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He was full of regret, perhaps? Reconsidering his choices? What was going on with him? “Can I ask you what brought this up, why the phone call?”
“I called to say thank you, Dimitri. I’m grateful for you, for both of you. You are my moral compass. You help me keep my head in the game. At times, I’m not sure, but you never let me down. Do you know how many people in the world I can say that about?”
“Ten? Maybe fifteen?” Dimitri was trying to think how many people he knew he could say the same.
“One. Only one. That’s you, my friend. Together, Dimitri, I want you to help me bring back that shiny city on the hill, the dream of visionaries and people of courage who answer that call when they could go the easy route. Will you help me?”
“I would be honored.”
They planned awedding in the vineyard her father used to own, a vineyard that hired back the former owner to be their general manager. They would do something small and private for his parents, since his Mom was barely hanging on, and might not even make it that long. And, he didn’t want the aunties spoiling Moira’s big day. It was, after all, his big day too!
Like everything she touched, it was magic, how she planned, how she put together all the moving parts like a passion play, orchestrating the colors, the flowers, the music.
He could watch her do anything the rest of his life. But he most enjoyed this phase. It wasn’t the end of an era but the beginning of a new one.
Even the president was going to come.
One afternoon they received a package, a pre-wedding present, as it was labeled, from the ladies on Capri. He held his breath and handed it to Moira.
“I have a feeling this is for you, Dimitri,” she said, as she handed it back.
“But I’d rather you open it.” He handed it back to her.
“Absolutely not. You want to test me on this?”
“So you know what this is?”
“I do not.” She smiled at him. “You don’t believe me?” She handed him back the package.
Resigned, he sat on his living room couch, next to her, and began opening the package. It was wrapped in a large plastic parcel bag, and inside re-bagged, and taped to oblivion. It felt squishy, so didn’t think it was fragile, but still, was careful.
Moira got him some scissors to navigate through the heavy packing tape.
Inside, wrapped in pink tissue paper dotted with red hearts were several feather boas, in the colors red, white and blue. One even was adorned with glittery stars. The note attached read:
For your big day, big hunk. Go wild. Reveal your inner awesomeness. Embrace the suck and come see us when you’ve perfected all those moves we taught you.
It was signed,Your Fairy Godmothers.Several had kissed the note and left lipstick smears.
“That’s a challenge, Dimitri,” she giggled.
“I think I’ll hang these over the bedpost when we get one of those big beds I’m looking at. It’ll be our good luck charm. But there’s no way in Hell I’m going to wear this standing before the gathering, or any of my SEAL buddies. No way, Moira. If that’s a dealbreaker, then the wedding is off.”
She threw them around her neck and strutted back in forth in front of him.
“I think the bedpost is a good spot for it. I might use it as a prop.” She raised her tee shirt, revealing she wasn’t wearing a bra. “Would you mind?”
Days later, Dimitrimade a trip to Walmart and picked up a special-order package. He wrapped it and sent it with red, white, and blue wrapping paper he knew would be opened by Secret Service. But he was feeling grateful today as well and sent his friend something he needed.
He grinned picturing President Collier opening the wrap and finding a pair of red, white, and blue kewpie doll pajama bottoms and two pairs of stars and stripes boxers.
The overall cost was less than fifty dollars, but their friendship was priceless.
Epilogue
“I’ve met someone,”the president said to him.
“Hallelujah!” he answered and then leaned across the desk to give President Collier a high-five. “So when do I get to meet her?”
