Chapter 49
“What are you doing?” Montana asked the next morning as she set down Paul’s breakfast and noticed him engrossed in something.
“Figuring out a way to get even with fucking Brian for that stunt he pulled last night. I figured since death isn’t an option, something else should be done.”
“Paul, really. Both of you are pushing thirty years old; isn’t it time to grow up?”
“Hey, I wasn’t the one who hired a male stripper for a bachelor party to embarrass the shit out of somebody. On top of that, Spanky never told me he invited fucking Ezekiel. Have you seen that dude? He’d scare Satan and stared a damn hole in me practically all evening.”
“I have and so has Daddy, who happens to like him. Look at it this way, you both got embarrassed at some point yesterday. I could almost imagine him picking up the girls’ dresses and driving around town with them hanging in the back of the car.”
“Oh yeah, he did shit a bitch about that. Then again, pale green isn’t exactly his color. You would need more of either Pepto Bismol pink or baby shit orange.”
“You are terrible,” Montana chuckled.
“So what time is this thing again today?”
“I hope to hell that is just one of your jokes,” she chided. “If not, it’s five o’clock and your behind better be there if you want to live.”
“Yessum.” He gave her a look and laughed.
“I mean it, Paul. Today is not a day for you to be goofing off.”
“Oquela. Jesus, woman, have you forgotten I went through this once before?”
“Yes, and Lord rest her soul, Reggie probably had to remind you too.”
“Before or after she was puking up a lung in the bushes?”
Montana stared him down. “That was not funny. That poor woman was nauseated from carrying beautiful little Mackenzie because someone couldn’t keep it in his pants.”
“Oh sure, blame the Mexican dude. It takes two to tango, love. But at least we don’t have to worry about that problem this time around…..do we?”
“No. Speaking of which, it’s gotten too quiet upstairs. I better go check and see what’s going on with those girls before I take them to get their hair done.”
“Be thankful they’re not like Spanky and practically burning the place down trying to figure out if they can really light farts.”
Montana shook her head. “I don’t even want to know about that one.”
Meanwhile:
“You sure this suit will be all right for tonight?” Jack Hayes wondered. “What about this tie?”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake, Jack,” Dotty shook her head. “You are such a worrywart. You are going to be absolutely dashing.”
“I’m giving away my baby girl. I can’t believe it.”
“You’ve waited all your life for this moment ever since she was born. And to think you’re going to get two lovely granddaughters as a bonus. He’s a nice man, Jack. You have nothing to worry about.”
He nodded. “And he has some colorful friends, I can assure you that.”
“They seem like very nice boys. The little blond one, what’s his name? The one that also hangs around the big bla–”
“Brian,” Jack cut in. “He’s been Paul’s best friend for years. As for Zeke, he’s a pretty decent fellow. Over here from Guyana. He just looks scary.”
“Could have fooled me.” Dotty shuddered.
He sighed. “I still can’t get over it. My sweet little Montana Naomi, a bride. Her mama would have been proud.”
“I know, darling. She would have been very proud the way both of those kids turned out, not to mention loved Logan and those little girls to pieces.”
“Montana’s adopting Mackenzie and Kira, you know,” Jack replied with pride in his voice.
“Oh? I didn’t know that,” Dotty said.
“She sure is. I guess they sat down and talked about it, given his profession, you know. God forbid something should happen to him, and unless she adopted them, she really wouldn’t have any say where they would have gone. I guess they would go to their grandparents, but they’re getting along in years too. So it was smart for Montana to start the adoption process.”
“Oh, those poor babies,” Dotty answered sympathetically. “They’ve had it so rough. Losing their mother so young, their dad trying to raise them himself while he worked.”
“I think that’s why they tend to be mature for their ages, Dotty. But now things are going to get a little better now that they’ll have a mama again, at least in another six hours anyway.”
“And who knows,” she added, “maybe another year or so, they may have a little brother or sister come along.”
“Don’t push it, Dot. He and my daughter haven’t even gotten married yet.”
A short time later:
“Wow, you never told me you were a fashion genius,” Montana praised when she saw the assembly of Paul’s clothes on the bed. “Everything matches to the smallest detail.”
“It isn’t too much green?” he wondered. “I kind of wanted it all to coordinate, but not overdo it.”
“Actually, it’s perfect, and a black suit goes with everything. Where did you get the cuff links, though?”
“Wedding present from Mami,” Paul replied. “This wedding of course,” he hastily added after seeing her eyebrows raised. “So you saw mine; let me see yours.”
“Oh no, mister. Nice try, but you if anyone should know it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding.”
“What? I’m looking at you now.”
“You know what I mean. You’ll see plenty tonight.”
“Yep, I’ll see plenty all right.” He gave her a playful pinch on the ass.
“Easy, horny toad,” she laughed. “There’s still little pictures around. Of course, the challenge now is keeping them settled down once they’ve gotten their hair done.”
“Can’t you just wash their hair and curl it after they’ve had their baths?”
“They’ve already had their baths and this is our wedding. It’s a special day and I’m not having them look like savages.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. There could be worse things, like Brian showing up in toe socks.”
“Don’t give him any more ideas,” Montana laughed. “He just might.”
She looked at the bedside clock. “I better get moving if we’re going to make the appointment. We need to be down there by at least three and I want to be back before then.”
“What takes you women so damn long to get ready? Just jump in the shower, wash your ass, get dressed, be done. Fifteen minutes max.”
Montana rolled her eyes and sighed. “I guess you forgot from the last time the bride is the centerpiece.” She kissed his cheek. “I’ll see you later. Don’t burn the house down.”
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