Honeymoon for Three

around him.
    The woman also got up, much more laboriously. “Now you children are back together again. You will have a long and happy marriage.”
    “This is my instant friend, Rowanda,” Penny said. “Rowanda, this is my fiancé, Gary.”
    When Rowanda hugged him, Gary didn’t know whether he would escape without any broken ribs.
    “Come to our wedding, Rowanda,” Penny said. “You can be my matron of honor.”
    Rowanda’s body shook when she laughed. “Honey, I’m not dressed for it. I’m dressed more for a funeral than a wedding. Anyway, I got to stay here and see about my truant son. You children go and get married. Have a nice life.”
    Penny and Rowanda hugged each other. Then Penny turned to Gary. “Let’s get married.”

    CHAPTER 7
    The receptionist at the wedding chapel looked surprised to see Gary and Penny together. He felt resentment toward her for calling the police, but he tried to hide it.
    “It turned out that I didn’t murder my parents after all.” He spoke lightly. “Was it the same guy you told us about before who accused me of murder?”
    The receptionist nodded, her look of surprise turning to puzzlement.
    “Did he give you a name this time?”
    “He told me his name was Jack London.” She gave a wry smile. “He didn’t give me his correct name, did he?”
    “I suspect not. I don’t know any Jack London, and the author by that name has been dead for fifty years.”
    “I’m sorry I put you through that. I didn’t know. I thought you might be in danger.” The receptionist indicated Penny. She seemed sincerely apologetic.
    “It’s all right.” Penny clung to Gary’s arm as if he might get away. “All’s well that ends well.”
    ***
    The diminutive room they were ushered into had what looked like a small cabinet covered with a white cloth that served as an altar. Two lit candles sat on top of it. Two large bouquets of pink and white flowers graced the floor in front. Penny’s matron of honor was a middle-aged lady who worked at the chapel.
    “Time out,” Gary said.
    Penny’s heart did a flip until she realized that he was looking around for his “best man.”
    “I’m down here.” The small voice belonged to a girl who barely came up to his shoulder.
    The matron of honor knocked on a little door and said, “If you please.” It opened, and the minister walked through the doorway. It looked as if he had stepped off a large Lazy Susan. Rotating from one chapel to another? By the time he had introduced himself and said a few words, it dawned on Penny that they were halfway through the ceremony. They exchanged gold rings they had purchased at the White Front department store in Torrance for nineteen dollars apiece.
    As soon as they said “I do,” a photographer breezed into the room and took a couple of pictures of them in front of the altar. The staff was the epitome of efficiency, but Penny didn’t care. The alternative would have been for her alcoholic father to walk her down the aisle in front of her friends and relatives while she pretended to be happy about the situation.
    When they went back into the reception area, they were presented with goodies: Blue Cheer, Bufferin, Micron mouthwash, spray-on starch, five-day deodorant pads, and a bottle of Joy. And a temporary marriage certificate.
    After a member of the staff took pictures of them in front of the chapel, Penny said, “I’m famished. We need to get something to eat. And to send telegrams. I’ll bet your aunt and uncle are wondering what’s happening to you right about now.”
    “I’m sure they’ll be glad to know that I’m not in jail for ax murders,” Gary said. “Let’s go to the Cal-Neva Club. I saw it on my ride to the police station.”
    ***
    Alfred didn’t dare enter the wedding chapel again. He had lost his credibility with the receptionist and was positive she would call the police if he showed his face. Even though he’d changed his appearance, she would recognize him by his damned potbelly.
    His visions of rescuing Penny and carrying her off had to be abandoned. He had done his best to prevent the wedding from taking place. In part he blamed Penny, herself. She should have heeded Gary’s run-in with the police as a warning and washed her hands of him. When they climbed back into the VW together at the police station, he knew she was going through with it. Well, she was young and naive. Gary had her buffaloed. It was Alfred’s job to protect her from him. And he