Draw Me A Picture (42 page)

They spoke for several minutes on the events of the day. William was interested in their meeting Luca.

“I had no idea he ran a café,” he mused, aloud. “And working there? Extraordinary… I always thought he lived off his family’s money; it appears I was wrong about the man.” Michelle laughed.

“I think he likes my uncle’s assistant,” she said, smiling. “One ogle and the poor girl was tongue-tied.” Chuckling, William relaxed back into his chair. How refreshing that Michelle liked to relate all details to him, even a chance meeting with a ‘cute’ guy. Wherever he went, he knew that he wouldn’t have to worry about Michelle keeping things from him. She seemed almost eager to let him know all that had happened to her. At this point he and Bob were so bored with waiting in the quiet room they’d resorted to watching CSPAN. Bob was fast asleep. So were some of the Congressmen on the screen.

William cleared his throat.

“I am afraid I have some bad news, love,” he began. “They over-booked my flight and bumped both myself and Bob to another flight, which doesn’t leave until eight-thirty tonight.” Michelle sat still a moment with her mouth agape.

“You mean… you have to sit in the airport all day and just wait?” she asked, incredulous. “That’s terrible! They shouldn’t be allowed to bump you…” William laughed softly at the rising irritation in Michelle’s voice.

“It’s not so bad love,” he said. “Well, cancel that. It wouldn’t be bad if you were here to talk to.” He heard Michelle sigh and smiled. “I’m not going to let you talk much longer, sweetheart; this is an expensive call for you.”

“I’d pay every dime I had to talk to you,” she said. “OK, there goes my last dime just now.”

Laughing, William smiled genially at the lounge room wall.

“Minx,” he said. “I guess it means though we won’t be able to meet for dinner. At this rate I should get in well after one in the morning.”

“Wow... that’s such a long wait,” Michelle said, sounding vastly disappointed. “I hope you found a comfy seat.”

“Well, actually...” William began, clearing his throat. “The only seats left on the next plane were in first class. I paid the difference and we get to wait here in the VIP lounge.”

A short pause ensued.

“Oh, I get it,” Michelle responded; her voice suddenly sounded nettled. “Somehow they ‘magically’ bump your seats and all that is left are the far more expensive ones? That’s highway robbery!” Her angered tone amused William very much, though he’d suspected much the same thing.

“Don’t worry love,” he said. “You of all people should know that business expenses are tax-deductible.” At William’s words Michelle mentally slapped herself.

“I feel like an idiot now,” she said. “Of course it’s tax-deductible.” She heard William chuckling and scowled a little. “Well, maybe we can meet for lunch tomorrow? I’ll tell whoever I have an appointment with to fly a kite.”

“I’d love to, sweetheart,” William murmured. He could hardly wait until he saw her; he was half-tempted to have Michelle meet him at the airport when he got in, but refrained from suggesting it. Yet, William knew that she would, even at two in the morning; just knowing that fact comforted him a little. “I’m going to get you a cell phone,” he told her. “Then I can talk to you whenever I want. I am starting to dislike the message-taker at your hotel. The tone of their voice is dashed annoying.” Michelle laughed a little at the idea. The sound of her merriment bubbled up relaxation in William like a natural spring of pure, clear water.

“I’ve never had a cell phone, but I would carry it with me everywhere just on the off-chance that you’d call me,” she said; she meant every word. “But I’ll get one myself. No buying me things.”

William did not expect this curve ball. Sitting up, a stubborn look descended on his face.

“Now listen here...” he began, ominously.

“Oh, would you look at the time!” Michelle said, her voice heavily tinged with amusement. “Must go, shower and... uh, meetings... you know.”

“Michelle,” William said, smiling in spite of himself. “Soon you will not be able to say ‘no’.” His voice turned slightly silky, as if he knew he’d won already. “When we’re married, I’ll be able to buy you all the things I want to, and you won’t be able to say a word.”

This particular point had not occurred to Michelle before.

“You were thinking that the whole time weren’t you?” she said, trying not to smile. “Here I was being so valiantly independent and all the while you were just delaying it for when we’re married.” William chuckled.

“You didn’t think I’d concede defeat in my desire to take care of you, now did you?” he responded, in a low tone. “Very soon you’ll be mine. Resistance is futile.”

