“Why, should I have?” Logan was teasing Marie and she hadn’t caught on.
“Sugah, ah know ya know what tongue jewelry is for.”
“Yes, I do. I get it Marie. Her name means virgin in Arabic by the way, and by the looks of that barbell in her tongue, I’d guess she wasn’t one for long.”
Out if the blue he had answered Marie, easily translating Adara into English. How did he know Arabic? He couldn’t remember speaking it before then… Marie looked at him strangely as well.
“How did you know that? Do you know what his name means?”
“Much praised. It’s one of the many names of the prophet Mohammad.”
“What’s wrong? Ya seem a little confused, sugah.”
“We better get food before we’re late,” he said to change the subject because he didn’t know the answers to give Marie.
Ahmed unexpectedly appeared as if he heard his name even though he hadn’t been called for. He filled Marie’s half empty water glass and then went away. Adara came back and pulled out her pad.
“Are you ready to order,” she said to Logan, practically ignored Marie.
“We’ll start with the baba ghannouj and falafel. The warm hummus tinged with garlic and, with the pita chips. The tabbouleh. We’ll also have the mjadra and have the shish taouk. Thanks.”
The waitress took it all down and left. Marie looked on at Logan as he ordered their diner. Her eyes surprised but not too irritated. She did want to order something of her own but Logan seemed to know better.
“Okay sugah, do yawanna explain ta meh what ah’mgonna be eatin’ and what was that all about?”
“Don’t worry, I ordered the chicken kabobs,somethin’ with eggplant, and lentils.”
“That don’t answer mah question.”
“She totally ignored meh Logan. She’s been makin’ eyes at ya and she’s ‘bout ta lose one of them. Ah won’t have it.”
“So,” Logan teased.
He heard her declaration of war on Adara because she was jealous that the woman might try to steal him from her side. Just to confirm his suspicions, Marie changed the subject.
“Nevahmahnd… So, what plans have ya got fertharestahtonaht?”
Out of the blue, Ahmed suddenly popped up again at the table with hummus and pita bread. Then he left just as fast as he came over.
“I’m going to see a man about a…”
Ahmed appeared again, this time with the appetizers of baba ghannouj and falafel. Adara followed behind with the tabbouleh.
“You were sayin’?”
“I gotta go take care of some things up north.”
“Really?Before or after Hank and ‘Ro’s?
“Yeah,” Logan could see the disappointment in her face but, she didn’t say a word. “I actually have to leave early to make it on time.”
He hoped she didn’t have her telepathic mutation active to know he was lying to her.
“Oh. Well ah’ll get a rahd home then, if ya want,” Marie let herself down easy; still she wondered why he didn’t invite her to come with him.
“I’ve already asked ‘Ro to take care of you.”
“Are yagoin’ on a mission or somethin’? Is someone goin’ with ya,” Marie asked in a rush of cynical jealous anger.
How could he just dump her at a party and then leave for errands in the frozen north? She began to think she should have driven herself to the McCoy’s party on her own.
Logan could tell she was getting upset, mad even.
“I need to see some people up north.”
“So, can ah go?”
“No, Marie, I gotta go alone this time. They ain’t exactly civilized people. I’m sorry.”
“Then whyyagoin’,” Marie asked, giving him some of her sass.
‘God this woman can be frustratin’!” Logan thought and prayed that Ahmed would come back so that he could change the subject.
Right on cue… Ahmed appeared to fill their glasses. Then he walked away again.
“So, what are you gonna do after ‘Ro’s party,” he asked and then took a bite of hummus with some of the spicy pita chips.
“Ah guess ah’ll just go on home, make breakfast, and wait ta watch tha Rose Parade on tha Home & Garden channel,” he could tell that she was trying to guilt him into taking her with him.
Logan smirked while she wasn’t looking at him. So far his plan was working and he hoped she wouldn’t figure it out before she was picked up at the McCoy’s. The mjadra came to the table and he eyed lentils, onions, and rice. It did look good. Then Ahmed brought the shish taouk, which looked basically like marinated, grilled chicken kebab off the skewer, served with pilaf-type rice.
“Trust me, you won’t be alone for long,” Logan said as he took her hand.
He brought his right hand up to her cheek, caressed it before he pulled her face close. Softly his lips touched hers in a warm kiss.
“Eat up darlin’ Marie,” Logan said as he looked down at his watch. Time was quickly winding down.
“What tahm is it?”
“We need to leave soon to be on time.”
“Cain’t we be fashionably late?”
Logan growled at her in warning and she dove into her food.
The two finished their food without rushing too hard and Logan decided they could be a little late. He called for the check because they both decided that they didn’t want dessert if they were going to snack at the McCoy’s party. Hank had secretly asked for the check to be sent to his office. So, when Adara brought a fake check back, she had written, ‘Paid’, on it. Logan knew Hank was up to something.
Marie thought the servers walked a fine line of being attentive but were a little annoying. They seemed to appear at the wrong time at times. It was nice they tried to make sure Logan and her were satisfied but, the waitress ticked her off by trying to get Logan to pick up on her signals. Luckily, Logan didn’t catch on.
McCoy Residence
Washington, D.C.
9:30 P.M.
“Are we officially fashionably late yet,” said Marie as she checked her inner clock.
“Don’t worry, we’re here,” repliedLogan.
“Looks lahk we ain’ttha last ones ta githeah late,” she said as she noticed the Professor’s car hadn’t made it yet.
Marie got out of the vehicle before her date could open her door. She went right to the front door instead of waiting for Logan by the SUV. Logan locked it up and soon met her at the door.
“Darlin’, just in case I forget, you look fantastic.”
