"No...she's not giving interviews right now. Goodbye"
*CLUNK*....*BRRRRRRRRRRINNNNNNNGGGGGGGG*
"Hello....no, this is her husband. Yes, her husband: Neil Humphries. Yes I know that's not the same name as Kent but Kent is my wife's maiden name and she writes under that. No, she's not taking any calls right now. OK, I'll say the Sim City Chronicle called."
*CLUNK*...*BRRRRRRRRRRRINNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG*
"Oh what the hell....Hello, what do you want? Late Night With Adrian Croft wants Suzy on the show? She's not doing interviews at the moment...yes, I know it's for television. Look, don't call us, we'll call you....I am well aware of the shortness of news cycles, thank you. Who am I? I'M HER MANAGER, THE NAME'S DUKE MITCHUM, OK? Now thank you and goodbye!" *CLUNK*
"Well, that's the 27th member of the press calling to ask for an interview with you" said Neil, who had just hung up the phone and now proceeded to take it off the hook.
"I'm sorry, hon, I didn't know I'd be getting all this attention after my article got published" replied Suzy, bashfully.
"It's because it got published a day before Landgraab died. There's a whole media frenzy since that happened." said Neil, thoughtfully. There were times when he thought his wife was naive in the matters of sensationalist news and that she wasn't prepared for any of this attention.
"Bad timing...I'm not sure about how I feel about Geoffrey's death. He was very aggressive towards me when he was alive; threatening to get me the sack, trying to put an injunction on my reporting but to go just like that when it was all going to overwhelm him...it's still a tragedy." she said.
"He never got to face justice for all that he had done. Now it's all the court of public opinion; the rest of the Landgraabs will get their expensive lawyers to mitigate the damage now: Put the blame entirely on a dead man."
"Neil...that's cynical!" exclaimed Suzy.
"Quite possibly; but I can't help but reach that conclusion the more I think about it" he replied.
Suzy went over to a coat stand and grabbed her handbag. "I've got to go to work now...thanks for being my manager, 'Duke'" she said.
"Jus' doin' mah job, ma'am" he said in his best John Wayne voice.
Neil then went into Willow Creek to do some more art research for a painting idea he had. His own work had taken a backseat of late as he had become enmeshed in Suzy's work with helping her uncover clues. The recent publicity of her work was also getting in the way and he had mixed feelings about that: Not that she was more famous than him, that didn't bother him, but that the fame got in the way of important things getting done.
After leaving the library he continued down the main street, maybe to check out the gallery, but instead he bumped into Barbara Dubois.
"Barbara, what a nice surprise" said Neil. He noticed she was wearing athletic gear. "Are you just going to the gym?"
"I've just been, I'm going home now" she replied. "So, all the newspapers I open up mention Suzy's name in them so how's it going? What's it like being married to Sim City's hottest new star?"
"Ah yes, that..." said Neil, his smile disappearing from his face. Barbara immediately picked up on that.
"Oh, not good then?" she asked.
"It's tough, Barbara, to be frank. I'm not criticising Suzy at all; she's worked hard and been extremely dedicated to getting that story out but it's the press intrusion on our lives that I'm struggling with."
"And how does Suzy feel about it all?" asked Barbara.
"Suzy's coping well. She wants to get out and do more stuff and not let the press get in her way but it's difficult for her...they keep phoning asking for interviews but she won't give any...not with Geoffrey Landgraab's death."
"Why's that?"
"Because the press ask if her investigation into the family's history and wrongdoings are in some way connected with his death...as if..."
"...as if he was driven to suicide by what Suzy wrote?" said Barbara, realising the significance of what Neil was telling her.
"They haven't had the inquest yet but the press are running with that angle, yes."
"I'm so sorry you two are having to deal with that. Look, we must all meet up and go for dinner; the four of us."
"That would be great, Barbara. When I get home I'll check our diaries and make that happen."
"Excellent. Listen, Neil, I have to scoot home but you take care. Don't let this get to you." she said, reaching out with her hand to touch his arm in reassurance.
Neil decided not to go to the gallery but instead head straight home. He saw a very familiar, and welcome, face at the other end of his street: His best friend, Andre.
"Andre! What brings you here?"
"I was literally in the area and I finished my work early so I decided to pop in on the off chance you were home. You usually are with all that painting you do." said Andre.
"I've just got back from the library. It's good to see you, man. What have you been up to?" said Neil.
"Work, mainly. It's consuming most of my time at the moment."
"Do you have any time for the world of dating?" asked Neil, cheekily.
"As if! In some ways being busy is good; I spend less time agonising over my lack of a love life."
Neil ushered Andre over to the outdoor porch bench so they could continue their conversation.
"You know, Neil, Suzy's all over the newspapers right now" said Andre, stating the obvious.
"Yeah, tell me about it" Neil replied with a sigh.
"The fame's getting to you, eh?"
"It's not my fame and I just don't know how to handle second hand notoriety, especially when I'm all that stands between the gutter press and my wife! She's keeping her head down and not granting interviews...which is wise...but I'm like her personal assistant, bodyguard, social secretary and manager all rolled into one when what I really want to do is paint!"
