They expected a quiet weekend.

And it was a lazy, stay at home Saturday. The billowy nimbus storm clouds stained its surroundings in shades of gray. Lightning flashed. Thunder rumbled like a drum in the African jungle. Rain softly pelted the window.

His arms draped around her shoulder, she rested her head on his shoulder while they watched movies on TV. A plastic bowl filled with popcorn sat on the coffee table in front of them.

Their doorbell chimed. They exchanged looks.

"We weren't expecting anyone, were we?" Lathal said, her eyes, filled with emotion deeper than the sea, gazed into his.

"I don't think so," Malan murmured, his lips tenderly brushing hers.

The doorbell's familiar melody sang through the room. He regretfully drew his lips away from hers. His brown eyes were apologetic. She wore a soft smile.

Lathal claimed her crutch lying in the crevice on the left side of the couch. "I'll get it."

His hand waved her back. "Let me." His hands moved to his knees, he pushed himself to his full height.

But she was way ahead of him. He stared at her in amazement

She swung herself forward, her movement jerky and awkward, toward the door. Shifting her weight to her stronger side, her left, she balanced herself against the doorway.

Billy Markham and his girlfriend, Jena Matheos, huddled beneath their porch's awning trying to keep out of the rain.

Jena's deep chocolate eyes were wide. "Lathal, you're walking!"

"I'm a quick study," Lathal's eyes shone with amusement. "But there's no sense in you to stand out there getting wet. Come in."

"What brings you two here?" Malan said.

"We were in the neighborhood," Billy said, shrugging off his black leather jacket, then helped his girlfriend remove hers. "and we thought we'd check on you." He shot Malan a teasing look. "Is that OK?"

Malan's lips twitched with a hint of mischief.

"Sure, it is," Lathal said, hanging their jackets on the hooks by the door. "You can come by any time you know that."

Lathal swayed like a hurricane ravaging the coast as she made her way back to the couch.

"Your recovery is amazing," Jena said to Lathal as she and Billy took a seat on love seat in front of the window.

Billy's hand waltzed across his girlfriend's. Jena's eyes glowed with pleasure as they exchanged knowing looks.

"Can I get you something to drink? Malan said returning to his seat beside his wife on the couch.

Jena's fingers combed through her dark chocolate hair. She crossed her tanned legs. "No, thanks."

Lathal admired her. Jena, who had Egyptian/Greek blood, had such style and grace, natural beauty.
"Well," Malan said leaning forward. His elbows propped on his left leg crossed on top of his right. "How have things been going?"

Billy pointed at the TV. "Isn't this the movie you were in with Sara Ledman?"

So it was. But Billy hadn't come here to discuss movies he'd been in. Something was up. Billy was hiding something. His friend didn't usually avoid answering casual questions.

His hands pressed together, his fingers interlaced. His index fingers, forming a steeple, stroked the barest of stubble on his chin. "Mind telling me what's going on?"

Jena glowed. "We're getting married."

"Congratulations," Lathal said. Her husband hadn't said anything about his friend saying anything about getting married, and she hadn't had any inklings that such an event was on the forefront for Billy and Jena. They'd been involved for six years, so it was natural they'd take the next step.

Tilting his head to one side, Billy's eyes drifted to his fiancee's face. "They need to know the whole story."

Lathal's thick brown eyebrows furrowed downward. "What do you mean?"

"The ceremony's tonight," Jena said, wearing a poker face. "And we want you to stand up for us." Her worried doe like eyes focused on Lathal. "That is if isn't too much for you."

"I think I can manage," Lathal said with ease.

Malan yanked Billy out of his seat, dragging him to the kitchen. "Can I have a word with you?"

Malan threw Billy into the kitchen. He slammed the wooden doors closing the small opening adjoining the kitchen and dining room counters.

"Have you lost your mind?" Malan said, his torn emotions conveyed in his voice.

Billy stood there calmly. "I know this looks bad," he said crossing his arms over his chest. "But I know what I'm doing."

"What are you doing?" Malan said. "Do you really know?"

"You think I'm incapable of commitment," Billy said, his tone hallow and cold. "You don't think I know what it means to be a married man."
He shook his head. "That's not what I'm saying."

"What are you saying?"

