Best Friends Forever

"I guess," I said. "Thanks, Ann, sometimes just talking to you makes me feel better."

"When are we going to be seeing them again," she said.

"As a matter of fact, Sunday," I said, "the day after tomorrow. They're coming for dinner."

"Nice of you to tell me," she said.

"Just something simple, no need to have a holiday feast when it's not a holiday," I said.

"You leave those kinds of decisions to me," she said. "But, no problem there's enough time. I'll be shopping tomorrow.

"Oh, but no more poker, the boys took your sorry ass to the cleaners last time! We ain't billionaires like the Pollards. Okay?" she said, she was smiling. I knew she didn't give a damn about the twenty bucks, every penny of which I'd lost..

Thinking about it, I had to laugh and I did. Henry'd pretty much cleaned us all out at the last game, a month gone

******

The four of them showed up for dinner as planned, that is the dinner was planned. We were only expecting the three of them, the Pollards.

"And, who is this handsome young man?" I said, as the four of them passed me. He was a boy, maybe Becca's age: twenty-six or twenty-seven.

"Daddy, this is Gerald," said Becca. "He's my intended."

I stood stock still. The others had already passed me into the front room of our little place. They were watching my reaction. And, I did good. My response was truly brilliant.

"Huh?" I said. Becca smiled. The young man stuck out his hand to me.

"We're going to be married," said Becca. "But, dad, it's cold. Can you shut the door, please?"

"Oh, yeah, sure," I said. I shut the door.

It was clear to me that the Pollards, the two older Pollards had gotten the news before me. Not that that was the biggest deal in the world, but I had never even heard of the kid, or having heard, sure as hell didn't remember hearing about him. I decided to mention it.

"Well, greetings," I said, unnecessarily. "Rebecca's been keeping you a secret. How long have you two known each other?"

"Daddy, can we have a drink of something. I'll tell you all about it," said Rebecca.

Ann took matters into her hands. "Claire, like to join me?" she said.

"We'll help too," said the two youngsters. That left me and my new-old best friend.

"We knew the kid, well, we'd met him before," said Rodney. "He was her prom date and he'd dated her off and on for a while back in the day, but that was some nine years ago. But we, Claire and I, just heard about their plans an hour ago. As a matter of fact we didn't even know she'd been dating the guy again." I nodded.

"Okay, well, you know the guy a little then. Is he a good guy? What?" I said.

"He was back when. I guess he still is. But, James, they're 27 years old. They're old enough to make their own decisions, and, they have," he said.

"I assume he has a last name," I said.

"McCready. He's a mechanic. He likes old movies. He has a chopped, lowered, channeled, dagoed chariot: a '56 Chevy basically. It's a rod he's been doing things to since he graduated from high school. His dad gave him the car as a graduation present," said Rodney.

"Hmm, I guess it's my turn then to talk to our erstwhile daughter," I said. "I assume you already have."

"Yes, well I have. Claire left that little ditty to me," he said. I nodded.

Just then the kitchen crowd joined us.

"Here're the drinks," announced Claire, leading the parade into the room.

She had the pitcher of whatever, and Becca had a platter of glasses suitable for martinis.

"Martinis," said Ann. Everybody but me hurrahed the bringer of liquid justice. I did get my drink poured for me by Claire, Becca had handed me the glass a second before.

"You'll like him, Daddy," she whispered to me when she handed me the glass. I gave her a look that said a lot, and she translated it, the look, quite accurately I was sure.

It was a good hour after dinner that I was able to corral my daughter for a private word.

"So you met Gerald in school, that right?' I said.

"Yes dad. He was a good guy, not all Rushin' hands and roamin' fingers if you get my meaning," she said. I nodded.

"So what does he do for a living? He does have a job, right?" I said. Rodney had already clued me as to the man's occupation, but I wanted to get her talking about the kid.

"He's a mechanic, Daddy. He makes a good living. We'll be fine," she said. She didn't say that her other daddy was rich and would pretty much guarantee that they did well; that was a given.

"Hmm, yes, well that's good," I said.

"Dad, I know what you're thinking. Daddy Rodney is rich so we will be too. Well, that's not exactly true," she said. "Gerald wants to make it on his own, our own. He won't take anything from Dad, my other dad. My fiancé is independent and so am I."

I know my look must have surprised her. "Oh really," I said.