"It's not what you signed up for?" said Andre.
"That's putting it mildly." Neil sighed. "I don't begrudge any of the success Suzy's had. She's wonderful and so tenacious. I think...well...heck, I'm not sure right now."
"Maybe you need someone to take some of those tasks off of you?" said Andre.
"Yes! That's it! We need a genuine, professional assistant!" said Neil, his face beaming.
"Well, maybe I can help out. I'll keep those bloodhounds of the press off your back" said Andre, clapping his hands as he warmed to the challenge.
"How are you going to do that?" asked Neil.
"Just watch...see that guy over there, behind that birch tree?" said Andre, pointing towards a very conspicuous looking man who was peeping at Rindle Rose from behind a tree. He was even wearing a tan trenchcoat in this 77 degree weather. When he saw Neil and Andre looking at him, he quickly and nervously looked away, towards his shoes and started pacing around.
Andre stood up and walked over to him. "Hey you, buddy...you're from the press, I've seen you around. Now I'm Mr and Mrs Humphries' personal assistant and I'm warning you neither are giving interviews and to move away from this area as you're causing distress to them both and their neighbours."
"Are you Duke Mitchum?" said the reporter.
"Who? What? No. My name is Mr Good and from now on all enquires for Mrs Humphries must come via me. You got that?"
The reporter shrugged his shoulders and sloped off away. Andre loosened the collar of his shirt and walked back to Neil, smiling broadly.
Later on Suzy returned home from work and noticed the strange calm that had fallen over not only her home, but the neighbourhood as well.
"Neil...there's something a little different to everything right now...I can't put my finger on it"
"You mean no weirdos hanging around the street corner, the phone's not ringing non-stop and you can enter and leave this house without people yelling 'Miss Kent! A word with you Miss Kent! What now for you and the Landgraabs!'?"
"Yes, that's it! Where did they go?"
"Andre's sorted it"
Suzy looked incredulous. "Andre?" she said, hardly imagining how he's got involved in all this and what he did to make the press go away.
"Yep, my ol' buddy Andre. He's acting as our press agent for now. He takes all the phone calls, all the requests and chases away any bothersome journalists hanging around our house." and with that Neil flicked a tomato slice into the air and caught it smack bang in the middle of his salad bowl.
"And there I was thinking you've been having a hard time with all the fuss that's being made around me" said Suzy, still wondering in the back of her mind what Andre had managed to pull off.
After dinner, Neil resumed his painting and now fired up with enthusiasm to finish it whilst Suzy went to work on a plain and simple fashion article for Hey, Wow!
"It's looking good, darling" she said, looking over to his canvass. "Is that a painting of Granite Falls?"
"It sure is" he replied. "It's part of a trio of paintings I want to do with that setting. This is the view of the falls from that clifftop we climbed."
"I'd love to go back there some time...we had a wonderful honeymoon there" she said with a wistful sigh.
"Why don't we then, and soon...whilst it's still Summer?"
"Ah to get away from it all for just a few days...let's do it!" she said, enthusiastically.
Later it was time for the two of them to go to bed and Neil fell fast asleep almost as his head hit the pillow but Suzy was still buzzing at the thought of getting away to Granite Falls. But there was something else gnawing away inside of her so she opted not to go to bed just yet.
She crept quietly into the living room and looked over at the pile of books and notepaper that was sitting atop of the entertainment unit. The work of Patrick Cornelius about the secrets of Sim City. She had completed the first part, Landgraab. Now she would learn all about part two: Victor and Lily Feng.
"So much to do today, Neil. Do you think I should pop next door to speak to Eliza now?"
"Suzy, it's 7:30am. She might still be in bed...especially if the baby's been keeping her up at night. Relax, darling, just give it until around 9am and then go and see her."
"But I'm too excited, I'm buzzing...so many questions about this Advik Archaya to put to her!"
"And that can wait another 90 minutes or so...I tell you what; why don't you write down on a piece of paper all the questions you want to ask her; gather your thoughts properly. It'll help you pass the time instead of wearing a hole in your shoes pacing up and down".
Suzy stopped talking, and pacing around the room, smiled sheepishly at Neil and nodded. He was correct and so she walked over to the kitchen counter, picked up a pad of paper and a pen and started to jot down some ideas and questions she would put to Eliza and Bob about Mr Archaya. It was a strange congruence of circumstances that fired her imagination: That they would buy a house where the previous owner had discovered the mysterious hidden glade in Foundry Cove, that the man had known the mysterious assassin, Leanne McGregor, and that his disappearance was probably due to her.
And this saga she had found herself on all began with the discovery of a missing page from a book...
On the stroke of 9am, Suzy gathered up her questions and ideas and headed straight round to the Pancakes residence. She rang the doorbell and it was Bob who answered it.
"Oh, hello Suzy. What is it?" he asked in his usual, slightly bored sounding voice.
