Chapter 10 A New Orleans wedding.........
Even by normal standards, this was going to be a big show. Billie and Caroline were very busy. The plans were for 3 months away. Every time I asked Caroline what the plan was, her answer was "Don't worry, you have enough money for it." That statement scared me. But, I knew that she wouldn't spend all my money. I was worth at least 55 million dollars. That was increasing every day. So money was not an issue. Any one who didn't have a lot of money would be kinda nervous with that statement. I decided to cool my jets.
Other things were happening. There were questions being asked every day over the effects of NOL-5. No one could alter the effects NOL-5 created and have a cure for cancer. One lead to another. It seemed to me that everyone was approaching the problem from the wrong direction. The cell mutation was the key to the cure. Without the mutation, the cure would not occur. It seemed to me that some kind of mutation was necessary for cells to reject the cancer. It was elegant and complicated.
The patients who were on NOL-5 were doing well. Only a few problems were documented. There were several cases where the drug was not given in time for the desired effect to occur. There was a time window. But there was a couple of problem cases. There were a couple of deaths that could not be explained. The patients were terminal. So they were going to die. It is a cruel world. So they were expecting some kind of problems. I took every death personal. Why? How come there were deaths related to the drug? I thought. Even two is unacceptable.
The answers came slowly. The doctor who had administered the drug to the two patients in question stated that the drug was administered unaltered. But after some research and a chemical analysis, it was discovered that the drug had been altered. And at the very worst timing. The deaths would still count against him because the doctor in question wouldn't "fess up". But I could live with the results.
There was also a new disturbing trend. The TS community were finding ways to get a form of cancer and be allowed to take the drug to become female. It was much cheaper than surgery and the effects were much better. The only reason I even knew about this was because of my ties in that community. Inside information. The other doctors had no idea what was going on. I didn't know who or how the cancers were being generated, but it had to be stopped. This was a very serious health risk. And this drug was supposed to be the last hope. It was becoming the drug of choice in serious cancer treatment. I had lost control of its administration.
Things were happening very quickly. Too quickly for my taste. Problems were occurring with patients and drug administration that were maddening. Doctors were not telling their patients that the drug was totally addictive and that discontinuation of the drug would lead to death. A few were going to sue. "Good. Serves those doctors right."
Leslie was doing very well. The girls that were in the program didn't need to help her with the body language or the other female things. She knew from observation in the past what to do and how to do it. She was going to be the easy one. But no matter how good you are at mimicking something, you are never as good as the original. So she was always listening to constructive criticism.
Leslie had started to log her weekly thoughts like all the other patients were. Billie always seemed to be around doing something. But the wedding seemed to occupy her thoughts more that work. Leslie offered to help take up the slack while she did other things. She seemed to appreciate the help. So Leslie became Billies assistant. Billie showed me the files and the index system on the computer.
"Everything is on the computer. All our patients and their files are there. So don't show them to anyone. As my assistant, you will be exposed to confidential info. Don't discuss any of this with anyone." She of course understood. After all, She dealt with medical records and confidential info before. It gave her something to do around the "Hotel".
Marilyn always seemed to be snooping around the building. Every time the patients looked around, there she was. They also knew that if she was around, I had to be here. NOL-5 had gone world wide. They had no idea how many people were on the drug. It was being used in some cases as the first line of treatment. Of course, that was not the intent of the drug. But there was absolutely nothing I could do about it.
Lorrie, Keith, Jerry, Dean, and Fran were doing extremely well. Fran had won all kinds of awards due to the actions she took with the fire. What was even better was the fact that she instituted a plan of action to prevent the same thing from happening again.
Lorrie, after the bathroom stunt, and the employee action she took for the women of the office, was an instant hero. She was so valuable to the company that she expected no reprisals from her company. But she wasn't stupid. She was keeping a log of everything said so she would be prepared to contact her attorney. They were a little shy of the attorney she had retained. He was too fast for their taste. She called and he was there in 10 minutes.
