When Angels Play Poker

by Maura O'Leary

  CHAPTER 8

  The Poker Table

  Meanwhile, as Norm and Jimmy were gliding, Maura was driving to meet Bob. She had taken extra time and care getting ready, and she felt that she looked good and smelled even better—wearing Bob’s favorite perfume of hers, Opium.

  As always, she was excited to be seeing him, and that night was to be extra special, since it was his 50th birthday. She had found the perfect card to give him as well as a very special gift. She hoped he would appreciate it as much as she did. Maura was prepared for a great night, with an overnight bag filled with sexy lingerie as well as a bottle of French champagne. Both were in the trunk.

  As she pulled into their meeting spot, Maura saw that Bob was already outside of his car and smiling. She stopped the car quickly and leaped into his welcoming arms. She could immediately feel his happiness, and she knew that this night was going to be just fine.

  Maura started to get in Bob’s car but then realized that her special gifts and bag were in her trunk, so she hesitated. She asked him if they could go back to her car later, after dinner, and he agreed. As they drove off into Boston, they chatted about their day’s events. When they arrived in the South End of Boston to have dinner, they walked along the Wharf to a very cool seafood restaurant called The Barking Crab. In all the years it had existed, Maura had never been there, but it was Bob’s pick for a place to eat, and a good one! Without discussing it, they simultaneously ordered the same food off the menu: Lobster.

  As Maura sat waiting for her beer, she reflected on how unique their relationship was. Some couples that had been together for years would argue about where they were going, why they were going there, and what the plan was after that. Bob and Maura just believed in being in the moment, in a place, with each other. They were so happy when they were together that details of where, when, and why were just irrelevant.

  Maura looked over at Bob and smiled. She starting telling him how she swore she’d seen a UFO in a field that day. And if on cue, the bartender asked, “Would you like our draft beer of the night from UFO Brewery?”

  Bob looked at her in disbelief, and Maura just smiled, laughed, and said, “It’s going to be a magical night!”

  At that exact moment, back in Heaven, Norm stopped in front of an ordinary-looking viewing room and gestured for Jimmy to enter. Jimmy walked into the room where the Poker Championship was to be played and immediately encountered a room full of people arguing and pointing at the viewing screen showing Maura and Bob at the bar of the restaurant.

  Someone was talking over the others, saying, “Oh come on! You believe her? She did not see a UFO today. They don’t exist!”

  And Jimmy looked over across the room, he even saw a favorite uncle from his past arguing with another. “Her description of the UFO wasn’t even right!”

  “How would you know? Have you ever even seen one?”

  “No—have you?”

  “Oy Vey!” Jimmy mumbled and turned to Norm, who was observing the mayhem as well. Norm sighed heavily, stepped into the room, and said in a loud firm voice, “People, pipe down for a minute! I need your attention.”

  Everyone turned toward the entryway and stopped midsentence whatever they were saying, and within seconds there was silence in the room. Jimmy found this to be very impressive. As he observed the room, he noticed that everyone looked stunned to see them. It made Jimmy proud to be standing next to Norm. Obviously he was an Angel VIP of some sort.

  Norm smiled gently and said to everyone in the room, “Ah, that’s much better. Now I would like to introduce to you a stellar poker player who will be joining the tournament game tonight: Jimmy, -Level 1 Angel. What is most impressive about Jimmy is that he’s been in Heaven only a short while, but in that time he has become very successful at his assignment—and, I might add, his poker game. So I expect you all to give him the respect he deserves, and may he present a challenge to you all!”

  Norm looked at one table in particular and continued. “In case some of you were not aware, Jimmy has been assigned as a spirit guide angel to Maura. I know that some of you in this room have been watching over Maura at a higher level for years, but Jimmy brings a special element to the task at hand. He is Bob’s brother. Thus I expect you all to welcome Jimmy in as one of Maura’s guardians.” Everyone at that particular table nodded in unison, but in silence.

  With this Norm turned to Jimmy and said, “Now I need to place you at the table closest to the viewing screen. Based on this, I believe you should sit at the front table.” Jimmy observed there were four tables all together, but he started walking to where Norm had suggested. All of a sudden, Jimmy looked over at the most distant table, and as he thought earlier, there sitting at the table was his favorite Uncle Joey.

