Getting Lucky (The Marilyns) (24 page)

Betts, munching on a foot-long sub and carrying a net, brought up the rear. “Now you want the garden gnomes. Where was your gnome enthusiasm when we voted?”

“Golf course fishing was next on our list of really stupid things to try.” Charlie switched hands with the fishing poles. “Plus, the guy at Academy about lost it when three women dressed as Marilyn walked in to buy fishing gear. Come on, you’ve got to admit, that was worth it.”

Betts opened the giant bag of potato chips she had under her arm. “Yeah, he’ll never be the same again.” She shoved a handful of chips in her mouth. “Are we there yet? My feet keep sinking.”

“Almost. The pond is on the other side of that bunch of trees, if this map is correct.” Charlie consulted the map written on a napkin by a very intoxicated man they’d found at the bar in the clubhouse. He’d also informed them that he’d just picked up his Viagra refill and he knew how to use it. Charlie had whacked him on the head with the first thing she could find, which happened to be the latest issue of
Golf Digest
.

“Look, there it is.” Charlie pointed to a small pond.

“We’re supposed to fish in that?” Betts squinted to get a better look in the full moonlight. “That’s not a pond, it’s a pothole.”

“The point of golf course fishing isn’t about catching fish, it’s about not getting caught while trying to catch fish.” Charlie picked up her pace and took the lead.

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.” Betts struggled to keep up with Charlie. “Wait a minute. I think we’ve solved one of the world’s oldest mysteries—why men go fishing and come back with nothing. They fish in potholes.”

Lucky grabbed the chips from Betts. “One man’s pond is another man’s pothole.”

“Wonderful, Lucky’s talking in bumper stickers again.” Betts grabbed at the chips, but Lucky held them over her head. “I’m hungry. If I don’t eat those, my baby might be born minus some very important brain cells.”

“What does he need brain cells for?” Lucky scooped up a handful of chips. “All he has to do is look at Aunt Charlie and she’ll buy him the world.”

“What my nieces and nephews want, they get. I can’t help that I’m the cool aunt.” Charlie walked the last ten feet to the pond and threw down the fishing poles. “I don’t know about y’all, but it’s going to take a while to get all this mud off of my Marilyn shoes.”

“Me toooo…” Lucky’s heel caught on a rock, and she went down to her knees. “Crap. I got mud all over my dress.”

Betts waddled over to help. “That’s going to stain. Will’s going to be pissed.”

“Not to worry.” Charlie dug in her cleavage. “I have some Shout wipes tucked in my bra.”

“Of course you do.” Betts must have rolled her eyes, because her tone certainly suggested it.

“What do you mean Will’s going to be pissed?” Lucky stood.

Betts refused to make eye contact. “Um … Charlie?”

“Don’t bring me into this…. You’re the one who messed up.” Charlie unwrapped two wipes and began dabbing at the mud spatters on the front of Lucky’s white Marilyn dress. “We’ll have another one made. It’ll be fine.”

“Not before tomorrow.” Betts’s eyes went wide, and then she shoved a giant handful of chips in her mouth. Around the chips, she said, “Can’t talk, my mouth’s full.”

Lucky shot Charlie a look.

“Oh, for goodness sake, Will’s going to ask you to marry him sometime soon, and his plan requires a white Marilyn dress.” Charlie continued to dab. “Act surprised.”

“Really, he’s going to ask me?” Lucky’s pulse kicked up a notch. “When?”

“Not telling. There needs to be some romance.” Charlie straightened. “That’s the best I can do.”

“You can’t leave me hanging…. What’s the rest? When’s he going to do it?” Lucky liked surprises, but not when it came to the rest of her life.

“No, ma’am. You already know enough.” Charlie slammed her lips shut and pantomimed turning a key.

Betts did the same thing.

“What happened to ho’s before bro’s?” Lucky vibrated with the need to know more.

“You’re not getting anything else out of me.” Betts was deflated. Her whole body drooped. “I’m so sorry that I ruined things.”

“What did you ruin? I already knew Will was going to pop the question. Now I know it will be soon.” Lucky put her arm around her old friend. “Now, if you were to give me some actual details, that would be something worth feeling guilty about.”

“Nice try. Not going to happen.” Charlie put her arm around Lucky. “Now are we going to get on with this or what?”

