Chapter 20
Almost Paradise
T Minus 2 months and 27 Days…
The summer was rushing by too fast. Probes from the Alpha Centauri system returned the information that Alpha Control had prayed for and expected. Initial reports about the third planet indicated that it could sustain human life. They now had a destination. Due to increased rumors of sabotage, the flight date was moved up from December to October 1997. The training schedule was intensified and Don was asked to forego attending his roommate's wedding, but he refused, insisting that a weekend away wouldn't delay the launch.
The wedding was taking place in the Tremont House, an elegant historic hotel in the Gulf coast town of Galveston. General Bowers assigned two military police officers as security detail for Don and Judy and insisted that they stay in connecting rooms with Judy and the female officer sharing one room, and Don and the male sharing the second bedroom. As Don and Judy motored down to the coast, they discussed how much they needed time away from the family.
"I know your parents mean well, Judy, but sometimes they're just…"
"Smothering?"
"Remember… you said that, not me. You know I thought that, once they found out that I would have dropped out of the program to stay with you, they might have softened a little bit towards me, but it hasn't gotten a whole lot better."
"Well, they did let me come with you on this trip."
"With chaperones."
"Security."
"Chaperones, Judy. It's a military wedding for God's sake. They'll be trained airmen all over the place."
She covered his hand that was resting on the stick shift knob. "Just relax and enjoy it, Don." He grinned as they merged onto state route 45, and they shifted into fifth gear together. They'd be on the Gulf coast in less than an hour. No training… no parents… no press… she was right. This might be their last chance to let loose and act like a normal, happy couple who didn't have a care in the world…
The Tremont House had been beautifully restored within the last ten years and was in the heart of The Strand, the historic Victorian district that made Judy feel as if she was stepping into another era. Sergeants Debbie Miller and Tony D'Amico, who made up the security detail, arrived before Don and Judy. They had registered under their own names to deflect any press hounds and met Don and Judy in the four story lobby. Then they whisked them up to their rooms before they could fully take in the ambiance.
"I've already swept the room, Miss Robinson, so feel free to make yourself at home," Debbie said.
"Thank you, Sergeant Miller, and please call me Judy." Judy walked around and admired the atmosphere. "This room is incredible. I love the hardwood floors and tall windows. And the lace curtains are beautiful," Judy observed.
"Those ceilings must be fourteen feet high. And the furniture looks quite old. I wonder if they're antiques?" Debbie asked.
Judy checked one of the pieces. "I think they might be. If not, they're excellent reproductions, and the brass bed fits right in."
The connecting door was open and Judy ventured into Don's room, which was as elegant as her own.
Don was in the bathroom shouting to Sergeant D'Amico, who stood by the window. "Did you check out these bathrooms? A shower massager and towel warmer. Man, that's nice."
"The tile is Italian marble too. They did a terrific job of restoring this place," Tony added.
Don emerged from the bathroom in his service uniform. "Nice rooms, huh, Judy."
"Luxuriously comfortable," she said.
Don turned to Tony and said, "Judy and I are going to meet the rest of the wedding party down at the bar before we go off to the rehearsal at the church. Why don't you and Sergeant Miller take the evening off and enjoy yourselves."
"No go, Major. We're assigned to be your bodyguards and we go where you go," Tony stated.
"Look, we'll be fine."
"I'm sorry, but we have our orders, Major," Debbie stated.
They took the elevator down to the lobby and Mike and Sherry were waiting for them.
"Hey! Don, about time you got here. So these two are your bodyguards?" Mike asked.
"More like chaperones, Mike. Professor Robinson insisted. Sergeants Tony D'Amico and Debbie Miller. I hope it doesn't cause a problem, but they're supposed to tag along wherever we go."
Sherry laughed, "We knew about that, Don. General Bowers checked the guest list first, and Debbie is an old friend of mine from high school. In fact, Tony was coming as her date anyway."
It was a beautiful evening and, much to the chagrin of the security detail, the wedding party chose to walk the six blocks to the church. Sherry related story after story of her summers in Galveston. When she was a little girl, she promised herself that she would get married at St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica, the oldest Catholic church in town. Its pink stucco facade hinted at its gothic roots, but its simple lines fit right in with the relaxed coastal atmosphere.
