Chapter 103
"Okay, this is it," said Matt as he parked the ute in front of a random dry cleaner in a shopping center in Spencer.
"Good God, I hope we can get these damn rings," said Ben.
"Well, we can cross the hot towel shave off the list," said Dylan.
"What time is the appointment?" asked Matt.
"4:30," said Dylan.
"It's only just 4 pm now, you can make it, if we can find the jacket quickly," said Matt.
Dylan and Ben started laughing. "Nothing about this has been easy. I swear, I'm cursed when it comes to rings," said Ben.
"Well, let's go in and see if we can find them. I'm going to try to get you to that appointment. The groom deserves some pampering too," said Matt, thinking of his wedding day with Jodi. They hadn't gotten to have their family there, but they enjoyed a spa day together before the ceremony, and it was a happy memory for Matt.
The three guys walked into the dry cleaner shop.
"Hello, welcome to Lee's dry cleaning, I'm Lee, how can I help you?
"Hello, do you do the dry cleaning for the Purity Springs Hotel?" asked Matt.
"Yes, why?" asked Lee.
"I'm getting married in three hours, and my wedding rings are in the inside pocket of a jacket that was just brought here from that hotel. I just need to get them so my bride doesn't kill me before the wedding," said Ben.
"Oh, wow, okay. We just got a load of clothes from them. What does the jacket look like? I'll go look in the back for it," said Lee.
"It's a Navy blue sportcoat, It's a Van Heusen," said Ben. "There should be a small velvet bag with two wedding rings in the inside pocket."
"Navy sportcoats, we get lots of those. What room number and name was it under?" asked Lee.
"It's room 217, the last name is O'Hara," added Dylan.
"Okay, I'll go look. I'll be back in a few minutes," said Lee.
The three of them waited nervously as Lee disappeared behind the curtain to the back room.
"Is this the blazer?" asked Lee, holding up a Navy blazer on a hanger. He handed it to Ben.
Ben searched through the blazer and pulled a velvet bag out of the pocket. He opened the bag and pulled out two plastic kids' play rings. His heart sank. "What is this? Why does this keep happening to me? Yes this is my blazer, but where the hell are my rings?" said Ben "Is this some sort of hidden camera show? Jasmine is going to kill me," he said as he blinked back tears.
"Mate, I'm sorry. Your rings are right here," said Lee as he pulled the two platinum rings out of his pocket and handed them to Ben. "You have no idea how many people leave things in their pockets. I like to have a little fun when I can, being a dry cleaner is a pretty boring job. Leave the jacket with me, I'll get it cleaned up and pressed for you and back at the hotel by 10am tomorrow, on the house." said Lee.
"Yes! I don't even mind you pranked me since you found them. Thank God they're safe." said Ben, jumping up and down.
"It's 4:15 we can just make that barber appointment, '' said Matt. "Let's roll."
"Nice. You're going to love this," said Dylan as the three men ran back out to the ute.
"I'll wait for you guys and give you a ride back," said Matt as he pulled up to the barber.
"Come on in, and get one too. My treat. For the three Mr. McLeods," joked Dylan.
"I reckon there will be four in the next couple years, the way things are going with Tess and Finn," said Matt. "And maybe only four ever, the way things are going with Grace and Bobby. I wonder when one of them will finally just grab the other and kiss them?"
"Well, maybe in a couple years, said Ben as the three men walked in. "But, they won't be the next couple in our group to get engaged in any way."
"Oh yeah? What do you know that I don't know," asked Matt as the three of them sat down side by side in barber chairs.
Ben and Dylan told Matt about finding the ring in James' jacket as they had hot towels on their faces. Then they told them about the awkward conversation they had with Finn about the ring while Tess was sitting next to him.
"Yeah, I knew Tess wasn't ready for that yet, and I reckon Finn did too. She seems really happy with the way things are right now. They got very serious awfully quickly, but now they sort of leveled out and seem to be moving slower through the next steps of the relationship. I reckon they'll get married eventually though," said Matt. "They suit each other really well, and Finn seems to get what Drovers Run and this family means to Tess. I'd welcome him as a brother-in-law," he said as the barbers came over with the straight razors.
"Okay boys, no more talking," Ben's barber said as he began applying the shaving cream to Ben's face.
"Just relax and enjoy. Your skin will be glowing after this, and everyone will be distracted from Jaz walking down the aisle by your dazzling face." said Dylan.