Chapter 21
Beverly woke up early, relaxing in Marco's childhood bed in the Lopez residence. She had not wanted Marco to see her until they met at the nuptial altar set up in the Lopez backyard. It was one of only a few wedding traditions she was incorporating into the ceremony, but she didn't consider herself to be a traditional bride. Maria had offered Beverly a bedroom while Marco stayed at their apartment to ensure the tradition was followed.
The bride rolled over onto her side and stared at the wedding dress she had chosen, which was hanging on the bedroom door. It was not the customary white wedding dress. She had described it to her friends as the color of antique crocheted doilies with darker accents the color of ginger ale and was the perfect length to flow loosely around her ankles. There was neither a train nor a veil, but to her it was beautiful. It represented a day that she thought might never happen – a chance to join her life with the man of her dreams. A smile crept across her face as she thought about the one secret she had been keeping from Marco.
The two of them had settled on a very simple ceremony officiated by the fire service chaplain instead of a priest. She had not yet chosen to convert to Catholicism, so a simple legal ceremony was in order. When they discovered that Reverend Myers was licensed to perform weddings in the state of California, Marco had made the call. Reverend Myers, a retired fire captain and widower, had no plans for the Thanksgiving holiday and graciously accepted the request to officiate the service.
Even though Beverly had no family, Marco had not wanted her to walk down the aisle alone and had even suggested that she ask Hank to escort her. She had declined the suggestion, telling her fiancé that she wanted to take that walk alone, a show of strength of character. But she had another plan.
It was nearing ten years since she had been left for dead following a late-night tryst with a particularly brutal customer. She had very few memories of the event that had been the catalyst for her being able to make the final escape from her trafficker. Only those who had lived in such circumstances could understand how strong the psychological bonds were that had chained her, and others like her, to their tormentors. But as she combed through those jagged memories, her one constant source of strength was the round face of the most non-judgmental man she had ever met. He had saved her in more ways than one that night. When she thought of the new life she was about to begin with her beloved, there was no one she wanted by her side to share the experience other than him.
When she had approached him weeks ago, he had seemed genuinely honored to escort her down the aisle and he had promised to keep her request a secret. She couldn't wait for the moment when she would accept his proffered arm and allow him to escort her to the flower-decorated arbor and place her hand in Marco's just as any other young woman might dream of their father doing on her wedding day. She had no idea where her own father was and truthfully, she didn't care. He had never been a real father to her. In her mind, the man who gave her a second chance at life deserved this honor.
She stretched her arms over her head as she got out of bed and pulled on her robe. She could smell breakfast cooking and knew that Maria had been hard at work. She smiled to herself as she tiptoed down the hallway and the stairs. She didn't want to awaken the others who may be sleeping in the house. This was going to be the happiest day of her life.
E!
Across town, Marco stepped into the spray of his morning shower. He allowed the warm water to relax his muscles and wash away his anxiety. He wanted everything to be perfect for the wedding, but even more so, he wanted the honeymoon to be amazing. He thought about the generous gift he had received at his bachelor party the previous night. He had been shocked by the stack of cash given to him by his fire service family. He had always felt such a strong bond with the other men, but the sacrificial gift was more than he could have ever imagined.
He exited the shower, drying off and wrapping the brown towel around his waist. He took his time grooming, wanting to look his best when he met Beverly at the makeshift altar. He felt a little guilty about not helping his brothers with setting up the chairs in the backyard, but Cristobal, Carlos, and Raphael had assured him that they would take care of the set up. Carlos' wife, Juanita, and their cousin, Rosetta, were busy preparing food to add to the feast his mother had already prepared. It was an uncomfortable position to be in – allowing others to take care of things for this special day. It seemed that Marco had spent most of his life taking care of others, especially caring for his mother and younger siblings after his father had died. He knew Beverly was probably feeling the same way. She was used to giving so much of herself, but seldom was the recipient of unrequested assistance. He smiled to himself knowing how surprised she was going to be with the money they had to spend on their honeymoon.
Thoughts of their honeymoon sent a feeling of warmth deep into his being. They had been celibate for what seemed like months to him. After the pregnancy scare, it was something important to Beverly. It had not been easy, but he knew it was going to be incredible. Tonight was going to be even more special to them after such a long absence of physical love. She was definitely worth the wait.
After completing his morning routine, he sat on the edge of his bed and began polishing his shoes… again. Every detail had to be perfect for this special day. He glanced at the clock realizing that it was only 9:00 am. The ceremony was scheduled for eleven. He had been warned not to arrive more than half an hour early so he wouldn't see the bride before the wedding. He could get dressed in only a few minutes, so what was he going to do with his time?
E!
Iris and Lily were all smiles as they opened the doors of the Bloomers' delivery van. They had spent an extra few minutes creating a special gift for the bride and now they were running a few minutes late.
