This is to be the final instalment in the series of stories that I have
entitled 'Amnesia'. They deal with events which were briefly described in
'Only Time Can Tell'. I decided to cover the twenty years this way because
I didn't want the series to become stale and boring, either to the readers
or myself. This was never meant to become a series, it simply evolved that
way. The original story was written in response to a challenge by Betty and
I would like to say thank you to her for giving me the opportunity to
explore further the relationship of Steve, Mark and all the other wonderful
characters who inhabit the world of Diagnosis Murder.
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has reviewed this series. I am very grateful.
Story 1 - Wedding on the beach
A small cheer went up from the assembled guests as the bride and groom kissed under the pale cream embroidered awning. Steve almost thought that he could hear muffled thuds as, in Colorado, all the ski bunnies fell over in shock. Dr. Jack Stewart, bachelor about town was no more. In his place stood Jack Stewart, orthopaedic consultant and newly married husband. Steve whispered that thought to Cheryl and was rewarded for his irreverence by a sharp elbow in the ribs. He grimaced at the sudden pain and then smiled as Cheryl, in a soft seductive voice, promised to rub it better later. Barely restraining himself from dragging Cheryl up the beach to their house, Steve forced himself to concentrate on what was happening in front of him. Some of their friends had been surprised when Jack had chosen Jesse to be his best man, as he and Steve were friends from way back. What none of them were away of was that Shona, having no close male relatives, had asked him to give her away. It was a task which Steve was very proud to perform. Like him, Jack had always seemed destined for bachelorhood. Unlike Steve though, Jack had always seemed to revel in it and not worry about the passage of time and the prospect of a solitary old age.
A sudden outburst of music brought Steve fully back to the present and he smiled as Jack and Shona began the traditional walk back up the aisle. As they passed by Steve, Jack caught his eye and mouthed the words, 'Thanks pal'. Others, noticing the silent exchange, assumed that Jack was thanking Steve for opening up his house for the wedding. Not true. Well, not totally anyway. As the happy couple passed on by Steve's thoughts turned to an evening about three months previously.
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Steve and Cheryl were settling themselves down for a cosy evening in front of the TV when the phone rang. Taking his bowl of popcorn with him, ensuring that Cheryl wouldn't finish it off whilst he was gone, Steve got up to answer it.
"This is the Sloan residence," he began in a nasal monotone, winking back at Cheryl, "there's no-one here at the moment so please leave your ......"
He got further partly because Cheryl's giggling in the background was getting gradually louder and partly because the voice on the end of the phone said, "Funny Sloan. I've heard your answer phone message and that ain't it!"
"Hi Jack," chuckled Steve, "what can we do for you?"
"I need to talk," Jack was succinct and the tone in his voice made Steve realise that this wasn't a frivolous moment in his friend's life.
"Come on over Jack," he replied, sending Cheryl a look of apology.
"That's alright love," Cheryl said as Steve explained, "I'll put some coffee on for you and disappear, this sounds like a man to man chat. I've got a new book that I've been dying to read for a while, but I haven't had much chance to read in bed recently."
Steve simply grinned. Reading in bed had never been his favourite occupation. "I love you, you know," he said, following Cheryl out into the kitchen to watch her making the coffee. He loved watching her.....do anything.
"I know you do darling," Cheryl responded and with a distinct sparkle in her eyes continued, "you can show me how much when Jack has gone. I'll crank up the spa and read my book there."
Steve grinned. Now that was something worth looking forward to! Before his active imagination was able to go into overdrive the front door rang. Cheryl laughed at the spasm of disappointment which flitted across her husbands face.
"That'll be Jack," she said, "see you in the spa later."
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
A short time later Steve and Jack were sat outside on the deck, cradling a mug of coffee each whilst the remainder sat in the coffee pot on the table next to them. They sat in silence for a while looking out over the ocean until Steve decided that, unless he started things off, he'd never get anywhere near the spa.
"Okay Jack, out with it. What's up?"
"I'm in love," Jack's answer was bald and monosyllabic.
Steve looked across at his friend and, despite the strained look on his face, a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"I can't tell whether I should congratulate or commiserate," he said.
"I don't know what to do," Jack continued, in the same monotone.
"Shona?" Steve wanted to be clear.
"Of course."
"So what do you want to do about it?"
"I don't know Steve I really don't. I've never felt like this about anyone before in my life. Shona is the best thing that has happened to me and I cannot imagine my life without her."
"Jack," Steve's calmly uttered one syllable gained his friends' attention and he looked across at Steve, "marry the girl."
"Marry?"
"Yes marry. You know - wedding rings, here comes the bride, that sort of thing."
"Marry?"