  Jimmy stopped, turned around, and said, “Hey, wait a second, Norm. Let me sit at the table with Uncle Joey, so we can get caught up on old times.”

  Norm replied firmly, “He is here only to make the game more interesting. You need to be at the front table with Maura’s relatives.”

  Jimmy sighed aloud and slowly scuffed his way over to the front table with a sullen look on his face. He didn’t like it at all. The table was all women—older, wiser women, truth be told—and he wasn’t sure how he felt about playing poker with them. Furthermore, Jimmy wondered why there was a room full of Maura’s and Bob’s relatives for the Poker Championship.

  Jimmy turned back to Norm and said in a quiet voice, “I don’t get it. I thought this was the BIG Poker Tournament, and yet now you have me hanging out with the relatives? What’s up with that?”

  Norm patiently said, “Jimmy I told you on the glide over here that this is no ordinary poker tournament or stakes. I think it will become clear to you as the game progresses tonight what the bet is.”

  Norm quickly turned and walked towards the doorway, and then said, “I have other pressing matters to attend to, but I have one last piece of advice for you, Jimmy, before I leave. Keep the sunglasses on that I gave you earlier. I know how sensitive you still are to the light, and there is plenty of that in this room.” With that, Norm smiled at the women at the first table, quickly turned, and was gone.

  Collectively there was a sigh of relief from people in the room. One murmured, “Wow, I can’t believe he came to visit us!” Jimmy could tell he definitely had been hanging with a VIP in heaven.

  Jimmy stared at the table that he had been assigned to, and he realized that all six seats were taken, so he slowly started to back away and edge over toward his Uncle Joey’s table. He wasn’t counting on the fact that the eldest angel at his table didn’t miss a thing. She turned quickly toward him and said like a schoolteacher, “Oh, Jimmy, where do you think you’re going?”

  “Well, there doesn’t seem to be enough room at your table.” The elder angel with beautiful long silver hair replied, “Well, give me a minute, and I’ll make room!” She turned quickly and said, “Helen, you’re out! You’re not that great of a poker player, and besides, you’re too slow. We appreciate your interest and concern for Maura, but you’re going to have to pass on this tournament.”

  Helen said quietly, “Okay, E. B., I understand.” And without any further argument or protest, she got up quickly to leave the room. Personally Jimmy was stunned by her action and found the dialogue annoying, and a put-down to Helen. Who does this E. B. woman think she is? Jimmy wondered. She doesn’t own the table!

  Just as he was thinking this, another taller elder angel stood up and said, “Oh, Eleanor, you know that the worst player at the table is me. Therefore Jimmy can have my seat, and Helen can continue to play. You know how much she loves the game.”

  The elder angel snapped firmly, “Sit down, Jenny! You know how much I need you at the table tonight. It’s too important for you to be anywhere else but here.”

  As he watched the verbal exchange, Jimmy thought, I don’t even want to be at this woman’s table!
>
  The elder angel, Eleanor, whose long, silver hair glistened beautiful in the light, turned her attention to Jimmy. He was for once very happy to be an angel, because if he was in human form, he would have felt stripped naked under her intense stare and stern assessment. “Well then,” she said, “we don’t have all night, Jimmy. Please come sit down!” He quickly did just that. The angel started shuffling the deck of cards and then stared at him intently again. “Do you have any idea who I am?” she asked proudly.

  Jimmy resisted rolling his eyes and just said, “No, ma’am, I do not.” He was instantly annoyed with himself that he called her ma’am.

  “I’m Maura’s grandmother, otherwise known as her Nana.” Then she added quite proudly with a bit of a haughty look at Jimmy, “I am also the eldest angel at the table.”

  Jimmy nodded toward her and said, “It’s very nice to meet you. I read about you in Maura’s file.” He bit his tongue from adding how much it seemed that Maura worshipped the woman. What’s the point? Eleanor already acts like she’s quite aware of this, Jimmy thought.