“Bear in mind that goes both ways, Socrates,” Michelle admonished, playfully. William smiled.

“Goodbye for now, love,” he said. “Go scamper about doing wedding things. However, be sure to rest properly. It isn’t worth wearing yourself out over.”

“I won’t,” Michele promised, smiling fondly at the floor. She held the phone with both hands; the conversation was almost over and she’d have to wait many hours to hear from him again. “I hope you’re able to get some sleep there.”

“Yes, love. It’s comfortable here, don’t worry,” William assured her. “I’ll call you from work tomorrow, probably later… near lunchtime.”

“I’ll make sure to be here after eleven,” Michelle said, firmly. “I know saying ‘I love you’ all the time is considered cheesy but I feel as if I can’t say it enough,” she said, a little quickly. “But, it doesn’t even say convey fully what I feel for you. Gosh I’m rambling... sorry.”

“Stop biting your lip,” came William’s voice; he spoke softly. “I know you’re doing it.” Michelle made a face; he was right, of course. “I love your rambling. It lets me know all the sweet things that are running around your brain.” Michelle laughed, lightly.

“Goodnight, William, since I won’t get to say it tonight.”

“Goodnight, Michelle,” William returned affectionately. “I wish I could kiss you now, my little minx.”

“You and me both,” Michelle whispered. “Bye.” She hung up the phone and spent a moment silently hugging her pillow. A few tears slid down her face but she dashed them away quickly. “No moping,” she told herself. “Keep busy.” Hopping up, Michelle gathered up clothed to be taken to the dry-cleaners and set out to take care of her various errands.

William was able to get a half-hour nap in before one of the servers brought him the phone again. Sitting up, he rubbed his eyes hoping to hear Michelle’s voice again.

“This is really going to inflate her phone bill terribly,”
he thought, smiling. He’d find a way to pay it.
 

“Montgomery?” came a gruff voice over the receiver. It was the 'Madman'. Unconsciously William sat up a little straighter.

“Mr. Maclane,” he answered.

“I got Bob’s message about the flight delay. Bad luck, but congratulations on the new client plus four. Impressive.”

“Thank you, sir,” William responded, with a touch of relief. If a little eccentric, the man was a least appreciative.

“I have two new clients in for a possible merger deal tomorrow,” the man continued. “I’ll need you to be there and begin contract negotiation. Be here at 7am for a team briefing.”

The request got William’s ire up a little. Yes, theirs was a cut-throat industry, yet any boss worth his salt was aware of Federal labor laws.

“The plane won’t get in until 2am, Mr. Maclane,” he said, coolly.

“I’m aware of that. Be here at seven.” The phone call was disconnected. William stared at the phone a moment before handing it back to the server. Letting out an exasperated breath, he slumped back on the seat.

“I might as well get some more sleep,” he thought, grimly. William closed his eyes and thought of more pleasant things, namely Michelle.

BACK FROM the laundry room Michelle was just letting herself into her room when the elevator doors opened at the far end of the hall. Glancing towards them, the young woman half-expected Laurel to rush out with another list of things to accomplish; to her surprise her uncle walked out instead, accompanied by a tall older gentleman. Oscar wore a business-suit as usual but the man with him was dressed in full, military uniform, his officer’s cap balanced on his arm. Michelle walked towards them with a smile.

“Here’s the bride now,” Oscar said, smiling warmly at his niece. “Michelle, I’d like you to meet a good friend of mine… Colonel John Orwell of the United State Marine Corps.” Michelle did not know if she was supposed to shake hands or not, so she opted for a small curtsy.

The colonel appeared amused at this and smiled at her; he stood quite tall and possessed a bit more gray hair than her uncle. The friendly look in his eye rather belied the stern appearance of his uniform.

“Charmed to meet you, Miss Gregory,” Colonel Orwell said. “I served together with Oz; long time ago.”

“I am pleased to meet you, sir,” Michelle said, managing to look more confident than she felt; she noticed that such a feat was easier to accomplish, the more people she met. Her uncle spoke up.

“The good colonel is also an appointed marriage officer, registered with the city of New York,” he explained. Michelle looked at the man with understanding; she smiled.

