Part 17
Tom stumbled past Cassy and into the kitchen.
"Good morning to you too, Sweetheart," Cassy hollered into the kitchen.
Tom grunted his reply as he poured a much needed cup of coffee. He carried
his coffee to the table and sat down opposite Cassy.
"I'm glad to see you're awake. Since tomorrow is the big day I wanted to go
over a few things with you before I left."
"Such as?" He filled his plate with what was left of breakfast.
"Such as," she said, glancing down at her list, "your parents. Their
flight is at eleven, right?"
"Yeah. I'm taking them to the Palm Beach Hotel."
"I hate that they have to stay at a hotel, but with this place in the
shape it's in with everything in boxes..."
"They understand, Cass. They're just thrilled about tomorrow."
Cassy refilled her juice glass. "I guess. I'm meeting Denise in an hour at
the bridal shop so she can pick out a maid of honor dress and so I can pick
up my dress."
"I thought you couldn't find Denise. Where was she?"
"She went to Georgia for her parents' anniversary party. She just
returned last night and called me this morning frantic because she was
afraid she missed the wedding."
Tom buttered another piece of toast. "I'm meeting Harry at two to pick up
the tuxes."
"Great." She made a notation on her list. "About tonight..."
"Yeah, about dinner. Mom wants to make sure that everything is set for it.
Reservation at 7:30 at Anton's for seven people."
"Sounds great, but there is something else about tonight."
Tom grinned. "You mean the bachelor party? Not to worry. I won't be out
late. I'll be home in plenty of time...."
"No, you won't. At least not here."
A look of confusion swept across Tom's face. "What you mean, not here?"
Cassy took a deep sigh. "You're not staying here with me tonight."
"What?"
"I mean that you will have to find somewhere else to sleep tonight."
"Why?"
"Because it's tradition for the bride and groom not to see each before they
get married."
Tom carried his plate to the sink. "Cassy, Honey, we're getting married
for the second time, we're expecting a baby, we're living together and now
you want things traditional?" Tom was blown away.
"Oh, Tom, stop being a baby. It's just for one night. After your party
tonight, go crash on Harry's sofa or get a room at the hotel with your
parents."
Tom didn't say anything for a few seconds. "I don't like this."
"I'm not thrilled with sleeping alone either, but it's just for one
night. I'll make it up to you."
"You better believe you will. Beginning tomorrow night."
Cassy could see the wicked gleam in his eyes and laughed.
"Looking forward to it."
"Gentlemen, may I have you're attention." John Turner stood on a chair
trying to make himself heard over the noise.
Once he had the control he wanted he continued with his speech. "We are
here to commiserate with our friend, coworker, and teacher as he goes head
first into that bottomless pit we know as marriage."
Cheers came from the audience. "Now this is not the first time this man has
been bewitched by a woman, especially by this particular woman. And trust
me, if you've seen this woman, bewitching is the word to use." Cat calls
came from the back of the room. "But our friend is willing to go it again.
I don't know whether to pity him or feel sorry for him." Laughter
filled the room. "But you have to admire a man who is willing to go after
what he wants."
John turned to Tom, who was standing in the back with Harry, and raised his
beer. "To Tom Ryan, good luck tomorrow." A round of applause filled the
room. "One other thing. If between now and then, Miss St. John comes to her
senses, tell her I'm free."
Everyone laughed including Tom. "I knew you were a troublemaker that
first day, Turner. And you stay away from my wife."
Cassy placed the last of her items in the suitcase and closed the lid.
'There,' she thought, 'that's one less thing I have to worry about
tomorrow.'
She walked into her den and looked around. Most of the stuff was already in
boxes and sitting in the new house waiting for them to return from their
honeymoon. The only things still here were the den and bedroom furniture,
the kitchen table and chairs, and a few clothes in the closet. Harry would
take care of that while they were gone.
Part of her wished she hadn't been so adamant about Tom sleeping elsewhere.
She had gotten use to having him around. But tradition was still tradition
and she wanted him to have a good time at his party. She knew that the next
few months were not going to the ideal life of newlyweds. She smiled when
she thought about when John Turner had approached her yesterday and asked
if she objected to a surprise bachelor party. Her feminine instincts
said 'No, it's chauvinistic, it's sexist, it's degrading for women,
but her traditional side won out. It was, after all, just a party in the
precinct basement. With Harry there to supervise, she had nothing to worry about.
Persuading Frannie to allow Harry to go to the party had been the tricky part.
Cassy was on her way to bed to get a good night's sleep when the door bell
rang. She went to get it and was surprised to see Denise, Frannie and about
fifteen other women standing at her door.
"Surprise."
Cassy was stunned. "What is going on here?"
"This is your very own bachelorette party," Denise said as she led the
group into the house and set some food on the table.
"Hi Sweetie." Frannie gave her a big hug.
"Frannie, I can't have a bachelorette party."
"Why not?"
"Well, for one thing Tom wouldn't like it."
"Tom's at his own party. That leaves him with no leverage. Try again."
"Okay, I'm pregnant."
Denise popped up behind Frannie. "Cassy, honey no one is talking bungie
jumping or anything. It's just a small party to celebrate the fact that you
came to your senses and went back to your soulmate."
"I don't know about this."
"Look, tomorrow you can be Cassandra Ryan, wife and mother but for tonight
be Cassy St. John, bachelorette and party girl."
Cassy looked around at the room full of women she worked with. Some were
officers, others were secretaries and a couple were dispatchers. They had
all come to celebrate with her so who was she to be a party pooper.
"Let's party," she hollered.
The exotic dancer had come and gone. She had been dressed as a nurse and
did strange things with a stethoscope. But it only made Tom lonely for
Cassy. He left the men ogling at her and left to find a quiet place
to call Cassy.
The phone rang in the kitchen and was answered by Denise, who had stopped
by the kitchen to replenish the chips.
"Cassy?" Tom asked, confused. He could barely hear the person on the other
end because of all the music.
"Tom, is that you? It's Denise."
"Denise? What is all that noise?"
"It's music. We're having a party for the bride to be."
"Just the two of you," asked a hopeful Tom.
Denise just laughed at him. "Just a few girls from work and Frannie
Lipshitz."
"Can I please speak with Cassy?"
Denise leaned over and peeked into the den. The cowboy male stripper they
had hired was working his way down to his skivvies. He had taken his lasso
and wrapped it around Cassy and himself.
"I'm afraid she's tied up at the moment."
"Take it off cowboy," came a voice from the other room.
"Denise, was that Frannie?"
"It could have been. She's a wild one."
"Is there a man there?"
"Man is not the word I would use to describe him. Man would describe one
arm." A few seconds passed. "Look Tom, I'm missing the show. I'll tell
Cassy you called and we'll see you tomorrow. Bye."
The phone hung up and Tom was left standing there all
alone in the parking lot.
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