"I'd like to talk with you and Eliza about the neighbourhood...we're still getting the hang of things around here. And I've been learning a bit about our new house: Can I ask you guys some questions?"
"Erm, yeah, sure...come on in" replied Bob, looking slightly confused by Suzy's request to answer questions.
He led her to the lounge and he sat down to watch some TV: The news was on and it was about the airline worker's strike.
"I hope you guys weren't planning a big vacation anytime soon. Looks like the whole system's grounded." said Bob, nodding at the footage of striking airline workers.
"No...well, not until around August; we're still settling in." replied Suzy.
"Well..." said Bob with a sigh. "...we weren't going to go on vacation anyway: The baby's nixed that idea. Anyway, what did you want to know about the neighbourhood?"
"Your old neighbour, Advik...he mysteriously disappeared, didn't he?" Suzy phrased her question as gently as she could in order not to spook out Bob with everything she knew about the case. Bob sighed again and drew in a deep breath before responding.
"Yeah, poor guy." was the eventual reply.
"Did you know him well?" she asked, pushing a bit more.
"Yeah, pretty well. We'd go fishing and hunting a few times. Decent guy but I didn't hang out with him much as work and...stuff with Eliza..." he said, with a faint grimace on his lips "...got in the way. Then I really lost contact with him after he went a bit crazy."
"He went crazy?" Suzy pressed again even though she could tell Bob wasn't comfortable with talking about such things.
"Yeah...really far out, you know?" said Bob, shifting uncomfortably on the couch.
"How so?"
"Jeez, where to begin? You know he was a regular guy and all that but he met this girl...wait a moment, no, she came along later...That's it, he claimed he'd stumbled on some kind of terrible secret and it really freaked him out. He was never the same guy after that; became a recluse."
"Did he say where he found this secret?" asked Suzy, her eyes bright with excitement as further revelations in this story.
"Yeah, in some book." Bob replied.
"Do you know which book?" asked Suzy without hesitation.
"Jeez, I know you're a reporter and all that but this is kind of intense!" said Bob, defensively.
"Sorry, Bob, that's my training taking over. I'm just interested in strange stories, that's all. This sounds fascinating."
"Well, it was weird to witness, I can tell you. I don't know the name of the book but he showed it to me one time. I didn't understand it; it seemed gibberish to me about pocket worlds, triangles of power and conspiracies."
Suzy's heart skipped a beat...this book, could it be the one she had one torn page from? Could this be the book that explained everything mysterious about Sim City?
"And it was after reading the book his behaviour changed?" asked Suzy, restraining herself.
"Big time. He became paranoid, then he got into that whole painting gig, quit his job and I only saw him a few times after that."
"You mentioned a girl he was seeing, what do you know about her?"
"Not much. Saw her a few times when she came over to visit him but I never spoke with her. She was a classy chick; long black hair, dark eyes, kinda sultry looking. Oh yeah, Advik told me her name was Leanne. Anyway they were an item for about six weeks and then...BAM...he disappeared. Only found his shoes. The official report said he probably fell off a cliff and into a fast moving river...body's probably washed out to sea."
Suzy sat back in her seat and took a deep breath. Everything fitted here; the book, the obsessive painting and Leanne McGregor, angel of death. She probably pushed poor Advik off the cliff.
Upstairs the baby started crying and it could be heard in the lounge. It was loud enough to interrupt their conversation and after a few seconds Suzy could hear a door open upstairs and Eliza's voice boomed out downstairs.
"Bobby...can you feed Armand? I'm in the bathroom right now...there's a bottle of milk by the crib." she said.
Bob got up and sighed with exhaustion again as he trudged up the stairs to feed the little one. He was resigned to the fact that he wasn't going to get his old life back now, that he will never be able to watch a TV show all the way through and that sleep would be intermittent but he figured what else was there to do to resit it? Kid's gotta be fed, he figured. Besides, Armand was his son and give it a few years and they'll be throwing a football around in the back yard.
"Suzy, is that you?" called out Eliza. "Come on upstairs, I'm busy cleaning the bathroom but I'd love a chat"
Suzy walked upstairs where she could hear Bob cooing to the baby in one room and Eliza's footsteps in a room opposite. Eliza greeted her neighbour with a hug and a big smile.
"Did I hear right that you're interested in hearing about our old neighbour, Advik?" she said.
"Yes, sounds like an interesting, if tragic story" replied Suzy.
"Oh it was so sad when we heard the news of his disappearance." said Eliza. "But he did give us one of his paintings, for free, before he left on that last, fateful trip. Would you like to see it?"
"I'd like that" replied Suzy, again excited that she was learning more and more about this story.
Eliza led Suzy to one of the bedrooms and there, above a mantlepiece, was a landscape painting of a mountain range...in the same particular pink shade as the painting she and Neil had seen at the art gallery.
"Did he tell you what inspired this painting?" asked Suzy.
"Not really...he said it was called '6am Sunrise' and asked if we would take very good care of it...and we've done so. It's hung there ever since we got it."
"He was quite talented" said Suzy, scrutinising the painting for any clues. Nothing obvious struck her though.
