Marriage Is A Beauty

For my friend, Dave

Samuel could not take his eyes from the yellow roses' petals. For the moment, he desired distraction. Placing a large wad of Levi Garrett into his jaw, he began to hum an old melancholy tune he learned from his father. As the lyrics came to mind he sang out in a low halting voice, black with sorrow and red with anger;
She saw me sitting out there alone
“Told you that life is on loan!”
Now with a Mason’s tool
I try to sew a heart of shattered stone

From his balcony window, Samuel watched the workers move like 3 foot tall ants as they ran here and there. Although the wedding didn’t to take place until the following evening, an occasion of this magnitude needed extra help and time. From the way it was appearing, Samuel put the count at 350. A soft but firm knock at the door broke him from his gaze.

“Just a minute!”

Samuel snatched a bottle of Banaca from the bathroom and sprayed his mouth numerous times before swinging the door open. Leaning on one hip, a green dress tightly clinging to all her assets, and giving Samuel a look that said he better have stretched, Cindy seductively touched his chest and said

“Are you Warren?”
“Yes I am. And you must be Cindy. Come in.”

Wanting to go out strong in every way he could, Samuel opted for a wild night.

-And why not start at 4:45 in the afternoon, he thought to himself.

With a desire to see her rear end, Samuel allowed Cindy to walk in front of him. She glided over to the mini bar and wrapped her hand around a bottle of vodka and stroked it...

“What would you like to drink darling?”
“I don’t drink while I work, Warren.”
“That’s cool but I do. Would you mind pouring me a tall one?”

Slipping the cap off, Cindy allowed the bottle’s contents to gallop into the glass. She walked over to him, placed the drink in his hand and began to strip. By the time she was bare, Samuel had downed his vodka and appeared shirtless. He stared at her for a few seconds while she relaxingly smiled.
Cindy hated her work. Yet she was often able to separate the Jon from the work itself. Especially if he was kind yet this wasn’t always the case. There were aspects of the job that pleased her and guys like Samuel could make it a little easier to perform. So when she smiled at Samuel, it was genuine. As they came together Samuel slid his hands up and down the small of her back, kissing her body tenderly until he carried her to the bed.
Fifteen minutes later Cindy drew a lingering drag from her cigarette. She looked to Samuel and offered with her eyes. Taking the cig from her with his lips, Samuel drew a short smoke but held onto the cigarette.

“That was really good, I have to say.”

With a steady caress placed on her thigh Samuel was truly pleased to hear her pay him a compliment. And he believed her.

“You’re not too bad yourself.”
“Well, I better be good, honey. It's my job.”

They both laughed. Seeing all the wedding fuss around the hotel, Cindy looked to get the skinny.
“So do you know the bride and groom personally?”
Samuel thought about the question and smirked. He felt that he might be giving off a snide air so he backed off with a grin. Images of Clarissa’s naked ivory skin, with all the curves and dips that a woman’s body needs to make it perfect, hurried into his mind.

“Yeah. Yeah, I know them pretty well. Why do you keep doing this work?”

Caught off guard more by the speed in which he changed the subject of the conversation than the question itself, Cindy affectionately took back the cigarette. She thought about his question while she scratched her thigh, which Samuel couldn’t keep his mitts off. Of the two answers she had, since this was a question she received constantly, Cindy decided to give him the easy one.
“Money.”
“Hell, there are plenty of other ways to make money. You’re not stupid either so what gives?”
“How do you know I’m not stupid? We just met within the hour and half of it was spent fucking.”

Cindy followed this with a laugh and giggle that seemed appropriate for a solid retort. Samuel gazed at her and thought that he should be careful. Sassy, sexy and smart was a lethal combo and as it lay embodied next to him, Samuel reminded himself that he had a duty to perform the next day.
“By that answer alone, babe. By that alone.”
Now it was Cindy’s turn to become scared and she quietly looked straight ahead, pulling out another cigarette. She didn’t like to converse with her clients and if he hadn’t paid for the whole night she would have tried to just screw him until the time was up. But 22 hours of straight sex was reserved for porn stars and The Energizer Bunny and since she wasn’t a huge fan of adult film and her ears were less than two inches long, she had to find something to do in between that time. Perceptive as a FBI Profiler, Samuel decided it was time to use the bathroom. Coming back to bed with a glass of Diet Coke, he simply handed it to Cindy. When the fear of something spectacular is seconds away from happening and all you have to do is pull the trigger, many put the gun down or drop it. Then there are those who like to put the safety switch on and pull the trigger anyways just to try and fool themselves and everyone else around them. But guys like Samuel wise up, thank the Creator for the gift and pull the trigger, perfectly content. Looking at her in ease, Samuel took back her cigarette.