“I call the black rod because it’s shiny, and I like it.” Betts picked it up. “Which one of these lure thingys am I supposed to use?”

Golf course fishing wasn’t for everyone, but Lucky, Betts, and Charlie prided themselves on doing the unusual.

“The new dress looks good on you.” Will stood in front of the full-length mirror in Lucky’s bathroom, staring at her reflection. He’d had a heart attack when she’d come home with mud on her Marilyn Monroe dress. It did, after all, have a crucial part to play in the next forty-eight hours.

Planning a wedding to take place less than twenty-four hours after the birthday party was daunting … and Lucky had no idea she was about to get married. He knew she loved him and wanted to marry him, but what if she changed her mind between now and tomorrow?

He needed to pace. Walking back and forth made everything better. The more he admired Lucky, the calmer he became. She was amazing … beautiful. Words couldn’t express the depth and breadth of his feelings for her. If he was lucky enough to spend the rest of his life with her, he still didn’t think he could get enough of her. Through the mirror, he stared into her eyes. What would they look like ten or twenty or thirty years from now? Would there be laugh lines in the corners? When she turned eighty, would her blue-green eyes fade? If there was a God and he was all loving and merciful, Will would get to find out. Most people didn’t welcome age, but he craved it. Every new year held the promise of her. Fifty years from now, would he look back on this night and laugh at the nerves jangling through his system?

She thought she’d planned the birthday party of the century, but it would turn into the wedding of her dreams. Nothing flashy like Ricky had demanded, just her family and friends gathered to celebrate a future so bright he could barely contain his joy.

“Are you ready for the party?” Her voice jarred him. Their future loomed, and he couldn’t help but count the hours … minutes … seconds until she would be his forever. And she didn’t even know. Right now, it was his secret, his burden, his treasure to keep to himself.

“Yes … and no.” He couldn’t keep his eyes off of her. “You’re beautiful.”

Lucky cocked her head to the left. “And you’re a flatterer.”

“No, I don’t flatter you enough.” His mouth went cotton-ball dry. “I’ve never had a problem with words, but there don’t seem to be any that express how much I love you.”

“I don’t know. That was pretty good.” She blew him a kiss.

In about an hour, a hundred children and their parents were invading for the girls’ birthday party. Right now, Ringling Brothers Circus members were finishing setting up three massive tents. An event planning company was setting up a stage, and caterers from three different restaurants were hauling food.

Lucky turned around and straightened his tie.

Since it was Halloween and the girls’ circus-themed birthday party was also a costume party, Lucky was dressed as Marilyn Monroe, and he was dressed as John F. Kennedy…. So was Gabe. Lucky, Charlie, and Betts thought it was fitting that Marilyn get to go out with JFK at least once a year.

“You’re not worried about the party, are you?” She fiddled with his tie knot.

“No, I’m sure it will be perfect. You always throw one hell of a party.” Will’s hand shook slightly with a combination of anticipation and nerves. There were practical things that needed dealing with.

Why had he thought surprising Lucky with a proposal and a wedding tomorrow was a good idea? He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. By this time tomorrow, if everything went as planned, he and Lucky would be married. She would be his… Finally, their life together would begin.

“Are you going to tell me what’s wrong, or do I have to pry it out of you?” Lucky finished with his tie and snaked her arms around his neck. “You’re fidgeting.”

“Sorry, I couldn’t pace with you working on my tie.” Will practically vibrated to pace the floor.

“You’re starting to scare me. What’s wrong?” She laid her head on his chest. “We’re partners. You can tell me anything. If you’d get off your lazy ass and ask me to marry you, we’d be legally bound to each other, but since you’re taking your own sweet time, I’m going to have to settle for partner.” Lucky didn’t sound angry, just frustrated.

“Okay, here goes.” He unlatched her arms, stepped back, got down on one knee, and said, “Lucky St. James-Strickland—”

“Oh my God. You’re really doing it now?” She smoothed down the wrinkles in her dress, took a deep breath, and yoga-breathed it out. “Okay, I’m ready.”

“Lucky St. James-Strickland, will you do me the honor of moving in with me?” The perverse side of Will would never forget the look of shock on her face. “I’d like to move my things into your room—make it our room.”

“Wow, I’ve waited my whole life to hear that.” Lucky rolled her eyes. “Do I get a ring or something for sacrificing closet space?”