Her studiousness was interrupted by the sound of the baby gurgling "ah-goo" and she turned to look at him lying there, his feet gently kicking in the air and one hand at his mouth. She started making goo-goo noises back at him.
"Any plans to start a family with Neil?" asked Eliza and Bob.
"What? NO! Well, not now...but...I'm tempted!" Suzy replied. The power of a cute baby had struck her. "Anyway, it smells like he needs a change of diaper so I'll leave you to it. Thanks for that very interesting information." And with that, she headed home.
She found Neil reading a book about French 19th century painters. He looked up at her and asked how the talk with Eliza and Bob went.
"Good, very interesting in fact" she replied. "So this Advik Archaya got hold of some mysterious book that told of all the conspiracies in Sim City...I think it's the same book the missing page I have in my possession is from. Anyway, Bob and Eliza think it drove him mad and he became paranoid and obsessive. And they said he was dating Leanne McGregor! It all fits!"
"If only we can find that book..." mused Neil.
"The more progress we make, the more we discover that we need to find out more" she sighed.
Neil stood up and put the book back on the shelf. "I have to go out for a bit" he said. "I'm meeting Andre in town". Andre Good was Neil's best friend and was best man at his wedding.
"Aww, that's nice. Do give him my love" said Suzy. "Is he seeing anyone, do you know?"
"I don't think so, I'll soon find out when I catch up with him" replied Neil, grabbing his wallet and set of car keys.
"I hope he is...he's too down on himself when it comes to dating. There's plenty of nice women out there!" said Suzy.
"Now don't do yourself down, Andre...there are plenty of nice women out there" said Neil, trying to encourage his friend.
"I hope so...it hasn't worked out so far." Andre replied. "But you'll be my wingman, right? Encourage and big me up to the ladies?"
"Of course. You're officially a friend to the married man. Well, let's get a beer and catch up...I haven't seen much of you since we moved house" said Neil, jerking his head towards the Waterside Warble bar.
The two went inside and found there weren't many people there. It must be a slow afternoon, Neil thought. They took their places at the bar and ordered two beers.
"How's it going, Andre?" asked Neil.
"Job's much the same, I'm still at the same place and doing the same things." said Andre with a shrug.
"Dare I ask how the love life is?"
"Deader than pleats and men's hats" replied Andre, taking a big swig of his beer.
"Did you follow things up with Tiffany?"
"We had one date, but it's clear she and I are two very different people to make anything work. I suspect she still holds a candle for some other guy. Kept dropping the name 'Alan' into the conversation. At one point she accidentally called me by that name. Shame, as she was extremely HOT!"
"Yeah, you know she's a Lothario Kitten?" said Neil.
"You told me that...I can well believe it. Shame it never went any further; I'd have liked to see her in her kitten outfit." said Andre, managing a wry smile.
A beautiful and svelte looking young woman wearing the latest fashions walked past them both and glanced in their direction momentarily.
"Speaking of kittens...there goes another one!" said Andre, excitedly. "And she's my favourite! Miss Ginger!"
"Why don't you say hello to her?" asked Neil.
"You know I think I will!" said an eager Andre, ready to leap off his bar stool but as soon as he was poised Miss Ginger, Tasha Michel, walked over to a tall, slim and very handsome man and gave him a kiss on the cheek. They sat down together on one of the bar sofas and snuggled up to one another.
"...or maybe not. Some guys have all the luck" said a deflated Andre.
"Well, there's..." began Neil.
"DON'T SAY IT!" replied Andre, interrupting and pointing an accusatory finger at Neil.
"...plenty of fish in the sea?" continued Neil, looking admonished.
"Well while you think up your next homily I'm going to the bathroom." said Andre, getting up and walking to the bathroom...taking a moment to look once again at Miss Ginger in all her beauty as he walked past.
Meanwhile Neil smiled and took another sip of his drink. Andre was frustrated by his lack of success with women but he didn't seem despondent. Where there's hope, there's love; Neil thought.
"Fancy seeing you here!" came a familiar voice sitting next to him. Neil turned and saw his neighbour, Barbara Dubois, sitting at the end of the bar.
"You too. Where's Jeremy?" said Neil.
"He's meeting me here; we're going to go out to dinner tonight at a Chinese restaurant we both like. Where's Suzy?"
"Right about now she's still over at the Hey, Wow! offices. I'm here with my friend, Andre. Do you remember him?"
"Oh yes, from the wedding. Nice guy. Is he still seeing Tiffany?"
Neil shook his head. "Didn't work out; I'm helping him look for a bit of romance down here. He's not having much luck, I'm afraid."
"Too bad. I hope his luck improves tonight!" said Barbara.
Andre returned from the bathroom and the three of them had a friendly discussion until Jeremy showed up and whisked Barbara away for their dinner date. Andre watched them leave and said "now that's the kind of girl I'm looking for. How did you and Jeremy end up with absolute angels like Barbara and Suzy?"