"I hope the arbor is in place," Iris mentioned, pulling out the box of off-white flowers and greenery.
"I'm sure it's ready for us," Lily replied, climbing into the van with her rear-end sticking out from the open back doors. She froze when she heard the clicking sound coming from behind her. "Thorn!"
Johnny couldn't stop the snicker that escaped from his lips at the sound of her using her pet name for him. "Oh, man! I got the perfect shot," he cackled.
"It better not be included in the wedding album!"
Iris laughed at the friendly banter between the young couple. She had forgotten that Johnny had volunteered to be the wedding photographer. It gave him a chance to enjoy one of his favorite past-times and help reduce the cost of the wedding for his friends. Iris quickly walked away with the box of flowers in tow, wanting to give the newly engaged couple a chance to be alone.
Johnny watched Iris walk away, waiting until she was out of hearing range before he leaned over to kiss his bride-to-be. "Have I told you how great your ass looks?" he whispered into her ear.
"Have I told you what an ass you can be sometimes?" Lily asked, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Their kiss deepened and neither wanted it to end. The sound of car doors slamming near them broke the kiss off sooner than either wanted.
"Behave, Junior, this isn't YOUR wedding, you know," Roy groused, walking up behind the affectionate couple. "My kids are here!"
Johnny released his embrace of Lily, turning to face his partner. "Sorry, Pally… I just can't help myself."
Lily smiled at Roy, then grabbed the next box of flowers and headed for the Lopez backyard.
"Hey, great time for a family picture," Johnny spoke up, pulling his camera from around his neck as the DeSoto family positioned themselves on the Lopez family lawn.
E!
Upstairs, peeking out from behind her bedroom curtain, Lexi stood staring at the family on the lawn. She was still seething at Joanne for the way she had treated her at the bridal shower the previous day. "Why can't you just leave me alone," she softly mumbled at the figure of the older woman who was wearing the pearls that had started so much of the recent drama. She felt a pang of jealousy coursing through her body. Joanne had everything that Lexi wanted. A wonderful husband, perfect children, her own home, lots of friends, beautiful clothing and jewelry… Lexi sighed, thinking about Antonio. She did have a perfect child, but it seemed that he was destined to grow up without her. She knew that he was going to be better off with Marco and Beverly. They could give him everything that he needed, wanted, and deserved. She knew that as soon as their vows were said, there would be no one who would legally challenge their right to raise Antonio as their own child.
She felt the back of her throat grow dry and swiped at an errant tear on her cheek. She watched as the DeSoto family and John Gage headed for the door. It was time for her to start putting on her make-up in preparation for the wedding. She just hoped that Joanne would stay away from her and hold her tongue. She didn't want anything to interfere with the wedding or to alert her mother that something might be going on.
She was sitting at her desk, using the natural light from her window and a mirror to apply her blush. She had not worn much make-up since leaving the streets. She began to add a little more color to her cheeks when she heard a soft knock at her door. She gritted her teeth, worried that Joanne had decide to pick-up their conversation where it had left off the previous day.
"It's open," she called out, reaching for her mascara. She vowed not to say a word to Joanne if the older woman entered her room. She refused to ruin this day for her brother by engaging in a sparring match with one of the guests.
"Are you about ready?" Bri questioned, walking into the room. She was already in her long yellow gown, her hair parted in the middle and flowing along her shoulders. "Johnny wants to get a few pictures of us with Beverly before the wedding."
"Almost… Just need to finish my make-up and brush my hair." She added a little lipstick and lip gloss before standing up.
"Need help with your dress?" Bri asked.
Lexi knew getting dressed would be easier with Bri's help but quickly decided against the assistance. She didn't want Bri to know what she was planning. "Nah, I can get it." She looked over at her former roommate and best friend. "Is he wanting us in Beverly's room?"
"Yes, he's in the hallway now."
"Okay, give me a minute." When Bri didn't leave, Lexi stood up. "Go tell them I'll be there in just a minute, alright?"
Bri tried not to allow her hurt feelings to show on her face as she backed out of the room. "Okay," she said, closing the door to Lexi's room.
Lexi quickly slipped on the dress, carefully tucking the price tag into the sleeve. She was hoping she would be able to return it later to get a refund. She needed the money and would never wear the dress again, anyway. She brushed her hair, curling it behind her ears before adding the earrings Beverly had given her, then stepped into her shoes. Finally, she added the gloves. These would not be returned to the department store. She had other plans for them.
When she stepped into the hallway, she heard a low whistle. She gave Johnny a slight smile before knocking on Beverly's door. "Hey, it's me and Johnny is waiting out here, too."
"C'mon in."
Lexi entered first, just to make sure that Beverly was completely dressed before waving Johnny in. A huge smile crossed his face as he gazed upon the three ladies formally dressed.
