My continued thanks to my editor, '
larryinseattle,) who makes me work harder to become a writer.
*****
I met Daniel Matthew Richards the first day I attended the University. He was rugged, handsome, and rich, everything I wasn't so it was amazing when we became quick friends. As crazy as it seemed, for the next three years we did virtually everything together ... except date. There he still outclassed me and while I had my share of 'encounters' he fell totally in love with the most beautiful woman on campus. Crazier still was that she fell in love with him, too.
Soon it was the three of us doing everything together; camping, hiking, and kayaking. Then, as to be expected, I was invited to join them less and less until by the time we graduated I was almost completely on my own. After graduation, they went off their way and I went mine which is why I was so surprised when I received a call from him the next Spring.
"Hey partner, how ya' doin'?"
"I'm doin' pretty good. The job is everything I'd hoped for. The only drawback is that I had to move back in with my dad and step-mom until I can save enough for my own place. To tell ya' the truth though, right now, I'd settle for a dorm room again."
"How come?"
"My step-mom had a baby just before I graduated and ... well, let's just say things aren't all that smooth around here right now. How about you? You still with Jess?"
"That and more. We're getting married."
"Wow. I thought you'd always said 'IF' it happened you wanted to take your time before taking the leap."
"Yeah, I know, but things change when you find the right woman and ...," he hesitated.
I'd seen this before. As I said, Dan was everything I wasn't but I was different from him, too in that I knew what I wanted out of life. "Okay, buddy. What now? What did you get yourself into?"
"Mmmmmm, well ... Jess is pregnant."
"I thought ... you always insisted ... you know, protection."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know I did but one night we went out, had some fun, wayyyyyyy too much to drink, and ended up on a very romantic stretch of beach. One thing led to another and before you know it ... WHAM ... I'm gonna be a daddy."
"So do I wish you congratulations or offer condolences?"
"That's what I'm callin' about."
"Yeah?"
"I was ... actually, WE were wondering if you'd do us the honor of being my 'Best Man' at the Wedding. Then you can decide which of the two choices fits."
I was shocked and speechless. "Me? What about all your other friends?"
"It turns out they weren't the people I thought they were. As soon as Jess began to help me control all the money I was spending, my 'friends' slowly disappeared. Not that it really mattered, Jess and I had already made up our mind about asking you."
"In that case, I accept."
"Before you do, there are two things you need to know."
"Yeah??"
"Number one, the wedding is being held in Jamaica ...,"
"JAMAICA," I shouted. "How am I ...?"
"Don't worry about it. Jess and I already bought you a ticket and booked you a room."
"You already ...? Pretty sure of yourself, aren't ya'?"
"Not me, Jess. Besides we were best buds so I guess I had a pretty good idea what ya'd say."
"Okay," I sighed. "What else?"
"Mmmmmmm, where was I? Oh yeah. The wedding is in two weeks."
"Two ...?" I stammered. "You don't give a guy much time."
"Jess wants to get this done before she can't fit in her Wedding dress," he whispered.
"Well, I better let my boss know and start packing."
"Oh yeah, there's no need to talk to your boss. He already knows."
I was speechless for the second time since the conversation had started as I listened to him continue.
"Ya see, when we decided to do this, Jess got on the 'Net' and did some checking on ya. One of the first things she noticed was that you were working for a company that's owned by a friend of her dad's soooooo Jess made a call to him, and he made a call to the regional supervisor, who made a call to your boss. Presto, done. Oh, and before I forget, the owner says he'd like to sit down with you before the week is over. Apparently, he'd already taken notice of you and some of the ideas you've come up with."
"So let ME get this straight. You already knew I'd say 'yes'. You already bought me a plane ticket. You already got me a room. You've already made arrangements for me to have the time off work AND that the owner of the company I work for wants to meet with me. Do I at least get to pack my own clothes?"
"Sure," he laughed. "Just a bit of advice. Bring your blue swim trunks and leave the 'Hawaiian' shirt at home."
"How ...???"
"Because every guy has one," he continued laughing. "See ya' in Jamaica."
'CLICK'
I stood there looking at the phone in my hand. The only question going through my mind was,
'What else?'
It was a question I'd learned to ask myself when doing anything with Dan and the answer was always the same. "Who knows," I whispered softly.