-1 Chapter Twelve
London, UK
School was out for the summer, to the relief of Melinda and Screech and two days later they were all on the red eye flight to New York, where they were meeting Lisa and then joining the flight to London together.
Once the London flight was airborne, the crew made a fuss over all of them as if they were royalty, sat in their first class seats, particularly Jessie and Slater who Lisa had informed the crew were the happy couple. Lisa knew the Chief Flight Attendant and had given her orders to him before they even boarded the plane. He owed her a few favours.
Screech who hated flying, sat next to Melinda enjoying the good food, champagne and in-flight movie was almost able to forget he was on a plane thousands of feet above the Atlantic. Well, that was until the in-flight movie was over and they showed the map on the screen charting the planes progress, they were bang in the middle of the Atlantic, halfway there.
Even Sophie and Ben, under strict instructions from Zack and Kelly to be on their best behaviour had sat playing their travel chess quietly before they fell asleep.
When they landed Screech said it was the first flight he had ever actually enjoyed. Zack and Kelly said it was the first peaceful flight they had ever had with the kids in tow and Jessie and Slater had just enjoyed relaxing and being spoilt after the exhaustion of the past two weeks. They had both had a busy couple of weeks at work as well as having to arrange their wedding all at once.
At Heathrow Lisa had arranged a limo to take them all to the five star hotel on the South bank, it had fantastic views of the Thames and was only five minutes walk from the London Eye.
'Oh Lisa, you just keep surprising us. You didn't have to do all this, but it is fantastic, thank you.'
'Well Jessie, there is no point having a multi-million dollar fashion house if you can't share the profits with your closest friends.'
'So Lisa, have you got a date for the wedding yourself?', Zack asked.
'I have indeed. He couldn't fly over with us because of work commitments. He is flying in tomorrow afternoon instead.'
At the hotel in her own executive suite Lisa carefully unpacked Jessie's wedding dress. She was sure it was the best wedding dress she had designed to date and she knew Jessie looked stunning in it, even when it was incomplete. Then she carefully took out all the bridesmaids dresses and hung them up too. Jerry and Michael had done a fantastic job on them.
Lisa had also got Kelly and Zack and executive suite, with adjoining rooms either side for Sophie and Ben.
'You do realise the last time we all stayed in a hotel together was before our wedding', Kelly thought back fifteen years to when they were staying at the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas.
'Fifteen years, wow. I was watching a programme about Vegas the other night when you were doing evening surgery. The Stardust isn't there anymore, shame , huh.'
'I would like to go back to Vegas sometime though, we haven't been back since we got married. Hey, how about going for our anniversary?'
'Sounds good to me. And at least this time we are old enough for a quick flutter in the casinos.'
That had been the only thing about getting married in Vegas , the fact they had been underage to be able to partake in the gambling tradition of a trip to Vegas.
'Now we have the whole afternoon, shall we take the kids sightseeing?', Kelly suggested.
'Sure. I hear the science museum is great for kids and adults.'
'Lets go then. I am sure Sophie will love it. We will never get here out of there. I think Screech and Melinda said they were going to go one day after the wedding.
Screech and Melinda had already gone straight out. Melinda had insisted as there was so much to see and do they should start straight away. They had walked along the south bank a little way on the Thames path, walked across Westminster bridge and boarded a boat where they were currently on a cruise down the Thames towards Greenwich.
'I told you, you would love this city Sam. I do , I have relatives here and I used to spend some time here every summer.'
'It's amazing, so historical. I was always told London was fascinating, but to see it up close, wow.'
Screech had fallen in love with the city already, not that he would ever want to stay to live. Jessie had warned him the cold winters were a far cry from the year round Californian sunshine. That was why he was glad they were here in the summer.
Slater and Jessie were too busy for sightseeing, they were over at the Garden Room checking everything was as it should be with the menus, place cards and table plans. Jessie's friend Sue had done a brilliant job getting it all sorted.
'I'm not an event organiser for nothing. The photographer will be at the hotel for half past ten Saturday morning. Your getting married at one, so that gives him plenty of time to get some before photo's in the hotel. He will also take some photo's after the ceremony on the green by the wheel and also when you go in the private room to sign the register after. Then once at the reception he will take more photo's in the gardens at Hampton Court before everyone goes in and he will take more pictures throughout the reception for you as well.'
'Thanks again soon.'
'It's what your paying me good money for.'
'Yes, but I'm also thanking you as a friend Sue, I know all the extra effort you have put in for us. I knew you would manage to find us the perfect venue with a cancellation.'
