Carol Clark - Hitched

“Yes. Two people were in the car. A guy was driving. I couldn’t tell whether his passenger was a man or a woman.” Jack looked in his rearview mirror. “The red sports car behind us is also turning around. A young couple. Who knows? Maybe they had a couple drinks and are afraid of being stopped.”

Kit turned around, craning her neck to get the license plate of the second departing car. She recited it to Regan, who dutifully jotted it down.

“I could sit here all night and collect license plate numbers,” Regan joked. “But when something like that happens right in my face, I have to take notice.”

When they got to the front of the line, the guard made a quick inspection of Jack’s trunk, then waved them through. They parked and took an elevator up to the casino level where they were immediately blitzed by the sights and sounds emanating from the numerous rows of slot machines. Flashing lights and jaunty musical notes filled the air and seemed to celebrate with lucky winners as they scooped up the clinking coins.

“We’ll head right to Stan’s office,” Jack said as they made their way across the cavernous room.

Stan had been expecting them. A solid, stocky guy in his late fifties, he greeted Jack with a hearty handshake. Even though they didn’t know each other well, there was the immediate camaraderie shared by those in law enforcement, the bond of wanting to get the bad guy. “Good to see you, Jack.”

Jack introduced Regan and Kit. “It looks like you’re having a busy night. We had our trunk inspected on the way in.”

“There’s a benefit in the Grand Ballroom tonight. Several politicians from the state are attending. On nights like these, we like to play it safe.”

Jack nodded.

“I have the tapes from the table where you say your friend was last Saturday night.”

“That’s great,” Regan said. “Thanks so much.”

“I think I’ll go play the one-armed bandits,” Kit said eagerly. “See if I can make enough money to buy you a wedding present.”

“We’re rooting for you,” Jack replied with a smile.

“Keep your cell phone out,” Regan advised. “I’ll call you when we’re finished. It looks like it’s easy to get lost around here.”

Stan took Regan into an empty office where they could view the tapes. He inserted the first one into the DVD player. “I’ll be back later.”

“Here goes nothing,” Regan murmured as the image of Alfred seated at a gambling table filled the screen.

Shauna, Tyler, Pamela, and Arnold had enjoyed a cocktail at the apartment and then they’d cabbed to Il Tinello on West 56th Street, just off Fifth Avenue. Il Tinello was an upscale, elegant Italian restaurant. The dining room was comfortable, the food delicious, and the white-jacketed waiters were quietly attentive. It had an old-world feeling and Mario, the owner, always took good care of the Neys. They’d been dining there almost weekly for over fifteen years.

“I cannot believe this whole business about your dress,” Pamela said in her well-bred tone. She was dressed in a silk pantsuit and wearing some of her favorite pieces of exquisite jewelry-a sapphire necklace with matching earrings and a diamond bracelet. “Planning this wedding is quite an experience.”

Shauna smiled at her. “I don’t care what I wear. This has been so amazing, getting to know you and Arnold. That’s what is so important. And that Tyler and I will finally be married.”

Arnold sipped his wine. “What were you two waiting for? Why didn’t you get married a long time ago?”

Pamela looked at her husband sternly. “ Arnold, Shauna told us already. She doesn’t have family.” Pamela turned back to Shauna. “Are you sure that there aren’t any cousins you want to invite? Anyone at all?”

Tears glistened in Shauna’s eyes. “Honestly, I have no one. No one but Tyler. And now you.”

“What about you, Tyler?” Pamela asked gently. “I’ve been going over the guest list. I just wish that there were some people who you could share this day with.”

“Whoa,” Tyler answered as he took a bite out of his dinner roll, then looked off into the distance as he chewed.

Normally Pamela would have winced at the sight of someone biting into a roll instead of breaking off a delicate piece, but for Tyler she felt nothing but affection. His breach of manners was almost endearing. He knew the Heimlich maneuver and had saved her life. He could lick his knife for all she cared.

Finally Tyler swallowed, took a sip of his water, then put his hand over Shauna’s. “Before Shauna and I met, we both felt like we were alone on this planet. Then we found each other. It was as if we were the only two people in the universe, man. You two are teaching us what it means to have family.” He paused and stared into Shauna’s eyes. “Should we tell them?”

“Tell us what?” Arnold demanded.

Shauna giggled. “ Tyler, you can’t tease them like that. Now we have to tell them.” She turned to Arnold and Pamela. “We didn’t know whether we should wait until after we were officially married to tell you because we were afraid you’d disapprove. But you know we have been living together.”

Arnold and Pamela both shrugged as if to say “What can you do?”

“The thing is…” Shauna continued.

“We’re pregnant!” Tyler interrupted, then banged the table excitedly with his fist. “We’re pregnant, and if it’s a boy he’ll be Arnold; a girl, Pamela. And we hope to have a couple more. We’ll keep trying until we get an Arnold and a Pamela.” He banged the table again and looked around. The people at the next table looked over with disdain as the silverware jingled.

Pamela’s mouth dropped. “Ohhh,” she said. “Ohhhh, my word.”

“We are so happy,” Shauna continued. “We thought we couldn’t have children. But I’m convinced it’s the love that you’ve shown us that has made this happen for us. We want you to be our child’s surrogate grandparents.”

Even Arnold smiled.

Pamela’s mouth quivered as she said, “I’ve longed to be a grandmother. And I know Arnold would love to be someone’s Papa. Our son is married, but I think that he and our daughter-in-law have gotten used to a life without children.”

Shauna brought her hands together as if in prayer. Soulfully, she said, “I know that I’m at an age where it isn’t so easy to have a child. That’s why I’m so grateful.”

“We had our Alex later in life,” Pamela noted. “I didn’t want to ask if you had plans for a family. I thought it might be a sensitive subject.”

“Ask us anything,” Tyler exulted. “We’re family. This baby will be all of ours.”

“There’s nothing that would please us more than to spoil a child. Isn’t that right, Arnold?”

Arnold nodded.

“That means that over the holidays this year we’ll have a new baby in our midst,” Pamela said joyfully. “Oh it’ll be so wonderful.”

Tyler raised his glass. “Here’s to little Arnie or Pammy! They’ll be here by Thanksgiving!”

They all laughed and clinked glasses.

After coffee and a dessert of raspberries covered with whipped cream, the two couples sauntered up Fifth Avenue. The April air was cool and fresh, and they decided to walk the nearly twenty blocks home. “That was some rain we had today,” Pamela said, shaking her head. “ Tyler, I saw your black raincoat hanging in the back hallway. It was soaked. So were those big black shoes of yours. You always seem to get stuck in the rain! Couldn’t you get a cab today?”

“I was out running errands and couldn’t get a cab when the storm hit. It doesn’t matter. I like walking in the rain.”

“Well, at least you were wearing a raincoat! That storm came upon us so suddenly I think it caught most people unprepared. When I left this morning I had no idea it was going to rain.”