“Hey, it’s not such a bad thing to share something with someone.”

Reacting instantly, Cindy kissed him and then took back her cigarette. Samuel couldn’t help but stare at her and think that her bleached hair blended splendidly with the cigarettes cherry.

“In my line of work. sharing destroys you, from STD’s to emotions.”

Samuel needed some air. Crawling out of bed he put his pants on. Then he remembered that the rehearsal dinner was to take place soon.

“Listen I’m gonna be gone for a few hours. Feel free to anything you want or order anything you want.”

Unsure what protocol called for yet feeling like he had to say goodbye somehow, Samuel stood there and proceeded to wave to her in a schoolboy manner that made Cindy laugh in appreciation of his awkward effort. As he closed the door behind him, Cindy buried her head in the pillow and calmly said
“Oh, shit.”

Getting back around eight-thirty, Samuel wasn’t surprised to return to an empty room. He undressed, prepared for bed and began to read before being interrupted by a knock at the door. Recognizing the knock but unwilling to admit it for fear of only becoming disappointed if he was wrong, Samuel waited a few moments before opening. Cindy stood there with a sly smile on her face that said

“You’re not the only brave one.”

Taking her in his arms he didn’t let her go until midnight.

By the time the morning’s rays woke Samuel; Cindy had already dressed and ordered room service.

“Ten-thirty! Damn, I slept in!”

With a stop, mid-bite into her breakfast burrito, Cindy thought about his exclamation. Samuel clamored out of bed and it took a full two minutes before he realized that Cindy had been watching him the whole time. As he looked at her face which was pale and drawn, he thought that maybe she saw something incriminating.

“What… What’s up?”


By now the burrito was back in its wrapper and a coffee mug was placed in her small delicate fingers. He couldn’t help but look at them and think she should have a ring on her index finger.

“You’re the FUCKING groom!”

Not surprised by her zest but shocked by the accusation, Samuel couldn’t help but smile. Bad idea. Flinging her mug at him, Samuel ducked easily as it whizzed two feet past him.

“Whoh, whoh, whoh! Calm down, babe. I’m not the groom. I swear it!”
“Bullshit!!!”
“No, no bullshit! I’m really not the groom.”

At this point Samuel began to grow nervous. The stakes had just become terribly raised and he clenched his jaw tightly as the thought of being truthful came to mind. By now Cindy had gotten up and was getting dressed, wanting to get out of their so bad she was leaving her panties and bra behind. Suddenly stopping in her tracks, she turned back to him with such a look of sadness that Samuel felt more tied up than Houdini.
“What the hell am I doing? I can’t go anywhere. You own me for another six hours! OK, ok! You know what? I don’t even know why I care? This is what I was paid for anyways and believe me you are not the first guy to do this! So, sorry, sorry, sorry. I’ll make it up to you. Here, here I’ll suck your cock… come on… hold still! Come on baby; let me taste your cock!”
Grabbing her firmly by the shoulders, Samuel held her straight as she tried to unbutton his pants. Having enough of her outburst yet at the same time sympathizing with her, Samuel decided to come clean.

“Cindy, knock it off. I’m not the groom. I’m gonna let you go and then I want you to go open up that suitcase over there in the corner. OK?”

Surprised by his calm demeanor, Cindy stopped reaching for his crotch. Her breathing began to slow down but she never took her eyes off of Samuel. For a solid minute they stared at each other until she walked over to the suitcase and opened it.

“Holy shit!!!”

Cindy jumped back, letting the suitcase snap shut. Her eyes flew to Samuel who had already gone to the door to block her entrance.

“Like I said before, I’m not the groom. And I got no problem if you wanna get out of here after I tell you what’s going on. But let me explain first, please. May I?”

Cindy simply mouthed “OK” and took a seat at the head of the bed as Samuel offered it to her with his hand. The suitcase was light in his hands and as he plopped it back onto the bed Cindy watched him with deep apprehension. Opening it again, Cindy caught the sun’s reflection off of one of the contents as she stared at it wearily. While she continued to gawk at the rifle which was snugly sitting in its compartment, Samuel sat a few feet from her.

“I want to be totally honest with you. A part of me is saying I’m absolutely crazy for telling you this but another ageless side of me is saying I can, should and will trust you with my life. I’m not the fucking groom. I’m the guy who should have been the groom. The bride’s name is Clarissa and we were engaged to be married a year ago next month. The groom and my fiancée were screwing each other right up until two weeks before the wedding. I found out about it through a close friend and I broke it off. Man, this is crazy!”

