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Union Shores Pt 3 Ch 3

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For the rest of the evening, I tried to relax and allow myself to move on from those deep thoughts.  After all, Shelly could bring me to much deeper places if she chose - and the shallow end of the pool seemed a lot safer for the time being.  So I put those thoughts aside, tried to relax, and moved on.  And as we watched The Return of the King, that became easier.
The next day was Wednesday, the day before the rehersal dinner and a fine day if there ever was one.  Though we had talked about it before, today turned out to be the day that Shelly chose for a plan B kickball day.  So once everyone was cleaned up and ready to get dirty, we took the crew over to Christian Park and, with a kickball and four plastic bases in hand, began to select teams.  Team Shelly and Team Greg.  
Ladies choose first.
"I choose... Megan," Shelly said.
With a nod, I motioned to Michelle.  "You in?"  She reluctantly agreed.
"Alex?" Shelly asked.  He went to her side of the diamond.
"Ally," I said.
"Emina?" Shelly said.
"Collette," I said.
We kept taking turns.  Soon, I had picked my crew, and Shelly hers.  In the end, Shelly got Megan, Alex, Emina, Orchid, Anabelle, Tony and Pattie.  I got Michelle, Allison, Collette, Dr. Bennit, Jeanette, Raine, Nauridia and Crystal.  Bret offered to be the referee along with Dr. Chase, while Ceylara and Kiki watched from the sidelines and kept score.  Of course, Kiki wanted to play, but as I've said before, this kid is a rockstar and is okay with watching, so long as she got to play a little here and there.  It was decided she and Naury would take turns.
Play was structured much like baseball, but of course with a kickball instead.  There were three outs per inning and only two outfielders, but otherwise play worked out about the same.  The game might've seemed a little lopsided, mostly women against women, but nobody seemed to care.  At least Dr. Bennit was a good sport for offering to play, even though last I checked the man had turned 48 a few weeks ago.
I won the coin toss, and offered to be the home team and let Shelly's team go first.  I yielded the pitching duties to Allison and played third base.  Raine took first, and Jeanette took second.  Naury and Michelle played the outfield, and Dr. Bennit played the plate.
Shelly started out kicking, booting the ball directly to Raine for the first out.  Orchid then went second, kicking the ball towards Nauridia in left field and tossing it to Jeanette for an out at second base.  Pattie went up third but kicked the ball back to Allison, who threw her out at first right away.
I elected to let Jeanette kick first, who got a good rip out to deep right field, where Emina fielded it and let Jean get to second base.  Nauridia went to the plate second and singled out to let Jean advance to third.  
Michelle had just come to the plate and was already appearing a little sweaty.  Shelly rolled the ball up to Michelle, who kicked it well into left field.  By the time she circled second, however, Michelle's hands had formed into tires.  
I should've seen it coming.  Instead of running to third, Michelle kneeled at second base and moved onto all fours as her feet rolled into tires.  
"Hey, hey!" Shelly giggled as Michelle's hips and lower body began to stretch and transform.  "You need to contact the base at all times!"
Michelle continued to transform and gave her a glare before her head expanded and formed into the hood, completing her change into Summer.  "For your information, I am totally touching the base!"  
I stood there at home plate, realizing that Summer was right.  Her front left tire was on the plate, covering most of it.
"Can I get a pinch runner?" I called to the audience.  I was hoping Kiki was there, but instead Ceylara and Kiki had gone to the playground on the far side of the park.  Guess nobody else had seen Michelle transform; well, at least from our group.  If anyone had been a passer-by, they got a good show.  By now I guess I had come to expect someone seeing something.
"Doc, can you take over the ref duties?" Bret asked.  Dr. Chase nodded and jogged behind Dr. Bennit, who was catching, as Bret trotted out to second.  Though it might not have seemed the best substitution - Summer for Turbo Teen - maybe it wouldn't matter all that much.
Summer started her engine and drove away from the field, parking just off the grass and in the actual parking lot beyond the backstop.  I went up to the plate and readied myself.
"Hey, Claxion, how about a little cool air?" Summer asked.
"I'm up to bat," I said as the ball whooshed by.
"Strike one!" Dr. Chase called.
