Already Had It All

Kenneth tortures himself for another month before he decides he's beating a dead horse. He misses Wisdom terribly and has cried himself to sleep nearly as often as she has. He's suffering from loss of appetite and lack of sleep. But he hasn't been drinking, gambling or doing any partying of any kind. Duke has called him a few times, but he hasn't taken his calls. But a message from Duke helps him decide it's time to go back. Duke said, "I saw that hot little fiancée of yours the other day working in a new flower shop near the strip. I've always thought that saying about them glowing was a bunch of crap. But she is definitely glowing and sexier. She seems really sad though. If you're tired of her or something, let me know. I'ld be happy to take her off your hands. Plus, I've never been with a woman in her condition. Could be interesting."

Kenny doesn't want Duke near Wisdom. And the way he left her may have left her vulnerable to a predator like Duke. Is that what Duke meant by "condition"? How emotionally vulnerable was Wise that Duke would call it a condition?

Another four hour drive to get home. His house has that stale stuffy unused smell that happens when a home hasn't been occupied for a while. A good portion of Wise's things are missing from their closet. There are dirty clothes still in the three stacking laundry basket. He pulls out his t-shirt that she liked to sleep in. It still holds her scent, faint but still there.

He calls his parents. His mother answers and he demands, "Where is she?"

"Why," asks Sonja. "So you can go kick her like a stray dog?"

"Mom, please."

"Please, what? Do you really think she'll take you back after the way you abandoned her?"

"Mom, I know I screwed up…"

"Screwed up! You discarded the best thing that ever happened to you. So, did you find what you were looking for?"

"No. I already had it. It just took me a while to realize it."

"She was made for you, Kenny, literally, and you threw her way like trash," and Sonja hangs up on her son.

Kenny can hardly believe his mother just hung up on him. He remembers Duke said something about a new flower shop near the strip. Milo's shop is on the way to the strip.

"Kenny," Milo surprised to see him. "Didn't think I'ld ever see you again."

"Oh, look," says Epi angry. "It's the bastard. You look like hell, bastard. Good."

"Have you guys seen Wisdom," he's not expecting a straight answer.

"That's none of your business" is Epi's answer. "You make me sick. I can't stand the sight of you," and she goes up to their flat.

Milo shakes his head, "Man, Kenny, you've really screwed up bad this time."

"I know that, Milo."

"No, Kenny, you don't know. You won't know until you see her."

"That's all I want right now, to see her. I really need to see her. Duke left a message. Something about a new flower shop near the strip."

"Your great uncle opened up a flower and garden shop. Epi's going to kick my ass for telling you. She's been dividing her time between helping us out a couple days a week and helping out a couple days a week at the flower shop. She's not here helping us today. So, she's probably there. If she's not there, she's been staying in the guesthouse at your parents' place with your uncle. He keeps her from falling completely apart."

"Thanks, Milo."

"Kenny," Milo sad for his old friend. "The chances of her taking you back are between slim and none."

Kenny doesn't have a response for that. He just leaves and seeks out his uncle's new flower shop. It's not hard to find. It's actually quite large with its own expansive green house.

Kenny spots Wise on the other side of a table of plants helping a customer. It's the first time he's seen her with her hair pulled into a bun. She's smiling for the customer, but her smile's not reaching her eyes.

"If you need any more assistance, just let me know," Wise tells the customer. She has spotted Kenny out of the corner of her eye. The plants have kept him from seeing all of her. But she knows he's spotted her and is headed her way.

Wise tries to retreat by heading away from Kenny to another area of the shop. But Kenny catches her by the arm. All Wise can do is not face him because she doesn't want him to see her from the front or side and she doesn't want to see his face. She doesn't want to look him in his eyes.

"Wise," Kenny says softly, but she doesn't respond.

"Wise," Kenny standing behind her. He grips her shoulders gently hoping the right words find their way out of his mouth, "I've been so stupid. I'll never be able to explain myself properly. I didn't know it was possible to miss someone so badly it makes you physically ill." He pulls Wise back against him inhaling her scent as he puts an arm across the front of her shoulders hugging her back against him. He begins to slide his other arm around her, but his hand finds her belly to be a bit distended.

