by Marian Stack
Disappointed that his sister didn’t appreciate his efforts he continued, “Look here I have brought you some of your favourite drinks, we have the lovely mountain blend of strong black coffee, some freshly squeezed Californian orange juice, purified water with or without bubbles and last but not least a lovely glass of cold refreshing clamato juice with a small additive of your personal favourite… thirty year old vodka.”
Again, with no reaction he persevered. “And my personal favourite, I have placed beside your side of the bed a variety of buckets, dependent on your removal system.” He offered the last bit as a derogatory remark about her shameful antics the night before.
Knowing her brother insistence she decided to move from her frozen position but only enough to reach for the cup that contained the black coffee. And then with equal excruciating movements she peeked under her top sheet covering and noticed that she was completely nude. “How…who?”
“Oh that. Sister did you know that we have some very strong and dedicated house staff working for us. Anyway…” he laughed, “one of the staff members, the newest addition to our household staff…
Blair’s hangover was building as she sat listening to her brother go on and on about nothing, “And you let him undress me?” she softly yelled.
“No silly…you happily did that after being carried here last night, after you had begun your antics again as you ripped off all your clothing. And then passed out.”
Allowing her head to tilt just a little downwards she shamefully whispered, “Oh brother.”
“Well that’s a start.” He remarked as he so wanted his sister more alert to receive his information attained from the night before.
So after allowing her to take a few more sips of coffee he continued, “Sister dear, you have a dilemma to solve today.”
Moving again to mirror her brothers positioning on the bed, but remaining under the sleeping sheet she questions, “And what exactly is my dilemma?”
“Dearest sister you have so many it’s hard to keep counting but let’s just start with the most recent of your dilemmas.” He sarcastically joked as he reached for the clamato juice and vodka cocktail from the tray and taking a taste continued…
“Now, sister dear you need to listen to me!” He stopped and quickly fired her a look to ensure concentration, “Are you ready? Good, now last night after you so elegantly embarrassed yourself and then passed out I received a call from Mr. Smyth, the lead investigator regarding the allegation towards your friend Miss Dove and it turns out that she was not only wrongly incarcerated but…”
“Brother we already knew that part.” Blair scolded her brother for this disturbance, as she returned the half drank cup of coffee back onto the tray.
“Ah yes…miss smarty pants but did you also know who started the wheels turning to get her incarcerated?” Not waiting for her to answer. “Well Mr. Smyth does and now I also know.”
“Oh my god brother I hate your games. Will you just tell me who the culprit was so we can crucify the bastard?”
“Ok let me start at the beginning of what I know…”
“Finally.” She whispered as she slightly adjusted her positioning.
“Smart ass…now what the inspector discovered after the coroner was detained and questioned, was that, and may I add, she apparently cracked like an egg once she was placed in the interrogation room…wait for it… according to the inspector, the coroner wasn’t the master mind behind the deception.” He then purposely waited for the dramatic pause enjoying every moment of his discovery.
“And…who was the master mind?” Blair mockingly questioned.
“Well my dear, it turns out that Miss Coomes was in a relationship with a member of our very own associate’s team.”
“Wait just a minute. This Miss Coomes was she not a guest at our first night’s reception?” She questioned her own memory. “Yes…she and I were engaged in a conversation and Megan interrupted us, and rather abruptly I might add.”
“I’m sure with good reason.” Joe stated as he wanted his sister to come to the right conclusion without him having to tell her who the master mind was, although he greatly wanted to.
So as they both sat on the king size bed leaning against the head board, Joe remaining on top of the bedding and Blair lying between the sheets, they both silently stared across the room seemingly locked in thought. Joe seemed to be patiently waiting as Blair remained in her nauseated frame of mind trying desperately to put the pieces of her intoxicated memory puzzle together.
Allowing the necessary time frame to pass Joe watched his sister complete the complex puzzle as her eyes began that twitching movement she always did as she was deep in thought. And then she began to move her body in an attempt to disbelieve her conclusion. “What the fuck…Joe? Are you saying what I think you are saying?”
“Honey the evidence points in her direction, not to mention the coroner’s confession is pretty damaging.”
Outraged by his unspoken accusations she began to exit the bed without care that she was completely nude, “You really are an asshole. Do you know that?” She painfully yelled as she reached for her bathrobe. “You clearly have not liked my choice for a wife from the start and now you are accusing her of corruptions, and conspiracy to commit a felony!” And then with as much balance as she could control she walked towards the bedroom door with clear intentions of heading towards her fiancée to clear up this outrageous accusation, leaving her brother on the bed in her wake of anger, not realizing that he remained in his position with a look of sheer delight etched across his face.
It was only his love for his sister’s wellbeing that forced him to jump up from the bed shortly after she exited the room to follow her. “Blair… please… wait.” He half-jokingly voiced as he ran to catch up to her.
However she chose to ignore his request and continued towards the wedding room where she was sure her fiancée was working with the team of planners on the final preparation for the big day.
