“Huh?”

“Don’t you remember?”

“To what are you referring?”

“When we were on the island.”

“Oh, what did happen to you?” I asked, not having the foggiest notion of what I was asking.

“Well, when you left me there, Sir came in and saw me. He threw a fit. Afterwards, he fell in love with me. It was good for a while, but when you planned to come to the island, he put me on a jet to the African jungles–”

“Really, Jenn, I’d love to talk, by I must get back to my wife.” I said, bidding her good night, I went to my inevitable fate. Jenn seemed to know me, I hope I didn’t hurt her. Now my mind focused on what was about to happen. The girl in my cabin is my wife. I got married. So why am I afraid? Maybe because this is the game. But everything else has been real in this game. This could be my real future! What do I do? I arrived at my cabin, opened the door and sat on my bed. Dear God, what am I to do? I prayed. I took off my shoes. Going over to the paper I picked it up, crumpled it and tossed it in the nearby trash basket.

I heard the shower stop and my bride humming as she dried herself off. Coming out, she was in a towel. Getting in the bed she pulled the covers up and threw out the towel. “Are you coming to bed, honey?” She asked. I walked over to the bed and got inside, facing in the opposite direction. She tapped me on the shoulder. “I’m waiting!”

“For what?”

“You know, that.”

“I’ve decided not to.”

“What!! What about me! I’ve been waiting twenty-three years for this day.”

“Not exactly, more like a day.”

“Oh, it’s that game thing, isn’t it.”

“Yes.”

“But you married me this afternoon– that makes it legal.”

“Not really. One, if I do not marry you in the future I’m in trouble. Two, if this marriage inside the game God doesn’t like I’m in trouble. Three, I’m going to follow my motto, ‘When in doubt, don’t’.”

“Swell.”

“Goodnight.” I said, reaching over to give her a good night kiss. She turned over, resisting my attempt. “Suit yourself.” I stated, turning over and falling asleep.

The next morning I got up first and went for a shower. Coming out, my wife was getting dressed. “Don’t say anything.” She said.

“What?”

“I should have known that this would have happened on my wedding night, what with what happened at the wedding and all.”

“You’re not still sore about that, are you?”

“Yes, I’m sore. I’m like no other bride in history.”

“Nope. I’m saving myself for you! By the way, how did we meet?”

“On August 26, 1980, I came into your office for the first time. Some tenants were disappearing from an apartment complex I was in, and I asked your help. You came to the rescue and found the problem. We went out for a while, and you proposed to me on December 25, 1980, Christmas Day.”

“Yeah, where?”

“How’s the wife.”

“She’s asleep on my shoulder.”

“Well, I’m driving you to L.A.. Then you’re going to take a three day voyage to Hawaii!”

“Hawaii! Great. Do you know where Tricia is yet?”

“Nope. I still haven’t cracked that code.”

“Shh. There, she’s gone back to sleep. What time is it?”

“Somewhere around two. You will be on your ship at 7:00 PM”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Now I’ll let you go back to your sleeping bride.”

It was 6:45. We had arrived in L.A. about a half an hour ago and were now headed toward the docks. Noah followed us with our luggage, of which, a majority of it was my bride’s. We walked up the gang plank. The captain and lady in charge of registration were there to greet us. A young man came and took our luggage. “Mr. and Mrs. Adam Schofield.” I told the lady.

“Oh, you’re the newlyweds! Brian, take this couple to the honeymoon suite.”

“Right away Melissa.” Brian replied.

“I’m glad to have you aboard, Mr. and Mrs. Schofield.” The Captain welcomed us, kissing my bride’s hand. “You must be guests at my table tomorrow night.”

“Oh, could we?” My bride asked.

“I don’t see why not.” We followed Brian to the honeymoon suite. He opened the door and I paid him. We walked in and I plopped on the bed. Sitting down, I looked around the room. It had many port holes, and a door. We unpacked our belongings, or as much as we needed for this three day cruise.

It was about eight when my bride said, “I think I’ll go take a shower before we go to bed.” Uh oh! I thought. She went into the adjoining bathroom with her paraphernalia. I found some paper and wrote a note on it. It said that I was going out on deck. I left the room. That was a close call, I thought.

I wandered aimlessly around the deck until I finally stopped to see the moon reflecting off the water. A lady dressed in a formal gown appeared on deck. She came over and put her arm through mine. “Whatcha thinkin’ about, Adam?” She asked.

“Adam? You know me?”

“Don’t you remember? I’m Jenn from the island. Are you here alone?”

“No, I’m here with my wife.”

“Where is she then?”

“Back in the cabin.”

“Just married, huh?’

“Yeah, I guess you’d call it that.”

“Well, I can only guess what it feels like. But if I were you, I’d go back to that cabin.”

“Why?”

“Because if she finds out that you’re out here with a strange woman–”

“Good idea.” I turned around.

“Adam, aren’t you going to ask what happened to me?”

Rising from behind my shelter, I sat on the love-seat. “Well, I was sleeping in my apartment in 1980, when I awoke here. You see, I was in some sort of mind game, which I am still in.”

“So, you’re telling me I’m not really here?”

“Yes, unfortunately.”

“Yeah, right.”

“Huh?”

“I know that the game doesn’t work. Remember, we went to see if we could turn it on just about a month ago. The game doesn’t work!”

“But I’m in it! You see, you’re a character in my future that I have not yet met.” I said, ignoring that last comment. For some strange reason, I thought she could understand.

“So, what did you do with my Adam?”

“Your Adam?”

“The one who proposed to me?”

“I don’t know. Maybe I am him, and just don’t know it. From what I know, I just got here last night, but if this was real,” I said, trying to heal the wound I had created, “I’d be the happiest man alive. Can we go from here?” I edged closer to her.

“But can’t you remember how much you loved me?”

“I love you now.” She sidled into my arms as my arms went around her. As our faces drew near for the kiss of forgiveness, her crying caused a violent sneeze, for which she turned her head. This turn I did not see with my eyes closed and I ended up missing her face completely and kissing her knee. After which I fell off the love-seat.

“Sorry about that, Adam!” She said. Lifting my head from the floor I heard something. I put my head to the floor like those Indians do in westerns. Hearing someone outside, I motioned to my bride for silence. I went to the door and heard whispering. So, they want to hear a fight, I thought. I’ll give them one.

I approached my bride, “Do you want to teach come eavesdroppers a lesson?”

“Sure. How?”

“We’ll pretend to fight, but come out of the room as if nothing happened.”

“Okay.” We got into position to make a real go of it. We started throwing things and yelling at each other at the top of our lungs. After a few minutes of this free-for-all, we went toward the door. Opening it I said, “Well, look what we have here.”

“We were just about to leave.” Bette said.

“All at the same time?” My bride asked.

“Uhh. . .”

“We know, you’re eavesdropping.” I said.

“We were not.” Craig said. “We were just listening as we passed by.” They all laughed.

“Well, it’s time for us to be off.” I said. “Noah!!”

“Yes, sir.”

“Get the car warmed up.”

“Yes, sir.” Noah left. We drove off in the limousine amid the rain of rice.

While we were in the car, the phone rang. “Hello?” I said, answering it.

“Hey Adam! I found out where your honeymoon is to be!”