Free Contingency Plan by Lou Allin Page B

it.” The his-and-hers wedding rings had been understated and simple. I loved them. But this was a family heirloom.
    Joe had already given Bonnie a stunning orchid corsage. Jane got a small package. “Open it,” he said, watching her with pleasure. He was a man with a plan all right. He’d made all the arrangements. The honeymoon was still a secret. I was so happy, even a tent in a provincial park would have been a palace. As long as we were together.
    Jane unwrapped a gps from a leather carrying case. “Yes!” She punched the air in delight, then started exploring the features.
    “Now you’ll always know where you are. That’s very important.” Joe handed her another package.
    “Cool! Travel bugs. Thanks, Uncle Joe,” she said.
    “What are they, honey?” I asked.
    “When you put one in a cache, someone who finds it can take it all over the world. They get tracked by the number.”
    I planted a kiss on his fresh-shaven cheek. I loved how nice that felt. His skin was so smooth. Andy had had to shave twice a day or give me whisker burn.
    We were married by a local minister in the colorful late-September gardens at the Sooke Harbor House. Hosts of chrysanthemums and dahlias surrounded us. A few tourists on their way to Whiffen Spit, below the inn, stopped and clapped for us when we kissed.
    Our private dining room had a view of the bay, and the five-course meal featured smoked salmon soup and crab. Joe allowed Jane a sip of champagne.
    “Mom, it’s going to make me sneeze,” Jane said, laughing.
    “You’ll get used to it, princess,” Joe said. “All the men will be lining up for you in a few years.”
    “Here’s an old Irish toast,” Bonnie said, hoisting her glass. “May the sun…no, that’s not right. May the road…I mean the wind…”
    We made a joke about her being tipsy.
    Joe rose to save the moment, ending with “May God hold you in the palm of his hand.” Bonnie was forgetting more lately. Was it age or the beginnings of dementia? Andy hadn’t mentioned that horror in his family, had he? I didn’t want to think about that. Not today.
    “I have another surprise, ladies,” Joe said as we finished our Chocolate Decadence. He handed me a brochure from his inside pocket. “So I hope you’re packed, all of you. We’re leaving tomorrow afternoon for Disneyland. No excuses.”
    “Joe, you aren’t serious. That’s too gener…generous,” I said. The wine and brandy were making everything a bit unreal. My tongue was stumbling over the longer words.
    “It’s time my girls got spoiled,” he said, pulling out his phone. “I’ve been waiting a long, long time to be the man of the house. Now smile, all of you. Smile for my mom.”
    As he checked the pictures, I turned away to the view of the harbor. A bald eagle was soaring. Then another smaller bird. His mate? It felt warm and cozy being a family again.
    * * *
    The four days in California went so fast. Aunt Bonnie and Jane made the rounds of the rides, while Joe and I had time to ourselves. We drove along the scenic coastline in a splashy Mustang convertible, enjoying leisurely lunches. Each night at dinner we’d meet Jane and Bonnie back at the hotel.
    “Thanks for your blessing, Andy,” I said in my prayers as the plane headed back to our island. How many lucky women had had two wonderful men in their lives?
    With the recession, we sold the small townhouse in Sooke below assessment value and put the money into long-term bonds as Joe suggested. What did ten or twenty thousand dollars more matter now? From the looks of Joe’s condo in Victoria, he had been too modest about his finances. The Inner Harbor apartment was upscale with granite counters, a master suite bathroom and another for Jane. The view of Washington State and the white-capped mountains of the Olympic range took my breath away.
    One day at our former place, I was raking the last leaves before the new people moved in. I thought I saw someone walking Scout by the