Author's notes: This is the last chapter in this story. I know it leaves a lot of loose ends. For that reason, there will be an epilogue coming soon.
I know this chapter was a long time coming. Real life has been a roller coaster for me this last year. While my health has been stable, thankfully, other members of my family have not been so fortunate. I apologize for the delay in getting to this point. The epilogue is almost finished so it won't be long before I get it posted.
I am so grateful to those of you who have stuck with me on this LONG journey. When I started it, I had no idea that it would take YEARS to finish – over 9 years to be exact. Thank you all for the support, comments, and love shown to me over these years. May your lives be truly blessed.
Chapter 28
"Does this look even to you?" Joanne asked, stepping back from her kitchen table, critically eyeing the white linen tablecloth, a wedding gift from her sister nearly ten years ago.
"Looks fine to me," Roy answered, clinking the crystal dishes as he removed them from the top shelf of the cabinet above the refrigerator, well out of reach of two active young children.
Joanne cut her hazel eyes at her husband. "You didn't even look."
Roy gently placed the fragile dishes in the sink, per his wife's orders, and stepped closer to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, allowing his lips to gently caress the nape of her neck. "I didn't need to… everything you do is perfect, Baby."
Joanne responded with a mere peck on Roy's cheek, then wriggled from his embrace and ran her hand across the tablecloth, flattening out a few wrinkles. She stepped back a little then gave it a final satisfied look, completely missing the eyeroll her husband gave her before he called upstairs to the children.
"C'mon, kids… time to go!"
Chris bounded down the stairs; his baseball glove tucked beneath one arm while he adjusted his cap with his free hand. Roy grimaced at how shaggy his son's hair had gotten but had agreed with Joanne to wait an extra two weeks between haircuts. They wanted his hair to be freshly trimmed for Chet and Caroline's wedding.
Trudging behind her brother, Jennifer rested her chin against her chest with her lower lip protruding. Roy knew why she was pouting and really wished he could leave her at home for Joanne to deal with her. When the child finally reached the bottom of the stairs, she crossed her arms over her chest in defiance.
"I wanna stay for the party," she groused.
Roy placed his hand on his daughter's back, gently urging her towards the front door. He briefly wondered how he was going to manage her behavior as a teenager when he could barely handle her at the age of six years old.
"It's for grown-ups only, Jennifer; we've already discussed it," he said opening the front door. "Have fun, Jo."
"You, too," she replied, turning on the water to give her finest serving dishes a quick wash. If she hadn't been so anxious about the bridal shower, she would've realized how sarcastic her response had sounded. She knew that Roy was in for a miserable morning unless Jennifer's mood changed once they got to the park.
She ran the dishcloth over the dishes, pleased with how each piece sparkled beneath the running water. The three dishes had been gifts from Roy's mother and aunts following their rushed wedding before Roy's deployment to Vietnam. She dried her hands with a paper towel, dabbing it at a couple of tears of regret that burned the corners of her eyes. She had never enjoyed the bliss and happiness of a bridal shower of her own, certainly not a lingerie shower. She wondered how it would have felt to have been the guest of honor at such an event. She and Roy had barely had a wedding, let alone a honeymoon. She hadn't been able to choose something sexy for their first night together as husband and wife.
She had tried to share her feelings with Roy when she had shown him the beautiful negligee she had purchased for Caroline. He had mistaken her comments for regret at not waiting until he returned from Vietnam to have a fancy church wedding. The whole fiasco had led to an argument, complete with tears, but had resulted in a beautiful night of lovemaking. Make-up sex had always been passionate between them, leaving them both completely satiated and feeling emotionally closer than before the argument that preceded the event. She loved Roy with all her heart and soul, and she had absolutely no regrets about a hasty wedding. She was grateful that God had brought Roy home to her safely. They often privately referred to Christopher as Roy's homecoming gift as the child had been born nine months following Roy's return from his tour of duty. Caroline had not been so fortunate, having become a widow at such a young age because of the war. She was so glad that Chet and Caroline had found each other. He was going to be a wonderful husband and a terrific father for Corrie.
She dried the dishes, setting each one in its proper place on the table. She glanced at the clock and realized she had spent more time reminiscing than she thought. She had to hurry to get the food displayed before the guests began arriving.
E!
