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by goyse » Wed Aug 17, 2022 10:02 am
Candy Quattro Chapter 21
The church was small but then the marriage party was also very small. The priest was an elderly man whose grey hair fitted in well with the church which obviously was pre-twentieth century. There were a couple of locals who were at the church at the time who, seeing that there was just the wedding party had asked Michael if they could join the wedding. After introduction, Michael told them they were welcome.
The service went off well and Michael surprised his lovely wife by pulling out a golden ring from his pocket to put on her hand. Candy had not expected that. Finally the priest said, “You may kiss the bride.”
There was an expiration from the onlookers as first Michael kissed Candy and then Mike, the best man moved across and also kissed her. It was obviously not a congratulatory kiss from Mike but one that men all around the world give their beloved. Not to be out done Gloria did likewise to Michael which received another groan from the crowd followed by clapping. When the couple of people clapped Makayla who was feeling jealous of Mike kissing Candy said quietly but loud enough for the front row to hear, “Ah, what the fuck,” and grabbed Michael to kiss him as well.
Mary smiled as Michael threw his arms out wide and said, “Come on, Mary. Don’t stand there looking dejected.” She went a step further. She jumped up onto him wrapping her legs around his body as Michael caught her and they kissed lovingly. This bought cheers from the onlookers and another clap.
“You must sign the register,” the priest told them with a blank expression as if nothing untoward had happened.
“Okay,” Michael told him, “but then it’s off to the local with our newly acquired friends and you too, father.”
“I don’t mind a Guinness or two,” the priest told him.
“No Guinness today,” Makayla replied, “Today Spanish Wines supply their wines on my tasting budget.”
The priest smiled, “I’m all for that, Makayla. Now, I haven’t seen you in my congregation recently and don’t tell me that you have been overseas because I know different.”
“It sounds as if I might have to turn up next Sunday, then doesn’t it?”
“It can’t be next Sunday, Makayla because you and the kids will be with Mary, Gloria and I on the Gold Coast,” Michael told her.
The priest laughed, “It looks as if you’re off the hook for another week then but I’ll be watching and expecting you the following week.”
“Do you really think you can save my soul, Father?”
“If all souls were as saveable as yours, my dear my life would be much simpler and I probably would drink a good few less Guinness.”
“Remember that it’s wine today, Father.”
“Oh, yes, I’m looking forward to it. I understand the wines are locally produced as well.”
“Yes, most are. I think that we may be able to supply you and the church with a couple of our very best reds, Father so your congregation might try out our produce.”
“That’s magnificent. Good for the church and could even become a means of promotion of sales for the company,” The priest told her, letting her know that he was a wake up to her sales gimmick.
Makayla laughed, “Nothing gets past you, does it Father.”
“The good lord knows all, my dear,” he told her with a big smile.
The necessary paperwork now completed Michael led them all down towards the local tavern with Gloria one side of him and Mary the other followed by a few of the locals who had joined in, no doubt hoping for a few free drinks. Candy followed behind with Michael’s best man beside her, so close in fact that their shoulders touched regularly as they walked.
Bringing up the rear was the priest with Makayla beside him. They chatted about almost everything with the priest eventually asking questions about her work with Spanish Wines. She explained that since her child was born she had been unable to travel but had set up sales representatives at various locations who she talked to regularly by phone.
He was impressed that she had been so well organized that allowed her to manage her role without the travel. She thanked him for his compliment. A brief moment of quiet followed. Then he asked, “Your friends, they seem so different. Have you noticed?”
“In which way do you think they are different, Father?”
“I have conducted hundreds of weddings and in every one until today the bride and the groom stay together and yet your friends have separated. Don’t you think that is different?”
Makayla smiled and told him, “It just goes to show that many newly married couples don’t trust each other as well as they might, Father.”
He laughed and told her, “If only,” while looking directly at her. She knew immediately that he knew that Mike had been spending many hours in her company.
“Yes,” she told him, “if only we could trust those that we love as well as we would like.”
“Hhmm, Mike does seem very attracted to his new friend’s wife and Mary seems very attracted to the ladies husband as well.”
“They say it takes all kinds.”