Judy was stopped in her tracks by another building that was across the street from the church… The Grand 1894 Opera House. She had read about its history and felt an irresistible urge to enter. Don knew what she was thinking. "Do you want to take a peek inside?" he asked.
"Oh, it's all right. I don't have to go in," Judy replied.
"That's a shame because," he pulled two tickets from his inner coat pocket, "I have two tickets for Sunday's matinee."
Her face broke into a brilliant smile. "Don! Oh, thank you. What are we seeing?"
"I don't even know," he said as he turned the tickets to take a closer look.
Debbie and Tony were getting nervous standing on the street corner. "Major, we need to stay with the group. Can we move along, please?" Tony urged.
"You can both consider yourselves off duty, Sergeants Miller and D'Amico," Don stated.
"I don't think so, Major," Debbie replied. "This would be a good time for Aeolis Umbra to take both of you out."
"There are two back-up pilots. I don't think they'll bother with me now," Don replied.
"But there is also the paparazzi, sir," Tony added.
Two reporters darted around the corner and waited for Don and Judy to cross the street to St Mary's. Don turned to Judy and asked, "Should we give them a show?"
"Love to," she replied. They crossed the street and stood in front of the church doors, kissed and then ducked inside.
Tony and Debbie followed and glared at them as they laughed. "Oh, I can see the headlines now!" Don said.
"Secret Galveston Wedding!" Judy said.
"But, I promised your father we'd protect you from the photographers," Debbie stated.
"Ah-ha! I knew this was your father's idea," Don exclaimed.
Judy sighed and rolled her eyes upwards.
"Someday your father and I are going to have it out, Judy."
"We're going to forget about my father this weekend, Don. Now get down to the altar. They're waiting for you."
There was another debate on how the group would travel to the Waterwall Restaurant for the rehearsal dinner, and the security detail was outvoted yet again. The restaurant was only five blocks from the church and three blocks from the hotel, so once again, they walked.
"We don't want any special treatment, Debbie," Don stated.
"It's not special treatment. Its safety," she replied.
"Let's keep the focus on Mike and Sherry," Judy said. "We'll stay with the group until we become a problem."
Tony and Debbie grudgingly agreed. This was not how a security detail was supposed to function, but, given the stubborn nature of their 'protectees,' there wasn't much more they could do.
The Waterwall was an open air restaurant. It's front door was easy to miss, but once through the bar area, the restaurant opened up into a series of terraces with the open sky overhead and a wall of cascading water to the side. The wedding party had an entire terrace for their use. The security detail scanned the perimeter constantly. If anyone wanted to pick Judy or Don off with a long range rifle, this would be the place to do it.
Several of the women went off to the ladies room, leaving the gentlemen some time to talk alone. Sherry's sister, Lisa, would be the maid of honor and had recently become engaged to Dave. He hadn't known Don and Judy before this dinner and was curious to know if everything he had read in the paper was true.
"Just tell me to shut-up if I'm being obnoxious, but what's the real deal with you and Judy?"
Don sighed.
Mike gave Dave the 'evil eye' and Dave said, "I'm sorry. It's none of my business."
"No, it's all right. Sometimes I wonder myself where we would be if we could have a normal relationship."
"Would you have asked her to marry you by now if there was no mission?" Mike asked.
"The only thing stopping me now isn't the mission. It's her parents," Don answered.
"Parents never approve of the son-in-law until well after the wedding," Dave offered.
Don laughed. "In most families, yeah… but the Robinsons are not a normal family. It's like they're a throw back to the early 1960's or something. I think they'd put a chastity belt on Judy if they could."
Dave's mouth dropped open. "Ouch! Where have they been over the last thirty years?"
"Stuck in a time warp," Don replied.
"What's Judy's attitude?" Dave asked.
"She… she's the perfect daughter, Dave. She wants so much to please her parents. It's like she's got some kind of inferiority complex. The rest of the family is brilliant, and Judy is smart, but her talent lies outside of science. So she has to meet their expectations in other ways. Once in a while she'll rebel, but, in the end, she follows the family rules."
Mike interrupted, "But, Don, come on… you're going to blast off into space in three months, be frozen for five years and then spend the rest of your lives together setting up a settlement on an alien planet. How can you not commit yourselves to each other before you leave?"