Samuel was by now on his feet, pacing up and down the room’s floor as Cindy followed him with her eyes.

“So I ended up breaking off the engagement but I haven’t been able to get over the whole thing. They began dating right away and ever since I found out that they planned on getting married I figured on ending it.”

With these last words Samuel pointed to the suitcase. Inside was the rifle, a scope, a 9mm pistol and a hatchet. Cindy continued to stare at him.

“You mean… you actually plan on killing them? Both of them?”

Cindy had drawn her knees up to her chest and as Samuel looked at her he could not help being disappointed in himself for scaring her. He looked away without responding. Taking a chaw of Levi Garrett, Samuel walked out on the balcony and watched as all the workers swarmed around like bees. There was such madness and confusion in his heart that for a brief second he thought about leaping over.

“Sam? Samuel?”

Samuel turned back around to see Cindy holding his wallet. He didn’t even care about that now and as he explained he turned back around to watch down below.

“That’s all correct. My name is Sam. Or Samuel. Call me either one. I used the name Warren Collins instead in case someone from the wedding saw my real name in the hotel’s registry.”

Overwhelmed by everything she was being told and finding out for herself, Cindy sat on the edge of the bed. It wasn’t until then that she really took a look at Samuel physically. With his back still to her she observed that it was formed almost in a V-shape. Broad shouldered and with his shaved head pointed towards the bottom floors, Cindy felt extremely attracted to Samuel. Ambivalent emotions were brimming inside her at such a startling pace she became so befuddled that the only thing she wanted was to be filled by something not of her own creation. Off of the bed in a flash, she grabbed Samuel from the back and slammed him against the wall in the most delicate way she could.

“That’s one way of getting my attention.”

Unwilling to talk any more Cindy responded with silence and a passionate stare. Swallowing all the breath that poured from her including burrito, coffee, angst and purpose, Samuel held her at bay until he felt there was nowhere else to go but full speed into her. As they tumbled and crashed into furniture, walls and finally onto the bed they were somehow aware that they were perfectly synchronized for each other and the chaos of living. Literally tearing and pulling at each other’s clothes they collided into one another for what seemed like eternity but was no more than a few minutes. Breathless yet relaxed they lay in each others bodies.

“Sam? Are you really going to kill them?”

Samuel was enamored with the way she asked the question. It was as if there was no possibility that he could fail the mission, giving him the sense that he had total control and power over the situation. He felt that perhaps this woman had more faith in his strength than he did.

“I don’t know. Should I?”

Honored that he would ask for her opinion but unsure if she wanted to have that kind of power and pressure placed upon her, Cindy took a moment before answering.

“No. You shouldn’t Sam. Not only will you be killing yourself if you end their lives, but you’ll also be giving them more power wasting your life away in a prison cell. Or who knows, maybe you’ll die somehow in the process.”

“I’m not worried about dying.”

Although brash, there was certain finality in his voice that made her believe him.

“But I am.”

So soft and innocent was her response. Yet at that moment his anger, rage, self-hate began to dissipate and he felt his body ease. Though he never responded, Cindy saw the ghost leave his eyes and knew that for him it was done.

Samuel had planned on killing just Clarissa and her fiancé, Greg Yates, just as they said “I do.” He was to sniper them both and then try to make as clean a getaway as he could but if he whacked out some family members in the process he wasn’t too worried. And though he did like Clarissa’s parents he couldn’t worry about their feelings over their daughter. At least then he couldn’t. Now, half an hour later in the check out line of the hotel, with Cindy by his side in her skin tight dress, Samuel eyed Clarissa’s parents coming toward him.

“Well, all be damned. Diane, it looks like Harold was right. Samuel is here. Everyone thought Harold had been boozing too much when he said he saw you in the bushes last night at the rehearsal dinner. But I guess he was right, huh?”

Samuel blushed at the comment and looked at Cindy whose eyes grew in excitement and humor.

“Bushes? I was pretty drunk last night myself Mr. Towers so maybe. I don’t remember. Maybe I fell into them.”

They all laughed. After the cordialities and introductions and after chopping through the mass amount of awkwardness, Samuel and Cindy were invited to the wedding by Mr. Towers. Mrs. Towers gave her husband a scowling look but quickly tried to conceal her contempt with an awkward smile.

“No, thank you very much but we have to get going. We have a lot of traveling to do.”
“Oh, where are you going?”
“Well, I had a two week plan to run off to another country. First, a flight to Mexico and from there anywhere. I wanted to see how long it would take for people to find me. Just for shits and giggles.”

