Andy - what is it with this Doug guy??? Other than your car and Paul's, I've never heard of him! Your cars are set to be pretty spectacular cars when they're finished, so you both obviously have faith in the quality of workmanship in his cars. Is he a small enough operation that he just does business through word of mouth? I get the feeling that once your big block and Paul's cross rammed small block get out and about, that Doug's profile will be raised quite a few notches higher!!!
I hope that Paul's "stroke" was just a miscommunication.... Maybe his then fiance said that in a "stroke" of luck, that he had agreed to go ahead with the wedding. After realising what he'd let himself in for, maybe he just needed some quiet time to himself to contemplate and ponder what he'd just let himself in for....
In any case, I hope everything's fine!