"When you put it that way… All I know is that my gut tells me that, as much as I want to, marrying her before we leave would be a mistake. Her parents are obsessed with the mission being the sole focus."
"Why don't you just elope?" Dave asked.
"Oh, I've thought of that…"
"And?" Mike asked.
"And maybe I'll talk to Judy about it… someday."
"Just make sure you clue me in, roomie. You've been here for me and I want to return the favor if I can," Mike added.
The night passed without incident and the group retreated to their rooms to prepare for the day ahead. Once the women were dressed for bed, the connecting door was left open and Debbie went to bid Tony good-night. Don retreated to Judy's room to allow them some privacy. The TV was turned towards the love seat and Judy was watching an old movie from the 1930's, It Happened One Night, with Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert.
Don sat down next to her. "Fill me in on what I've missed."
"Claudette is an heiress who's running away to Florida to marry some playboy her father disapproves of and she meets Clark Gable who is the reporter after her story."
"Sounds familiar. And she and Clark Gable fall in love."
"Of course!"
Within ten minutes they were snuggled in each others' arms. They watched as the movie couple nervously shared a rural motel cabin. The gallant Clark Gable character strung a clothes line from wall to wall and threw a blanket over it, which he named the 'walls of Jericho,' to separate the twin beds. Debbie knocked on the door and cleared her throat before re-entering the room.
"Do you mind if we finish the movie?" Judy asked.
"Personally, no, but we're still technically on duty. I need to get some sleep so that Tony and I can switch watch in a few hours," Debbie replied.
"Switch watch?" Don repeated. "Oh, no, I won't be able to sleep knowing one of you will be staring at me all night."
"It's protocol, Major."
"I have a suggestion," Judy said. "You and Tony stay together tonight. Don and I will be fine in here."
"That's against our orders, Judy," Debbie responded.
Don wasn't about to lose the chance to explore the opportunity Judy had just presented to him. "Sergeant Miller, I am issuing you and Sergeant D'Amico new orders. You are both off duty for the foreseeable future."
"But, Major, we've been ordered to protect you."
"Miss Robinson does not need protection from me. Now go to your boyfriend and close the door. That's an order, Sergeant."
Debbie stood her ground.
"Sergeant?"
"Yes, sir." She saluted and left.
Judy had no idea where she was going with this, but she wasn't concerned. She felt comfortable and secure and wanted to stay in his arms all night. They both turned their attention back to the movie. In the end, Clark Gable blew the toy trumpet and the 'walls of Jericho' finally fell. It was almost two a.m., and if he wasn't feeling stiff and cramped, Don wouldn't have moved.
"I'll sleep here, Judy. You go to the bed," Don said.
She wanted to tell him to join her, but something stopped her. It was probably her mother's voice in the back of her mind. Her mother would be so disappointed in her… "Are you sure?" she asked him.
"Yes, I'm sure. Now go so I can get comfortable."
Judy tossed him an extra blanket and pillow and watched him try to fit his six foot frame into the four foot couch. 'What am I afraid of?' she asked herself.
"Don, this is ridiculous. You don't have to sleep on the loveseat. Come over here."
"I'll be all right," he lied.
"No you won't. I trust you."
"I'm glad you do…" He turned onto his back and threw his legs over the arm of the loveseat. "Wait. I have an idea." He padded over to the bed and tucked the covers in next to her body. He lay on top of the covers and threw the extra blanket over himself. "The walls of Jericho," he stated.
They lay face to face and kissed sweetly and gently. She didn't want him to stop and attacked him a bit more voraciously. Don pulled away.
"Judy, if you keep kissing me like that these 'walls' won't stay up much longer."
"Maybe I don't want them to?"
"I don't like the word, 'maybe'. You tell me when you're sure, and then we'll talk, all right?"
She sighed and said, "Why do you have to be so chivalrous?"
"I'll take that as a compliment. Now go to sleep."
She lay there a few more minutes. "Don?"
"Yes, Judy."
"Does it… does it bother you that I'm so… inexperienced?"
He placed his hand on her cheek. "It doesn't matter to me. I don't care if I'll be your first or your fiftieth. It's going to happen between us. When the time and place is right, it will happen… and when it does, it will be forever."