"Yes, really," she said.

Now I was very interested in this independent guy that she was into. I had to admit to a certain amount of pride that she'd picked an apparent winner in this Gerald fellow. Well, if what she'd said was a true thing. I wondered if his highness, my new BFF, was in the know about this independence thing. I figured to be more than surprised if he were. I'd be talking to my wife about some stuff for sure.

Rebecca and I talked for a bit more before I was commandeered by my ex-wife.

"Got a few for this old gal," said Claire.

"You're not old," I said, mater-of-factly, but sure, I guess so."

"Well, thank you for that, sir," she said. She walked toward the back of the room where the sliding glass door opened onto the patio. It was clear she didn't want anyone overhearing us. It wasn' cold out, and no one else was outside. I was intrigued. I followed her out.

I was in my chair with a blanket covering my stumps, so I was comfortable.

She turned toward me and leaned back against the wood railing of the patio. "So whaddya think?" she said.

"Of Gerald?" I said.

"Yes," she said.

"Don't really know, but he does seems to be a man of character," I said. "I mean judging by what Rebecca told me."

"Yes, he does," she said. "We've met him before, seen him a number of times back when they were in high school. Becca told me that they ran into each other in a bar. That led to a renewal of their interest in each other, and well . . ."

"I see," I said. "So why the subterfuge? I mean us coming out here into the cool night air." She deflated, but only a little.

"Claire?" I said, taking the lead.

"Jim, Rodney wanted me to take the lead here on something, something he wants to ask you. He knows you won't take any big gifts from us. It's who you are: a man of character to paraphrase your analysis of our future son-in-law," she said.

"Claire?" I said, repeating myself.

"Well, Rodney has been kinda loosely following innovations in the development of prosthetics for amputees, like you, sir," she said.

"Claire!" I said. Impatience was a virtue I had long been refining into a near art form. I was getting impatient now, oh yeah!

"Well, we know how seriously difficult it is for you to get around. Even though, I hasten to add, you've been an inspiration to all of us in how you've adjusted, really!" she said.

"Claire, please get to it, whatever 'it' is," I said.

"Okay, you're right," she said. "Well, it would make things a lot better for you when the two of you walk our daughter down the aisle."

"Huh?" I said, "the two of us? Claire get to it!"

"Yes, Rod hopes you'll allow that the both of you walk her down the aisle." I know my brow wrinkled, but I skipped ahead in my thinking.

And what exactly is it that would make walking her down the aisle easier?" I said.

"A new kind of artificial legs, very up to date, computerized actually, and they're adaptable to you special. I know that up till now that there wasn't any on the market that would be suitable for your situation, and you will have to have them fitted and periodically refitted and serviced I guess is the word, from time to time. Well anyway it's something that Rod and I both want to do for you, and you have to let us, Jim. Jim, you have to allow us this little bit of grace here. Please," she said.

"Boy she was slick was my ex-wife. Not only did she make me an offer that it was going to be real hard to refuse, if indeed I even did consider refusing. She'd also slipped in the obvious, if not unduly vague, request that I be okay with sharing the walking of my daughter down the aisle.

I felt myself smile, and I saw her relax. It was clear that she was interpreting my expression as lending approval to her gambits.

Could I do it? Was I that much of a best friend again to the man who had helped make me her cuckold? I nodded. "Okay to both of your proposals," I said. I'd caught her off guard.

"Both?" she said. My look clued her that I was onto her. She had the decency to look down.

"Was I that transparent?" she said.

"Yes," I said.

"But, then you're okay with it, them, the proposals?" she said.

"Yes, I guess so," I said.

She literally rushed at me. She was crying. "Thank God," she said.

The feel of her breasts against my cheeks as she hugged me and kissed me reminded me of how it had been in the beginning some thirty years gone. I started to get emotional, but I didn't show it too much I didn't suppose.

CHAPTER 25:

"You're kidding! No push back? No objections? Nothing?" said Rodney.

"No—well—as for the prosthetic legs he was a little slower but seemed to think better of rejecting us and went for it," said Claire. "He never even asked about the cost of the legs. I don't think he has a clue about what all is involved overall. That's a plus or he would have pushed back on that one for sure."

"Yes, for sure

"Just maybe we are over the hump with him. I am so glad that Denise mentioned her sister to me that day. Denise's salary is going to be getting a 10% bump," he said.

