“So, that’s Dean…”

 

“Yeah, well you know he had less feathers when I dated him.”  She smirked and elbowed him in his side.  Nodding towards the ballroom they walked down the long hallway. 

 

Looking back towards the elevator that would take them to their room where they were planning to ring in the New Year, he could only shake his head in disbelief.  How could things have changed so drastically?  When he had made the reservations he had no idea that he and his secret wife would be sandwiched between her ex-boyfriend and her mother.  The only way things could be worse was if Francine was camped out in the room across the hall just waiting to interrupt their ever-elusive alone time. 

 

Amanda cleared her throat, interrupting his thought.  “Please tell me you were able to get a different room? 

 

“Um, unfortunately no.  The place is booked solid.”  Upon the look of disappointment in her eyes he wrapped his arm around her waist and guided her past the Rebecca Fantasies room.   No sense in reminding her and making her even more depressed. 

 

“I’m sorry, honey.  This is not how I imagined ringing in the New Year with my beautiful wife.”

 

As they got closer to their destination they heard a woman scream.  Rushing into the room they realized they had entered the International Tattoo Artists Union ballroom.  Once they realized the scream came from the woman getting tattooed they turned to leave.  It wasn’t until they heard the woman speak that they simultaneously stopped in their tracks.  Well, they weren’t exactly words more likes murmurs.  Turning towards the woman in the chair, Amanda was the first to speak. 

 

“Lee, is that who I think it is?” 

 

“Well, I’ll be.  She must be more drunk than I thought.”

 

Rushing over to the blonde lying haphazardly in what appeared to be a medieval torture chair, Lee and Amanda tried to speak to Francine over her loud moaning. 

 

“Francine, can you hear me?  Do you realize what you’re doing?”  Amanda looked from her drunken friend to her husband with a mixture of laughter and worry. 

 

“Lee, I don’t think she can hear us.”

 

“Oh, I can hear you, Ma…anda.  I’m fine, really.”

 

“Francine, I think you’re a bit too intoxicated to make a decision that will leave you marked for the rest of your life.” 

 

“Listen, Suzy Homemaker!  I am not too intox…intox…drunk to know what I’m doin’!  So, just go try to help someone else.  I’m fine!”

 

Lee looked down at what the very large and leather clad tattoo artist was designing on his wayward friend and snickered.  Upon hearing her husband she looked over to what he was looking at and began to giggle along with him.     

 

With a mixture of compassion and revenge, she finally decided that she should obey Francine’s wishes.  “Well, if that’s what you want, Francine.”  Grasping Lee’s hand, Amanda turned to leave.  She began to walk out of the ballroom when Lee stopped her and turned back towards Francine. 

 

“Goodnight, Francine.  Don’t say we didn’t try to stop you.”

 

They continued to hold hands until they reached the entrance to the ballroom, which held the Agency’s guests. 

 

“Do you think she’ll remember any of this in the morning?” 

 

“Oh, I don’t think so, well, at least not until she looks in the mirror.”  They both began laughing all over again. 

 

In between fits of laughter, Amanda managed to ask what they were both thinking.  “What possessed her to get the words “I love Beaman” tattooed across her arm?” 

 

“I haven’t the foggiest idea but I’m sure it’s a great story.  Too bad she won’t remember it!” 

 

Lee could see the look of confusion on her face and knew that she was no doubt having second thoughts about leaving Francine in the chair to be permanently scarred for life. 

 

“Hey, she’s an adult, you tried to stop her.  It’s not our concern anymore so don’t feel bad.”

 

“Oh, it’s not that I was just wishing I had brought my camera, you know for posterity.” 

 

They both began to laugh all over again.  It wasn’t until they heard someone behind them clear their throat that they stopped and turned around. 

 

“Oh, my gosh!  It’s like a reunion tonight!  I can’t believe you’re here!”          

 

Next?

 

 

               Go To Chapter 8