The Pineview Incident (10 page)

Chapter 16

“Is that a sheep?” asked Ed.

“Four of them, actually.” Mark held up another photograph. “The aliens kept hold of them for us.”

“That's not funny.” Ed stood in front of the wedding photos making a face like he'd just eaten an entire lemon.

Mark enjoyed seeing that look on Ed's face way too much. “It is, and you know it.”

“No. It's wrong. It's just plain wrong.” Ed looked around the transformed coffee shop and scowled. “You are a twisted man, Mark Lewis.”

The Daily Grinds had changed from a cozy coffee shop to an aluminum foil covered reception hall complete with bobble head aliens. Hannah had come up with the alien and foil theme herself, and it was a hit with every one but Ed, Cory, and Rob. The latter two sat at a table in the corner looking murderous.

It seemed like everyone in town, and the entire camera crew, had come by during the day to welcome he and Donna back. During their two week absence, they'd become heroes. Donna hadn't even lost her job.

Paul sauntered over carrying a smallish camera. “This is amazing. Love the wedding photos. You have no idea how much I'd have loved to film your vows. I think your triumphant return will be it's own episode.”

Mark shook Paul's hand. “Did you get what you wanted from that meeting at the bowling alley?”

“Oh, yeah. That's some of the best footage I've ever shot. You wouldn't believe how that meeting turned out after you left.”

Mark had already heard snippets. There had nearly been a riot when the town finally realized what was going on. Rob, Ed and Cory ended up having to run for it, which would have been fine if they weren't covered in oil. The men ended up slipping and sliding their way out of the building, leaving a trail of slimy shortening across the bowling alley's floor.

The townspeople spent the rest of the night trying to pin the blame on each other. Two fistfights broke out, which Hank McGee broke up using a pool cue and a well aimed bowling ball. People called for everything from a recall of all elected officials to an investigation by state and federal authorities.

But Pineview, being a small town, had returned to it's normal, boring life soon enough. The Gilbertsons were even once again accepted as eccentric members of the community.

The only remaining sign of the chaos was the lasting anger of Chief Michaels, Cory, and Ed. Though, Ed was coming around.

Mark hoped he could patch things up with Cory and Rob soon, but for now, he figured he'd maintain some distance. He glanced back at his angry ex-friends. Neither man looked up from the table where they sat.

“They'll get over it once the show airs,” said Paul, as if he'd read Mark's mind. “They all do.”

“Are you putting the show on PBS?” Mark asked.

“No, one of the big boys bought it.” Paul looked like proud papa. “We finally got prime time.”

“Congratulations! Great news.” Mark slapped the older man on the back.

“How about you? Still going back to the barber shop?”

“Yeah, but it'll close during the summer. I have a new partner for my outfitting company, and I intend to spend time with her.”

Both men looked over at Donna. To Mark, she looked younger somehow, as if marrying him had taken them back to a past time. At least, he liked to think of it that way.

They'd spent five days in Vegas, and then headed to the coast where he'd taken her to some of his favorite spots. With each passing day, she'd grown more beautiful.

“The show will have aired by summer,” said Paul. “You may have more business than you know what to do with.”

“That would be nice. Course, I'm a family man now, and I need time for Donna's children when they come.” Donna's kids both planned on coming up to spend time with their uncle-step-dad.

“How'd they take the news of your unusual nuptials?”

Marked grimaced. “Actually, they took it pretty good. Our main problem was that we couldn't get them to stop laughing at us.”

“Having sheep at the wedding didn't help, I'm sure.”

“Yeah, we called from the chapel, and the sheep kept bleating and biting the green alien girl. All the while, Elvis kept laughing and singing. On hindsight, we should have waited a little bit to call, but Donna was excited and wanted to talk to her kids.”

“I can't believe we missed that,” Paul said again.

“You have the camera turned on right now, don't you?” Mark glanced over at Paul and the small camera pointed up at him.

“Of course.” Paul smiled and pulled the camera to his shoulder.

