“A couple of nights or the night before the wedding, the men in my life throw me a party to celebrate my last night as a single man,” Mustang said, “but since I'm already married to Helen, I haven't been single in a while, so the party could be for my 42ndbirthday.”
“If you want, I can be your best man or throw you a birthday party,” Oscar said.
“Well, you did save my life,” Mustang replied.
“Yeah, there's that, but like I said before, I will always have your back,” he commented, looking toward the fridge for the location of the cobbler.“Besides, I couldn't come back here and face Aunt Helen knowing I let her man get his brain bashed.She's cute, but scary.”
“This is very true,” Mustang answered.“Oscar, would you do me the honor of standing next to me as I say my vows to make Helen my life partner until the end of my days?”
“Sure.Stand next to you and do what?”he said, looking at Mustang.
“I’m asking you to be my best man,” Mustang countered.
“Okay, only if Mr.Milton will be able to offer an assist on the bachelor party thing?I mean I can't order any wine or stuff or any half nekkid dancing girls if he wants that kind of thing.Maybe all the guys should go to Vegas like that movie.”
Apple held up his hand.“Slow your roll half-pint.What do you know about nekkid girls?”
“Jeffrey is always talking about nightclubs where the ladies have no tops,” he said, looking at Helen.“If I say it in front of Aunt Helen, then she won't think I'm trying to corrupt her man.”
Helen burst into laughter.“One of these days, young man, we are going to sit down and talk about your life in Teguce,” she offered.
“Not much to tell.We were poor.Drugs and prostitution everywhere, and people were sick and dying,” he said.“My mom and sisters and I started walking to the US.The Coyotes picked off my sisters, stealing them in the middle of the night.My mom tried to fight for them but got a wound that festered, and I lost her midway through the journey.I made the rest by myself, only to be sold.I'm a fighter.I'm here.I went camping and canoeing.Now, I'm the best man for Uncle Jay when he says his vows.”
Mustang watched him closely.“Oscar, I don't know how it will pan out, but if you still want me in the role of your dad, I'm willing.”
Oscar looked up.“That's cool, but Aunt Helen has to be on board.It's going to be her at the Parent Teacher meetings and bake sales.”
“I can do all of that as well,” Mustang challenged.
“For it to work, it will take you both,” Oscar said.“You're only going to be as good as the lady who supports you.Aunt Helen, are you willing?”
“I'm willing to be Aunt Helen for you,” she said.“The rest we will work out.”
“Okay, you didn't put any furniture in the room, is that so that me and Uncle Jay can make it?”
“Yes, but I have one request, Oscar,” she said.“Can you finish out the school year with Apple here, then come here after the honeymoon to start the summer?I will have completed my training and have a chance to research schools and things to get you settled.”
“So, not right away?”
“End of June,” Helen said.“I still have a wedding to plan, a business to wreck, and more.I need a little time to get ready to have a young man in the house full time.Is that fair?”
“Fair enough,” Oscar said.“I need to work on this bachelor party.Figure out how this party is going to end.”
****
DONOVAN TURNBULL THOUGHThis life was coming to an end.The call came when he was leaving Kurtzwilde’s house, for an order to complete the same job the Big Man requested: find the woman.He knew what she looked like, her name, or at least the handle she went by, but not her specialization.Taking the job would offer him a chance for closure.
The drive to Grosse Pointe gave him time to think.His thoughts strayed to being in her arms and having something on the side with her, but did she have on a ring?He wasn’t sure, but her hands were delicate.Was there a ring?The idea went back and forth in his head until he arrived at the home of the Chrysalis member called Swallowtail.In her private office, the woman put in the request and gave him a stack of money and orders to find the one called Cranberry and bring her to the house.
Chaos erupted in the home.As he waited, he heard a gunshot.Not one to run into a maelstrom of anything, he stepped out of the room behind Swallowtail to spot the gunslinger: the one and only Cranberry.
“Job complete,” he said facetiously.“That is her.She’s already here.”
Swallowtail squinted at the woman.“Her?That is the Cranberry?”
“The one and only,” Donovan said, still partially hidden behind the large woman and a plant.
To add insult to stolen inventory, Cranberry made eye contact with Swallowtail and provided a quick salute before exiting the front door.Red and blue lights appeared at the entryway, and Donovan slipped out the side door to his truck.The app he needed to track the girl was already on his phone.He simply had to follow the girl Cranberry had rescued, then follow The Cranberry to her home.At least, that was his plan.
