©GeraldineBanksJanuary2025
Gerry was as good as his word and the News that the Media Wedding of The Year was happening was confirmed and Sandy and Martin’s invitation dropped through their letterbox a few weeks later.
Martin was furious and at first refused point blank to go. Sandy thought better of it and realised it would be best if they both attended and put a brave face on it.. Gerry had made three payments into the covert Bank Account that appeared on the invoices with the Weekly Organic Vegetable delivery. It was important to keep him sweet. Make everything appear as normal as possible. Martin knew she was right.
Gerry had a lot of friends in the Media and seemed to have invited them all. The Wedding had been brought forward, largely because of work commitments as Millie had won a hardly fought for promotion and would be presenting a Major Series for Sunshine Media. The work would mean a lot of assignments abroad initially. The Wedding itself was going to be a very lavish affair as Millie’s parents saw it as a chance to unbridle their wealth, as her grandfatherly father kept saying , “You can’t take it with you”.
The Big Day arrived and Sandy and Martin dutifully attended.
” Hello Martin, thank you very much for coming.” Gerry cornered Martin at the bar.
” How’s the World of Archaeology? Still trying to persuade the Powers that be to dig up a few more Car Parks in the hope of finding another Royal Corpse.”
Martin smiled, Gerry appeared a bit tipsy.
“Ah yes Richard the Third, that was a Biggy. Old hat now though, we do ground surveys now. We do very little digging , we can see exactly what’s in the ground. No need for all those hairy arsed volunteers and no dirty fingernails for me.
“The old ways have gone. .” He made a gesture to look at his neatly manicured hand.
Martin took a sip of beer and looked around to see Sandy. He caught her eye, she looked concerned but Martin winked at her to reassure her.
” Still I remember the story, it was a good one, Richard the Third in the Car Park, even Shakespeare didn’t think that one up. So hard to get a good story nowadays. People love digging up ( excuse the pun) old facts, so if you have any good archeological stories, let me know we might be able to do something.” Gerry continued , oblivious to Martin’s lack of interest in someone who knew little about Martin’s work.
Martin knew that it was the alcohol in Gerry’s system talking.
” I always talk through my ideas with Sandy, she’s good at her job. I hope she gets the break she deserves one day. We both work hard, but it’s Sandy’s money that keeps us going and yours too with what you’re doing for Alex.” Martin was trying to get to the heart of the matter with Gerry. He wanted to thank him.
“How is he ? I don’t get much of a chance to talk to Sandy during the day, I’ve been busy with all this Wedding stuff too. Mills had me running around like a headless chicken over the last few weeks. That young lady got exactly what she wanted. I’m her trophy husband, she gets my contacts and I’m so damn cash rich I find it quite an embarrassment. So damn easy to hide too. Mill’s father is a bit of a gambler , all this cash is untraceable, it’s the dark economy. If the Mafia still existed he’d be part of it. At least you don’t have to worry about that. I’m glad to help out whatever way I can with your son.
“Well , yes, we really are very grateful Gerry, it came as a real shock what has happened.” Martin almost choked on his beer.
Martin wasn’t too sure that Gerry knew that Sandy had told Martin the whole truth.
Gerry appeared to sober up very quickly, his tone changed.
” Yes Martin, let’s stick to our stories, it’s safer for everyone. We’re going to do the very best for Alex, just let me know if anything changes or if you need anymore help. I care for Alex as if he was my own son.”
Martin was not comfortable with this conversation and just manage to mumble.
” Okay, Gerry, that’s good to know.” As Sandy arrived , drink in hand , she had been mingling.
” I can see you two have had a good chat, I know how difficult that is , talking to Martin can be like getting blood out of a stone.” She touched Martin gently on the cheek. ” Sometimes I think he’d rather read a book.”
” Weddings aren’t really my thing!” Martin smiled.
” Not mine either Martin!” Gerry laughed at his own joke.
” Anyway Sandy, I was just saying to Martin that if you need anything more don’t hesitate to ask. You know Millie’s going to be away travelling a lot. If you need help with anything , just ask.”