"You will be my first… and my last."
He grinned. "I hope so." They kissed once more and drifted into an easy sleep.
Don awoke before Judy and propped himself up on his elbow, watching her sleep. She was innocent and child-like and… pure. He kissed her cheek and she opened her eyes. "Good morning, Sleeping Beauty," Don said.
"Oh, please don't call me that… especially not first thing in the morning. I must look horrible," Judy replied.
Don just laughed. "Horrible is a relative term. Do you want breakfast in bed?"
"Don't you have to be with the wedding party soon?"
"Nope. We're on our own until this afternoon. Mike is spending time with his father. I told Dave, Lisa's fiancé, that he could hang out with us while the girls do their beauty salon thing. I hope that's okay."
"No problem. Since you'll be escorting Lisa in the wedding, Dave and I might as well get to know each other."
"Okay. We'll meet him for brunch and then do some window shopping or whatever until the afternoon."
"So, Dave, have you and Lisa set a wedding date?" Judy asked.
"Not yet. We've only been engaged for a week. She wants to get married in the same church, but is thinking of having the reception in the opera house," he replied.
"That would be beautiful," Judy commented and quieted. Envy was an emotion she seldom felt and she needed time to recover.
Don took her hand and brought it to his lips. She would never have a grand wedding and he wondered how she felt about that. He tucked that thought away in his mind for later discussion.
"We still have a few hours to kill. Want to do some window shopping?" Don asked.
"How about a swim instead?" Judy asked.
The men smiled in relief. "Sounds good to me."
Before they left their table, Tony and Debbie approached them.
"Major West, what are our orders for today?" Tony asked.
"To relax and enjoy the wedding," he replied.
"Permission to do a security sweep of the church and reception hall?"
"Permission granted, but only after you and Sergeant Miller have breakfast."
"Already done, sir."
"Proceed, Sergeant D'Amico."
Tony saluted and left.
"Wow, that's impressive," Dave stated.
Don shrugged. "Comes with the territory."
Don waited for Judy to emerge from her room through the connecting door. They stood and stared at each other. Neither was able to speak until they caught their breath again.
"Wow!" they said together.
"You look amazing," Don stated as he eyed her up and down in her green halter dress that was tea length in the front and cascaded to her heels in the back.
"And I'm speechless. I've never seen you in your dress whites or with your sword."
His eyes twinkled. "Want me to bring it on the mission instead of my blues?"
"What would you need your mess dress for?"
"Oh, we might have a ceremony or two where we're going."
Sherry followed Victorian tradition and was the only one in the wedding party who did not wear white. She wore a satin strapless gown with a high collared lace bolero in a pink blush color. The effect was stunning. As Mike and Sherry traded vows, Don wanted to catch Judy's eye, but his angle wasn't right and he would have had to cran his neck to find her. He hoped that she knew he was thinking about her as he pulled the rings from his pocket and presented them to the priest.
As the wedding party exited the church, the officers formed a saber arch that Mike and Sherry ducked under and then they climbed into a white, horse drawn carriage for the short ride to the reception. The rest of the wedding party was hustled into a limousine while the guests had the option of riding a hotel bus or walking in the evening air to the Tremont House. Since their respective partners would be tied up with pictures for some time, Judy and Dave chose to walk, with Debbie and Tony trailing behind looking for phantom photographers.
Dave chuckled at their seriousness. "They act like the media is the enemy, Judy."
She laughed. "Sometimes I think they are. What I would give to just live a normal life."
A photographer jumped out of a doorway and snapped a picture of them laughing together and Tony chased him away.
"Don't be surprised if that picture winds up in the paper tomorrow with the headline, 'Cheating Already' under it."
Dave winced, "Lisa won't be happy if that happens."
"I guess you'll just have to make it up to her."
He smiled, "I can do that." They walked in silence a bit longer. "Judy, do you mind if I ask why you volunteered to go this mission? I mean, don't take this wrong, but you just don't seem to have the astronaut mentality."
"I didn't really volunteer. In fact, I was determined not to go and accused my parents of ruining my life. And now, here I am, three months away from blasting off into space."
"Is Don the only reason you're going?"