"In my case, she worked on me until I cracked. I'm glad she did. Anyway, the right girl is out there for you, Andre. You've just got to be patient. Let's get another round in." said Neil, catching the barmaid's attention.
They had a second round, then a third but tonight wasn't the night where nice, attractive single ladies came to the Waterside Warble. Perhaps the one night in its entire history where this had not happened. Andre grew despondent and left to go home. The scene was dead, the vibe had gone and so had Andre's quest for this evening. Neil finished his last drink and headed home as well but he paused to watch and listen to a busker in Spice Quarter Square. Andre's words before he left buzzed around Neil's head as he watched the busker.
"There's no attractive single women around!"
Neil looked around the square and saw a young, attractive woman eating a bowl of Ramen.
...and another...
...and another although, Neil thought, she looks a little spaced out...
...and another. Wait, isn't she that singer from TV? If only Neil had hung on just 10 minutes more...10 MINUTES! Andre just has no luck...
Suzy entered the house in a fluster. "Phew, the commute home was horrendous!" she said, kicking off her white go-go boots. "And there was just a ton of work to get through as well...oh, hello..." she said, noticing how he was dressed. "You do realise our wedding's tomorrow?"
"I know. I have something special planned for this evening though. I've booked dinner for us at Chez Llama." replied Neil.
"Oh my gosh! That's wonderful! I can't go dressed like this though! Make way, you just go and do something out there while I get ready....when did you book the table for? 8 o'clock? I might just about be ready in time but only if you get out of the way...mush! Mush!"
It seemed like an age but Suzy was just about ready in time for them to reach Chez Llama for their booking but there was a heart in the mouth moment when the maître de couldn't find the booking listed...it had transpired that they'd misspelt "Humphries".
They were led to their table and Neil was amazed at how beautiful and svelte Suzy was. Tomorrow she would be his wife. Even though they'd been living together for the last few months there was something magical to him about the difference from that to being married. A sense of connection and permanence to it.
Their table was near the piano it was a quieter evening at Chez Llama than when they were last here, which suited both of them.
"You look amazing, Suzy" said Neil. "I haven't seen you in that dress before, it's lovely"
"Thank you, sweetie. I am always impressed when you wear your white Tux. It makes you look like James Bond."
"Although he has dark hair. I don't think the world is quite ready for a blonde James Bond." he replied.
"Well, I am certainly ready for something to eat...with a Martini on the side!" said Suzy.
Neil attracted the attention of the waiter, who arrived promptly. This is what you get when you go somewhere luxurious for dinner, Neil thought. He ordered confidently for the two of them and Suzy noticed how much he had grown from the shy, sensitive artist she had met at the Fashion Quarter all those months ago. For her, she couldn't wait to be married to this man...even mulled it over in her mind to elope with him right here and now.
"So you're still not going to tell me what your dress looks like?" asked Neil.
"No way...you'll see tomorrow. I don't know what you'll be wearing." she replied.
"A smile" he said, suggestively.
"Silly. Now is everything arranged? Andre's got the rings?"
"He has. Church booked, caterer booked, car, honeymoon all booked. Relax, let's just enjoy the rest of this evening; our last as singles."
The food arrived and it lived up to Chez Llama's reputation: Strange, odd looking but exquisite to taste. Suzy wondered how she would eat hers and, indeed, what parts of the meal were actual food and what was inedible but there for show?
The meal was superb and the couple strolled home in the warm evening air. Neil put his arm around Suzy as they walked, taking in the views across the river and into the city. They didn't need to say much; they were snuggled and happy to enjoy the evening before the big day tomorrow. When they got home, there was still a buzz and their ardour was not dimmed by the walk home. They decided to retire to bed and woohoo one more time as an unwed couple...
"Just the alarm clock dear...don't worry, I'll switch it.....OH MY GOODNESS! IT'S 8am and we're getting married at 2! So much to do!"
Suzy leapt out of bed, naked, and started to run around the bedroom, trying to find something. "My lingerie! It was in a pink box! I put it on top of the chest of drawers!"
"Relax, you put it under the bed yesterday" said Neil, getting gingerly out of bed and fumbling around on the floor, also naked, trying to reach the box placed under the bed. "Now get in the shower: You take longer to get dressed than me"
Neil put on a robe and made breakfast whilst Suzy showered. The two of them were now focussed on getting ready for the wedding and the calmness and romance of the evening before was swept away and replaced by anxiety and urgency. Suzy got dressed in, what for her, was a very basic outfit and grabbed the box containing the special lingerie for the occasion plus a few other items she and Summer would need as bride and bridesmaid. She kissed Neil on the lips one more time as they said goodbye for now.
"See you at the church" he said, softly.
Suzy ran across the road to the BFF house, where she was greeted by Summer. The two hugged and Summer ushered her friend inside.
"Did the dresses arrive?" asked Suzy, frantically.
"Yes they did along with the shoes, relax, I'll put some coffee on" replied Summer.
"Are Travis and Liberty about?" said Suzy.
"Liberty's flight from Florida isn't due until 10am and Travis is out running errands for me so he won't be in our way. So, we can have coffee and get prepared! I'm so excited!"
