Six months have passed and Debra was still living at the pad with the others. She helped out with chores, bills, and food, but Mike was getting impatient.
“Micky, can I speak to you for a sec?” Mike asked his friend.
“Sure, what’s up?”
They walked out to the back patio.
“Mick, when is she going to get her own place? It’s been six months.”
“Soon. She doesn’t have enough yet to pay the $200 a month rent.”
“She doesn’t?”
“No. Mike, she is only making a dollar an hour. Give me a break. She’s had a tough life, let her be.”
“Shotgun, we can’t have her stay here much longer. Can’t you help her get her own place?”
“I want to buy something very special with the money that I have saved.”
“What do you possibly want to buy?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“How important can it be?”
“Very important.”
“Whatever, but she better be out by the time we tour in June. That’s four months from now.”
“Okay, I’ll see what I can do.”
Micky and Mike went back in the house. Micky went up to the room and took out a box with the money he saved and put it in his wallet. He then went downstairs.
“Debra I’ll be back in a while, I have an errand to run.”
“Okay, see you then. I’m making dinner and it’ll be ready in an hour.”
“Okeedokee.” He kissed her and went off in the Monkeemobile.
He drove to the nearest jewelry store and asked the woman at the counter about engagement and wedding bands. She showed him what they have and he picked out a beautiful set of diamond bands, which was a total of 1 carat. The engagement band had diamonds all around and one larger one in the middle. It was white gold, and it cost him $300. He pulled out the money he saved and handed it to the woman, who appeared to be middle aged.
“Thank you so much, my girlfriend will love it!”
Micky drove home to the pad and wondered when and how he could propose to her. As he sat in the Monkeemobile in the driveway, he thought, ‘I could take her somewhere for the weekend and propose there.’
He had $1,000 left, and he decided he would take her to Palm Springs for the weekend. He then backed out of the driveway and drove to the travel agent.
“Hello, I’d like to book a room for the weekend in Palm Springs. I have $1000 so what is the fanciest and best hotel there?”
“The Coyote Inn in Palm Springs has a five star rating, guests are very pleased with it. The owner picks you up at the airport!”
“Sounds great! I am driving though, but I would like to drive there and stay. How much is the room for the weekend?”
“It’s $50 a night, so that will be $100 plus a 10% tax, which is a total of $110. Let me find out if a room is available.”
He called and there was one left. He booked it for Micky and he paid the fee to the travel agent for booking the room.
Micky drove home and got there just in time for dinner.
“Debra, don’t make any plans for the weekend, oh and call off sick both days!”
“Why?” She set his dinner on the table.
“Because we are going away to somewhere special this weekend.”
“We are? That’s great! I can always ask if I can work Monday and Tuesday and try to get the weekend off.”
“You can try, but I sure hope they say yes. I booked the room and everything.”
“You are a sweetheart Micky Dolenz!” Debra got up and kissed him.
“I know.”
Just then Mike, Davy and Peter came in for dinner.
“Hey guys, Micky and I are going away this weekend! It’s a surprise too, I’m so excited!”
“Um, Mick, I wanted to have a rehearsal for our show on Tuesday...” Mike stated agitatedly.
“I’m sorry but I have this planned already. Can’t we practice on Sunday night?”
“I really don’t want to...”
“Mike, I need to see you out back for a sec.”
Both men walked out back to the patio.
“Mike, I plan to ask Debra to be my wife this weekend. I think the rehearsal can wait until Sunday night.”
“You’re going to what? Mick, why?”
“Because I love her, that’s why. She’s the best thing that happened to me besides you guys and the band.”
“It better not infringe on our future tours or albums.”
“Gee, is that all you think about? No ‘congratulations Micky’?”
“It is our livelihood you know. Look, I just want what’s best for you.”
“So you think being married to Debra isn’t the best for me?”
“It’s not that Mick, I just want to make sure it’s the right thing to do.”
“Well it’s right for me. I’m doing it Mike, and if you don’t like it, that’s too bad.”
“Whatever shotgun.”
They went back inside and everyone finished their dinners.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friday afternoon arrived, and Micky and Debra left after she got home from work and changed. The boss let her work Monday and Tuesday instead of the weekend so that she could go. Mike broke down and let them borrow the Monkeemobile since it was a special occasion, otherwise they would have had to take a taxi all the way out there and Micky wanted to save the money he had left for the trip.
They arrived in Palm Springs 2 ½ hours later, and they got settled in their room. It was Southwestern designed with Terra cotta paint, paintings of cactus and other desert fauna and flora on the walls. There was a Queen sized bed with a Southwestern designed blanket, and a bathroom.
“So what do you want to do my dear?” Micky asked.
“Would you like to take a walk? This area is beautiful!”
“Sure.”
They walked around the grounds of the Inn, and took in all the splendor and scenery that was around them. The sky was orange, meaning it would be beautiful the next day.
“It’s wonderful out here isn’t it?” Debra asked.
“It sure is. Do you know how much I love you?”
“Why don’t you show me?”
Micky and Debra stopped and Micky kissed her passionately. It was the most intense kiss they shared, and left both breathless.
“Whoa, that was a rush!” Debra said, gazing into Micky’s brown eyes, her green eyes full of love.
“It sure was. Did I show you?”
“You sure did!”
The next day, they spent time at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens. That evening, after eating dinner at Las Casuelas Terraza restaurant, they went back to their room.
“Debra, let’s go sit out back on the patio.”
They both went out to the patio and sat down in the Southwestern designed chairs. After talking for a few minutes, Micky carefully pulled out the red velvet box that was hidden in his jacket pocket. Since he was sitting on the opposite end of the table, he was able to without her seeing. He then walked over, got down on his knee and took her hand.
