I needed to write something light-hearted after this week and spoilers I've seen. This show is really pushing my love/hate relationship with angst to the hate department. If you're not spoiled then you'll see what I mean next week, but it could be worse right? On a happier note isn't jaunty a great word. It's so happy, I don't think it's used enough.
Lucas sat back down at the table after going up to see Will, who Grandpa Shawn had picked up after school. Jennifer and Sami were laughing about something, acting like it was the most normal occurrence in the world.
"Are you two going to tell me what's going on, or do I have to guess?"
Sami looked up at him with a smile, thinking that he wanted to know what they found so funny, "We were just looking at that guy over there," she pointed to a medium sized man standing at the counter.
He wouldn't have stood out at all, except for the red sequined vest, purple-feathered boa, and strange turquoise spandex-like pants. There were about four other outlandishly dressed men with him, but that one stood out the most. Looking at them now, Lucas couldn't for the life of him figure out how he missed those characters in the first place.
"I say he's some sort of crazy gay man, but Jen thinks he must be in some sort of parade or something. Never mind the fact that it's freezing out and I haven't heard of any parades coming soon. I think we should try to set him up with Harold, but apparently he's too flamboyant for that newspaperman. You know now that I think about it, Jack had a bit of a flare for drama, and Harold had a thing for him once, right Jen?" she shot her a teasing smile.
"Jack was pretending to be gay, besides his was more subtle drama. He would never have dressed like that, even in those days, except when he went in drag for a few days in Vegas, but that's another story. Harold is probably too tame for them anyway."
"Did either of you think that maybe they just lost a bet?"
Dan smirked as he realized that the two blondes who had approached him earlier got the guy to look over at him. They had point blank asked him about his attire and he had informed them of a little tradition he and his buddies had kept up ever since they had joined their fraternity ten years ago. They had asked him to help freak out the guy they were with, something aboutpunishment, and being the easy-going guy he was,Dan agreed.
"It looks like Sami's right, sorry," Jen giggled as she nodded to the group again. Spandex guy was staring intensely at Lucas, when their eyes met he gave a wink. Uncomfortably, Lucas moved closer to Sami, slipping an arm around her shoulders in a non-too-subtle signal to back off, "It looks like you might be more his type."
"Very funny," he scoffed trying to veer them off of this topic, "but you still haven't answered my question. How did you too get so buddy-buddy all of a sudden? Last time I checked there was no love lost between you, not that I'm complaining"
Sami patted his hand patronizingly, "Oh my poor, silly Lucas. Things change; we found some common ground. It's hardly the news of the century."
"Yeah, Sami was upset. I asked what was wrong and we got to talking. There's nothing really exceptional about it."
He looked back and forth between both women, searching for more, but they offered nothing, "Okay… if you're sure," he was about to continue when his cell phone rang. He looked at the ID, upon seeing who it was he excused himself claiming there was better reception outside. He stepped out of the Brady Pub and moved to a secluded area where no one would overhear his conversation.
"I thought everything was taken care of."
"Relax, Lucas, I just need you to come here and sign a few papers. It's strictly legal work."
"I guess I can come over now, let me just say goodbye to Sami."
"Have you told her yet?"
"No, I didn't want her to be disappointed if it didn't pan out. I'll surprise her once everything is settled, hopefully before the wedding."
"Just get here as fast as you can, then you can tell her before midnight tonight."
"This sure went fast, I really have to thank you for that. I'll be there soon," he hung up his phone and made his way back inside to the booth they were in, "Girls I'm sorry, but I have to go. That was Aunt Maggie she wants to meet up and talk to me about our AA group. You know, figure out the technical details about her becoming my sponsor again, now that she's not dead and all."
He should have felt bad about lying. Especially when it came to AA and his Aunt Maggie, two very important things, but it was for a good cause. Before Sami could catch the excited sparkle in his eye, he bent to kiss her goodbye, then walked out with a jaunty wave.
Sami watched him walk away, before turning back to Jen, "He's up to something."
"What? How can you tell?"
"I just can. Maybe I should hound him to find out what, but he looks so happy with himself. I think I'll let him keep his secret for a little while."
"How generous of you," Jen snickered good-naturedly, "What do you think it is?"
"Who knows? With Lucas it could be anything from him cooking Will and me dinner to," for a second she paused to search her brain for the most far-fetched thing she could come up with, "buying us an airplane with an elephant inside."
