The others were all now intrigued at the petty argument between the two. It wasn't the first one either. They had both been on edge since the shipwreck, everyone had been. But Thurston Howell and Lovey Wentworth had been at each other's throats ever since they first met.
" I have, as the popular phrase goes, had it!" The5 months had passed since the Minnow made its final voyage from the marina. Chances of rescue looked slim as the days passed them by.
Even though the 7 had settled into a routine, had shelter, and enough food and water around them to keep them full for years to come, it wasn't the same.
It wasn't home.
News reports at home told them the search had been called off, leaving those that knew them completely devastated.
It had been hard accepting the fate that the Minnow had gone down and with it the crew and passengers, especially for Mary Ann's aunt and uncle.
They blamed themselves daily for allowing their niece to leave home like this and step foot on a plane headed anywhere outside Kansas.
Charlotte and Charlie Vandermere also felt responsible for the fate of their nearest and dearest friends. The two felt even more dreadful to find out they'd gone done on a charter boat, not a yacht.
The men had their own huts and the three women shared, respectively, since they were all single. It only made sense. They had also built a hut for supply use. It also had a bed in it if the Professor found himself up late working on projects or experiments to get them all rescued.
Breakfast time was usually the best part of the day. The island was cool in the mornings and it made for a pleasant breakfast. Most evenings were just as nice, complete with a sunset view just after dinner.
This particular morning, everyone was seated around their big breakfast table Professor and Skipper had put together. It sort of resembled a picnic table, but made out of bamboo.
MaryAnn and Ginger had made pancakes and had a big bowl of fruit on the table set out for everyone.
Thurston and Lovey had been taking jabs at one another all morning, and when the girls finally walked over with their food, the Skipper was hoping it would quiet them down.
" Could someone ask the woman at the far end of the table, clicking her nails like a parking meter to hand me the syrup?" Thurston chided, clearing his throat to get on her nerves.
Lovey gasped and looked up. What nerve he has.
" Ms. Wentworth, could you pass the syrup?" Gilligan asked.
" Sure dear boy. While you're at it, do you mind asking the man with his nasty habit of throat clearing, to pass me the guava jelly?" Lovey retorted.
"Throat clearing?" Thurston was irate now.
" Yes," Lovey answered, raising her brow expecting him to say more.
millionaire exclaimed.
" I believe you owe me an apology." Thurston's eyes were fixed at the end of the table on the blonde. Lovey laughed. Apologize!?
" Me? I? Apologize?" Lovey gasped." I will not." She tossed her hand at him, deciding he was being quite silly.
" May JP Morgan have mercy on your soul!" Thurston was quite shocked that a Wentworth told him no!
Lovey's eyes welled with tears. She hated arguments. She tried to blink them back but it was no use.
" I don't think I'm hungry anymore. Excuse me." Lovey got up and left the picnic table.
The 6 others were quiet. Ginger and Mary Ann both felt bad for the woman as she swiftly walked for the hut they shared.
Thurston's brows dropped a little and he felt a bit guilty, seeing her in tears. He hadn't meant to make her that upset. Women can be terribly sensitive creatures.
" That wasn't very kind Mr. Howell." Skipper chastised the millionaire. What started as innocent teasing ended as a small argument.
They couldn't afford to have too many arguments on the island. It wasn't as though they could go very far. It was small and they needed to maintain their composure.
" Maybe it would be best if you apologize." Professor pointed out as he took a bite of fruit.
Thurston's brows raised once more and then softened.
" Why can't you both get along? I don't see what the big deal is." Ginger said.
The millionaire supposed she did have a point. The others didn't know the story. What would they know about the social register? And business deals?!
" The Howell Wentworth families have always been at war, against one another! It's lasted 100 years and I vow to never do business with a Wentworth as long as I live, and that includes being merged with one."
" What was the feud over, Mr. Howell?" Gilligan innocently asked as he took another banana out of the bowl.
The millionaire decided to oblige the others. He sighed heavily and sat down, his eyes still on the hut where Lovey Wentworth resided.
" A business deal the Wenthworths stole from right under our shoes, leather, made in Italy of course." Thurston began.
" Great grandfather Howell was trying to secure a business deal when this Yale man, George Wentworth, came swooping in. All Howell men were Harvard men, Yale, well, as far as I'm concerned, is a slum area."
" How can your family hold a grudge for so long?" Gilligan asked.
" Breeding my boy!" Thurston shouted, slamming his fist on the table, only then retracing it quickly.
The others had all heard the story by now after being together for a month of this blind date gone wrong. They weren't sure how long the two would keep this charade of hardly speaking to one another up.
Both Thurston and Lovey were quite persistent and stubborn, although neither would admit it.
" Actually," Lovey began, now emerging from the hut. " My great- grandfather did not steal business from under a Howell. The owner of the company as I recall was a distant cousin of our family." Lovey smirked, hoping to put Thurston Howell in his place.
Thurston's eyes went wide. " Impossible!"
" If this is true- it means the feud has no basis." Lovey spoke up for him.
" Except for the fact that your family went to Yale." Thurston cringed at the word. It left a bad taste in his mouth.
You see, Yale men were a different breed compared to those that went to Harvard. Harvard men were superior in Howell eyes.
The others were all intrigued now.
" Skipper? Does that mean Mr. Howell can date her because she didn't go to school at Yale?" Gilligan asked his big buddy.
" Oh Gilligan, be quiet." Skipper shushed him.
