Mark My Words

by Addison Kline

  Who would be calling at this hour…?

  Brant picked up the phone and saw that it was Sloane who was calling at this early/late hour. He glanced at Holly who was still sound asleep beside him and answered the phone.

  Quietly, he asked, “Whose ass do I have to kick?!”

  From the other end of the line, Brant heard sobbing. Sloane was trying to talk but it just came out in a combination of slurs and curse words.

  “Sloane…”

  “That bloody bastard!”

  “What’s happened?!”

  More sobbing came over the line, and Brant could hear Luke talking calmly to Sloane in the background.

  “Sloane, put Luke on the phone…”

  The sobbing stopped as Luke came on the phone in a cool and calm voice.

  “What the hell is going on?”

  “What a mess. Her father said that he is not paying for a non-traditional wedding.”

  Brant shook his head. What a way to sour an exciting event.

  “I told him, we don’t need his money and that we will get married wherever we please.”

  “Good. Stand up to him.”

  “I did. He just kept saying ‘No daughter of mine’… I think he hates me.”

  “He might. But you’re in good company.”

  “I’m trying to calm her down because she thinks her father is going to wreck the wedding or miss it altogether.”

  “Put her on the phone.”

  The sobbing became more audible until finally Brant heard Sloane complaining into the phone again.

  “It’s just not fair!”

  “Sloane…”

  “He’s so stubborn. He won’t listen to anything I’m saying….”

  “Sloane……..”

  “Why can’t he just listen…?”

  “SLOANE!”

  “What?! Why are you yelling at me?!”

  “You’re not listening. You and your Dad are both very stubborn people. Everything will work out just fine. Do you really think your Mom would let your dreams be dashed? Or us? Or Luke?”

  “No…”

  “Then relax. He’s just being an old blowhard.”

  “Maybe, you’re right.”

  Holly had started to stir next to Brant.

  “Baby, who’s on the phone?” Holly asked.

  “It’s Sloane. She’s upset.”

  “Give me the phone…” Holly said as she reached her right hand out.

  “Sloane…” Holly said, sounding groggy.

  “Finally…” Sloane said impatiently.

  “Did he say what we knew he would say?”

  “Yeah! He was so heartless.”

  “Well, guess what? That doesn’t mean that your wedding is off. It just means that we are going forward with it your way. People can say what they want, it doesn’t mean they control your life.”

  “You’re right.”

  “I know I’m right. Now stop crying and go to bed. I’m sure Luke has to be up early, and he doesn’t like seeing you upset.”

  “He just called out. He didn’t want to leave me.”

  “See… He loves you. Your Dad loves you, too… He’s just very, very stubborn. Like you!”

  “And you…”

  “This isn’t about me,” said Holly as she began to laugh. “Go to sleep.”

  “I’m sorry for calling so late…”

  “That’s what we’re here for.”

  ***

  “Do you feel better now?” asked Luke as he took the cell phone from Sloane and put it on the charger.

  “A little…”

  “Let’s get in bed then.”

  “I just can’t believe him…”

  “Don’t worry about it too much. We will be married regardless and surrounded by the people that love us.”

  “But…” started Sloane.

  Luke stopped her. Backing her up against the wall outside of the bedroom that they share, Luke leaned his arm against the wall as he looked down at her.

  “I’m not going anywhere, and I’m going to make sure that everything works out. Do you understand me?”

  Sloane looked up at him with surprised eyes. There was complete calm in Luke’s face. He did not look worried at all.

  “Honey, I’ve dealt with fathers before. It never really mattered until now. I refuse to be stripped of my life with you. You’re mine. All mine. Nothing can stand in our way. He might not like me, but he’ll learn to love me.”

  “Good luck with that,” said Sloane as a smirk formed on her face.

  “Sloane, I’d marry you right now if I could.”

  Suddenly, something lit up Sloane’s formerly depressed face.

  “That’s it!”