Keith was having fun too. As Kate Johnson, "she" had to be better than any of the men who were selling corporate advertising. Several times in the past, she was asked to "entertain" prospective clients. She felt like some kind of paid escort, sex and all. They couldn't do it to "him" now. It was a totally new set of rules. He was going to have a lot of fun. He had decided to wait until someone played those games on one of the females he knew didn't like it. (Yes, some of the women did like to be escorts. It was easier than competing with the men for accounts.) He knew he wasn't going to have to wait too long.
Dean had come back to the school that he had once worked in as Maureen. To his utter amazement, there were absolutely no problems as long as he didn't actually teach students. There had been several PTA meetings about the subject and all were in agreement that administration was the best place for the new man. He could deal with it. But a certain little dog was seen pissing on tires in the parking lot (on leash). Those little herding dogs had strong smelling piss.
Dr. Allen Gurber had began to notice a change in society's view of men and women. There were many landmark lawsuits charging sexual discrimination. Men who had been turned into women could easily see when someone was discriminating against them. I had been called to testify as an expert witness for the court. It was a confusing issue. I had already been involved with several cases where the same thing came up. Men and Women both were challenging societies views on the roles of both. (More on this later.)
The military was having a royal fit over the Gem issue. They couldn't control who they allowed to serve in the military. Gays and lesbians still were not allowed to serve in the military. So when the military came up on a Gem, they just gave the individual a medical discharge. In some circles, the Gem issue would be used try to force the military into allowing Gays and Lesbians in the services. (More on this too, later.)***
Back to the wedding. Billie and Caroline were being fitted for the wedding gowns. Poor Robert had no idea how to accept all of this. But he was doing better than me. I had the money for the whole wedding. So I was going to pay for it all. They had their base of operations in New Orleans in the top floor of the apartment building. Billie and Robert were already living on the top floor. She was doing allot of paperwork by computer modem and phone calls. I on the other hand was doing the paperwork in Little Rock. There were 20 patients in the "Hotel" But they were all approaching term. In 3 weeks, Leslie would be the only one in Little Rock.
Leslie got the phone call a week later. I wanted Leslie to come back to New Orleans. She had a good idea what I wanted. She had some expertise in medical electronics. She suspected that I wanted to move the operation completely to New Orleans. But She would wait and see what I said. It was going to be a meeting of everyone who was involved with the program.
I had everyone who mattered in the room. "I know all of you have come a long way with me. I would like to know how you all would feel about moving perminately to this city."
Leslie spoke up. "Allen, what are you going to do with your lab and practice?" I am thinking about moving the whole thing down here."
"What about Caroline?"
"I have asked her and I think she needs to speak up."
Caroline cleared her throat. "I have decided to see about moving everything down here also. We have been looking for a place to practice. We are also looking for a property similar to this one where the city will allow animals for veterinary purposes. We think we've found a place in the French Quarter in one of the old warehouses. Allen has found several for sale from the RTC and is going through a Realtor now." Leslie spoke up again.
"Doc, You got a lot of money, but not that much. What is going on here?"
"OK, here is the scoop. I have been offered a very lucrative deal by Tulane medical center to come to New Orleans and join the staff. They will pay to move my equipment and provide a place in house for the research to continue with their blessing and name power." The unspoken question was "what about us?"
And the next question was "What are you going to do about Alice and her friends? Tulane med. center will not understand too well if you are caught with your friends and as Alice."
I had thought a lot about all of this and his answer was "Look they know me as Dr. Hormone or Dr. Sex change. If I turn up in the quarter as something other than a doctor, so what?"
Caroline had something to say about this though. "I had rather not have to tell my friends back in Little Rock that my husband, the mad doctor, is a transvestite or queen. After all, you are single-handedly changing society and it would be nice if you were the paragon of virtue your medical degree demands."
"That means that I can't get caught."
"In so many words, Yes."
"OK." and that was the end of it. I would make sure that I wouldn't get caught.
