Who's Taming Who? Page 19

  “Won’t he be too mad to do that?” Frank asked. “He’ll withhold consent for revenge.”

  “He’s going broke,” John countered. “That fancy, uh, girlfriend of his is taking up all of his money and when it’s gone, she’ll be gone too.”

  “So we offer him a pay-off,” Frank finished for John. “How much will it take?”

  “First we sue him for back support then, if we have to, we offer to drop the claim and, as a last resort, we might even give him a little money. I wouldn’t go over five thousand. If that.” John suggested, “Let me handle this part of it, okay? I’m not emotionally involved.” The anger showing in his face made this a blatant lie.

  “Thanks, John.” Lanie was grateful as she kissed him on the cheek. “I really appreciate this.”

  “It’s a change from catching shoplifters.” John started to leave then turned back at the door. “Want to hear what we turned up on Cal’s girlfriend, Doreen? You might like it.” He grinned. “I don’t think Cal knows this, but Doreen used to be Donald. That’s why she can’t have any kids. My operative says she’s even nice, in a money-grubbing way. He doesn’t think she’s in on Cal’s scheme. He also doesn’t think she’ll stay with Cal if she finds out how he’s treating you. She’s pretty, too.” John showed them a picture of what appeared to be a very pretty showgirl.

  “Sounds like your man likes her.” Frank smiled.

  “In a funny way he did, for a while.” John smiled. “Poor guy was having a real sexual identity crises over it.”

  “What happened?” Frank asked, amused.

  “Kate and Laura introduced him to someone, of course.” John smiled broadly. “Just like they did with you two, and Cheryl and me. His identity crises faded instantly. His wedding is about a month after yours.”

  “He’ll be happy then.” Lanie smiled.

  “Delirious.” John smiled. “And if Doreen turns on Cal and leaves him when she finds out what he’s really like, I wouldn’t put it past Kate and Laurie to find someone for her.”

  John pulled on a coat and left. As soon as he was out the door Frank took Lanie’s hand and led her upstairs.

  The recorded videotapes brought a variety of reactions. Cal was blindingly furious but he had learned his lesson. He had enough brains not to threaten Lanie, barely enough brains. Lanie taped the phone call he made in response to the tape, and she told him she taped it to make sure it was legal.

  Cal’s parents sent Lanie a polite letter disclaiming his actions but they still made no request to see Cassie. Even Doreen, Cal’s so-called girlfriend, called Lanie. She was very pleasant and very apologetic for Cal. Doreen told Lanie that Cal had mentioned to her that Lanie was a bad mother and that Cal had battled for years to get custody of Cassie. She admitted that the tape had convinced her otherwise, and let Lanie know that she would testify in court if she had any information that would help Lanie’s case. Doreen said she was breaking up with Cal and had finally realized the kind of man her really was.

  Lanie’s attorney easily received a protective order against Cal and he also began proceedings to collect back child support. This action brought an additional outcry from both Cal and his parents.

  The most surprising reaction to the tape came from Cal’s grandfather. He called Lanie and asked if he could come over for a visit. Lanie was touched by the sincere tone in the old man’s voice and agreed, but she had the camera set up and running just in case. Frank was at her side as she greeted Cassie’s great-grandfather at the door.

  “Hello, Ms. McPherson, I’m Michael Westingham,” he greeted her as he held out his hand. “Please call me Michael.”

  “Please come in Michael, I’m Lanie and this is Frank, my fiancé. It’s good to meet you.”

  The elderly gentleman allowed himself to be led inside and accepted a cup of tea before the conversation continued. “I feel I must apologize for my grandson, Cal, and even for his parents. Instead of appreciating your daughter, Cassie, in her own right as she deserved, they saw her as a means to use for their own personal gain. That’s sad and shocking,” Michael said. “I can never make up for all that Cal made you suffer but I can make sure that he never bothers you again. I have deeded over to him a small ranch I own in Montana. I have also arranged for him to receive an annual allowance if he signs over adoption rights to Frank. If he can make a go of the ranch, he will be set for life, but it definitely will not be easy. He’ll have a tight budget and some extremely hard work to do. Not to mention some of the harshest winter weather known to man to overcome. I’ve put a codicil in my will that if he ever contacts you or Cassie again he will lose the annual allowance. His parents are cut out of my will except for a small remembrance. I’m leaving my estate to Cassie, in a trust, with the provision for it to be split at your discretion between any half-brothers and sisters you might give her. All I ask is that I can visit her from time to time.”

