Adventurous Spirit 31

Adventurous Spirit 31

“The miracle is this: the more we share the more we have.”

—Leonard Nimoy (1931-2015)

Ari and Nick came up to Essie's apartment.

Maria was in the kitchen finishing the wrapping of the

Melitzanokeftedes (eggplant dish ). Good you

came up my dears. Nick will you carry this hot

dish down for me. Ari your Essie is up in the

library. She's probably sleeping. Said she was

tired and going to go lay down with a good book.

“She had hardly any sleep. I'll go wake her.” said Ari.

“Why not give her another half hour or so?

You both worked hard yesterday and today.

We'll call you.” said Maria.

Ari took his shoes off and went up to the library.

There she was fast asleep reading a Gladys Tabor

book. Essie had written on her paper pad:

It is better to love than to analyze. - Gladys Tabor.

He looked at her sleeping peacefully and made himself

comfortable in an over sized chair across the room.

He thought if I fall asleep and she wakes up she

will see me in the chair.

Reminiscing and remembering he and Papa's long

discussions about marriage he thought of Papas words:

There is only one way to unlock a heart,

I love you,

I cherish you.

Let me in please.

Ari fell asleep in the chair for almost two hours.

When he awakened to the smell of barbecued meat

wafting from the yard. A din of people talking and

laughing.

He also heard music. Looking around he saw that his

feet had been propped up on a foot stool. There was

a red plaid cover on his legs.

Essie was still on her love seat sofa also covered with

a quilt. Humm someone was up here.

Bet it was my dear Sissy. She loves

Essie and is elated I have finally found

the most perfect lady.

I thank my lucky stars in heaven for

that rainy night we met.

Bouncing up the stairs, making a racket

came Maria and Nick.

“Wake up you two. The party has started.

Good grief. The first time you both fell

asleep together and nothing to show for it.”

laughed Maria.

Essie, red faced, threw a pillow at her.

Ari went to Essie's side and said once

we are wed my dear you're going to have

to get a hard crust because you will inherit

my sister and all her antics.

You, Nick and I will try to make a lady

out of her. That will take forever.”

Maria pulled a fake set of tears and tried

to put on her best Sara Bernhardt act.

“I already love your sister the way she is

and I will be honored to inherit her.” said Essie.

“ Our wedding. Do you have anything in mind? Any plans?

Any wishes we should be planning together?” asked Ari softly.

“Yes, well Ari my personal wishes are that when we

set a date we really might have it very very simple.

Possibly right here downstairs right between Nick

and his Papas properties. In our gardens with all

of out beloved friends. You have had a lifetime

of relatives and friends right here. I am new and

have all your friends and some new people you or

Maria know. This is my only wedding and it is special.”

“You are special to me my love. This is my only wedding

also. Many years ago I was going to ask a lady

to marry me but that did not materialize.

She grew tired of practical me and ran off with another.

She did not love me. She loved my parents wealth

but my parents did not tell me. They let me learn

on my own. That is why I am so close to my dear

sister. You love her too and you know she tells it

like it is. That is why I love her.”

“Yes, as do I. Lets have her

plan the wedding here.” said Essie.

They heard Maria bounding up the stairs.

“Hey you two, you better be dressed. OK sorry

Essie I know you are blushing.

You have to get over that when you

marry into this family.” laughed Maria

as she popped her head into the room.

“Silly Sissy laughed Essie as she tossed

a small pillow at Maria. We were up here

talking about you.”

“Oh, wahoo was it juicy?” said Maria.

“No my dear sister you and Mrs Papadoplos

have a wedding to plan and all we want is

for it to be right here between this house and

Nicks. A sort of country with friends wedding.

We don't have a date set so we'll leave that

up to you and Mrs P. You better contact

Delitha and Georgios before they sale off

to some unknown port.” said Ari.

"Twenty years from now you will be more

disappointed by the things you didn't do

than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines.

Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore.

Dream.

Discover." -Mark Twain

© Julia A Knaake