Leslie had gone back to Little Rock to get the equipment move ready. I had been busy. I had found a large old warehouse in good enough shape to run my lab and Caroline's animal practice. It looked like it was also big enough to operate the "Hotel" too.
The administration at Tulane Medical center were excellent in the way they were treating my entire staff. There was one catch. "We believe that our security is adequate to protect you while on the grounds of the hospital and medical school. Your private security person is quite unnecessary and well, unwanted. She attracts attention and a little more high profile than we would like." This made me rather uncomfortable. "I did not expect this world renouned clinic would discriminate against someone's gender. She is going to be responsible for my private lab and clinic facilities. And if I need her here, she will be here. Package deal! She has been very good at keeping the staff and myself secure." They silently shook their heads in agreement. It would not be an easy thing for them to accept.
The wedding was getting closer. The guest list included every big wig from the hospital, all Doc's previous patients, some of the city politicians and most of the queens in the quarter. Mary was in the middle of all the arrangements. All the girls we were friends with were involved in the wedding. I ran into her while things were busy and stopped to talk.
"Know anyone who what's to buy a house in Little Rock?" I have to let it set for a while. I hate to sell good property."
"I wish I were that rich."
"How is things?"
"I have been kinda busy. I am starting a new show for the club I'm working for and the rehearsals are a bitch. Between the new hotel and that, I am kinda busy"
"The show is at the same place as before?"
"Yep, Its going to be a big deal too."
"I will plan to come see you. Expect me soon." Doc hung up the phone and made a note.
The wedding was Less than 2 weeks away. Caroline and Billie had the dresses and most of the brides maids stuff. The men were going to go basic black. It would be a very traditional wedding, priest and all.
Caroline and me had been talking quite a bit. We decided to not make any prenuptial agreements but agreed to some limitations on different things. My cross dressing would be limited to planned outings only. After all, if it wasn't well planned, I might get caught.
Caroline was a card player. She invited several friends over periodically and would make it a party. I agreed to not interfere with that time. She would be open minded as to bedroom dress. We would be very open and communicate. I didn't expect the marriage to be perfect, but, If we continued to talk like this, We would make it.
Keith Johnson was starting to get back into the swing of things. He had gone to all of Kate's old customers and basically explained the situation to them. Some were positive. Some were negative. He had expected some negative reactions. But an unusual trend was occurring. Somehow, several customers were specifically asking for the person who just went through the cancer treatment. Word was out. It seemed that executive women from other companies wanted to buy advertising from Keith. They felt that he had a unique prospective for what both men and women wanted and how to sell it to them. He became so successful that it was causing much jealousy among the men of the office. He suffered several vandalism incidents where records were destroyed. The term "GEM" had been scrawled over his desk and chair. He ignored it and continued to work. He wasn't worried as the building had good security and the guilty party would be caught and dealt with. It was so stupid.
One week after the first incident, he had managed to outsell every man in the building and was the lead account manager for the company. He was offered a partnership in the business. It was a great day. He walked out to the garage to get his car and go home. Something was wrong. He walked out hesitantly toward his car when he spotted the men. He was sure that they were waiting for him. He tried to get back to the elevator. They were too fast. Before he could fight back, a hood was placed over his head. His clothes were removed. He expected the beating. It was brutal and painful. What he didn't expect was what happened next. One of the attackers spoke. "You will never be a real man. We don't care if you got the equipment, you ain't a man. So we decided to make sure you will never get the chance." Keith heard a knife open and one of the men grabbed his penis and scrotum and before he could react, he felt a very sharp pain and lost consciousness.
Leslie got the phone call in Little Rock. I was totally shocked. "Who did it?"
The policeman answered, "We don't know. The body was found in a pool of blood. We need to talk to Dr. Gurber. There was an instruction card in his wallet to contact this number for information as to next of kin and medical information."
"Where is the body?" was all I could say. Leslie called me and told me what had happened. I was on the next plane to Memphis, Tennessee to meet with the police and coroner. It was a sad day and a message of things to come.