They had their drinks and laid out the Bridal wear. Suzy opened the pink box to reveal two fine lace corsets; one in white and one in powder blue. They came with colour co-ordinated hosiery as well.
"Wow, how much did this set you back?" asked Summer.
"A pretty penny but this is a once in a lifetime day for me so I think it's worth it"
The girls began the process of getting changed and Summer was highly impressed by the quality.
They put some bathrobes on top to keep them warm but at that moment the doorbell rang. "Who could THAT be?" said Summer.
"Oh that'll be the stylists" replied Suzy.
"I didn't know you'd hired stylists!"
"Absolutely! I managed to pull in a few favours at the magazine and obtained the services of Perri of Mayfair"
"NO WAY! Perri of Mayfair! Beauticians to the stars and royalty!"
Suzy answered the door and a flamboyant man and a short woman entered the house. "I am Gerard of Perri of Mayfair and this is my assistant, Yutte. Oh which one of you is the bride? Doesn't matter, you are both goddesses! GODDESSES! Yutte, bring in the equipment! Where will the magic take place? Here? I need LIGHT! I need music! Now I will attend to the bride and Yutte, the bridesmaid! Oh what exquisite skin you have, my darling!" he said, stroking Suzy's cheek.
For Neil, matters were less complicated. He dressed himself but his outfit was very elaborate as well: He'd opted to wear a classic grey morning suit. He gave his shoes a polish until he could see his face in them, got dressed, made sure his tie was straight and then waited for the arrival of his best man: Andre.
The doorbell rang and Neil poked his head through the drapes to see who it was...as expected, it was Andre.
"You've got the rings, right?" said a nervous Neil as he opened the door.
"Relax, buddy" replied Andre, reaching into his vest pocket and producing the tiny velvet box with two gold rings in it. "Anyway, you're looking smart and I've got the transport right outside. Are you ready? This is the big one...let's get you to the church on time!"
Andre had been a little too efficient...when they arrived at the church there was no one else there except for the staff but the florist had already been and decked the place out. Neil stood at the altar and took the whole view in: Soon this place would be full and a beautiful bride would enter through the doors at the back. Well, he hoped she would.
The other guests were arriving now...there was Travis and sitting next to him was Tiffany Lawson. It was clear that Travis had recognised her from Lothario magazine but he was too shy and tongue tied to strike up a conversation with her.
Eliza Pancakes was the next to arrive and she looked utterly miserable, sitting at the back all alone. Neil reckoned that she and her husband, Bob, must have had an argument and he decided not to come. As he didn't know Neil or Suzy, there was very little reason for Bob to be there other than as support for Eliza and, well, according to gossip they weren't exactly the kind of couple that supported each other.
Julia had arrived and sat in front of Eliza. Neil didn't recognise her at first as she had her hair done up in a beehive bun and was dressed elegantly.
And then there were the assorted relatives and work colleagues, some of whom Neil had never met. With each minute the reality that this wedding was going to happen grew and grew. The guests were in place, Andre was by his side, the minister said some reassuring words and the pre-ceremony music began to play.
Andre went down the aisle checking on all the arrangements and looking out for anything out of place. Then he saw a white limousine park outside of the church. He quickly ran back to Neil. "She's here!" he said, "game on!"
Outside, the chauffer parked the limo, got out and opened the door to the back. First to step out was Summer. She handed the bouquet she was holding to the chauffer as he helped her out and then collected it again, holding it in the traditional manner in front of her. Summer looked in through the chapel windows and saw all the guests.
"They're all here, Suz, are you ready?" she said.
Suzy took a deep breath. "As I'll ever be." The chauffer opened the door to her side and she swung her legs out elegantly as she had practiced as he gently took her hand and helped her out. Summer checked Suzy's dress out to see if it needed brushing down or straightening but, as usual, her friend was perfectly attired. Suzy suddenly had a thought: She knew Neil would be inside, waiting for her, but did Jeremy show up or was he still angry at her and staying at home?
Summer and Suzy walked slowly up to the chapel's entrance, the bride's heart thumping at a rate of 120bpm. Summer nodded to her friend to reassure her and held her arm in support. The two of them had opted for bridal gowns of the same design, but in different colours: Suzy's in white, Summer's in powder blue. Suzy had a veil and Summer a tiara of flowers.
As the harpist started playing "Here Comes The Bride", the ushers opened the doors to the chapel and the ladies stepped inside. Everyone inside turned to look at them and let out an audible gasp.
"Wow! What a dress!" said Travis under his breath.
"It's quite....short!" remarked Julia.
"It's the current style, I guess" said Eliza.
"She'd never cover up those legs in a million years and I don't blame her!" said Tiffany.
"She's...perfect" said Neil to Andre.
Suzy made her way up the aisle and stood next to Neil. "Glad you could make it" he said with a wink. "You look..."
But he was cut off by the minister, who began the ceremonial spiel. "We are gathered here to witness the marriage of Neil Samuel Humphries and Suzanne Elizabeth Kent..."