"Hey!"  I turned and readied myself.  This time, the ball was sent back towards the far end of the field.  Touch 'em all, Claxion, touch 'em all.

Michelle was human by the end of the first inning, and would have to be cooled again in the fifth.  Collette herself also had to be changed back once, and even Bret, who after having to pinch run in the fifth, also had to be changed back.  I blamed the heat, personally, but even though it wasn't all that hot in the cool breeze it was nice to know that everyone was getting into the game as much as they could.  
At the end of the ninth inning, more than a few of us had earned RBIs and home runs.  During the sixth Raine had made one fine triple play, catching a line drive before flipping it to Jeanette, who flipped the ball to Raine for the force out at first.  At the plate, I was 4 for 5, only a triple away from kicking the cycle with four RBIs on the day.  Shelly had kicked a home run and earned three runs herself.  Raine had brought in two, and Orchid stole at least three bases throughout the day.  Overall, the score was 18 to 15 at the end.
Guess who won?  We did.  But we didn't brag.
Okay, maybe a little.
On the way back home, I made a little detour and picked up chocolate coated ice cream cones for everyone.  The outing still cost $40, but since the game with all our friends was priceless, it seemed a small price to pay.

After dinner and once everyone else had found something to occupy themselves, I went to find Shelly, who had disappeared from the group.  Michelle was notably absent also.  I began to ask around.
Raine was my first interview.
"Oh, I think they went for a walk?  Shelly sounded a bit down for some reason.  I'm not sure, Greg."
Okay, seems plausable.  Raine's not one to lie or cover up anything.  Only one person could back up such a claim, though.
"Ceylara, have you seen Shelly around?  I can't seem to find her."
"I'm sorry, Greg, I haven't seen her since dinner," she replied.  "Is anything the matter?"
"No, nothing important or pressing."  At least not really.  "Thanks.
Well, that confirmed it.  They were probably off somewhere.  I guess I didn't really need to talk to her, but I felt like I needed to go over some last minute details for the next coming days.  Like if she had the confirmation number for the Famous Dave's catering that will be at the groom's dinner tomorrow.  
It's in an email somewhere, I suppose.  But I felt like I wanted to talk to her right then, and she and Michelle were off somewhere.  Walking?  That didn't seem like Michelle.  She would be driving as Summer, maybe, and Shelly could be the driver.  But I guess I could try her cell.
Dial once, dial twice, dial three times.  Is that what I think it is in the other room?
As I leaned into Shelly's bedroom, I heard "A Shadowy Presence" playing on the ringtone.  I picked up the phone and cancelled out the call, going so far as to remove it from the notifications.  
Would it be worth calling Michelle?  No, I decided.  I made my outside to see Nauridia, Tony and Kiki playing catch in the yard when I recieved a phone call.  Unknown number.
"Hello?"
"Hi, my name is Annabelle Finch.  Is this Greg Claxion?"
"Yeah, Annabelle Finch... the name's familiar."
"Yes, I'm married to Jeremy Finch, Harriet Finch's son."
"Ah, okay."
"I just wanted to call to thank you for getting Harriet to the hospital earlier.  She's going to be okay, but she was having an annurism."
"An annurism," I said.
"Yes, there was a blot clot that was causing it.  I'm not entirely clear on what they're doing to fix it, but the doctors believe that she should be able to go home in a few days.  They may have to perform a little surgery, but I'm told that the solutions are anything but drastic."
"I see," I replied.  "Well, if she'll make a full recovery-"
"She should be back home within a week if all goes well.  There wasn't any talk of assisted living or hospice, or anything.  You'll have your neighbor back soon."
"Oh," I replied gruffly.  "Good."
"For an 82 year old, Harriet seems to do okay despite living alone for so long... do you know her husband died in '94?"
"No," I replied, even though I had known that her husband died many years ago throughout our limited conversations.  "Or maybe I did."
"Drowned at a therapy retreat.  Officially, I think he died of a heart attack while swimming, but I suppose Harriet blamed swimming after that... she never seemed to care for swimming pools after that, even complaining when Lexi said she learned to swim.  Ah, but Harriet must be dealing with a little bit of senility."
"Sure," I replied.
