Title: Last Call
Chapter Completed: October 10, 2003
It was the last day. It was down to the wire. It was the final call. It was the wedding day.
“Calm down Drew,” Steve shook his brother by the lapels. He was being a good best man and trying to help tie the bow tie, but the other man wouldn’t stand still.
“WhaddayoumeanIamcalmperfectlycalm,” he spewed out in a hurried breath as he tried to pace the small dressing room.
Steve rolled his eyes, letting his kid brother freely ware a path into the carpet.
“Sure,” Oswald laughed at his friend’s nervousness; the man was putting on quite a show.
“Come on Drew. There’s no reason to be nervous,” Steve rubbed his shoulders, like preparing him for a fight, “You’re marrying a woman you love.”
This stopped him in his tracks. Love Lily? He had never actually really thought about it like that. He was just in such a hurry got the alter that he hadn’t really thought about love. But now it was all he could think of. Sure he really liked her, but could he spend the rest of his life with her?
“I think I’m gonna be sick,” he paled three times over. One would think that for the amount of times he’d been married that this would be easy by now.
“Common buddy,” Oswald took over for comforting the erratic groom, “You don’t see Lewis getting all nervous.”
From the attached bathroom the sounds of someone vomiting spilled into the small room, followed by the ceremonious flush. A few seconds later Lewis walked out, wiping his face with a damp cloth.
“Well…you didn’t see him,” Oswald nodded knowingly.
Drew just shook his head, “You all right?” he asked the clammy janitor.
“Oh yeah, fine,” he replied with his usual venom – dripping with sarcasm.
A soft knock on the door broke the moment of male bonding. Drew bee-lined to answer it, like all the answers to all his doubts would be on the other side. With great enthusiasm he pulled the door open to find, Mimi.
“Oh, it’s you.” He snarled.
“Like I’m pleased as punch to see you pig,” she pushed past him in an ordained blue and pink floral print dress, “I’m here for Steve.” She waddled over to her husband, “You forgot this,” in her sweetest voice she handed over the man’s wallet.
“Thank you buttercup,” he bent down to kiss her.
“Now I really am gonna be sick,” Drew scrunched his face up in disgust, holding his stomach.
“Bite me!” Mimi pushed past him again, knocking him into the doorframe.
Steve shook his head good-heartedly, with a goofy grin on his face, “She’s quite the woman.”
“Quite the something,” Lewis sneered, dropping into a chair.
“You’ll understand once you’re married,” Steve smiled, still a goofy grin playing on his features. Like a man completely in a daze.
Lewis and Drew’s faced both fell. Married?!
There was another knock on the door, and again Drew went to answer.
“Can’t be any worse then last time,” he bobbed his head in his usual manner as he pulled the door open.
This time Kellie stood in the small hall. She was fidgeting and nervously chewing her bottom lip – but to Drew she looked great, leaving him almost speechless. He regarded her with an open-mouthed awe.
“Ah, Drew?” she waved her hand in front of his catatonic face.
Shaking his head and rapidly blinking he began moving, “Oh, sorry…but you look so beautiful.” He actually became bashful.
Kellie, too, seemed to blush. The pair stood staring at each other like a pair of love struck teenagers – little hearts would dance above their heads.
“Is it time for us to get a move on?” Steve cautiously interrupted them, feeling uncomfortable with the intensity between his brother and the maid of honour.
“Oh,” Kellie jumped, like she just realised she was there and why, “No. Well, not yet. I came for Lewis…”
“Sure, now that the prize is off the table you come running,” he rose, smugly and swaggering towards her.
“No,” Kellie put her hand up to stop him. A look of disgust playing on her features at the thought, “Oh God no.”
Lewis shrugged, but kept a snide look on his face.
Shaking her head, she continued, “It’s Arianna,” he perked up, “She’s not here.” She shrugged and he pouted at the news.
“Oh,” his voice seemed small, but fighting to sound indifferent.
Drew’s brow knotted, then eyebrows shot up. A light-bulb went off over his head. “Ah huh!” he even pointed his index finger up to illustrate his revelation, and gain everyone’s attention.
The whole gang turned to see what Drew knew - who just smiled and laughed, like it was an amusing little joke.
“I’m glad you think it’s funny,” the seemingly jilted groom was defensive.
“No, no,” Drew clamed himself down, still giggling, “It’s just…go home.”
Lewis gave a confused look.
“Trust me,” he patted his friend’s shoulder, “She’ll be there.”
Still confused, Lewis agreed with a hurried attitude.
As he set out to leave another knock sounded on the oak door. It was a busy afternoon for that one door. This time Oswald opened it, seeing as he wasn’t doing anything anyway.
A sort, stuffy man stood on the other side, he was done up in a stiff black waist coat and round glasses – a caricature of a penny pinching lawyer. “Mr. Kinseki?” he asked pointing to Oswald.
He enthusiastically shook his head in the negative, like he was scared of the creepy little man, and pointed animatedly to his friend.
“Ah, Mr. Kinseki,” he approached the tall man, appearing much shorter and much more creepy, “I represent the interests of Susan Roberts,” Lewis nodded along with him as he was handed a small business card. He continued, “and I am here make sure the matrimony between you and Miss Roberts happens before three p.m. this afternoon, or the assents go directly to Mrs. Roberts’ child Stacy Smith.” He left like a grim reaper delivering bad news, leaving totally chaos in his wake, but paused at the door, “That’s exactly two hours and twenty six minuets from now.”
Lewis turned to Drew, a renewed sense of urgency falling on him, “Stall the wedding!” he instructed before running out of the chapel.