"Not really. My family is weird, Dave. I've never fit in with them, and I guess this is my chance to prove that I belong."
"You'll be like those pioneer families in the Old West that had to rely on each other for everything. And you and Don can have the first human baby born on an alien world."
"Oh my, I hadn't thought that far ahead…"
Appetizers were taken away and the wedding couple was asked to open the dance floor. After the obligatory dance with their parents, the couple joined hands for their first dance as husband and wife. They had chosen the Pretenders, "I'll Stand by You." The wedding party was invited up and then the rest of the guests. Dave asked Judy to join him and twirled her next to Don and Lisa, and they graciously traded partners. As Judy sang the words softly in Don's ear, he pulled her closer to him. He wanted to ask her what song she would have wanted to dance to if it had been their wedding. He didn't get the chance because it was time for dinner and the traditional wedding toast.
Judy held up her glass of champagne and remembered the last time she had imbibed. It had been four years ago when she was at her first cast party with Eddie. She shuddered at that memory. She felt as if she had aged a hundred years since then. Don finished his speech with, "Salud!" The guest echoed his sentiment and sipped. The champagne tickled just as it had before, but this time she didn't get giddy from the bubbles.
The music was lively and the alcohol flowed and Judy had never had such a wonderful time in her life. Don enjoyed dancing, maybe not as much as Judy did, but more than most men. The night was nearing its end when Sherry and Mike approached the microphone to make a few dedications.
"This has been the most incredible night of our lives," Mike stated. He dedicated a song to his and Sherry's parents to thank them for the many years of support. Sherry announced Lisa and Dave's engagement and invited everyone back for another wedding at a date to be announced later. Mike then became subdued as they honored their next guests.
"Two people will not be here to attend that wedding, and as excited as I am for them, it saddens me that I might never see them again," Mike said.
Don stood off to the side of the crowd with Judy in front of him, his hands around her waist, holding her close. As Mike continued his soliloquy, Don whispered in Judy's ear, "I can't believe he's doing this."
"We've been roommates since we were eighteen and have shared every birthday since then," Mike said. "I won't be here on Thursday for your twenty-fourth, and by New Year's, you'll be halfway across the galaxy. I'm going to miss you, man. Major Don West and Miss Judy Robinson, will you please step up here?"
Both were blushing as they made their way to the microphone. "Knowing that you two will be together when you leave us makes it a little bit easier. Happy birthday, Don, and God speed." Hugs, handshakes, tears… and the music began. Mike pushed them onto the dance floor, but Don and Judy pulled him and Sherry out with them.
"Love lift us up where we belong,
Where the eagles cry, on a mountain high
Love lift us up where we belong
Far from the world we know
Where the clear winds blow"
Light bulbs were flashing around them, but they had closed their eyes and buried their faces in each others' necks and were oblivious to everything by the second verse. The end of the night was a blur. The cake was cut with Mike's saber. Sherry tossed her flowers directly to Lisa, and Don maneuvered Dave into catching the garter. There was less than twenty-four hours left in their final weekend of freedom.
Tony took the elevator to their rooms to clear them and was followed ten minutes later by Don, Judy and Debbie. Don ran the key card through the slot and as he opened it, a photographer appeared out of nowhere and took several quick shots as Don and Judy entered the room, hand-in-hand. Debbie cursed as she ran down the hall, but the photographer escaped through the stairs.
"I'm sorry, Judy. I should have been closer," Debbie said.
Judy shrugged, "In a few months they won't have us to plaster all over the tabloids anymore."
"Your father won't be happy," Tony added. "General Bowers said your father gets incensed every time your picture ends up in the paper."
"He doesn't understand why the tabloids are so interested in our love life," Judy said.
"Frankly," Don added, "neither do I."
"Major, two people going off to settle paradise on another planet… It's so romantic!" Debbie explained.
"If they only knew…" Don said. "Hours of grueling training,… not knowing how dangerous that planet might be. We might be at the bottom of the 'paradise' food chain for all we know. And then, having your love's parents eyeing you every minute of the day… oh, it'll be romantic all right."
"I wouldn't want to be in your shoes, Major," Tony said. "By the way, same drill as last night?"
"Yes."
"When are we back on duty?"