  “There are two provisions that I would like before I agree to let you visit Cassie,” Lanie said softly. “First, if you start visiting her, keep visiting her, don’t let her begin to care for you and then disappear from her life. Also, if we have other kids, treat them the same as you do Cassie. I know she’ll be the only one who’s your real blood but I want you to treat any children we have with equal care and love, no playing favorites, agreed?”

  Michael nodded. “Of course.”

  “As for seeing Cassie, I’m sure she would like that but it’s up to her. Would you like to meet her?” At his speechless nod, Lanie left the room and returned with Cassie.

  The older man and the little girl had a long talk.

  Afterwards when he left Lanie asked her daughter, “How did you like him?”

  “He was very nice,” Cassie said, “but he seemed very sad. Did I cause him to be sad?”

  “No Sweetie,” Lanie told her gently, “he’s sad because he has realized that his grandson, Cal, is not a nice man. He liked you. Cassie, do you know what a great-grandfather is?”

  “Yes,” she said with mounting excitement, “is he my great-grandfather?”

  “Yes he is,” Lanie smiled at Cassie, “would you like him to visit you from time to time?”

  “Of course,” Cassie said simply, “why not?”

  Chapter Eighteen

  For the next couple of weeks, both Frank and Lanie were extremely busy attending to the thousands of tiny never-ending details involved in putting on a wedding, especially within just three short months. There was one other detail they had to attend to: about a month after Lanie’s confrontation with Cal, Lanie received his approval to have Frank adopt Cassie. They immediately went to their lawyer to set things in motion.

  They also picked out wedding invitations and argued over the guest list, then spent several evenings addressing the envelopes. Cassie was in charge of stamps. They hired a caterer but only after they had tasted food at every catering company they could think of and then argued about the menu and the cost. They decided on a buffet with hand-carved ham and roast beef, some casseroles, plus several salads and side dishes. They also decided to have an open bar.

  Then Lanie dragged Frank all over creation to search for the perfect wedding cake. She wanted a traditional white cake but with a tart lemon filling. Of course it had to be four-tiered and decorated perfectly. She chose a cake that was completely covered with very realistic looking roses made from frosting so that not an inch of the cake seemed to have been covered with just plain icing. Of course, Lanie used her own influence with various growers to get plenty of flowers. Frank took charge of finding a live band for the reception.

  Not only did they have the usual wedding details to attend to as well as filing adoption papers, but they also had the house and the surrounding grounds to complete and get ready. Luckily the construction on the house and basic work in the yard were both finished in an amazingly short amount of time. Frank had pulled every string he could to get the work done on time including paying a few cash incentives to some of the construction workers, and eve
n picked up a hammer himself when his busy schedule permitted.

  Although it was a bit unusual, the house was furnished room by room as soon as the construction crews finished in an area. Frank and Lanie spent several long evenings searching the furniture stores, plus selected carpeting, wallpaper, window treatments, and paint shades. They fought and pleaded with storeowners to hold furniture and have it delivered as soon as the room was painted, papered, and carpeted.

  Soon, the furnished house was looking wonderful and warm, a home any family would be happy to live and grow in. The only thing missing were the signs of everyday life and the normal mess that comes from living in a home because neither Frank nor Lanie had moved in yet; they had both decided to live in their old homes until the wedding. As a result, the house still seemed like a model home, just a bit too organized and sterile to be a real home.

  Both of them had, however, moved everything to the new house except a few clothes, grooming items, and the things they planned to take with them on their honeymoon. Frank’s apartment was already rented to someone new who would move in on the Monday after the wedding. Tina was renting Lanie’s little house from her, taking over Lanie’s house payments. She was even considering buying it for herself from Lanie.

