Days would be flying, Guy realized, as he entered his house and
headed straight for the computer, propping up his calender
prominently.
"It IS still Tuesday, isn't it?" he asked the loading computer screen.
He went directly to Beth's email and typed in a desperate heading,
"Call me...as soon as you can," as he added both his home phone
and cell phone numbers, for it had been so long, it seemed, since
they had been in touch.
Just as he had crawled into bed and started to drift off to sleep
the insistent ring brought him back to his urgency. Beth was
amazed that he was asking HER for advice, since their friendship
had been based on Guy pulling Beth out of her disasters. It was
just like always, even though so much time had elapsed.
She was full of ideas, particularly those dealing with NOT losing
Gwen. The Friday event had so many possibilities that Beth's mind
was flying even faster than Guy could keep up.
"Get up and write this down," shouted Beth. "I know your memory.
Note the times, the places," she continued. "You have great ideas,
Guy. Don't be hesitant to put them into action !"
Wednesday was a whirl, setting up a work schedule that allowed
him to take some vacation days, getting some computer time to
research the plans he wanted to put into action. And then a trip
to the mall to get some prizes to take to the popcorn place that
specialized in custom "Cracker Jack" packaging.
"Gwen? Good you're home already. Do you mind if I stop over for
just a few minutes?" Guy asked while making his way thru the
parking lot back to his car.
Happy for the surprise visit, Gwen continued her organizing, taping
color coded papers to her packing boxes to keep kitchen separate
from bath from bedroom from office.
As she welcomed Guy with a big hug, Gwen breathed in the popcorn
aroma from the white bag Guy was carrying.
"Just hold on," Guy laughed, holding the bag high in the air.
"You wanted me to see the outfit you picked out for Friday."
When she held the white outfit in front of her, Guy had visions of her
wearing it for a different occasion, so he asked her about "a little
black dress" that Beth had suggested. Gwen happily pulled out
a stack of hangers each holding what every woman hopes is the
"perfect" little black dress.
Gwen confessed she would be happy to wear black, not wanting
to stand out too much.
In the kitchen Gwen got her surprise within a surprise when she
opened the custom popcorn. As Guy displayed his Moxie key chain
Gwen kept finding plastic ring after ring in her box, putting them on
all her fingers.
"There's a size for every finger," she laughed, as Guy examined them
and slipped some on and off and interchanged some, concealing one
in his hand.
Admiring all her be-ringed fingers, Gwen excitedly told Guy about
her positive experience at the real estate office, and her subsequent
visit to the bank, along with her noon hour trip home with the agent
for a brief inspection of the house.
"He must have been pleased with the immaculate condition of the
house," Guy commented. "It still looks as if you just moved in to
a brand new home."
"Yes, he was impressed. It seems the wife was so distraught with
all the transfers, not being able to get into her dream home, that she
had begged him to make it possible for them to move in, and not
have to take another temporary apartment," Gwen continued. "So
I arranged for the movers for next Friday, and they already dropped
off all these packing boxes in the garage before I got home. But.."
Her voice trailed off."
"It will all work out, honey," Guy said in a comforting manner. "But
did you arrange to be off Friday, and most of next week? "
Gwen confirmed she had everything taken care of and quizzed him on
his "shopping trip" the next night. No secrets from Guy, just a reminder
to pack a small overnight bag to take along for the big Friday night
reception for Juan Carlos.
They parted with a warm hug and kiss as if they had done this
hundreds of times before. And Gwen thanked him for all the
silly rings, and pressed a folded paper in his hands.
"I wrote this with my mythical dream man in mind.
And now, I believe it is for you," said Gwen smiing.
"Read it when you get home."
Not a patient person, Guy sat in his car in front of Gwen's
house and read with the aid of a penlight.
While the Street Sleeps
Creature of the night,
wide awake in pre-dawn light,
opens the door to a familiar sight;
both drawn together by telepathic might,
the deep need for each other a mutual plight.
The story could continue, reaching a height,
but you the reader, with great insight,
can develop the scenario, can incite
the action, the intimate delight,
the rising climactic flight,
story's end, quite right.
Thursday morning found Guy a motivated man. Gwen's poetic
words, his conversation with Beth and sharing tales of their
respective "lost" loves had firmed his determination
to follow his instincts.
An important trip to the bank, a three hour round trip to
South Portland, a meeting with maintenance at a the new
strip mall he had worked on—and Guy's day merged to
late afternoon.
At the Agency, Gwen was excited about what her web searches
had revealed. Not only had she organized the work schedule and
freed her time for the next week, she had found news releases
that piqued her interests. Gwen always had an eye for new business,
a client in waiting for her! Friday night's event at the Governor's
might just be the start of a new venture.
A trade mission, Maine products and Spanish olive oil appeared on
her screen while ideas formed in Gwen's head. Smiling as she saw
the three silly rings she was wearing dance on her fingers across
the keyboard, Gwen suddenly became aware of the slipping of time.
Thursday early evening, two freshly showered people met in Gwen's
doorway, the day's worries washed away, ready for the adventure
of the night.
"Gwen," Guy said with a slight mischievous turn of his head, "I
haven't been completely honest with you," he disclosed as he
locked the door and escorted Gwen to his car.
Gwen stopped cold on the driveway. "What?"she said, aghast.
"Well, I've been living with someone. But we're dropping her off
at my brother's on our way," Guy explained.
Gwen, in confusion, peered into the car. "There's no one in there?
Is this a joke?"
As Guy opened the car door for Gwen, she saw piercing green
eyes peering from a swirl of blanket on the back seat.
"Honey, meet Ornery, the most miserable cat in the world," Guy
said with a gesture to the rear of the car.
