The chilly breeze hit me immediately as I got out of the car. Randy and I had just driven to from our home in Rancho Mirage, where the April temperature was in the mid seventies, to the mountain community of Idyllwild which was at least thirty degrees cooler and enveloped in cloud cover. One of Randy's college friends, Dr. Stan Thompson, was getting married at the Shady Creek Inn, and Randy was serving as a groomsman. We were going up for the day.
It was to be a small wedding, being second marriages for both, just the vows, reception, and dinner catered by one of the local restaurants. I didn't know his future bride, Rachel, very well, but we had a mutual friend, Thelma, who was a former co-worker of minestrone the restaurant.
I immediately embarked on a search for Thelma when we arrived while Randy mingled with the other guests, and I found her in a prep room that had been made available to the bride. She introduced me to Rachel's mother, Maria, who was finishing up on Rachel's makeup and hair, and I was amazed at how young her mother looked. Maria must've been close to 50 years old, and she was tall, at least 5'10", with a strong athletic figure. The mother and daughter could have all easily passed for sisters. Rachel and Maria were originally from Puerto Rico and had moved to New York City when Rachel was very young.
We visited for about an hour, and I found out that I really liked Rachel and Maria. They were both funny and sarcastic like Thelma, and we had a fun time chatting. Since Randy was 13 years older than me, Rachel had a lot of questions about older men as husbands, and I assured her they were better than the youngsters. I would know, having been involved in more than just a few of these relationships.
I put it to her simply, "You're marrying a doctor with an established and successful practice. I know him, he's a great guy...good physical condition, and not bad looking. You look great, and if you treat him right he'll give you the world."
We chatted some more, and then it was time. I took my place among the spectators and watched as Rachel made her entrance, walking slowly down a well worn path to the small grove of trees where the bridal party were waiting. As the minister began speaking, the wind picked up and the temperature seemed to be dropping. I was wearing a short, white skater's dress without stockings and as the ceremony dragged on, I was shivering uncontrollably. The man standing next to me noticed, and he took off his jacket and draped it over my shoulders.
The "I dos" we're finally spoken, and we were all able to retreat to the warmth of the reception cabin for champagne and finger foods. I walked to the cabin with the gentleman who loaned me his jacket, and once we were inside I returned it to him.
He was a really good looking black guy, average in height with a razor cut and athletic build. I extended my hand, "Thank you so much, you saved me out there...glad I was standing next to a gentleman. I'm Emlyn, but most people who know me call me Jill."
He took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, "It was my pleasure Jill. I am Marcel...my friends just call me Marcel." When he spoke I thought he he had an accent, almost like French. I was about to ask him where he was from when Randy came and got me for the photographer.
After the pictures we returned to the reception, and had barely settled in when Randy's cell phone rang. One of his junior prosecutors had been injured in a traffic accident and the District Attorney wanted Randy to check on him and meet with his wife at the hospital. I was getting ready to leave with Randy when he suggested I stay since I was close to Thelma. Randy excused himself and spoke briefly with Stan before motioning me to come over.
"Jill, why don't you stay at the wedding? Stan said he and Rachel will find you a ride home...no need for your night to be over."
While we were working out the logistics of me getting back home, Thelma and Rachel came up and said I could ride back to Palm Springs with Thelma and Maria. With that problem resolved, Randy took off.
Thelma gave me an odd little smile as soon as we were alone and asked, "So what is the story with you and that gorgeous Marcel you've been eying all evening?"
I was just slightly embarrassed, "Oh God, was it that obvious?"
Thelma shook her head, "No, probably not to the others, especially the guys. I picked up on it though. You think he's hot, and so do I. He's a friend of Maria, Rachel's mom, and they came over to our place for a barbecue and pool party right after he arrived here, and I thought he was really nice. I think he's from Jamaica or Haiti, or some place like that."
"After we ate most of us changed into our bathing suits and hit the pool. Anyway, when he came out, he was wearing one of those European style speedo suits, and it blew me away...he has quite a package, cute tight ass, and you could see just about everything including the outline of his fat cock."
That sounded interesting, and I tried to pass it off with a lame, "Oh my God, that must've been embarrassing." At the same time, I located Marcel who was talking to Maria, and imagined him in a tight "mankini." I've had black lovers in the past, and most of my experiences were good...very good.
Thelma nodded her head and agreed, "Yeah, but what was embarrassing was my boyfriend watching me with my eyes locked in on Marcel's junk. After he left that night we played around with some fantasy stuff, you know, like Marcel coming back when I was alone and fucking me. We had some great sex that night."
Again I tried to be cool, "Well, I'm not into that...he's nice, but not my type."
Thelma wasn't buying it, "Oh baloney Jill, that's not what I saw. Have you ever had sex with a black man before?"
Time to lie, "No Thelma, and I don't plan on fucking him either. He seems nice, and interesting, and let's just leave it at that." While I was telling her that, I found myself looking at Marcel, trying to picture what might look like naked, and I got caught, again.
Thelma laughed out loud, "Sure, but I saw those 'Fuck me eyes' you were just giving him. How about if I get him to give you a ride home? You can get to know him better and decide for yourself if you want to fuck him."
I shook my head, "No, don't be silly...and besides, what about Rachel's mom...his girlfriend?"
Thelma simply replied, "Well, she'll probably wanna stay late...she won't mind," and without waiting for an answer or further discussion, Thelma went off looking for Maria and Marcel.
A few minutes later, I saw Marcel and Maria. She was gesturing toward me, and Marcel was nodding at whatever she was saying to him. Then they both walked over to where I was sitting.
Maria put her hand on my shoulder and said, "Hey Sweetie, Thelma says you need a ride home tonight. I'm staying late, but Marcel has to get up early tomorrow, so he'll be heading home in a couple hours...after dinner. He can give you a ride if you don't mind riding with a guy who thinks he's driving in a Grand Prix race."
I looked from Maria to Marcel who nodded, "Sure, I'd be happy to take you home. I need to drive to. Los Angeles tomorrow, and it would be nice to get a full night's sleep."
And so I was set up with a ride home. The people from the Hungry Peddler Eatery had arrived, and they set up the lodge for the wedding dinner. The food was great... with Beef Wellington as the main course. Thelma and me were drinking wine, and we were on the verge of getting really silly when Marcel caught my eye and glanced at his watch...my signal to start saying my goodbyes.
As we headed to the door, Thelma rushed up to me and whispered, "Call me tomorrow. I wanna hear all about it."
I felt myself blushing, "Thelma, you are terrible. If you got any ideas about living some kind of vicarious sex life through me, you best forget it. I'm boring, and this is just about a ride home."
Thelma smiled, "Of course...just a ride home with a stud who you've been eying you like prey all night...you just call me."
After a hug and kiss from Rachel, Marcel and I walked to his car and headed down the mountain.
The weather was getting pretty bad. It wasn't that cold anymore, but it was raining hard. We drove through the Pinyon Flats without too much trouble, but when we reached the east side of the mountain, we hit a heavy patch of fog. As we neared the Tewanet Overlook, Marcel slowed and pulled into the small viewpoint lot. Visibility was almost zero.
"I don't feel safe driving in this mess. This isn't just fog...we must be in the middle of a rain cloud. We got to wait it out."