"We've been friends a long time," he said, leaning against the wall. "I know you better than anybody." He took a deep breath. "But I have a feeling you're rushing things."

After a moment's pause, he continued. "Why not go to an Engaged Encounter weekend like Lathal and I did."

Billy's features expressed his disapproval. "You know I'm not into that religious stuff."

He didn't want to bring up this sticky issue but he felt it was his duty. "Does Jena's parents know you're getting married?"

"They don't need to know," Billy's bluish-green eyes smoked with anger. "You love Lathal. What would you have done if her parents refused to let you marry her?"

He swallowed hard. It was a possibility he couldn't fathom. Without Lathal his life would be empty, horrible, miserable existence. He didn't want to think about it.

"See what I mean," Billy said, recognizing the understanding in his friend's eyes. "That's why it has to be a secret."

"Why?" Conflict and confusion waged war on Malan's face. "Eventually Jena's parents are going to find out. They'll come to us asking where you are. Then what are we supposed to do? Lie?"

"I know it's a pretty sticky situation," Billy said, desperation creeping into his voice. "But we have no where else to turn. You and Lathal are the only ones we trust."

"It's bad, isn't it?" Malan said. He had that nagging feeling something was amiss again.

"Jena's pregnant, Malan."

"That doesn't mean you have to marry her," he said, recovering his composure. "Just take care of her -- and the baby."

"I always worm out of trouble," Billy said, a frown formed in the left corner of his lip. "I can't keep doing that."

"Are you sure?"

"I love her, Malan," Billy said, his tone and demeanor was both honest and serious. "I want to be with her."

"OK," Malan said walking back into the den, where Lathal and Jena sat quiet and still. Jena had told her everything Billy had told him.

Malan's eyes locked on his wife's. He walked over to the phone. "I wonder if the honeymoon suite at the Lexington's available."

"We can't let you do that," Jena said, her dark eyes flickered between Malan and Lathal.

"We don't have time for a shower," Lathal said, her voice laced with regret.

"Or go to the Tender for the traditional bachelor party," Malan grinned at Billy.

"Just think of it as our wedding present to you," Lathal said as her husband handed Billy the reservations.

"OK," Jena sighed. "Just expect us to pay you back."

Lathal tossed her husband a wry smile. "Don't we still owe the Emersons and Lerms?"

Malan laughed, then turned his attention to Billy. "What time do we have to be at the courthouse?"

"Nine," Billy said, noting the glowing blue glare of the time displayed on the stereo/CD player next to the TV.

"Good," Malan said, stretching his legs. "We have time for dinner at Duke's."

Jena rose. "Do you mind if I change in your guest room?"

"Sure," Lathal said, standing at the same time her husband did. "It shouldn't take us long."

Malan and Lathal, as one unit, moved like a snail toward their bedroom. Malan closed the door behind them. Lathal balanced herself against the wall while flipping through her selection of dresses.

She pulled out a long, hot pink summer dress with floral designs. "I know it's out of season, but it's the only thing that covers my cast."

His navy blue slacks hugged his hips, emphasizing his trim waistline. The shadow of his familiar, well-built physique fell over her as he pulled on his white dress shirt.

"Here," he said, gently easing off her shirt.

She slid out of her shorts on her own. His hands cascaded like a calm waterfall around her as he helped her put on the summer dress. She shook her head, her long, blonde hair tumbled over her shoulders.

"You know," she said as he gave her a hand putting on a polished stone necklace with colorful spheres on it. The necklace had been made by Pueblos. She'd bought it while they honeymooned in New Mexico.

A haunting, subdued lacquer floated in her eyes. "I don't know how we're going to do this."

"As long as we're together, we'll never fall," he said. his quivering lips dipped down drinking in her rich ruby delights.

Her hands folded over his shoulders, lying near his neck. Her tingling mouth filled with tender, passionate caresses expressed the whispers of her soul.

Currents of bliss shimmered around him. He was in heaven, and he shared heaven with her.

His thumb stroked her bare left shoulder. He took pleasure in each tasty morsel.

On the sly Jena watched them behind their cracked bedroom drawer. What they had was amazing. Larger than life.

She wanted her marriage to Billy to be like theirs, and more.