Chapter 11

The wedding party was small, and that by design. They weren’t exactly hiding, but Blake Willis was a newly crowned billionaire, and billionaires were fodder for the paparazzi. Tabloids were available in state prison libraries even as limited in reading materials as they were.

The bride and the groom were standing opposite each other in front of the justice of the peace.

“I do,” said Blake Willis.

“I do,” said now Ava Willis, nee Gardner.

“You may kiss the bride,” said the JOP officiating the ceremony. Blake Willis did kiss her and both he and his new wife were thinking of the same thing at the same time: Julian Willis.

The small, but very expensive wedding feast was held at the Burnside Country Club in Laughlin, of which the Willis family were members.

“How do you feel.” said Bea. Blake was momentarily at the bar talking to an acquaintance.

“Wonderful, really,” said Ava. “I am so proud to be Blake’s bride. And yes, I know I will have to work hard to make it up to Julian. Blake knows it too. It is what it is.” Bea nodded.

It was March 4th 1974. Several of Blake’s employees and friends of the family were in attendance to witness the event: a group of eleven souls in all. The dancing and partying went on until the wee smalls, well, 1:00 a.m.

“Kevin, thanks for being my best man,” said Blake.

“It was an honor, boss,” said Kevin Hardy, smiling broadly.

“You will be in charge at the office while my wife and I are on our honeymoon,” said Blake.

“Got it covered,” said Kevin. “Millie and I have your back. We’ll call if anything interesting or problematical comes up.” Blake Willis, smirked.

“If you interrupt my honeymoon have a damn good reason,” said Blake. His subordinate snorted.

“Hmm, I kinda figured that that would be a requirement,” said Kevin. “But don’t worry. My momma raised me right!”

“Good,” said Blake.

The honeymoon in Montevideo was nice and quiet and beautiful.

“It is so nice here,” she said.

“Yes, it is,” he said. “I was here once before, on a business deal that didn’t materialize, but I fell in love with the place and the people.”

“The people have been nice to us. Very nice actually,” said Ava. He noted her serious expression.

“Ava?” he said.

“He does want to see us more often,” she said. “I mean like I told you.”

“Yes, and we need to accommodate him in that,” he said, “I think we have to; I mean given everything.”

“Yes, yes indeed,” she said.

“You went there last Thanksgiving. I will be going at the end of this month, March. Maybe you could go in June, then me late September or early October and you around the first of the year. That’ll be doubling what we have been doing so far,” he said. “Then we just recycle the same schedule thereafter,” he said. She nodded.

“What about telling him. I mean... ?” she said.

“I don’t have the balls. Down the line. When it feels right,” he said. “And, no I have no clue when that would be. But for sure it’s not now, not for a long time is my thinking at this point.”

“Okay, I guess that’s the best we can do. I do so want to try and minimize the pain the man is certain to feel,” she said.

“Of course, that is a prime concern. I am going to be setting up a deal for the man. I want him to be able to find himself another woman a woman of quality that will support him and make him happy. Financially, he will be set for life. I’m thinking ten million after taxes. And, we’ll throw in a house, a car, maybe two of those. I don’t know. What do you think?” he said.

“Yes, those. But what about a job? I mean with the big dollars he might not want to work, but knowing the man like I do, like we both do; I’m thinking he is going to want to work regardless,” she said.

“I think you are right in that regard. But I will leave it up to him,” he said.

“Blake, what if, when we do tell him, that he just tells us to go to hell,” she said. The man looked down.

“That could happen, and then we play the hole card and pray for the best,” he said.

“You mean Candace,” she said.

“Yes,” he said.

Asking Ava to consider coming more often was, as it turned out, a very good idea. Well, it was for me. I could well imagine that driving all the way up state, two hundred plus miles, would be inconvenient for Blake, but I was hopeful that such would not be the case for my future wife. At any rate, my family, and that’s what they were, were going to be visiting twice every year now, each. Essentially, I’d be getting a visit every three months instead of every six months.

She was striding across to my table at that very moment: it’s June,’74.

“My God it’s good to see you,” I said. “Blake coming a couple of months ago was good, but he ain’t you. Well, I mean you’re prettier.” I was smirking.

“Hmm, thank you for that Mister. Every woman I ever met would be thrilled to have a man like you,” she said.

“Yeah, but you’re the only woman for me. You can be damn sure about that,” I said. She gave me a look that was—something.

“I don’t deserve you,” she said, “I really don’t.”

“It’s me that doesn’t deserve you. A woman who is willing to do what you’re doing for me; well, that is more than enough,” I said.”

“You’re the one that’s doing the doing. I will never be able to repay you for that, not ever. But I will be trying,” she said. I snorted.

“Ava, you might not believe it, or understand it, but doing whatever it is that I’m doing makes me happier than I have ever been because I’m doing it for you,” I said. I got a soulful look from her having said what I said. “Anyway, so how is everything back in Phoenix.” changing the subject.

“Good, nothing happening out of the ordinary,” she said. I nodded.

“And, you, I mean in here,” she said.

“Getting by, same old same old,” I said. “Things never change much around here. Oh, and before I forget, make sure you tell Blake thanks again for sending the money each month. The food isn’t the best in here, but with the money he sends I’m at least able to get some good stuff at the canteen. I can’t believe that I didn’t mention it to him before, but anyway, please tell him for me. Okay?”

“Of course,” she said.

As usual we talked for the whole two hours and then she was gone. I expected I’d be seeing Blake in a few months depending on his schedule, maybe September. That’s what he told me when he last visited me.