"Hmm, yes, I just hope that all of this isn't some kind of a mirage. I mean I know it's not, but up till now . . ." she said.

"Yes, I know what you're saying. We've been down this road before," he said, "well, maybe not this road."

"Yes, and as for him walking her down the aisle tandem with you. That's maybe an even bigger deal for him than the legs. He wants to be seen as her 'real' daddy. It's the one thing that kinda irks me. And yes, I know I have no right—or intention I might add—of even suggesting that you not him is the main daddy of record," she said. "But . . ."

"Yes, and we will not be mentioning anything of the kind. He gets to have his beliefs unrealistic or not. He just does. Our baby wouldn't even be alive except for him. No, he gets that one no question," said Rodney.

"Yes, I agree, reluctantly, but I do agree," she said.

"So now we plan for the wedding," he said. She nodded.

"Yes," she said. "And there might be a small problem there too. Yes, we could pay for it, and I want us to. But . . ."

"Yes, he's not gonna go for that. But, I have an idea. And, I think it could be the one thing that really does put an end to all of the problems that have gone before," he said.

"Oh?" she said.

"Yes, you've already done your part, now it's my turn," said Rodney. "I'm going to go to him and ask him, as her 'main' father to pay for it. I figure the cost, the way the kids are talking, is gonna run out at around five grand. They make enough together to swing it. It'll be a bit of sacrifice for them, but with me submitting to him that he's the 'main' dad of our baby, well I'm pretty sure he'll jump at the chance."

"You don't think he'll see right through your play?" she said.

"Not the way I'm going to present it," he said. She was nodding.

"Okay, go for it, but I hope you're right," she said.

******

"There you are," I said, "I thought you got lost."

"No, I got GPS and your house isn't that large," said Rodney. "Claire said she talked to you about a couple of things." He seemed a tiny bit nervous.

I snickered. "Rod, lighten up. I'm good. Yes, I'll take the artificial legs if they're still on the table. And, I'm happy you're allowing me to walk Becca down the aisle with you. Ann has straightened me out in some ways and I'm doing my best here. Well, you know, we've talked some these past couple of months, socialized."

"Wait a minute, James, wait just a minute. We're not allowing anything. It is your right as her main dad, her real dad in more ways than one, to walk her down the aisle. Claire meant, and I mean, that I'm grateful to you for being okay with me joining 'you' in walking our baby down the aisle," he said.

I smiled, "I know you're paying for this wedding, Rod. Of course you have the right to walk her down the aisle too, and, you've been there for her a hundred percent of the time, me not so much," I said.

"Yes, and you saved her life and by the way mine too if it comes to that. No my man. You are by definition her 'main' dad. Yes, I do claim a bit of that honor for myself too, but you are the one whose seed brought her into existence. "And whose sacrifice made sure she was able to keep on keepin' on."

"As for paying for the wedding, it's gonna cost around $5,000. I'll pay for it if you want me to, but it's actually your responsibility, and yes, I know it would be infinitely easier for me. But easier for this particular ditty should not be the deciding factor. Anyway, whaddya think," he said.

He'd stopped me. Five thousand would hit me and Ann pretty hard. But he was right, it really was my responsibility. Could I come up with the cash? The short answer was yes. I'd have to borrow it, but I was pretty sure I could do it.

"Well, since you put it that way," I said. "Okay, you're off the hook for this one."

"Good," he said.

******

The wedding was happening on this third Sunday in April, two months after my introduction, and Ann's, to Gerald McCready. We'd done the whole show over those intervening almost nine weeks: the parties, the showers, the rehearsals and et cetera. And now here I was, and he was, standing in the church foyer waiting for her to come in from the bridal prep room.

"It's been a long road to here, man," he said.

"It has for sure," I said.

"Can I say that those new gams seem to be working out pretty well for you," he said.

"Yes, they are. Thanks for the gift. It was a biggee. I won't forget it," I said.

"A small recompense for everything you've done for this family," he said.

"Hmm, yes, but not so small," I said. Just then she literally flowed into the room. God my baby was beautiful: the image of her mom at her age. I was as proud of her as I ever had been of anyone or anything.

The two of us, him and me, were smiling big time.

"Hi, honey," he said, "you look gorgeous."

"Yes, indeed," I said, "just like your mom when we got married back in the day." I got a look from my BFF for my comment but nothing was said. The music started and we began the march down the aisle.