"Anyways, I seem to recall you've done a lot for my family in the past, you and your roomate who used to own the car... did it ever speak to you?"
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Summer.  The robotic car that was featured in the news a few years ago?  Surely you must remember."
"I don't put a lot of stock in what the U does these days," I replied.  "Too busy paying for my own old school loans that pays for a piece of paper that won't get me a job."
"Oh, I see," Annabelle Finch replied.  "Maybe I can mail you something, then.  Harriet tells me you're a very private person."
"She probably keeps a closer eye on me than anyone," I replied.
"I hope she doesn't bother you too much."
"It's nice to know I've got a guardian..." I didn't want to say angel.
"And you were so kind to be her guardian angel when she needed help the most.  I'll send you something nice, Mr. Claxion.  Thanks so much and thank you for talking to me."
"Sure," I replied.  "No problem."

Shelly and Michelle finally arrived late, when I was watching a James Bond marathon on the television with Orchid, Raine, Ceylara and Emina.  The others were either asleep or doing something else - I didn't know what or where.  Kiki surely must've been in bed already too, as the camper seemed quiet.
I tried to ask where they had been, but Michelle simply walked towards the kitchen and downstairs.  Shelly gave me a kiss and continued into her room.
Since it was the big gunfight between Christopher Lee's Scaramanga and Roger Moore's James Bond, I stayed up for the gun fight.  Always thought that Christopher Lee was one of the greatest actors of all time.  Sometime after the world was saved, I rolled into bed and tried to realize what might happen tomorrow.
What might happen tomorrow is that there will be a rehersal for the wedding.  My wedding.  Suddenly I couldn't sleep.
Not a wink.  

I texted Allison and asked her to meet me in the garage.  Why the garage?  Seemed like a quiet place.  Even though it was one in the morning, I texted again and a few minutes later she showed up.  
"Greg, what's so important that can't wait until dawn?" she asked with a long yawn.  
She was wearing a loose tee that barely covered her torso and a pair of shorts that might've been orange.  "Did you get those from work?"
"Are we going to talk?" she asked.  "Because if that's all you're interested in, I can go wake Shelly."
"Sorry," I muttered.  "I just can't sleep... I mean, I'm going to a rehersal for my wedding tomorrow, and the day after, I'll be married."
"Oh, that's what this is about," Ally giggled as she found a comfortable spot on the stool by the workbench.  "If its any consolation, all the outfits are in Shelly's bedroom.  Your tux, my dress, Shelly's dress, Bret's tux, anything that came from the wedding shop is there."
"None of them touched the floor?"
"Only yours did, but the gal at the shop assured me that it's a tux, not an American flag," Ally said.  "None of them got dirty.  Would you like me to put some of them in the camper in case the house burns down?"
"No," I waved the thought away.  "Thanks for going to get them."
"This isn't about the tuxes either..." She brushed back her hair.  "Are you having second thoughts, Greg?"
"Maybe," I confessed.  "I mean, Shelly and I have been happy together for so long, why mess with it?  Why change what we have?"
"Because you agreed to confess your love to Shelly, and because by offering to marry her, you agreed to put her needs before yours," Allison replied.  "If you choose not to go through with this, then you'll be telling Shelly that you're not able to continue with things the way they are.  That you're uncertain about the future.  And that you might not need her at your side."
I paused and sat down atop the bench, realizing that she was right.  
"On that day, a little less than a year ago, you got down on one knee, on the Navy Pier, before a group of friends and before anyone who happened to be standing there, saying to Shelly Starsetter that she was more important than you are.  You made a promise to be hers, and hers alone.  That her thoughts were more important than yours.  That her needs were more important.  That-"
"I get the picture," I replied quietly.
"And is that true, Greg Claxion?  Are Shelly's needs more important than your own?"
"They are," I replied.  "They absolutely are."
"Then what else is there to think about?"
"I've been so selfish," I replied.
"Let's talk about you for a moment, Greg," Ally said.  "You have a house of your own, that you work hard to keep up in good condition.  You keep that home for yourself and your friends, and anyone else who happens to be special to you.  Right?"
I nodded.
"You have a job and you strive to do what it takes to help your friends, and your fiance, to have a full life?"