" So you see, there really is no basis for this feud? Is there?" Lovey stated.
" I suppose not." Thurston said thoughtfully, crossing his arms. He was quite perplexed by it all.
He wasn't sure what to make of this newfound information.
" Does this mean you won't be mad at each other anymore?" Gilligan asked the millionaire.
" Gilligan why can't you just keep your mouth shut. Sorry Mr. Howell." The Skipper eyed his first mate as he apologized.
" Quite alright. The lad does have a point. I guess we can be civil. Can't we?" His eyes searched Lovey's.
She only nodded, remaining quiet.
The Professor broke the silence at the table after that stating he had some plants he needed to search for.
Seeing the argument had fizzled out on its own, he felt it would be best to leave.
The others quickly followed his lead leaving Thurston and Lovey at the table.
It was apparent that Thurston wouldn't be apologizing to her. The men in their social circle allowed pride to overshadow their emotions.
She sighed and picked at her nails, hoping he'd speak up.
Thurston could sense the tension. The others had all parted ways for the day and they were the only two left at the table. He decided to try his luck and patch things up with her.
Coming to a stand, he walked to her, standing at her side with his arm out and a smile on his face.
" Would you care to join me on a walk, Ms. Wentworth?" Thurston asked.
Lovey was taken aback. Lost in thought she didn't know what he was doing.
" Hmm?" She questioned.
" I asked if you'd care to join me on a walk around the island?" Thurston repeated once more.
" Sure." Lovey nodded, accepting his arm.
They linked arms and began their stroll down the path. Her parasol dangled between her fingers, keeping her face shielded from the bright morning sun.
Their walk was quiet. Lovey felt so many different emotions. She didn't want to be hurt by anyone again.
" Might I ask about your marriage?" Thurston asked.
" You first." Lovey replied, keeping her eyes downward as they walked.
" I've never been married- if you must know." Thurston said.
" Why's that?" Lovey was quite surprised he'd never been married.
The wolf of Wall Street really didn't know how to answer that question. Sure his father and mother had tried numerous times to set him up, as well as his friends with the most eligible women in their social circle, however, Thurston was bored.
He spent his years in Harvard courting many women, but none captured his eye, or his heart. He found his passion in his work, the Harvard Club, and money. Cash to be exact. He never felt an urge to marry. His younger brother had married right out of college to a Vassar girl. They had a few children. The Howell legacy would live on.
" My brother gave my family an heir. A few rather. Money is the most important thing to me. That and the future of Howell industries. Lucky for my parents my brother George came along when I was 5. Dear old dad always seemed to be impressed with him rather than his namesake and firstborn, even though I've got the obligation to see that Howell Industries continues to be successful. I never felt the need to marry." Thurston found himself unintentionally telling her his life story.
" Tell me about yourself, Ms. Wentworth."
" What would you like to know?" Lovey stiffened, unsure she wanted to divulge about her past, after all, her divorce was still fresh and nobody in their social circle knew.
" How long were you married?" Thurston inquired.
" It would be 23 years tomrrow, actually." Lovey remarked.
" It seems as though you're happy to be away from him." Thurston replied.
Lovey had turned away from him now, wiping a tear as she stared out into the jungle.
She only shrugged her shoulders. " It was a horrible marriage. One I wouldn't wish upon anyone, even Erika Tiffany Smith."
" He is a Yale man after all. Punishment enough. How bad could it have been?" Thurston teased.
Lovey shut her eyes tightly, trying to fend off the tears threatening to spill from her eyes at any moment, like the skies threatening to burst open with rains.
It was all coming back to her. It started with his telling her what to wear, the friends she could keep, the number of boards she could serve on, how to dance, how to keep him happy, and most of all the number of times he told her how worthless she was as a wife for being unable to produce an heir.
This is all she could think about. Her thoughts overwhelmed her.
The millionaire stood motionless as he watched Lovey. She seemed to be lost in thought until he heard her burst into tears.
" I'm sorry." Lovey apologized before quickly walking back towards her hut. An outburst like this wasn't normal for her, or society women of that matter.
" Ms. Wentworth! Wait!" Thurston called.
Her pace quickened. Thurston felt himself breaking a sweat as he tried to keep up with Lovey, trying to catch up to her.
" Mummy warmed me about these Vasser girls with their long gym classes. Yikes." Thurston patted his brow with a bill he kept in his small change pocket for emergencies such as these.
A Howell never perspired. Occasionally was warm yes, but never, ever perspired.
As she swiftly walked through the jungle, Thurston hot on her heels, the two found themselves being pulled into the vegetation by large hands.
Two big native men had captured them both, leading them through the jungle.
They had no idea where they were being taken and what their fate was. The men were speaking in an island dialect with some English thrown in.
Thurston couldn't make out much of what he was saying, only that he was hoping to make it out of the grasp of this Yale man, alive.
Lovey's heart dropped as she was tightly grasped by the big native man. She was so terrified and didn't know what would happen.
She fainted and at some point came too. Judging by the sky, night had fallen and her body ached from the position it had been in for the past few hours.
She tried to wiggle out of the restraints but it was no use.
" Lovey! Thank goodness you're awake!" She heard Thurston's voice.
The only light they had wherever they were was coming from the bright moon overhead.
" Where are we?" Lovey asked, her eyes blinking and adjusting to the dark but moonlight spot they were in.
" I think a cave." Thurston shuddered.