  Luke looked around nervously.

  “What?”

  “Run away with me. Valentine’s weekend. We’ll get married at City Hall and have a small ceremony in St. Thomas.”

  “Are you serious?!”

  “Dead serious! I know Holly and Brant would be on board. They need a vacation.”

  “What about your parents?!”

  “They are welcome to come, but not to interfere.”

  Sloane’s mind was made up. She wasn’t the type of girl who changed her mind easily. She wanted her Valentine’s Day wedding on the beach in St. Thomas. Luke’s mind was reeling. It was all happening so fast. He wasn’t nervous, though. He was thrilled. He had been waiting for Sloane to marry him since senior year in college. Finally, it was happening. Sloane wrapped her arms around Luke’s muscular shoulders and looked up at him with her big brown eyes.

  “You’ll see, it will be perfect…”

  “How on earth are we going to pull this off?”

  “Are you serious? It will be a Sloane Markowitz production! I pulled together Holly and Brant’s formal affair in less than a week. I can do this,” said Sloane with a sparkle in her eyes.

  Luke led Sloane into the bedroom.

  “Your father is going to hate me,” said Luke warily as he stripped off his t-shirt and flopped down on the bed.

  Sloane’s eyes danced over his rippling abs and a devious smirk crossed her face. With a graceful prance, her heels echoed a staccato beat across the floor until she was by Luke’s side. She slid her perfectly manicured hands across his chest and straddled his lap, spreading her elegant cocktail dress across him like a blanket. Luke pursed his lips. He loved Sloane’s games.

  “So, tell me… Lover boy… Are you marrying me or my father?”

  Luke winked at Sloane slyly.

  “Hmmm… I don’t know…”

  With a broad grin on her face, Sloane whispered in Luke’s ear, “Oh, shut up. My mind’s made up. Valentine’s Day in St. Thomas. Be there.”

  Before Luke could respond Sloane had seized his lips with her own, and sealed the matter completely.

  ***

  “What in the bloody hell is wrong with you?!” screamed Philomena as the front door slammed shut.

  Sloane and Luke had just left, and Sloane was upset. No… More than upset. She was furious. Tears burned her eyes as she called her father a miserable, selfish bastard.

  “Me?! What’s wrong with you?! She just wants to go and break tradition! Well that’s fine, but that doesn’t mean that I have to be a part of it.”

  “She is your only daughter!”

  “Why is it so wrong for me to want my daughter to follow in the path that we set out for her?”

  “This again? She’s a grown woman, and she’s going to make the right choice for her. We had our moment, if you recall… Let them have theirs!”

  “Or what?”

  “Or you’ll be sleeping on the couch for the rest of your bloody life! Now fix this!”

  As Arthur stared at his wife, Philomena stomped her feet up the steps, raced down the upstairs hallway with fury and slammed the bedroom door shut with a bang. Just as Arthur was about to yell up the steps that he’d be right up, he heard the doorknob of his bedroom lock shut.

  Chapter Four

>   The Plan

  “Hey doll, what can I get ya today?” Dotty the waitress asked Holly and Sloane as they settled onto their couch at the Pour House Coffee Shop.

  “Venti latte, hold the whip… and a croissant,” said Sloane as Holly made a disgusted face at her friend.

  The waitress scribbled Sloane’s order down then looked at Holly.

  “Just tea for me. Chai with two sugars.”

  “Anything to eat?”

  Holly made the face again.

  “No, I’m good.”

  The waitress tore their order off of her note pad and made a beeline for the kitchen.

  “What’s your deal?” Sloane asked. “Not eating?”

  “My stomach is a mess. I don’t know if I ate something funky at Marv’s the other night or what…”

  “Was it my mother’s brisket?”

  “No, that was delicious.”

  “Maybe you’re pregnant.”

  Holly gave her friend the evil eye.

  “Get real Sloane. I had a partial hysterectomy.”

  “Stranger things have happened.”