“You cleaned out Ricky’s closet. It’s not like you’re losing anything.” Will smiled to himself. She wanted to marry him.

“Yeah, but I was going to turn it into a hobby room. You never know, I might take up a hobby that requires a room.” She folded her arms. “You’re a bastard. You got my hopes up and then … nothing. Tease.”

Will stood. “Not nothing. I’m going to move my stuff in here but still sleep in my room. You know, for the girls … so they see a good role model.”

“So we should lie to them?” Lucky continued to regard him, arms folded and sarcasm dripping. “That sets a great example.”

“I’m not going to propose today. This day belongs to the girls … but tomorrow is up for grabs and the next day and President’s Day and Boxing Day. I find Chinese New Year particularly romantic.”

“I hate you.” She turned her back on him. “But yes, you can move in, but we’re not sleeping together again until I get a commitment that involves a ring.” She walked to the door, opened it, and pointed down the hall. “Go get your stuff.”

He dropped a kiss on her nose. “Do we get to have sex?”

“Yes, but you’re not spending the night.” She pointed. “Is that clear?”

“Crystal.” He kissed her firmly on the mouth. “I love you.”

They wouldn’t be having sex tonight, they certainly weren’t sleeping together, and after the birthday party, he wouldn’t see her until tomorrow evening when he popped the question and asked her to marry him … immediately.

***

Lucky checked the three enormous flower arrangements on the front hall table. She’d had one delivered to each girl saying happy birthday. She stopped to smell one of the sterling silver purple roses in Mandy’s arrangement. It was heady and sweet.

Lucky had made sure that each arrangement had roses … for Rosie. The girls would probably never get it, but Lucky did. While she couldn’t bring herself to like the woman, she owed her a debt of gratitude for giving her three wonderful daughters.

She’d broached the subject of changing their last name to Strickland, and every single girl had asked what Lucky’s name would be after she married Will. They wanted her last name. She hadn’t given it much thought until that moment. Lucky had decided that she would be Lucky Strickland-Brodie, not because she cared one way or the other about Ricky’s last name, but she wanted the girls to have it. So they’d all agreed to be Strickland-Brodies.

The doorbell bonged. Since it was probably one of the caterers or party planners, she didn’t bother to look through the peephole and opened the door.

A tall man who looked slightly familiar stood on her front porch wearing khakis and a blue button-down.

“Can I help you?” Lucky smiled. She’d met him somewhere but couldn’t place his face.

“I’m Earl Ro—”

“Roberts. The EMT that came when Dawnie fell in the pool.” She moved aside. “Come in. Sorry for all of the chaos, but we’re having a birthday party.”

“So sorry, I won’t stay long … it’s just that…” He stepped inside and looked around. “Can I speak with you privately?” He glanced at a lady from the cleaning service who was dusting the blinds.

“Sure.” Lucky pointed to the dining room.

He walked through the open double French doors, and Lucky followed behind him and pulled the doors closed. “What’s this about?”

“I wanted to tell you when I was here last, but my boss was with me.” He pulled an iPhone from his back pocket.

She recognized it from the red, white, and blue
United States of Me
tour case. Her hands covered her mouth. They’d never recovered Ricky’s phone from the crash; the car had been so badly damaged that the phone was thought to be lost inside.

“I could get fired for this, but I was first on the scene of your husband’s crash.” He handed her the phone. “He didn’t die instantly; he recorded a message for you and was conscious when I found him. He made me promise I’d give it to you. I’ve come by many times, but the gate at the road was locked.”

Lucky’s whole body shook as she took the phone … Ricky’s phone.

“He left it under Voice Memos.” Earl reached over and touched the icon.

“Lucky Lady, I’m going to have to break a promise I made to you on our wedding day. I’m not going to be able to be there for you. My forever is at an end. I’ve loved you since the first moment I saw you, but I’ve done so many things to hurt you. I won’t ask for forgiveness, and I can’t justify my actions, but I love you.” Ricky coughed, and his voice was low and strained. “Take care of my girls and Will. Besides you, they’re the only family I’ve got. I never wanted to hurt you, but I always ended up doing just that. I’ve got to go now, my Lucky Lady, but I hope someday you’ll be able to smile when you remember me—”