A Mess on the Mesa
Chapter Ten: Pre Wedding Screaming Meemies
Six months later, May, Coolsville, Blake Manor, Evening
Part One
Be My Lover
Be my lover for I am
Eager for your touch tonight
My heart is full because of
Your smile when you are near
Let me be your lover tonight. I
Offer you my very being. I will
Vanquish your doubts and fears as we
Entwine our souls and
Ride the waves of ecstasy
Her parents had never approved of the gang in general and Fred in particular as suitable friend material and had done everything possible to separate them. In her own way, the red head had become a rebel with a cause. The past Halloween had been the beginning of open warfare between parents and Daphne. They had become lovers and when her parents heard of it, they had gone ballistic.
On the morrow Daphne Ann Blake would become Mrs. Daphne Jones. Fred and Shaggy had been banned as it was bad luck for the groom to see the bride on the wedding day so they had taken off on a bachelor party. Against her better judgment Daphne had invited Velma to dinner at Blake Manor. Dinner had deteriorated into a shouting match between Daphne and her mother. One mad red head was trouble, two redheads was reason to move to another zip code.
"I just don't understand why you want to marry that...that...that boy." Her mother made it sound like a disease.
"He has a name, mother," Daphne countered, "his name is Fred Jones and tomorrow morning I will become Mrs. Fred Jones. He's more man than any of those boys you kept pushing off on me."
"They never forced themselves on you like he did!"
"Not from a lack of trying, and I seduced Fred not the other way 'round." This brought a "harrumph!" from her father and a quick intake of air from her mother.
It had spiraled downward from there until Daphne had had enough. "Mother, I love Fred and I will marry him tomorrow or tonight if he wishes. I'd go to the end of the world if that's what he want's to do! I need some fresh air!"
"You aren't going to find Fred are you?" Velma asked as the girls walked to Daphne's car.
"No, Velma. I wouldn't know where to start if I wanted to. Don't worry, Velma, I'll be back." Her tires screeched in protest when she drove away.
Needing to clear her mind and an urge to escape her mother's cutting tongue, Daphne drove through the streets of Coolsville with no particular destination in mind. Cold neon lights and street lamps revealed the street signs as she calmed down, coming to a stop signal. When you have no goal in mind you don't know you have arrived until you get there.
The sign read, "Coolsville Central Park" with a white arrow pointing to the right. On impulse she flipped the car's turn signal on and followed the arrow. The sun was just above the horizon, bathing the park in a soft glow through the trees when Daphne pulled in the near empty parking lot.
The park was as empty as the parking lot, a woman walking her poodle dog, a youngish looking man jogging, concentrating on the pathway, a young couple pushing a baby carriage on an evening stroll, whispering, leaning into each other. Daphne headed the other way; ending at a certain wood bench under a Weeping Willow tree.
"Excuse me, Miss. This area is reserved...Oh, sorry Miss Blake, I didn't recognize you. Out for an evening stroll?"
"Something like that. How is it going, Jerry?" Jerry looked handsome in his private security uniform; lean, fit, mid twenties, the Blakes had used his services on many occasions such as this. The gazebo he was watching at their request had been decorated in purple and light blue streamers. On the morrow, she would walk up the aisle and in less than an hour, change her name to Mrs. Daphne Jones.
"Not bad, Miss Blake. No trouble except for those wondering about the decorations."
"I think I'll feed the ducks. You wouldn't have any old bread, would you?"
"I just might. I threw some in my car when I found out I had this assignment." The required bread was acquired and Daphne took her seat, throwing crumbs into the water. Ducks came rushing up, gobbling the bread as fast as the red head could toss it.
"You have to throw some toward the back otherwise those never get any and starve."
"Freddie! What happened to the bachelor party?" The blond man sat beside her, crushing her lips to his.
"Shaggy and I aren't much for parties without you girls and I'm tired of being a bachelor." Only a breath separated their lips.
"You wont be after tomorrow. We've been apart only a few hours yet I've missed you so much."
"A few hour hours, a few days, what does it matter...we're together now, my love."
"Be my lover tonight," she whispered invitingly low.
"Tonight, tomorrow, forever. There isn't anyone at Headquarters tonight...what happened to not seeing the bride on the wedding day?"
"Like Cinderella, I'll have to be home before midnight. Race you!"
-Xxxxxx
Part Two
It had been a long plane trip for Matt Blake. He had arrived in late morning, checking into the hotel. Other than ringing room service for lunch, he had sat in the easy chair looking at the phone. He had three calls to make, the first should have already been made but he hadn't wanted to look over anxious.
It had been a decade or more since his last trip to Coolsville; he hardly ever left the ranch. He picked up his cell, entering the number from memory.
"Broken Arrow Ranch" As expected, John Long Bow answered on the second ring.
"Everything okay back there."
"Hello to you too," John's laugh was a welcomed sound, "Yes, the ranch has survived despite your leaving. You have a good flight."
"Long and tiring but I made it. The package ready?"
"Yes, I will deliver it personally first thing in the morning."
"Good, call me at..." he gave the name of the hotel phone and room number. After some small talk he disconnected the call.
The next call would be harder; the number was unlisted but he had it on a worn piece of paper stored in his wallet. He stared at the phone as if it would come alive and strangle him with the cord. Putting away the cell phone, he picked up the house phone punching in the number. It too was answered on the second ring, he asked for the lady of the house.
"This is Elizabeth Blake, how may I help you?"
"You could start by calling me Matt."
"Matt! You here for the wedding?"
"Yes, wouldn't miss it. You don't sound too happy about it."
"I'm not. She could do so much better."
"Liz, I got to know Fred over their visit at the ranch. I think he's a fine man who loves Daphne very much. They will be happy together. Liz, I think you should give them a break."
"You be at the family luncheon tomorrow?" A not so discreet attempt to change the subject.
"Yes, we can visit then." Good byes were made and Matt set the phone down. Two calls done, one more to go.
Two rings seemed to be the order of the day.
"Hello, Jones residence."
"Peggy? Is that you?"
"Matt?"
"Yes, here for the wedding tomorrow. Peggy, I wanted to tell you...I told Fred about what happened twelve years ago, I hope that was okay."
"Yes, it was okay. I've wanted to tell him myself several times but never could get up the nerve."
"He needs to know Peggy. Maybe you two could have a talk after the honeymoon."
"Maybe. Will we see you at the wedding?"
"Wouldn't miss it. They do make a beautiful couple." They talked for several minutes, words flowing easily before hanging up. Matt Blake blew out a breath of relief. Calls made, he showered, dressed and went down for dinner.
-Xxxxxx
Part Three
Daphne stretched leisurely like a lioness impressing her mate, leaning to kiss her lovers lips. Even with having to keep one eye on the clock, they had made slow unhurried love, moving as one until each had pushed the other over the edge. "A kiss goodnight, I have to go."
"I wish you didn't have to go." Fred held her lightly in an all encompassing hug, his fingers creating goose bumps, roaming down her lower back making her shiver with delight.
"I do too but it's only until tomorrow night and I have to get into that cocoon of a dress for you in the morning. I really needed this, Freddie. I think it took care of my screaming meemies."
TBC