she   finished her  enchilada , and  dabbed her lips,Now?  we have  Cake...and then go to bed..and after that?  we go to sleep..yes? she Grinned  at  him. sipping her drink. It was a bit  late, she had to be at the Offcie  by 6:00 but  Ben  could  sleep in if  he wished.

Ben got up to serve the cake.

"What are your plans tomorrow. I'm not sure what I'll be doing. It's wierd not having a practice."

  Lu-Ti  sighed,Much work getting things  for us going to Miami. We  have  to have security  ready  and all those things. the added  responsibility  for Saintsations  being flown down by  our airlines as well..The , around Lunch Time,  Lindsey and I are to go look  for  Wedding Dresses  and   pick out something  for bridesmaids to wear.. then? back to work until about 6.. maybe  i quit sooner. it depends on what i am doing and who is  trying to make me kill them!  she huffed.

"You work hard, beloved. What do you want me to wear for the wedding? A tux or something more... unusual?"

Some people set great store by clothing for a wedding. Most of the attention was on the bride, of course, but the groom had to be at least presentable. He'd seen pictures of British weddings where something called 'morning dress' was popular, a black tailcoat and striped pants, or sometimes all in a pale grey. Grooms in uniformed service could wear the fanciest outfit their service provided, but somehow he was certain a football uniform wouldn't do. Kilts were popular with people who had any pretensions to Scottish ancestry...

"Or do you want me to surprise you?"

I th8nk, for America, you dress with Tus...yes?  Yuto Loves  Tuxes..Adam..no  so much. how   do your other Groomsman  feel of Tux  wearing? she   took a bite of  cake...

 This...is very good!...we have to thank them in some way?

  she waved her hand..I have been in American  weddigns   as Bridesmaid... i did not like most of the dresses... I am goign to have Lindsey help me, so none of the  ladies  feel like they have ugly Dress.. Yes?  I am Bride, but everyone knows this?.. there is no reason to make   my  p[arty  look less then me..do you think?

"I shall only have eyes for you, beloved," said Ben, who was by now getting those 'I wish it were all over' vibes about the wedding.

"As for our kind neighbours, I think a dinner invitation might be in order. They're not football fans, so something like Superbowl tickets out of my allowance probably wouldn't be appropriate."

  we wil have to see, Yes?  Maybe  we bring them over Sunday?  only the pro bowl game is on..and it is a silly thing, None of our People will be playign in it, since  we have Superbowl.. We  could have  dinner  inside, ot , if it is warm enough, you could  Grill and I will make some things?

"But it's..., um. Yes, that might work," said Ben, who'd been about to say that it was football, moreover a game he could just watch for sheer pleasure, rather than because the outcome affected him and the team, or there was a team they'd have to face playing. He thought better of it, however, and hoped Lu-Ti didn't notice.

"Bit late to call them now. I can go round with a note tomorrow."

    when they were Finished , Lu-Ti  helped Ben with the  dishes  and  putting the leftovers  away.

  tomorrow , sometime after  work, we  should tansfer  the food  and   cake to Containers, and  we  could use the excuse to take the   clean containers back to them.

 faster all was done..Come?  I have work tomorrow  so we need to go to bed. Afterwards....we will go to sleep... she  grinned.

  around  6:00  Lu-Ti  got out of  bed , and went for a Shower, if  ben was  up, she  would say she'd be down in a moment  for Coffee.

  If Ben was sleeping she  would  , be, near soundless as she  made her way to the bathroom to take her showe.

  .......

 when finished  and  dressed in a  skirt heels  and  purple blouse,  she  would come  down for the  Coffee.I am  going to work when  finished here, I will , around   Lunch time or so, Be leaving with  Lindsey for  dress looking?.. when we  come back, I will need to stay until around 6  or  so? should i take my car, or  are you going  anywhere?

Ben got up and had coffee ready by the time Lu-Ti came down. He listened to her prattling about her plans, feeling a bit lost because he didn't have any.

"If you want, I can take you over and pick you up this evening at six. Or take you car and not have to worry."

   Lu-Ti  smiles,If you wihs? You may take me? I am..prisoner..of  my  job. I will be there, Until Lindsey and I go, then I will be back to finish things, or set things in motion.. I will not be  done until around 6?

   after the breakfast  was finished, and the washing up was done,I am ready when you are.