"Sort of," I replied.  "I may not be able to provide everything..."
"You went out and dug up the backyard, which cost more than your house if I recall, and put in a pool.  The one thing that a mermaid could ever want outside of the ocean itself.  That was pretty selfless."
"I haven't made any money since I paid off the house, which was paid for at a sum that should've been one tenth of the actual cost.  I scraped by to do so, too."
"Sometimes we get lucky to get where we are... I guarantee you, just about every celebrity, every songwriter, every well-established author, every janitor or even the person who is living off a minimum wage job slinging burgers, they will tell you that they had help to get where they were.  The folks who are even more successful were just as lucky, if not mroe lucky.  It doesn't matter, Greg.  You have to be skilled, that's true, but a little luck will always help.  Nobody becomes successful on their own, even if they claim to be a self-made success story."
Suddenly I realized something.  I haven't been alone in this house.  Ever.  Not even when Shelly went home for those past few months.  Even before we went into high gear to plan this wedding, before that mixup with wishes and everything.  Before London, before Morocco, before Hawaii... "Before everything that had happened to me, I was alone in this big house.  But all the great stuff that has happened, it happened when I was with Shelly.  And sure, there were bad times, but the good times were even more incredible, overcoming those bad times, all because of Shelly."
"You're hardly alone now, Greg Claxion.  How many people, currently staying in this house, are here because you wanted to be with Shelly?  Because you did all those things to continue being with her, and in doing so, you helped your friends also.  How many?"
"All of them," I replied.  "All of them, at least once, maybe twice... maybe more.  I can't even begin to count how many times I helped all of them."
"And they've helped you too, like when you were in the hospital."
They did, didn't they.  Shelly helped me, yes, but so too did Michelle.  Even the FBI, who I might've questioned about how much they seem to genuinely help me ever, did that time.  They guarded the door.  They did not leave our side until we were safe at home and I was healthy.
"Of all the people you've helped, Greg, Shelly has helped you too.  All of us have, and we've all been there for someone else.  We've needed help too, from anyone who can offer it.  That's why I took the job at Hooters.  Because I needed help, and I got the help that I need by having extra money to attend classes.  Dad has money, but I can't rely on him.  And I'm not too proud to take loans and grants.  But without the extra money, I'd have had to quit school two years ago."
"Really?" I asked.  "Why not ask for help?"
"Because, I'm proud," she replied.  "Like you.  Like anyone.  But yet, even though I ask for help, I can still offer to help you.  Anyone would do the same.  And Shelly," Ally paused.  "Shelly may be the person you've helped the most, by doing everything you could for her, by taking her ashore and showing her the world.  Greg, she may have learned nearly everything about the world on land since she decided to do so those twelve years ago, but never forget," she paused to look directly at me.  
"Do not forget that those first few years on land, she looked to you for everything.  Absolutely everything."
Again, Ally was right.  Shelly may have known about the stars and the sky and the moon and the sun, but she didn't know what a rabbit was.  She didn't know what hot dogs were.  She didn't know what money was, or why she would need to collect a lot of it to do what she wanted to.  She was a fish out of water.  Literally.  And she needed to know how people acted.  
"She learned the ways of the world from me.  And I learned how the world really was from her.  The undersea realm, the exsistance of genies, the power of magic and the underlying elements of the very earth... I learned that from her."
"And did you learn anything else?" Allison asked.
"How to love," I replied.  "How to know when your own needs come secondary to the needs of someone else."
Allison stood up and patted me on the shoulder.  "I think it's time I went to bed.  I've got a busy day tomorrow too."
"What do you have to do?" I asked.
Allison smiled warmly.  "The same thing I've been doing for the past few weeks.  Making sure you and Shelly have the best wedding ever."
She started for the exit to the house, towards the couch in the living room where she'd been sleeping.
"Hey, Ally," I said.  
"Yes?"
"Any chance you need an assistant?  Someone to help you make sure everything is working?"
"With all the people around here, I'm good.  You've got more important things to worry about."  Ally smiled.  "I've got one more year of school, Greg.  You make me a promise."
"What's that?"
"That by the time I get out of school and start making money, that you will be making a living wage yourself.  Deal?"
