The Fourth Day of November Read online

  “We got married yesterday.”

  “Congratulations.” Lionel shook my hand again.

  “May I ask you for a favor, Lionel?”

  “Yeah, go ahead. What can I do for you?”

  “You’re singing here tonight, right?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Would you mind dedicating Three Times A Lady to my wife Lee Scott?”

  “I would be delighted.” He smiled.

  “Thank you very much!” I beamed.

  “It would be my pleasure. Please say hello to Lee for me.” Lionel smiled.

  “I will.” I promised.

  “Bye Mr. Scott.” said the little girl before she and her father walked off in the opposite direction.

  I headed back to the room floating on air.

  “You managed to find your way back to the right room I see.” Lee said when I opened the door. She was sitting on the settee doing a crossword from a magazine.

  “Sweetheart, you’re not going to believe this! Guess who I just met, and had a conversation with down the corridor?”

  “You’ve got me there, honey.” Lee replied still focused on her crossword puzzle.

  “Sweetheart, are you listening to me? I asked opening the Pepsi. “Do you want a glass or can?”

  “Glass please, honey.” Lee answered. “And yes, I’m listening to you.” Lee looked up briefly to show that she was paying attention while multitasking.

  “Lionel Richie was just talking to me!” I exclaimed.

  “No way!” Lee dropped the magazine on the coffee table.

  “I’m bloody serious! He was with his daughter just steps away from our room.”

  Lionel Richie was, and still is, one of Lee’s most favorite entertainers. “So is he performing tonight, Alistair?” she squealed.

  “Without a doubt.” I answered.

  Lee sat there in awe; wishing she had had the opportunity to meet the talented singer.

  9:00 pm

  Lee and I entered a crowded hall where the fundraiser event was being held. We stood by the entrance next to a middle-aged woman who I thought looked somewhat familiar. Before I could recollect where I had seen her face, Lee leaned over and whispered in my ear. She said that the mysterious woman was Barbara Walters. I was indeed a fan. This woman had interviewed some of the most high profile and controversial stars of all-time. Barbara Walters had set the stage for women in the news and journalism industry after becoming the first female cohost of a major network.

  That evening, Mrs. Walters wore a black evening gown and a string of pearls around her neck. She held a glass of champagne while making conversation with Lee, complementing her on her stylish gown. After introducing herself, Barbara mentioned knowing us from television. She gushed over our passionate kiss before excusing herself to mingle with other guests.

  “Mrs. Scott, I have to say you look truly divine, my darling.” I kissed Lee’s hand.

  “You don’t look too bad yourself in that suit Mr. Scott.” Lee giggled.

  “Are you flirting with me?” I teased.

  “You could say that.” she winked.

  “How about I get you drunk tonight and give you a bloody good rogering?” Lee coughed, choking on air, after hearing my rather saucy comment.

  “Would sir or madam care for champagne?” An approaching waitron asked.

  “It seems as if your timing is spot on. My wife could use a refreshment.”

  “Would you, sir, care for one, or would you like something different? The waitron asked after handing Lee a glass.

  I asked for a diet Pepsi with no ice. While sipping her champagne, Lee told me to behave or I wouldn’t be rogering anything that night. In response, I spit out the soft drink that the waiter handed me. Luckily, no one was watching.

  “Touché, now we’re even.” Lee smiled.

  “Let’s go and mingle.” I held out my hand towards Lee.

  ---

  “Hello Mr. Scott.” said a small voice.

  It was Mr. Richie’s daughter. “Hello, Nicole. This is my wife, Mrs. Scott.”

  “Pleased to make your acquaintance, Mrs. Scott.” She extended her hand to Lee.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you too young lady. Where are your father and mother?” Lee asked.

  Little Nicole pointed at the stage’s red curtain.

  “Who’s behind the curtain?” Lee inquired.

  “Just my daddy. He’s getting ready to sing.”

  “Where is your mother?” Lee pressed.

  “She’s behind you.” Nicole pointed.

  Lee and I turned in the direction of her pointing.

  “Good evening Mrs. Richie.”

  “Hello, Alistair.” She said as she approached. “My husband and daughter told me about their brief encounter with you this afternoon. This must be Lee.” She extended her hand towards Lee. “I love the dress. You both look very chic. Are you and your husband breast cancer awareness supporters?”

  “I am more than my husband.” Lee answered. “However, my friend and I arrange several support events yearly.”

  “It’s always good to see young people take an interest in something more meaningful besides, getting drunk and partying.”

  “The night is still young.” Mrs. Richie winked at my witty humor.

  “I can tell Alistair is a comic.” She smiled at Lee.

  “He likes to think he is.” Lee remarked. “I only laugh at his jokes to humor him.”