" Really- a Howell and a Wentworth in a cave. If anyone on the register saw us like this, I think they'd faint, I suppose." Lovey managed a laugh, given their circumstances.
" It would take us back to earlier times. After all, I think our families did organize in caves, with an early form of a ticker tape machine." Thurston added.
" Naturally." Lovey agreed with a nod of her head.
The two were tied and restrained in a cave, with really no idea how to escape or where they even were.
Thurston wondered why the others hadn't come looking for them. After all, they'd missed lunch and dinner at this point as well!
" You be quiet in there!" The big native man's voice boomed from somewhere causing the two to jump in fright.
They weren't quite sure where the native was, but it was certainly chilling.
Thurston had been working the past few hours on trying to work his hands free from behind his back, trying to leverage himself on his money belt, but even that wasn't doing him any good.
" I offered that cad $50,000 dollars if he'd let us go," Thurston told Lovey.
" Did he accept?" Lovey asked, blinking.
" Of course not. He turned his nose up. Cash is the universal language, but clearly not in his vocabulary." Thurston replied.
The man came back in angrier that more conversation was taking place. He was a tall, burly man. Thurston's eyes went wide but he stood his ground. Nobody gave orders to the Wolf of Wall Street unless it happened to be a great big native man that didn't seem to understand currency.
" I warn you. No more talk. Chief needs quiet. He planning wedding." The man said.
" What wedding?" Thurston asked, raising his brows.
" To this woman. She become next island queen!" He grinned at Lovey.
Even in the moonlight, Thurston could tell that the color had drained from her face.
" Wife?" Lovey squealed.
" We take her back to our island and she wed the chief." The man said.
" I beg your pardon but she is already married!" Thurston raised his voice.
The man looked confused. He looked between the two and then hurried out of the cave before he brought back the Chief.
" He say this your wife." The chief pointed from Thurston to Lovey and stared back at him.
The blonde looked quite surprised, but smiled a little, considering this Wolf of Wall Street to be her hero.
" That's right! She is! I'll have you know we are happily merged and we have been for many years and trust me, you don't want her or her spending habits. Women can get expensive." Thurston added.
The chief nodded his head muttering something in a dialect Thurston had never heard before, but he too nodded in agreement.
Must be a Democrat.
" Now I command you at once to let us go!" Thurston ordered, not backing down.
" There other women on island we can wed?" The chief asked.
" I'm sure we can find you someone. Now can you please just untie these restraints?" Thurston asked.
The chief snapped his fingers ordering his silent partner, his guard with a big spear to untie both Lovey and Thurston.
Once the restraints had been undone, Thurston grabbed Eunice Wentworth in a tight embrace, not letting her out of his site or his arms for that matter.
Propriety wasn't even a thought that crossed their minds at that moment. The rules of society could be dismissed because they were facing danger.
" If new wife not appear by next moon, we take her by force!" The chief exclaimed.
" Over my dead body!" Thurston responded, clearly seeing it was a mistake as the silent partner pointed the spear towards the millionaire's throat.
The two gasped in panic unsure of what was about to happen. They closed their eyes.
" May J.P. Morgan have mercy on your souls!" Thurston clenched his eyes shut, preparing to meet his demise as the spear tip poked him.
The chief and his two guards laughed.
" We not kill you….yet." The chief laughed.
Thurston peeled open an eye before pulling Lovey with him out of the cave, the two forgetting themselves for a moment, as they made a mad dash down the cliff.
It was dark outside and with only the moon to guide them, it was hard to find their way back towards camp.
" PROFESSOR! SKIPPER! GILLIGAN!" Thurston called.
He was hoping his voice would carry enough so the others could find them.
" Oh, Thurston I can't run another moment longer!" Lovey cried as she held onto his arm.
" You're right. I think we've lost them by now." Thurston found a clearing and the two rested against a big palm tree, leaning on it for support.
Lovey and Thurston caught their breath and rested a few moments, hoping they'd left the natives in their dust, gold dust of course.
" You saved my life." Lovey gasped once the realization hit her.
" Hmm?" Thurston asked, now fanning himself with his money.
" Back there, at the cave. You saved me from marrying one of those savages." Lovey mentioned again, genuinely touched by the heroic, but forward gesture.
" Consider it my civic duty to keep the money, shall we say, in the family. Our kind doesn't mix well with Attila the Hun unless it's on the rocks with a splash of vermouth of course." Thurston laughed, winking a bit.
" How can I ever repay you?" Lovey figured the millionaire would settle for cash, maybe a check even, but his answer surprisingly didn't have an amount attached to it.
" How about a dinner for two with a vintage bottle of bubbly?" Thurston asked, smiling at the blonde.
Lovey only blushed. She looked down a second then back up at him, nodding ever so slightly.
" Of course." She smiled.
" I'll be looking forward to it," Thurston replied back, grinning widely now.
The happy moment could only be interrupted by the screech of some wild animal scaring them. The two dashed right for camp, unsure of where they were or how to get back there exactly.
The two called for the others, hoping one of them would hear
As they hurried through a clearing they ran right into the Professor. He'd heard their cries of distress. He and The Skipper had been out looking for them all evening.
Lovey grasped onto Thurston, both from exhaustion and from nervousness as he explained what had happened to them.
Skipper walked behind as the Professor laid the way back towards their camp.
" Well, I don't think there is any real need to worry Mr. Howell." Skipper said.
" You didn't see the size of his spear!" Thurston retorted.
" What are we going to do? I'm afraid they'll come back for Lovey." Thurston voiced his concerns, hoping the women on their island would be safe.