"Do you, Neil Samuel Humphries, take this woman to be your lawful wedded wife? To have and to hold, to love, honour and cherish, in sickness and in health for as long as you both shall live?"
Neil took a deep breath and said "I do"
"And do you, Suzanne Elizabeth Kent take this man to be your lawful wedded husband? To have and to hold, to love, honour and obey, in sickness and in health for as long as you both shall live?"
There was a noise at the back of the church: Jeremy had entered it with Barbara and were standing at the back. Suzy turned to look at him and their eyes met. Jeremy's face broke into a warm smile and he nodded to her.
Suzy turned back to face Neil and smiled as well. Then she said "I do".
"If anyone has any just reason why these two should not be married, let them speak now or forever hold their peace"
Not a word was said. Travis sat on his hands because the joker part of him always felt the urge to stick them up and say "NOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"Then by the power invested in me, I pronounce you Man and Wife. You may kiss the bride."
Some of the guests stood up to applaud at that moment and both Suzy and Neil felt a sense of accomplishment mixed with euphoria and deep, deep affection for one another. Neither could help themselves so they had another kiss and held hands before the music started up again.
Andre spoke up at this point. "If the guests would like to make their way to the chapel gardens now for the photographs"
The happy couple led the way with everyone else following. It was now time for the photographs and the reception.
Most of the guests were either Suzy and Neil's neighbourhood friends or work colleagues and when someone from each sphere met each other the conversation could get...interesting. Julia found herself sitting next to Tiffany at one stage.
"Hello, I'm Julia, Suzy and Neil's neighbour. How do you know the couple?"
"My work brought me in to contact with Suzy. She works for a style magazine and she occasionally submits some freelance articles to Lothario and I'm on the staff there. I'm Miss January."
"Oh..." said Julia, her face suddenly dropping.
She floundered around for something to say before realising they had a mutual friend other than the bride. "I know Jolene Scholl, she used to work for Lothario"
"Oh you know, Jolene do you?" said Tiffany, her face suddenly lighting up. "Yeah, she left to pursue her singing career. She's currently on tour in a production of Sweet Charity but she still drops a line from time to time." The two women's initial frostiness gave way and they started to talk about Jolene's solo career.
Meanwhile, out in the garden, Neil was doing the thank yous and the greetings. "Baako, Anaya...lovely to see you here. This is my best man, Andre...."
Andre in the meantime looked out of the corner of his eye and thought "wait a minute, is that Miss January over there?" before reaching for a breath mint.
Barbara, Jeremy and Travis all went outside. Jeremy offered to get everyone a plate of food and that afforded the chance for Barbara to have a little, hushed conversation with Travis.
"How's he doing today, Barbara? Shown any weird signs?" asked Travis.
"He was grumpy all morning until we got to the church and then, suddenly, his mood changed. He's a lot calmer and doesn't grumble when he hears Suzy's name." I hope the occasion has softened him.
The last person Neil greeted was Action, who approached him with a big, broad smile on his face.
"Neil, my man! Lay some skin on me, bro! You did it, you won the prize!" said Action, holding out his hand for Neil to gently slap in the fashionable street way.
"Thank you, Action. My face is already aching from all the smiling I'm doing." replied Neil.
"Let me get you something to drink...they've already opened up the champagne and you don't want to miss out. I have this buddy, a fellow cop, who didn't get a single drink on his wedding day: The guests all drank the place dry and he was being ushered from one old aunt to another so he never got a little tipple. I'm going to make sure you don't become that man!"
Meanwhile, a very jet lagged Liberty Lee sat at the bar with Baako. "Whoa, sister, you look like you could do with a pick-me up? Where have you been?" he asked.
"Cape Canaveral...and yes, I need a coffee, not another glass of champagne or I'll fall asleep right here!"
Baako laughed and ordered a coffee for her but as he raised his hand to order the drink, he caught sight of his wristwatch and it was telling him he had to perform the first wedding dance song in 5 minutes!
Baako raced downstairs, checked the tuning of his guitar and announced into the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the happy couple to the dance floor where they will have the first dance"
Neil led Suzy to the dance floor where they danced, cheek to cheek. Suzy was impressed at his dance moves...not that long ago they were nearly non-existent.
"You've been practicing!" she said.
"All that time we spent down at the Orange Peel club...is everyone looking at us?"
"They are"
"I think they're all looking at you" he said, smiling.
After that initial dance, everyone else joined in and the party was in full swing.
Summer was waiting for Travis to join everyone down here but he was still finishing off a slice of the wedding cake. She got impatient and put her finest go-go dancing skills into practice.
But eventually he made his way over to her. "You are an amazing maid of honour...and the best looking one I've ever seen" he said.
"I can go one better..." she said, suggestively.
"...steady on, all in good time!" he added, knowing where she was going with this one.
"So you think of me as marriage material then?" she asked, coquettishly.
"Now you stop that! You don't try to trap me like that! This is Neil and Suzy's day." he replied, gently wagging his finger at her.
"Nice dodge, boyfriend!" she said.
