Laura's Big Win (38 page)

“Nope, no hints, but the answer is that
I’m getting pretty close. Besides, we will be married in a few more
days, and after that suppose you, we, I mean, you know, suppose
there’s more of us in the future. I’m taking all that into account.
Anyway, I think I’m getting too weak to do much on that just
now.”

“I got the hint. Southwestern omelet?
Or do we move the dollhouse into the bedroom first, or are you
going to go carting with the guys first, or is there something else
you’d like to do?”

“There is, but I’ll settle for an
omelet first. Oh, by the way, Santa left this for you.”

Ryan extracted a small elongated box,
neatly wrapped, from his pocket. From the look of the paper, Laura
surmised correctly that a store had wrapped it, but it was coming
from Ryan’s hands and that is what mattered. With the kids absorbed
in their own activities, it was almost as though Laura and Ryan
were in the room alone when she finally opened the box cover.
Typical of a jeweler, it was a box within a box, but that was
quickly resolved by her nimble fingers. Raising the lid, Laura
could only hold her breath at the sight of the diamond necklace and
matching earrings. If there was a moment of doubt, it was dispelled
by the tiny sticker of origin in the corner of the box.

“Do you like them?”

“Oh my God, Ryan, I’m shaking. I know
you love me, I do, but this is crazy; they had to cost a
fortune.”

“Let’s see how they look on you. Ready?
Let’s go into the bedroom for a moment so you can see yourself in
the mirror.”

In the bedroom, Ryan fastened the
necklace as Laura donned the earrings with shaking hands. Kissing
her gently on the back of the neck, he asked again. “Like
them?”

“Yes you crazy man. I love them, but
you don’t have to do things like this. I mean, we have a wedding to
pay for and all that. You are what I want. They’re beautiful and I
love them, but we can take them back.”

“Nope, no going back. Besides, I did
this to prove a point.”

“Prove a point? What do you
mean?”

“I told the jeweler that only around
your neck would they achieve true beauty, nowhere else. I was
right, of course, so there they stay. Now, this doesn’t change
anything for the wedding does it, like color of clothes or flowers
or something? That was the only thing I was worried about,
really.”

“No, no changes, unless I could move it
up to right now. Do you know how frustrating it is when you do
things like this for me, and you’re this close to me, and there’s a
bed right there, and I can’t do a damned thing about it? You just
wait, my man. I can’t let you get away with this.”

“I’m counting on it, but I did it
because I love you and I want everyone to know it and if you like
them, well then, that’s all there is to it. But, I could use just a
little sample of what you’re talking about, then we need to get out
of the bedroom before I change my mind. I’m starting to weaken
pretty quickly.”

Laura delivered a sample of what was to
come, pressing her length against him in the process, arms wrapped
tight around him. The remainder of the day was less eventful, at
least between the two of them. After breakfast, Jack and Ryan took
the new engine to the carriage house to discover what more lay in
store, while Laura and Amanda unpacked the furniture and set up
housekeeping in the doll house. Laura mused to herself that it was
the best Christmas Day she had spent in a decade, but not because
of the diamonds; it was the best because there was happiness,
everyone there wanted to be there, and they cared about each other
without reservation.

The project at the White House was
pretty much a labor of love for those involved. Dennis and Franz
had never given it up for lost, maintaining it as needed to keep
everything functioning, sure in their hearts that one day it would
regain its place in Ryan’s life. They found it interesting that
only the great room had been called into use with wedding
activities, but when the doors were opened again, an entire
housekeeping crew started in on all the ground floor rooms. The
theory was, they were told, that accumulated dust could migrate
from room to room, so it all had to be removed, all furniture
waxed, area carpets cleaned, chandelier crystals polished,
everything to spotless condition, including the kitchen equipment.
The guys weren’t much on cleaning techniques, but the physical
plant was put in mint condition, including the new voice
recognition access devices on the outside doors and a wireless
communicator with the IT system in the big house. Dennis had a crew
working the grounds as soon as he could round them up, trimming and
pruning; even the cemetery was looking good, although the American
Beauty rose bush was a little less than beautiful in appearance.
Still, it was the winter season, and the rose was resting until the
Spring growing season. If there was a surprise in all the activity,
it came that Friday afternoon as staff was leaving for the day. The
downstairs of the house was spotless and more than ready for the
big event the next day, but when the head housekeeper called a
meeting right at quitting time, she called all staff, not just
those who would be helping out on Saturday. The assembled group was
told they were to store their equipment in the pantry room for the
moment, not in their usual work areas, and that as of Monday
morning, they were to return to the White House for work, not their
regular positions. No more information than that was given, except
for the admonishment to not discuss their Monday morning
assignments with anyone if they loved their jobs. It would be a
secret well kept.

