“Ed and I just have a hell of a lot in common, and we just hit it off from the first time we met,” she said.
Macey appeared and gave her a bottle of beer. She smiled her thanks and took a swig. There was something erotic in the way she managed to do that. She was a very beautiful, elegant lady, but she drank like a Marine. I laughed.
“I’m sorry, have I missed something?” she asked, with a frown. I pointed to Ed, and he was drinking from his bottle.
“I see what you mean about having things in common, you even drink like a Marine,” I explained and she laughed. She had a nice laugh.
“Ed told me about your wife, you must miss her even still?” she said.
“I do, we were married for twenty-five years, and we wanted to grow old together. I keep wanting to tell her things. I wanted to tell her that Ed had at long last found a girl, and that he wanted to settle down and get married. Carol was fond of Ed, and would have been pleased. I wish you could have met her,” I felt myself getting emotional, and yet this girl seemed to care.
“I’m sorry, I know memories are like booby traps, and bring everything back, but I think it is important not to forget sometimes,” she said. “Will you miss Ed when he moves up to Parris Island?”
I nodded, grateful that she managed to change the subject.
“Sure, but only as an old friend. Macey is as good at the job, but his knees are stronger,” I said.
She drank again, nodding, but she had a small smile on her lips, so I was given the impression that she knew something I didn’t. But she then changed the subject again.
“You have grown up children; do you see much of them?” she asked.
“Not as much as I should like. Grant is twenty-six, and is a surveyor in LA, and Cheryl is twenty four, married and living in Seattle. Her husband is an architect, and they are expecting my first grandchild. I see them at the holidays, but I would like to see more of them,” I said.
“How much longer will you stay in the service?” she asked.
“I don’t know, I have just finished my thirty second year, so I guess a few more can’t hurt, and then I will move out West to be closer to the kids.”
“I think it is important to have people around you. I used to be very lonely, and, well, things changed, thank God,” she said.
I was surprised, as she didn’t seem the kind of girl who would ever be lonely for long. She was intelligent, beautiful, charming and witty, so I was at somewhat of a loss to understand.
She laughed at my confusion, but declined to illuminate me. Macey appeared with another beer for her, and to my astonishment started to converse with Gillian in French. I shook my head and went to speak to Ed.
“Thanks for this evening, Colonel!” he said.
“Ed, no ranks, not tonight!” I said.
“Thanks, Rick! I was meaning to ask, will you be my best man?” he said, and the request threw me a little.
“Are you sure, there are lots of the guys who would do a better job than I?” I said.
“With respect, you are the nearest thing to an older brother I have left, so it would mean a lot to me if you could do it. I know I am only a Sergeant Major, and you are a Lieutenant Colonel, but hell, Rick, I’d really like you to think about it,” he said.
I held out my hand.
“I’d be honoured Ed, just let me know when and where,” I said. Ed grinned and shook my hand. The funny thing was, I really was honoured, it was the first time anyone had asked me, and I thought I’d never get a chance to be a best man.
“Hell, Rick, neither of us know when or where. Gigi’s mom is making the arrangements, but I guess it will be in a couple of weeks, somewhere in Scotland,” he told me.
“Are you sure about this, you are both from very different worlds?” I asked.
Ed smiled. “Maybe, but you would not believe how much we have in common. Of all the things in the world, I am sure that she and I were meant to be,” he said, with such assurance that I was convinced.
“She said much the same thing, but it seems an unusual partnership,” I observed, but Ed just laughed.
“We may be from completely different countries, and completely different backgrounds, but there is no doubt in my mind, we are truly soulmates,” he said.
The evening progressed, until Pete Cooper, who was cooking the steaks on the barbeque, called for us to get our food, so the serious business of eating began.
There were about half a dozen wives or girlfriends present, and Gillian seemed to have no problem talking to anyone who cared to talk to her. She seemed to have the knack of being able to converse at any level with anyone. In fact, she was just so relaxed and poised, that I felt happy for Ed. She was independent, yet at the same time, they exchanged such deep and meaningful glances throughout the evening, that I really believed Ed was right, there was something special between them.
Still, they managed to talk to everyone else, without having to be next to each other. This was unusual, particularly with couples in their early stages in a relationship. It was almost as if they had been married for years, as each was quite happy to do their own thing. I envied them their happiness, as my own loneliness seeped through and gave my heart a twinge.
Some of the guys started to get boisterous in the yard, and I knew that soon someone would get thrown into the pool. Sure enough, after a few minutes, Ed was lifted onto their shoulders, paraded across the grass and thrown into the pool.
“Where is the future Mrs Ryan?” Bellowed a voice, and I saw Gillian laugh, but look a little alarmed.
They chased her, but after a dozen paces, she stopped, raising a hand, and blow me, if they didn’t stop too. She kicked off her shoes, slipped her dress off and calmly dived into the pool. She came up next to Ed. Ed laughed and put his arms around her. They kissed and showed no inclination to get out of the pool.
Everyone applauded, but still the couple made no attempt to either stop kissing, or to get out of the pool.
Eventually, the mob became bored, and searched for another victim. Soon Macey joined them in the water with a tremendous splash. This was the sign for a general free-for-all, clothes were discarded, and bodies jumping into the pool from all angles. Still Ed and his girl were locked together in the middle.
Eventually they got out, so I handed them a towel each.
“I should have warned you, they do that to all engaged couples,” I told them. Neither seemed to mind, as there obviously were no hard feelings. In fact, I swear they enjoyed it.
Ed slung his clothes in the dryer and jumped back into the water, and started throwing bodies around. Gillian went and dried off, and came down looking as glamorous as ever.
“Ed tells me that you have agreed to be his best man?” she said, as she took another beer from the bar.
“That’s right. I hope to be up to the job.”
“Och, I am sure you will be brilliant. You will add a touch of class to the event. My mother is rather disappointed Ed is only a Sergeant Major. She would have preferred him to be an officer,” she said, laughing. I found her accent very attractive. I wondered how she managed to roller her Rs quite so well.
“Have you any family in the military?” I asked.
“Yes, one of my brothers, Will, is a Major in the Black Watch. It used to be a Highland infantry regiment, but is now just part of the Scottish Regiment; it’s the government cuts.”
“I’ve heard of the Black Watch. How many brothers and sisters do you have?”
“Just four brothers, all older than I. There is Rory who is forty-one. He’s a Detective Chief Inspector in the Tayside Division of the Scottish Police. Then there’s Alex, at thirty-nine, who’s a farmer like my dad. Followed by Will, who is thirty-seven and is the soldier, and finally Malcolm at thirty-five, who’s a surgeon.”