Back at the hotel there was already a pile of wedding cards waiting for them and gifts just kept on arriving. Lisa of course had gone one step further for Slater and Jessie and got them the penthouse suite, that also had the traditional four poster bed in the bedroom. Lisa had also said to hell with tradition and them spending the night before the wedding apart. They would all be walking there together the morning of the wedding after all.
'It's a good job we have the space in here for all this stuff that keeps on arriving', Slater took the package that had just turned up from the concierge.
'It's probably the tenth toaster or something', Jessie smiled 'I don't understand. We didn't have a wedding list. We told everyone they didn't need to bother us with presents since we already have everything we need at home, well double really until we decide what to do with the apartment. Should we keep it and rent it out or just sell it? I can't decide.'
'Lets worry about that when we get home. And how the hell are we going to get all this stuff home?'
'We will have to ship it, there is nothing else for it.'
Jessie was still overwhelmed looking at all the presents and cards they had put to one side.
'One more day and we will be married. I still can't believe we are finally going to do this. I think I'm even getting a little nervous', Jessie admitted.
'Just as long as your not going to get cold feet.'
'Never.'
Later that night they went to meet Slater's sister Janine off the late flight that was coming in from Texas. All the other relatives were flying in over the next twelve hours.
'It must be five years since I've actually seen Janine. She is always half way round the world', Slater missed his sister sometimes, although they hadn't been together much as teenagers as she had gone away to a private boarding school where she had a scholarship.
'I don't think I've seen her since she came to our high school graduation.'
When Janine did appear in the arrivals hall Jessie spotted her first. She was thin, with much shorter hair than she had as a teenager, but Jessie still recognised her straight away.
'Janine, over here.'
'I'm so glad you could make it', Slater hugged his sister and then they made their way straight back to central London on the express train from the airport.
'I'm glad your wedding is now, because next week I couldn't have done it. I'm on the move again. But enough about me. When are Mum and Dad arriving?'
'Early in the morning. They said they should be here to meet us at the hotel in time for breakfast. Janine have you ever been stationed in the UK, I can't remember?'
'I was in Edinburgh for six months once Slater. That's the good thing about being in the army, I get to carry on travelling the world.'
'As if we didn't go all around the world when we were kids. Don't you ever get bored of it all?'
'No , never. I can't say I particularly liked Iraq, even though the offices I was working in were in what was considered a safe part of the country. It's not just about where you are anyway, its about what you do and how you believe in doing it.'
Janine actually worked in the administrative side of the army, but had postings all over the world. She was also a qualified army fitness instructor and that was what she had started out doing before moving over to the admin side.
Back at the hotel, Jessie left Slater and Janine to catch up and went for a coffee with Lisa.
'So when is Darren getting here?'
'Who said I was bringing Darren to the wedding?'
'Nobody, its obvious. You look so happy and he is all you talk about on the phone and in emails, well when we haven't been discussing this wedding of course. So are you brining Darren?'
'Yes alright, I am . And before you ask yes I did change my mind and ask him on a date when I got back to New York and we've been going out ever since.'
'I just knew it, he is a nice guy, he always was. So when is he due here?'
'Anytime now actually.'
'I'll make myself scarce when he arrives.'
'No don't be silly, I'm sure he would love to see you.'
Despite Lisa's reassurance when Darren did arrive Jessie stayed for just a few minutes with them and then went for a walk along the south bank on her own, enjoying the afternoon sunshine, walking past the big wheel on which she would be married in less than forty-eight hours. She was enjoying the time alone. The past couple of weeks had been one whirlwind of everything happening at once. It was nice just to stop, sit down and think for a while. And the next three weeks she wouldn't' have to think about work at all. She and Slater were going to spend their honeymoon in Scotland. Sue had found them a hotel right on Loch Awe, in a really peaceful village, perfect for people taking time out from stressful lives. Jessie wasn't sure if she was looking forward to the actual wedding or going to Scotland more.
When Jessie did get back to the hotel, she walked in on Slater having a row with his sister.
'Slater, I'm thirty-two years old. You can't tell me what to do. I want to do this and I am doing this.'
'Janine, I don't want you going there, its too dangerous.'
'So is crossing the road.'
'Janine, nobody goes there by choice. You could end up dead. It was worrying enough when you were in Iraq.'
'So it's a risk I'll have to take.'
'No Janine, you can't take it, your not going.'
'Yes I am and you can't stop me. Why can't you understand? I have to do this, women there need help.'
'So let someone else help them. Have you told Mum and Dad?'
