Going to the Chapel Page 5

  “I think he’s going to take after Ty,” Amy said.

  “But look at that hair. It’s auburn, like yours. Oh, you gorgeous little one,” Colleen cooed and kissed Michael gently on the forehead. He wriggled and she cuddled him close, cooing to him.

  “Mom and Dad, meet Michael Jeffrey McKay,” Ty said, exchanging a smile with his dad who was right behind his mom. Jeffrey shook Ty’s hand, then leaned over Colleen.

  “Michael?” Colleen echoed. “I didn’t know you were thinking about that name. It’s a good one, though. Lauren told me what happened.” She tickled the baby’s chin. “You’re one with a mind of your own, aren’t you?”

  “We don’t want to overstay our welcome tonight,” Jeffrey said, looking between Amy and the baby. “You must be tired.”

  “Of course, you want to see your grandson,” Amy said. “And I’ve been resting.”

  “He is just perfect,” Colleen said. Michael opened his eyes and seemed to look at her, which delighted her. She sat down on the chair Ty had abandoned and Ty tugged on his T-shirt. His mom, predictably, began to schedule. “Just so you know, I told the girls to wait until you’re home tomorrow. And the baby shower will be two weeks tomorrow, if that’s a good day for you...”

  “The baby shower?” Amy echoed.

  “Of course! Some people have them before the baby arrives, but I’m a little bit superstitious, especially with a first baby. Now that Michael’s here, we can arrange the party.” Colleen nodded at him and he seemed to nod back. “My sister will host it, she already offered. You were at her house before, I think.”

  “For the bridal shower,” Amy agreed. “A beautiful home.”

  Ty tried to get a word in edgewise and failed. His mom was on a roll.

  “It is. If the weather holds, we’ll still be able to be in the garden, which is ideal. And the men are invited, too,” Colleen continued. “If you have family and friends you’d like to be invited, Amy, please just give Ty a list...”

  “You are not going to fill our house with stuff, Mom,” Ty said and his father snorted. “We just finished the renovations and we’re not moving.”

  “I have a new grandson,” his mom informed him archly. “And I will spoil him rotten, whether you like it or not, and there’s not one thing you can do about it.” Ty started to protest, noticing that Amy was fighting a smile. “It’s my official job as his grandmother.”

  “His only grandmother,” Amy interjected.

  Ty’s mom gasped. “Oh, you’re right! Tyler, I have to fulfill the responsibilities of two nanas.”

  “No, you don’t,” Ty said, but he knew he’d lost the battle already.

  “So,” his mom said to Michael, who appeared to be fascinated with her. “Am I Nana? Nina? Grandma? Not Granny,” she said more firmly. “Or Gran. That would make me sound old. Mimi?” She leaned close to whisper to him. “Ethan—that’s your cousin—calls me Mimi now. I kind of like that, but you, sir, can call me anything you like.” She gave him another little cuddle.

  The baby gurgled and smiled.

  Colleen laughed. “Mimi and Papi it might be.”

  “We’ll worry about that when he starts talking,” Jeffrey said.

  “Well, he’s partly named after you, Jeffrey, so I should let you give him a snuggle, too.”

  “If you can spare him,” Jeffrey teased. He winked at Amy. “One little cuddle and then we’ll go so you can sleep.”

  Amy smiled her gratitude.

  “Can we take pictures?” Colleen asked Amy as soon as she’d passed the baby to his dad. “Or would you rather we wait until tomorrow? We can come back to help you get to the house...”

  “Take a couple tonight, of course,” Amy said, her tone firm. Ty was glad that she’d learned already how best to deal with his mom’s desire to manage everything and everyone. “And tomorrow, my doula Fiona is going to help us get home and get settled. Maybe Ty could call you once we’re there.”

  “Of course. Should we bring dinner? Because if the girls come...”

  “No need,” Amy said smoothly and Ty wanted to give her a thumbs-up. “I made a big lasagna last week and put it in the freezer, just to be ready for the day we came home with the baby.”

  “But we don’t want to be any trouble...”