Mr. Towers thought it was a real hoot, while Mrs. Towers felt that something was amiss and tugged at her husband's elbow to leave. After they parted Cindy and Samuel began to make it to his car with luggage in tow. Samuel talked to Cindy in a casual manner about his future.

“So, although I’ve canceled one part of my plan, I still was going to keep my commitment to the traveling part. But I could really use a partner? You know of anyone who might be interested?”

Cindy slid her hands onto Samuel’s chest and pulled him close with her temple resting against his heart.

“Sammy!?! Sammy, what are you doing here!?!”

Samuel had his eyes closed and as he heard his name exclaimed in the way he hated most, he knew who was calling him. And for some reason so did Cindy. Letting go of each other Cindy stepped to Samuel’s side. Clarissa approached Sam, by all means intending to hug him until she saw that Samuel was still holding onto Cindy’s hand. Cindy allowed a ton of warmth to engulf her, so pleased to be wanted.

“Hey Clarissa.”
“Sammy, how are you? What are you doing here?”

Knowing that she didn’t really care how he was but was really interested in what he was doing, Samuel grinned.

“I came to break up the wedding.”

Clarissa laughed pleasantly, touching Samuel upon the arm. Most people would feel uncomfortable at this comment but since Clarissa believed that other people’s worlds revolved around hers she wouldn’t be too surprised if Samuel was up to one of his silly antics. But how silly of antics he had in mind would never have entered her thoughts.
Looking Cindy up and down as if she were a dirty child to be scrubbed, Clarissa waited to be introduced. Cordially shaking hands the two women exchanged dagger stares until Samuel began to pull Cindy away.

“Clarissa, best of luck. Take care.”
“You too Sammy. Wait, Sammy! Why don’t you two stay for the wedding?”

Clarissa smiled and waited in hopeful anticipation for Samuel’s answer. She never imagined that Samuel would take their breakup as hard as he did, like when he locked himself inside his room for eight days straight. And she didn’t want to destroy him either but to make him presently want her was another story. Clarissa didn’t like people to forget her.

“Thanks Clarissa but we got to get going.”

Despite her persistent and whining requests Samuel refused. After parting, Cindy and Samuel gingerly walked to the car until Cindy couldn’t squirm in her skin any more.

“I have to go to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”

Sitting on the toilet Cindy was surprised that she wasn’t scared. To leave with a guy she barely knew wasn’t unusual but with the intentions the both of them had, not even Nostradamus could have predicted. When Samuel had first spoken of his plan, Cindy was scared. Not only was she scared about Samuel's intent to kill someone but also because she questioned him as a person. What kind of man would kill his lover? And another person, as well? Now, as Cindy sat on the toilet, she re-questioned herself and came up with the same answer as before; she trusted Samuel. All her life she had been judged and she refused to damn someone she felt so linked to because he let his anger and sadness cloud his judgment.
Just as Cindy made up her mind, the bathroom door opened. She could hear two women enter.
“Lauren, you should have seen her dress. Hah, hah, hah!!! She has to be a HOOKER I swear it!”
“Really. Oh God, Clarissa you were so right for going after Greg! A hooker? Ewww!!!”
“Well, I don’t know if she is a hooker for sure but she looks like one. I just can’t believe he fell so far down. I really must have hurt him.”
“Hah, hah, hah. You always break hearts, C!”

Cindy finished up and then came out. Clarissa’s face betrayed her intentions of trying to hide her shock. In the middle of applying her lipstick she accidentally missed her upper lip and then dropped the lipstick. Picking it up, Cindy kindly handed it back.

“Yeah, you’re right Clarissa. I am a hooker. And a good one at that.”

Holding her tongue, Clarissa looked at Lauren as Cindy walked out of the bathroom. These kinds of comments were not new to Cindy so she had no problem holding her head high. But as she heard Lauren and Clarissa’s mocking cackles from the bathroom, her blood began to boil. Not wanting to alarm Samuel, she took deep breaths before getting in the car.

“Ready babe?”

Cindy looked at Samuel with all the care she had ever felt for a man. He could tell that something happened but none of her hurt was transferred to him. All he saw in her eyes was compassion.

“Samuel. What’s the difference between us spending the rest of our lives together or a few weeks?”

Samuel knew exactly what she meant. Although forever with her would be great, Samuel was just forever grateful that they even met.

“Not a bit if we live it right. What about giving the other’s power?”

Cindy smiled, drew him close and kissed him with passion. She then let him go, nodded her head and asked

“And how sharp is that hatchet?”

The End