We made it to the front of the church him on her right me on her left. Then we hit a small snag. And it hadn't come up in rehearsal. The pastor had only said, during rehearsal, "And now I ask who gives her away et cetera," and we just continued with the rehearsal as both me and my BFF just nodded. But now here we were.

"Who gives this woman in marriage today?" said the pastor.

I was disconcerted. Should I say me? I didn't want to upset the apple cart. Rodney mouthed the answer over to me. "We," he said too quietly to be heard except by the angels.

"We do," we said in unison. The pastor didn't miss a beat. We passed our daughter up to him and her about to be husband.

The ceremony continued and then there was the reception.

We sat at the bridal dinner table with the couple, me on her left him on her right. Ann and Claire were beside the each of us respectively. We dads both danced with our daughter, me first then Rodney. The legs he'd gotten me made it possible for me to dance—slowly; I for sure was no threat to the reputation of the legendary Baryshnikov, but I was able to avoid embarrassing myself.

The day was good. The two newlyweds seemed to be made for each other. I wondered how long her new man was going to be able to resist succumbing to the temptation of big money. I figured about a year maybe two, but it was frankly none of my damn business regardless.

In attendance at the wedding were the Traynors; my buds from the street, Mac and Roy; and of course Henry and Sammy from the job. As a side note, Henry had just retired so he was in the same boat as me; well, he was sixty-six. Some relatives, mostly of the distant variety, helped fill the pews and the hall for the reception afterwards.

On the ceremonial side of things, Ann and Claire had seen to the care and feeding of the bridesmaids and the maid of honor all friends of Becca's from Harcort or her college classes from a few years before. Best man was a guy that worked with Gerald at his shop. A few other guys he knew from wherever were the groomsmen. It all worked quite well overall.

******

The night over, all of the mandatory goodbyes said. The couple having cut country two hours before, we all headed on home.

I unhitched myself from my legs and scooted across up and on to my side of the bed.

"It all went well," she said, leaning her crutch next to the bed and more or less plopping down beside me.

"Yes, yes it did," I said. And, now, we get on with the business of living and doing what comes naturally," I said, laughing, but not very loud.

"Hmm," she said.

"Hmm?" I said back to her, but my 'Hmm' was a question.

"I didn't want to say anything tonight, I mean tonight was for the youngsters," said Ann.

"Okay, and is there something you're not telling me?" I said.

"Well, I'm telling you now, so no," she said.

"And," I said.

"And, I'm pregnant," she said.

I'd been looking at her with a questioning look, but now I was looking at her with a stunned look. Oh yes, I was stunned. Really really stunned. I hadn't even considered that it was possible for us to get pregnant. I don't think she had either.

"Ann, you're not yanking my chain are you?" I said.

"No darling, I'm not yanking your chain. And, I was as surprised as you obviously are. I found out yesterday. I'd missed my period, so I bought one of those do-it-yourself tests and it's positive as hell.

"Well, how do you like them apples," I said.

"The question is how do you like 'em?" she said.

"But how?" I started. "Oh and I like them apples just fine!"

"Well good. As you likely do not know, I am, was, still having periods if not as much or as regularly as when I was younger, but I still am, was. I thought I was past conceiving, but apparently not," she said.

"Apparently," I said. "Obviously you haven't seen a doctor yet."

"No, but when I got the positive I called for an appointment. I'm being checked out on Monday," she said.

"Well, okay, but let's keep this on the quiet until you've seen the doctor," I said.

"My feeling exactly," she said.

******

The pregnancy test was confirmed by the doctor. I'd been doubtful of the reality of what my wife had told me, but now there was no longer any doubt. And, now all and sundry were about to be informed as to our good fortune.

Ann had driven us to the Pollards' castle in the sky. Claire had buzzed us up.

I knocked. Claire answered. "Well hello," she said. "This is a surprise. I mean you calling to come over today, and a welcome one."

"Well thank you," said Ann. "I hope this little visit isn't too much of an inconvenience for you?"

"No, no absolutely not," said Claire. "And how are you Jim?"

"Good, very good," I said.

"Well have a seat," said Claire.

"Claire," I said, "we have some news."

"Really? Okay?" she said. "I hope it's good news."

"It is," I said. "Ann . . ." I was letting my better half take the lead on this one.