"You ladies look beautiful," he announced, taking a few random shots. His plan was to take casual shots so that it appeared that the young women were getting dressed for the big event rather than staging them.
"Wait, Johnny," Iris called out, rushing into the room with a box in hand.
Behind her, Maria entered with a grand smile on her face, followed by Caroline and Corrie. It was obvious to Beverly that Maria knew something that she didn't.
"Beverly," Iris began, opening up the box. "Lily and I created something special for your wedding party to wear." She removed the two wreaths adorned with yellow flowers and greenery. She handed one to each bridesmaid and watched them marvel at the way the ribbons flowed down their backs as they placed them on their heads.
"Iris, they're perfect," Beverly said, smiling.
"And here's one for the flower girl," she said, passing a much smaller version adorned with daisies to Caroline. She loved the way Corrie's eyes lit up when Caroline placed it on the child's head.
Johnny quickly snapped a picture of the mother-daughter moment. He couldn't wait to show it to Chet as soon as the pictures were developed.
Beverly noticed that there was one box left and she couldn't miss the glow on Maria's face. Dare she hope that it was a headdress to match her wedding dress?
"And this one," Iris announced, opening the larger box. "This is the crown for the beautiful bride." She withdrew the wreath, adorned with cream-colored roses, pale yellow gerbera daisies, greenery, and antique lace ribbons that flowed down the back. The flowers perfectly complimented her bridal bouquet. "Maria, will you do the honors?"
Maria sniffled as she accepted the wreath. "It's my pleasure," she managed to say in a voice laced with emotion.
Lexi felt another wave of guilt wash over her. This was a moment that she would never share with her mother. In her heart, she was grateful that Maria was having this moment with Beverly. If she wasn't going to be able to share such a moment with her only daughter, at least she was having a mother-daughter moment with her soon-to-be, and much-loved, daughter-in-law. Lexi realized that Beverly was slowly replacing her in the lives of Antonio and Maria. She dabbed at her eyes, knowing that those present would assume the tears she was shedding were happy tears for the bride, but nothing could be farther from the truth.
Johnny snapped several pictures of Maria and Beverly before pulling in the bridesmaids and Corrie for a final few pictures. "Well… that's it for this roll," he stated, rewinding the film and changing it out for a fresh roll. "Time for a few shots of the groom and his men before the wedding starts." He walked over to Beverly, kissing her lightly on the cheek. "Marco is one lucky fella. You are a beautiful bride."
Beverly smiled, dabbing a tissue to her eyes. She had no voice with which to thank anyone, but Iris, Maria, and Johnny all knew that their efforts were greatly appreciated.
"We have about twenty minutes before the music starts," Caroline commented. "I hope you don't mind Corrie and I hanging out up here. If she goes outside, she'll be a mess in no time."
The little girl giggled, unaware of what her mother had said. She was standing in front of the full-length mirror swaying her hips from side to side. The motion made her tea-length pale yellow dress flutter. She held up the ladybug bracelet to the daisy-chain that she wore on her head, laughing as she made the ladybugs appear to dance among the flowers.
"Is it time to get married yet?" she asked, not understanding why the entire room suddenly erupted in laughter.
"Almost," her mother responded, "but it's Beverly who's getting married."
"I know… she's marryin' Meeko," the little girl replied using Antonio's mispronunciation of his uncle's name. She looked up at her mother before returning her gaze back to her image in the mirror. "But I'm gonna marry Antonio," she said, proudly.
E!
In the Lopez backyard, Johnny approached the crowd of firemen gathered in front of the arbor, looking formal in their dress uniforms. "Marco, I don't want to make you any more nervous than you already are, but your bride is absolutely stunning."
Marco felt a blush crawl up his neck and was thankful for the tight-fitting necktie. "I can't wait to see her."
Johnny looked down at Antonio with his trademark grin. "And your date is very pretty too, young man." The medic could only chuckle as the child, dressed in a dark suit, ducked his head into the pant leg of his uncle. He was still laughing when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to see a familiar face.
"Want me to take a few pictures with you in them?"
"Sam," Johnny said, clapping the arson investigator on the shoulder. "Good to see you could make it."
"Well, Mom does okay by herself for a little while during the day. She seems to get confused more at night. She'll be fine while I'm here with Bri."
"Ahh, and Bri is also looking beautiful today," the medic added with a grin.
"She did look pretty a few minutes ago when I saw her," he added, having driven Bri over, he had already seen her dressed up. "Anyway, I have to take a lot of pictures for my investigations so if you want me to take pictures during the ceremony so you can stand up here with the rest of the guys, I'd be happy to do it."
Johnny turned to Marco who was nodding his approval and extending his hand to thank the young investigator. "That'd be great, man," Johnny said, adding his extended hand as well. "Let me finish up with the shots I was going to take and then I'll pass the camera on to you."