  Kate and Laura threw a Bridal Shower for Lanie. Her mother, Tina, and Cassie came, as did Frank’s mother. His sister Linda and her two daughters who were eight and nine drove down from their home in Bakersfield too. They stayed with Lanie for the weekend and Cassie took great pride in showing them around Disneyland the day after the wedding shower. The trio of girls walked their legs off, dragging a slightly hung over Aunt Tina and Cassie’s soon-to-be Aunt Linda with them. Of course, several of Lanie’s other friends were also there.

  It had been planned for everyone to bring two presents: One was to be a normal practical wedding gift such as the usual toaster or blender, the other was to be lingerie, the sexier the better. The women gossiped, laughed a lot, plotted to get Tina married next, and drank champagne punch. After sending the kids off to a kiddie movie with what they called ‘the men folk’, the women had a male stripper dance for them.

  They had taken great care in hiring him, with Tina volunteering for the arduous duty of picking the stripper. He could really dance well but his act was tasteful and fun, not sleazy. Out of respect for Lanie and Frank’s mothers and some of the older guests, he didn’t strip down to the all-together. Lanie and Tina might have been surprised to find out that some of those same women were a bit disappointed about that. The men folk provided taxi service, driving home any party guest who had a bit too much of the really delicious champagne punch.

  Naturally, Jack and Bob held a bachelor party for Frank. Similarly it was also tasteful and fun, but not excessively vulgar. Jack and Bob knew exactly how far they could let things go. They had a stripper, but no prostitutes. There was drinking but no one drove home drunk. Jack and Bob both knew their lives would be over if they let things get too far out of hand.

  Lanie and Frank slept apart the whole week before the wedding, a symbolic gesture to separate their married life from their single lives. It also had the side effect of making them anticipate the honeymoon even more than before. The passion between them was hot and the anticipation was delicious.

  Frank’s parents came down from Oregon about two weeks before the wedding to help with any last minute details and to really have a chance to visit. Lanie had already fallen in love with the Morgans. They had both fallen in love with her and Cassie instantly at the engagement party and now declared that Cassie was an official Morgan granddaughter, and a welcome bonus addition to the family. A few days before the actual wedding, Frank’s older sister Linda and her family drove down from Bakersfield, and his younger brother Ted, also flew down from San Francisco.

  During the week before the wedding Frank’s sister worked on Lanie’s hair, practicing several styles. She told Lanie, “Watch out for my brother. Don’t let him get away with anything. Oh, I don’t mean women, I know he’ll be faithful to you. I can tell he really loves you. I mean his pranks and his orneriness. He can be such a pain in the patooty. Keep him in line.”

  “Don’t worry, I will,” Lanie promised solemnly, but with a grin on her face. “He’s easy to handle once you know how.”

  Frank picked Lanie up at her office about three days before the wedding. Unbeknownst to Lanie, he had a surprise for Cassie that he wanted to receive Lanie’s approval on beforehand. Frank had his eye on a very special wedding gift for Cassie, or an adoption gift, whichever was the easiest to get Lanie’s blessing.

  Without telling Lanie where they were going, he drove her out towards the desert. Shortly after crossing the El Cajon pass, he pulled off the main highway and soon pulled to a stop in front of a small house on a large lot.

  “What are we here for?” Lanie was curious.

  Frank looked distinctly uncomfortable. “I know I need your permission to do this, Lanie, but I’d like to get Cassie a very special gift to let her know how proud I’ll be to have her for my daughter.” He opened the door for her and hand in hand they went up to knock on the front door of the house.

  “Frank! I was hoping you’d come out,” a woman greeted him warmly. “And this must be Lanie. Hi, I’m Alice. I’ve heard about you. I hope you’ll be very happy, Frank’s a good guy.” She turned back to Frank. “Buddy’s all ready for you out back. I’d go out with you but I’m babysitting my grandson and the baby’s fussy. Don had to work late. You know where everything is.”

  “I sure do.” Frank took Lanie’s hand and led her behind the house. “You go take care of that grandbaby, we’ll be in later. Wish me luck.”