I went clinical with the coroner in Memphis. "How was the body found?"
"It was found with the genitals severed and stuffed down his throat. Please give me some information on the drug you prescribed to this patient."
"Sure, its a basic mix of hormones and a Some other things. I brought a sample."
"Good, by the way, you do know that we believe that this was a hate crime?"
"Yes, I suspected as much. When will you release the body?"
"In a day. We needed information on the drug and a personal identification."
I was thinking to myself. "In a week and a half, I will be married. But now I got to set up a funeral." It turned out later that he had funeral insurance and all would be taken care of. It would be a private service with only close friends and relatives.
It was a hate crime. Pure and simple. Was this what the other patients could expect from modern society? I could only wait and see. It wouldn't take long for something else to happen.
It was starting. Others had been attacked. The police were calling the clinic from all over the country. The new hate symbol was the shape of a diamond. It identified a person who had gone through the change. It was sickening. The typical cancer patient was above average intelligence and high levels of drive and self discipline. It was no wonder that many of these people were succeeding in businesses and were different. So there was a level of jelicocey. They were also an unknown. People fear the unknown. There were several bills submitted to the legislature to identify a "Gem" patient. They would have to have some kind of symbol or identifier to let an employer or police person know that this was a genetic mutation. I was lobbying congress and the senate. I was also involved in a court fight over sexual discrimination against many of the GEMS patients.
America was being forced to comply completely with the discrimination laws. One of the things happening to public restaurants was a unisex bathroom arrangement. California was the first state to ban male and female facilities as such. There were two rooms. One had a urinal. The other was just stalls. The other change was a much stronger law to prevent lude and crude behavior in and around these places. One had to go with the other. We laughingly called them the "head cops". But they had their own problems.
The police all over the country had to accept any patient that had gone through the process as a means to save their lives. Police work would change radically. The line between female and male was blurring. It was going to be a new world to live in.
The church was having a large problem. This was the biggest surprise to all of the GEM patients. Baptist churches would expel any male to female patient who decided to live full time female. They could not come to church in female clothing. But it caused another difficult problem. Most of the male to female patients would develop large breasts. This was the biggest unpleasant side effect of the change. A religious person would honor the Baptist churches wishes and come to church in "male" clothing. But the braless chests would attract lots of attention. There had to be a compromise. But they were radical about maintaining a "sexual continuity".
The catholic church had a more liberal policy. They would allow modest female dress for those who were in a changed condition. But the other side was that they would not allow these people to dress in any kind of way to attract attention to themselves. This meant no flashy dressing or tight clothing in public. It had been called a sin to do so. This was causing much problems for the folks in the French Quarter. Most were catholic. The queens really just freaked out. Most of the priests down there just kept things as status quo.
The other religions across the country and all over the world just tried to ignore the situation completely. But it was a harder question day by day. More and more people were on the program. The federal government had no choice but to allow class 3 status to the drug. It was the safest cure for the cancer desease ever found. It did other things.
There was a good side effect becoming evident in Gems patients. They were desease resistant to other nasty bugs. They didn't get a common cold easily. Communicable diseases were almost unheard of in a gems patient. If a gem patient had a sight medical problem that was genetic, it would correct itself 35% of the time. There were a bunch of studies in progress to look for any of the side effects this drug caused. Then there was Fran's case. She healed very quickly. Research continued......
Two days before the wedding, I was just sitting in the apartment with Robert talking and reflecting on the new world he had began. "Doc, did you ever think that you would be the savior of the modern world?"
"No, I didn't ever think I would be in this pickle. I am now a rich man. But that isn't what I wanted to do. I wanted to find a cure. I did, but what a cure. I probably would do it again. I can't think of anything I would do any different."
"Well, I never thought I would be marrying a woman. I have always been gay. It never occurred to me that I would be here now. Well, at least, I don't have to pay for this party. Doc, how much is this going to cost anyway?"
