Una had lunch with her mother. As they ate, Una asked, "Mother, what was your wedding like?" Mrs. Stratton smiled. She said, "It was nothing fancy, but it was beautiful. Our wedding just had family and close friends, so it was small. Still, the flowers were beautiful and blue, since blue is my favorite color. It was also your father's favorite color. Anyway, before we got started, my father asked if I was sure this was what I wanted, because if I wasn't, I didn't have to do it. I said that I wanted to get married, so once the music started, he walked me down the aisle. Your father and I got married, and just like any other wedding, we had cake, and we went on our honeymoon." Una said, "That's lovely." Her voice then trailed off, as she started feeling sad. She just realized that her father wouldn't be there to walk her down the aisle. She wanted to cry, but she didn't want her mother to worry about her. Mrs. Stratton noticed Una's sudden silence and asked, "Are you all right, dear?" Una said, "Yes, Mother. I'm fine." Mrs. Stratton asked, "What's wrong?" Una said, "I just have a lot on my mind. There's a lot to do before Everett and I get married." Mrs. Stratton said, "I understand. Don't worry, though. I'm sure everything will work out, no matter what." Una said, "Thanks, Mother." Once they finished eating, she said, "I'm going to see if Everett's had any luck finding a wedding venue." Mrs. Stratton said, "Okay, Una. I'll see you later." Una said, "Bye, Mother." Una then went off to be alone, so that she could find a place to cry where no one would hear her. She then headed back to Everett's apartment, hoping he wouldn't notice her looking sad.
Some time later, Una and Everett were settled in a cozy small cafe eating sandwiches and sipping pumpkin spice lattes while foil cutouts of cute ghosts and pumpkins hung from the walls around them.
"Thanks again, Una," Everett said after a time. "I just... I don't like small spaces very much."
Una smiled at him and reached across the table to touch his hand. "Hey, you saved my life once. It's time I saved yours."
They sat in a comfortable silence for a bit, enjoying this much calmer stage of their Halloween celebrations. Una was first to break it.
"I can't believe we solved a real mystery! I can't wait to go home and tell Mother what the secret of the haunted house is."
"Yes," Everett smiled at her. "The secret is my talented actress and her ghost impression."
Una beamed.
"Thanks again, Una," Everett said after a time. "I just... I don't like small spaces very much."
Una smiled at him and reached across the table to touch his hand. "Hey, you saved my life once. It's time I saved yours."
They sat in a comfortable silence for a bit, enjoying this much calmer stage of their Halloween celebrations. Una was first to break it.
"I can't believe we solved a real mystery! I can't wait to go home and tell Mother what the secret of the haunted house is."
"Yes," Everett smiled at her. "The secret is my talented actress and her ghost impression."
Una beamed.
"What lead you to the club where you first saw us, Henry?" Les asked. Henry replied, "One of my neighbors told me that a rock band called A Wave Tossed in the Ocean was going to perform at the club that had opened the previous week. I thought that the name sounded interesting, so I asked him what kind of rock music, and he said, 'I think it's stuff from the sixties and seventies.' I was eager to hear the songs from my youth. When I saw you perform, I knew you were the right fit. Of course, you know how we met backstage." Jimmy said, "And the rest is history." Everyone laughed. "Yes," Henry said. "The rest is history." Just then, Felix looked at his cellphone and said, "It's 10:00, guys." Henry said, "We better go to bed. We've got a big day tomorrow." The boys all said, "Okay. Good night, Henry." Henry smiled and said, "Good night, boys. Pleasant dreams." With that, they retired to their beds for the night.
THE END
THE END