Honeymoon for Three by Alan Cook Read Free Book Online Page A

hadn’t he
had the courage to speak to her since he’d been in
California?
    It was too late for regrets. It
was time for action. He got out of the car, leaving it unlocked for
a fast getaway. As he shut the door, he glanced at the sleeve of
his grungy sweatshirt. That would never do. He impatiently took off
the offending garment and threw it into the backseat. The T-shirt
he wore underneath wasn’t quite as grungy. Penny would understand.
When they got married, he would look elegant.
    He forced himself to stride
briskly to the chapel and up the four concrete steps before he lost
his nerve. He opened the glass door and walked inside. Then he
stopped short. The reception area was small, but a number of closed
doors ranged along the walls. It was a rabbit warren.
    He turned to the receptionist,
sitting behind the counter, who anticipated him and asked, “May I
help you?”
    “ I hope I’m not too late. I got
here as soon as I could.”
    “ I’m sorry. Are you here to attend
a wedding?”
    “ Yes.” Wasn’t it
obvious?
    “ Which one?”
    “ Penny and….” He couldn’t remember
his name. “…Gary.”
    “ You’re in luck. They’re changing
their clothes. Then they have to get their license across the
street at one o’clock. They’ll be getting married after
that.”
    Alfred felt momentary relief. Then
a letdown. Then panic. He had to get out of there before they saw
him. He turned and opened the door, calling over his shoulder,
“I’ve got to get something to eat. I’ll be back at one.”
    ***
    Penny looked at herself in the
mirror. She liked what she saw. The knee-length white dress with
the fringe was a size eight, something she had never been before as
an adult. She wouldn’t put the hat on yet. She wanted to save it
for the actual wedding. Something should be a surprise for
him.
    She walked out of the dressing
room just as Gary walked out of an adjoining one. He looked very
handsome in his blue suit and tie and short, sandy hair. If she
weren’t convinced before that they were doing the right thing,
watching him look fondly at her and feeling his firm grip as he
took her hand did it.
    “ What a good looking couple you
are,” the receptionist said.
    She probably said that to all the hundreds of
couples who passed through this wedding mill, but nevertheless, it
was nice to hear.
    “ Your friend was just here,” that
woman continued. “He said he’ll be back at one for the
wedding.”
    “ Friend?” Penny said, confused.
Nobody even knew that they were getting married today, let alone
where. She glanced at Gary. He looked equally baffled.
    “ He said he just got here. He was
dressed a little…informally. Maybe he’s got some other clothes in
his car.”
    “ Are you sure he’s not here for
another wedding?” Penny giggled. “Nobody knows we’re getting
married today.”
    “ He said the wedding of Penny and
Gary.”
    They exchanged bewildered
looks.
    “ Did he tell you his name?” Penny
asked.
    “ No.”
    “ Can you describe him?” Gary
asked.
    “ Well, he’s about your age but
quite a bit shorter. He has longish brown hair and a beard. He was
wearing a T-shirt and sneakers. And he has a potbelly.”
    “ That doesn’t ring a bell,” Penny
said.
    Gary shook his head. “I don’t have
any friends with beards. Well, if he shows up at one o’clock, I
guess we’ll find out. Let’s go get our license.”
    He took her hand, again, and they
walked across the street to the courthouse.

    CHAPTER 6
    Alfred could see Penny and Gary standing at
the top of the courthouse steps across the street, talking to
another couple. A couple probably also waiting for a marriage
license. The four were partially hidden by one of the marble
columns in front of the building. They weren’t looking in his
direction.
    He carefully got out of his car and walked
back to the chapel, keeping an eye on the foursome. When he entered
through the glass door, the same receptionist looked at him. This
time she