"All right, beloved."

Ben led the way out to the truck, held the door for Lu-Ti, then jumped in and drove her to the Dragon Complex.

After delivering Lu-Ti to work, Ben decided to make the most of the additional day off. He visited a tackle shop and picked up some basic fishing equipment then went home and tried his hand at fishing from the jetty that came with the house.

Maybe he wasn't very good at fishing or maybe there weren't any fish around, or at least none gullible enough to try his bait, but he didn't catch a thing!

Once he got bored, he fetched a book and a flask of coffee and found that it was a wonderful place to sit and read. This time of year it would be a bit chilly in the evening, but it was pleasant in the late morning.

After a nice lunch, taken down by the river, Ben went back into the house, thinking he needed to set up a wifi repeater to the end of the jetty, and started searching men's outfitters. Time to sort out a tux. Given his size, he'd probably have to get one made to measure, so he couldn't hang about. In that case, he'd go for black, then he could wear it any time a tux was suitable. Dragon green highlights in cummerbund, bowtie, pocket square. Quiet and dignified.

After some searchong, Ben found a bespoke menswear store called Jaxson Maximus whose offerings looked good. He called for an appointment, at first they were saying in about 2 weeks then he mentioned his name and suddenly they found an appointment for that very afternoon! Marvelling somehwat, Ben headed out, he'd have to hustle to make the time they'd given him!

<<<<<<<<<<<  from  restaurants

  when they  got  Home, Lu-Ti was very happy to remove her  heels..I think..if i must wear heels, Yuto  and Father shoudl as well!... I did, a few years ago, notice how   men  in the board  roms, looked at me, differant way, when i have   heel, or I havd flats... Yuto  didn't  know. Adam  said  it  just made me more 'woman -like'..whatever that means..but  its  all part of  my  'power look'..Oddly enough, if i  where  Yoga  pants  or  jeans and wear sneaker..i get same looks..Men are incredibly complex inside their heads!

 She looked at the  clock  as she  reached the  stairs,Let us  do  another  thing, that makes me feel like a woman... there was a little smile  as she went up the stairs.

"You're all woman... and I like that!" Ben said, chasing her upstairs, giggling.

It may be some time before the pair of them get to sleep.

Ben and Lu-Ti arrived home. Ben was still enjoying the thrill of arriving at his own home.

Inside, he sorted out an over night bag, then asked Lu-Ti how dressy the party was. Did he need a suit or could he be more casual? A step up from the hoodie and jeans, to be sure, but a nice pair of pants and a long-sleeved shirt with a collar, at least.

 ....This is 'Fun' party, yes? I will wear  jeans and  Nice dragon green top, and  sneakers..though that will make me  much  shorter then you..they  have the dance floor  laid out   on the side  between the Manor and the lake..there  will  a bar  and such  in the back by the pool, and  , off course the Dining room will have   Buffet tables and  a bar There Is a   DJ who will play songs   he will be  near the floor, and there will be a bar out there as well

 Father and Carlton are making a big Push for these  ... independents . Carlton Like Underdogs..Father  ..and maybe  Mother? They missed thier chances..Father  wants to give these peple ..a good chance.

"Oh, well, can I stay like this, then?" Ben asked. The hoodie is Dragon-green with a small cartoon Jackie on the left breast and on the back  his HERE THERE BE DRAGONS slogan.

"WHat time would you like to leave?"

 Lu-Ti held  up a  finger rand gently poked  it in Ben's chest.we  must be there  before 8...we are part of the Host Family..so it would not  be  well received  if  we were late!

Ben trapped the finger and kissed it.

"Then we had better be on time! How long do you want to enhance your beauty?"

Not that he thought it needed enhancing, but he remembered how his mother tended to drive his father to distraction until a teenage Ben suggested that he told her they needed to be 'wherever' about half an hour before they actually were expected. She never worked that one out, but the Hope passion for punctuality was maintained without any more rancour!

 we  can go now.  If  I do not like the way i look, have  have things in my room to  fuss with... better to be  seen as 'already there!'

"OK then, let's go."

Ben threw his bag into the truck, handed Lu-Ti in rather more politely, and drove to the Amota Estate without further ado.

On the way he pointed out some of the places he'd noticed in prowling the area, and asked Lu-Ti where she went when she needed a doctor or a dentist.