Untitled Novel - Chapter Twelve

The dinner was just as each could have imagined it to be. Marcus and Navette were in their own little world. The moment they shared before entering the restaurant seemed to set the evening in a romantic mode. They kept eye contact during most of the meal and their conversation seemed to be confined to each other. However, the entire evening was filled with pleasantries from each member of the dinner party.
Emerald was in rare form. His demeanor seemed calm and yet overwhelmingly comradely, as if he were an Emerald imposter. He seemed to enjoy the evening. He didn’t use nor answer his Blackberry during the evening. Navette noticed this difference more than anyone.
Peter and Bright were somewhat quiet during the evening, but you could see the “in the moment” reflect from their eyes and facial reflections. The evening was as perfect as they could have hoped for.
The food was good also, not quite as healthful as Navette would have liked, but she ate as if she were at Grandma’s house. In fact, this was close to a meal at Navette’s Polish grandma’s house. The restaurant staff made it a very special evening by doing the little extra things, like complimentary tea cakes and samples of food that no one in the group had tasted before. This uncommon attentiveness made it a more pleasurable experience.
Peter and Bright decided to catch a late movie and Emerald decided he would call up an old friend and catch up. This was the evening for Navette and Marcus to spend gazing at the stars: the ones in their eyes. They had decided on an evening walk along a beach front board walk that Navette knew about.
“Everyone have a good night.” Peter said as he and Bright were getting into the car. “Do you need a lift anywhere Emerald?”
“No. Jennifer is going to drive by here and we are going over to hang out at her friend’s house and play Wii. She said something about Dancing with the Stars.
“Navette, you and Marcus have a good time and don’t forget we will need to leave at five o’clock in the morning.”
Marcus was surprised to hear so early. “Why five?”
“It’s an hour drive to Garden City and the sunrise service begins at 6:30. That’s why they call it sunrise service.”
“I understand and I will not be late.”
“See you later Emerald.” Navette told Emerald as they climbed into the Jeep. “Are you sure you don’t need a ride?”
“No thanks.”
Navette was enjoying the change that Emerald had made. She just hoped it would last.
“It’s not far to the boardwalk, but there is something else I would like to show you first.” Navette, retraced their directions to the I-10, but instead of getting on the I-10 she went straight underneath the viaduct. Shortly they arrived at a huge shopping mall.
“Don’t tell me…we are going shopping.”
“I just wanted to show you something that I thought you would appreciate.”
“Wait! Pull over.”
“What is it?”
“There it is again.”
“What?”
“The Perfect Diamond ad.”
Marcus was looking in a small light box near the entrance of the mall. It was the ad that he had seen in Tiffany’s in New York and in DIAMOND WORLD magazine back in Bright’s office.
“That’s what I wanted to show you but not there.” Navette pulled up about 100 yards and pointed to the right. “That’s what I wanted to show you.”
There it was again. The same guy giving the same girl an engagement ring on top of a snow covered mountain. That same caption, only much larger, read- Maybe not the perfect place, but it’s the “PERFECT DIAMOND. Except, this time the ad covered the entire side of a building. This thing must have been a hundred feet high and twice as wide.
“Oh my goodness! That is magnificent. No wonder you wanted me to see this.”
“I must confess. Mom wanted me to show you this. Kind of impressive isn’t it?”
“That’s an understatement.”
“How did she get them to allow… Navette quickly stopped Marcus.
“No more questions. I have showed you the mural and now, let’s see, I believe we were going to take a moonlight stroll on the boardwalk.”
“I wish I had my camera. Or my phone or something to record this. Sammy needs to see this.”
“Sammy has already seen this.”
“What! How has Sammy seen this?”
Navette had just made a big mistake. Marcus was not supposed to know that Sammy had been here. Sammy actually came on board with D IAMOND WORLD before Marcus and Navette. Sammy felt it best not to tell Marcus.
“Well, uh, Sammy came out to see the magazine and the Perfect Diamond ad about four weeks ago.”
“Why did he come out here four weeks ago?”
“Let me start from the top. Sammy was picked for the team shortly before coming out here: four weeks ago. Justin Sloan and Mom felt it best for him to make the trip to see, well, basically what you have seen. It was all a secret then, even before you were chosen for the team. You were shot and recovering and we just didn’t see a need to tell you. Since you were selected as one of the team, the only thing we have been hiding from you is that Sammy was the first selected. After me, of course.”
This wasn’t making Marcus feel any better about how he obtained this new job that he wasn’t even supposed to know about. But, again, he talked to himself and decided to enjoy the rest of the holiday.
“Whatever.” Marcus looked at Navette and somehow mustered up a smile. “Let’s find that boardwalk.”
Navette had wished she had not brought Marcus to see the mural. She feared it had changed the mood of the evening.
“I agree.”
Neither Marcus nor Navette said a word until they arrived at a busy night spot near the beach. There was a big red and yellow neon sign flashing on the outside of the building “Navajo Joe’s.” The parking lot was full and Navette found a spot just off the lot on the sand.
“Are we stopping here?” Marcus asked.
“The boardwalk starts behind Navajo Joe’s.”
“Seems to be a popular spot.”
“Yes it is, but it is more country and western.”
“What do you say, we check it out?”