"Yes Jack," Steve's tone was as if he were talking to a child.
Jack shook his head, then grinned and looked across at his friend, "Me getting married! What would Mark say?"
"He'd say," Steve replied, "that he had always known that one day you would find that special someone who would complete you and who you'd find you couldn't live without. Just like I have."
Jack left not long after that and Steve made his way down the stairs to the spa, shedding his clothes as he went leaving a material trail behind him.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Jack left the beach house, his mind far clearer and calmer than it had been for a while. As he drove he came to a decision and at the next intersection turned right, his new direction taking him towards Shona's apartment building.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Shona was awakened by a soft but persistent knocking on her front door. Getting slowly out of bed she pulled on a wrap to cover her short pink nightdress and made her way across the lounge to her front door. She peered through the spy hole and was very surprised to see Jack standing there. Turning her head she caught sight of the clock.
"Jack, what on earth are you doing standing at my front door at one o'clock in the morning?"
"Can I come in please Shona?" Jack asked, "I need to talk to you."
Opening the door Shona allowed Jack to walk past her into her apartment. Shutting the door she turned and said, "Okay Jack, it must be important to bring you here at this hour. I'm all ears."
Initially Jack didn't speak, he simply reached out, possessed himself of Shona's hand and, drew her to the sofa and sat her down on it. He took his place next to her still holding onto her hands and gazed deeply into Shona's eyes. A small smile played at the corner of his mouth and he began to speak, "Shona I love you so much that it sometimes hurts. I simply cannot imagine a day without you. Will you marry me?"
For a couple of minutes Shona sat looking uncomprehendingly at it. Whatever she had been expecting him to say, a proposal of marriage certainly wasn't it.
"Shona?" Jack sounded worried.
"Of course I will marry you Jack," she began but was unable to get any further for Jack had dragged off of the sofa and was swinging her round in the air exclaiming his pleasure in between kissing her very enthusiastically.
Somewhere along the line the enthusiasm of their kisses changed to passion and Jack swept Shona off her feet carrying her into the bedroom, kicking the door closed behind them.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
"I do," Shona's response rang out over the beach and everyone smiled.
The celebrant who was conducting the ceremony smiled as well and announced, "It is my very great pleasure to pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
This was a task that Jack performed with equal pleasure and skill causing a ripple of laughter and applause to break out among the assembled guests. Jack and Shona broke apart and grinned at each other before turning to face everyone. Stepping down from the dais on which they stood they moved towards their friends and family ready, and willing, to accept the congratulations and best wishes of all those there.
As they came level with Steve and Cheryl, Jack grinned at his friend and mouthed the words, "Thanks pal."
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has reviewed this series. I am very grateful.
Story 1 - Wedding on the beach
A small cheer went up from the assembled guests as the bride and groom kissed under the pale cream embroidered awning. Steve almost thought that he could hear muffled thuds as, in Colorado, all the ski bunnies fell over in shock. Dr. Jack Stewart, bachelor about town was no more. In his place stood Jack Stewart, orthopaedic consultant and newly married husband. Steve whispered that thought to Cheryl and was rewarded for his irreverence by a sharp elbow in the ribs. He grimaced at the sudden pain and then smiled as Cheryl, in a soft seductive voice, promised to rub it better later. Barely restraining himself from dragging Cheryl up the beach to their house, Steve forced himself to concentrate on what was happening in front of him. Some of their friends had been surprised when Jack had chosen Jesse to be his best man, as he and Steve were friends from way back. What none of them were away of was that Shona, having no close male relatives, had asked him to give her away. It was a task which Steve was very proud to perform. Like him, Jack had always seemed destined for bachelorhood. Unlike Steve though, Jack had always seemed to revel in it and not worry about the passage of time and the prospect of a solitary old age.
A sudden outburst of music brought Steve fully back to the present and he smiled as Jack and Shona began the traditional walk back up the aisle. As they passed by Steve, Jack caught his eye and mouthed the words, 'Thanks pal'. Others, noticing the silent exchange, assumed that Jack was thanking Steve for opening up his house for the wedding. Not true. Well, not totally anyway. As the happy couple passed on by Steve's thoughts turned to an evening about three months previously.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Steve and Cheryl were settling themselves down for a cosy evening in front of the TV when the phone rang. Taking his bowl of popcorn with him, ensuring that Cheryl wouldn't finish it off whilst he was gone, Steve got up to answer it.
"This is the Sloan residence," he began in a nasal monotone, winking back at Cheryl, "there's no-one here at the moment so please leave your ......"
He got further partly because Cheryl's giggling in the background was getting gradually louder and partly because the voice on the end of the phone said, "Funny Sloan. I've heard your answer phone message and that ain't it!"