“Yes, that is true but some do not appreciate the hurt they can cause by being so different, if you understand my meaning.”
“I understand perfectly well, Father. And yes I will be at church on Sunday week after I return from my trip to the Gold Coast.”
“That’s good. Sometimes a refreshment of the soul can help us at times of stress and concern. Oh, we are here. Now, for a taste of a few of your wines, my dear. You did say they are being paid for on the tasting budget of Spanish Wines, didn’t you?”
Makayla laughed, “Yes, they are and a good many we will taste tonight, I suspect.”
“You can be sure of that Makayla. Free makes everything taste so much better, I’m told.”
“You have no personal experience of that then.”
“Oh, yes, just a wee bit,” he said as he joined her in laughter.
…..
The wedding party went off well. At the end of the night, a good many people were much happier than they would normally be. One local named Fred staggered off up the road past the park after telling the bride about a woman yelling out in the park near his home in the early hours of the morning waking him up.
Candy had laughed and told him, “That’s disgraceful. Who would do such a thing?”
“I told her to rack off,” he said.
“It’s a wonder you didn’t tell her to fuck off,” Candy suggested.
“Actually,” he said quietly looking around to check that no one was listening, “I did but I didn’t want to swear in front of a wonderful lady like you.” With that, he staggered off down the road.
A few minutes later a lady sided up to Candy and asked, “Was Fred giving you a hard time?”
“No, he was a perfect gentleman. He gave me no trouble at all but he will have a thick head in the morning.”
“I thought he may be giving you trouble over the park thing last night.”
“Oh, I see,” Candy replied. “So you’re Desmae?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Candy poked her hand out towards the woman and said, “Thanks for last night. My name is Candy.”
Desmae shook her hand and smiled, “I see you found your husband. In case you didn’t know the woman he was with is that redhead who is following him around like a bad smell. Some men can’t help themselves. Put a pretty girl in front of them and all they want to do is make love to them.”
“That redhead is a very good friend of ours. I wasn’t chasing him because of that.”
“Oh, I see. So why were you chasing him around in the park in the middle of the night then and why was he hiding from you with that redhead?”
“I…, I…., I…, just wanted to talk to him about something.”
“Hhmm, I see. Like that, is it? You know, young girly, husbands who get around with beautiful women especially blonds and redheads end up destroying their marriage. You need to be aware of that if you are going to succeed in your relationship.”
“Oh, I see. Which one is your husband, Desmae?”
“My husband left me for a young blond woman. That is how I know about these things.”
“Tell me this, Desmae, if you had invited the young blond woman into your home and made an agreement with her to share your husband with her, do you think he would have left you?”
“Oh, I couldn’t do that!”
“Explain to me why you couldn’t do that. Didn’t you love him enough to want to keep him?”
“I loved him but it wouldn’t have been acceptable. Our community doesn’t believe in such things.”
“I didn’t ask your community, Desmae, I asked you.”
“Are you suggesting that I should have given him to her in return for him staying with me?”
“I didn’t even suggest you give him to her. My suggestion was that you share him with her. You may have found that his lover and you could have become good friends. It’s called compromise, Desmae. What do you think is worst, losing him altogether or sharing him with his other lover?”
“My God, you’re right. It could have worked.”
“When did he leave Desmae?”
“He left about five or six months ago.”
“Is he still living in the district?”
“Yes, they are renting a shack downtown.”
“Why don’t you write him a letter and tell him that he has made a mistake by not talking to you about a compromise? Tell him, we can work this out between the three of us and invite him to bring his new lover around to discuss it with you.”
“Do you think it can work?”
“That depends on you, I guess. Are you willing to compromise and accept him spending half of his time with her? Of course, they have to be interested in compromise as well but don’t be surprised if he is missing you. You’re missing him aren’t you?”
“Oh, yes. I lay in bed at night wishing he was there with me.”
“All you can do is try. You’ve lost nothing if it doesn’t work but you might come out a winner.”
“Oh, thank you. I’ll do that. Thank you very much. I’ll go home now and draft up the letter. Good night Candy, love.”
“Good night and good luck, Desmae. I’ve enjoyed meeting you.”
can do something with that! 
