Кэрол Дуглас - Cat In An Alphabet Endgame

Temple smiled. “Yes, Maura, your son swept me off my feet in Minneapolis and directly to Las Vegas, where he had a year’s engagement as The Mystifying Max. We planned on marrying soon. When he realized some shady characters had waylaid me to inquire about him, he left on the closing day of his act, without a word, the same night a dead man had been discovered on the hotel premises, which made him a suspect.”

“He left without a word?”

“I followed him from my home city and family and a good job.’ Temple linked arms with Max. “And, to ensure my safety, he left me here for the police and other less honest people to harass. Still…I love my freelance public relations work, and Vegas is the place to be for that. Then Matt moved into my apartment building. And Max did finally come back to face the music.”

The moment of astonishment hovered, a paused recorded Lifetime movie moment.

“And,” Matt announced from behind them all, from the door through which Max had entered. “So, finally did Sean and his wife Deirdre of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, come back.”

30

In Sunshine or in Shadow

Everyone had automatically turned toward Matt’s voice, beside the open door Max had used, now framing Sean and Deirdre Kelly standing together arm-in-arm like a life-size couple on a wedding cake.

The Kinsellas and Kellys stood as one, shocked to their feet to face the unexpected couple.

Except Max. He bounded over the Kinsella couch and ushered them into the room, his enthusiasm masking how tense and shy and wary the newcomers were.

Cries of “Oh, dear God” and “Glory Be” and “My darling Sean”. “Our lost boyo, Sean.”

Max and the couple were mobbed in an incoherent group hug.

Alone and marooned behind, Temple told Matt through a teary voice, “This is the greatest wedding present ever.”

He hugged her and teased, “Are you sure you don’t want to do the counseling part of our partnership?”

“You’re over the moon about this reunion too.”

“I talk to so many lost souls on the radio. Found souls are a rare reward. But there’ll be a bit of hell to pay for Sean, just like Max. They both withdrew when they should have trusted and been open.”

“Gobbledygook!” Temple’s non-Irish was up. “Sean’s family is so amazed to see him alive, they haven’t even noticed the price he paid to survive. As Max did. They weren’t ready to accept the truth, what, sixteen years ago? The guy’s instincts were right. The families had ladled an ideal vision over the future of ‘their boys’ and had to grow up themselves to accept the truth.”

“Pretty profound,” Matt said, “we’ll have to see if we can get them to appear on the Devine Temple show.”

“Now I feel like a snooping reporter. Let’s just be eavesdropping well-wishers going forward.”

“A heck of a way to celebrate a wedding night.”

“We’re flying out tomorrow, alive and well, and will be alone, without even the Fontana brothers, for six wonderful nights.”

“Even without Midnight Louie?”

“Oh. He will be miffed. I’m glad the Crystal Phoenix gave him the spotlight for his revived commercial career. And I know he’ll enjoy supervising the renovations. Surely he’ll even more relish having the California King to himself.”

“We could leave now,” Matt suggested.

“No way am I missing a sob in this saga.”

So Sean went back to the beginning and told how Deirdre had suspected some scheme by Kathleen O’Connor and stayed with him when Kathleen lured Max away. Deirdre had wanted Sean to leave then, too, but he’d found Deirdre an enchanting colleen herself and wanted more time with her while he waited for Max.

She finally dragged him away just as the bomb exploded. Yes, she had some scarring, but Sean had a concussion and traumatic memory loss as well as shrapnel damage.

She nursed him back to health, with the blessing of the IRA, which believed Sean, recovering slowly, was an American boy wanting to fight in the cause. Eventually he was able to fight for the peace. The only peace on earth ever made in a bitter ethnic struggle of more than eight hundred years.

Perfect, no. But admirable.

Sean and Deirdre retreated to literal peace and quiet at their Bed and Breakfast in Northern Ireland’s County Tyron. Sean had finally recovered much of his memory, but, sure, how would he explain taking so long to remember his own family? And how would he justify his youthful disobedience and risk-taking? All he needed now was Deirdre and a simple Irish cottage and a life of world-class sunsets on the edge of the Atlantic.

The families were all soothing murmurs and touches and tears and protestations that they would have understood, which is when Max and Sean exchanged a glance of perfect agreement. Your families always think that they are up to the job, but sometimes errant young souls must figure things out the hard way.

Temple yawned.

“Am I boring you?” Matt asked.

“Never. But…I think the Oscars are over and we’re not invited to any of the After Parties.”

They slipped away, unnoticed.

A wandering Fontana brother prowled the hall.

“Why, Ralph, it’s nearly one a.m.,” Temple said.

“You recognized me, Miss Temple.”

“But, of course. It’s the earring.”

“You remembered.”

“Yes, but I suggest signature individual lapel pins for more accurate identification.”

“You would abuse and penetrate the exquisite weave of an Emenegildo Zegna suit with a pin? Heresy. Perhaps…cuff links are less cruel, Miss Temple. Mr. Matt, do you own an EZ suit?”

“Not that I know of.”

“Oh, you would know. Then allow us to arrange a visit with our tailor for your debut TV show.”

“That’s a bit overwhelming. I’d like a honeymoon first.”

“That is why I am here to drive you home.” Ralph cocked an ear at a burst of simultaneous talking beyond the closed door. “Did I hear a woman crying?”

“Family reunion, Ralph,” Temple said. “Tears of joy.”

He nodded knowingly. “And tears of vino . You should hear us Fontanas at a family reunion. Surely you can join us next time; you are now family.”

Temple linked arms with Matt, and then Ralph. “That sounds wonderful, Ralph, but now we’ll all visit the full reception again, with everyone Fontana…and Tony and Courtney and all.

“Then we’re off the see the Wizard, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz, who is somewhere out there smiling in the neon and glitter and fairy dust and fever of the Las Vegas Strip, family reunion capital of the world for a night.”

31

Under Reconstruction

“How was San Diego?” the woman behind the nameplate reading Lieutenant C. R. Molina asked.

“Wonderful. The famous Hotel del Coronado lived up to its reputation, and the view was amazing too.”

“ Hmm ,” Molina said. “You may wonder why I asked you to visit me at work here at police headquarters?”

“It isn’t for another girly luncheon outing to the off-price mall nearby?”

“Sadly no. Although I do find Coldwater Creek intriguing.”

Temple wrinkled her nose. “I think you should really do Express.”

“Size would be an issue.”

“Only for men.”

“Aren’t you the snarky TV hostess already? No, I asked you to stop by because I have a wedding present for you, Miss Barr.”

“Oh. You and Mariah already sang.”

“We appreciated your gifts of the, I’m told—” Molina rolled her eyes “—‘adorable’, I quote Mariah,—custom T-shirts, rhinestone-festooned, is that the word? With the image of the Midnight Louie Austrian crystal high-heeled pumps.”