Gwen reached back and brought the extra folded blanket to put
in her lap in the front seat. As Guy got in, she turned to him,
"Well, no wonder she's ornery if you tease her like you just teased
me. My stomach nearly hit the driveway," Gwen chastised him.
"Oh, oh, I was just worried you wouldn't want to share me with a
cat. Oh, and you thought...." Guy burst out laughing, "Oh, I am so
sorry. But I was so concerned because she's such a miserable cat,
but she's mine. I didn't want you to feel bad when she gives
you her usual cold shoulder!"
"Here, honey-cat. Come here to Gwen," she cajoled.
"Don't even try," warned Guy. "She only tolerates me when I
feed her."
Like a stealth black missile, Ornery jumped between the seats
and landed on the blanket on Gwen's lap, putting her head on
Gwen's arm, purring softly as Gwen stroked her fur.
"I can hardly believe it!"Guy remarked. "You might call it a sign!"
The happy scene lasted only minutes until Guy pulled up in his
brother's driveway. "He'll be home in a few minutes," Guy said
as he grabbed Ornery's blanket and bag of canned tuna and cat toys
from the back seat.
But it took Gwen to carry her new friend out of the car and into the
house, to Ornery's favorite chair in her home away from home.
Back in the car, Guy reflected on the instant bonding that had just
taken place.
"Amazing," Guy said, shaking his head.
"Another sign," Gwen asked?
Guy smiled broadly, "Ah, one of many. "
"Any more surprises, like past wives?" Gwen retorted.
"No, no, not me. But you are really all divorced, all legal, got your
papers and all?" Guy questioned, knowing the importance of that.
"Hah!" laughed Gwen. "Don't think I'm crazy, but I keep them in
the side pocket of my purse. I take them out and look at them
whenever I think I may be making a mistake."
Guy winced. "Perhaps you will be able to associate them with
a good decision, not a mistake..."
Gwen looked out the window, commenting, "This isn't the way
to the big mall. Weren't we going shopping?"
"After I talked with Beth last night, she reassured me I'd be quite
all right with what I have to wear. Actually, she reminded me that
was what broke up her wedding plans, twice, with men she had
intended to marry," Guy confided.
"Oh, I get it," said Beth, knowingly. "Big wedding, right? Everyone
wanting his or her own way."
"It was the Mothers, each wanting to plan it her way," agreed Guy.
Beth smiled, "I wanted to tell Gerri to elope. Mom couldn't pay for
that big wedding. But Joe's mother insisted on inviting
their whole huge family. They should have gone to Vegas.
It took them years to pay off the loan for the wedding."
Guy interrupted, " But Vegas weddings aren't such a good deal, either.
Lots of bucks, lots of bucks. Thousands, even for a couple nights.
And who really wants an outdoor event, Red Rock Canyon, helicopters
and limousines? But they do have a license bureau that's open
continually from Friday through Sunday night, and till midnight
the other nights."
Gwen sat silently, wondering about all these specifics Guy knew,
"Actually, it would have been nice for Gerri and Joe just to have
a private wedding, but there would have been so many hurt feelings.
Her mother-in-law would have made life more miserable for her,"
"But it was their wedding. Shouldn't they have it the way they want
it?" questioned Guy."Why take a chance of losing someone you
love by catering to everyone else?"
Gwen chimed in, "I went through it, because I thought that was the
way it should be done, and look how that turned out! Seems it's
easier to lose a dream than to hold on to one."
Gwen's usually fast mind had been slow to connect all the clues,
wedding talk, agreeing on not liking big weddings, the silly rings.
She turned to stare at Guy as he pulled up in front of the new
boutique mall. "Is this the one you worked on?" she asked to say
words, just to say words.
"Right, this is the one. Signs, you were noticing signs.
There are some very artistic ones here," Guy pointed out.
Gwen searched the signs for some hidden meaning, wondering what
Guy was up to. Meanwhile, Guy had flicked the headlights on and off
several times.
At the end of the building a maintenance worker was removing a
large tarp that covered the freestanding sign the mall used to
announce daily specials. Gwen leaned over to Guy's side to see the
sign, as Guy wrapped his arms around her. The worker reached over
to turn on the power to the lighted sign.
Flashing border lights and spotlights lit the sign as Guy said the
words in her ear, "I love you, "lostgirl," will you marry me?
LOSTGIRL
WILL YOU MARRY ME?
His lips overtook hers in a long, long moment, interrupted
by applauding around them by mall customers in the parking lot,
connecting the flashing sign across from the car with the
couple locked in the long, long heated embrace.
"Well, will you?" voices shouted outside the car, before all the
onlookers moved on to their cars, to give the couple privacy.
Guy whispered, " I want you to be "foundgirl," my "foundgirl."
And I'm not wasting time. I don't want to lose you! " he exclaimed.
"I hope you will want to come with me tomorrow morning
and apply for our license.," Guy pleaded. "I know it won't be
issued right away, but Beth told me the governor might
be able to help with that."
Gwen was at the breathless point where she couldn't utter a
word. Guy reached in his pocket and pulled out a box.
"I wanted to do everything right. All those TV commercials
told me that women like men who go to Jared's. So I went
down to South Plymouth to Jared's," Guy said as he opened
the box and presented it to Gwen.
Finding her voice, Gwen spoke softly, "So that's why I couldn't
find the silly ring that fit my ring finger after you left last night."
"I had to get the right size. Now I hope I matched your taste,"
Guy said as he took the ring out of the box.
There it was, the new workshop he was going to build on the back
of the garage. A full carat in an unusual square setting with
corner accents, brilliant side stones. Romantic, but contemporary,
he thought, just like Gwen.
Gwen put her hand over her heart to calm it, as she took deep breaths.
"Well?" asked Guy?
"Well....." Gwen said, struggling to form words...
To be continued
_________________
M-C
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