"You're not. We check out at twelve and you and Debbie can head back to Houston while Judy and I take in the matinee at the Opera House Then we'll catch dinner and head home," Don explained.
"Uh, sorry, Major, but we were ordered to hang close until you returned to the base."
"Well then, relax and get some shopping in or something. We'll be fine."
"I've already contacted the Opera House. We'll be allowed in as your security detail and your tickets have been upgraded to a box," Debbie stated.
"Well, I guess we can live with that. Then you'll be our guests for dinner before we head back to Houston. How about if we open the connecting door at eleven? We'll be getting room service for breakfast."
Tony grinned. "We will too. And, Major, Debbie and I appreciate the two nights off. It's not often that we have the chance to stay together in such luxurious surroundings."
The girls retreated to their room to shower and change for bed, as did Tony and Don. Tony fiddled around with his mp3 player and Don channel hopped with the TV remote, checking the baseball scores. Debbie finally came to the door and asked, "Can we call it a night?"
"Sure," Don answered. "Have a good night and do everything I can't do."
"Major, we are off duty, right?" Tony asked.
"Yeah, until noon tomorrow."
"Just double checking. Good night, sir." Tony saluted.
Judy was already in bed when Don entered the room. He closed and locked the connecting door behind him, but Tony knocked and shouted through the door, "Closed, but unlocked, sir." Don unlocked it and padded into the bathroom. Music started to filter through the connecting door. Don poked his head out, looked at Judy and they started laughing together.
"Almost paradise!
We're knocking on heaven's door.
Almost paradise!
How could we ask for more?
I swear that I can see forever in your eyes…
Paradise…"
The music faded. Judy flipped the covers back when Don came to lie next to her. "Uh, Judy?" he asked, "What about the 'walls of Jericho'?"
"I've been thinking that… this is probably the closest we'll ever get to a wedding night."
"So you're saying…"
She nodded. "Make love to me?"
He wasn't sure he heard her correctly. "You want me to…"
She crooked her index finger and summoned him closer. He lay next to her and caressed her face as he stared into her clear blue eyes. He kissed her gently, sweetly on the lips, and she responded with a hunger that almost overwhelmed him. His hands roamed over her body and skimmed her skin beneath her silky camisole. He pulled back and whistled softly. "I was going to ask you if you're sure this is what you want to do, but you're so…"
"Sexy?"
"You've always been that. You're so… passionate..."
"You've waited a long time."
"And I can wait longer still. Are you absolutely sure?"
"I'm sure."
He took her hand and kissed her palm. "Don't be afraid to change your mind. Just let me know if you want me to stop at any time. I'll be fine."
She nodded and smiled, her eyes shining in anticipation.
Three words were on his lips, and he opened his mouth to speak, "Judy, I…"
The rude ringing of the phone stopped him in mid-sentence. It was almost midnight. Who would be calling… Don knew who it was without answering. Since this was Judy's room, he let her reach for the phone.
"Hello? Mom? What's wrong?"
Don sat up.
"What do you mean nothing's wrong? Then why are you calling?"
Don hung his legs off the side of the bed.
"Why would you be worried about me?"
Don stood up.
"A feeling about what?"
He walked to the bathroom.
"There is nothing wrong! I'm fine!"
He closed the door.
"The wedding was beautiful…"
Don took his time and emerged ten minutes later.
"Yes, Dad, I'll be careful. I love you too."
He leaned against the bathroom door frame with his arms crossed… waiting.
She hung up. "I'm sorry, Don."
He shook his head. "Radar. Your parents must have radar."
Don walked over to the bed and pulled the covers over Judy, tucking them in beside her. He lay next to her and covered himself with the extra blanket.
"Don…" She turned in her cocoon and placed her hand on his face. "We can start over."
"I'm sorry, Judy. It's… It's like your parents just climbed into bed with us."
"My parents will always be a problem, Don."
"God, I hope not. They have to accept me sooner or later."
"So the 'walls of Jericho' stay up?"
"Until the trumpet sounds…"
As he knelt beside the bed, he placed his chin on his hand and moved the hair off her face.
He kissed her forehead and whispered, "Room service," as she opened her eyes.
"Just a little longer," she mumbled.
"Can't… we have to check out in two hours."