"Sounds good."
Sam made his way back to his seat, nodding a greeting to the familiar couple sitting in front of him. "Dr. Brackett, Ms. McCall."
"Hello, Sam," the doctor said with a smile.
"Nice to see you," Dixie added.
"Is this seat taken?"
Dixie turned her head toward the voice she recognized. "Hi, Mike. Glad you could join us."
Dr. Morton took the seat on the other side of his favorite nurse, offering a greeting to his supervisor. "Kel."
"How was the ER when you left?" Dr. Brackett asked.
"Well, Joe was handing things over to Dr. Harrison when I left, so unless something came in afterwards, he should make it just in time for the ceremony.
Dixie shook her head. "That never fails to happen when you've got somewhere you need to be."
"I'm sure the bride and groom will understand if he's late," Kel added, patting her hand as she curled it around his elbow, "but we can leave a seat open at the end of our row so he can slip in."
Dixie smiled her agreement, laughing as Antonio ran down the aisle, heading for the backdoor of the house as Maria motioned for him to hurry.
Inside the house, the bride paced nervously in the living room. She picked up her bridal bouquet, ornately created to incorporate an antique handkerchief Maria had offered her so that she would have something old in her wedding. She had accepted it with the understanding that it was to be returned so that it could be kept for safekeeping for the day when Lexi might also carry it on her wedding day. The thought made Beverly a bit sad. She had been watching Lexi's behavior and recognized it. She had seen it before in many of the ladies she had rescued. She referred to it as 'exiting behavior.' Many women had to be rescued often – some as many as 15 times – before they were able to permanently leave their traffickers. She had decided to wait until after the honeymoon to talk to Lexi. She simply did not want to cause any drama on the most important day of her life. Once more, she dipped her head to appear that she was looking down at the beautiful bouquet, but her eyes were turned slightly upwards, trying not to be seen looking out the window.
"He's already in the backyard. He can't see you," Bri laughed, hoping to calm Beverly. "It's almost time."
"I know…" Beverly looked back at her young friend, realizing that she had been caught searching for her escort. "I just can't believe it's finally happening."
The ladies in the wedding party headed for the back door, waiting for their musical cue. Raphael walked up to the backdoor and extended his arm towards his mother. She leaned over towards Antonio and whispered into his ear, "just like you practiced." She then accepted the proffered arm of her youngest son and waited for her time to walk down the aisle.
Beverly, being at the back of the line, saw a shadow walk onto the porch and slip inside. Her face lit up. "You made it!"
The older man reached inside his pocket and withdrew a small coin, passing it to her. "And I have a penny for your shoe," he said, beaming with pride. "Remember… something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a penny in her shoe." He chuckled as he watched her slip her foot back into her shoe and hide the coin.
Outside, the music began to play and the firemen, led out by the groom, walked from the side of the yard towards the flower-adorned arbor at the far end of the Lopez backyard. Marco stopped in front and to the right of the chaplain, turning back to wait for his beloved to make her way towards him.
Bri was the first bridesmaid to walk out, waiting for Maria to be seated before she began to seemingly float down the aisle. At least, that was how it seemed to Sam. He took several pictures of her, appreciating the way she smiled at him as he photographed her passing by.
Lexi glanced back at her son, smiling at him as he looked up at her with Corrie by his side. She committed the image to her memory, realizing that she would never see him dressed up with a pretty girl at his side as he headed out to his senior prom. She would miss his high school graduation and even the most important day of his future - Antonio's own wedding day.
"Lexi… go!"
Lexi heard the sound of Beverly's voice and quickly stepped out into the backyard. As she walked down the aisle, she stared at the chaplain. She refused to look at Joanne, not wanting to see the disapproval in the older woman's face. She didn't look at Marco for fear that she would begin to cry. She was truly happy for the joy he had found in Beverly. Finally, she had to avoid the face of the engineer who was standing in line with the other firemen. She knew that in his dress uniform, he would be looking more handsome than ever before. A cloud of guilt and shame seemed to darken her path as she turned to take her place beside Bri. She wished there was another way out of the mess she was in, but she knew there wasn't. Perhaps, if she had made different choices when she was younger, then maybe she could have had a future as Mrs. Michael Stoker. But that was impossible now. She had to carry out her plan to return to Ricardo. It was the only way to ensure that her family, especially her precious son, could live out their lives safe from the evils of her pimp. When she heard soft laughter, she looked up to see the cutest sight she had ever seen.
Antonio and Corrie, looking like a miniature bride and groom, were walking down the aisle towards them. Corrie was tossing flower petals in front of the duo and Antonio was trying his best not to step on them.
"You 'posed to walk on 'em," Corrie scolded in a stage whisper.
"Nu-uh, that's girl stuff," the little boy countered, sidestepping the petals as though he were playing a lively game of hopscotch.