” I’m very grateful Gerry, we both are. I’m not sure what direction that this is going to take , so yes we’ll certainly keep you in the loop whatever happens. Money isn’t a problem anymore, I suppose it’s just a gambling debt to you.” Sandy regretted immediately saying this, but it was too late.
The office gossip was all about the High Rollers that Gerry and his now Father- In- Law were . They were big league Gamblers . It was a different World , one that was invite only.
” Yes, definitely, no problem. Ah Mills!” At that very moment Millie arrived, excited and breathless. She put her arms around Gerry’s neck and kissed him.
” I’m so happy , it’s the best day of my life!” Millie gushed. ” What an amazing bunch of people! I’ve just been talking to the guy who’s the Top Presenter at MBO Media. He thinks I’ll do a great job. I’m so hyped, how did he know ? He was giving me some tips, did my Naughty Gerry let the flea bitten moggie of out of the bag! It wasn’t supposed to be announced until next week!” Millie was questioning Gerry’s decision to release it early.
“Mills, it’s good to keep the rumour millstone turning, I hope you played thel little miss innocent , that you didn’t know. I couldn’ t help myself I’m very proud of my Mills, he put his hand around her waist and pecked her on the cheek. I hope you kept up the front though , the formal announcement is a biggy, it’s going to get a lot of attention..” Gerry looked quizzically at Millie.
” Yes , Yes I did. He was fishing wasn’t he? No we’ll wait , we’ll wait for the big announcement. Today is our day. You can call me wifey now…. not Mills.”
” OK wifey” Gerry smiled again.
Millie was very excited.
” I cannot believe at last I’ve got this ring on my finger, what an amazing day. Hey Sandy, come and see the Champagne Fountain, it’s so beautiful.”
Millie grabbed Sandy’s by the arm and they both ran off to the next room to see the ten metre arrangement of Champagne Glasses and bowls of fresh chilled strawberries which had been sculptured into and exotic fountain which filled and refilled the best Champagne into fresh glasses at the bottom , the glasses were replaced as the guests took their drinks by a team of waiters. The guests meanwhile could pick at the champagne drenched strawberries as desired. There was a lot of activity in the area and the arrival of the bride brought a round of applause and cheering.
Gerry and Martin stayed put by the bar.
” She’s got a lot of energy that girl, I’m not sure what she see’s in an old soak like me. Didn’t even try , she did all the chasing.” Gerry sighed.
” Well, not a lot I can say Gerry, except, you and Millie are helping Alex, and if you weren’t in the position you are in . I don’t know what Sandy and I would do.”
” I’m glad to help. It will keep me focussed on what needs done. I’ll keep Mills and her family sweet and the money flowing . I hope one day that Alex can come home , or at least be somewhere near that I can see him. Do you think that’ll be possible?”
” We’ll have to see, it ‘s against the Law, who knows, Alex shouldn’t even be alive”.
Martin hadn’t thought that Gerry would want to see his son. He felt stupid, of course the fatherly instinct was there. Except there was another possibility that Gerry wanted to find out who had Alex and uncover an illegal organisation. That would be a scoop for Gerry, or if he was an A1 , it might be his way of protecting the status quo. He after all was a carrier.
They moved along the bar ” Another drink Martin?”
” No thanks Gerry, I think I better be heading home, rescue my wife from the Champagne Fountain.”
Gerry remembered the night he’d spent with Sandy, yes , she liked Champagne. It had been a very enjoyable evening. Gerry looked at Martin and turned away.
Later when Sandy and Alex were in bed , they talked about the evening and both agreed that they thought that Gerry could be trusted. They were, however, unwilling to let go of control. There was still a risk that Gerry was an A1 who wanted to stop the organisation that in effect he was financing.
Gerry’s desire to know where his son was perhaps genuine or it could put Alex’s rescuers very much at risk . Gerry saw Alex as his only son, Martin understood that for a father it was a strong bond and Gerry would do anything to protect him and it was understandable that one day Gerry would want to meet Alex. Sandy was unsure how that could happen, but they were both tired, so Martin turned out the light and they both went to sleep. The twins would be up at six o’clock wanting breakfast and to play, so it would be best to get some rest.
thenotsomightyom 