Wisdom jerks and twist away from him. But he catches her by the wrist, and she finds herself facing him. He looks terrible. He's lost weight and looks as if he hasn't slept for days.

Kenny is shocked as he stands there holding her gently by the wrist. His other hand comes up to his mouth as his eyes well up with tears. He's wasted more than two months and has most likely lost her looking for something he already had. After a few moments, Kenny finds his voice, "You're… you're… pregnant."

Wisdom does her best to look angry. Better to look angry than hurt. She's missed him too, but she won't say it. Just like she won't say she's actually glad to see him. Instead she says, "Yes, I'm pregnant. You abandoned your pregnant fiancée like an unwanted dog." She gives her arm a tug, but he retains her wrist.

"Marry me," he request.

Wise is confused by the request. She just stares at him.

"Please, marry me, now. I don't need a pre-nump. I just need you. I need you to ride over to the chapel with me and marry me now."

Wise is like a dear caught in the headlights of a car. And she is relieved when she sees Uncle Finnius approach. But Finnius doesn't save her the way she expected.

"Go," Finnius tells her, "I've listened to you cry yourself to sleep nearly every night for over two months. I've heard you cry out for him in your sleep. And from the looks of him, he hasn't done much better. You both love each other. And now Kenny knows he needs you.

Now go to the chapel with Kenny. I'll call Henry and Sonja. We'll meet you there."

Kenny's hand slips from holding her wrist to holding her hand. Wisdom meets his eyes and simply says, "Okay."

As Kenny walks Wise to his car, Finnius calls Henry and Sonja. As he updates his nephew and niece-in-law, he watches Kenny walk Wise to the passenger side of his car. Kenny kisses Wise slowly and tenderly. Then he opens the passenger door and helps her into the car.

"I'll meet you at the chapel. I just have a few customers to shoo out of the shop."

The chapel is near the casino and it's possible to be married there twenty-four hours a day, no appointment necessary. Because it basically services people who want to get married now, suits, wedding dresses and other wedding accessories can be purchased or rented out here as well. There's a couple ahead of them and some paper work to do before they can be married. And while they're waiting, Kenny's parents arrive, then Milo and Epi, who were called by Sonja.

Epi steps up to Kenny, "I still think you're a bastard. And if you hurt her again, I'll kick your ass."

"Come on, Epi," Sonja tugs her arm. "We need to find a dress for Wise."

Wise rest a hand on her belly, "They're not going to have anything that's going to fit me."

So while the women are picking out dresses, the men are quickly picking out suits. And just as Wise is preparing to walk down the aisle, Uncle Finnius arrives carrying flowers. He lets her hair down and places a crown of white flowers on her head. Then he hands each woman a bouquet of white flowers.

"May I have the honor of walking you down the aisle," asks Finnius.

Wise with a nod of agreement answers, "I would be honored."

Uncle Finnius walks Wisdom down the aisle and gives her away to Kenny. It's a bittersweet moment for Finnius. The way his Wisdom had died, motivated him to created the process that produced this Wisdom. It was his way of giving his Wisdom a second chance at a happy full life. It will be a life where he is not her husband, where she completely adore and loves another man, the children she gives birth to will not be his and yet he's glad he'll get to spend the rest of his life as part of her life.

When it's time to exchange rings, Kenny nearly has a mini-panic attack. But his father quickly produces two wedding bands. And as he slips the wedding band onto her finger, Kenny notices she's still wearing the engagement ring he slipped on her finger the first day he saw her lying on the bed at Milo's.

At that time, slipping that engagement ring onto her finger hadn't meant anything for him. She wasn't even a real person to him. Just a new toy for him to enjoy. But the fact that she still wore it, after the cruel way he had abandoned her, meant a lot to him. And slipping the wedding ring on her petite finger is a memory Kenny will cherish.