" We will come up with something," Professor reassured them everything would be alright.
After looking over Thurston and Lovey, he sent them both to their own huts respectively to get some rest and had the girls make them soup.
The others talked at the picnic tables, trying to devise a plan.
The Skipper voiced his opinion " Search me, Professor, I don't know how we'll be able to pull off something like this."
" Yeah, if we don't give them a wife, who knows what will happen. Well we do know what will happen, they'll throw a spear at Mister Howell and take Ms. Wentworth." Gilligan replies rather innocently as he peels his orange.
" Pipe down Gilligan. You've been no help at all. We don't want to scare the girls." Skipper rolls his eyes.
" Is there anything we can do, Professor?" Mary Ann asks. She nervously clutched her handkerchief in her hands.
" Not right now, Mary Ann. I'll have to come up with something that won't risk any of us getting hurt." Professor replied rather seriously.
Ginger had been listening and thinking. An idea came to her but she wasn't sure it would work against natives.
" Say, what if we dressed one of you up to pose as a woman? I was in a movie once where this man was holding women hostage so a cop went undercover dressed as a woman to help free them and he brought them all to safety. Nobody got hurt." Ginger replied with a shrug.
The professor sat quietly a second before pounding his first on the table causing the others to jump a little.
" That's it! That just might work!" The Professor exclaims.
" What might work?" Skipper asks eagerly.
" Ginger's suggestion. Dressing one of us men up as a woman. That way if they take us to their island for the ceremony, we can use their boats as a means of escape." He told them all.
The Professor noticed the table had gone quiet and saw 8 pairs of eyes staring at him, wondering what his next move would be.
" Who's going to be the woman?" Gilligan asks innocently before he suddenly realizes what's going on.
Slowly he starts to rise from the table only to feel the weight of Skipper's hand on his shoulder, pushing him down into his seat once more.
" Oh no! Not me! Not me Skipper. I can't be married. I can't be. I can't cook, I can't sew, I won't be a good wife." Gilligan nervously stated.
" You're going to do this Gilligan. We have to protect the women on this island and that's an order." Skipper replied.
" He's right, Gilligan, that's the only way. You're the only one small enough to fit into the girl's clothing. We can ensure your safety. Skipper and I will be following and watching your every move. I know a few island dialects."
" Alright Skipper I'll do it." Gilligan nodded. He figured with his big buddy and Professor waiting nearby while the plan was under way, he'd be fine.
" Let's all get some sleep. It's going to be a long day tomorrow." Professor said.
The men parted ways and headed to sleep.
Before the Professor headed off to his hut he noticed MaryAnn hurrying towards him.
" Professor! Professor!" She cried running for him.
" MaryAnn, what's going on?" he worried, hoping everything was alright.
" It's Ms. Wentworth. I think she's upset about something." MaryAnn worries.
Professor got up and went to the hut to see about things.
He observed the woman for a while while Ginger and MaryAnn sat waiting for news on her.
Lovey Wentworth was crying and tossing and turning in her sleep.
" She might be experiencing some night terrors after their kidnapping this afternoon. I gave her a sedative. She should sleep through the night." Professor finally came out of the hut after 15 minutes.
Thurston was at the table with the others. Gilligan had accidentally woke him up with the radio.
" Will she be alright?" Thurston asked.
"Of course. Tomorrow she should stay in the hut and rest. We should all get some sleep now, it's late." He announced to the group.
Clutching teddy under his arm, Thurston slipped passed the others and hurried to the girl's hut. He saw Lovey Wentworth fast asleep in bed. He carefully tucked teddy under her arms.
" Be good to her, old boy." Thurston whispered to his beloved bear before sneaking quietly out of the hut.
Mid morning came and the others were all scattered about the island enjoying the breeze and sunshine.
Lovey Howell had finally woken up. She felt something tucked under her arms and looked down, seeing the brown bear.
" Hello, where did you come from?" She grinned.
The bear looked to be well loved and worn a little, but he was still soft. He was a very special surprise.
It smelled of a specific cologne...it couldn't be, Thurston's!?
She giggled at the thought of the millionaire owning such a thing. It didn't seem his style.
Sitting up in bed, Lovey grabbed her blue negligee and threw it on, deciding to see about this.
She stepped out of the hut and kept the bear tucked behind her back, holding him very gently.
She saw the millionaire sitting at the table listening to a radio program.
Nobody else was around so she approached the table after a moment. " Ahh , I see you're up. How are you feeling?" Thurston asked.
" Much better. I think this had something to do with it." Lovey presented the bear and smiled. Thurston blushed and quickly took back his prized possession.
" So it is yours." Lovey teased as she took a seat.
" He is." Thurston replied, " This is Teddy."
" Does anyone else know of his existence?" Lovey asked.
" Gilligan found him one night...he promised to keep my secret. Teddy's been with me since the beginning."
Thurston figured he'd better share the story of how his little furry friend came to be.
" When I was 10 years old I broke my arm. Very unbecoming of a little boy on the social register. My brother and I were racing our polo ponies when mine was spooked by a snake. I was thrown off the horse and when I woke up, there was Teddy. Mummy had gotten him for me as a bit of a pick me up and he's remained my lifelong companion ever since. From the hospital to Harvard, to business meetings. Even a wolf of wall street needs a friend that doesn't sit on a committee." Thurston winked.