"If I'm not," I said, "I'll offer to help you with your school loans."
"Deal."

The following dawn, even though I might not have been fully awake I left early and went to the gym for a run.  I got breakfast at a coffee shop - even though I don't drink coffee - and read the comics.  Then I went for a drive.  My cell remained in my pocket, but I left it turned off.  Today was a day for Greg.  
Somehow I got on the road to Mankato, and drove past Jordan to a big yellow barn.  That sold candy.  I've heard of this place, and was glad that there were a handful of $20s in my pocket - the place only takes cash.  
What was it like?  Picture rows upon rows of candy, rare sodas, handmade fruit pies and then some.  Kid in a candy store?  I was a kid in a candy barn.  They had everything, like, everything.  Even candy cigarettes - you can't find those anywhere nowadays.  Flavored Tootsie Rolls, strawberry Kit-Kats... everything from Abba-Zabba to Zagnut bars, they had it.
I was struck with an idea.  Ally had been right - tomorrow was to be my wedding day - but I felt like I had never put in a lot of input for fun stuff at the groom's dinner or at the tables at the reception.  I went to the taffy department - seriously, it was like three aisles worth of the sticky stuff - and found a few flavors that matched the colors of the wedding.  I also found a flavor that screamed ocean - salted seaberry - and even knowing that it couldn't be the same seaberry that we cultivated from Undarra I bought it solely on the name.  I think officially it was cranberry, raspberry and sea salt - but it sounded like it would turn a few heads.
Next, I picked up a box of candy cigaretts - because - and then found a few other treats for gifts for the wedding party.  The lady in the truffle section was kind enough to make up a few boxes.  For the ladies, I went with a pound of truffles while for the guys I opted for this blue raspberry fudge that had layers that looked - I swear - like waves on the sea.  Though these weren't the only gifts Shelly and I had picked out for the wedding party specifically, these seemed special.
Next, I went down the peanut butter chocolate section and picked a few personal choices, along with a pound of Jelly Bellys - one pound for Shelly and one to offer for sharing among the group at the groom's dinner.  Jelly Bellys have always been Shelly's favorite, though she loves just about any kind of chocolate.
Lastly, I went to the handmade pie area and found a few that would be perfect for the groom's dinner.  Although Famous Dave's had been selected as a caterer - they were providing ribs, brisket and sides - we hadn't opted for any kind of dessert.  So I bought four pies - at about $12 apiece - apple, cherry, blueberry and chocolate silk.  That about broke my budget of $150 - though I might've thought to only spend $90 at first - and I got my pre-diabetic ass out of there before I could do any more damage.  It was a good thing that I had a wad of cash for emergencies over the next few days, in case I needed Ally or Alex to get something, like paper towels or food, in a hurry.  Maybe I spent a bit more than I should've, but I felt like these were special treats for everyone who had come to celebrate with us.
I at least hoped that the smiles on my friends and loved ones would be worth it.  When it comes down to it, it's only money.
Before heading home, I drove north across the river and casually made my way back east.  I finally turned on my phone as I began to get hungry - not that I wasn't after going through that candy shop - thinking I might pick up a few sandwiches for just the two of us, hoping that someone else had done lunch for the rest of the visiting crew.  The phone only dialed once before Shelly answered it with a burst.
"Dammit, Greg, where the hell have you been?  I've been worried sick!  What were you thinking, just running off like that, leaving me without a note, without a clue, without a vowel, just leaving and leaving me hanging among all our friends and family..."
"Shelly," I said calmly.  "I needed a personal day.  The rehersal isn't until four thirty, and it's not even two."
"You needed a personal day."  She must've turned to someone else, or she might've been on speaker phone.  "He needed a personal day."
"Okay, where were you and Michelle last night?"
Shelly hesitated.  "Talking.  Girl stuff."
"Ah, girl stuff."  I nodded, pausing for dramatic effect.  "You know, I've got a few things for the groom's dinner tonight."
"Greg, we pre-ordered everything a month ago.  We don't need anything else."
"I got candy," I said.  "And pies."
"What?"
"Candy.  Taffy for the tables, jelly beans, gifts for the groomsmen and bridemaids, four pies-"
"Wait, jelly beans?"  She grumbled in a vain attempt to continue her arguement, even though I knew I had won.  "You think you're going to buy me off with jelly beans?"