“Thanks, you look quite handsome too, sugah.”
She rang the bell and Hank got the door.
“Happy New Year’s Eve, Marie, Logan. Come on in,” Hank beamingly announced.
“Thanks Hank, same ta you,” Marie replied.
“Marie, could you please excuse us for a moment. Logan, could I see you in the den? I’ve got something to show you concerning the security on that big white house Ororo and I might lease.”
“Uh yeah sure,” he said getting Hank’s hint, “I’ll be just a minute darlin’.”
“Ah’ll go see if ‘Ro needs help.”
Once Marie was out of sight, Logan followed Hank into the den.
“Ororo will come tap your shoulder twice when it’s 10:45,” he told him.
“By the way, thanks for dinner and for all your help.”
“Your welcome.”
In fact the last two to arrive to the party were the Professor and Dr. Moira Kinross-MacTaggert. Ororo and Hank, and little Charlie had been great about keeping the secret of the night from all the rest of their mutual friends, and for that Logan was grateful. The party was a ton of fun. Charades was won in a tie between Team Drake and Team McCoy. Marie and Logan won at Trivial Pursuit 20th Anniversary Edition. They even had all the partiers plus Logan and Marie in a game of Twister. Hank bobbed around and took pictures of all the games and the party for their family photo albums and for anyone that wanted copies. All though, some of the shots had to require that they all promise not to, ‘accidentally show up,’ at the school because Jubilee would have a field day with them. Jubilee and family had to decline this year to the party to spend time with Remy down south.
McCoy Residence
Washington, D.C.
10:45 P.M.
Inside Ororo casually made her way to the kitchen and found Logan rinsing his glass.
“Oh, don’t worry about cleaning up, just get going. It’s time.”
“Thanks ‘Ro. Wish me luck.”
“Good luck, not that I think you need it. I know Marie will do whatever you ask,” Logan smiled and left out the back door.
Ororo came back to the party with another tray of food and winked at Hank. He knew that Logan had gone by her signal and nodded back.
“The limo should be coming soon,” she whispered to her husband.
Marie noticed about ten minutes had gone by and she got a funny feeling in her gut. She remembered he had said he was going to help Ororo with the dishes but, ‘Ro had a dishwasher… Maybe he had gone to the bathroom? She found Ororo near the piano.
“Where’s Logan,” she asked.
“Last I saw he was in the kitchen.”
“Thanks.”
Marie went to the kitchen and he wasn’t there. He didn’t even say good night much less a Happy New Year! Some Happy New Year! The more she thought about what Logan said at dinner, the madder she got. How dare he leave her like that? She thought about calling his cell phone and giving him an earful that would make a Wolverine blush. She could too, because she had him inside her head.
Ororo went to answer the door when she heard the bell after Marie went to the kitchen.
“Can I help you?”
“I am here for a… Marie Caldicott.”
“Sure, hang on. Please come in and wait here. Do you know where you have to go?”
“Yes ma’am.”
“Then I’ll get her.”
Ororo went to the kitchen and found Marie a little more than upset that Logan was gone. She looked close to tears.
“Marie, there’s someone here for you,” she spoke.
“‘Ro, if ya don’t mahndah’mgonna go home. Ah’m suddenly not feelin’ well.”
“That’s alright but, I want you to just see this guy first. He’s been out in the cold a while.”
“For you, shuah, and then ah wanna go home.”
Marie came around the corner and saw the driver, complete with an outfit and driver cap. He’s holding a large red double-headed rose and a white envelope.
“Marie Caldicott?”
“Yes.”
“This is for you,” the driver uttered as he handed her the rose and the white envelope.
By now, word has gotten around through Hank that Logan was about to propose to Marie. So, they all kind of stopped talking as the music played low in the background so they could listen in to what was happening. They all watched as Marie opened the envelope and pulled out a folded blue note. She held it close so that she could read it out of the view of the driver.
“Come to me. Come to me. I’m waiting, Logan,” Marie read to herself, her hand suddenly shaking.
“What’s going on Marie,” Kitty asked, suddenly noticing Logan was missing as well.
“Ah don’t knowbut, ah have to go. Happy New Year ta ya’ll. Ah’ll see ya’lllata.”
“Bye Marie, same to you,” everyone hollered back in one form or another.
Ororo could see the tears actually forming in Marie’s eye ducts, she handed her a tissue as Marie put on her scarf.
“Save this for meh,” Marie requested as she handed Ororo the note, she quickly slipped it into the pocked of her dress.
“I will. Have a good night and feel better soon,” Ororo walked her to the door.
Then Hank and Ororo and the entire party came to watch Marie get into the white limo parked in the driveway. Soon as the driver closed the back door on the passenger, they took off down the driveway, red taillights beamed against the snow-covered ground where the road met the driveway.
“Ok you two, what’s going on,” Kitty probed after she saw the bright smiles on Hank and Ororo’s faces.
“What,” replied Ororo with an even broader smile.
“Where’s Marie going at this time of night,” Kitty asked as she opened another bottle of Martinelli’s Sparkling Apple Cider. “Don’t make me ask the Professor to turn it into an order.”
“Look, vere’s a vite van pulling in,” Kurtspoke.
“Ah, the audio visual team is here,” said Hank. “Come, to the living room, every one. The show is about to begin.”
“What show?” Moira asked.
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Author's Chapter Notes:
Par-tay, par-tay people...
Enjoy! The next two chapters will have the proposal and the aftermath...
Enjoy! The next two chapters will have the proposal and the aftermath...
Chapter End Notes:
Much love to all my fans out there. There is more in the works! Promise. And Wolvie keeps his promises. Thanks for your reviews!