"I seriously doubt my brother would buy a plane, especially if it came with an elephant."
"Then maybe he won an elephant or a plane, or both."
"Does he even know how to fly?"
"Well, he flew a helicopter once, but it crashed."
"Then, if for some strange, unknown reason Lucas decides to buy a jumbo jet, I think we should sign him up for flying lessons. Especially with an elephant flying first class."
"Good idea, we want to make sure that Dumbo's safe. It can be his wedding present."
"Speaking of the wedding we need to get planning. Do still want the same type of flowers and food, all that stuff?"
"No way, it can't be anything like Belle's. She stole my wedding, I'm going to out do everything she does."
"Who stole your wedding, darling?"
Sami and Jennifer looked up in surprise to find Julie looking down on them. She slid into the booth next to Jen, ready to help in any way she could, "Is there a problem with Lucas and Sami's wedding?"
"Belle and Philip have taken our date, church, flowers, basically everything, so Jen and I are re-planning."
"I'm afraid I don't understand."
Once again Sami went through the whole saga, surprisingly much less bitterly than on former occasions. Every once in awhile Jen would interject a little something or nod her head in agreement. If Julie found this new alliance odd she didn't show it, but her expression turned more and more outraged as the tale progressed.
"You see, Aunt Julie, Belle was being ridiculous. I know we always wanted her with Shawn, but I'm starting to think he's too good for her now. You can't go to her wedding, either. We need you and Doug to join in on the boycott."
"I doubt Belle would have the gall to invite her ex-boyfriend's grandfather and grandmother."
"I wouldn't be surprised if she invited Aunt Hope, Uncle Bo, Jan, and Shawn himself. When my sister says 'everyone in town' she means everyone. The more people that are paying attention to her, the better."
"What do you say, Aunt Julie, can we count you in?"
"Of course, my dears. You two can count on me for anything, as long as I can help with the new and improved wedding planning."
Sami smiled and reached across the table to shake Julie's hand, "I'd be honored to have you on board."
"We'll make this the best wedding Salem has seen in years. You and Lucas better make me proud, after all this wouldn't be happening if it wasn't for me."
"What do you mean?" Jen asked, intrigued.
"I helped Lucas with the proposal. Do you honestly think he came up with When a Man Loves a Woman on his own?" Julie scoffed smugly, "Men always need help with those sort of things, although to his credit he picked the song."
"I knew he must have had help with that. He didn't even tell me. Thank you for helping him, Julie, it was the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me," Sami laughed, finishing with a happy sigh.
"He sang to you, aww that is so cute. Who knew my brother was such a romantic, you're a lucky girl."
"I am, aren't I?" Sami smiled dreamily, visions of Lucas dancing in her head, "I can't wait to marry him," another happy sigh, "It really will be the happiest day of my life."
Julie and Jen looked at each other amusedly. If they had had any doubts about Sami and Lucas they would have been abolished right then. When minutes passed without another word from Sami it became necessary to break her out of her blissful reverie.
"Sami, honey," Julie nudged her arm gently, "We should get to planning, dear."
"Sorry, I was just… well you know."
Jen smiled wistfully, thinking of her own husband, "Yeah, yeah I do... It looks like we're finished eating, do you mind if we go to Gram's to get started. I have this sudden urge to hold my little boy."
"Oh my god, of course. I'm sorry, I've been so absorbed in myself I didn't realize how long you had been away from… wait, you didn't tell me what name you decided on."
"Actually, Jack and I agreed on Steven Thomas, after his brother and Grandpa Tom. He was going to be our little Stevie," she added, getting a little misty-eyed. Julie patted her hand comfortingly and the three women stood up to leave.
"Let me just get Will, he might want to meet his new cousin andhe hasn't seen Abby yet. We only saw Mrs. Horton for a few minutes."
With in a half an hour they were being greeted with hugs and doughnuts in Alice Horton's cozy living room. Sami and Will were cooing over an adorable little Stevie, who was wrapped up in his mother's arms. The doorbell rang and minutes later Maggie joined the impromptu gathering.
"I hope you don't mind my intrusion, but if I stay in that house another minute who knows what, or who, could come to find itself destroyed."
Julie moved over on the couch to give Maggie room to sit, and Sami turned to Jennifer with a smirk.
"I told you he was up to something."