet her later for a drink and hopefully sex.”
“I’d like to be in your shoes right now,” I said grinning.
We laughed as Chad threw a fake punch at me.
“What’s so funny?” Robin said as she walked up behind us.
“Guy talk,” I said, and kissed her.
“Never mind, I don’t wanna know.”
“It’s better that way.”
“I hate to be a party-pooper, but I just received a message. I have some crime to fight,” Robin said apologetically.
“Oh, sorry to hear that. Let me walk you to your car,” I said taking her arm, knowing it would do no good to argue the point. When duty calls, she has no choice.
Chad bid her goodnight, hugged and kissed her on the cheek.
We excused ourselves. As I opened the door to the stairway, I turned and pointed at Diane and then Chad. I shook my head in a “no” motion.
Chad raised his hands in surrender. Diane just gave me the look.
Chapter 6
The next afternoon I put Diane on a flight back to Key West.
“I’ll miss you,” I said.
“I’ll miss you too.”
We hugged. I held her tight.
“You’ll be back in Key West in no time,” she said.
“Yeah, only nine months.”
“That’s not so long.”
“Tell Jack I said Hi.”
“We only had two dates. One was lunch; the other was drinks at the Hogs Breath.”
“I thought you were further along than that.”
“Nah, just wanted to worry you a little. Thought maybe you’d come home to protect me,” she smiled.
“Just be careful with your heart. It’s a special one.”
I stood at the window watching her plane until it was out of sight. Hope she comes back soon.
~***~
I called Robin, hoping she could get away for the day.
“Hi Cam,” she answered.
“Hey, sweetie. Ya busy?”
“Fraid so, but I might be able to get away later. Maybe for a drink or some of that other thing I like so much.”
I knew what the other thing was and it excited me.
“Forget the drink then. I don’t want to run short on time.”
She laughed, “Okay, I’ll call you when I finish here.”
“Love ya.”
“I know.”
~***~
I had some time to kill, so I decided to go back to my apartment to relax a bit. I hailed a taxi and made a stop at a nearby market where I bought cheese and crackers, some veggies, dip, and grapes. Next door, at the wine store I purchased two bottles of Louis Roe
derer Cristal Brut 2005 Champagne, my favorite. Now that I had a real job, I could afford to drink it again.
I walked the two remaining blocks to my building. As I entered my apartment my cell phone rang.
I hurried to place the sacks on the dining room table and answered the phone.
“Hello,” I said, a bit out of breath.
“Sounds like I caught you in the middle of sex,” Chad said.
“No, unfortunately, I’m alone.”
“That never stopped you before.”
“Funny, what ya want?”
“I have a date.”
“I thought you were engaged.”
“No, a wedding date.”
“Great. When’s the big day?” I said, shaking my head to myself. I still think it’s a big mistake for him to tie the knot with Alexis.
“June tenth,” he said.
“Wow, seven weeks.”
“Her idea. I think it has something to do with her dad, but I don’t care. There’s no sense in putting it off any longer.”
“That doesn’t leave me much time to plan a bachelor party.”
Actually, I have already contacted four of our old college buddies. They said they would love to come to New York for a party. They were going to call a few other friends and get back to me. Then there are the other lawyers in our firm and Chads brother, Robert.
“I don’t need a big party. Maybe just you, me and twenty or thirty of our best friends.”
“Damn, I don’t even know if I can make it.”
“I knew I should have asked Diane to be my best man. She could get it done.”
“Where’s the wedding going to be?”
“At Alexis’s fathers’ mansion and the list is growing.”
“You’re steppin’ in high cotton.”
“Don’t worry; I won’t forget you.”
“Well, congratulations again. I wish the two of you the best.”
“Thanks, Cam. I’ll see ya tomorrow at work.”
Chapter 7
I answered the phone on the first ring.
“You must be anxious,” Robin said.
“I can’t wait. Are you coming?”
“Not yet, but I’m on my way to your place.”