  Lanie followed, puzzled and excited; it was very apparent that Frank was eager to show her his surprise. As soon as they rounded the side of the house he left her standing in the yard for a moment. Lanie gasped as he returned with his surprise in tow.

  He’d picked out a horse to buy for Cassie. Once Lanie found out what the surprise was all about, the horse became the subject of an intense discussion.

  “Frank! A horse is a big monthly expense, and Cassie doesn’t know how to ride well enough to get her own horse!” Lanie protested.

  “I know, but it was too good a deal to pass up.” Frank explained, “I know the people selling this horse, Don and Alice. His name is Buddy. He belonged to their eldest daughter who’s leaving for college. The horse is very gentle and well trained. I’ve ridden him myself many times. He’s also very healthy; I’ve had him vet checked.” Frank grinned and gestured at the horse he’d just tied to the fence. “Heck, he’s even a fine-looking animal with good conformation. As you can see, he’s sorrel with a flaxen mane and tail.” Frank paused. “The thing was, because he’s a fairly small horse and fifteen years old, the only buyers they had found so far were meat companies. They called me on a whim without knowing about Cassie. It seemed like fate. Lanie, I know this horse, he’s like a friend of mine, I couldn’t let them”

  “Can you teach Cassie to ride him?” Lanie asked quietly, understanding now. “I mean the fine points.”

  “Sure.” Frank grinned as he saddled the horse. “And remember, she’ll learn faster on her own horse because she’ll know his quirks and he’ll know hers. I also thought I’d get her some professional lessons if she decides she wants to show him. He’s been shown a lot in Western Pleasure and Trail classes.”

  “Can I ride him?” Lanie laughed, won over. “I know I’m going to say yes but I should at least try him out, just to save face.”

  “You can ride him this time but once I give him to Cassie, then--” he grinned, “well, then you can ride him only if Cassie lets you.” Frank kissed her nose. “He’s for her.”

  Lanie mounted Buddy and rode him around the small pen. She noted that he had a soft mouth, smooth gaits and very good manners. He seemed calm and reliable. He was a pleasure to ride. It was as simple as that, the gelding had a new home; his new owners were very happy and his former owners were very relieved
.

  Lanie’s mother, Jean, flew in from Arizona. She got on famously with Frank’s whole family. She was wonderfully ecstatic about the wedding but had one problem: she’d gone out shopping for days to find the perfect dress for the occasion and she still wasn’t satisfied. She kidnapped Frank’s mother and the two women drove up to an exclusive mall, still looking for the perfect dresses. Lanie shook her head thinking of it, the last person she had expected to get obsessed with a dress was her mother. Jean was usually happiest digging in the dirt and working with plants.

  Lanie had no idea just how excited and happy her mother was about the wedding. Jean’s deepest dream was to find a good husband for both of her daughters and, of course, to have some more grandchildren. She was so happy that she constantly seemed about to burst into song.

  However she wasn’t so happy that she failed to take notice of the signs of romance between Frank’s brother Ted and Tina. Secretly she hoped Lanie and Frank’s romance could lead to a second one. How else could she be sure she’d like the in-laws? The Morgans were perfect.

  Both families helped with the last minute details and got to know the respective new relatives. Luckily for Frank and Lanie everyone soon became thick as thieves.

  The day before the wedding hundreds of flowers were delivered to the house, along with white wooden folding chairs, tables, and a tent. It was chaos but everything was set up and ready by one o’clock in the afternoon, and it was a darn good thing because they had plans for later that afternoon, big plans.

  That was the time set aside for the wedding rehearsal. It went off perfectly with Tina acting as the Maid of Honor, and Frank’s sister, Kate, Laura and Cassie acting as attendants. Cassie was proud to be in the wedding, and especially proud to be not just a flower girl but a real Bridesmaid. Frank’s brother was Best Man, Bob and Jack were Groomsmen along with the son of one of Frank’s friends who was drafted to escort Cassie. The young man was a very mature eleven-year-old who was more than happy and willing to pair up with Cassie. He just wasn’t too thrilled about wearing a fancy suit, but the promise of a great dinner and wedding cake lured him.