“Debra Ann Johnston, will you marry me?”
He held out the box, opened it and revealed the engagement band.
“Oh Micky! Yes, I will marry you!”
They hugged and kissed. They sat outside talking for the next few hours. It was 11:00 and about time to head in.
“Debra, can I make love to you tonight?”
“I don’t know, Mick.”
“It’s been six months...”
“Micky, you don’t know what I went through. Brad hurt me badly.”
“But Debra, I won’t hurt you. I love you too much to hurt you.”
“Micky, I’m not ready yet.”
“When will you be ready?”
“What kind of question is that? What, you ask me to marry you and then expect sex?”
“No, it’s not that. I just wanted this weekend to be special.”
“It can be special. We don’t need to have sex for it to be something wonderful.”
“I know. I’m sorry. Forgive me?”
“Of course.”
They sat outside a bit longer and then went inside to bed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Their last day was spent at the Santa Rosa Mountains, where they had a picnic. They left in the mid afternoon and got back in time for Micky to rehearse for their show on Tuesday.
“So how did it go?” Mike asked.
“She said yes!” Micky smiled widely.
Everyone said their congratulations and gave him hugs. They started their rehearsal and got done by midnight.
When Micky went upstairs, Debra was waiting for him.
“Hey sweetie, can we talk?”
“Sure!” Micky sat down next to her on her bed, where she was curled up under the covers, lying on her side.
“When are we getting married?”
“Well, we can whenever you’re ready. We need the blood tests and the marriage license yet.”
“How about in a month?”
“Okay. Where do you wish to be wed?”
“I’d like to be married at a church.”
“Okay. Just so you know, I haven’t been in a church in quite a while.”
“I haven’t been either, and I think it’s time we should.”
“Why?”
“I’d like to commit my life to Christ.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes. Please come with me to church next Sunday.”
“Okay, but you must know that my step father was a minister and he drove religion down my throat.”
“I won’t do that. I would like you to come with me though.”
“Sure, I’ll go with you.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That Sunday they went to church, and Micky wasn’t as uncomfortable as he thought he was going to be.
Debra went up to the altar during the service and gave her life to Christ. Micky didn’t, he still wasn’t sure if he was ready or not. But he did want to continue going to church.
After the service, they shook hands with the pastor, Reverend Michael Roberts.
“It’s nice to meet you both. Will you be coming back next Sunday?”
“Yes, we will be.” Debra answered and looked over at Micky, who nodded his head in agreement.
“That’s wonderful! We’ll see you next Sunday then!”
They walked out and Micky said to Debra, “I am glad that we are coming back. I want to know more about God.”
“I am glad that you do. I do too. I gave my life to Him this morning and I feel wonderful!”
“That’s great Debra.”
They walked home and relaxed until Mike came in the room.
“Time for practice shotgun!”
“Today? Can’t we practice tomorrow?”
“No can do, we have a gig on Tuesday or did you forget?”
“Why can’t we practice tomorrow? It’s Sunday and I want to spend time with Debra.”
“Look, we are practicing today and that’s that! You can spend time with her later.”
Micky huffed and went over to his drum kit. The others came in and went to their instruments. They practiced for a couple hours and then finished.
Micky and Debra decided to walk on the beach and collect seashells.
“I’m sorry Debra, Mike can be a pain in the butt.”
“I know. We’ll try to get him to stop practicing on Sunday’s.”
“How?”
“I’ll figure something out.”
“Okay.”
“Micky, we haven’t talked about our wedding yet. Are you ready to be married in three weeks?”
“Yes, I believe so. Are you?”
“Well, I would like to have a church wedding and I think we need more time to prepare.”
“How much more time?”
“Another month.”
“Okay. Would you like to see if we could get married in the church that we attended this morning?”
“Yes.”
“We’ll talk to the Pastor tomorrow and see what he says.”
“Great! Who am I going to have for a maid of honor? I could ask my sister but I want her to be a bridesmaid.”
“You don’t have any friends from Chicago that you can call?”
“I do have one friend from high school named Melissa. I’d have to look her up, but what if she got married?”
“That’s the chance you’ll have to take. Maybe you’ll luck out and she didn’t marry.”
“True.”
“Who’s going to be your best man?” Debra asked.
“Peter. He’s true blue.”
“Not Mike?”
“No, I would like for him to walk you down the aisle since he’s like a father to everyone.”
“Okay, I could handle that.”
“Davy and Mike can be ushers as well.”
“Cool. I’d like to wear a light pink satiny gown instead of white.”
“Sounds pretty. Do you want to have the reception at the Pad?”
“Yeah, that would be great! What about a band?”
“Mike, Davy and Peter could play. I have a friend Randy who plays drums, so he can take my place.”
“Groovy! Who is going to cook the food?”
“We can get it catered if you like.”
“That would be nice, do we have the money for it?”
“Yes we do. I’ve been saving up and sales for our new album are faring well.”
“Great! Micky, where are we going to live?”
“I’ve been thinking about that. We can get an apartment for a while, and then try to buy a home.”
“That’s wonderful, I like the idea of us having our own place.”
“I do too. We can be alone and not have to be bothered by the others.”
“Definitely.”
“Deb, I need to ask you something personal.”
“Shoot.”
“Will you be able to be intimate with me on our wedding night?”
“I hope so. Does that whole thing bother you that much?”
“No, I just want to make sure you will be ready.”
“Okay. I know you won’t hurt me, so I don’t even know why I’m holding back.”
“Well, we can wait until the wedding night, so no rush, okay?”
“Okay.”
They walked back to the Pad and went upstairs to crash for the night.
Chapter 2
Chapter 4
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