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A Pleasant Story - Chapter Seven - Too Hot to Handle? Part II
Back to: A Pleasant Story - Chapter Seven - Too Hot to Handle? Part I Next: A Pleasant Story - Chapter Eight - Broken Dreams




A Pleasant Story

Chapter Seven

Too Hot to Handle?

Part II


Nina hollered back at her sister, "I'm okay! It's just the damn tub broke!"

She stomped her foot angrily and shrieked a bit.




She sighed and got her tools and tried to fix it, but her mechanical skill was not yet high enough to successfully repair the damage and she made it worse.




"DINA!" she yelled downstairs. "CALL THE REPAIRMAN! I BROKE THE BATHTUB AND I CAN'T FIX IT!"

Dina complied and explained excitedly to the operator that they needed a repairman. They told her how much it would be and said they'd send someone over right away.





When he arrived, Dina waved him upstairs to Nina, who called him into the bathroom.

"Hi, I'm Nina Caliente," she said. He introduced himself as Samael Abbadon.





She showed him how the shower was broken, then headed off to her room to continue studying her mechanical skill.

Instead of beginning to work on the shower, Samael took out his cell phone and dialed.

"I'm here at the Caliente house. Which one was it--Nina or Dina?

"Okay, good, that's the one I've got upstairs. I'll let you know how it goes."





Samael called Nina into the bathroom and asked if she'd like to earn some simoleons.

"We, I mean, I, understand you've been having some financial difficulties. Would you be interested in doing some work for. . . um. . . the plumbing company? It's good simoleons."




Nina laughed and said, "Well thank you for the offer, but I'd be terrible at plumbing--I have hardly any mechanical skill."

Samael explained, "Oh no, the job's not to do with plumbing. We, I mean, I, have some items being imported into Pleasantview from, from . . . um . . . a tropical island, and we, I mean, I, need people to pick them up and deliver them. That's all. We'll tell you where, I mean, I will tell you where to pick them up and then where to drop them off, and then we pay you."




Nina considered. "That sounds easy enough! Sure, sounds fine! We could use the simoleons!" Nina didn't consider how it was that the plumber knew about her and her sister's financial troubles.

Samael handed her a package and told her this was to be her first delivery and gave her the address where it needed to be taken.

"If you can manage this first delivery successfully," he explained, "then you can do more work for us, I mean, for the plumbing company. If not, you'll still get paid for this one delivery, but if anything goes wrong you won't get any more chances."





Nina accepted the package and said that seemed fine. Suddenly she heard Dina's voice calling up from downstairs.

"Nina? How's it going? Is it fixed yet?"

Samael touched Nina's arm. "Tell her it's going fine. But about the job--this is a discreet matter, and it would be best if you didn't mention it to anyone, not even your sister."

Nina agreed, and hollered down to Dina as he'd suggested.






"I'll fix the shower now," said Samael, "And then later I'll be in touch with further instructions. Find a safe place to keep the items until you deliver them."

As Nina left the bathroom to get back to her studies, she couldn't help but notice that Samael didn't seem to be any more skilled at shower repairs than she had been.





As the clangs and bangings echoed from the bathroom, and she could hear the water spurting from the pipes, she considered.

"That's strange," she thought, "for a professional plumber. But it'll sure be great to make some dough! I'm sure this is completely legit!"





As the day turned to night, Dina dressed carefully for her date with Mortimer. Restaurant Le Plus Cher was very fancy and she wanted to look her best. She tried on some of her favorite dresses.

The first was a bit too sexy. She wanted to look nice, but not quite jaw-dropping bombshell nice.







The next was a too pink. Just . . . too pink.






Then she tried on one of her sister Nina's dresses and it was just . . . no. Maybe she'd borrow it for some other time when she and Mortimer were alone!




Then she found one that was just right!








When they arrived at Restaurant Le Plus Cher, the maître d' greeted Mortimer profusely and led them to a private dining room where they enjoyed Pate de Génitaux de la Souris, Soupe de Céleri Royale, and Sauterelle Avec Eaux Grasses.

At the end of the meal, Mortimer raised his glass to Dina and said, "To the most beautiful woman in all of Pleasantview, who fills my days with joy."






Dina streatched out her hand to him and replied, "Mortimer, since my husband died I have felt lost and alone--you brought brightness back into my life."





Mortimer slid his hand into his pocket as he said, "I am so happy to hear you say that darling, because I want our lives to proceed together from now on."




He placed a black velvet box on the table and said, "Dina, I apologize for not getting on my knee, but I'm afraid I might get stuck there." He smiled at her. "Will you be my wife?"




Dina tore open the box and admired the ring as she said "Yes yes yes my darling Mortimer, YES!"





She slid the ring on to her finger and gazed at it as Mortimer beamed at her.





They were both very happy to be engaged. They would have happy memories of this moment.




As Dina hopped up from her chair and said, "Get up dear man, so I can hug you!" Mortimer put his head down. He was so very happy to be engaged to Dina, but he couldn't help but remember his first beautiful wife with sadness.




He shook his head and stood. "No more dwelling on the past!" he thought.