Dixie was giggling uncontrollably and even Dr. Morton cracked a smile as the young couple walked past them, finally taking their respective places in the wedding party. When the music changed, the crowd stood and turned in unison to gaze upon the bride.
"Well, I'll be damned," Kel mumbled to himself when he saw his colleague escorting Beverly towards the arbor.
Dixie tightened her grip on his elbow and smiled. "Joe?"
Dr. Joe Early, having never had children, assumed that he would never walk a bride down the proverbial aisle. He had been so honored when Beverly had approached him with her request and had vowed to keep it their secret. It had been difficult not to share his joy with his best friends, but he had managed to do it. Now, the older man was practically glowing as he walked slowly down the aisle. When he reached the appointed place, he leaned over and gently kissed Beverly on the cheek. Deftly, he removed her hand from the crook of his elbow and gently placed it in Marco's outstretched hand.
"Take good care of her Marco," he said. "This is one very special lady."
Marco nodded, beaming with pride as he accepted her soft hand. He could feel the slight tremble and knew that she was nervous, too, but he also knew that this was the happiest day either had ever experienced. In unison, they took a couple of steps closer to the place where the chaplain stood, placing them directly beneath the arbor.
Joe walked back to the seat vacated by Kel as the entire row of Rampart employees shifted to allow him to take the aisle seat.
"You've got some explaining to do," Kel whispered with a snicker.
Joe nodded his agreement, a silent confirmation that he would fill in the blanks later, then returned his attention to the bride and groom.
Marco allowed his eyes to scan his bride, soaking in the deep emerald of her eyes, the color in her cheeks. and the ruby wetness of her luscious lips. He lowered his gaze a little to the open sweetheart neckline of her dress. He had hoped she would not try to cover the scar along her neck. It was a symbol of the circumstances she had overcome, the proverbial phoenix rising from the ashes. The john who had slit her throat had done his best to kill her that night in Texas, but an off-duty fireman had found her and gotten her the help she needed. Years later, a similar incident had left her clinging to life in the Rampart Emergency parking lot. She had shared with Marco how Dr. Early had been on duty that night, but he had never known just how much the older physician had truly meant to her until he saw Dr. Early escorting her down the aisle. His wanderings down memory lane came to an abrupt halt when he heard the wedding guests laughing.
Marco jerked his eyes towards Chaplain Myers who was also laughing. "I'm sorry… Did you say something?"
"I asked you to repeat after me, but you seem to be mesmerized by your bride," the chaplain said softly, eliciting a soft laugh from Beverly.
"I am, Reverend… I sure am."
The traditional vows were repeated, and rings were exchanged.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife… Marco, you may kiss your bride," Rev. Myers announced.
Marco cupped Beverly's face with both hands and their lips met for the first time in several days. The kiss was chaste, reverent for the ceremony, but neither one could wait for their first night together as husband and wife.
"May I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Marco Antonio Lopez," Rev. Myers said and a round of applause erupted.
The happy couple beamed as they exited down the aisle. Behind them, Corrie and Antonio met up beneath the arbor before turning to walk back to the house just like they had practiced – but there was one slight change. Corrie laid a kiss on Antonio's cheek which he promptly wiped off with his hand before huffing down the aisle beside her.
"We don't s'posed to do that!" the youngster groused, unaware of the roaring laughter coming from the crowd.
"Uh-huh, 'cause we got married!" Corrie scolded, propping one hand on her hip as she walked down the aisle one step behind him.
"Sounds about right," Roy laughed, leaning towards the ear of Chet. "Just you wait and see."
Chet wanted to say something in retort but realized it was time for him to exit. He held out his elbow towards Lexi who graciously accepted it, thankful she had not been matched up to exit with Mike.
Roy exited next, stopping beside his wife and offering her an arm.
Mike stepped up to the arbor, extending his arm to Bri who curved her hand into the crook of his elbow. Her eyes were on Sam as she walked back down the aisle.
Hank followed his engineer, stopping to collect his wife before heading towards the house. Johnny was last, stopping to escort Maria back down the aisle. The chaplain announced that the couple wanted the guests to join them inside for the traditional toast and cutting of the cake.
Inside, Marco and Beverly stood behind their wedding cake while the guests filed inside. The cake was cut, toasts were made, photos were taken both inside and outside. Music blared as hot food was taken to the tables set up in the backyard. Lexi reached for the hand of her young son just before he stepped back outside to join in the revelry.
"We've got to get you out of that suit, young man, and into something more comfortable," she said, walking quickly towards the stairs. "Something that you can get dirty."
"Then can I go play outside?"
"Yes… then you can go outside and play with Corrie," she replied.
"Noooo!"
Lexi was halfway up the stairs with her son in tow when she heard his abrupt change of attitude. "What?"