Lexi carefully applied her make-up, peering into the bathroom mirror to make sure her eyeshadow was balanced. Caroline's bridal shower was her first outing since being released from Rampart following her near-fatal confrontation with her former pimp. Her physical injuries had healed quickly, but her emotional wounds were taking much longer. She had been working closely with her therapist who had agreed that she was ready to begin her re-entry into society.
She felt her heart pounding inside her chest, her anxiety level heightened. What would she do if the ladies rejected her? Caroline had reached out to her, assuring her that she still wanted her to be a bridesmaid. Beverly had also encouraged her, letting her know how much she had struggled when she had first broken free of her pimp, too. It was an odd feeling… true freedom. No more looking over her shoulder or wondering if her family might be targeted for horrific violence. That threat was over. It was time to take back her life.
She brushed her hair back into a loose ponytail, then stared at her image in the mirror. No longer were her eyes sunken into the sockets and the dark circles beneath her deep brown eyes had faded. She had learned to sleep through the night now, no longer startling awake with even the slightest sound. She chuckled at her reflection when she heard the clomping sound coming down the hallway.
"Wearing those cowboy boots to the park, Antonio?"
"Of course, I am," the precocious youngster beamed proudly, standing in the doorway.
Lexi guffawed when she looked at the future cowboy. "Oh, Ant," she began laughing at the outward turned toes of the western attire. "I think you've got your boots on the wrong feet."
Dark eyebrows knitted beneath a wrinkled forehead. "But… they're the only feet I've got."
The young mother tried, but failed, to stifle a belly laugh. "I meant that you need to switch your boots like this," she explained, pointing her index fingers at his shoes then crossing them.
The puzzled expression on the boy's face morphed into complete understanding. He quickly plopped himself onto the bathroom floor, pulling off his boots and placing them on correctly. "Like this?"
"Yes, my little cowboy," Lexi grinned, bending down to kiss the top of his head. "Now, you better go downstairs to wait on Meeko. He'll be here any minute."
"A'righty, ma'am," he said in an exaggerated drawl, tucking his chin to his chest as he pretended to dip an invisible hat in acknowledgement. He knew he wasn't allowed to wear his prized cowboy hat to the park. It was too special to risk getting it damaged or left behind. But he had a good imagination and completed the motions with perfection.
The sound of the front door opening grabbed his attention. "Bye, Momma… I love you," he shouted, bounding down the hall like a galloping mustang.
"I love you, too," she called after him, smiling to herself as he chattered all the way down the stairs to greet his favorite uncle.
She applied lipstick and lip gloss then gave herself one final look in the mirror. Satisfied, she turned off the light, closing the door behind her. Across the hall, she pulled her sweater off the knob of her bedroom door, pulling it on as she made her way downstairs.
She stopped at the bottom of the stairs, smiling at the scene being played out before her. Marco was giving Antonio a 'horsy' ride on his back, clomping around the living room.
"Ride 'em, Cowboy," Lexi giggled, wishing she had a camera to capture the moment. Seeing that the three of them were the only ones in the living room, she looked over at her brother. "Where's Beverly?"
Marco jerked his head in the direction of the kitchen. "Mama is getting her an aspirin." His countenance fell a little, carefully lowering his nephew to the floor. "Please keep an eye on her, will ya, sis?"
"Is something wrong?"
He leaned in a little closer to Lexi's ear, not wanting to be overheard by Antonio who was quietly digging through his toybox in search of his soccer ball. "She's been putting in a lot of hours… I think she's overdoing it, but she just won't slow down."
Lexi offered him a simple nod in response as the kitchen door swung open and Ms. Lopez came into the room.
"She's drinking a glass of water. I think she's a bit dehydrated," the older woman explained. "But I'll take these along, just in case," she added, dropping the bottle of aspirin into her purse. She positioned the purse on her forearm and gathered up the white box with the red and blue ribbons. "Goodness, but I feel too old for this kind of young people's party," she said with a blush.
Lexi grinned, knowing how easily embarrassed her mother could be. She knew the woman was going to be as red as a beet before the lingerie shower was over. She picked up the package she had purchased and stepped closer to her mother. "Just wait until you see what I bought for her," she said with a knowing wink.
The older woman covered her eyes with her hand, muttering something in her native tongue.
Beverly walked into the room, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Lexi, do you mind driving? My head is splitting. I'm hoping those aspirin will kick in before the shower starts."
