He Knew … Secrets

Another excerpt from the mini-series “He Knew All Their Secrets”

The assembly hall went live with confused and angry guests talking and moving about. A few stressing moments of confusion held them in an emotional need for answers about the disturbing incident.

“And at a wedding of all places,” one of the guests complained.

With the commotion beginning to settle, Sam and Eliora came from the room where they had been ordered by Daniel to remain in safety.

Each one expected answers as people moved about uncertain and unhappy. Daniel explained to the couple what had happened, summarizing most of the incident. There were many answers expected from this fiasco. Eliora knew why he was there.

Paul lay on the floor rolling from side to side, babbling foolishly. The confounded guests stood watching from a distance. No one attemped to help him.

Eliora recognized his voice from where she stood. Sam and Daniel stood on each side of her with their backs to the buffoon wailing for attention. Both refused to allow her to move in the direction where Paul lay on the floor in the middle of the aisle of the great hall.

“Is that Paul there on the floor, Daniel?” she asked.

Daniel looked down at his knuckles. Bruising and a few small cuts showed on a slightly swollen hand. The throbbing reminded him how much pain Paul must be in. He felt a tinge of shame for having handled the man so harshly, hitting him repeatedly. Shame cooled and softened most of his prideful anger.

Eliora sensed Daniel may have hit Paul after glancing at her son’s swollen hand. Exhaustion was beginning to rob her of the wedding day exhilaration she had flowed through most of the morning. She was appalled at Paul for showing up again after his past boggled attempts. It was almost humorous how his gambits continued to fail. He was a meddlesome troll, continually trespassing in the lives of her family.

Sam’s outreached hand was easily taken and greatly appreciated. They moved closer together. Eliora stood in the warmth of Sam’s presence although she was boiling in anger.

Emergency techs began rolling in with a gurney. After being shown the victim needing assistance they went to evaluate Paul’s needs. Helping him onto the rolling bed as they asked him questions about what happened to cause his injuries. After examining him they discovered his needs were too mild to be taken to an emergency medical center. He was given a cool pack for mild abrasions to his lips and face and proceeded to leave. Advising him to go to see a doctor at his own discretion. The EMTs determined Paul to be more drunk than hurt.

In short order, the police came in, looking around and checking out everybody. The wedding coordinator, Simone, stated the incident in such detail there was no need to ask what happened. The police talked with Paul, then with Daniel. He refused to press any charges.

Simone asked them to take him outside so the ceremony could continue. He was so eloquent in his request the policemen dutifully conveyed. Soon Paul was handcuffed and taken out of the building, but not before he attempted to make a warning threat to Eliora.

Simone stepped in front of Paul as he began his tirade, even as the police escorted him. Simone would not allow his words to be uttered without interrupting him at each attempt to speak. The back and forth of Paul versus Simone went on until the police finally had gotten him completely out of the building. Relief could be felt throughout the room. The guests began re-seating themselves in a quiet and peaceful manner.

Simone was again in full control of the plan to get the couple hitched. He called for everyone in the wedding procession back to their places and beckoned the officiate back to her role at the altar. And requested the band play a soft jazzy tune just to settle everyone again.

Hours after the wedding ceremony had ended and the reception was over, Sam and Eliora sat on the patio at their home, looking out into the late night. Neither one had discussed or asked questions concerning the day’s events. There was much to ask and many questions to be answered.

Sam quietly stood and gathered the wine glasses from the table. Gently opening the door to hold for Eliora to go inside, he set the glasses on the counter and with sparkling eyes and a graciously wide smile, reached for her hand. Calling out over his shoulder to Alexis to play their favorite song, “Saving My Love for You”.

Sam danced with his new bride. Her face rested confidently against his shoulder, her hand in his. Moving in sync, their bodies swayed to the beat of the music. Peacefully, joyously dancing alone in their home. Both relaxed and comfortable in the knowledge, they had each other. And nothing else mattered.

Tonight they honored each other, bride and groom dancing to the tune of their favorite song. Tomorrow awaited and they would face the trials and perils the new day would bring.

He Wore Many Masks

Paull was blazing with fury as he hurried to his truck, with each quick step he was devising a plan of absolute vengeance.

“Somehow or other, they will pay for this night”, he thought, stepping up into his jumbo-sized pickup truck. “And all other nights I’ve gone without fulfillment of the promises she made to me when she was mine.”

Paul was referring to a past long forgotten, of a woman, he thought of as his ‘beloved Eliora’. A woman who had managed life quite admirably without him. But mostly he was thinking of deals that never made it into contracts.

He snorted and beat down on the steering wheel as he drove along the street where she would be living with her newly wedded spouse.

“Tonight will be the last night of peace and security she will ever experience”, he stated loudly as he sped along.

He pulled into the driveway and cut off the engine and headlights, quickly grabbed a small flashlight, jumped out of the vehicle, and ran around to the back of the dark house.

Paul pulled a shovel from inside the shed and walked to a space in the yard, directed the light on it, and began digging. As he applied strength and grit determination to his chore, he mumbled to himself.

“I am the one responsible for her wealth, her great fortune. I am the one who taught her how to extract oils from plants. And how to make herbal lotions and healing ointments.” He made certain he had spotted the place where he wanted to dig and laid the flashlight on the grass.

“ Taught her how to literally spin straw into gold! She promised me …” He wandered into thought before going back into his spill on the subject. “She owes me … debts … she has not paid.”

Paul seemed to be chanting as he dug deeper and wider into the ground. He heard something behind him. When he turned around quickly, but could not make out what was there in the shadows. Reaching for his flashlight, he quickly stood up to aim the light in the direction of the sound. He was struck against his back. Paul stumbled into the shallow hole he was digging…

***These excerpts are from a story, “Life Showed Compassion”, about a family having suffered through sacrifices, deaths, revelations, and the peaks and valleys life sometimes offers. A newcomer in their lives promises reckoning and stability only seemed to pose more tribulations than solutions before they could win over their adversities.

*)* Nevertheless, happy endings must be maintained. *)*

Episode 3 … Click here to continue… Enjoy!

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A short story of a king who chooses a woman for his queen. She has stolen from him twice before he devours her in the end.

A poem on muses and the inspiration they present to us.