"I don't want to play with Corrie. She jus' likes weddin' stuff. I'm a boy, not a girl!" Antonio announced, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Ant… Let's go change your clothes and we'll talk about it, alright?"
The child pouted but followed his mother towards his bedroom. "I don't like girls no more," he muttered.
In the backyard, Johnny was enjoying photographing the guests. "A'right, Chet, now put your arm around Caroline and Corrie, you just stand right there, little lady," he said, adjusting the hem of her dress before backing up and snapping a few pictures. "Perfect!"
"Why don't I take a picture of you and Lily?"
Johnny spun around to see a smiling Samford standing with his hand reaching for the camera. "It can be your engagement picture."
Iris, having overheard the comment, clapped her hands beneath her chin. "That's a lovely idea!"
Caroline watched the engagement pictures being taken, then saw Corrie trying to balance a cup of punch on a saucer. "Uh-oh… Corrie!"
Antonio came bounding out of the back door just as Caroline and Corrie reached the steps. "See, Corrie? I told you Antonio was probably changing his clothes, too." The young mother patted the exiting child on his head as he scurried past them.
Chet made his way to his van in search of the change of clothing for Corrie that Caroline had packed in a tote bag. Finding it, he closed the door then hurried through the front door, running into Lexi at the base of the stairs. He saw that she was wearing a pair of jeans with a sweater. "So, you look more comfortable," he chuckled. "Seen Caroline and Corrie?"
"Yea… in my room," Lexi commented, never looking at the lineman.
Chet rolled his eyes at the young woman's demeanor and continued up the stairs. He listened for the voices he recognized and knocked on the door.
"Come in," Caroline called out, pulling Corrie's dress over her head.
"Here ya go," he said, passing the bag to his fiancée. "What's up with Lexi?" he asked, accepting the flower girl's dress being handed to him. He reached into the bag and withdrew a padded hanger for the small garment.
"Who knows… Can't be the wedding because she loves Beverly," the young mother said, helping Corrie change into her casual clothes.
As soon as the child had on her socks and shoes, she scampered towards the door. "Can I go back outside now, Mommy?"
"Go ahead but go slowly down those stairs, honey," she said, carefully placing the child's shoes and wreath into the tote bag. Realizing that Chet had become much too quiet, she looked up to see him staring at the bridesmaid gown hanging on the back of the closet door.
"Um… Caroline?"
"Yes?"
"What does this mean?" he asked, pulling the sleeve aside to reveal the price tag still attached.
Caroline's eyes widened. "Why on earth…" She didn't finish her comment as she reached for a closer look. "This doesn't make sense. It isn't like she needs to return it." She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth. Chet recognized the behavior and knew that she was contemplating something nefarious.
"Caroline…"
"C'mon, Chet… If we're careful… no one will ever know."
"I can't believe the Phantom is saying this but… this is wrong!"
"I know it is but… maybe we can find a reason for how she's behaving…"
Chet thought about it briefly, then shuffled to the door. "Make it quick. I'll keep watch."
In the backyard, the happy couple were dancing and laughing while their guests mingled about. Joe Early had a small crowd around him while he explained why Beverly had asked him to escort her down the aisle. Iris and Mrs. Lopez were ensuring that the tables remained full of food. Antonio was hiding from Corrie as the little girl ran around with Marco's nieces in search of the youngster. And sitting in a front porch rocker, sipping on a beer, was Mike. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Antonio ducking beneath the far edge of the front porch and gave the child a nod of approval. When the front door swung open and several giggling girls rushed out, he reached to halt them from running into the rocking chair.
"Whoa… where are you little ladies going in such a rush?" He already knew the answer, having conferred with Antonio while he was helping the child hide a few moments earlier.
"We're lookin' for Ant! Have ya seen him?" Corrie asked, her face pink from the exertion of running around.
"Hmmm," Mike said, scratching his chin without actually answering the little girl. "Have you checked in the downstairs bathroom?"
Cherubic eyes widened. "C'mon!" Corrie said to the others, leading the group through the front door.
"Slow down, Corrie!" Caroline called over her shoulder as she tightened her grip on the tote bag while Chet followed her onto the porch. Chet held Corrie's dress above his head to keep it from being run into by the throng of giggling girls. Neither had expected to see Mike sitting there.
"Oh, hey, Mike," Chet said, walking across the porch and down the steps with Caroline by his side.
Mike merely nodded, giving Antonio another quick wink. His hiding place was good as neither of the exiting adults had seen him.
Chet opened the back of the van, positioning himself so that Mike wouldn't overhear his conversation with Caroline. "Should we tell him what we found?"
"No… of course not. We aren't supposed to know!"
"Well, what's the point of knowing if we don't use the information we've got?" Chet asked.
Caroline didn't answer his question. "Something bad is going to happen, Chet. I just know it."