"Sure," Lexi agreed, accepting the proffered keys from Marco. "Maybe you just need a couple of mimosas and some girl time," she said with a giggle.
"No doubt," Beverly replied, accepting a kiss on the cheek from her husband.
"Take it easy, Sweetheart, okay?" Marco whispered - concern evident in his voice.
"It's a bridal shower, not a court hearing," she responded, rolling her eyes. "I'll be fine once the aspirin gets rid of my headache."
Marco reached out, holding her upper arms loosely as he looked into her fatigued green eyes. "You've been burning the candle at both ends lately… You need some rest."
She offered him a weak smile before turning towards the door. "You worry too much… I'll rest when I get home from the shower… I promise."
Marco watched the three of them walk out the door. His gut was nagging at him that something else was going on, but he had to trust her. She had been through so much in her life, before she met him, surely, she could handle the occasional rough couple of weeks at the Wellhouse.
Antonio watched as the maroon sedan backed out of the driveway. "Meeko? How're we gonna get to the park?"
Marco looked down at the curious child. "Uncle Chet and Corrie are going to pick us up. In fact," he hesitated, glancing at his watch, "they should be here any minute."
"Yippee!"
Across town, Mike pulled to a stop in a parallel parking spot. He turned off the engine and rolled his window down, propping his elbow on the ledge. The sun was bright, but the March breeze still carried a bit of cool crispness in the air. He inhaled a deep breath. When Marco had told him about the outing, he hadn't made any promises to be there, but he hadn't seen Antonio in nearly a month. He missed the little fellow and hoped that spending a little quality time with him would improve his somber mood.
He stared at the playground, the empty swings moving slightly in the wind. His heart ached. He knew that Antonio wasn't the only one he was missing. But was she missing him, or was her therapy opening her eyes to the fact that he had only been the man who had rescued her – not the man she was in love with?
Several times in the last few weeks, he had reached for the phone to call her, but had changed his mind before dialing. Marco rarely mentioned his sister when they were on shift. In fact, Marco had been a little on the quiet side for the last couple of shifts. Mike had begun to think that Lexi was probably no longer asking about him. Did that mean she no longer held any interest in him? Had she moved on? Was she seeing someone else?
The sound of a honking horn startled him out of his reverie. He glanced in his rearview mirror to see a familiar van pulling into the spot behind him. His heart nearly burst when he saw the side door slide open and a dark-haired little boy with a big grin jump out and run towards him.
E!
The happy sounds of ladies chattering wafted through the DeSoto living room. In the kitchen, Dixie was preparing a tray of mimosas while Joanne added the floral arrangement in the center of the table. As soon as she stepped back to take a look at her handiwork, she heard Dixie's soothing voice.
"Great job, Joanne," the older woman said in her smoky voice. "And that centerpiece is perfect."
"Iris can do amazing things with flowers and ribbons," Joanne responded.
"That woman could make a centerpiece out of weeds and toilet paper," Dixie said with a soft chuckle, suddenly startled by a camera flash.
"Johnny's gonna be so proud of me," Lily giggled, continuing to snap pictures of the food table and the two hostesses.
"I can't believe he trusted you with his camera," Joanne commented, blinking away the spots in her vision from the camera flash. "That's true love," she mused.
"It's… It's so beautiful," Caroline remarked, gasping as she walked through the front door. She had never been the guest of honor at a party.
All the ladies gathered around her, welcoming her to the festivities. A familiar voice broke through the rest of the chatter.
"Hello, Caroline."
The young woman gasped, shocked by the surprise guest at her shower. "Momma Marks? I can't believe you're here!"
Miriam pulled her daughter-in-law into a hug. "Oh, Caroline, I wouldn't miss it for the world." She released her hug, stepping back to take in Caroline's beauty. Her face was glowing, and her eyes were sparkling. Miriam felt a hint of sadness but quickly pushed it from her mind. She knew that Caroline had never been this happy with Cory. She knew that the two of them had rushed to the courthouse for a hasty wedding before Cory left for Vietnam. She was a young mother, widowed a few months after getting married. Corrie had been the only true spark of happiness Caroline had known in her young life… until now.
"I feel a little silly buying lingerie for you. I'm sure the cashier was wondering if an old lady like me was buying it for myself," she chuckled.