“Oh, I’m not sure, Marcus. Do you line dance?”
“I tried it once.”
“It might be fun.”
They entered through two large double doors and a tall guy wearing a Budweiser cap and tee shirt that pictured a large bottle of Budweiser and the words “Life begins with a Bud” asked them if they cared to learn the two-step. Marcus and Navette were here to enjoy themselves so they said sure. The guy handed them a bottle of beer and instructed them to hold on the bottle with the left hand and to grab hold of the bottle cap with the right and step one was to twist off the cap. Step two was to bring the bottle up to your lips and take a drink. “Now you know the two-step. The music will begin in just a few minutes. Enjoy yourselves.”
Marcus and Navette found this to be clever and the atmosphere seemed to be warm and friendly. There was music playing but no one was dancing. They could see a band setting up their equipment on a small stage in the back. Marcus looked around for a table but all seemed to be occupied. Even the bar was packed with patrons standing.
“You guys want to join us.”
“What are you doing here?” This was Navette’s response when she saw that it was Emerald who was asking.
“I could say the same about you,” he replied.
“Navette, you remember Jennifer, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Jennifer this is Marcus, the one I have been telling you about.”
“Hi Jennifer.”
“I hear you are the hero of this family.”
“I would prefer not to be called a hero. I just responded without thinking and lived though it.”
Navette wasn’t sure she even wanted to stay at this place but so far it looked like an ok place to be a night club, but it still had beer odor that she wasn’t too crazy about. But, Marcus, however, accepted the invitation graciously.
“We would love to join you two. Have you guys been here before?”
“Jennifer has. In fact, it was her idea to come tonight.”
“I haven’t been in a while,” Jennifer said.
“Jennifer, is your brother still in New York?”
Jennifer’s brother and Navette had dated during their early college years. It seemed he was quite a party nut and Navette just didn’t fit into his crowd.
“No, he moved back to LA and he is why we are here tonight. Our band is playing tonight.”
Just then Austin, Jennifer’s brother, was welcoming everyone to Navajo Joe’s.
“Hi everybody, I’m Austin Clemmons and we are Clemmons and Clemmons.”
It just hit Navette and Marcus that Jennifer had said our band. Emerald looked at Marcus and Navette, while shaking his head with a yes motion. He seemed kind of proud of Jennifer and her band. “Jennifer is the other half of Clemmons and Clemmons.”
“That’s great.” Marcus said as the band began to play. “I have never known a real live band member before.”
“This is our first big gig and I am a little nervous.”
Emerald wanted to give Jennifer support. “I know you will do just fine. I remember when you sang at your sister’s wedding, I knew then that voice would take you places.”
“Thanks, wish me luck.” Jennifer pushed back her chair.
“Break a leg.” Emerald said and everyone looked at him with disgust. “Isn’t that what you are supposed to say?”
Navette, trying to cover up for her brother’s inadequacy, reaffirmed her abilities. “Jennifer, you will do just great, I’m sure.”
Jennifer walked up to the stage just as the first song was ending and immediately the band started with another song and Austin walked up to the mike and introduced Jennifer by saying: “This is the other half of Clemmons and Clemmons, my sister Jennifer.” That is when Jennifer walked up to the mike and this beautiful voice rang out over the dance hall and practically everyone in the building jumped up from their seats and went to the dance floor. The crowd liked what they heard.
Marcus was just thinking how the evening had turned out. Again not quite what he expected, but he was enjoying himself. At least, until Navette asked him to dance. She wanted to move his attention away from the band and onto her. They moved on to the dance floor and the regulars seemed to open a spot for them. It was awkward at first, but they seemed to get the hang of it when the song ended. Before they even thought whether or not they would stay for one more dance the band started with another song that kept them on the dance floor. However, everyone lined up as if they were in a choreographed production twisting and stomping with such unison that Navette and Marcus had to concentrate just to keep from getting in the way of the others. Marcus turned the wrong way and found himself wrapped around Navette. They both laughed and found themselves again close to remembering the next move when the song ended. They had decided to sit the next one out. Then the band started to play again, but this time it was a slow song. One where not as much concentration would have to be made on the next dance move, but more concentration on the “next move.” They decided to stay for one more.
It was midnight before they made it to the boardwalk. The temperature had dropped and it was chilly. They walked for a ways and found a bench where a rock wall blocked the wind. They cuddled up next to each other and began to discuss the night club, Jennifer and her band and their experience on the dance floor. Navette was telling Marcus how Jennifer and Emerald met and that she and Austin met because of Emerald and Jennifer’s friendship. Marcus seemed to be listening very contently. Navette now was thinking he was listening too contently. She decided to see if he were listening or sleeping.
“Austin and I had a very open relationship; he was seeing this married woman while we were dating.” There was no response from Marcus. She felt very confident that he was asleep.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but if he was seeing some married woman while you two were dating, then you wouldn’t mind if I ask Jennifer out.”
Navette jumped up and grabbed both of his wrists and looked him straight in the eye. “You don’t dare ask her out Marcus Holmes.”
Marcus laughed and stood up. “I’m hungry. Let’s go get a coffee and donut.”
They walked back to where they had parked the Jeep. “Are you sure this is where you parked. The place doesn’t look the same with all the cars gone.” It was the place and the Jeep was no where to be seen.”