  “Whatever, I think it’s just a bug or something. So what’s going on? Do you feel better after last night?”

  Sloane smirked as she applied her ruby red lipgloss to her lips.

  “Oh, my God… Loads. Wait until you get a load of this!”

  Holly smiled at her excitable friend. She never stayed upset long.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Forget June.”

  “What? Wait…”

  “We moved up the wedding…”

  “Oh, my God! To when?!”

  “Valentine’s weekend!”

  Holly nearly choked.

  “That’s less than two weeks away…”

  “Sure is.”

  “Can we pull this off?”

  “I pulled off your big blow-out, didn’t I?”

  Holly had to admit that Sloane had a point.

  “Still in St. Thomas?”

  “Of course.”

  “We have so much to do!”

  “First we have to get everyone on board. You, Brant and the kids. Gloria and Marv. Luke’s grandmom. My Mom…”

  “I’m not bringing the kids…”

  “Why?!”

  “They have school… Aunt Doris is going to watch them…”

  “Who else am I forgetting…?”

  “What about your Dad?”

  “At this point, I don’t even care.”

  “You care.”

  “He made his point very clear. Now I’m going to make mine. This is going to be the most fabulous beach wedding you’ve ever witnessed in your life!”

  Holly smiled broadly, clearly thrilled for her friends.

  “I am so sure it will be. When do we go dress shopping?”

  “Thursday night. Luke is talking to Brant today to book a block of hotel rooms. We all just have to pay for our flight.” I want to leave next Thursday on the 5 P.M. to San Juan and a charter plane to Charlotte Amalie.”

  “Wow. You have this all figured out.”

  “I woke up at 6 A.M. I was too psyched to sleep.”

  “What about the venue?”

  “Sweetwater Resort. Right on the beach at sunset. A fully catered soiree afterwards. It will be perfect.”

  ***

  The squeak of sneakers rubbing against the gymnasium floor echoed as a basketball pounded up and down making its way towards the net. Brant and Luke were letting off some steam while the girls met up for coffee.

  “You seriously suck at this game!” Brant shouted to Luke.

  “You know basketball is not my sport. Put me in a rink or a baseball diamond, and I’m good,” Luke said.

  “So what’s up with you and Sloane after last night?”

  “Oh, were up alright.”

  “Oh?”

  “The wedding’s been moved up.”

  “Really? Why am I not surprised?”

  “Yeah… Valentine’s weekend.”

  “Holy shit!”

  “Yeah… She was adamant. It’s going to be awesome though.”

  “Yeah, were going to need to take care of travel arrangements.”

  “Already taken care of. I booked a block of hotel rooms and I paid for the venue this morning. I got us all booked on the 5:15 P.M. to San Juan.”

  “Please do not put me on one of those cloud jumper planes…”

  “Buddy, you’re going to have a front seat view.”

  “I may throw up…”

  “Don’t worry, Holly will protect you,” Luke said with a smirk. Brant wasn’t laughing though and lunged forward to steal the basketball from his buddy.

  “Very funny, wise guy…”

  “What about her parents...?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “We have to get them there…”

  “She’s pissed at her father.”

  “She’ll regret it if he’s not there, though. Let me talk to Holly. I’m sure there’s a way we can figure this out.”

  “Good luck with that. I gotta make a call to get Marv and Gloria on board.”

  “That won’t be hard… They are on their fifth honeymoon… They’ll be thrilled for the excursion.”

  ***

  Holly walked out of the coffee shop with a million thoughts on her mind at once. She waved bye to Sloane and immediately picked up her cell phone.

  “Hello?!” yelled Philomena Markowitz into her cell phone.

  “Hey, Phil, how’s it going? It’s Holly…”

  “Aww, Holly! Thanks for calling… How is everything?”

  “Great, actually. So what did you think of Luke?”

  “He’s a charming and polite young man. I can’t wait til the wedding.”

  “Oh, good. Because there is something I want to talk to you about.”