Dina leapt into his arms and squeezed him happily. He staggered a bit, but managed not to drop her.

Suddenly she was down on the floor in front of him, singing of her love, very loudly, and very off-key. Mortimer reflected that it was a good thing they'd gotten a private dining room!



Mortimer let her continue even though his ears complained a bit. Then he held her close and told her he was going to spend the rest of his life making her happy.





When they arrived back at Dina's, she asked Mortimer to come into the living room and join her to talk to Michael.

"Michael," she said, "this is Mortimer. He's asked me to marry him and I've said yes. I hope this doesn't upset you, but Mortimer has promised to make me happy, and I hope you can be happy for me, too."




She turned to Mortimer. "I hope you don't think this is weird--I talk to Michael a lot."

Mortimer shook his head. No, he didn't think it was weird. He talked to Bella all the time while looking at the stars.


Mortimer wasn't sure how to talk to an urn but he gave it a try. “Hi Michael. I want to marry Dina and make her very happy.”



Dina went on, "And Michael, I hope this is okay, but since I am going to be married to Mortimer I think it would be best if you moved to the cemetery. There will be lots of people like you there, and you can scare tourists all you want. I love you honey. Goodbye."

Dina then made arrangements for Michael's remains to be moved to a cemetery in the Downtown district of Pleasantview.

"I'll visit you soon honey," she said, and blew a kiss toward Michael as he rose from the urn and disappeared. She thought he didn't look unhappy.




Mortimer turned to her and said, "There's someone else we need to talk to--I'm going to call Cassandra over so I can tell her the news and then you can talk to her, too. She hasn't been the greatest fan of our relationship."

Dina agreed and said she'd wait inside while Mortimer met Cassandra to make his announcement to her.

When Cassandra arrived, Mortimer told her that he'd proposed to Dina and that she'd accepted.



"You're going to marry Dina?" Cassandra said. "Dad, this is NOT a good idea! You know her husband died suddenly and suspiciously, right?"




"I can tell you've been listening to gossip, daughter. Dina's husband became ill with a terrible sickness and Dina cared for him for months until he died. And that's the real story. I love her and I want to marry her."

"But Dad," Cassandra objected, "Don't you think she's just in it for your simoleons? Look at your age difference!"




Mortimer sighed sadly. "Cassie, ever since your mother was abducted by aliens my life has been incomplete and hollow. Dina has given me back my passion for living. I know she's much younger, but she makes me happy. Don't you want me to be happy?"




Cassandra crouched down fearfully. "Of course I want you to be happy! I'm just afraid that you'll become a ghost if you marry her!"





Mortimer almost laughed at her. "Honey, you've got to stop believing those rumors. Some people are lucky to find one great love in their life. I am doubly lucky that I've been able to find two great women to love me. After your mother was abducted by aliens I never thought I could be happy again! And I want you to be happy for me, okay?"




"I'm going to go inside now and send her out to talk with you. You can ask her anything you want. Maybe that will ease your concerns."


When Dina came out to speak with her, Cassandra attacked her immediately.

"Don't play games with me--you're a rat and I know you only want to marry Daddy for his money. Don't try to convince me otherwise--I know you had an affair with Don Lothario! I could tell when you slapped him last night!"






Dina stared at her in shock. "Oh no, that wasn't an affair--I admit he'd been trying to get me to woohoo with him for ages--apparently while he was engaged to you!--but I never did. When Michael was dying, I did have a very brief flirtation with him, but it never went further than one kiss.

"But listen, about the money; I already told your father and now I'll tell you. I plan to sign a pre-nuptial agreement, so your father's estate will still belong to you and your brother. I have no interest in his simoleons--I really do love your Dad for who he is."

Cassandra considered this. Could it be possible?





Dina continued, "Now, I'd hoped we could be friendly, and that you'd give our marriage your blessing, but your Dad and I are prepared if you don't want to. We can make arrangements for you to move out of the mansion after the wedding if you are going to find it intolerable to live there with us."

"Cassandra," Dina said earnestly. "I know you don't know me well, so all I can do is assure you that I really do love your Dad, I don't want his money and. . . well, that's all."

She stepped back and looked at Cassandra with hope.





Cassandra stared at Dina. She'd like to believe her; she'd like to see her Dad happy.

She suddenly realized that Darren's first wife had died and she was in love with a much older widower, just like Dina. Maybe not quite THAT much older, but still.

She stepped toward Dina. "Okay," she said, "I'll give it a chance. And if you can make my Dad happy, I'll be your best friend in the world."




Both Dina and Cassandra thought maybe everything would be okay.

When everyone had left, Dina went back into the house to wake up her sister and give her the news.

“My sister's engaged!” Nina said, “That's so great!”




“Now, what kind of bridesmaid's dress will I wear?"



Then she laughed. "Just kidding sis! I am super happy for you! This will be awesome!"


And, she thought to herself, having a rich brother-in-law might come in handy!

Click Next: A Pleasant Story - Chapter Eight - Broken Dreams to continue...

 
Back to: A Pleasant Story - Chapter Seven - Too Hot to Handle? Part I Next: A Pleasant Story - Chapter Eight - Broken Dreams
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