“I take it my esteemed uncle has convinced you to perform our little ceremony,” she observed in her quiet way. Colonel Orwell nodded, still smiling.

“Didn’t take a whole lot of convincing,” he said, genially. “I enjoy performing wedding ceremonies. Anyway, your uncle saved my butt in Vietnam, so I owe him.” Michelle could see this phrase was a joke between the two men.

“I’d be honored if you would, sir,” she said. The colonel turned to Oscar.

“She’s very polite,” he said, grinning. “She must have inherited that from her mother’s side of the family.” Oscar scowled at him.

“Ha ha, Johnny,” he muttered. He turned back to Michelle, who was hiding a grin in her hand. “He can do the ceremony in his white dress uniform, if you’d like that,” Oscar informed her. Michelle liked the sound of his suggestion very much.

“I’d like that,” she said, looking up at the colonel. “However, it is not a military wedding or anything...” Colonel Orwell grinned.

“One of the perks of being an officer is you can where your uniform anywhere you feel like wearing it,” he informed her. Michelle liked the man’s good-natured voice; she could easily see him fitting the role of minister in her wedding.

“I have the marriage license arranged already,” she informed them. “It should be available to be signed the day of.”

“She’d efficient too,” the colonel said, approvingly. “Your man’s a lucky guy.” Michelle blushed a little at this.

“If so, then I am luckier to have him,” she said, quietly. She looked up at her uncle. “Thank you,” she said, with heartfelt gratitude. She meant to say, 'thank you for all you’ve done to make this wedding special for me'. The look that Oscar gave back conveyed understanding. Reaching over, he and gave Michelle a small hug.

“We’ll get out of your hair. I’ll call later to arrange a lunch or something with you, the groom and the colonel here, so you guys can discuss what you want to do for the ceremony.” Michelle nodded.

“That would be great,” she said, smiling. Oscar smiled back at her.

“Go get some rest,” he said, a little less gruffly than normal. “Call me if you need anything.”

“I will; thank you,” Michelle answered. “It was very nice to meet you, Colonel.” The officer smiled and bowed slightly at the waist.

As the two gentlemen walked back towards the elevator, the colonel grinned at his old friend.

“You’re getting soft in your old age, Oz,” he said. Oscar gave him a look as they stepped into the elevator.

“So shoot me, Johnny,” he said, darkly. The colonel chuckled as the doors swung shut.

Back in her room Michelle’s smile reached new heights. As more pieces came together, her wedding began to look like n eventual reality. The thought comforted her; she busied herself on the phone, conferring with the woman in charge of decorating the Waldorf’s Starlight Roof room. The lady assured her she was sticking to the simple design Michelle had come up with; she actually approved it as being perfect for the occasion.

With both lists of relatives and various friends, the number of projected guests stood well over seventy; though this number initially stunned Michelle, she shrugged it off; it was important for William’s family and relations to be present. Meeting all those sophisticated people, however, was rather a daunting prospect for her.

“I suppose I must grin and bear it,” she thought. She could do that, for William. Michelle decided to make her groom proud of her that day; she’d smile and greet people and force herself to have normal conversations with many unknown guests. “It will probably do me good.”

Sitting at her little desk, Michelle wrote out more notes on the ceremony and the vows, to discuss with William. She really had no idea what he’d like. Reading them out loud, she felt tears coming on.

“To love honor and obey... for better or worse, in sickness or in health, for richer or poorer, to love and to cherish ‘til death do us part...” A lump welled up in Michelle’s throat; she trembled a the idea of saying such things to the man she loved, simply because she didn’t want to bawl her eyes out in front of the man, let alone the whole room of guests.

Sighing, Michelle decided to practice until she could say them without wavering. She repeated several times the lovely, sincere words that would bind her to her beloved William forever.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

William’s alarm clock rang out sharply at 5:30 am. He swatted at it grumpily, trying to force his eyes open.

“Get up, old boy,” he muttered to himself. Making his exhausted body move, William managed to pick up the alarm from the floor and groped around into he found the ‘off’ button. Rubbing his eyes, William sat up and lurched over to his shower. He hadn’t arrived home until after 2AM… and in an hour and a half he’d be expected at a new client meeting. This was going to be a long day.