"I know how you felt," Maria Lopez jumped in, rolling her eyes then laughing. It felt good to laugh. She hadn't done much of that over the previous five years, but today she felt free to enjoy herself. Her daughter was safe and regaining her health, and Marco was a happily married man. She glanced over at her daughter-in-law. She saw Beverly accepting a mimosa from the tray Dixie was passing around. Maybe all she needed was a chance to relax and get away from the stresses of her job for a few hours.
"Alright, ladies, let's eat first and then we can carry this party into the den and get ready for Caroline to try on all the naughty nighties we bought for her," Joanne said with a giggle.
Caroline's eyes widen and she nearly spit out the drink in her mouth. She began quickly shaking her head. "Nooooo, nuh-uh… I don't think so," she stammered out, glad to see that her hostess was only kidding.
"No worries, Caroline," Dixie spoke softly. "We'll see the sexy garments, but only Chet should actually see you wearing them… at least for a couple of minutes," she added with a playful wink.
Lexi laughed out loud, noticing how red her mother's face had become. She felt her own cheeks warming up as she drank more of her beverage. She hadn't eaten breakfast, saving her appetite for the bridal brunch, but now she was wondering if that had been a good idea. She began filling her plate with various fruits and pastries, a sense of contentment washing over her countenance. It felt good to finally be living a normal life.
E!
"Higher!"
"That's high enough, Antonio," Mike responded, using both hands to push the youngster in the swing.
"But I wanna go higher!"
Mike snickered to himself. He watched as the little boy held on tightly to the chains, his knuckles white under the strain. He knew the child was trying to compete with the older boy swinging beside him.
"Hey… watch this," Chris called out, releasing his grip on the chains of the swing.
Roy opened his mouth to scold his older child, knowing exactly what his son had in mind, but he was too late. He swiped at Chris' back, the boy's shirt slipping from his grasp as the child soared through the air, leaping from the moving swing. He saw his son land with a thud in the sandy patch in front of the swings.
"Oomph," Chris grunted, landing on his feet, but feeling the vibration up through his knees. The discomfort was short-lived as he pumped his fist in the air, "I did it!"
"Yeah, and now I'm gonna do it," Roy added, stepping to the side of the swing as it continued to sweep back and forth like a clock pendulum. "Park it, Mister!" The angry father reacted, pointing towards the empty picnic table opposite the swing set.
"Ahh, Da-ad!"
"Now, Christopher!" He watched Chris' face redden as he trudged toward the empty bench of the wooden table. He turned around to see Mike helping Antonio out of the swing. As soon as the little boy's feet touched the ground, he rushed off towards the place where Johnny, Marco, and Chet were pushing the girls on the merry-go-round. As soon as the child was out of hearing range, he spoke up.
"Know anybody looking to adopt a 9-year-old daredevil?" he asked the lineman. "I can't imagine how mad Joanne would be with me if I called her from Rampart to tell her I let Chris break his leg."
Mike grimaced, shaking his head. "Got your hands full with that one, huh?"
"Both of them," Roy corrected. "Jennifer had a meltdown before we left home because she wanted to stay for the pajama party," he said rolling his eyes. "She didn't understand why a pajama party would be for grown-ups only… She pouted all the way over here."
Mike, not one known for saying much, grinned and spoke up. "Better to have her pouting than asking what kind of pajamas Caroline is getting."
Roy shook his head with a snicker. "I'd rather tell Joanne about a broken leg." He squinted his eyes in Johnny's direction, seeing how happy his daughter seemed to be with her surrogate uncle. "Well… Jennifer seems fine now."
"Kids always behave better for other people than they do their own parents," the engineer said, hoping to cheer up his friend. "Imagine the fun you'll have with Johnny's kids… they'll be great for their Uncle Roy… not so much for their father," he chuckled.
"I dunno… Johnny just seems to have a way with kids," Roy replied, his frustration from the morning evident in his voice.
"Maybe it's because they're on the same mental level," Mike joked, propping one hand on his hip.
As if on que, Johnny called over to the two men standing beside the swing set. "Hey, the kids are gettin' hungry… You fellas 'bout ready to grab a hotdog?"
Mike exchanged a knowing glance with Roy and both of them broke out in laughter. "You know what that means, right, Roy?"
"Of course, I do… It's Johnny's way of saying that HE'S hungry." Roy motioned for Chris to follow them as they headed for the pavilion where the hotdog stand had been set up. "That partner of mine is a bottomless pit!"