Lovey found herself enchanted by the story Thurston told, fascinated by his companionship with a teddy bear. It was rather sweet in a way.
" He's sort of a silent partner, I take it?" Lovey asked.
" Indeed. Why Teddy knows the ins and outs of infrastructure and how to make the best martini, don't you, Teddy?" Thurston pulled the bear off the table to face him.
" Aww, that's sweet." Lovey chided, smiling at the millionaire. This childlike side to the gruff millionaire made him a bit more down to earth, and likable she could say.
Lovey found herself growing very fond of Thurston Howell.
The two chattered on, mainly about their lives back home when they were interrupted by the sounds of the others making their way back into camp.
Thurston got up rather quickly signaling he was going to put his beloved friend back in his hut where he belonged.
" If you'll excuse me, I'm just going to put Teddy away before lunch. He needs a siesta." Thurston said.
" Of course." Lovey nodded.
" Ah Ms. Wentworth, are you feeling better?" Professor asked as he made his way through the clearing.
" Much better, thank you Professor. Are there any signs of the natives still on the island?" Lovey shuddered as she asked.
She didn't want to come face to face with any more natives with spears. It made her blue blood run cold.
" Not a trace. It seems they decided to leave. Don't worry, we've come up with a plan to keep you and the other women safe if they decide to come back." Professor replied.
Lovey Wentworth only nodded her head in reply. She was still a bit nervous about the whole thing and hoped they wouldn't come back and kidnap anyone else. If only they had seen how sharp the spear was…
The girls were starting on dinner so Lovey decided to retire back to her hut. As she did so she caught sight of the Professor and MaryAnn deep in conversation about something as he helped her and Ginger prepare for dinner and the gleam in her eye.
" If only it were the right season." Lovey sighed, clasping her hands together, watching them.
" Right season for what?" Thurston asked, approaching the blonde.
" Making a perfect match." Lovey gushed.
The millionaire raised his brows, feeling himself beginning to get warm. Dare I ask.
" Who would be a perfect match?" Thurston tested his luck, very carefully.
" Don't you see? MaryAnn and the Professor! I see the sparkle in her eye every time they talk. Oh isn't it romantic!" Lovey exclaimed.
Women. Oh women. Thurston thought to himself. He stared over to where Lovey Wentworth was, seeing the egghead and farm girl in conversation. They did look rather friendly with each other, he had to admit.
" Don't meddle. I'm sure if he wanted to, The Professor is smart enough and has the credentials to ask her on a date." Thurston replied, giving his opinion.
" That's true, but maybe they need a little help." Lovey encouraged, hoping she could rope Thurston into helping her.
Thurston began to see what she was hinting at by the look in her eye. Quickly he dismissed the idea.
" No. I refuse to be involved with any nefarious female scheme." Thurston responded firmly, thinking he'd put his foot down.
Lovey pouted, pondering her thoughts a second. It came to her.
"But don't you see? We could host a formal dinner and set it all up, and set things in motion for them. You are the only one on the island with a private reserve, are you not?" She questioned.
" I heard from a little bear you do make the best martinis." Lovey smiled.
Thurston sighed. He couldn't resist some formality on the island, or a martini.
" Well," he paused a beat, " Alright. Write up some invitations and Teddy and I will get to work." Thurston finally agreed.
" Oh, Good!" Lovey exclaimed with excitement. " I have a thousand things to do."
With a nod of her head she quickly returned to the hut to begin planning.
….
After lunch was finished, a storm began to roll through the little island.
They all took shelter in their respective huts.
Since the girls all shared a hut they spent some time gossiping and listening to some music on the radio since it was their turn with it.
Thurston's radio was making its rounds on the island. The men and women traded off.
MaryAnn and Ginger were both doing their nails and talking with Lovey about various things. Lovey was trying to plant a romance bug in their ears hoping love would blossom between a certain two castaways.
" I want to get married someday." Ginger said, speaking up after she blew on her fingernails so they'd dry.
" Married life can be wonderful." Lovey gushed, hoping to give off the impression to the two that love could be found right here on their little island.
" Hopefully you two will be able to experience finding your true love someday and get married." Lovey said.
" I was dating somebody back home in Kansas. Chip. My aunt and uncle liked him. If we marry, I want to raise a few kids and have a farm." MaryAnn grinned.
" A farm! What about living in the jungles of Hollywood. It's much more exciting." Ginger winked as she stared at the farm girl.
" Do you want kids Ginger?" MaryAnn asked the movie star.
" And ruin my figure?!" Ginger exclaimed.
The thought had crossed her mind once or twice but she enjoyed her freedom to travel and went where she pleased. Being married did sound nice, but not settling down to raise kids, especially not in Kansas.
MaryAnn looked over at Lovey. She had gone quiet. She was staring into space. Ginger noticed the blonde had gone quiet, too.
Biting her lip, Ginger looked towards MaryAnn hoping she'd ask.
" Do you have children? I know you mentioned you were married before." MaryAnn asked Lovey innocently.
The blonde didn't respond for a few moments. She finally looked up at the two younger girls staring back at her and stiffened her back.
" No. My former husband and I were far too busy to raise a family. I couldn't manage that and the opera board, ballet, or the dozens of other events I tended to." Lovey responded rather curtly, waving her hand, dismissing the subject.
She didn't mean to come off so harsh. It's just, it was an old hurt she was still trying to accept. Children hadn't been in the cards for her or Montmorency, and rightly so. Lovey figured they were out of the question now and was slightly jealous of the younger two before her. Time was certainly a thief.