Suzy and Neil were still flirting with each other. "You know, there's something about you that reminds me of a 1920s Flapper" said Neil.
"Relatives say I take after my grandmother, who was THE iconic Flapper...I can do a mean Charleston if you want to see"
But at that moment something drew her attention away from Neil. She saw Jeremy, sitting alone, and decided she had to talk with him. "I'll be back shortly" she said to Neil. patting him reassuringly on the arm.
Suzy made her way to where Jeremy was sitting. "Do you mind if I join you?" she asked.
"It's your wedding" replied Jeremy.
"Is Barbara still here? I haven't had a chance to talk with her yet."
"She's in the bathroom at the moment." he replied, looking around awkwardly and saying nothing more. He traced the rim of his champagne glass with his finger.
"Are you OK?" Suzy asked.
"Oh me? Yeah, sure! It's a wonderful occasion and congratulations." he said, his eyes looking around the garden.
"Do I make you uncomfortable? I can go if you'd prefer but I'd prefer to catch up...look..." she said, in all seriousness "...I know something has caused a rift between you and me lately and if I can help fix it..."
"...I know. I know..." he said, awkwardly. "I can't express what's going on...I've been short tempered a lot lately and, well, I don't know why but today that seemed to have gone away. Seeing you up there, looking....well...incredible...I forgot why I was angry." he let out a nervous chuckle. "It sounds crazy..."
"It doesn't. I'm so glad you and Barbara came today, I mean that. And I want us to be friends. You were the first person to help me when I moved in. You were always the kindest, most dependable man and..." she was struggling to find the words.
"I know. In another world..." he said, helping her out. Suzy nodded.
"In another world where I hadn't met Neil and you hadn't met Barbara..."
"Well, here's to our real world and our real partners" he said, raising his glass in a toast.
"To our real partners" she said, charging her glass to his. After they drank, they stood up and looked at one another again. "Friends?" she said to him.
"Friends" he replied, warmly, and then they hugged.
"I must get back to my husband!" she said, giggling like a girl. "Say hi to Barbara for me"
As Suzy walked off Jeremy watched her for a moment "remember, she is your enemy!" sounded a voice in his head.
"No!" he muttered under his breath.
"Suzy Kent is your enemy!"
"She...is...Suzy...Humphries! Not...Kent...anymore...break...the...cycle...BREAK...THE...CYCLE!" He was grimacing in pain now as he fought back the dark thoughts that were encroaching in his mind, telling him what to think and do. Finally he hurled his champagne glass into the hedge in frustration and the voice went away.
"Jeremy? Are you alright? Sorry I took so long but I got chatting to Liberty and the time flew by!" came Barbara's voice from across the dance floor.
"I'm fine..." Jeremy replied, taking a deep breath.
Andre appeared at the microphone, tapped it to see if it was switched on and did a loud AHEM into it.
"Ladies and gentlemen, honoured guests, the bride and groom are ready to depart so grab your bags of confetti and all assemble out the front to wish them a very happy honeymoon!" he said.
Suzy made some quick farewells and hugs before she grabbed her wedding bouquet. She found Summer near the wedding limo.
"Oh Summer" said Suzy. "Thank you so much for your help and encouragement"
"It was a wonderful day...now you and Neil go and have a great honeymoon and send us a postcard!"
"I will...thank you again!" and Suzy hugged Summer one more time.
"Ah, there's my beautiful wife!" said Neil, who had tracked them down. "Would you like me to escort you to the car?"
"That would be delightful, Mr Humphries" she said. Neil held out his arm and she put hers in the crook of his. Then he led her to the waiting limo, ushered her in and shut the door before the chauffeur held the door open for him on his side. Then with a final wave, the happy couple drove off...tin cans clanking behind the car.
The guests threw the last of their confetti and then, one by one, they all caught cabs home. At the end it was just Summer, Travis and Liberty left.
"Well guys, time to head back." said Travis. "I booked us a cab"
The taxi arrived and they piled in the back, all laughing and in a buoyant mood. Liberty still had a champagne bottle and a couple of glasses she took from the reception. Once they arrived home, she stumbled out of the cab and said "I'm beat...I've had about 4 hours sleep in the last two days. I'm gonna crash!" and with that she staggered off to her room.
"Well, that just leaves us. Are you ready for bed?" asked Travis to Summer.
"Well..." she said slowly. "It's such a romantic evening"
"It certainly is and once again, you look amazing. You almost upstaged the bride" Travis replied.
"Oh you think so?" she said "Tell me more"
"Well, let's retire to the bedroom and I'll sing your praises some more"
They say actions speak louder than words and instead of singing Summer's praises, he let his hands and his lips express his fondness for her...for which she was an appreciative audience.
"You can help me out of this dress" she said. "But be careful...that's delicate lace"
"I will be the model of carefulness"
He helped her out and then marvelled at the lace corset underneath.
"Now, do you have enough energy left in you?" said Summer seductively.
"I've found whole new reserves!" he said, excitedly. "All of a sudden, I love weddings!"