And as she found her target she hesitate at first to enter the room as she spotted her fiancée standing on a secured platform with her wedding gown on as several seamstresses worked feverously on several areas of the gown at once. With Megan clearly orchestrating the group of skilled worker ensuring the gown was at its’ optimal perfection for the wedding of the decade. However, the hesitation did not remain as she felt a subtle push from the rear as her brother encouraged her to enter the room to make one of her most important decisions.
“Ok you don’t have to get pushy, I was only being polite and allowing her to finish with her directions. It’s clear that this a big deal to her.” She irately whispered.
“Oh I’m sure this day will be a big deal to her.” Brother Joe mumbled under his breath as he gave his sister another push.
“GET OUT!!! You are not to see me until the perfect moment.” And then seeing Joe enter the room she continued to yell, “And what are you doing here?” Her boldness was intensifying now that she was just hours away from becoming an bonafide member of the Foster dynasty.
Joe accepted the aggression and allowed the belligerence to remain thick in the air as he was more interested in what and how his sister was going to deal with this earth shattering event, as he knew dealing with Megan was no longer an issue for his immediate or distant future.
“Megan honey, I know and understand that you are a little angry and embarrassed with me right now but…” she then turned towards her brother who she knew was standing directly behind her and asked, “Joe it hard to talk to her about this… she is standing so high up, not to mention looking upwards, well it’s making me feel a little nauseous. So can you help her down, please?” And then gathering the group of woman’s attention, “Ladies, excuse me, could you please all stop your mending and leave the room and do something else for a short while. This is a family matter that requires complete confidentiality.”
And as Joe weakly helped Megan down from the platform by offering his outstretched hand, he simultan
eously turned towards his sister wanting to observe her every movement, misjudged the size of the platform which caused Megan to step on the edge of her gown which caused the hem to rip that sent Megan into a complete instantaneous crying meltdown performance.
Rushing to her side, “Good God Joe… you can be such an asshole.” Blair softly spoke attempting to comfort her fiancée but sadly at the same time not completely convinced the crying was totally real.
“Megan honey, Joe has been given some new information regarding the false incarceration of the young guide, Turtle Dove and he wanted to clear up a few points that the inspector had discovered. Are you able to answer some of his questions before you continue on with the preparations?”
Wiping the barely visible tears from her eyes, she sniffled out in a childlike response, “Okay.”
“Well first of all Megan you can stop all this foolishness. The evidence that was given to me clearly shows that you were the main…” However he was unable to continue on as Megan rose from her seated position on the love seat and by her stance clearly was not going to be accused of this wrongdoing.
“Are you accusing me of sending that mountain girl to prison? I don’t give a good god damn about that lesbian butch.”
Shocked by the revolting statements screamed out by her fiancée, Blair could only remain seated with a stunned look on her face as the battle between her brother Joe, who was known as one of the best legal minds in the business, was now up against a very over the top stressed bride, on her wedding day.
“I had nothing to do with that girl’s trip to the detention centre. Who the fuck cares about a mountain girl anyway? As far as I’m concerned she should never have been let onto our estate grounds in the first place. And if you remember she was the one that nearly got your precious sister killed.” She screamed as she attempted to lift all of the train of her dress to make an exit from the uncomfortable situation she had just found herself in.
“Where do you think you are going?” Joe asked as he walked over to the door defending the space between her exit and his makeshift kangaroo court room.
“Blair… why are you allowing him to treat me like this and why are you not defending me?”
“Why are you not answering his questions, starting with how well do you know this Sylvia Coomes?”
“Oh my god…I have already answered this question, she works for the Rynthorp Coroner department.”
“So if you know so little about this woman… why does she always attend all our parties regardless of reason for event?” Blair’s memory and analytical mind was becoming clearer as the conversation developed.
“And if you know so little about this woman… why did she name you as her accomplice and her lover when questioned by the police.” Joe needed to be the one who offered this little bit of information.
Megan became instantly frozen in shock as her mind went immediately towards last evening’s party when she couldn’t find her, after searching for hours in the large amount of attendees.
“Megan,” Blair’s voice snapped her back to the horrible situation she has just found herself in.
“What.” She yelled back.
“Do you know this person and are you somehow a part of this despicable crime?”
“What crime has been committed?” Megan’s seething words were like a slap across Blair’s face as she thought about her dear sweet woman and the horrible acts of injustice that was committed against her from her fiancée.
“Megan I think you need help. That young woman you speak so poorly of is definitely one of the greatest gifts I have ever received. Her friendship…”
Megan would not allow another nice word spoken about that butch in her presence, and exploded, “Oh my effing god…who the fuck is this freak of a woman that has you so in love with her? What did the two of you do out there in the wilderness…act like animals…is that what you want from me to act like an animal and live in the forest like a little woodland creature. What the fuck has happened to you? Where is the fucked up woman that went away on that ridiculous three day white water rafting excursion? And then somehow came back as someone I do not know? What the fuck does it matter if I was able to coerce someone into changing a few words on a computer? Call it a glitch. Call it a help on society to remove all the ugly lesbian butches in the world!!!”