"No, I don't want to leave…"
It was as if they had been living in a fantasy world, but it couldn't last much longer. "I know, sweetheart, I don't either, but… we have tickets for a play."
She snapped her head up. "Oh, that's right! Which one?"
"It's called, Love Letters with Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers."
"How appropriate!"
He kissed her lightly on the lips and she pulled him closer for a more solid smooch. "Let's skip breakfast," she whispered in his ear.
"Why? Do you want your parents to call again?" he asked.
That comment did not sit well with her. She turned away from him and stammered, "Just… just go eat."
He winced. Not a good way to end the weekend. "Judy, I'm sorry."
"Go away."
"It was a stupid thing to say."
"Yes it was."
He climbed into bed behind her and spooned her, holding her close around the waist. "Forgive me?" he asked as he kissed her shoulder.
"Oh… I can't stay mad at you... and I'm sorry too."
"What for?"
"For having such… symbiotic parents. It's like they know what I'm going to do before I do it."
"Which brings up something we need to talk about."
Judy groaned. "Coffee first."
Don slid out of bed and brought the tray over. He poured two cups of coffee and uncovered the pastry dish. He carefully settled onto the bed and grabbed a bite.
"What do you want to talk about?" Judy asked.
"The wedding. How do you feel about not being able to have a big, lavish wedding like Sherry and Mike had?"
She put her cup in the saucer. "I have to admit that I was envious at first." She chose a pastry and broke it in half. "Believe it or not, I never wanted a fairy-tale wedding. I dreamed more about who I was going to marry rather than the wedding itself when I was a child."
"Do I fit your dreams?"
"Well, you're not blond and blue-eyed, and you're stubborn and impulsive…"
He held his hands up, "Okay, that's enough."
"But you're funny and courageous and protective and I love your laugh and your touch and…"
"Judy, let's elope," he blurted out.
The statement didn't register in her mind. "What?"
"Let's elope. No parents, no press, no media circus… just you and me. Then we can blast into space as husband and wife."
"Oh, Don… Do you think we could do it tonight?"
"I don't know, but… why not. Maybe we can talk Tony and Debbie into being our witnesses."
She reached across and hugged him.
"Look, you take your shower and I'll go do some research. We need a state without a waiting time… I'll figure it out. I love you, Judy!"
"The closest and easiest state to get married in is Alabama. We can drive to Mobile in a little under eight hours. All you need is a driver's license. There's no waiting period and no medical requirements," Tony reported to him.
"Thanks, Tony. Do you think anyone suspected you were asking for us?"
"No, I told him it was for me and Debbie. In fact, we have an appointment with a justice of the peace at twenty thirty."
"We?"
"You never know… maybe Debbie and I will make it a double wedding?"
The connecting door opened and Judy stepped through. She wore a blue top over white pants and had a white sweater draped over her shoulders.
"It was the best I could do on such short notice," she said.
"You look… radiant," Don responded.
Debbie caught Tony's eye. "We'll get the luggage down to the lobby."
"Sure," Tony said. "Oh, Major, the tickets?"
"Tickets?" Don asked.
"The tickets for the show. I'm giving them to the concierge to pass on to someone else."
"Oh, right. Sorry, Judy, we won't be able to make the play, unless, that is, you changed your mind?" Don asked.
Judy took a deep breath. "No, I haven't changed my mind. You?"
He grinned. "Not a chance."
Don fidgeted and tapped his foot while he waited for his car to be delivered. "I hate valet parking. Have I said that before?" he asked.
Judy laughed. "Probably, but you can say it again."
Finally the Datsun pulled up and the valet hopped out and ran around to open the car door for Judy, who got in. "Nice car!" the valet mentioned as Don put the luggage in the trunk and tipped him.
"Thanks," Don replied. As he slammed the trunk shut, he thought he saw a wire, or something, protrude from beneath the bumper. He bent and looked under the chassis. "Get out of the car!" he shouted. "Get her out!"
Debbie opened the passenger side door and pulled Judy out. Tony waved everyone away from the car. Don hustled over to Debbie and Judy, who were crouched down on the sidewalk, just before the car exploded.
Don's beloved red Datsun 280Z was burning and scattered in a million pieces over The Strand.