The Best Laid Plans

‘Let’s not have a first time,’ Leslie said. ‘Will you throw it away?’

‘You’re right. Of course I will.’ He went into the bathroom, and a moment later Leslie heard the toilet flush. Oliver reappeared.

‘All gone.’ He grinned. ‘Who needs Ecstasy in a bottle? I have it in a better package.’

And he took her in his arms.

Leslie had read the love stories and had heard the love songs, but nothing had prepared her for the incredible reality. She had always thought that romantic lyrics were sentimental nonsense, wishful dreaming. She knew better now. The world suddenly seemed brighter, more beautiful. Everything was touched with magic, and the magic was Oliver Russell.

One Saturday morning, Oliver and Leslie were hiking in the Breaks Interstate Park, enjoying the spectacular scenery that surrounded them.

‘I’ve never been on this trail before,’ Leslie said.

‘I think you’re going to enjoy it.’

They were approaching a sharp curve in the path. As they rounded it, Leslie stopped, stunned. In the middle of the path was a hand-painted wooden sign: LESLIE, WILL YOU MARRY ME?

Leslie’s heart began to beat faster. She turned to Oliver, speechless.

He took her in his arms. ‘Will you?’

How did I get so lucky? Leslie wondered. She hugged him tightly and whispered, ‘Yes, darling. Of course I will.’

‘I’m afraid I can’t promise you that you’re going to marry a governor, but I’m a pretty good attorney.’

She snuggled up to him and whispered, ‘That will do nicely.’

A few nights later, Leslie was getting dressed to meet Oliver for dinner when he telephoned.

‘Darling, I’m terribly sorry, but I’ve bad news. I have to go to a meeting tonight, and I’ll have to cancel our dinner. Will you forgive me?’

Leslie smiled and said softly, ‘You’re forgiven.’

The following day, Leslie picked up a copy of the State Journal. The headline read: WOMAN’S BODY FOUND IN KENTUCKY RIVER. The story went on: ‘Early this morning, the body of a nude woman who appeared to be in her early twenties was found by police in the Kentucky River ten miles east of Lexington. An autopsy is being performed to determine the cause of death …’

Leslie shuddered as she read the story. To die so young. Did she have a lover? A husband? How thankful I am to be alive and so happy and so loved.

It seemed that all of Lexington was talking about the forthcoming wedding. Lexington was a small town, and Oliver Russell was a popular figure. They were a spectacular-looking couple, Oliver dark and handsome, and Leslie with her lovely face and figure and honey-blond hair. The news had spread like wildfire.

‘I hope he knows how lucky he is,’ Jim Bailey said.

Leslie smiled. ‘We’re both lucky.’

‘Are you going to elope?’

‘No. Oliver wants to have a formal wedding. We’re getting married at the Calvary Chapel church.’

‘When does the happy event take place?’

‘In six weeks.’

A few days later, a story on the front page of the State Journal read: ‘An autopsy has revealed that the woman found in the Kentucky River, identified as Lisa Burnette, a legal secretary, died of an overdose of a dangerous illegal drug known on the streets as liquid Ecstasy …’

Liquid Ecstasy. Leslie recalled the evening with Oliver. And she thought, How lucky it was that he threw that bottle away.

The next few weeks were filled with frantic preparations for the wedding. There was so much to do. Invitations went out to two hundred people. Leslie chose a maid of honor and selected her outfit, a ballerina-length dress with matching shoes and gloves to complement the length of the sleeves. For herself, Leslie shopped at Fayette Mall on Nicholasville Road and selected a floor-length gown with a full skirt and a sweep train, shoes to match the gown, and long gloves.

Oliver ordered a black cutaway coat with striped trousers, gray waistcoat, a wing-collared white shirt, and a striped ascot. His best man was a lawyer in his firm.

‘Everything is set,’ Oliver told Leslie. ‘I’ve made all the arrangements for the reception afterward. Almost everyone has accepted.’

Leslie felt a small shiver go through her. ‘I can’t wait, my darling.’

On a Thursday night one week before the wedding, Oliver came to Leslie’s apartment.

‘I’m afraid something has come up, Leslie. A client of mine is in trouble. I’m going to have to fly to Paris to straighten things out.’

‘Paris? How long will you be gone?’

‘It shouldn’t take more than two or three days, four days at the most. I’ll be back in plenty of time.’

‘Tell the pilot to fly safely.’

‘I promise.’

