Lucille Nailed It Ch. 10

"Don't be an asshole, Digger."

Digger's mouth dropped again; in the time he'd known Lucille he'd never heard her use that word. What was happening?

The smiling proprietor personally handed the couple a bottle of champagne with his compliments, and after pouring two glasses backed away bowing.

"I can't believe this," Digger said, annoyed that everyone on nearby tables were watching them and straining to hear their conversation.

"Digger, believe this. A press photographer and social night reporter will be on their way here to photograph us. Do I introduce you as my betrothed, or as the white-jacket seducer that moves about Sydney prepared to ravish three or more women a night? Or do I simply say you have invited me here to discuss your forthcoming engagement to Christine McKeon, only daughter of media baron Angus McKeon and his first wife?"

Digger looked wildly at the entrance and to the door to the kitchen.

"The bouncers at the door have orders not to allow you leave as have kitchen armed with gutting knives. I've also paid security guards to block your escape from either of the emergency exits."

"This is lovely champagne," Digger said weakly. "Why are you doing this to me?"

"Digger, you are missing out on family years because of you own neglect of what's good in life. You just need someone to push you in the right direction. I'll never marry because I don't know how to love any man enough - but you have love within you and sure as hell Chrissie loves you. I see this marriage as being a great success and ask of you only one thing."

"What's that?" Digger asked, showing the whites of his eyes.

"That I am considered as the possible godmother of your children."

"Yeah, sure - that's an easy thing to consider," Digger grinned, only then becoming aware of this new entrapment.

"Then I take it I announce that third option?"

"Of course."

He nodded in defeat but didn't appear unduly worried.

"I can always break off the engagement," he smirked.

Sipping champagne Lucille then said, "Oh yes, and have both your mother and Chrissie's father on your case - I think not."

"Safety parked within that marriage rather appeals to me," Digger offered. "And Chrissie is rather sweet - just the right kind of girl to father my children."

The press burst into the room followed by a TV news crew.

"Good evening Miss Lightfoot," began the newspaper reporter.

"Hive off Doris," snarled the TV woman interviewer. "This cove is to marry our boss's only child."

"Girls manners please, Lucille soothed. " Doris you have three minutes to talk to Mr Morrissey and me then it's the turn of TV. May I open by saying the wedding between media heiress Miss Christine McKeon and Mr Digby Morrissey, principal heir to the asset-rich Morrissey grazier family out from Dubbo, will be Sydney's social wedding of the year as the families and my business associates and I will ensure this is the case."

"I have been engaged by Mr Digby Morrissey to be his events consultant leading up and beyond this marriage. He will propose to Miss McKeon at a secret venue immediately after these interviews. Thank you. You may wish to talk to Mr Morrissey."

Forty-five minutes later Chrissie was awoken from deep sleep. She came to the door and surprised said, "Digger what are you doing here?"

"Um I just came to talk."

"Talk, is that all?" Chrissie giggled and catching a movement peered out but failed to spot the departing Lucille in her dark gown and the low level light did not pick up the dark hood over her hair.

Digger closed the door and the phone went.

Chrissie took the call and looking bewildered said: "It's a reporter Doris from the Herald. She wants to know have you proposed yet? That's crazy."

"Chrissie will you please marry me."

"What?"

"I said Chrissie will you marry me?"

"Oh God, Lucille's been at you hasn't she?"

Digger nodded.

"Are you sure about this?"

"My oath."

Chrissie smiled beautifully. "Yes, I'll marry you Digger."

"Then tell Doris because she has a deadline to meet."

Drinking cheap wine, Digger and Chrissie sat watching the 11 o'clock late news on TV. The newsreader reader the headlines, reporting a bomb threat in Melbourne, an investigated into crooked politics in Brisbane and a bonza rainfall reported throughout most of South Australia.

"But first we have the breathless Raewyn Cassidy just in with a roughly edited announcement of an imminent marriage that will tie together two long-established and very wealthy New South Wales families.

"God there's Lucille wearing Slinky, her new dress that we were told today wouldn't be ready until tomorrow or possibly the next day."

Digger yawned, "I guess Lucille went to the factory and kicked butt."

"Okay but why is she on this clip - she has no family tie to either family?"

"Well it appears she'd now adopted a couple of families and is tying them together so she can have godchildren."

"What? You're not making sense."

"Quiet and keep watching otherwise half of Australia will learn about your wedding before you do."

"Oh Christ," groaned Chrissie, sinking back into her chair to watch the screen intently.

After the news item ended Chrissie looked shell-shocked.

"She called it the city's biggest wedding of the year. What will our parents say to that - they haven't been consulted?"

"I wouldn't bet on that, Lucille's not the kind of person to run around leaving loose ends. Oh, by the way, here's your engagement ring - she bought that for us earlier today; so damn sure of herself."

"What! She purchased my engagement ring? I'm supposed to experience the excitement of doing that. I won't like her taste and it won't fit. If she weren't preg..."

"What?"

"Is she weren't so precious to me I'd kick her butt."

"Don't be mean. The ring will fit and you'll love it - that Lucille has a canny eye and excellent taste - we all know that."

"Oh darling, it's beautiful - the main diamond is large but not too large to catch on things. And look at all the other small diamonds set into the platinum - oh, and look how beautifully it fits. It must have cost her a fortune."

"Don't you get it sweetheart? She can't have a wedding so she's involving herself in ours - in her mind it will be her wedding."

"How do you know she'll never marry - you are not that astute?"

"It's easy - anyone can see she can't rustle up enough love within her to marry a bloke; that's why she prefers women but you said she's pregnant - who to, Bob Song?"

"I didn't say she was."

"You almost did but let's start our real life together being honest with each other. Is it Bob Song?"

"Probably or possibly."

"Excellent because events are occurring that will ensure he won't be around as the father of her child to sponge on Lucille."

Chrissie looked bewildered.

"Explain yourself!"

"Bob's wife is preparing to take him to the cleaners; his immediate ex-girlfriend is claiming through the Court for the return of $200,000 she claims she lent him. As well he's been cited for damages in a complicated divorce case in America by the husband of his current girlfriend who'd claimed to Bob she was divorced. Those people are out to strip him of everything including getting him discredited within his profession. Bob Song is on the way to become 'a nobody'."

"Lucille asked me to promise..."

"My lips are sealed, honey. Come here and test them."

More Coming