  “Ty can put it in the oven and there will be lots for everyone.”

  His mom looked a bit crestfallen, but Amy touched her hand. “If you could pick up a green salad on your way, though, that would be wonderful.”

  Ty’s mom smiled. “Of course! I’d be delighted.”

  Michael yawned then and raised a shaking fist to his mouth as his eyes closed. “Time to go, Colleen,” Jeffrey said softly, and passed the sleeping baby to Ty. “All three of you look ready for some shut-eye.”

  “Just a couple of pictures. This is the big day, after all.” The camera flashed as Colleen took a picture of Ty with his son. He moved over to the bed and sat with Amy, the two of them leaning over the baby for another picture. Then Amy yawned as well and Jeffrey gave Colleen a quelling look. She sighed, kissed them all, then kissed Michael once more before leaving with obvious reluctance. “Tomorrow!” she called from the doorway. “You call me as soon as you’re home, Tyler!”

  “Will do.” Ty and Amy exchanged a smile. “You want to open the present now?”

  Amy yawned. “In the morning, I think. The flowers are pretty.”

  “Mm, hmm.”

  Amy moved over and Ty eased onto the bed beside her, Michael cradled in one arm. He kicked off his shoes and put his other arm around Amy as she reached to dim the lights. She kissed the baby’s head, then kissed Ty on the mouth, a sweet hot kiss that warmed Ty to his toes. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “Thank you,” he murmured and gave her a lingering kiss. Then Amy nestled against him, her hand over his on their son and he heard her breathing slow.

  They were a family now, so much more than a couple. Ty couldn’t wait to see what joy the future would bring them all.

  It seemed to Reid that Cassie was ready to dance all night. While he could see the appeal of enjoying a party they were paying for, he was more than ready to get back to the apartment with his new wife. He nodded agreement when she asked about throwing the bouquet.

  “You’re impatient,” she teased.

  “Can you blame me?” he replied in a whisper, liking how she laughed.

  The single women lined up and there was a lot of joking from the other guests as they pretended to jockey for position. Cassie turned her back upon them and threw her bouquet. The tall woman who caught it gave a hoot of triumph and danced around in victory.

  Reid realized it was Sonia, the receptionist from F5. She and Cassie exchanged kisses, then Cassie came back to Reid. He kneeled down and made a production of removing her garter, letting his fingertips wander a little higher up her thigh. Cassie’s eyes were sparkling when he removed it and cast it to the bachelors.

  It was caught by Theo, the only partner at F5 who was single, and the others razzed him about it. He put it on his arm, over his suit jacket, then asked Sonia to dance.

  “He does have style,” Cassie said under her breath.

  “Time to go,” Reid said and she smiled. They said their farewells, although he knew they’d be meeting the out of town guests for brunch the next day.

  Cassie’s overnight bag was in the coatroom and the attendant brought it to them with some effort.

  Reid picked it up and frowned at the weight of it. “What did you pack?” he asked and she laughed at him.

  “Time to use that F5 membership a bit more,” she teased and put her hand in his elbow. “You can’t complain about the distance.”

  “I’m not complaining about anything.” They left the party to many cheers and good wishes, then were finally alone in the elevator. Reid looked down at Cassie and she smiled up at him, her eyes sparkling and her lips ripe for the kissing.

  “Hey, there, gorgeous,” Reid said, pulling Cassie close.

  “Hey
, there, yourself,” she replied in a husky whisper, her gaze falling to his lips.

  “You look fabulous. And everything was perfect.”

  “Shut up and kiss me already,” she said, and instead of laughing, Reid did just that.

  It was when he dropped the bag to gather Cassie into his arms that they discovered why it was so heavy. The zipper split open and rice began to pour onto the floor of the elevator. The elevator chimed when they reached the lobby and Reid saw the rice when he moved to grab the bag.

  Cassie crouched down beside the bag in the lobby and opened the zipper. Rice spilled in every direction. There was a note on top, with congratulations from Tori and Ally.

  And at least a ten-pound bag of rice poured in and around all of her things.