"Hi Jack," chuckled Steve, "what can we do for you?"
"I need to talk," Jack was succinct and the tone in his voice made Steve realise that this wasn't a frivolous moment in his friend's life.
"Come on over Jack," he replied, sending Cheryl a look of apology.
"That's alright love," Cheryl said as Steve explained, "I'll put some coffee on for you and disappear, this sounds like a man to man chat. I've got a new book that I've been dying to read for a while, but I haven't had much chance to read in bed recently."
Steve simply grinned. Reading in bed had never been his favourite occupation. "I love you, you know," he said, following Cheryl out into the kitchen to watch her making the coffee. He loved watching her.....do anything.
"I know you do darling," Cheryl responded and with a distinct sparkle in her eyes continued, "you can show me how much when Jack has gone. I'll crank up the spa and read my book there."
Steve grinned. Now that was something worth looking forward to! Before his active imagination was able to go into overdrive the front door rang. Cheryl laughed at the spasm of disappointment which flitted across her husbands face.
"That'll be Jack," she said, "see you in the spa later."
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
A short time later Steve and Jack were sat outside on the deck, cradling a mug of coffee each whilst the remainder sat in the coffee pot on the table next to them. They sat in silence for a while looking out over the ocean until Steve decided that, unless he started things off, he'd never get anywhere near the spa.
"Okay Jack, out with it. What's up?"
"I'm in love," Jack's answer was bald and monosyllabic.
Steve looked across at his friend and, despite the strained look on his face, a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"I can't tell whether I should congratulate or commiserate," he said.
"I don't know what to do," Jack continued, in the same monotone.
"Shona?" Steve wanted to be clear.
"Of course."
"So what do you want to do about it?"
"I don't know Steve I really don't. I've never felt like this about anyone before in my life. Shona is the best thing that has happened to me and I cannot imagine my life without her."
"Jack," Steve's calmly uttered one syllable gained his friends' attention and he looked across at Steve, "marry the girl."
"Marry?"
"Yes marry. You know - wedding rings, here comes the bride, that sort of thing."
"Marry?"
"Yes Jack," Steve's tone was as if he were talking to a child.
Jack shook his head, then grinned and looked across at his friend, "Me getting married! What would Mark say?"
"He'd say," Steve replied, "that he had always known that one day you would find that special someone who would complete you and who you'd find you couldn't live without. Just like I have."
Jack left not long after that and Steve made his way down the stairs to the spa, shedding his clothes as he went leaving a material trail behind him.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Jack left the beach house, his mind far clearer and calmer than it had been for a while. As he drove he came to a decision and at the next intersection turned right, his new direction taking him towards Shona's apartment building.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Shona was awakened by a soft but persistent knocking on her front door. Getting slowly out of bed she pulled on a wrap to cover her short pink nightdress and made her way across the lounge to her front door. She peered through the spy hole and was very surprised to see Jack standing there. Turning her head she caught sight of the clock.
"Jack, what on earth are you doing standing at my front door at one o'clock in the morning?"
"Can I come in please Shona?" Jack asked, "I need to talk to you."
Opening the door Shona allowed Jack to walk past her into her apartment. Shutting the door she turned and said, "Okay Jack, it must be important to bring you here at this hour. I'm all ears."
Initially Jack didn't speak, he simply reached out, possessed himself of Shona's hand and, drew her to the sofa and sat her down on it. He took his place next to her still holding onto her hands and gazed deeply into Shona's eyes. A small smile played at the corner of his mouth and he began to speak, "Shona I love you so much that it sometimes hurts. I simply cannot imagine a day without you. Will you marry me?"
For a couple of minutes Shona sat looking uncomprehendingly at it. Whatever she had been expecting him to say, a proposal of marriage certainly wasn't it.
"Shona?" Jack sounded worried.
"Of course I will marry you Jack," she began but was unable to get any further for Jack had dragged off of the sofa and was swinging her round in the air exclaiming his pleasure in between kissing her very enthusiastically.
Somewhere along the line the enthusiasm of their kisses changed to passion and Jack swept Shona off her feet carrying her into the bedroom, kicking the door closed behind them.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
"I do," Shona's response rang out over the beach and everyone smiled.
The celebrant who was conducting the ceremony smiled as well and announced, "It is my very great pleasure to pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
This was a task that Jack performed with equal pleasure and skill causing a ripple of laughter and applause to break out among the assembled guests. Jack and Shona broke apart and grinned at each other before turning to face everyone. Stepping down from the dais on which they stood they moved towards their friends and family ready, and willing, to accept the congratulations and best wishes of all those there.
As they came level with Steve and Cheryl, Jack grinned at his friend and mouthed the words, "Thanks pal."