Veranda Wedding

By Ron Yates

Cate woke to the smell of burnt eggs and coffee, which wafted under her bedroom door. The dull ache in her head reminded her of the previous night's drinking. She steadied herself on her bed and leaned over to pick up a pistol that she kept next to the big lamp table, one she rarely used because the bulb frequently burned out, leaving the room dark. With it drawn and held in front of her, she took a deep breath and opened the bedroom door, slinging it open.She gasped, her heart skipping a beat as she took in the strange scene before her. A partially naked man with an American flag tattooed on his arm stood at her stove. His shorts hung low on hiships. He was wearing a prosthetic leg decorated with stars and stripes. She had no idea who this person was or why he was cooking in her kitchen, let alone where he had come from and how he had gotten into her home. As if sensing her confusion, he slowly turned to face her. "I am Cate," she said. "What are you doing in my house?""I'm Jack," he said, his voice low and even. "You were singing your heart out at the karaoke bar last night. You had too much to drink, got sick on stage. Your friends tried to help you - one of them even cleaned you up - but they eventually left without you."Cate told him that she never meant to get drunk. She said she and her friends were simply out celebrating her upcoming nuptials; her bridesmaid was supposed to be her chaperone for the night. When Jack mentioned Allie's name, Cate realized it was Allie, a maid of honor, who she vomited on. She thought, "Why would my best friend leave me with a stranger?" She had more questions than answers after talking to the strange man, who rescued her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ron Yates
• Release date: Jul 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223750802

Book preview

Dedication

My first novel, Finding the Lost Pieces, was therapy. I was on the verge of losing my leg. One day, I was presented with a chance to write about an unusual encounter, I wrote It’s Only Breakfast. That short story was the inspiration for this eBook.  I had readers ask me about the conclusion of the story. This is it. I love New Orleans and thought of it when I wrote this story. This is dedicated to my family. We have shared many wonderful memories in NOLA.

Epigraph

But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for. To quote from Whitman, O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring, of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish; what good amid these, O me, O life? Answer. That you are here — that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse.

Robin Williams quoting Walt Whitman; Dead Poet’s Society

Contents

1   Chapter 1   1

2   Chapter 2   11

3   Chapter 3   21

4   Chapter 4   29

5   Chapter 5   38

6   Chapter 6   47

7   Chapter 7   55

8   Chapter 8   60

9   Chapter 9   64

VERANDA

WEDDING

BY

R. A. YATES

Chapter 1

Cate woke to the smell of burnt eggs and coffee, which wafted under her bedroom door. The dull ache in her head reminded her of the previous night’s drinking. She steadied herself on her bed and leaned over to pick up a pistol that she kept next to the big lamp table, one she rarely used because the bulb frequently burned out, leaving the room dark. With it drawn and held in front of her, she took a deep breath and opened the bedroom door, slinging it open.

She gasped, her heart skipping a beat as she took in the strange scene before her. A partially naked man with an American flag tattooed on his arm stood at her stove. His shorts hung low on his hips. He was wearing a prosthetic leg decorated with stars and stripes. She had no idea who this person was or why he was cooking in her kitchen, let alone where he had come from and how he had gotten into her home. As if sensing her confusion, he slowly turned to face her. I am Cate, she said. What are you doing in my house?

The man's eyes darted from the stove to a plate of food, which he lifted gingerly and set on the table beside him. I'm Jack, he said, his voice low and even. You were singing your heart out at the karaoke bar last night. You had too much to drink, got sick on stage. Your friends tried to help you - one of them even cleaned you up - but they eventually left without you. He nodded toward the sash that was draped across her chair. I figured those were your bridesmaids.

But Jack just smiled warmly at her and said, Don't worry about it, before taking a bite of his food. He recounted the ride back with her by explaining, Once we got in the cab, you passed out. You put your head on my shoulder and fell asleep.

He had to rifle through her purse, in search of the address for the apartment. Once upstairs, she slumped onto the bed and kicked off her shoes. He called a cab so he could go home before falling asleep on the sofa.

Cate told him that she never meant to get drunk. She said she and her friends were simply out celebrating her upcoming nuptials; her bridesmaid was supposed to be her chaperone for the night. When Jack mentioned Allie's name, Cate realized it was Allie, who ended up with their group's infamous 'vomit moment'.

Jack said, "Don’t worry about it. I will make sure that the bride gets back home safely. That’s what I do. I work in company security. Jack told Cate that he gave Allie his phone number to ease her mind.

Meanwhile, Jack opened a leather-bound notebook as she continued to enjoy breakfast. The sound of cutlery on the plate and occasional grunts were an indication that Jack’s breakfast satisfied its requirement. He began reading aloud. When he finished and closed the book, she asked him why he was reading to her. He responded, It helps me to remember that there is beauty in the world. I enjoy poetry, Tennyson, Whitman, and Byron. When life seems unpredictable and harsh, I look to my book for a reminder that that there is still beauty.

Wow, this is good. This is the best breakfast I have had in some time. Jack placed the old stuffed notebook on the couch, where he slept the previous night and walked back to the table and his coffee. He sat down and told her, I know you feel like you have had a dreadful day. Everyone makes bad decisions. Sometimes, it is just proverbial doors opening and closing in our lives, exposing change. He begins to tell her the story about the day he lost his leg.

"I stopped at a convenience store to get some things for the weekend. When I went to check out, a young kid was