  “At least we weren’t going through security at the airport,” Reid said as Cassie tried to close the bag again. She was laughing too hard to manage it well and Reid finally just scooped up the bag, leaving a trail of rice behind them.

  “The pigeons will love that,” Cassie said. “The cab driver not so much.”

  “I’ll give him a good tip.” He set down the bag on the sidewalk, knowing that would knock a bit more rice out of it. “Let’s go home, Mrs. Jackson,” he said and raised a hand for a cab.

  “Good idea, Mr. Jackson.” Cassie took his hand and leaned against him. “I’ve been missing you like crazy.”

  “Come on upstairs and show me just how much.”

  “Oh, I will,” she promised, a glint in her eyes that bode well for their wedding night.

  Haley, Damon, and her mom rode the train down into the city on Tuesday morning. They had one stop to make before going to the city clerk’s office to get married. Haley and Damon had decided on a civil ceremony and a garden reception at the house they’d just bought in Queens. The priest from the Russian Orthodox church that Damon’s mom had attended was coming to bless their marriage on Saturday in the garden. Haley wasn’t sure if she wanted to convert or not, but was taking some classes at the church to find out. Damon hadn’t wanted to wait any longer to get married, so this was their compromise.

  It was the perfect idea. Haley was feeling her father’s absence as they planned the wedding, knowing it was one day—or yet another day—that she would have liked her dad to be by her side. Cassie’s dad walking her down the aisle had made Haley very aware that her own couldn’t do the same. Amy’s tribute to Haley’s father by naming her son after him had left her even more unsteady.

  It was Damon who had pointed out that the city clerk in the city wasn’t far from the 9-11 Memorial. He’d suggested after Cassie’s wedding that they could visit Haley’s dad first, then get married on the following Saturday.

  As soon as Haley told her mom, her mom changed her flights to arrive Monday night. Haley and Damon had only closed on their new house the previous week and there was a lot of painting and cleaning to do, never mind organizing their things. Haley’s mom had been glad to help, diving in as soon as she crossed the threshold. Haley’s siblings were arriving later in the week.

  In the morning, though, the three of them rode downtown in silence. Damon wore a dark suit and Haley wore a favorite dress and jacket. Her mom was wearing a suit, too. They looked like they were going to a funeral, in a way, but they were headed to the memorial. Haley felt emotional, but also certain that their choice was right.

  The train was packed with commuters and Damon chose to stand. Haley gave up her seat beside her mom when an older lady got onto their car, and he held her hand. Her mom, she could see, was already emotional. She hadn’t ever been to the memorial and hadn’t even been in Manhattan since shortly after the collapse of the towers.

  Damon had bought them tickets to the museum in advance and Haley had arranged for her mom to visit the center for the surviving family members. They had an appointment with the city clerk in the afternoon to get married, and were planning on going for lunch after what would be an emotional morning.

  Given that it was the anniversary, the site was really crowded. It was a wonderful autumn day, with clear blue skies overhead and a brisk wind.

  Haley held her mom’s hand and thought it was maybe good that they were forced to make slow progress. She guided her mom to the place on the wall where her dad’s name was inscribed, well aware of Damon’s quiet strength behind her. She felt her mom start to cry and couldn’t look at her. Her mom didn’t slow down, though, or flinch from the truth.

  But then, she’d been living with the reality of being a widow for a long time.

  “Here,” Haley said, stopping at the place she visited every winter, on her dad’s birthday. She remembered Damon finding her here and her sense in that moment that he was the man for her. His hand landed on the back of her waist in that moment and she guessed that he was remembering, too.

  “Here,” her mom echoed, her fingers falling on the inscribed name. They shook a little as she traced the letters.

  “I talk to him here,” Haley admitted, her fingertips finding the other end of her dad’s name. Both of them were doing the same thing, at opposite ends of the inscription. Their hands were similar in shape, but her mom’s were older, of course.

  And there was a wedding band on her mom’s left hand.

  Soon there would be one on Haley’s hand, too.

