Book Two: Part Four - Binding Evil - Chapter Five
Labor Day Weekend
As in years past, this year being no different, the city park became a place where young and old alike turned out for the festivities of hamburgers and hot dog; pretzels and cotton candy, soda’s and shakes, corn dogs on a stick, handmade ice-cream in a variety of flavors; t-shirts, caps, and even fake tinsel hair in red, white, and blue to wear were available.
Three local bands played throughout each of the three days, each taking a four turn on the grandstand backdrop by the manmade lake.
Police roamed the park, but as with years past, they hadn’t expected any violence or destruction of property. It would be a weekend like those past; noisy, and uneventful. People would go home each of the next three nights and have nothing but good things to say.
On the beginning of the holiday weekend, Father Larry Millen gave the opening and closing prayers and wished that the weekend to be a great success and boon to the community.
Both the Mayor and the Captain, Raymond Todd, followed Father Millen in the opening statements, wishing everyone to have a great time but to be safe and careful, and mindful of the law.
This Labor Day and there would be no crime. No one would be injured in any kind of way. It would be the eleventh straight The Labor Day, trouble free.
Stevie, his mom, and Ed were walking around, buying a souvenir of some sort just to say they were part of the ongoing festivities.
They played the games, rode the rides, and Stevie even managed to win a large white stuffed panda bear for his mom. All he had to do was knock twelve sets of three metal bottles off a table with a single pitch of a baseball. He did it four times in a row.
Stevie handed her the panda and said, “Mom, you can call him, bub, when I’m not around.”
“Deal, Bub.” She hugged him.
At one point, Baker had to find a restroom, and spied a port-a-potty. That left Stevie and Ed alone on one of the park benches.
“I’m really proud of how you have handled things over the last few months, Stevie. I know of grown men who couldn’t have done half of what you’ve accomplished.”
“Thanks, Ed. I have to be honest. I did most of this for my mom. I didn’t want her to think I would have to have her wait on me hand and foot. I didn’t want her to think of me as a cripple or invalid, you know?”
Ed nodded his head.
“Are you sure you aren’t thirty in a little guy’s body?”
They both sort of laughed, when Stevie asked him a question point blank.
“You love my mom, don’t you?”
Ed inhaled, and thought, here goes.
“Yes, I do. We never started in that direction. I mean, in the beginning, we were simply partners with a job to do. As partners, we can sometimes become close, and as it happened in our case; very close.
“But it didn’t start until the end of the Christmas holidays last year. I don’t think either one of us felt it would amount to too much more than what it was.”
“You mean the sex stuff, huh?”
Blushing slightly, Ed nodded, then continued.
“Then, things became really scary with the cop-killers and stuff going on, and the next thing either of us knew, it wasn’t about the sex any longer, it was about us having a future together.
“And I do want a future with your mom, Stevie. But, I would also like to be able to keep our friendship and be able to do things together with you like I did when you were here before everything that happened, happened.
“I’m not out to replace you father. I know that can’t happen, and I wouldn’t even try. I’m perfectly happy just being the best friend to you I can be.”
Stevie looked at him without changing his facial expression which held neither a smile or frown. He listened to every word Ed said before he looked into his eyes and said, “So then, maybe this fall, you could teach me how to shoot at the Brewster Gun Club?”
“Can do, will do, if your mom says it’s okay.”
“Cool. I have another question for you.”
“Bring it on.”
“Well, it’s not really a question, more like something I just want to say. I know you love mom, and that’s great. She’s been needing someone to love her besides me, for a long time, and you are really a great guy. So, what I’m saying is, if you and mom want to get married, go for it. I just have one request.”
“What would that be, bub,” interjected Baker.
“Oh, hi mom. Gee, how long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough to say you are so full of surprises, and that you constantly amaze me. So, what’s the request?”
And for the first time in Stevie’s presence, both Baker and Ed, held hands.
“Well, I know my grandparents, your mom and dad, died in that house fire years back, long before I was ever thought about. But I read books and have seen movies all the time where the father walks the bride down the altar to the groom. And, well, mom, since your dad can’t do that for you, I’d like to be the one to give you away, to Ed. That’s if it’s okay with you.”
Baker felt a new sense of admiration and added respect for his thought, and she felt a rush of tears about to overflow and drown her in this moment of absolute joy.
She stood away from Ed, throwing her arms around Stevie, hugging him tightly, and whispered in his ear, “Stevie, you have always been my best man, and always will be. And Bub, I would be proud to walk down the aisle with you.”
She didn’t have the heart to tell Stevie the truth about her parents and how they really died. And why would she? It all happened many years ago. Better to leave sleeping dogs lie.
Labor Day Weekend – Sunday Night
Two different cabs, from two different companies arrived at 2356 Cranston Way. A rather attractive blond with a sexy accent, and a tall, heavyset man with an Aussie accent arrived as scheduled.
That first night after settling in, and making initial small talk, the obvious happened.
They went to bed. She called it making love. He looked at it as purely releasing energy. He had to make sure she would follow everything he said.
Come Monday, he would go into greater detail as to how things would go down.
Baker’s Townhouse – 9:31 p.m.
It was, perhaps for Baker, the most memorable Labor Day weekend of her life. The two men she loved most would be in and around her life for many years to come.
It was by far an even more romantic moment than it had been when she first met Mark.
And it was that same night she made a silent prayer and vow before sleep took her away.
“Dear God, please keep us safe always, watch over my son, and please continue to keep him safe and out of harm’s way. Please bless our marriage when the time comes and watch over everyone I know and care for.
“And Mark, if you’re listening, a part of me never stopped loving you, but you know it is time I moved on. Stevie loves you, and I guess a part of me always will. Watch over him as well, Mark. He won’t say it out loud, but he misses you. Amen.”
The rest of this night, if you looked from well above the clouds down onto Montie; the lights were slowly winking shut as families found sleep after such a great weekend. What lights stayed awake, twinkled like stars that came to rest on the earth.
One more night to go. Monday night.
Fireworks. A grand time was to be had by all just as with times past.