  To his right at the poker table was a tall elder angel. She tugged gently at his angel robe, and when he turned to her, she softly said, “I’m Jenny, Maura’s other grandmother. Eleanor will tell you that she is the only Nana Maura remembers, but that’s not true! She loved us both—very much. I just didn’t last on earth as long as the Energizer Bunny over there did—, otherwise known as E. B. for short—so she likes to take all the credit.” Jenny gave a quick smile and then added, “But enough about that. Let’s introduce you to the rest of the gang at the poker table.” Jimmy met another aunt, and while Jenny was talking, another person appeared at the table, a man, known as Edwin, who was Eleanor’s brother.

  Just as Jimmy was shaking Edwin’s hand, all of a sudden he heard Uncle Joey at the other table shout, “Hey, Jimmy, I haven’t seen you in years! Come say hello to your favorite uncle!” So Jimmy quickly went over to his table, and as soon as he got there, Uncle Joey grabbed him in a bear hug and whispered in his ear, “She’s gonna kick your butt!” Jimmy moved back and stared at him incredulously and said, “Who?”

  Uncle Joey gestured with a nod of his head to the poker table in the front of the viewing room and said in a low voice, “The Energizer Bunny over there. She’s been playing cards for years. Don’t let her seniority fool you. They don’t call her E. B. for short for nothing, kiddo.”

  Jimmy said, “Hey, come on, Uncle Joey! Have some faith in the family. I’ll hold my own just fine against the old biddy.”

  “Don’t be so sure, son. Edwin isn’t sittin’ at the table just to be around a bunch of elder female angels. He is her sidekick in the game. They play off each other and with a total code list of tells.”

  “Well, Uncle Joey, I’m not too concerned—so don’t you be.” With that, Jimmy walked back to his chair.

  By this point, Eleanor—a.k.a. E. B.—had finished shuffling the deck of cards and was intently looking at the viewing screen, which was showing Bob and Maura still having dinner at The Barking Crab. Bob was sharing a story with Maura, and she was laughing and smiling.

  E. B. turned to Jenny and said, “I have a good feeling about tonight.”

  Jenny replied with hope in her voice “You do, E. B.? Really? I know I’ve said that so many times before over the last twenty years, but I have always been wrong in the end. So I’ve just stopped saying it out loud, even though I have never stopped praying and believing.”

  “I know, Jenny,” E. B. said and gently patted her hand. “Something tells me that tonight is different; it could finally be the real thing.”

  “I so hope you’re right. No one has a bigger heart full of love than Maura, and I hope Bob sees that and doesn’t run away from her because it’s too overwhelming a commitment.”

  And with that said, E. B. addressed the table. “Let the Poker Championship game begin. The bet, as always, is “Winning Maura’s Heart.”

  CHAPTER 9

  The Birthday Celebration

  As the Championship Poker game was starting, all eyes in the room were on the viewing screen, which was showing Maura and Bob wrapping up their dinner.

  Maura was having a great time. She loved the quirky New England restaurant that resided along the wharf in Boston. She and Bob had gotten to know the couple next to them at the bar, and Bob had the delightful experience of learning how to open a lobster claw with a rock. Only a man would find this to be the highlight of his dinner, Maura mused. As the night went on, she hated to leave, but she knew Bob was ready to go. The night was still young in his eyes—so off they went.

  Since it was a gorgeous, warm fall night, they walked around the wharf and took in the beautiful Boston skyline with its diverse architecture. The full moon only added to the night, illuminating some of the most unique and old structures in Boston. More importantly, it was romantic and thus a perfect night to take a stroll through the city.

  Eventually they reached Bob’s car, and he drove them back to their earlier meeting place. Maura was happy she had made him agree ahead of time to this plan. She could tell that he was in a jovial mood, having drunk a good amount at the bar, and she didn’t want him to become concerned about driving later in the night.

  Once they settled into her car, they had to decide where to go. Maura was determined to make it a romantic location. They could have gone back to her place or even gotten a room at a B&B somewhere, but to Maura that was just ordinary. In her mind, turning 50 was no ordinary event. Besides, she thought, it is probably one of the last Indian Summer nights left of the fall, so why spend it inside?