  “Sweetheart, I’m hurt.” I said before Lee’s elbow connected with my chest while Mrs. Richie was facing away. She was searching for Nicole, whom she found playing nearby with Paris.

  In the midst of our antics, the lights suddenly dimmed and a single spotlight shone on a man in a black tuxedo, holding a microphone.

  “Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to our special breast cancer fundraising event. I would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Hilton for graciously allowing the use of their hotel as host for this magnificent event. Without further adieu, I present tonight’s special guest, the one and only, Lionel Richie!”

  Everyone cheered, and the women, including my wife, went into a frenzy. Lionel stepped onstage dressed in a grey suit and pink shirt. The anxious crowd silenced themselves.

  “Thank you for such a warm welcome. Without you, there would be no me. Everyday, I meet at least one our two people that tell me how much I’ve changed their lives with my music. And just a few hours ago, I came across a young man who recently got married. He asked me to dedicate this song to his wife.” Searching the crowed, Mr. Richie spotted Lee and me. “Lee and Alistair Scott, would you please join me onstage?”

  Lee squeezed my hand as we made our way to the stage. “What have you been up to?” she muttered under her breath.

  “Nothing sweetheart, honest.” I smirked.

  “This doesn’t look like nothing.” Lee squeezed my hand harder.

  “Just go with the flow.” I smiled.

  Lionel greeted Lee then shook my hand as we joined him onstage. “Lee your husband asked if I would sing this for you.” He signaled the pianist who played the first notes of Three Times A Lady. Once more, the crowd erupted with cheers.

  November 7, 1988

  I didn’t like Mondays. Returning to work after a short weekend, which included my tying the knot, was not a favorite, to say the least. Plus, Lee and I were still in deliberation on the best approach for confronting our parents. My situation wasn’t as complex as hers. A simple phone call would suffice until I could more formally address my parents. Lee’s circumstances, however, required a more delicate approach. Since her family was secretly now my family, telling them over the phone would add insult to injury.

  ---

  “What’s up, Mr. and Mrs. Scott.”

  Lee and I looked at each other bemused as we entered the airport that morning. “Did you just call us Mr. and Mrs. Scott?”

  Ronnie slammed the newspaper he was holding on the table in front of us. He wanted to know why he and Peter were left in the dark
regarding our getting hitched. Peter soon entered the room and conversation, siding with Ronnie. He was seemingly upset.

  “Hi Peter.” I smiled.

  Peter was in no mood to socialize. “Alistair I’m pissed off! We’ve been friends for awhile. I have never given you any reason not to trust me. And neither has Ronnie.”

  “How did the two of you find out that I got married?” I was confused.

  “Honey, take a look at this.” Lee pushed the newspaper that Ronnie had thrown on the table towards me. There in black and white was a picture of Lee and I on the front page of the Daily News. It had been taken outside the City Hall chapel.

  “Well, one thing is for sure, we don’t have to worry about telling your parents. They’ll find out soon enough; that’s if they haven’t already.” I said to Lee.

  Lee looked up from the newspaper anxiously.

  “Right now, this is far too much for my wife and I to process.” I sighed to the group.

  “Alistair, don’t get this wrong. If we didn’t care for you and Lee, this wouldn’t matter to us. But, it does because you’re our friends.” Peter reassured. “No matter what happens, Ronnie and I will always be here.”

  ---

  Later that day, at home, Lee tried taking her mind off things by studying. I made myself busy in the kitchen, making a cheese quiche for tea. After placing the quiche in the oven, I sat down to finish reading Nelson Demille’s Plum Island. Just as I opened the book, the phone rang. I glanced at my watch. It was a quarter to six. The call had to be from my mum. I hadn't been expecting her call so soon. I thought to not answer the phone. However, it would be in my best interest to face the music and get this over with.

  I picked up the receiver and cleared my throat. “Hello, who is it?”

  “Alistair Abram Scott, you know jolly well this is your mother.”

  “Hi, mum.”

  “Don’t you hi mum me young man! I'm extremely chagrined with your amnesia! I raised you far better than that. How could you go off and get espoused without telling your father or me? I'm always the last one to know. What’s next, Alistair Abram Scott?” she yelled into the receiver.

  “Mum, don’t you think for one minute that I wasn’t feeling compunction. Lee and I had to do this for us and no one else.” I answered. “Doesn’t anyone care how my wife and I feel?” I continued. “Of course we wanted our families there, but we didn’t feel that we needed to have our parent’s sufferance.”

  “Now, you bloody-well listen to me! I brought you up as a British gentleman. Don’t you ever forget that your father and I have spent many years teaching you and Bradley urbanity.”

  By this time, Lee had overheard the tone of my conversation and had entered the kitchen to check in on me. “What’s wrong, honey?”

  “This is mum on the phone.” I whispered in Lee’s direction.

  “Alistair, who is that you’re talking to while I'm on the phone?” my mum yelled into the receiver.