Lovey Wentworth would've been embarrassed had she been in the presence of anyone in her social group back home, but she felt herself becoming quite emotional over the subject.
Wiping away a stray tear that was at the corner of her eye, Lovey wasn't sure if she should tell the girls of her struggles. Even Charlotte didn't know. She couldn't understand. She had everything Lovey longed for. A husband. Children. She wasn't the one the women in their social circle constantly talked about. Lovey was.
" Being a member of society comes with a cost," Lovey began. " There are certain things expected of women in my position and producing an heir is one of them. I was told by many of the best specialists in the world that it was impossible. We tried and I truly think my former husband resents me for being unable to give him the one thing everyone else in our social circle has; a family. I was quite an embarrassment to his family. I only wish you girls could understand the meaning of something like this."
The hut was silent minus the storm raging on outside and the music from the radio, a symphony was playing.
MaryAnn and Ginger both felt heartbroken for this woman. Lovey had completely made herself vulnerable to them with the hopes that they would see the reason for her reaction and how much she longs to be a completely fulfilled woman as she told them.
MaryAnn gulped. She was young, but how long would they be stuck on this island? Would she ever find love? Would she get that farm in Kansas and have a family to raise?
Ginger's thoughts were nearly the same. She pondered on this newfound information and would take it to heart. She could relate to Lovey in one way; whatever happened in private didn't stay that way for very long. The press showed no mercy, and neither did those that gossiped both in Hollywood and at the Newport Country Club.
Lovey had suddenly become exhausted by both the rain and the rush of emotions she'd suddenly let overcome her. She leaned back in the chaise she was sitting in and shut her eyes hoping the storm would put her in a deep sleep.
MaryAnn nor Ginger knew exactly what to say at that moment. The two remained quiet and finished doing their nails. The quite shocking confession had left them both speechless.
The music they were listening to was cut short by a news broadcast so MaryAnn changed the station.
" We interrupt your happy daytime tunes with a special news bulletin out of Honolulu. Friends and family of millionaire Thurston Howell III are planning a search attempt for the missing man, along with internationally known society matron Lovey Wentworth. Searches should begin in just a few short weeks to look for the pair along with the crew of the SS Minnow. Now back to those happy daytime tunes."
Lovey's eyes shot open. Their friends were coming to rescue them and before the opera season? Good heavens.
" Rescued?!" Ginger sequels!
Lovey so desperately wanted to run and tell Thurston the news but a loud clap of thunder stopped her in her tracks. She momentarily forgot that it was raining outside after being so lost in thought.
" Think of it, Ginger! We are finally going home!" MaryAnn grinned in delight. She knew her aunt and uncle were worried sick and probably blamed themselves for letting her take this trip.
While it hadn't panned out the way it was supposed to be, she rather enjoyed her time on the island, meeting 6 other people she never would've run into otherwise.
She was eager to see them and be back in familiar surroundings.
" Hollywood! Oh, my Hollywood! I can't wait to be home. The sets, the lights, the whistles from men when I cross the street." Ginger sighed happily as she fantasized about being home.
…
Nighttime fell and the others had finally been able to leave their huts. After a big dinner and chatter about plans to leave the island, they were all too excited to sleep.
" I'll keep track of the reports, that way we can work on having things prepared to make a signal fire to draw attention to the island. Boats or ships will be able to spot us." Professor said.
" Gee Skipper! We get to go home. Aren't you excited?" Gilligan asked as he munched on a banana.
" Oh sure I am, little buddy! We can eat at the diner again like we always do and I might even open up that restaurant i was talking about!" Skipper laughed heartily. He had plans to one day retire from the sea and stay on the mainland and open up a restaurant for the locals and tourists, with his first mate Gilligan by his side.
Gilligan licked his lips. " Oh yeah we can have steak again and bacon, and toast, and oh no- Skipper, now I want some steak and some bacon and toast." Gilligan pouted.
" Oh knock it off, Gilligan. You're making me hungry!" Skipper chastised his first mate.
" It was really nice of your friends to rescue us, Mr. Howell." Skipper spoke up.
" They owe me for getting me into this mess in the first place, even before you did. Think nothing of it, Captain." Thurston replied.
Professor rolled his eyes slightly at the backhanded compliment coming from the millionaire. He knew the man meant no harm by it. It was just his way.
MaryAnn and Ginger decided to clean up from dinner. Lovey got up to silently head back to their hut before she was stopped. This time, by Thurston.
" I was curious if you'd like to take a walk this evening. Ms. Wentworth." Thurston offered with a big grin.
" Of course." Lovey replied.
Since the weather had cleared up leaving them with a cool evening, Thurston Howell decided to take a walk with Lovey.
He noticed at dinner she had barely spoken a word and hadn't eaten much on her plate. He figured it was over all the excitement over leaving.
" The night ended up rather pleasant didn't it?" Thurston asked, striking up conversation.
" Yes." Lovey replied rather curtly.
" I can't believe we're going to get off this silly island once and for all. Leave it to our friends to rescue us from this ilk." Thurston chuckled.
Lovey didn't reply. She kept her eyes straight ahead, focusing on the path in front of them, counting her steps as she walked.
Thurston laced their arms together hoping the action would shake her from whatever she was thinking about.
They came to the clearing and Lovey began to limp.
" What is it?" Thurston asked.
" I think I've got a pebble in my shoe." Lovey hopped over to a nearby log and took a seat, reaching for her shoe and Thurston beating her to it.