“How dare you speak like this Megan? I may have returned a different person than when I left on that three day trip but it clearly was a pivotal life changing event in my life…”
“Yes… just like this day was to be a pivotal life changing event for us!!!” She screamed over top of Blair’s honest words.
“And you chose to take out your revenge on an innocent young woman?”
“Oh… I somehow don’t think she’s all that innocent…she’s got you wrapped round her little finger. That’s it… isn’t it? You’re in love with that fucking butch. Is that what you are into ugly butches…am I too beautiful for you…too smart…too educated…is that it?” She screamed so loud that Joe returned back into the room after he had excused himself as the fighting words had become a little too personal, and because even though he thought he would enjoy watching Megan implode on herself, he struggled with watching his sister endure it.
His rapid departure from the room contained another reason, he decided to do the right thing, which was to complete his promise to bring in the suspect into the station without police intervention. He had decided to radio for two of the house security agents to assist him in her transportation, as he began to believe that Megan’s emotional state was dangerously unstable and feared she would attempt to do something stupid.
As the raging argument between the two brides-to-be continued in the bridal room it was only when Megan had turned around to throw in Blair’s direction another item from the table, this time being a spool of thread, she set her glance on the two agents entering the room and immediately began to intensify her plea of innocence, “Blair sweetie… it was just a glitch and I had just heard about it too.”
And then knowing the game was up she instantly turned into an angry loser, as she began to tear and pull her body out of the wedding gown, “You can’t be nice for long… you’ll see… the real bitch will come out of you sooner than you think and then your little Miss Turtle will see the real you and she will run deeper into the woods and leave you forever, and you will end up all alone to drown in your own misery. That’s what you will always be...miserable!” And that’s when the guards took hold of each of her forearms, and began their gentle persuasion of half walking half carrying her out the room.
Not willing to go out silent, Megan decided to offer one last plea for help as she turned her head over the left slightly turned shoulder and pretend her cry for help again stating, “You promised me…you promised me we would be together… forever!”
And then noticing that her fake crying and pleading were falling on deaf ears she allowed seething anger to rule offering one more dig, “If you would have been a better lay, I wouldn’t have had to go looking for better, and trust me Sylvia was better…way better.”
And as Megan continued with her cries of help and outrageous profanities as the guards ushered her down the hallway towards the waiting vehicle, Blair stood by the window watching the wedding planner and her team of caterers prepare the grounds for a wedding.
The moments before Joe departed for the station, he had decided to search for his sister to ensure that her fragile health and heart were ready to proceed with this day’s reversal of events.
As he entered the bridal room he was surprised to notice only the seamstress team were in the room, gathering and repacking their belongings that were sadly strewn all over. Then without speaking he proceeded to Blair’s bedroom as he assumed his little sister had gone back to bed for all the right reasons.
Correct in his location but wrong in his reason, Joe entered the room to discover his sister hurriedly pulling on a pair of slacks.
“Joe I need the helicopter right now
.” She stated as she frantically looked around the room for her blouse.
Empathetic for his sisters’ state of mind, “Blair honey running away isn’t the answer.”
“No Joe…I’m not running away, I’m running towards. Megan was right. I think…no I know I’m in crazy love with Miss Dove and I need to let her know. Brother I need to get to her as soon as possible. I’m going to ask her to marry me… today. So I need you to tell everyone as they arrive that the wedding may happen today but the brides have slightly changed… I hope.” She whispered under her breath.
“Wait just a minute. You want me to tell three hundred plus individuals that the wedding may be happening and that one of the two brides is not Megan?” Are you nuts?”
Taking his face in her hands, “Joe, I’ll go nuts if I don’t at least try.”
“I’ll call to have the helicopter ready for departure.” He stated with happy approval.
As she settled in the helicopter she pulled out her cell phone and proceeded to make a call to one of her favourite people in Carterville, and the one person she knew that would help her in her quest to get all of Turtles’ friends to the estate for a wedding.
Turtle’s mountain home
With each mile that she completed her anticipation built to the point that she found herself laughing aloud for no reason other than pure happiness. And as she crested the small incline that indicated to her memory that she was only meters away from advancing onto the family land, and with her excitement building to the point of an explosion and feeling a little light headed she turned up the music in the jeep as a distraction, and then slowed the jeep down just enough to enable her to stick her head out the open window enjoying the strong summer rays of sunshine on her face.
And then as she continued her very slow drive onto the property her jubilation high was short lived as she once again noticed the complete destruction of the business cabin and the obvious damage that the rushing river caused to her family land. But having the personality of not being one of those people to wallow in self-pity she remembered back to her first glance of this destruction caused by both Mother’s Natures wrath and the release of the dam on her family land that forever changed its landscape, remembering that her first confident words were, “We can re-build” now seem to offer another sting as she quickly noticed when she turned off her jeep that she was startled to notice that the curtains from her parents’ bedroom window were hanging out of the broken glass window, the entrance door was partially open and there seemed to be a strange look about the cabin... her home.