The next big event Windmere saw during
the week was on Thursday morning. In her office to keep up with the
flow of work, Laura heard Marcia answer the phone, yell something
like “You’re in”, and then do an all-call on the in-house pager
system. Curious about all the excitement from this normally very
stable and quiet employee, Laura poked her head out of her office
to see what was going on.

“She’s back! Alice is back. Come on; we
gotta go see. I got my wireless on.” and indeed Marcia had her
headset with the tiny antenna poking up so she could staff the main
phone line and still be free to roam at will in the office area.
Whether it would work all the way to the carriage house did not
appear to be paramount in her mind at the moment.

“Go! I’m right behind you. Did you tell
the guys?”

“I did an all-call as soon as I knew.
Franz wants them at the carriage house so he can plug them into
power. Is this place crazy or what?”

“Are you telling me things used to be a
little dull around here?”

“They were until you showed up. Nothing
has been the same since. I don’t want to bring up bad memories or
anything, but even your divorce hearing was almost fun. I know the
judge had a good time. I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have brought that up,
not with Saturday being your big day and all.”

“No, that’s okay. The divorce had to be
done so all this could happen, but believe me, I sure didn’t plan
it, and I wouldn’t change a minute of it, even if I could. Yell at
Doris when we go by, or whoever is working the kitchen today; I
can’t keep track anymore.”

And out the back door they went to the
carriage house, just in time to see the big motor home make the
circle at the end of the road to the golf course and start back
toward the carriage house. Everything seemed to be in place, except
that it appeared somehow incongruous that Vinnie was standing
talking to Franz about the plug-in, and the motor home was now
moving toward them. Vinnie positioned himself by the building, and
using hand signals as though he were guiding an airliner into a
gate, motioned the big machine into position. Once it was stopped
and the engine turned off, he turned to Laura and
Marcia.

“Okay; I think it’s safe enough now. I
know you want to, so go on in; you kids too if you want. Door’s
open.”

Laura was first in the door, with the
rest close on her heels. It was a sight worth a thousand words, and
those probably couldn’t describe it with accuracy. In the large
captain’s chair that served as a driver’s seat was Alice Hamilton
Lupinacci, in shorts, strappy sandals for footwear, and a
lightweight sweatshirt that read “Grandma”, green eyeshade on her
head, plus a large coffee mug on the console beside her. Spinning
around in the chair, she jumped down to hug and be hugged. Laura
found it hard to believe this was the staid, self-contained,
example setting Alice who had left them such a short time
before.

“Alice, I’m amazed. You really drive
this cruiser down the road?”

Vinnie’s voice responded from behind
them. “Hell, I can’t get her out of the seat. Every morning, soon
as the big Cat is ready to purr, we’re pounding down the pavement.
I think we even forgot to unplug a couple of times before we left.
Woman is a white line fever demon; I just close my eyes and
pray.”

“Yah, yah. I can see better than he
can, and besides, he’s busy playing with his thing, you know, that
GPS thingy, and his laptop, trying to figure out either where we’ve
been, or where we’re going. Something like that. But how’ve you all
been, and how are things coming for the big day Saturday. I know I
can’t wait; I can imagine how you feel. So, what’s new? Talk to
me.”

“And I can’t believe I’m seeing you in
a sweat shirt, not the Alice Hamilton I used to know.”

“I think she may be gone for good. I
wear this because, just between you and me…” and Alice leaned close
to Laura’s ear before continuing the conversation.

“Alice Hamilton. You wouldn’t! Really?
No, I don’t believe you.”

