by V. M. Franck
Raven
"Old Sol, here, said he's never had a beautiful woman even look at him. So I thought, what the hell?" Tad said, a devil-made-me-do-it arch to his brow.
"It's because I look like a frog," Solomon said. He shifted uncomfortably and toweled splotches of water from his face.
"You don't either," I said. "You're cute in a cuddly kind of way. Women like cuddly."
Stars sparkled above the pool at the end of the hotel. Steam rose all around us misting the view. Scrunched down into the water to keep warm I studied the two men, one handsome with the flare of youth and the other old and tired-looking.
Tad nursed his third bourbon and coke, short on coke. It was not that he was drunk, but there was something unusual about him, a mood I could not figure out.
"You can practice your lines on Raven," Tad said. "We can give you feedback. It should help. You're rich. There are all kinds of women looking for sugar daddies. A lot of them don't care if you look like Don Juan. Women are less shallow than men. Come on, give it a shot."
Solomon retrieved his gaze from oblivion and scowled. "Practice is not the same as the real thing. Beside, I got me a wife, such as she is."
"From what you've said, she's about to run off with the neighbor," Tad said.
"Yeah, well, I do hope they hurry it up. It would save me a lot of trouble. Now, as much as I know you want to improve my standing with women, it's time for me to leave you lovebirds to do what you do. I've got to get home to the dog and cat. At least they love me."
Shivering, he climbed from the pool, tugged on his robe and waddled inside.
"Tad, I wish you'd stop that."
"Stop what?" He slipped one arm around my shoulder and eased in closer like he was about to feel me up.
"Pointing me out. It's like saying, 'See what I've got and you don't?'"
"I didn't point you out. I thought you might be able to help him become more comfortable with women. I just want to help him find someone like you. These guys I meet, so many of them, are miserable, in spite of whatever bravado they can muster at any given moment. Everyone, except us, seems unhappy. I want to help. It's this Christ complex I've got going on, I guess. Which bring me to what I've been thinking about--starting a dating service. Not an escort service, although there's certainly money in it. Too many legal complications. But a dating service."
"There are lots of them already." I sipped hot buttered rum and stared up at the night. It was good to be there--with him. It made me feel cozy-safe.
"I could call it The Soulmate Connection or Twin Flames Reunited, something like that. Solomon even thought it was a good idea. He said he'd be willing to invest in it, as long as he could be a client."
"You think a person could find their twin flame that way?"
"Why not? Now, scooch closer. I could use a refresher."
"Think anyone would walk in on us if we did it here?"
He kissed me, his lips flavored with whiskey. "Mmm, probably. Sounds titillating, but not yet. Tonight, I'd like to feel closer to you. I have an idea. I want you to hear me out."
Steam from the pool embraced us. He slipped a leg over mine, took my hand and looked directly into my eyes.
"Raven, I love you. I don't even let myself think about life without you. So I was thinking, what if we.... Ah hell, now I'm embarrassed. What if we get married tonight?"
"Tonight? What about a license?" Apprehension tingled up my body.
"I have an acquaintance who's a judge. He owes me. If he's willing, would you marry me tonight?"
"Why so fast?" I could feel panic rising. My personal history had proven that marriage was a sure why to misery.
"I don't ever want it to be said that I took advantage of you. I hold you in high regard. I want everyone to know that."
"They already do."
"Yes, but...look, it's important. I can't say why, really, but I need to do it tonight. Will you marry me if I can get Henry to perform the ceremony?"
The expression in his eyes was almost desperate. Beautiful eyes they were, so filled with adoration. I needed him, loved him, wanted to spend forever with him. I eased my hand up the side of his cheek, caressing him further into my heart.
"I do love you," I said, stalling, "but marriage?"
Overhead, the breeze increased, becoming somewhat tumultuous. In the corner of my eye I saw something move. A quick glance told me nothing was there. But sometimes, Grandma White Bear had told me, signs slip in giving silent warning. I shivered.
Tad nestled me to his chest. My hair clung to his damp muscles and draped down his side.
"I know your ex was a jerk," he said. "So was mine. I know you're afraid of what it might do to us. It won't mess things up, I promise, not if we make sure of it."
My legs and entire body tensed up.
Gulping the anxiety from my throat I said, "We've talked about it lots of times, and every time we've decided not to do it."
"I know. It's just that, Raven.... It's just that, hell, I don't know what it is. It's just so important."
He reached to his robe, which lay across a deck chair, took out a pack of cigarettes, tilted it upside down and deposited something in his hand.
"This was my grandfather's ring."
"He must have had small hands."
"It was his pinky ring. Remember when I was digging through his trunk the other day? That's when I found it. I'd like you to wear it as my wife."
"It's sensational."
It was inlaid with star sapphires and turquoise stones, set in archaic swirls. He slipped it on my ring finger. It was only slightly too large.
The moment melted into undulating burgundy and orange waves. Grandma White Bear had talked about seeing those colors. They always meant something important, she said. Eternity. The word slipped into my thoughts.
"All real love lasts for eternity, little Raven." I heard the voice clearly, Grandma White Bear's voice, cascading back from a time when I was no more than a birdling, as she had called me.
"Yes," I said on impulse. "I'll do it."
"You will? Really?"
"Yes."
"This is so cool." He pecked a kiss to my lips and retrieved his phone from the pocket of his robe.
"Hello, Henry, Tad here. Say, I was wondering if you could...." Tad explained the plan. Within a few minutes he hung up. "He'll be here by ten. That gives us two hours."
Cozying in next to me he slid his hand up my thigh.
"Nope," he said, editing himself. "I want to do this right. I'm about to make an honorable woman of you. I'm not going to let passion screw it up. Come on, let's shower and have our pre-wedding dinner."
"What about your kids? Maybe they'd like to come."
"True, but it's late. Their mother would never let them drive this far at this time of night in the snow, especially since Penelope just got her license. It's just you and me, babe. You, me and the Snow Man."
"The snow man?"
"Capital S, capital M."
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