We continue

As usual, the couple had dreams of and high expectations which both would fail to meet often enough. But love does triumph over some difficulties and they looked forward to their future when the priest had finished his ancient duties.

The couple strode out of the church in front of the joyous crowd who were then quickly ushered off to the large tent set up in the wide, grass pasture in the center of the circular drive. Several thoroughbred racehorses had been moved to the rear of the property and two men had spent some time cleaning up the area of what horses leave behind.

Many invited had hoped to go into the home but that would only be the case for a select few who would then be offered a chance of a lifetime to invest in a new venture in the stock market by Mr. Williams. Many hoped for the opportunity often mentioned by those, “in the know.”

The food was laid out on several long tables covered in white tablecloths and spread far apart with ample space in between for waiting in line and visiting.

The food was expected to be excellent and it was and more. Fresh seafood flown in from the east appeared as if by magic filled large wooden boxes filled with ice and small pots of caviar.

Aged steaks, ribs and chicken nearly overflowed from the tables where they had been carefully placed. Several stations had been set up to quickly prepare the food. Deserts of every fashion were available as well.

Several old friends waiting in that line were reacquainted. Many had a very special day this grand wedding. Others made new friends and some future couples might have been introduced to each other by complete strangers at this wedding.

Some guests started out eating the deserts as they had often swore they would but never had. Then they went back to the main courses if they still had an appetite. It was that kind of affair.

The party ran late into the night and piles of checks and cash changed hands in the main house at Mr. Williams’ desk during and long after the best man’s long and inspired speech was made.

His office looked exactly what a near billionaire’s office should look like. There was a table for twenty in the center of the room. The walls were lined with photos of Mr. Williams with most every past or present international dignitary or leader one might imagine. Some of the phots were real. They were there to affect his business dealings in a positive way for him, of course.

Many pieces of old, well worn leather furniture spoke of time honored business acumen and priceless paintings were in abundance to reinforce the idea of wealth and prestige.

The room was lined in white oak and was bright and pleasant though much of his dealings were often said to be done in the opposite light. His reputation to this point was unsullied and respected though many strong rumors had plagued him at times.

In front of the press he was a man of openness and honesty. An act of course. Well rehearsed and necessary for the times at hand.

In private and among a select group, he was proud and boasted that he, like his farther “were as slippery as eels.” His father had made his fortune in England fishing for eels and other types of fish. That history had been “reconditioned to some degree’ and any dark chapters as those unwanted in the original bible were carefully discarded and disappeared.

A large dance floor floor had been set up and the large band dressed in tuxedos played for hours to a large and energetic group of young dancers and to some older folks only known by Chad’s parents. It was a fine reception without the usual unsettling fights, or rampant drunkenness.

Those in attendance were form the finest families and knew how to behave in public.

Ample media was on hand and any untoward behavior would most certainly be reported in the papers. The media was the sworn enemy of Chad’s father for several reasons. The private actions of those in attendance were known only by a few family members and staff and were sworn to secrecy and had signed the strongest non disclosure agreements.

Those well dressed men and women who did enter the house of Chad’s father for a cigar or a glass of the best wine, for business discussions, counted themselves as the lucky few.

Some were stockbrokers and businessmen looking for a business tip while others were military contractors looking for help finding customers around the world among his contacts. Many were willing to pay to arrange secret or at least less obvious meetings with senators and other powerful men and women hoping that their requests would be fulfilled.

Long, black limousines and town cars took many of the super wealthy and established away at the end of the night. Some going directly to the airport and their private jets waiting anxiously on the tarmac, hoping not to be noticed or identified. A few of the younger set in the crowd used Ubers, a confusing new practice unknown to many of those of older set.

The house staff worked late into the night to return the the grounds back to their normal state. Chad’s mother was uncomfortable with the mess and disorder left at the end of the day.

In the morning when the town car arrived for Chad, a drone was flying high, over head. It followed Chad to Suzan’s apartment and watched the doorman load the car’s trunk and then to the airport rising and falling as the architecture dictated.

Suzan had spent only a small part of the night with Chad to make the trip to the airport more convenient for the both of them. There would be ample time for lovemaking on the honeymoon, and for the rest of their lives, they had decided.

Some times the drone was just above the maze of wires crossing the streets on the way and at other times high above to take a wider view. The cameras were extremely powerful. They showed the detail of every face in the car as the drone approached from different angles far above or close behind, unnoticed.

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I was in Palm Springs under the warm sun sitting in a pool for a few days. It was a balmy 108 and 109 as the days passed.

I live on the water in an undisclosed harbor up in the north west, perhaps.

It is always beautiful and comfortable there. But for some reason the desert calls to me with its rugged and silent beauty.

Read “The Bad Seed,” a fun detective novel set in Phoenix Arizona, now on Amazon and Kindle.