'No, but I'm sure they will be a lot more supportive than you are. Why can't you be happy for me?'
'Why should I be happy that my little sisters going off to the most dangerous country in the world?'
'Because I am going to do something I have always wanted to do and I'm not your little sister anymore. I'm a grown woman, why can't you treat me like one?'
'I'm sorry Janine, I've just always felt I had to look out for you.'
'Well don't Slater. I don't need you or anyone else to look out for me. I've volunteered to go to Kabul and work for the women's charity. I'll be helping the women in the poor villages outside the city. I'm going and the army clearly believes in me. They gave me six months special leave.'
'I never said I didn't believe in you. Janine, I'm scared for you ,that's why I don't want you to go'
'Well you don't need to be scared for me, I can look after myself', then Janine barged passed Jessie who had been standing in the doorway.
Slater was mad, Jessie knew that look in his eye.
'Slater, don't start kicking stuff, its not ours remember.'
'Why does she have to do this to us Jessie? And why does she have to spring it on me right before our wedding?'
'Because she's doing what she believes in from what I heard.'
'I might have known you would take her side.'
'I'm not taking anyone's side Slater.'
'She could get killed.'
'Slater , she's in the army, she knows that's a risk. Think of all the other dangerous places she has lived.'
'She's my sister Jessie, my only sister. I don't want anything to happen to her. I worried so much when she was in that village in Iraq and apparently it was one of the most peaceful places in the whole country.'
'Slater, if she really wants to do this your not going to be able to stop her. What exactly is she going to do anyway?'
'Work for a women's charity helping the women and children in poor villages that are living in sheer poverty. I'm so scared for her, she showed me a leaflet about the place she is going, and then she expected me to be pleased about her going there. I don't know how Mum and Dad are going to take it.'
'Better than you I hope.'
'I really lost it with her didn't I? I just can't help worrying.'
'I know, but if she really wants to do it, there's nothing you can do. It's only six months after all.'
'Six dangerous months Jessie, I can't forget about that.'
'I know, but your going to have to accept the fact that she's going.'
'Damn it, why couldn't I have a boring sister with a boring nine to five job in the city?'
'Because she wouldn't be Janine then, you know that.'
'I guess your right, I went over the top didn't I?'
'Only because you care', Jessie kissed him now he had calmed down 'Come on , I'll massage your shoulders to relax you. Then afterwards you can go and talk to Janine. I don't want the two of you not speaking at our wedding.'
After the cruise Screech and Melinda had spent the entire afternoon at the science museum, deciding they couldn't wait a few more days to go there and they were finally chucked out at closing time.
'My parents are in town, shall I call them to meet us for dinner?'
'Melinda, I don't do too well having dinner with parents. I had a really bad experience in high school.'
'Your not in high school anymore, you're a grown man.'
'But Melinda, some memories haunt you forever.'
'Well move on.'
'Its alright for you. You don't know what it was like for me. Violet was the only real girlfriend I ever had in high school and I made a real fool of myself in front of her rich parents because I felt so intimidated by them.'
'But I've told my parents all about you and they can't wait to meet you. You don't have to feel intimidated by them.'
'Sorry Melinda, I'm just not sure I can.'
'Then I guess I was wrong about you Sam', Melinda stormed off leaving Screech outside the museum and made her own way back to the hotel.
Zack and Kelly had also just got back to the hotel after finishing off the day taking a city tour on the open top bus.
'I wish we could take far away holidays more often don't you?'.
'Yes, I do , but we can't afford it Kelly, not every break like we used to.'
'I can still afford it. You're the one that hasn't done anything about finding another job, what are you going to do? Work back at Bayside forever?'
'You told me to take some time out.'
'And you have Zack, but its been nearly five months now. Don't you think its time you found another job where they pay you what you are worth? You aren't earning much more than when you worked at the diner back at college.'
'But Kelly, since I've been working back at Bayside, I've realised something. I hated banking. Do you know how fed up I got of all that number crunching? I went in to banking so I could support you and the kids through medical school, I never wanted to be a banker. I never got the chance to figure out what I wanted to be, I had a wife in med school and a baby to look after. And it wasn't me that mixed up your contraceptive pills.'
Zack left the room them, slamming the door behind him and then instantly realising he had gone way too far. He and Kelly didn't row that often, but when they did, he always ended up going way over the line and saying things he didn't mean. He went up to the penthouse and knocked on Slater and Jessie's door.
'Zack, you okay?', Jessie asked.