“Is this all you do, go around and poke cameras at people?”

“Pretty much, yeah.”

“You need a new hobby. Or a woman.” Mark looked at Paul's cardigan. “Or man.”

Paul chuckled. “Woman.” He flipped a switch on the camera and sat it on the counter. “I love my job too much. It ruined two marriages already. I don't get much time to meet people with gig's like this.” He waved his hand at the full coffee shop. “If you have any suggestions, let me know.”

“I may have something for you. Come by my shop sometime. I'll give you a good trim, and a bag full of women.”

“A bag full?” Paul gave Mark an appreciative look.

Mark looked over at Donna and smiled. “They covered my office wall—my trophy wall we all called it. I took them down as soon as we got back, but it seemed like a pity to put so many women in a trashcan, so I stuffed them in one of those shopping bags. I figure you and the boys could use them.”

“I'll make sure those that are so inclined get a chance to peruse it.”

“Do me a favor and don't tell anyone where you got it,” said Mark. He was sure Donna knew about all of his exploits, but he didn't want to risk anything.

Paul picked up his camera. “I need to get back up the mountain but I'll be in for that, um, trim soon.”

“You do that.” Mark grabbed a coffee off of Hannah's tray as she passed. He leaned back and watched the people mill around the bright silver coffee shop. He felt strangely at home. The wanderlust that had haunted him since he'd become a man no longer held sway over him. For the first time in his life, he was right where he wanted to be.

#

“He's looking at you again,” said Hannah as she handed cups of coffee to the women around Donna.

“He's supposed to,” Donna reminded her. “It's not a bad thing any more.”

“I wish my husband looked at me like that,” Cassidy Brown said with a heavy sigh.

“I wish anyone would look at me like that,” said Emily Gauch with a heavier sigh.

Donna noticed Emily's eyes following Paul as he walked out of the store.

“I can set that up for you,” she whispered. “I even got some wonderful ideas from Las Vegas if you want some.”

“Really?” Emily bit her lip and then smiled. “I'd like that.”

“If you're going to share secrets from Las Vegas, I want to be in on it, too,” said Cassidy. “I get tired of talking at the bowling alley. We need some girl time.”

Several other women agreed.

“You know, I've been wanting to expand the coffee shop to include specialty wines and beers,” said Hannah. She put her tray down and joined the group of women. “You guys could be my taste testers, and we could get together to drink and chat sometime.”

“It could be a weekly thing,” said Emily.

“I'd be good with a nightly thing,” said Cassidy. “But my husband might complain.”

“Maybe we could have themes to the night and invite speakers sometimes.” Donna was becoming excited at the idea of a girl's night. “I know Betty Gilbertson would love to teach us how to build websites and blogs.”

“A new website could really help my business,” said Hannah with a nod. “That settles it! The Daily Grinds is about to become The Grind and Wine. I'll start ordering booze in the morning.”

The women began to talk all at once about the possibilities a girl's night out might hold for them, but Donna tuned them out.

Mark's eyes were locked on hers, and all she wanted at that moment was to take him back to his family’s old home and explore the man she loved.

Haley's words came back to her, and she repeated them to herself. “Do something new. Learn to live again.”

It had taken the threat of perverted alien sheep sex, but she'd done it.

She walked over to Mark, her hips swinging more than was proper for a woman her age. “Hey Mr. Lewis, how adventurous do you feel tonight?”

Mark's smile was part joy and part mischief. “Pretty darn adventurous.”

“Prove it.”

Mark scooped her up in his arms, and to the delighted squeals of the women in the shop, carried her out the door.

He placed Donna on the front seat of his truck and leaned over her. She expected a kiss, but Mark’s lips brushed her ear instead.

“I’ve got some extra aluminum foil and vegetable shortening at the house. I think we need to do some in-depth preparation in case aliens really do invade.”

“You can’t ever be too prepared,” Donna said as her lips curved upward. “Just don’t bring sheep.”

###END###