  “Okay…”

  “Sloane has moved up the wedding.”

  “What?! To when?!”

  “Next weekend…”

  “Holy crap… Hold on, honey get me out from under this dryer. I have a romantic crisis on my hands,” said Philomena to her hair dresser.

  “I am not going to be able to convince Artie to go by next weekend…”

  “I have an idea…”

  “Honey, I’m all ears…”

  Chapter Five

  Other Plans

  Arthur sat at his desk pouring over the contents of his computer screen. His glasses slid down his nose as he browsed through the search results for rabbis in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. If Philomena knew what he was doing, she’d kill him for sure. Suddenly, he heard Philomena emerge from her bedroom humming along to a Perry Como song that was blaring from her radio. She danced along with the beat.

  Papa loves Mambo! Mama loves Mambo! Look at them sway!

  Arthur rolled his eyes at his carefree wife as his eyes went back to the search results on the computer.

  “Arthur! Did you feed FiFi today?! He’s whining downstairs.”

  “Not yet. I will.”

  And think of a better name for that dog. FiFi for a boy dog. It’s appalling.

  “He’s starving!”

  “He’s the fattest Pomeranian on the planet. He is not starving!”

  “Poor FiFi. Mama will feed you! I’ll give you all of Daddy’s bacon!”

  “That’s why that dog is so fat!”

  Arthur continued browsing the web, trying to find something concrete that he could bring to Sloane. He’d have to do it carefully, though. Philomena wasn’t in the mood for his usual bargaining. Just last night she told him to leave his negotiating at the dealership.

  “We’ll see about that!” Artie said to himself as he printed the results.

  He went to pick up his phone when he realized it wasn’t on the desk where he left it.

  “What the hell did she do with it?!”

  “Mena….! What did you do with my cell phone?!”

  Suddenly she emerged in the room.

  “I was vacu
uming in here earlier and your phone was beeping and needing to be charged. So it’s down in the kitchen.”

  “Just because it beeps, it doesn’t mean it needs to be charged. Those beeps are text messages.”

  “Oh, you know I hate these gadgets of yours…”

  “Can you grab it for me?” asked Arthur as he tried to hide his print outs from his wife.

  “Arthur, I’m very busy. I have to finish putting away the laundry and then we are going to brunch with Marv and Gloria!”

  “Brunch?!”

  “Yes, Arthur. Is there a problem?” Gloria asked as she glared at her husband.

  Arthur grunted to himself. He grabbed the print out from the desk and shoved them into his pocket as he went to grab his phone. If he could make it quick, he knew that he could finish the phone calls before Philomena came back into the office. Arthur quickly bolted down the stairs and tripped over the fat Pomeranian and nearly broke his neck as he raced for his phone. Meanwhile, Philomena had come out of her bedroom again with a load of laundry in her arms. Still humming, she put towels in the powder room and then entered Arthur’s office where she dropped off his throw blanket on his office chair.

  “This place is a mess!” Philomena complained as she looked at the crumbled pieces of paper on the floor.

  She picked up each paper one by one and put them in his waste basket that sat under the desk. Accidentally, she hit the mouse with her elbow and Arthur’s computer screen lit up.

  “What’s this…?” Philomena said as she looked at his screen. “Rabbis in St. Thomas… ARTHUR!!!!!!!!”

  Just as Arthur had reached his cell phone, he heard his wife’s bellowing cry.

  “What is the meaning of this?!”

  Oh, bugger.

  Philomena stormed down the stairs with a furious look on her face. Arthur waited for her in the kitchen with baited breath.

  “For the last time, this is their wedding! Let them have it their way!”

  “I’m just trying to help…”

  “Do you want to piss her off even further?!”

  “No… But this is her history...”

  “She’s not forgetting her history… She creating her future with a lovely young man. Now stop pressing the issue! It’s not like she’s converting! Now get dressed! We’re going to brunch!”