He delicately slipped her shoe off her foot, discarding the pebble inside, before slipping it back on again.
As his eyes met hers, he couldn't help but stare into the bright blue orbs.
Good heavens, we aren't even courting yet. Father warned me about these Vasser women.
Thurston Howell found himself entranced with the heiress. The blonde had captured his heart as much as he had tried to ignore the sensation.
Thankfully, Lovey had her wits about her, remaining poised and composed. " Shall we continue our walk?"
" Hmmm? Yes. Yes we shall." He smiled and stood up, grabbing her hand once more.
The two continued on with their walk. Thurston didn't want to pry, but he decided to.
" You weren't very vocal about the rescue. Aren't you excited to see civilization again? See our friends?" Thurston inquired, hoping it would facilitate some sort of response.
" Of course I am!" Lovey took great offense to his questioning. That man. Why does he have to meddle?
" If it's Charlie and Charlotte you're not excited about seeing, I'll break it to them," Thurston began.
" No, no. It's not that at all. I think it's just the shock of being rescued." Lovey batted her lashes, quickening her pace as they walked.
Thurston knew that's not what was bothering her but he decided to leave well enough alone. She wasn't his wife, so it wasn't his business to pry as he was doing so.
After their walk, the sun was beginning to set so the two made their way back to camp. As they approached, they saw the chief and his cronies that had captured them were back.
Lovey suddenly felt faint as Thurston quietly pushed them down to keep them from the eyes of the chief.
" Shh- not a word." Thurston whispered, keeping her tightly in his embrace, shielding them just out of sight enough to see what was going on.
Thurston's brows stayed raised as he watched the exchange between Gilligan, or Gilliana as the men called him and the chief. He had fallen for their ploy.
" What's going on?" Lovey asked, unable to see.
" They've fallen for the plan. The chief just gave Gilliana a kiss. Oh, they're leaving. I think it's safe to join them." Thurston stood up and then pulled Lovey to stand.
They hurried back into camp.
" Is everything alright?" Thurston asked.
" Thank heavens you're alright! We've been looking for you both everywhere. Didn't you hear the drums?" Professor asked.
The two shook their heads.
" The chief decided he was to wed Gilligan. The ceremony will take place tomorrow night. But not on their island." Professor said, rather sadly.
" You mean? They won't let us use their island. I mean really." Thurston stated.
The two were in deep conversation about what to do about seizing the boats.
Seeing the natives had triggered the memories of their kidnapping from a few days ago. Lovey took off, walking rather swiftly to a hut. Any hut.
Thurston and the Professor stopped talking.
" It's the kidnapping. I'm afraid seeing them has triggered this reaction. I'm sure she'll be fine tomorrow." Professor reassured the millionaire.
" I should go see about her." Thurston excused himself and went to the supply hut where she'd planted herself.
He could hear her sniffling just outside. He felt as though he had an obligation to protect her. Knocking softly on the hut door, his own heart racing, Thurston went in.
Lovey had her back to him and was sitting on a chair, fervently wiping her eyes.
He grabbed her shoulders and gave them a gentle squeeze, signaling he was there for her and there was no need to explain.
This small gesture had Lovey both shocked and touched at the same time. How could a man, not even married to her, care so much as he did?
Thurston leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her temple.
Lovey turned around in the chair to face him.
" I'm sorry." The millionaire jumped back, hoping she wasn't angry at the gesture.
Grabbing his hands softly in her own, Lovey gave them a gentle squeeze. She leaned up on her tip toes and kissed his lips.
His heroic chivalrous attitude had won her over. For months now she'd been telling herself she'd never marry again and how could she fall in love with a Howell, but she had.
" Thurston I-" Lovey was interrupted by Thurston getting down on his knee. If he didn't do it now, he may never get the courage to do it again.
He kept Lovey's hands tightly clasped in his own. The millionaire felt his emotions also getting the better of him.
" I couldn't go to Tiffany's. I know it's only a cigar band, but it's off a very expensive cigar. Lovey Wentworth, I don't know what's come over me, but I, Thurston Howell the Third, have fallen completely in love with you. It would be an honor to call you my wife. Will you marry me?" Thurston asked, staring up at the shocked blonde in front of him.
Thurston Howell cringed as he presented Lovey with this cigar band, but it was the only thing he could think of to give her at the moment to symbolize his commitment to her. Once they returned to the mainland, he would be giving her a diamond of course.
" Oh Thurston, I- I don't know what to say." Lovey gasped.
" I hope you say yes because my arthritis is flaring up and I'm not sure how much longer I can sit like this." Thurston jokes.
Lovey stood a few moments, as Thurston held her left hand still in his own. Her blue eyes rapidly blinked a mile a minute.
" I-I can't marry you."
Lovey said softly.
Thurston looked quite upset. His face dropped.
" Is it the ring? You know this is the best I can do while we're stuck on this dreary little island. The minute we get home I'll have Tiffany's send us their best selections over." Thurston wondered.
Lovey withdrew her hands, appalled he could think she'd be so vain. Of course a $5 cigar band wasn't her ideal choice for an engagement ring, but that wasn't why she was turning him down.
She couldn't tell him, not yet at least. He wouldn't understand.
" Of course it's not the ring!" She exclaimed.
" I don't owe you any explanation, Thurston Howell." Lovey sobbed.
" But I-..." he was quickly interrupted. " Go! Leave! Please! Get out!" Lovey screamed, throwing the cigar band back towards him.
