Chapter 2 - A Pleasant Distraction?

Lee rang Chip's house. No one answered. Chip probably hadn't arrived yet and Mary likely would be at church with her family. "Morning, Chip. Sorry about the battery. I came home to a flooded condo and just called you on instinct. It's nothing I can't handle without you. Anyway, it turns out I've got a surprise wedding to go to in San Diego this afternoon. I'll be in touch later. You're going to want to hear about this one."

Lee called Sharkey next. "Sorry to disturb you, Chief. Thought you'd know who could use some extra cash for handling a small crisis for me over the next two days."

"How much?"

"Couple hundred. I need someone to pick up a wet vac and dry out my condo. Get my washing machine fixed too."

"I can do it."

"No, you should take the time off. You need the rest after that cruise."

"Can I rest at your place?"

"Everything's soaked, including the bedroom carpet. I forgot to mention that also needs to be ripped out. I'm hoping there's tile underneath."

"I can check that out. I'll sleep on the couch. Whatever."

"There's a lot of work here."

"Hah, I'll take care of it in no time. Then I can enjoy that nice beach."

"If you want. I'll be back late Monday night. No smoking inside and no wild parties. Deal?"

"Deal."

"I'll leave the key under the mat and a check for you on the kitchen counter. Thanks."

"I'll make good use of it."

Lee knew that Sharkey would do the job himself. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea, he thought as he packed what he needed for the next two days into garbage bags. Dress whites in garbage bags! Well, garment bags wrapped in garbage bags. Just wait until he showed up at the hotel. Oops. A hotel room. Lee doubled checked the info with the wedding invitation and called the hotel hosting the wedding. Nothing was available. Nothing nearby was either. Lee set off hoping there'd be a cancellation. If not, there was always the naval base. He'd worry about it later.

At least the Cobra was dry and functional. A drive down the coast with the roof open would help alleviate some of Lee's woes. Naturally, twenty minutes into the drive, unpredicted rain surprised him. Lee pulled off the road to close the roof. He was nearly hit by a swerving car. He looked up at the angry skies returning the feeling, and resumed his drive. Traffic slowed considerably. Lee never had gotten used to the fact that even a little rain upended California traffic. Lee was a half hour out of San Diego when traffic came to a near standstill. He pulled off at the first possible exit to explore alternate routes. Soon after the rain disappeared, promising sunny skies for a late afternoon wedding. Lee wondered if Melanie had paid off the heavens for it to be dry. He wouldn't put it past her.

Lee navigated the San Diego suburbs to avoid the still (according to the radio) blocked interstate. When he saw the department store, he abruptly pulled over. He could at least show up with a suitcase. Lee had ten minutes to spare for that, maybe even time for a cup of coffee too. Coffee would make everything better, Lee rallied hopefully. That proved not to be the case after Lee spilled hot coffee first onto his chest and then, as he overcompensated, away from it, straight inside his brand new suitcase. Fortunately, Lee had not yet removed the dress whites from the garbage bag. Lee rolled up the bag and stuffed it on top before slamming the suitcase closed in frustration.

Twenty minutes before the wedding was scheduled to begin, Lee arrived at the five star La Fortuna Hotel. No rooms were available. Lee wondered if it was his coffee stained shirt and wild rain curled hair that led to that answer. He'd try again later. Meanwhile, Lee went to change in the hotel's lobby bathroom. Lee noted he could sleep there in comfort if he had too. He'd slept in much worse places, although marble was hard on the back compared to dirt or sand. Lee fondly remembered a few dirt naps shared with Roger, Rachael and his other O.N.I. pals. He almost wished for that instead of this odd wedding, except he'd take the food at the La Fortuna Hotel over M.R.E.s. any day.

Lee looked dapper in his whites, although he'd admit the hair was a bit wild for Naval standards and the whites could use a pressing. He did what he could to tame the worst of the curls, but as usual, adding water only made them more prolific. With ten minutes to spare, Lee headed outside to the wedding site. The grounds were beautiful and decorated to a tasteful hilt. Lee smiled appreciatively, although a groan escaped Lee's lips when he saw that in lieu of chairs there were portable pews, complete with kneelers. Mass. Lee would have to sit through an entire mass without falling asleep. That could prove challenging. It had been years.

An usher in a tux asked Lee which side. "Groom's," he said without hesitation. He was led to the left side where a scant few had been seated, while the bride's side was packed and beginning to overflow into the back of the groom's section. Somewhere, off toward the right side and back some, something exploded. Most of those seated startled and turned in that direction. Lee at first wondered if it was a gun shot. He scanned around but didn't notice anything to suggest it was, so he concluded it was probably just a car backfiring in the distance. As he continued looking around, Lee caught sight of Rachael in the back. He checked his watch. Eight minutes to go. He placed his program on the seat and hurried off to say a quick hello.