The next morning, Calvin and Patty woke up to the sun rising over the sea.
It was just as, if not more, beautiful as the sunset they watched last night.
Patty was the first to wake up. She snuck out and returned to the tearoom, drank some more tea and wondered if her family was okay.
Calvin woke up to find his wife gone, but he wasn't worried.
He remembered how excited she was about the tearoom, so he figured she was there.
But before he could head out, the phone rang.
"Hello?" said Calvin as he answered it.
The concierge answered.
"Really? Well, thanks for letting me know. I'll inform my wife at once" said Calvin before hanging up.
He ran up to the tearoom and found Patty admiring the green parrot.
"Hey" he said.
Patty grinned at her man. "How'd you know I was gonna be here?"
"I knew you couldn't stay away from this room" said Calvin.
Patty giggled. "I wonder how my folks are doing."
"About that. I got another call from the concierges" said Calvin.
"And?"
"And they made it overnight."
"They did?!"
"They did."
"YIPPEE!!!" Patty squealed.
She led Calvin by the hand to the lobby where her parents and brother were waiting.
"Patty! Oh, Patty!" her mother sobbed happily.
"It's so lovely to see you, honey" said her father.
Patty embraced her parents and her brother, Ross, just gave her a high five.
Then she gestured to Calvin.
"Cal, I'd like you to meet my mother, Natalie Lane, my father, Martin Lane and my brother, Ross Lane. My husband, Calvin O'Keeffe" said Patty.
"Hey, pal. Good to meet you" said Ross shaking Calvin's hand.
"You too" said Calvin.
"In every letter Patty sends, she tells us how much you love each other" said Natalie.
"How nice to know that" said Calvin.
"You know, son, I knew my daughter had chosen well when I paid for her wedding" said Martin.
"Thank you, sir" said Calvin.
"But it was so troubling when we couldn't attend" said Natalie.
"It shouldn't trouble you now, madam. We've met officially now" said Calvin.
"I don't know how you handle my sister, pal" said Ross.
"I don't know how you couldn't" said Calvin.
Ross laughed. "It's just a thing she and I had. I teased her a lot."
He leaned in and whispered in Calvin's ear, "she kinda deserved it."
Calvin patted his brother-in-law's shoulder.
"Folks, I gotta admit. Cal was a little nervous about meeting you" said Patty.
"Why's that, darling?" said Natalie.
"In short... my new father-in-law's a piece o' work" said Patty.
Calvin nodded. "I had to put him behind bars a while back."
"Oh dear..." Natalie whispered.
"Well, we're awfully glad Calvin has found his way into the lives of a loving family" said Martin.
"I'm awfully glad to have met this family" said Calvin with a smile.
As the family enjoyed itself for a while, Patty reprised her song in her thoughts.
In a dream, or in my wandering years along ago
I watched the tropical twilight falling like snow
Silhouette of palms in the afterglow
Caravan of camels on the beach below
Someday soon when I can't take it no more
When the kids grow up or I sell the store
I'm gonna leave my shoes by that dusty bamboo door
And I'll sit and watch the Zanzibar sunset
Sit and drink my fresh mint tea
With nothing to do until morning
And only my mind for company
And I'll sit and watch the Zanzibar sunset
Sit and drink my fresh mint tea
With nothing to do until morning
And only my mind for company
YOU ARE READING
Hijinks, Holdups and Harrows
FanfictionThe gang discusses what they did over the holidays.