"Specifically, Jelly Bellys-"
"What?"  Did she pause to drool?  "Dammit Greg, you can't just run off like that without telling me where you're going.  Where are you, anyways?"
"Minnetonka," I replied.  "Though I was in Jordan."
"Jordan?  You mean, all the way to Ren Fest?"
"Yeah, it's about what, thirty miles-"
"You drove thirty miles?"
"Gotta go a long way for the largest candy store in the state."
"Candy."  She might've been hiding a giggle.  "Just hurry up and get back here already.  Ally's finished up the biggest pot of hamburger mac and cheese I've ever seen."
"Sounds great.  Should I bring anything else?"
"A boot and your backside."
I chuckled.  Yeah, I won.  I knew that tone of voice.  Defeat and forgiveness mixed with a dose of humility and happy exasperation.
"I'll just stop at Target and borrow their bullseye."
"No, just get back here as soon as you can."

All was forgiven as soon as I pulled into the driveway and was lynched from the driver's seat by Shelly's impatient arms.  When Shelly saw how much I had brought for everyone, I was actually commended for the insightful decision.  Especially when she learned that she had a whole pound of Jelly Bellys - with emphasis on blueberry and strawberry jam, her two favorites - all to herself.  
Though I still had much to do, I'm pretty confident that I was off the hook.  For now.  At any time, with the average stress level elevated due to the proximity of the events, that could change.
Over the rest of the afternoon, Anabelle guided the crew in assembling some of the important stuff, like bouquets and table accessories for both the groom's dinner and the reception.  Stuff that, I'm told, was supposed to be a surprise for me.  Which, all things considered, was okay since I didn't know how to help.  That left me time to double check other things, like where everything needed to be, where food needed to be, and where people needed to be.  And to ensure that I had enough clothes for the hotel room tonight, and of course, the hotel room itself.  I was ready to go.
And the set up is complete.  Cue the string orchestra, the piano, the choir, the doves and the gong.  Or something.  I don't know.

prev:  Union Shores Pt 3 Ch 2Today was Tuesday the 12th.  In three days, I would be married to my favorite girl, and the most beautiful mermaid in all of the seas.  And when I saw Shelly that morning, with a slight hangover from the beer we had drank last night, I told her so.
"Your lips are burning," Shelly said after a morning kiss.
I had survived the bachelor party and the majority of the lead in up to what would come to be the most nerve-wracking day of my life.
At least there were lots of people around the house to keep everything somewhat sane.  Oh, the things left to do before those I do's.
Today seemed like another good day to keep up with the routine chores.  With the recent rains, I found myself working in the yard.  Megan volunteered to work the weed whacker, and Michelle had to work and wasn't around.  Emina cleaned the garage, and even Ceylara inspected the pool for me.  I didn't expect her to get into the pool to clean it, but she did.  Maybe because she was it


next:  Union Shores Pt 3 Ch 4After getting cleaned up and taking the time to guide Crystal and Megan on my plans - they agreed to come up with something special for presenting the taffy at the reception - those who had to attend the rehersal piled into a pair of cars and headed out.  
Michelle, Jeanette, Shelly, Emina and Raine drove with me in the van while Ally drove Nauridia, Tony, Kiki, Ceylara and Anabelle in her rental van.  Don't get me wrong, it was a tight ride for everyone, even with the car seat for Kiki.  
"Michelle," I asked halfway through the ride, "Why didn't you drive?"
"Because," she replied.  "I'm wearing this coat."
"That's the reason?"
"I'm the best woman," she replied as she tugged on the white sportscoat-type dress jacket.  "I'm supposed to dress up a little, aren't I?"
"Sure, but neither Shelly or I are really dressed up," I replied.  For the record, I was wearing khaki shorts and a polo shirt with my regular shoes.
"I'm wearing a dress," Shelly said.  She
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MensjeDeZeemeermin's avatar
aneurysm

I do admire the matter-of-fact way you present your strange, but well-rounded characters and the way they all interact and cope with their freaky circumstances.  It really is a lovely dimension of your work.