These Foolish Things (30 page)

Ty stood up and lifted Liz’s hand to his lips, kissing it
again, his eyes never leaving Liz’s. No one else in the room made a sound.
Nobody wanted the moment to end.

Ty held out her hand. “This is you,” he said, pointing to
one of the side stones. “This is me,” pointing to the other side stone, “And
this” he touched the blue of the center stone, “is we.” Liz just threw herself
into his arms and held onto him as tightly as possible. Ty returned the embrace
as fervently. “Don’t leave me again, Love,” he whispered. “It’ll kill me.”

“It would kill me, too,” she whispered back. “It nearly did
this time.” And they tightened their grip on each other.

“Shit.”

“John! Language!”

“Sorry, Angie.” Everyone looked at John. “I told a friend of
mine that I knew a nice girl for him. He was planning to drop by to meet Liz.” John
looked sheepish. Millie pinched him. Hard.

Liz felt Ty’s body stiffen. “John, you’d better call your
friend off right now or my honeymoon is going to be conjugal visits at the
state pen.”

John headed for the phone as fast as he could.

Still holding tightly to Liz, Ty called after him, “What
does this friend of yours do?”

“He’s my insurance agent.”

Liz had to tighten her grip on Ty to keep him from charging.
“Down, Boy. Don’t make me get a tranquilizer gun.” she said to him. Ty relaxed,
but he still glared in the direction of the kitchen.

Little Vinnie piped up from Angie’s arms, “Hungry. Kitties?”

“I hope those were two separate thoughts,” said Angie. “Men,
you’re working the grill. Girls, we’re doing everything else. As usual. You two,”
she pointed at Liz and Ty, “break it up, just for a little while.”

They let go of each other reluctantly. “Why is it that men
are always in charge of the barbecue?” Ty mused.

“It’s one of those Y chromosome things, like the Three
Stooges and knowing every sports statistic,” answered Liz.

Ty laughed, “What’s on the second X chromosome?”

“Shoes and being able to differentiate among 500 shades of
beige.”

Angie bustled out of the kitchen with a platter piled high
with marinated steaks. She handed her burden to Ty. “Here, be a good boy and go
cook. I’m taking your girl and we’ll be talking wedding.”

Ty smiled, “Yes, Angie.” He leaned over and kissed Angie on
the lips, then kissed Liz one last time before heading out the door. The two
women watched him go.

Still watching Ty talking with the other men on the patio,
Liz asked Angie, “All’s forgiven?” She could see Angie’s nod out of the corner
of her eye.

“He told you.” Angie nodded again. They finally turned to
look at each other as Liz continued. “I don’t think Vinnie’s ever regretted
giving you a second chance. And that was what, 18 years ago? You’ve managed to
stay sober and with the love of your life, huh, Angie?”

“I couldn’t have done it without him,” Angie admitted. “That
man gives me strength. I thank God every day for his love.”

“I knew you’d understand.” As they headed for the kitchen,
Angie remarked thoughtfully, “That man of yours is looking pretty good,
Lizabetta. If it wasn’t for Vinnie,…”

Liz interrupted, “You’re not the only one with a big knife,
Angela. Stick with Vinnie.”

After the meal, the clean-up and the departure of the
guests, Liz and Ty stood hand in hand out on the patio looking at a summer
night sky, full of stars and the sliver of a waxing moon. They were silent,
just enjoying the moment and the joy of being together. Behind the screen door
of the house, they could hear the kittens playing together, the sounds of
wrestling punctuated with squeaks. Ty spoke. “You know, we could catch a flight
to Las Vegas and by this time tomorrow, we’d be married.”

Liz just said, “No.”

Ty looked at her and smiled as he slipped his arm around her
waist. “Long engagement? We’re not teenagers, Liz.”

She leaned her head against him. “I know, but we have all
the time we need. I will marry you if it’s tomorrow or ten years from now.” He
pulled her in closer.

“I don’t want a big wedding, but I don’t want to elope,
either. I want our friends to share the moment with us and most of all,” Liz
tilted her face up to kiss Ty, “I want to see your face as I come down the
aisle.”

They kissed for a moment or two, then Ty broke it off. “I
forgot. I need to make a phone call.” Liz started to protest, but Ty shook his
head. “I should have done this earlier today, but I forgot. I have to call my
sponsor.” Liz shut her mouth. Ty took her hand and led her back into the house.

As Ty made his way to the phone in the kitchen, Liz hung
back in order to give him privacy. She sat on the floor next to the kittens,
tempting them to pounce on her hand. Dodger seemed particularly attracted to
her new ring, batting at it as she wiggled her hand. Norton contented himself
with batting at Dodger. They weren’t Beanie, reflected Liz, nor would they ever
be. He had been unique and she still missed him. But these little guys clearly
had charm and character of their own. Norton, after an especially energetic
pounce on Dodger, sat back and yawned, showing tiny little teeth. Liz picked
him up and settled him in her lap. Norton rolled onto his back and purred
loudly as Liz scratched and rubbed his striped little tummy. Dodger settled
himself with licking her spare hand, also purring as loudly as he could.

Ty walked up and gently tapped Liz on the shoulder. “You’re
wanted on the phone, Sweetheart,” he said as he scooped Norton out of her lap.
“I’ll take care of the boys.” He helped Liz scramble to her feet.

Liz headed for the kitchen, her curiosity fully aroused. Why
would Ty’s sponsor want to talk to her? She picked up the phone.

“This is Elizabeth Gardner.”

“I just wanted to congratulate the bride,” came back Frank
McCafferty’s voice.

Liz shook her head, “You sneaky, deceitful, poker-faced,
black-robed son of a…”

“You leave my mother out of this, Liz,” the judge
interjected with a chuckle. “Or I’ll lay a contempt charge on you.”

Liz was bewildered. “Why didn’t you say something? You
listened to me breaking my heart often enough. Why couldn’t you at least tell
me he was all right?”

McCafferty became serious. “Now, Liz, I can’t break
confidentiality with AA members, especially the ones I’m sponsoring. I promised
Tyrone I’d keep an eye on you for him if he’d promise not to contact you until
he’d been through the program. And give me some credit for being an old man
who’s been in love himself. The two of you needed this time without each other.
It was painful and I had a tough time watching you go through it, but I think
your relationship will be better for it. Now, I get to perform the ceremony,
right?”

Liz was laughing, “Do I have a choice?”

“Not if you want to keep your job as my star clerk.” McCafferty
changed his tone. “Seriously, it’s been a long day for me sitting by the phone
waiting. I expect you at work on Tuesday with a big smile, like you’ve been
very thoroughly…”

“I get the picture, Judge,” Liz interrupted. “How can I ever
thank you for everything?”

“Just take care of each other. Now, hang up and go back to
your man.” With that, McCafferty hung up. Liz stood in the kitchen for a few
minutes just thinking. Her man. Once again, Ty was her man. She was so lost in
thought, she didn’t notice him approaching. He leaned on the wall, watching her
face. Liz looked at him and smiled.

Ty asked, “Everything okay?” He took her hand.

Liz looked at their clasped hands. “I still want my clothes
back. And I’m willing to bet you’re planning to spend the night.” Ty nodded,
watching her face.

Liz looked at him. “Let’s go to bed.”

Later, when Liz was sure that Ty was sleeping, she reached
out and put her arms around him, drawing her body closer to his. She could feel
Ty stir slightly, snuggling himself up to her in his sleep. Liz softly kissed
his cheek. Ty responded with a deep sigh and a smile, still sound asleep. Liz
laid her head on the pillow and let sleep claim her, too.

Yes, everything was okay.