"Don't ask, just lets say, I never spent this much money in my life. Without the money from my drug, I couldn't do this. Lets enjoy it. God, I need a girls night out."
"That would be a good theme for a party in the quarter. Why don't you get Leslie and some of the other girls to set something up?"
"I am supposed to be good and not do anything without planing it first."
"So plan it. Call her up and see if you and some of the others could go out and let your hair down."
"Good idea."
I had just bought a bunch of things for the wedding and Caroline was in a good mood.
"Sure, why not. Just be sure that you have someone with you when you go out. I would hate for anything to happen right now."
"Don't worry, its just going to be a little walk in the quarter. Nothing flashy."
"I know, this could be your little party before the wedding."
"Hey, I didn't think about it. Did anyone else plan any surprises before we plan this thing?"
"Allen, I have no idea what is going on. I would keep a low profile on the night before the wedding, but tonight would be a good girls night out."
"Thanks for the warning." She didn't say anything else.
I got the call to get ready for an outing. I needed to get out and have some fun. So the little get to gather was a welcome thought.
Alice hadn't been out in a while. After all, it wouldn't be a good idea for anyone from the hospital to see their newest specialist in the quarter as a queen. She would use the latex makeup tonight because she needed to change her features enough so that no one could recognize her. The effect was startling and convincing. I did a remarkable job and believe me, no one would recognize me except my closest friends (queens). I went extremely sexy. The outfit was not whore, but very sexy.
Leslie had been on the program not quite a year. She was complete. She had the normal very large breasts. (She liked it that way too.)
Leslie was well known in the quarter too. So She decided to show off the new equipment a bit. The little purple thing She had found was made of spandex. She had to be careful of how she sat down, but it was modest enough to not get propositioned in public. (Just barely.)
There were 6 of us that night. It was a sight to behold. We all looked like gutter girls. We would have to stay together as a group or we would have trouble. We crashed so many places that night that I think they are still talking about us and that night.
"What in the hell are you sluts doing out tonight?" asked one of the taxi drivers.
"Alice here is getting married in a couple of days and tonight is her little party."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, and we are going to shut down the quarter tonight!" The taxi driver didn't ask any questions. He just said, "where to?"
I am personally glad that it was a weekday that night, because the tourists were not out in force. It was mostly locals. I didn't drink that much, so I made sure that we all got back to the apartment complex OK. Leslie got drunk and didn't remember too much. But when the guy in the bar we were in tried to jump Leslie's bones right there in the place, it was time to go home. After all, a girl has her pride you know.
We all were suffering headaches and hangovers the next day. I looked frightful. I still was wearing the night before's face. Sleeping in makeup was the worst thing you could do for your face. And this two days before the wedding. Today was rehearsal. The dinner after was going to be a hoot to. Nothing about this wedding was going to be ordinary.
I appeared from the apartment all cleaned up and in his normal suit. But Leslie could detect something a little different. "Allen, you still wearing your underwear, aren't you?"
"Opps, I didn't know it still showed. I better go change."
"Look honey, if you plan to stay legit, keep the two lives separated. I know first hand. I got caught once when I got hurt on the job. The hospital kept their mouth shut, but it was embarrassing."
"I just felt great last night and wanted it to last."
"Girl, don't I know just how you feel. I did that all the time. But I never thought I would be here now."
"What are you going to do when you complete transition?"
"I had something in mind. I might be looking for a job here locally with the hospital or even you."
"You know, I haven't even thought about it. I do need someone to do maintenance and upkeep on my equipment and you could also run some of the hotel operations and other work for me too. I would have 3 on the payroll."
"You know, that is not a bad idea."
"Let me talk to Caroline about it and I will let you know, Leslie."
"Great, and I wouldn't have to go through the sexual discrimination that all the others are going through. Not that I would take the easy way, but it would help me until I got on my feet."
"OK, I will let you know."
It was time to assemble in the church for rehearsal. The priest looked around and saw all the different people in the wedding party.
