Happiness For H: Something In White

January 19 (part 3)

"Well, Em, what do you think?" Jean did a model's twirl in front of the full-length mirror.

"It's you Jean." Emily smiled and said, "You look great. I remember wishing I looked more like you when we were in college." Jean stood facing her friend, smoothing the fabric over her hips.

"Hah!" She made a face at Emily. "Yeah, and I would have given anything to trade some of my curves for your legs! I can't remember how many times guys would come up and ask me who you were and all they could remember were your short skirts and gorgeous legs! So, is this ok with you? What kind of dress have you been looking at?"

Emily groaned.

"I've been seeing wedding dresses in my sleep – all bad!" As Jean continued to look at the dress she was wearing from every angle, her eyes met Em's in the mirror and she asked,

"Maybe I should ask what kind of dress do you have in mind, Em?"

Emily leaned against the wall and considered.

"Like the Lorrie Morgan song." Her friend shook her head. Emily recited softly,

"I'm looking for something in white, something that shimmers in soft candlelight.

Everyone says we're the most perfect pair, should I wear a veil or a rose in my hair?

The train must be long and the waist must be tight.

I'm looking for something in white."

Jean was looking at the faraway expression in her friend's eyes.

"It sounds like you know what you want, Em." Emily sighed and smiled just a little.

"I guess I'll know it when I see it, Jean."

"I'll be right there, Horatio." Eric looked at her quizzically across the table where they were having a late lunch. Calleigh shrugged her shoulders and said,

"Horatio wants to see me. I'll catch you later, Eric." She gathered up her things and left the lunchroom quickly. She sensed something was up – and it wasn't good, judging by the sound of his voice.

Horatio was staring out his window when Calleigh knocked ten minutes later. The first thing she noticed when he opened the door was the grim set of his mouth and the worried lines around his eyes. She carefully shut the door and followed him back to his desk. An envelope and a single sheet of paper lay on it. He gestured toward them as he went around his desk.

"That was in my mail today. It was on the bottom of the stack, I'm guessing my prints are on the envelope from when I carried it to my office." Horatio's voice was short. He knew what needed to be done, but he could not get the picture of Emily out of his mind. He turned away from the desk to stare out the window.

Calleigh pulled a pair of gloves from her kit and carefully looked the envelope over. Then she turned her attention to the pasted together note. After reading it, she looked over to where her boss stood, his shoulders stiff.

"Horatio, this is about Emily." A short nod. "There was something else in the envelope." Another nod. "Can I see it?" This time he shook his head no. Taking a deep breath, Calleigh, carefully began going over the envelope and note, saying,

"Well, we might be able to get something from the handwriting on the envelope, especially if we have something to compare it too. Horatio I need to get these to the lab."

He turned to her then, swallowing hard. Calleigh saw the pain in his eyes and said softly,

"Horatio, I'll be as discreet as I can. No one else has to know about it, if you want it that way."

"Thank you Calleigh. I'll take care of the other piece myself." He answered her unspoken question.

Carefully slipping the envelope and note in evidence bags, Calleigh asked,

"Horatio, are you and Emily going to be ok?" He nodded, not trusting his voice.

"And how are you ladies doing?" Jean smiled at the shopkeeper.

"Genevieve, I'll take it. It will be perfect for Emily's wedding." The elderly shopkeeper smiled at Emily.

"Oh, so you are the bride. Congratulations. Have you a gown yet?"

Emily shook her head no. "I can't seem to find exactly what I'm looking for."

"Well, I have one, it's on consignment, but I think it would fit you." The woman was eyeing Emily up and down. "Would you like to see it?"

"Of course she would," Jean said with a grin. As the woman bustled away, Emily rolled her eyes at her friend. Jean was just emerging from the changing room, when Genevieve came back with the dress.

"Here you are dear. It's not really quite the right dress for Miami, but Jean mentioned the wedding will be in a more northern climate."

As the woman shook the dress out, Emily gasped.

"It's beautiful," she whispered.

"Oh, do go try it on, Em," Jean urged. Emily followed Genevieve into the changing room.

The shock of what was in the envelope was beginning to wear off and reaction was setting in. Horatio checked his cell. Nothing from Emily. He left another message. While his first instinct was to find her and make sure she was safe, he had no idea where to begin looking. She had said she would be running errands today. Needing to be doing something, but unable to look even clinically at the picture locked in his desk drawer, he left his office and walked quickly to reception and set about finding out what there was to know about the mystery envelope. By the time he was finished, Paula was near tears and he was no closer to knowing anything more than it had been on the reception desk when she arrived at 8:00 this morning.

Emily carefully walked out to the full-length mirror.

"What do you think Jean?" she asked softly. Even her normally talkative friend was almost speechless.

"Em, it is absolutely beautiful." Emily looked at herself in the mirror. The gown fit her like it was made for her. The bodice was white satin, hand-sewn beads and lace dotting it like falling snowflakes. The sleeves sat just at the curve of her shoulders and were long, covering the back of her hands. It showed off her gentle curves and from the yoked waist fell yards of satin with lace trim. Tiny rhinestones twinkled in the light. Genevieve had told her there were 25 satin covered buttons up the back, making Emily blush as she remarked that her new husband would be crazy with desire by the time he unbuttoned them all. The cathedral length train was the finishing touch. As Emily slid her hands along the silky satin, she murmured softly,

"It's perfect. Just how I imagined it should be."

Horatio was back in his office. Emily's cell continued to roll over to her voicemail. He hit the number for Grandma Estin, hoping that things were still quiet at the lodge. Remembering Josh's comment out in the woods regarding Kevin, it occurred to him that Grandma Estin might be able to shed some light on the relationship between Emily's husband and Josh.

TBC