SECOND TIME AROUND

“    Glad to see you made it,” Duke opened his door.

    “Where is she?”

    “At the hotel, the rehearsal dinner starts in an hour,” looking at his watch then to Flint. “Are you ready?”

    “Yeah, let’s go. Who’s the guy she’s engaged to?” Flint asked as they entered the elevator.

    “Devon Michaels, Senator Michaels oldest son. She used to date him before she joined the Joes, and started seeing him about six months after she---“

    “I told you not to rub it in,” Flint sneered.

    “You asked….”

    “And leave it to you to remind me,” Flint hailed a taxi, “didn’t you have a date to this?

    “Well—yeah you,” Flint’s eyes widened, “it’s a long story,” Duke sighed heavily.

    “Devon caught me talking to her late one night, and started making an issue of the time I spent with her to her mother. And to make a long story short, Allie was pissed at me for something stupid <lecturing her about Mr. Right> and told them I played for the other team.”

    Flint response was the deep timber of his laughter, “Come on hon---“ He slapped him on the back as he got in the taxi.

    “The Harbor Hotel,” Duke told the driver.

    “How do you plan on getting me close to her with the dragon around?”

    “Her dad will distract her mother,” Duke shrugged.

    “How did you manage to get Ed in on this?”

    “He can’t stand Devon,” Duke laughed, “said he lacked character---think he meant a chin. > At any rate, Ed will distract the dragon, I mean her mother, long enough for you to get her away from everyone else.”

    “And how do you suppose I’m going to manage that one?”

    “Just get her in the elevator and leave the rest to me,” Duke grinned as the taxi pulled up in front of the hotel.

    < This is going to be the longest night of my life. > Flint shook his head before heading into the hotel.

    “I have to stop by and see her. Wait for me in the bar,” Duke headed to the elevator.

    “It’s open,” Patricia Hart-Burnett yelled. “Oh, it’s you. I imagine you’re behind the fiasco with the bachelorette party last night,” she scowled.

    “Why, Mrs. Hart-Burnett, I have no idea what you’re referring to?” grinning innocently.

    “You most certainly do. You changed the striper that her maid of honor hired didn’t you? Mary Ellen said she ordered a blonde police officer not a dark haired soldier in a black beret,” she hissed. “Don’t you dare think you’re going to stop this wedding…. I’ve been planning it for…”

    “Years, I know you told me that about a million times,” setting his jaw. “I came to see Allie.”

    “ALISON is busy. You’ll have to wait to see her downstairs,” pushing him to the door as Ed was coming out of the bedroom.

    “Conrad! How the hell are you son?” he extended his hand. Duke walked past her mother.

    “EDWARD, we really have to be getting downstairs to greet our guests. Alison will be down in a few minutes. I told her to arrive a little late,” she turned her nose up walking past Duke.

    “I know fashionably late,” waving her off. “Come on Conrad, let’s go get a drink,” he winked. <It’s going to be a long night. > The two men thought.

    “Don’t be late!” Patricia called out, watching them enter the elevator.

    “Is he coming?” Ed rocked back on his feet with his hands in his pockets.

    “He’s in the bar.”

    “Your wife yelled at me about the striper.”

    “I thought it was a nice touch,” Ed chuckled. “Allie was extremely upset. She left the party for a while. Patricia was mortified. Did you take care of the other matter?”

    “Got it right here,” grinning as he patted his pocket.

    “Dash, how are you?” Ed took the seat next to him while Duke grabbed another.

    “Fine, Ed. You?” nursing his beer.

    “Could be better, did Duke tell you about my daughter?” flagging the bartender over. “Three more.”

    “I’ve been trying to get a hold of her, since she resigned. Patricia kept hanging up on me every time I called. Ed, I really screwed things up with her. We were all set, ready to get married and I let jealousy get the better of me one too many times.”

    “And now, what do you want Dash?”

    “I want things to be the way they were supposed to be. I’m miserable without her,” Flint’s eyes lowered as he felt Ed’s hand on his back.

    “…And she’s just as miserable,” Ed sighed.

    “Why’s she marrying him?” Flint turned to the older man.

    “I wish I knew. She told me he’s stable—what the hell does that mean?” looking at Flint and Duke. “She’s not listening to me. Her mother’s constantly in her ear,” Ed rolled his eyes. “Allie’s upstairs getting dressed. We’ll cover for you” motioning between himself and Duke, “maybe you can talk some sense into her. I have no doubt about that especially after last night.” Ed cast a glance to Duke.

    “The elevator’s alarm system’s off. I’ll stop it when you have her inside between floors. That should give you enough time to talk to her,” Duke grinned ear to ear.

    “Forgetting something important aren’t we gentlemen?”

    “What?” Duke and Ed chimed.

    “She hates being closed in,” catching them smirking. “You can’t be serious. She’ll panic,” his eyes widening.

    “And you’ll be there for her,” Ed’s eyes sparkled.

    <It’s going to be a long night. >

    Flint stood back to the side when Ed and Duke headed into dinner. He watched her pass him. He waited for his moment. She moved slowly as if she were pondering the meaning of life. Dressed in what did she call it oh yeah—the black standard, a short black dress with the shoulders bare. The sparkle was missing from her eyes when she looked at Devon. He noticed the flatness of her tone when she spoke. <Aren’t women supposed to be happy about their wedding? >

    Duke wasn’t helping matters any with his on going questions, and interruptions especially as the minister went through the ceremony. <God—how much longer? > Flint rocked back on his heels waiting for the minister to wrap things up. <She looks so sad…. why in the hell would she want to marry him? STABILITY…>

    “Alison, I’ll walk you to your room,” Devon pulled her to the side caressing her cheek. Flint’s hands clenching and unclenching as she turned away from Devon. <She doesn’t love him. She didn’t even kiss him. >

    “I’m sorry Devon. I guess I’m exhausted. I’ll see you at the church,” she smiled weakly and she headed for the elevator and Flint.