"Everyone get in their places. Where are all the brides maids and chaperones?"
"They are all here sir." Allen answered.
"OK then, everyone take their places." What was throwing the priest was that some of the brides maids were not in their normal condition. That meant that some of the brides maids were obviously men. The priest was not quite ready for this. Even though He knew this way before this day. But I got to give it to him, he just kept on going.
After it was all over, we all went to a local restaurant and had the traditional rehearsal dinner with each of the parties. I think we had more fun than we were supposed to. But the conversation did turn to some serious things that evening.
"Allen, what are we going to do about all the violence going on out there against us?" one of the other patients asked. I had a speech prepared. It sounded like one any way.
"People, I have been thinking about things quite a bit. Most of our people are above average and achievers. So they are going to do better than the average person. If you are good, then your good. But the general public just doesn't understand that this was something that was done to just save a life. They can only see a man or a woman in the opposite role and they don't like it. There is little or no understanding. I have tried to educate the public. But it just didn't work. So I have decided to try a new approach. It's radical too. You know how the gays have started groups like ACT UP? We are going to start a group like it. I haven't thought of a name for it yet, but it is time to get politically active. I know we have some powerful friends in Washington, but, it hasn't helped with the discrimination and violence. If someone passes a law that makes MY patients or anyone else's wear or mark themselves just because they are a GEM, then we should fight it. Don't wear or allow any kind of marking. Lets do like the transsexuals and get the birth certificates changed. Don't tell them that you are a GEM. Tell them your a real girl, or guy. We can protest and try to build a political group of our own. What the hell, everyone else is doing it, why can't we?"
Leslie looked at him and spoke up. "Allen, that would be great. But how long before we have enough power to do anything?"
"Look at the number of patients on the drug now. I am rolling in money from the use of the drug. There are more and more GEMS every day. In another year, we will have 2% of the population on the drug. Sooner or later, we will be able to stop some of the bullshit."
Leslie saw a good opportunity for a pun... "Doc, that is no way for a lady to speak."
"You got me."
Billy spoke up. "OY Vay, that was a bad pun."
"By the way, you punsters have got a good thing going. Lets keep it up. I kinda like poking fun at stuff, including myself. You can never take yourself too seriously."
We all went to the apartment and hotels to get some sleep. The wedding was at 1:00 PM the next day. New Orleans would not soon forget this day.
Caroline's mother and father came in that morning. Leslie personally brought them from the airport and in her finest day dress. They had no idea what was going on. Leslie decided to let Caroline fill them in all the way. I was kinda surprised that she didn't tell them what was going on. But when they spotted Me, they seemed to know me and what I did.
"We didn't know it was him."
"Mom, I told you who it was."
"No you didn't. But that is OK, as long as he isn't one of those men who wear dresses, we don't care." Caroline just faded out of the picture. It was going to be very warm in that apartment today. I found out later that she didn't tell them about any of the wedding party or participants. But she did warn them that there would be some of the patients in the audience and at the reception.
"Just keep those perverts away from us." This was going to be fun.
Caroline also had a friend from school who was here for the wedding. She was a last minute addition to the wedding party. She also didn't know what was going on. It was best because she probably would feel the same way. She was not friendly to gays or lesbians or anyone she didn't understand. Some friend huh?
The wedding party was ready. The grooms were ready. The church and priest were ready. The brides were to arrive any minute. You could see that Allen was nervous as a cat. After all, there was a lot that could go wrong. Leslie had told him about the conversation she had overheard at the apartment.
"Girl, I am glad that you kept that one apartment locked. It would have been trouble big time."
The car with the brides finally arrived and right on time. "Good", Leslie thought. They are here. She was going to be a minor character in this show. So she could drift around. I had asked Leslie to just keep her eyes open to make sure nothing went wrong. Marilyn was positioned where she could get to anywhere in the place, just in case. Billie's mother was going to give her away. Leslie had not seen her yet. She just saw Robert and Allen standing at the front of the church waiting. All was OK so far.
