After the Easter service, all Erin wanted was to be alone. The joy of the holiday had failed to reach her heart for some reason and David knew she was struggling. She wished she could vocalize this nagging feeling in her heart, but even she had no idea what was wrong. Or that anything should be wrong. After all, she was engaged to the most wonderful man, and she had a wonderful set of friends. There was just something that made her heart ache at this time.

"Mo chroi, would you mind if we stopped at the Algoma Botanical Garden before we head home?"

"Of course, my rose." He helped her into the car and as he drove, she stared out the window at the passing scenery, tears beginning to run down her cheeks. "What's wrong, Erin? You can tell me. Or I can call Spencer, if you need him."

"I'm not craving, Davie, so there's no need for that. I really don't know how to explain what is going on in my heart right now. I just need the peace of nature to settle this, and then we can talk, okay?"

He nodded and she went back to staring out the window. This was her favorite holiday, she'd told Penelope so at Christmastime. It was also her first Easter post-alcohol. She supposed that rebirth and resurrection were so much more serious this time. Joy didn't really figure into her current state of life.

David pulled into the garden, parking close the entrance of a walking path. They got out and he wrapped an arm around her waist as they started to walk. There were quite a few people there, most happy families who were enjoying the time together. Her gaze fell on a family picnic, the mom, blonde like her, handing around food to three children, two girls and a boy. Drawing in a shaky breath, she turned into David, letting him rub her back. Soon, they were past the hurtful scene and she could breathe again.

"Have you heard from any of them?"

"No. They're not even reading my emails. Penelope set up a way to track if they had been read, and they're just deleting them the moment I send them. I wanted to let them know about our engagement, but with no way to contact them, I'm finding myself a bit stymied." Suddenly, she knew what was tugging at her heart. "I miss them, Davie."

"It's worse than death, isn't it? At least I can imagine James safe and happy in heaven with Carolyn. This limbo is Hell on you, and it's slowly sapping you of your joy. Please, let me call him and inform him of our upcoming wedding."

"You make it sound like it's happening next week."

"How about tomorrow?" She looked at him, feeling her eyes widen as she took in his words. Shaking her head slightly, she continued to stare at him as they walked on. "Why not? We have nothing holding us back. And I want this to be over and done with so that you can move forward with your life."

A gentle warmth flooded her core and she rested her head on his arm as they found a secluded bench. Sitting down, he cupped her face, kissing her sweetly. "Married on Monday, that's the plan?"

"Something like that. So, what do you day, my sweet English rose? Can I tell him that?"

"Yes. And I'll call Penelope. I'm going to need someone standing beside me as I do this." Erin listened to him dial her ex and begin to talk as she pressed Penelope's speed-dial number.

"Hey, my fair Erin, what can I do for you?"

"I'm getting married tomorrow."

"What? Tell me that you are joking."

"No, Davie says that it is time that I moved on from the stagnation of my past."

"And what brought this on?"

"The fact that I am missing my children so much this Easter. I've let the fact that they don't want to talk to me bog me down on my favorite holiday. Dave's talking to my ex right now, telling him of our plans, and hopefully he'll let the children know." Erin took a deep breath. "So, how would you like to stand up with me tomorrow?"

"As if you need to ask! Of course I will do this for you. Do you have anything to wear?"

"It will just be at the courthouse, I don't need anything fancy."

"Yes, you do, sweetheart. Tomorrow morning, we are going to take you out and get you a fancy dress, new shoes, the whole works. Tell Dave you want an afternoon or evening wedding, that way we can get you prepared. Morgan and I will take you two out to supper at Chez Rouge. Our treat." Erin couldn't get a word in edgewise, as her friend was talking a mile a minute. "Please, honey, for me?"

Erin knew there was no way she could argue with the woman once she had an idea in her head, and smiled radiantly at her fiancé. "If mo chroi says yes, then yes. Give me ten minutes and I'll call you back."

"Okay, I'll take that for a yes. Talk to you in a few!"

Erin hung up and shrugged her shoulders. "How did it go with him?"

"He was a bit shocked that I called him rather than you, but he promised to tell the children. So, when has Kitten decreed that we're to get married?"

"In the early evening. She wants to take me shopping for an outfit and all that rigmarole in the morning. She said that Morgan and she will be taking us out to Chez Rouge afterwards."

"Sometimes it is very easy to sit back and let her lead the train. Are you sure you want to let her do so in this case?"

She leaned against his chest, curling her hand in the fabric of his shirt. "I guess, in this case, I do. I was just going to wear your favorite dress and well, Penny says I need something lovely."

"She's right, you do need something lovely, something that shows off how much you mean to me." Turning his head, he kissed her cheek gently and she smiled brightly. "Let's not waste this day together, then. Walk with me, my bella English rose."

"Lead the way, mo chroi." Taking his hand, she let him help her up and they continued down the path until her stomach grumbled loudly. "I guess it's time to eat, honey."

"I've been waiting for you to say that. Is there someplace that you want to go?"

"Would you cook for me? I love it when I can watch you in the kitchen."

Dave grinned at her cheekily. "You just like to sample the wares. Do we still have that piece of tilapia in the fridge?" She nodded. "Good. Fish is excellent for building up energy." He kissed her once more and she hit him across the chest. "You wound me, my love. I was only teasing."

"I know. That's why I didn't hit you as hard as I once would. I'm still not accustomed to how often we make love. Before, it was once a week, more of a duty and a chore. But that's how I thought it was supposed to be. I was a naïve child, David, make no bones about it. For all the worldliness of my work persona, I still retained some Midwestern values, in the face of everything that happened. I think that is what is led to my problem, trying to reconcile those two personas."

They made it back to the car and he opened the door for her. "It's hard to maintain two separate realities, isn't it?" She nodded as he kissed her once more. They drove home at a sedate pace and she found herself losing some of the sorrow that had plagued her all day.

As he pulled out the ingredients for their meal, she hopped up on the counter, watching him begin the task of making their meal. "Is there anything that you want me to look for in particular?"

"Blue. I love you in blue." He smiled at her and then leaned over and kissed her cheek softly.

"Let me call Penelope, then, and tell her the specifics of tomorrow." She turned her head to kiss him properly and then pulled her phone out of her purse, quickly dialing her friend's number. "Penelope?"

"What took you so long, Erin? I thought that perhaps you had changed your mind. So, what's the verdict on tomorrow?"

"We're going shopping for a blue dress, most likely something that matches my eyes. We'll head out for breakfast and then shopping. I assume you'll want to do my hair and makeup as well?"

"Of course, Erin. That's part of your special day. I have something in mind, if you trust me."

"I've trusted you so far, haven't I? All right, do you want me to pick you up?"

"No, I'll pick you up at nine and you can have my Italian Stallion meet us at the courthouse with Derek. I'll make sure he wears a blue tie, so that we all match. See you in the morning, my sweet Erin!" Penelope hung up and she looked over at Dave, smiling happily. He was right, sometimes it was easier to leave things to the Oracle of All-Knowing. She just got her way in the end, after all.