  “No one, mum.” I lied.

  “Is that your wife?” she asked.

  I couldn’t keep up the lie. “Yes mum, it is.”

  “Give her the phone.” She demanded.

  “Why mum?”

  “Alistair Abram Scott!”

  “Oh, bloody hell.” I handed the phone to Lee.

  She reluctantly took it and slowly moved it to her ear. “Hello?”

  I tried to listen in, but couldn’t make out any of what mum was saying. Lee remained silent. Ten minutes later, she hung up the phone.

  “What did my mum say to you?” I anxiously inquired.

  “Nothing apart from her being extremely pissed with you.” Lee timidly answered.

  “And what else?” I insisted.

  “She just welcomed me to the family, and said she blames you for what’s going on. She also said I shouldn’t have to stifle anything from family.” Lee sat down next to me at the table. In that instance, we had both gotten the answer we had been trying to locate all day. Despite going mental on me, mum had been justified in her actions.

  “Sweetheart, we should have been more tactful. I'm sorry for getting us both into this.” I rubbed Lee’s hand.

  “Alistair, don’t sit there feeling sorry for what you and I thought was right. Let’s just try and fix this.

  The front door bell buzzed.

  “Who could this be now?” I asked Lee as I got up to answer. I wasn’t prepared for any more verbal lashings. I opened the door and there stood Lacy, Lee’s mother and her grandparents.

  “Hi, bro.” Lacy disgruntledly said, hinting that the nature of this visit was far from a social call.

  Judging by the look on Mrs. Chang's face, she showed signs of trustfulness. The family followed me into our small flat.

  “Honey, who was it.” Lee asked as I was entering the kitchen, entourage in tow.

  I moved to the side so that our guests would be revealed. Lee gasped at the sight of her family standing there. I asked my in-laws if they wanted to sit down and have some refreshments. They agreed. Lee filled the teakettle and placed it on the stove as her mother began to speak.

  Mrs. Chang cleared her throat. “There’s no deeper pain than what I feel right now. To know that my youngest child is married and I wasn’t there because of my mulish husband—” Her voiced cracked. “This isn’t what I envisioned for you or Lacy.”

  Lee began sobbing at the sound of her mother’s words. She expressed her regret, and assured her mother that it was never our intention to inflict pain on any member of the family. The steady whistle of the teakettle interrupted Lee's attempt for redress. At the teakettle’s cue, Lacy opted to help make tea for everyone.

  Grandpa Chang took this opportunity to speak. “Your father is blinded by his own stubbornness. Neither of us can change his mind.” He said motioning towards those present in the room. “He must see clearly for himself--" his voice trailed off. “Oh no!” He paused.

  “What is it grandpa?” the family asked concerned.

  “There’s no tea left in my cup.” He laughed.

  I offered to make more tea for everyone. When I got up a sharp pain struck the back of my leg. I turned around just in time to see Grandma Chang’s cane retreat.

  “That really hurt!” I yelped.

  “Don’t be such a baby.” She said waving her cane. She then gave Lee an identical tap with the cane. Lee winced with pain and Grandma Chang called her a baby.

  “And don’t forget those biscuit.” Grandpa Chang yelled to me.

  November 12, 1988

  On Saturday morning, my mates and I were having breakfast at Ihop. Lee and Lacy decided to have a girl’s day out. So, it was just us guys—me, Peter and Ronnie. The three of us were sharing our views on starting business. Ronnie reached into his briefcase, and pulled out information that he distributed to Peter and me.

  We wanted to start our own heavy equipment rental company. Feeling unfulfilled with our current professions, we all thought we could do more with our lives beyond making others wealthy. Plus, neither of us wanted to wait around and be laid-off because of downsizing. For this reason, my mates and I believed in controlling our own destiny and building a successful empire someday. However, on paper, things didn’t look optimistic.

  Ronnie had estimated that between the three of us, we had to secure $35,000 to launch the project. I was initially a tad bit pessimistic until Peter told us what he had in mind.

  “This is a lot of money to secure.” I sighed. “Lee and I have a little money saved; however, I can't entertain the idea that my wife should use half of her winnings to help aid a scheme that neither one of us is sure will produce any dividends.”

  “Slow down Alistair. We could never ask that of you or Lee.” Peter interjected. “Besides, I have a plan.” Peter sipped his coffee before continuing his speech. “One way we can all gainfully obtain the capital is to secure part-time jobs.”

  “Do you think this would work?” I asked.

  Peter leaned back in his chair like a wel
l-to-do businessman selling million dollar ideas. “As a matter of fact, I do. Ronnie, show Alistair the applications that the two of us got from Tony.”

  “Hold on. Are you referring to the Tony that owns the shipping company at Building Block C in the airport?” I exclaimed.