Everything went off without a hitch (except for the hitching). (Oy Vey, another bad pun.) It was a beautiful service and as traditional as it gets. No one told the parents of any of the hitches what was going on and it went well.
The rice and lemo went well. Everyone got to the reception and it was a different matter all together. Bear with me, this is going to take a while to tell.
The parents were looking at several of the bride's maids and began to notice some problems. Caroline's parents came over and asked why the ladies in the wedding party seemed to be very large for some reason.
"They have noticed." she thought to herself. Caroline didn't know what to do. So she came over to the table where Allen was sitting and quietly told him what was going on. "Go ahead and tell them quietly and try not to get them to make a scene."
"OK?"
Leslie had spotted what was going on as she was sorta supposed to be watching for this. Leslie was watching the face of Caroline's father and mother and they were not very happy with the situation. There seemed to be some heated conversations going on when Allen stepped over and got in the act. The conversation stopped and Allen asked for the attention of the crowd in the hall.
"Ladies and gentlemen. I need to clarify something for those family members and guests present. First, everyone knows what kind of research I have been doing for the last 3 or 4 years. (Cheers ran up.) Thank you. I felt that it would be OK for members of the our staff and some of our special patients should be in the wedding party. I asked and Caroline approved. We have become very close to several of these special brave people. So, yes, most of the brides maids in today's services, are GEMS. And are quite proud of it, I might add. For those of you not familiar with our program, all of these people were going to die if not for what you see. It was not a decision based on want. It was need. So some of the maids here were once men. It was not a choice of sex. It was a choice of life. Now, I hope we haven't offended anyone here. If we did, then I apologize for not telling anyone. But not for the fact that they are here. That I feel is their and our right to do. So thank you all for being here and honoring us in this manner."
It really got interesting at this point. Allen's parents and surprisingly Robert, started looking at everyone and asking who was who. It kinda got a little sick in the way they were doing it. Then it happened. A fight broke out and spread over the hall. I couldn't believe it would happen that quick. But before anyone got hurt, Marilyn jumped into the battle between one of the bride's maids and Robert's father. She grabbed a bottle of Champaign and shook it. Then she sprayed the stuff on the two main combatants. This stopped the fight and everyone calmed down. After it was all over, it had been a hell of a party. Allen and Caroline slipped off and left for the private celebrations they had planned. Robert and Billie stayed and closed the place down. There wasn't a drop of booze left in the place when they were through. Robert's father and the person he was fighting had calmed down and were now civil. I even think it sparked a friendship.
The parents of both seemed to accept the idea that all was not as it seemed. They were cool. Leslie walked up to Caroline's parents and asked how they were doing. Caroline's father just smiled and said, "There seemed to be a lot of excitement today."
"Yes, I know. I was hoping that this wouldn't happen. It was my job to make sure it didn't but I guess I couldn't watch everyone."
"You wouldn't happen to be one of those people that our son in law has changed would you?"
"Well, yes, I am."
"Can we talk to you?"
"Sure, no problem. I kinda wanted to come over here and see how you were doing anyway."
"Good, I am glad you did." Robert said.
"We are overwhelmed by the fact that no one told us what was going on."
"Caroline and Allen were afraid that you would not understand and not attend the wedding. After all, you have to admit it was a shock."
"OK, we were surprised but now that I think about it, this is New Orleans." At that point, I answered all of their questions about the program and what the drug did. After it was over, I got the shock of my life.
"I have cancer." Robert said.
"Don't jump at any of this until you have no choice. This is a serious thing. We only allow terminal patients who have tried every thing else. Don't let anyone pressure you into the program unnecessarily. Does Caroline know?"
"No and don't tell her or Allen. I don't want to spoil their wedding day and honeymoon."
"OK, I understand." They both slipped out and went back to the hotel. Leslie had to stop and think for a while. No wonder there was a brawl in the reception. Robert had many things on his mind. She understood. This wasn't the end of this one. She could only hope they would be OK.