When Oliver left, Leslie picked up the newspaper on the table. Idly, she turned to the horoscope by Zoltaire. It read:

FOR LEO (JULY 23RD TO AUGUST 22ND). THIS IS NOT A GOOD DAY TO CHANGE PLANS. TAKING RISKS CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS PROBLEMS.

Leslie read the horoscope again, disturbed. She was almost tempted to telephone Oliver and tell him not to leave. But that’s ridiculous, she thought. It’s just a stupid horoscope.

By Monday, Leslie had not heard from Oliver. She telephoned his office, but the staff had no information. There was no word from him Tuesday. Leslie was beginning to panic. At four o’clock on Wednesday morning, she was awakened by the insistent ringing of the telephone. She sat up in bed and thought: It’s Oliver! Thank God. She knew that she should be angry with him for not calling her sooner, but that was unimportant now.

She picked up the receiver. ‘Oliver …’

A male voice said, ‘Is this Leslie Stewart?’

She felt a sudden cold chill. ‘Who – who is this?’

‘Al Towers, Associated Press. We have a story going out on our wires, Miss Stewart, and we wanted to get your reaction.’

Something terrible had happened. Oliver was dead.

‘Miss Stewart?’

‘Yes.’ Her voice was a strangled whisper.

‘Could we get a quote from you?’

‘A quote?’

‘About Oliver Russell marrying Senator Todd Davis’s daughter in Paris.’

For an instant the room seemed to spin.

‘You and Mr Russell were engaged, weren’t you? If we could get a quote …’

She sat there, frozen.

‘Miss Stewart.’

She found her voice. ‘Yes. I – I wish them both well.’ She replaced the receiver, numb. It was a nightmare. She would awaken in a few minutes and find that she had been dreaming.

But this was no dream. She had been abandoned again. ‘Your father’s not coming back.’ She walked into the bathroom and stared at her pale image in the mirror. ‘We have a story going out on our wires.’ Oliver had married someone else. Why? What have I done wrong? How have I failed him? But deep down she knew that it was Oliver who had failed her. He was gone. How could she face the future?

When Leslie walked into the agency that morning, everyone was trying hard not to stare at her. She went into Jim Bailey’s office.

He took one look at her pale face and said, ‘You shouldn’t have come in today, Leslie. Why don’t you go home and –’

She took a deep breath. ‘No, thank you. I’ll be fine.’

The radio and television newscasts and afternoon newspapers were filled with details of the Paris wedding. Senator Todd Davis was without doubt Kentucky’s most influential citizen, and the story of his daughter’s marriage and of the groom’s jilting Leslie was big news.

The phones in Leslie’s office never stopped ringing.

‘This is the Courier-Journal, Miss Stewart. Could you give us a statement about the wedding?’

‘Yes. The only thing I care about is Oliver Russell’s happiness.’

‘But you and he were going to be –’

‘It would have been a mistake for us to marry. Senator Davis’s daughter was in his life first. Obviously, he never got over her. I wish them both well.’

‘This is the State Journal in Frankfort …’

And so it went.

It seemed to Leslie that half of Lexington pitied her, and the other half rejoiced at what had happened to her. Wherever Leslie went, there were whispers and hastily broken-off conversations. She was fiercely determined not to show her feelings.

‘How could you let him do this to –?’

‘When you truly love someone,’ Leslie said firmly, ‘you want him to be happy. Oliver Russell is the finest human being I’ve ever known. I wish them both every happiness.’

She sent notes of apology to all those who had been invited to the wedding and returned their gifts.

Leslie had been half hoping for and half dreading the call from Oliver. Still, when it came, she was unprepared. She was shaken by the familiar sound of his voice.

‘Leslie … I don’t know what to say.’

‘It’s true, isn’t it?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then there isn’t anything to say.’

‘I just wanted to explain to you how it happened. Before I met you, Jan and I were almost engaged. And when I saw her again – I – I knew that I still loved her.’

‘I understand, Oliver. Goodbye.’

Five minutes later, Leslie’s secretary buzzed her. ‘There’s a telephone call for you on line one, Miss Stewart.’

‘I don’t want to talk to –’

‘It’s Senator Davis.’

The father of the bride. What does he want with me? Leslie wondered. She picked up the telephone.

A deep southern voice said, ‘Miss Stewart?’

‘Yes.’

‘This is Todd Davis. I think you and I should have a little talk.’

She hesitated. ‘Senator, I don’t know what we –’

‘I’ll pick you up in one hour.’ The line went dead.