  “Hello, Michael,” Haley’s mom whispered, her voice trembling slightly. She then bent to kiss the stone with reverence. “I miss you so much.” Her voice broke on the words and Haley looked across the memorial, blinking back her tears.

  Her chest was tight as she thought of what a horrible shock it must have been for her mom. She and Damon hadn’t even been together for a year, and she couldn’t imagine being without him. The price of love was that you could lose it—but her dad had always insisted that just meant you had to love harder and love more. That you had to make every second count. Damon’s hand moved on her back, his thumb stroking her, and she understood.

  “Would you like to be alone, Mom?”

  “No, Haley. We came here together.” Haley watched her mom gather her strength, then reach for Damon. She took his hand and put it over Haley’s on the inscribed name. “Michael, you met this young man before I did. I hope you saw just how happy he makes our Haley.” Her voice was more husky than usual, but she kept talking. Haley let her own tears flow. “I hope you saw that he’s exactly the kind of man you always admired most, a man who understands the value of service and a man with a deep sense of honor.” She caught her breath, but carried on. Haley reached over, but her mom put Haley’s hand in Damon’s, holding them together between her own. Her tears were running freely. “I wish you could be here to see them make their vows, Michael, and to see the love they share.” She blinked and her voice caught. “But then, I wish you could be here every single day.” She cleared her throat and squeezed their hands more tightly. “I’ve given them my blessing, but really, it’s our blessing.” She released their hands, then turned to kiss them both. “Be happy, both of you,” she said, her own tears running. “Love each other and celebrate every single day of your life together. That was Michael’s creed.”

  “Join the parade,” Haley said, remembering. “Instead of standing back to watch.”

  “Exactly,” her mom said with force. “Take that as his legacy and run with it. Live a life filled with joy.”

  “We will,” Damon said and Haley’s mom smiled.

  “I know it.” She surveyed Damon with satisfaction. “I knew it the moment you showed up at the house.” She touched his cheek. “Your mom must have been so proud of you. The way I see it, you two have two guardian angels watching out for you.”

  Damon bent and kissed her cheek, drawing her into a quick hug. Haley saw her mom lean against him just for a minute. “Take care of our girl.”

  “I will.”

  Haley’s mom swallowed then, her hand falling to her husband’s name again. She shook her head as she surveyed the memorial and shivered a little as she looked down into the dark fountain. �
��I think I do need a minute,” she whispered and Haley gave her a hug before leaving her there.

  Damon led Haley a distance away and gave her his handkerchief, holding her close as she wiped her tears.

  “Good tears?” he murmured, but she knew he had no doubt.

  “Cathartic ones,” she said. “Thank you for this idea.”

  “I knew you’d want to talk to him.”

  Haley studied him, admiring yet again his quiet strength and his compassion. “Should we go talk to your mom, too?”

  Damon shook his head. “She’ll be there Saturday.” He smiled crookedly at her, his eyes dark. “She never ever missed a wedding.” He took a deep breath. “You’ll see.”

  Four

  This was it.

  His first Wednesday night meeting at F5.

  Nate was going to ace it.

  He had a new suit and had gotten a haircut. He was wearing the prosthesis that was less useful but looked more real. He was so glad to have this opportunity and he was going to ensure that the F5 team never regretted giving it to him.

  He was ten minutes early for the meeting. Sonia gave a low whistle of appreciation when he entered the offices. Hunter arrived right behind him, also wearing a suit and looking like he had a new haircut.

  “You two should have gotten promoted ages ago,” Sonia said. “It’s good for the view.”

  Chloe laughed on her way to the conference room.

  Hunter grinned. “It’s the new me,” he said and turned in place.

  Sonja, Nate noticed, had also tweaked her look a bit, and looked even more glamorous than she had before. There were flowers in the office, which was unusual.

  “From the wedding,” Sonja offered, obviously noticing his glance. “I caught the bouquet and thought we could all enjoy them.”

  “Uh oh, your turn next,” Hunter teased.

  “And Theo,” she said with a smile. “He caught the garter.”

  Nate thought it was about a thousand times more probable that Theo would get married next than Sonia, but he kept his opinion to himself.