My Lucky Groom

was—when she wasn’t here, nothing seemed right. The kids got restless and grumpy, and Richard could never think up enough activities to entertain them. It was particularly hard when they protested they didn’t like doing things without Ventura. While he’d never tell his kids, Richard secretly felt that way too.
    “Jason sometimes comes with us,” Richard said. “But this weekend he has plans.”
    “I know ,” Ventura said with a sly smile. She was thrilled that when she’d mentioned Mary to Jason, he’d taken an immediate interest. He’d asked for her number right off the bat, and now the two of them were off eating crabs in Maryland.
    “He works hard,” Richard said. “He deserves a life.”
    She looked at him thoughtfully. “I suppose we all do.”
    Richard appeared suddenly unnerved by her stare.
    “I can babysit at night sometime,” she offered. “I mean, if you’d like to get out.”
    “That’s really nice, Ventura. I’m just not sure where I’d go or who I’d go with.”
    “Richard?” she said, pointing to his backpack. “I think you just put a box of butter in there.”
    His temples reddened. “Oh, right. Pretty silly of me,” he said, taking it back out and popping it in the fridge.

    Meanwhile, Mary and Jason sat at a long wooden table in the small village of St. Michael’s, Maryland. They were outside on a dock abutting the water, surrounded by groups of others chatting happily and drinking beer. Newspaper had been spread out on the table before them. Heaps of freshly steamed crabbed sat in mounds ready for the taking. Jason handed Mary a small hammer and a pick. She stared at him in horror.
    “They still look alive.”
    “Oh, they’re dead, all right,” he said, selecting a large one and snapping off the legs. He sucked out some of the white meat extending from a joint. “And tasty.”
    Mary’s felt the blood drain from her face as she primly arranged her legs under the table. She wore strappy high-heeled sandals, a pretty yellow sundress, and a big floppy hat to match. “When you said you were taking me out for crabs, I thought you meant at a restaurant. You know, with margaritas?”
    Jason laughed lightly and popped his crab in two at its breastplate. A fine liquid spurted forth and Mary jumped back.
    “Sorry,” he said with an apologetic grin. He studied the table in front of her, then met her eyes. “You haven’t touched yours.”
    “I…um.” Mary stared down at the tiny creature that appeared to stare back.
    “Blue crabs are the best.” To prove it, Jason pried a nice hunk of meat from his shell and held it up to Mary’s mouth. She leaned forward to take a bite, and my, wasn’t it delicious. So fresh and tasty. If only she hadn’t seen where it had come from. It was practically cannibalistic, tearing these tiny bay creatures apart.
    Jason lifted an eyebrow. “Never done this before, have you?”
    Mary took a swig from her bottle of beer, steeling her nerves. “Of course I have,” she said with a little laugh. “It’s just been a while.”
    “Hmm.” Jason smiled. “Tell you what, why don’t I do the first one for you.”
    All of them would be good, Mary thought but didn’t say. Besides the fact that the process turned her stomach, she’d just gotten her nails done yesterday. She adjusted the brim of her hat, devising a plan. “I kind of liked it when you fed me that bite,” she said saucily.
    “Did you now?” he replied, clearly intrigued. He took a sip of his own beer and set it down. “Want to try that again?”
    Mary nodded, and Jason prepared her another perfect morsel. “Yummy!” she said in an effort to encourage him.
    Jason reached for another crab, then met her gaze. “You’re planning to have me do this all night, aren’t you?”
    Mary wrinkled her brow and asked weakly, “Do you mind?”
    “Nope.” He leaned forward to give Mary a quick peck on the lips, and her whole world brightened. “Not one bit.”

    Ventura and Richard glided down the path with Elisa seated on the back of Ventura’s bike and Ricky situated behind his father. As they approached the water, Ventura spied a whole host of rides up ahead of them. There was a merry-go-round, a mini roller coaster, and even a Ferris wheel, its bright lights twinkling in the twilight. Cheery music played as groups of families ushered children into lines, many of them holding big puffs of cotton candy.
    Ventura paused her bike, and Richard dismounted beside