'Not really, Kelly and I just had one hell of a row, I'm glad the kids were in their own rooms and didn't see or hear it. I said some nasty things I didn't mean. She'll probably never speak to me again. Know any good divorce lawyers?'
'Zack don't be silly, you will never need my services in a professional capacity.'
'I wouldn't be so sure about that. I just blamed her for Sophie's early appearance , as if I didn't have anything to do with it.'
'Zack, I can't believe you said that.'
'Neither can I. I didn't mean it. I would never be without Kelly or Sophie or Ben. They are my world.'
'Zack you and Kelly are lucky, you've got two wonderful kids, be grateful, not everyone is as lucky.'
'I'm sorry Jessie, I wasn't thinking.'
'Zack , its okay. Sometimes it upsets me, but I've also accepted it now. You don't have to walk on eggshells around Slater and I on the subject of having children. Just be grateful for what you've got.'
'I am Jessie, every day. God I feel terrible.'
Lisa had been hoping for a quiet evening alone with Darren, but it just wasn't happening. First Janine had shown up after a row with her brother, then Melinda, upset after having a row with Screech and now she had a tearful Kelly on her hands.
'Um Darren, why don't' you go and join Slater and Zack. I think I am going to have my hands full here. I'm sure they are in Slater and Jessie's penthouse and if Jessie is there send her down, I think I may need some help here.'
Jessie opened the door to Darren.
'Don't tell me you've had a row with Lisa.'
'Not at all, but Lisa is currently busy with his sister, his wife and Screech's girlfriend', Darren had pointed at Slater and Zack as he spoke. 'She said can you go and join them as she may need help.'
'It sounds like it', Jessie left them and bumped in to a miserable looking Screech along the corridor.
'Go on in Screech , Slater, Darren and Zack are in there. For once it seems Slater and I are among the few people not arguing.'
'They say there is a first time for everything. Why am I joking? I've probably just lost the only woman that ever loved me the way I love her.'
'Screech, I'm sure it will be fine.'
'I'm not, she asked me to dinner with her parents. Why did they have to be in London this week?'
'Oh I see, I think I had better go and help Lisa out. It looks like she has a busy night ahead.'
When Jessie arrived at Lisa's suite, Lisa was comforting Kelly who couldn't stop crying. Melinda and Janine were sat in the corner, talking down all men in general be they brothers or boyfriends.
'This brings back memories', Lisa said 'It's like back in high school, when either of you two argued with Slater or Zack you were always straight on the phone or straight round my house.'
'Except this time Lisa, I'm not the one that's had a fight. Kelly, Zack is devastated, he didn't mean anything he said.'
'Doesn't he realise how hard it was for me?', Kelly was still sobbing.
'Of course he does Kelly. We all say things we don't mean when we get angry. You know what its like. We all know how hard you guys worked when you were first married. Zack loves you as much as ever and he feels terrible.'
'I guess it was partly my fault too. I shouldn't have gone on at him about finding a new career.'
Jessie looked across at Melinda then.
'Melinda, I have never known Screech as happy since he met you. But you see where as most people have irrational phobias of some sort, Screech's phobia is meeting parents. Somehow you have got to find a way to knock the fact that he is meeting your parents from his memory, while he is actually meeting with them, if that makes any sense. It is the only way he will ever relax and get over his phobia.'
'Thanks Jessie, I guess he really did have a bad experience and there was me having a go at him for acting like a kid.'
'At the thought of meeting the parents, Screech becomes a kid again, trust me.'
'And what about my pig of a brother? I suppose you got an answer to that too.'
'No Janine and he's not a pig, despite the amount of times I've called him one over the years. Janine, he just cares, you're his only sister. He went the wrong way about it, but he was just trying to show you that. He might hate the thought of you going to do this volunteer work for six months, but he is going to have to accept it. He told me you leave in less than two weeks and as your only here with us a few days, do you really want to spend the rest of that time not speaking?'
'Of course not.'
'Then go and talk to him. You know Janine, you are lucky. All I have is a stepbrother in New York and we have never got on and we probably never will. They are all up in the penthouse by the way.'
'Well Jessie, it looks like you done all the work for me. I had been hoping for a quiet evening with Darren and then they all showed up at the door.'
'Slater and I were hoping for the same when Zack showed up. He said he and Kelly had never had a row like that before, I really hope they are going to be okay. If they split up there really is no hope for the rest of us.'
'Relax Jessie, I'm sure they will be fine.'
Darren came back then and Jessie left them alone and went to the bar for a drink, knowing Janine had gone to try and straighten things out with her brother. She just hoped everyone was speaking again by the wedding ceremony.