  As Maura sat in the car, listening to Bob suggesting various spots or places to hang out, it hit her where the perfect location would be. Maura turned and said excitedly with a gleaming smile, “OK Bob, I know the perfect spot to go. Trust me!”

  Bob looked at her and saw her blue Irish eyes sparkling, and he couldn’t help but smile. “Okay, kiddo, lead the way!” Then he leaned over and gave her a passionate kiss as she put the car in reverse.

  They chatted up a storm as Maura drove into the suburbs outside Boston. They didn’t bring up Jimmy, and that was just fine with Maura, since she didn’t want anything to bring down the mood of the night and Bob’s high spirits. Maura realized as their cheery banter was taking place that she could never stay mad at Bob. It truly was impossible; as soon as she saw him, all her anxiety or annoyance with him just melted away, and she realized it was trivial in the grand scheme of things in life. Their relationship was too deep and special to focus on the negative.

  As they got closer to the special location that Maura had picked, she took a bunch of country back roads to disorient Bob.

  When Maura finally pulled into the wooded area across from the surprise location, she knew she had succeeded in surprising him, because Bob looked totally perplexed as to where they were. She got out of the car and again went to the trunk. She called out to Bob for help, and he came around to the back of the car. She thrust a huge blanket into his arms as well as a flashlight, then said, “Don’t lose the flashlight, or we’re screwed!” She then grabbed the present, the card, and the bottle of French champagne, and said, “Okay then, let’s go!”

  Bob said, “Hang on, Maura. Where we are going?”

  She smiled mischievously and said, “Well, Bob, why don’t you at least get us across the street safely first, and then the mysterious location will reveal itself slowly to you.”

  Bob started leading the way with the flashlight, through the dark parking lot, and across a country road, which usually was totally dark at that time of night. Once they got across the street, Maura couldn’t contain her excitement. She loved this place and gasped as Walden Pond came into view when they reached the surrounding woods.

  Below them unfolded a beautiful large pond with the full moon shining down on its calm water. It was surrounded by woods wherever you looked. There had bee
n many articles written about the wonders of the world, and Maura had always felt that Walden Pond should be on the list, but it never was.

  It was the location where Henry David Thoreau built a cabin and wrote his books on nature and life. Walden Pond was magical, and Maura could feel it each time she went there. She could feel it in the earth, the air, and the calmness and serenity of the water engulfed by the surrounding woods.

  THIS was the place that Maura had picked to bring Bob for the Celebration Finale of his 50th birthday. They walked down the long, steep pathway to the pond in silence. When they finally reached the pond, Bob stopped and said, “Wow! How did you know to bring me here?”

  Maura replied, “It seemed the perfect night to come here. But I never knew you had been here before. When?”

  Bob looked at her intently with eyes that seemed to gleam in the reflection of the light of the moon off the water. “I use to come here years ago, all the time, with my brother Jimmy. He loved this place.”

  Before Maura could stop herself, she shouted, “What?” which echoed around the pond.

  Bob looked at her in surprise and shook his head. “You’re amazing. Of all the places we could have gone, and yet you brought me here, where I have so many special memories. My brother and I had some really good times at Walden Pond.” He paused and turned away, blinking.

  Meanwhile Maura was thinking, Damn that man! Here I was trying to plan a happy, peaceful night and without asking me, he somehow becomes the highlight of conversation and could turn the evening into a total buzz kill! Maura firmly decided in her mind that she was not going to dwell on Jimmy and let him or his spirit ruin the night. She abruptly turned away from Bob, and as she started to walk ahead, she said, “Well, that’s me for ya, Bob! Let’s find a good spot to sit down and take in the beautiful scenery.”

  Maura continued walking until she found a secluded area near the pond with sand but far enough away from the main road and entrance area. The last thing she wanted was to be discovered by the wandering town cops or other freaky people. She waited for Bob to catch up and said, “OK, this looks perfect to me. Let’s spread out the blanket and shut off the flashlight, since the moon is providing all the illumination we need for now.”