"Yea, especially if we let other people know what you did?"
"What I did? What WE did!"
Chet lowered his voice. "Nu-uh, you rummaged through her purse and desk drawer."
"And you were my accomplice, buster," she replied, poking her index finger into his chest. She wasn't really angry, just frustrated with the situation. "I just can't put all the pieces together," she said, staring at the ground for a moment. When she looked up, she was staring into the most beautiful set of longing blue eyes she had ever seen.
"Yea, snooping sucks when the person you're snooping on won't divulge all her secrets!" He reached around her waist, kissing her while squeezing her bottom with his hands.
When the kiss ended, Caroline pulled pack, slapping him playfully on the shoulder. "Not here! What if somebody saw us?"
"Fine… get in the van and I'll lock the doors," he snickered, leaning in for another kiss.
"Get a room, you two!" Mike called from the porch, the beer mixing with his own blue mood, reducing his sense of social acceptableness.
"Get a room for what?"
Mike looked over at the bewildered face of Antonio. He belched into his closed fist. "Um, excuse me. Uh, nothin', buddy. Let's you and me see if we can go find something to drink, 'kay?" Mike was grateful to see that his diversion tactic had worked. It seemed that the youngster was more excited to spend time with him than he was curious about what men and women do when they get rooms. "Hey, let's get another beer for me and a root beer for you."
As Antonio walked into the house, he began to squirm. "Mr. Mike? I got to go pee. Will you help me unbuckle my belt?"
Mike looked around, wondering where the girls had gone. He had previously directed them to the downstairs bathroom. "Yea, but we better take you upstairs; don't want the girls to find you, do you?"
"Noooo," the little boy laughed as he ran up the stairs with his favorite engineer close on his heels.
Mike helped Antonio unbuckle his belt then turned his back as the little boy relieved himself. After ensuring that the youngster had washed his hands thoroughly and had his pants zipped and belt secured, he felt his own need for relief.
"Head on downstairs and let me use the restroom, too, okay? I'll meet you in the kitchen to get our drinks."
Antonio hurried down the stairs and slipped into the kitchen, hiding beneath the kitchen table. He didn't want the girls to find him while he was waiting on Mike. He heard the back door open but realized that the footsteps he heard did not belong to Corrie or his cousins.
"Ant?"
Antonio recognized his mother's voice. He pushed aside the chairs and climbed from beneath the table.
"What on earth are you doing under the table?"
"Hidin' from girls," he admitted, sheepishly. "And I'm waitin' on Mr. Mike to come downstairs, so we can get beers."
Lexi opened her mouth in shock just as Mike pushed through the kitchen doorway.
Mike felt his stomach flip at the sight of Lexi. He pressed his lips together but decided to show no emotions. He was good at hiding his feelings. "Hello, Lexi." He didn't wait for a response. Instead, he reached his hand toward Antonio. "Ready to find us something to drink?"
"He said you two are getting BEER, Michael," Lexi spat out, her hands on her hips and face turning red.
Mike knitted his eyebrows together in confusion, then softened his expression when understanding crept through his mind. "Ohh… ROOT beer… He's getting root beer." He headed for the back door, using his hand to lightly direct the child before turning his head back toward Lexi. "I am NOT that stupid," he growled in a low rumble.
"And then we're gonna keep hidin' from girls!" Antonio announced, unaware of the tension between Mike and Lexi.
Mike wanted to laugh but he realized that Antonio was right. That was why he had been sitting alone on the front porch earlier- he was avoiding Lexi. He was a fireman; he ran into burning buildings for a living. It was time he quit running from a twenty-year-old woman and stood up to her instead. It was time that he moved forward with his life… and left Alexia Lopez behind.
Lexi watched the two of them walk out the back door before she stomped up the stairs and into her bedroom. She needed a break from all the revelry… and her encounter with Michael Stoker. His presence in her childhood home and his interaction with her son were just more reminders of all that she was going to be leaving behind.
She shoved open the door to her room and plopped down on her bed. She only had a few minutes to collect herself before she had to return to the festivities. Beverly and Marco would be leaving soon, and she had to make an appearance to watch the bouquet toss and throw a little rice in their direction as they left for their honeymoon.
She curled onto her side, resting her head on her pillow. She was about close her eyes when she noticed something unusual. Her purse, which she always left hanging from the left side of her desk chair with the flap facing inward, was now hanging with the flap facing outwards… and the toggle was not turned in a completely horizontal position. She sat up quickly, narrowing her eyes as she scrutinized her entire room.
In a near panic, she kneeled down and ran her hands between her mattress and box springs. When she felt the cool metal and the cardboard box, she exhaled loudly. At least her weapon and ammunition were secure. But someone had obviously been rummaging through her personal belongings. Her first thought was Joanne, but she quickly dismissed the idea. She hadn't seen Joanne leave the backyard all day. She had given Chet and Caroline permission to use her room to change Corrie's clothes, so they were easily dismissed.