Exactly one hour later, a limousine pulled up in front of the office building where Leslie worked. A chauffeur opened the car door for Leslie. Senator Davis was in the backseat. He was a distinguished-looking man with flowing white hair and a small, neat mustache. He had the face of a patriarch. Even in the fall he was dressed in his trademark white suit and white broad-brimmed leghorn hat. He was a classic figure from an earlier century, an old-fashioned southern gentleman.

As Leslie got into the car, Senator Davis said, ‘You’re a beautiful young woman.’

‘Thank you,’ she said stiffly.

The limousine started off.

‘I didn’t mean just physically, Miss Stewart. I’ve been hearing about the manner in which you’ve been handling this whole sordid matter. It must be very distressing for you. I couldn’t believe the news when I heard it.’ His voice filled with anger. ‘Whatever happened to good old-fashioned morality? To tell you the truth, I’m disgusted with Oliver for treating you so shabbily. And I’m furious with Jan for marrying him. In a way, I feel guilty, because she’s my daughter. They deserve each other.’ His voice was choked with emotion.

They rode in silence for a while. When Leslie finally spoke, she said, ‘I know Oliver. I’m sure he didn’t mean to hurt me. What happened … just happened. I want only the best for him. He deserves that, and I wouldn’t do anything to stand in his way.’

‘That’s very gracious of you.’ He studied her a moment. ‘You really are a remarkable young lady.’

The limousine had come to a stop. Leslie looked out the window. They had reached Paris Pike, at the Kentucky Horse Center. There were more than a hundred horse farms in and around Lexington, and the largest of them was owned by Senator Davis. As far as the eye could see were white plank fences, white paddocks with red trim, and rolling Kentucky bluegrass.

Leslie and Senator Davis stepped out of the car and walked over to the fence surrounding the racetrack. They stood there a few moments, watching the beautiful animals working out.

Senator Davis turned to Leslie. ‘I’m a simple man,’ he said quietly. ‘Oh, I know how that must sound to you, but it’s the truth. I was born here, and I could spend the rest of my life here. There’s no place in the world like it. Just look around you, Miss Stewart. This is as close as we may ever come to heaven. Can you blame me for not wanting to leave all this? Mark Twain said that when the world came to an end, he wanted to be in Kentucky, because it’s always a good twenty years behind. I have to spend half my life in Washington, and I loathe it.’

‘Then why do you do it?’

‘Because I have a sense of obligation. Our people voted me into the Senate, and until they vote me out, I’ll be there trying to do the best job I can.’ He abruptly changed the subject. ‘I want you to know how much I admire your sentiments and the way you’ve behaved. If you had been nasty about this, I suppose it could have created quite a scandal. As it is, well – I’d like to show my appreciation.’

Leslie looked at him.

‘I thought that perhaps you would like to get away for a while, take a little trip abroad, spend some time traveling. Naturally, I’d pick up all the –’

‘Please don’t do this.’

‘I was only –’

‘I know. I haven’t met your daughter, Senator Davis, but if Oliver loves her, she must be very special. I hope they’ll be happy.’

He said awkwardly, ‘I think you should know they’re coming back here to get married again. In Paris, it was a civil ceremony, but Jan wants a church wedding here.’

It was a stab in the heart. ‘I see. All right. They have nothing to worry about.’

‘Thank you.’

The wedding took place two weeks later, in the Calvary Chapel church where Leslie and Oliver were to have been married. The church was packed.

Oliver Russell, Jan and Senator Todd Davis were standing before the minister at the altar. Jan Davis was an attractive brunette, with an imposing figure and an aristocratic air.

The minister was nearing the end of the ceremony. ‘God meant for man and woman to be united in holy matrimony, and as you go through life together …’

The church door opened, and Leslie Stewart walked in. She stood at the back for a moment, listening, then moved to the last pew, where she remained standing.

The minister was saying, ‘… so if anyone knows why this couple should not be united in holy matrimony, let him speak now or forever hold his …’ He glanced up and saw Leslie. ‘… hold his peace.’

Almost involuntarily, heads began to turn in Leslie’s direction. Whispers began to sweep through the crowd. People sensed that they were about to witness a dramatic scene, and the church filled with sudden tension.

The minister waited a moment, then nervously cleared his throat. ‘Then, by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife.’ There was a note of deep relief in his voice. ‘You may kiss the bride.’

When the minister looked up again, Leslie was gone.

The final note in Leslie Stewart’s diary read:

Dear Diary: It was a beautiful wedding. Oliver’s bride is very pretty. She wore a lovely white lace-and-satin wedding gown with a halter top and a bolero jacket. Oliver looked more handsome than ever. He seemed very happy. I’m pleased.

Because before I’m finished with him, I’m going to make him wish he had never been born.

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