Welcome to Another Prompt Friday!
What craziness will I come up with this week?
What would you do if your inheritance came with a dying wish, a wedding, and an unexpected surprise?
Is It a Joke?
Marvelle’s Sound Bar
98 Soundwave Boulevard
Marvelle, New Jersey
Three women were on stage at Marvelle’s Sound Bar. A place of entertainment, fun, and ear murders. They sang “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”
Wade Lowe sat at a table near the back. The last little bit of Malort rested in his thick shot glass. He closed his eyes and threw back the rest, letting it burn its way down his throat. He welcomed the pain but recovered quickly as he recognized one of the women’s voices. Kara D’lone had a beautiful voice unlike the other two. They sounded like howling wolves who gargled nails.
She seemed to be in such good spirits, considering his father was dead. He spoke highly of her. Rick always made it difficult for Wade to get anything from him. Everything required work, and everything had to be earned. Most of all, he got a good laugh at his expense whenever he could.
Kara made her way off the stage and sat down a few tables away from him. Her friends continued to sing. Each note destroyed his eardrums. He wanted to throw his glass. He dragged himself out of the chair and sat down across from her.
“You have a beautiful voice,” he said.
“Uh… thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Do you come here often?”
He wanted to know if she was a party girl. He dated one of those once. Never again.
“No, it’s my friend’s twenty-eighth birthday. She always wanted to do Karaoke.”
“What about you?”
“Yeah, it always looked like fun.”
“Do you go out often?”
“Everyone once in a while. Life should be enjoyed, not just survived.”
“I get that.”
She had beautiful, large green eyes that he couldn’t help staring into. She broke her gaze from him and looked toward the stage just as her friends finished singing.
“I should go join them.” She stood.
“Wait. You knew my father.”
She looked at him and frowned. “Who is your father…? Oh, um… Rick Lowe. You look like him.” The memories surfaced in her mind.
“He talked about you a lot. He said you were a good listener.”
“He was very sweet.”
“My father wants us to get married. It was his dying wish.
***
Three weeks later…
Marvelle’s Bridal
52 Cypress Lane
Marvelle, New Jersey
This was silly. She was going to marry a stranger, and for what? Because of a man she met in a hospital waiting room. They connected instantly and became good friends. She stood in front of the mirror, staring at herself. Kara thought if she ever got married, it would be out of love, not a man’s dying wish.
Wade wasn’t her usual type. He was lean and average height. She liked her men with more meat on their bones. He was nice but quiet, or maybe he was still processing his father’s death. She wore a simple white gown. It suited her. She wasn’t the flashy type. Kara enjoyed the quiet life most of the time except when she was with her friends.
Her friends weren’t thrilled about her getting married. It could have been jealousy at not doing it first. She made a slow turn in front of the mirror. She had to admit she looked stunning in that dress. Kara admitted to herself that she wanted her sister and mother there, but they didn’t approve of her marrying Wade. In so many words, they’d told her she was stupid. They’d agreed to attend the wedding but wanted no part in the preparations leading up to the big day. Her father hadn’t voiced his opinion, but it was written all over his face.
She sighed.
Kara said yes to the dress. Rick Lowe, even in death, paid for her dress. The money had been set aside for her in his will. It was left in his will. The amount he’d allocated for her dress was ridiculous. She hadn’t even spent a fraction of it.
She figured the money could be used for something more practical, paying off debt. Student loans, car payments, and credit cards came to mind. Her student loans were her biggest debt.
They put her dress in a garment bag, and she left the shop.
***
Suits of Marvelle
78 Oak Lane
Marvelle, New Jersey
Wade came out of the dressing room and stood in front of the mirror. He loved the pale green suit with the white shirt. It complemented his medium-brown skin. It also drew attention to his best feature, the one that drove women crazy: his hazel-green eyes.
Damn, he was getting married thanks to his dad. If he didn’t need the money, he wouldn’t be putting himself through this. He had plans for his inheritance. Six-point-two million, to be exact. He wanted to invest in owning his own business that would keep the money coming in. After all, he had to take care of his future wife.
A wife. What did that really entail?
Kara was pretty but plain. Pretty can only take a person so far. What could she give him? What would he give her besides money?
“You actually going to go through with this?”
“It’s not like I have a choice.”
“You have a choice.”
“Do I really, Jet? How much is he paying you anyway?”
“Let’s just say I could live comfortably for a long time. Besides, I still make pretty good money from my other clients,” Jet smiled. “Definitely a long vacation in my future, with me rubbing suntan lotion on some beauties’ backs.”
“You never cease to amaze me.” Wade shook his head.
“Do you like her, though?”
“Yeah, she’s sweet.”
“I know Uncle Rick can be tough and childlike all at once. He generally wants you to be happy.”
“And marriage is supposed to do that?”
“Face it, he was always good with people. Very good at reading them too. Obviously, he saw something in you two that makes you perfect for each other.”
Jet rose from the cream-colored chair. “Besides, I heard honeymoon sex is to die for.”
***
Pentecostal Saints Church
500 Menton Lane
Marvelle, New Jersey
Wade and Kara stood at the altar, about to seal the marriage with a kiss, but Jet ejected himself from his seat. “You can’t do this!”
The guests gasped.
“Why not?” Wade asked.
“Because it’s a joke. Your father wanted to have one more laugh. He knew how much you hated marriage, and you’d do anything to prove to him you deserve what you got.”
“What are you talking about?” He was skeptical. His father always had tricks up his sleeve and loved to play head games.
“You don’t have to get married. You’ll still get your inheritance.”
Kara looked at Wade, and then her family. This would be embarrassing if he left her at the altar. Her family would think she was such a loser. Everyone would talk about her and how stupid she was; that she got doped.
Wade smiled. Then he laughed so hard that it brought him to tears. Wade grabbed Kara and pulled her into his arms and kissed her, sealing their marriage. After nearly a minute, he released her.
“That’s for you, Dad!” He shouted to the crowd.
The guests cheered and clapped.
***
Sherry and Frankie’s Banquet Hall
90 Hudson Avenue
Marvelle, New Jersey
Wade is whispered into Kara’s ear while nipping at it. She giggled and smiled. He then pressed his lips to hers. The kiss heated up, but they were interrupted by the clinking of a glass.
“Can I have everyone’s attention?”
The room quieted.
“I’m going to be quick,” Jet said, raising his glass. “Wade, we aren’t just cousins but best friends. When I got sick, you were there for me. You let me beat you at chess. When I need to vent, you’re my ear. You used to be my wingman, but now you have Kara. Maybe she’d let you still be my wingman every once in a while.”
He smiled at both of them.
Laughter rang out across the room.
“Here’s to a beautiful couple. May your days be filled with love, peace, and lots of sex.”
He held up his glass.
Someone in the crowd whistled. Everyone held up their glasses, including Jet, and took a drink.
“I have one last task to complete.”
He gestured to the gentlemen in the back of the room. A screen descended from the ceiling, and a video began to play.
Rick Lowe filled the screen. He sat on his favorite swing, looking directly at the camera with a serious expression. He held up a pregnancy test. Then he picked up a yellow onesie.
The screen went black.
Everyone was looking at Kara and Wade.
Jet handed him an envelope.
Wade took it, opened it, and nearly fell out of his chair.
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