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They had spoken with Shelly, who seemed so full of life and humor. She kept hugging Toni and held firm on his arms. Clearly, the couple seemed as if they were in love. Toni showed Lucy and Maxine his iPad with his Fun Bird scores and told them that while Shelly was caring for him after his second stroke, she’d showed him how to play the game to cheer him up and he hadn’t stopped since. He showed Lucy and Maxine their scoreboards with the names Mr. Romero and Shelly Romero. Of course, they had given Shelly his surname as a joke. Mr. and Mrs. R. Bird they nicknamed themselves.
“Beautiful,” Lucy commented. She was gushing now. This all seemed so perfect, except the fact that they still wanted to go ahead with the Fun Bird slingshot down the aisle.
“Well, you know there are risks involved, right?” Lucy warned the doting couple.
“Of course we know that. Life is a risk, wouldn’t you say?” Toni shot back before bursting into laughter. He seemed to be a jolly old fella who really did look more like a fit forty-something-year-old. Shelly and he looked roughly the same age—almost. His upbeat attitude was so infectious. It was obvious that one of the reasons Shelly loved Toni was because despite his age, he was young at heart and he rarely took things seriously, including himself.
“You know, Lucy, I want to thank you and your aunt…er…God rest her soul, for this wonderful wedding you’re putting on for us. It’s a dream come true,” Toni said as he looked lovingly into Shelly’s eyes.
Lucy exchanged a glance with Maxine. It translated to I-really-hope-this-works-out-for-them-because-they-are-such-a-nice-couple. Maxine appeared to have swallowed hard. Lucy could also feel a lump in her throat.
“Come. Let’s go out into the garden where part of the ceremony will take place.” Toni escorted them outside to the patio then led them down a pathway to the fertile garden.
Lucy noted the two trees near the pond where Shelly wanted to be tossed from the slingshot to the aisle and they had already worked out with the videographer and DJ how they would film it to the Fun Birds soundtrack and quirky bird sound noise complete with slingshot. Lucy felt a migraine coming on and she really didn’t know why. Perhaps it was the whole litigious angle not to mention the safety-risk involved.
“I’ve already gotten fitted for the harness that will go with the gown,” Shelly beamed. “I’m so thrilled to be doing this. My friends are going to have a blast. We’re going to post this on YouTube. It will be great, won't it?”
Oh. No.
“Um. Oh. Yes.” Lucy hesitated. It’s about the client. It’s about their happiness. It’s about them, not me—or Antonio! God, there was that Antonio again. Lucy’s thoughts were distracted by the sound of rotors in the distance. What the—?
She’d thought it might be some news chopper overhead but then realized that the helipad off in the distance was empty. It must be someone family related. Who could be flying at this time?
“Oh, great!” Toni seemed excited. “My grandson Antonio is here. You’ve met him, haven’t you?”
Lucy felt her stomach plunge to her feet.
CHAPTER SIX
And what an entrance that was. Toni, along with Shelly on his arm, walked over towards the helipad and his grandson. Lucy and Maxine followed closely behind. Lucy was chewing her lower lip so much so that she thought she tasted blood. Her heart thrashed about in her chest. As the blades slowed down and stopped, Antonio, looking hot as ever in his Ray-Ban aviator shades and expensive business suit, stepped off the chopper, along with another gentleman. Antonio wasn’t looking particularly pleased when his gaze met Lucy beside his grandfather while Shelly was waving maniacally at his grandfather’s side.
“Welcome home, my boy!. I see you wanted to avoid the evening rush-hour traffic again.”
“Grandfather,” Antonio formally greeted Toni. He then nodded to Shelly and glanced at Lucy and Maxine. He arched his eyebrow when his gaze met Lucy. Though the corner of his lips turned up slightly, the smile definitely did not reflect in his eyes. He pulled off his shades to reveal his dark and dangerously sexy gaze before re-focusing on the property.