She quickly opened her purse, ensuring that her belongings were all there, but her money had been shifted within its tiny designated compartment. For years, she had been forced to account for every dollar she earned, and that habit had continued even after she had been rescued from Ricardo. She kept her bills, smallest on the outside, folded and tucked into a side pocket inside her purse. Now, instead of being pushed all the way down to the bottom, about a half inch of the money was visible inside the pocket. She recounted it, ensuring that it was all there, then shoved it back into its hiding place. She returned the purse to the chair, in its usual position, then sat down. She opened her desk drawer, making sure that her letters were all neatly stacked in their place in the back of the drawer. They were still sealed so whomever had violated her privacy had not gotten the protected information.
She sighed again, then felt a surge of rage. Hadn't Antonio said that Michael had been upstairs? Why did he need to be alone upstairs unless… "Damn you, Michael Stoker! Damn you to hell!"
E!
The group assembled in the Lopez backyard turned their attention to the bride and groom. All the single ladies hovered near Beverly as she turned her back to them. She tossed her bouquet over her head, then spun around to see whose squeal of delight she had heard.
"Caroline?" she laughed, waving at her friend. "Guess you really are next."
Next, the single men stood huddled together waiting for Marco to remove the blue garter from just above Beverly's knee. Maria sneaked up behind her son who was positioned on one knee in front of his new wife. She reached around his head, placing her hands over his eyes as Johnny snapped a few pictures. The crowd cheered in laughter as Marco, unhindered by his mother's sense of humor, removed the garter, stood up, and shot it like a rubber band from his fingers.
As the garter flew through the air, Antonio yelled to the crowd. "Meeko's got a slingshot!"
Chet leaped into the air but was beaten by a taller man. Johnny snagged the garter with one hand, laughing. "Better luck next time, Chester B."
While everyone else was laughing, Lexi was seething. She had been watching Mike from across the yard, angry at how innocently he was behaving, especially around Antonio. When it was time for the guests to shower the exiting couple with rice as they ran to Marco's awaiting and decorated car, Lexi was ready. She nudged herself into position, handful of rice ready.
Before the happy couple ran towards Marco's car, Joe Early stepped up to Marco, handing him an envelope. "I heard you two were spending tonight at your apartment before heading north in the morning on your honeymoon. Thought you might enjoy this as a wedding gift," he said, passing the card to the groom. "Enjoy tonight on me," he said, grinning.
Marco looked at the front of the envelope and gave the physician a wide smile. "Wow… Thank you, Dr. Early." Marco couldn't wait to share the news with Beverly. They were going to be spending their wedding night at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Mike hoisted Antonio onto his shoulders. Beside him, Chet had Corrie sitting on his shoulders – the youngsters had wanted a better place from which to toss their rice. Antonio and Corrie were laughing, the previous game of hide-and-seek obviously forgotten. They laughed and cheered as they threw their rice into the air, giggling at the way it stuck in Marco's dark hair.
Mike jerked his head backwards as his face was pelted with rice, his eyes feeling like a cat had clawed them. The force with which the rice had hit him left little doubt that he had been targeted. He lowered Antonio from his shoulders, then began removing the pieces that had stuck to his face. No one seemed to have noticed the cleverly disguised assault. When he managed to see again, Lexi was standing close to him, a smug expression on her face.
"Find what you were looking for?" Lexi asked.
"Can't see much of anything yet," he grumbled. "Did you mean to throw that in my face?"
"Did you mean to violate my privacy?" she retorted, sarcastically.
"What?" Mike answered, still blinking his eyes widely.
"Hear me and hear me well, Michael Stoker," Lexi said, her voice barely a whisper through gritted teeth. "You stay the hell away from me and what belongs to me!"
Mike was left perplexed by what had just happened. He watched as Lexi stormed off, pulling a trash bag from a box and beginning to help the other ladies with the clean-up. He gritted his teeth as he helped the Lopez brothers fold up the chairs and tables. He didn't know what had gotten into Lexi… and he no longer cared. He had made the decision earlier in the day. He was moving on.
Chet and Caroline had each been watching Lexi's behavior, especially during the rice toss. As they helped remove the decorations, they exchanged glances.
"Did you see what she did?" Caroline asked.
"Ohhh, yea," Chet responded. He leaned in closer to her ear. "Guess those condoms we found aren't for Stoker."
"Well, if they aren't for him, then…" Caroline silently gasped, her eyes widening. "You don't think she's…"
"Got to be," Chet said, his eyes scanning the backyard in search of the topic of their conversation. "She's workin' the streets again."
"Then Mike better stay away from her," Caroline said, frustration evident in her voice.
"Yea… Or Stoker may catch something Ajax won't remove."