Thurston grabbed his hat and quickly left, shutting the door behind him.
He realized the others had all heard the proposal and even worse, her turning him down.
" Is everything alright, Mr. Howell?" Professor was quick to approach the millionaire, hoping things would be okay.
" Everything is just fine. I'm retiring to the Harvard Club Annex. If anyone needs me, I'll be here for the night."
Thurston slunk sadly towards the crudely built supply hut he occasionally used as his annex when he wanted to be left alone.
" Poor Mr. Howell." Ginger said, rather sadly.
" It seems like they're a perfect match, but Ms. Wentworth doesn't see it that way." MaryAnn replies.
" What can we do?" Skipper asked.
" Nothing. We should stay out of this argument." Professor warned.
" You're right." Gilligan nodded.
" If they cause any more trouble, someone is going to have to intervene." Skipper responded.
" You're right, too, Skipper." Gilligan agreed, as he stared at his big buddy.
" Oh Gilligan! Would you be quiet! Let's go to bed. You've got a big day tomorrow anyways, Gilliana! It's wedding bells for you." Skipper teased.
The others chuckled and decided to part ways for the evening.
…
The girls retreated to their hut. They found Mrs. Howell sleeping soundly in her corner.
Ginger and MaryAnn got ready for bed and sat up talking with one another.
" I wonder why she turned him down. The real reason?" Ginger wondered aloud.
" Maybe she doesn't want to marry again. After what she told us about her last husband, I wouldn't blame her." MaryAnn said, keeping her voice low.
" Oh, yeah, I forgot. But Mr. Howell doesn't seem all that bad. He seems pretty nice for a millionaire and he certainly seems to have a crush on her." Ginger replied.
" Maybe she will change her mind. We'd better get some sleep. We have a long day tomorrow." MaryAnn said before blowing out their candle.
….
The next afternoon, the castaways were waiting for the arrivals of the natives so Gilligan could get married.
The girls had spent the morning fitting Gilligan for a dress and now they were trying it on him again to make sure it was just right.
" What if we have our first dance and I step on his toes?" Gilligan asked the girls.
" Try to be careful, Gilligan. We don't want to foil this rescue attempt like you did the last one." Skipper replied, rolling his eyes at his first mate.
" I won't Skipper, you can count on me." Gilligan replied as he twirled around staring at the dress in the mirror.
" That's just what I'm afraid of." The captain mumbled.
" How is Mr. Howell today? Did he come back to the hut for lunch?" Ginger asked.
" Not a word. He seemed really hurt about the whole ordeal last night." Skipper said rather sadly.
The millionaire had proven to have a heart underneath his gruff exterior. He felt bad for the man. He didn't seem the same at breakfast and hardly touched his lunch.
" Same with Ms. Wentworth. She hardly touched her food or said a word at lunch either." Ginger replied.
It had been storming on the island during breakfast and lunch so the castaways had eaten in their own huts respectively.
" Where is she?" MaryAnn asked as she pinned a spot on the dress to fix.
" She said she was going to the boat where Gilligan had stored her extra bags to look for something." Ginger replied.
" Did she go alone?" Skipper worried.
" I think so." Ginger replied.
" Oh gee, with those natives lurking someone should've gone with her. Gilligan, you stay here little buddy. I'm going to see about Ms. Wentworth and make sure she's safe." Skipper replied.
The Skipper left the hut to find the rain was now a light sprinkle and the sun was starting to come out. He hurried towards the wreckage of the Minnow and saw Lovey Wentworth sitting beside the boat looking through a small red train case.
" Is there anything I can help you with?" Skipper asked as he approached.
" Oh, captain! What brings you out here?" Lovey asked.
" Coming to check on you and make sure you were alright." He replied, removing his cap.
" I'm perfectly alright. I was actually just looking for something." Lovey replied, " Ahh! I've found it!"
The Skipper stared on as a big diamond ring gleamed, catching his attention.
" This is my great great grandmother's ring. Isn't it divine?" Lovey beamed.
The captain had never seen anything so large in his life. That diamond was worth a fortune, more than his boat even.
" Skipper, can't the captain of a ship marry people?" Lovey asked as she stood up, her parasol tucked neatly in the crook of her arm.
Raising a brow, he looked at the wealthy woman for a moment before responding.
" Well yes, I can." He said.
" Good." Lovey nodded her head.
Without another word, she took off towards the jungle. The rain had cleared but the sun was bright in the sky.
" Marry people? I wonder who she- wait a second. I wonder if she's agreed to marry Mr. Howell!" Skipper thought aloud as he smiled in delight.
" Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to-" Skipper was interrupted by the Professor hurrying towards him.
" Skipper! I've been looking all over for you!" Professor rushed over with the radio in his hands.
" What is it?" Skipper began, " You look as if you've seen a ghost!"
" Well, this weather report I just heard on the radio has me a little worried. A tropical storm is developing and I'm afraid it's headed in the direction of our island. It should make landfall in just a few days. If we can get those boats from those natives, we have a chance of finding an island with higher ground. I'm afraid this storm could wipe our little island off the map."
The Skipper now paled as he heard the news, gulping a little. Once more, the lives of the 6 others was in his hands and he wasn't sure he'd be able to make a miracle happen to get them off the island...
TBC...
Author's Note: My readers, Thank you so much for the reviews! I hope you all enjoyed this next bit. Of course, I had to leave it at a cliffhanger! Enjoy it!