“Believe. Truck stops, scenic
overlooks, once in a national park. It’s convenient as hell to have
a bedroom on wheels,” and seeing two sets of rounded eyes looking
at her quickly added “…in case at our age we need to take a nap
after lunch.” But her eyes told Laura a far different story. “At
our ages, we need to keep cashing those checks as long as there’s
money in the bank.”

The three women exited the motor home,
in time for Alice to get an enveloping bear hug from Dennis, and a
just as enthusiastic but potentially less harmful one from Franz.
While Vinnie took care of securing the touring machine to sit for a
couple days, the ladies headed for the kitchen and more
chatter.

“Alice, I have to tell you, we’re using
the great room in the White House for the reception. Ryan made me
promise I wouldn’t go in until I go in as his wife; believe me,
that’s an easy promise to keep; I would much rather be his wife
than look at a room.”

“Ah, but you haven’t seen the room yet.
Anyway, you get to do both in almost hours now. It sounds like
you’re making some real progress with our boy; going back into the
White House has to be difficult for him at best, but I think like
he’s on the mend from that wound. I knew it would take
time.”

They were at the kitchen door then,
where Alice and Doris greeted each other like sisters, which in
many respects they were. “One with French Vanilla creamer and no
sugar, one with no creamer but two sugars, and you, Missy, don’t
look like you’re old enough to drink coffee yet.”

Marcia was quick on the defensive; “No,
but I’ll help you elderly people pour if you like, so you don’t
spill too much in your tremors, then I have actual work to
do.”

“Sassy, isn’t she, but just for that,
please bring me a mug too. We have a lot to talk about and a short
time to get caught up.”

Marcia served up the coffee as
promised, then retired to the office area to keep things under
reasonable control, and to clue in the guys when they got back from
their meeting later in the day. It was all deteriorating nicely,
and the week still had two days to go.

Chapter 21 – Wedding
Wonders

Saturday dawned picture perfect, the
winter sky azure blue with a few billowy white clouds scattered
about to interrupt the backdrop. Although it was winter, even Ma
Nature seemed to be in favor of this event as the temperature,
never really cold-cold, had moderated temporarily with a warm front
and pushed the air into the mid 60 range for mid-day. The big green
striped tent rather blended into the landscape, and, always the
prepared bunch, had an auxiliary heater in place, just in case.
Ryan had been correct when he said there was no back-up plan; it
was all go and go; there was no no-go permitted. The morning
kitchen was riotous, particularly for Saturday when most activities
were somewhat muted from the busy work week activities. Both
Laura’s parents and Ryan’s parents had arrived Friday afternoon,
partly to visit their children, but as much as to get to know one
another better since they would now be related to some degree; they
would even share grandchildren at some point in the future, and
Jack and Amanda in the present day. They were about the same age,
and aided and abetted by the newly-mischievous Alice Lupinacci,
were in for the time of their lives.

Poker was pretty much a staple of all
resorts, to some degree or other, and once the grounds tour, house
tour, and general visiting with their kids was completed, Alice
suggested a friendly game, joined by Vincent and whoever happened
along. She had not forgotten the house rules, and carefully
explained things before they got too deep into the proceedings. The
game was set up in the first floor of the carriage house, since
that was about the only place not already involved in the wedding
arrangements. A second table was soon added as arriving wedding
guests floated through the area and wanted in on the game. Vinnie
turned out to be an excellent dealer in his own right, and again
carefully explained the house rules. Although the playing did stop
for the wedding, and occasionally for food or drink breaks, it
continued for the better part of nearly 16 hours. In retrospect,
several people won goodly sums, and with the house limit on loss,
no one suffered much. Weeks later reminiscing about the games when
they were back on the road, Alice and Vinnie realized what a unique
assortment of characters had been in the carriage house at one
point in time, when play had resumed after the wedding. Alice
admitted that even with her vast knowledge of Windmere clients, she
did not know some of the persons in attendance. It was, she opined,
a little like a UN conference, but without the infighting. Each
time someone new joined in, the house rules and loss limits were
carefully explained, but at one point a gentleman at Alice’s table
asked to suspend the game for a moment while they had a
discussion.