E!
Dixie had been keeping an eagle eye on Beverly throughout the party. Now the younger woman was sitting alone, rubbing her temples, as the rest of the women were cleaning up the leftover food and the remnants of the wrapping paper from the gifts. Smiles and laughter continued to permeate the DeSoto home, compliments of the good time the ladies had been having while showering Caroline with lingerie along with the mimosas they had been enjoying.
Dixie stepped over to the place where Beverly sat in the living room. She reached down beside the chair, grabbing the three fluted glasses with used napkins stuffed inside. "Finished?"
Beverly glanced down beside her feet then up towards the smiling face of the nurse. "Oh… um, yes… thank you." She pressed the palms of her hands on the chair arms, pushing herself up. She felt slightly dizzy, hesitating for a moment while she regained her bearings. "Alcoholic beverages and a headache don't go well together," she said with a strained smile.
Joanne slowly crammed a handful of discarded ribbon into a trash bag while watching Dixie and Beverly with concern. When the nurse grabbed Beverly's arm, easing her back into the chair, Joanne stepped closer. "Are you feeling okay?"
Beverly offered the hostess a nonchalant wave of her hand. "Yea, just been working a lot of hours… and a little too much champagne," she answered.
Dixie looked over at Joanne while she squeezed Beverly's shoulder in a show of support. "Is your guest room available? Maybe she should lie down for a few minutes."
"Sure, c'mon," Joanne said, reaching for Beverly's arm. "We'll close the door and it'll be fairly quiet."
Maria was busy helping Miriam wash dishes, but Lexi saw Joanne leading her sister-in-law down the short hallway and looked worriedly at Dixie. "Is her headache back?"
Dixie knitted her eyebrows together. "How long has she had a headache?"
"Not sure… Mama gave her an aspirin when she and Marco got to our house. He asked me to keep an eye on her because she's been putting in too many hours lately." The younger woman took a step towards the hallway. "Maybe I should check on her."
Dixie grabbed the young woman's elbow, halting her from her forward progress. "I'm sure she's fine. She had these beside her chair," the nurse said, holding up the three glasses and giving Lexi a knowing wink. "I doubt these helped her headache much."
"Probably not," Lexi agreed. She took the glasses from Dixie's hand. "I'll take these to Mama."
Dixie kept an eye on the door of the guest room while she continued to help straighten up the dining room. As soon as Joanne returned to the kitchen, Dixie pushed the last chair back into place at the DeSoto table, then headed down the hallway herself. She lightly knocked on the bedroom door, then let herself in.
Beverly was lying on her back, her hands folded across her abdomen. Her eyes fluttered open as she turned her head to see who was coming into the room. She smiled weakly, closing her eyes once more. "Did Joanne send in the nurse to check on me?"
Dixie closed the door behind her then sat down on the edge of the bed. "No… Joanne doesn't know I'm in here."
"I just had too much to drink, Dixie; I'm fine," Beverly said, her voice a little more curt than she intended.
"How could that be when you barely drank anything?"
Beverly opened her eyes, turning her head to face the older woman. "I had 3 mimosas, Dixie. I don't drink much at all now, so my body just isn't used to it."
"C'mon, Beverly… I've been watching you all morning. You spit out more than you drank. I saw how many napkins you were using. You hardly ate anything either."
"Are you calling me a liar?" Beverly questioned, her tone becoming defensive. "I'm tired and I've had more to drink than I'm used to… end of story."
Dixie reached for her wrist, checking her pulse as she counted Beverly's respirations. "So…," she hesitated, completing her counts, noting that the younger woman's pulse rate was much too high for someone in a resting position. "How far along are you?"
"I… I don't know what you mean."
"Oh, knock it off, Beverly. You and I have known each other for a long time. I've seen you when you were so exhausted you could barely put one foot in front of the other, and yet you did, for the sake of the young woman you were at the emergency department to help. You've always been straight up with those girls AND with the medical staff… Now you're trying to feed me a load of bullshit… and I won't stand for it."
The nurse waited and watched as Beverly's lower lip began to tremble. A lone tear escaped from the corner of her right eye, leaving a damp streak along her face as she turned her head away from Dixie.
"I… I'm so scared, Dixie."
"Beverly Marsh Lopez… the woman I've seen face down monsters that would buckle the knees of most police officers… the bravest woman I've ever met… Is afraid of pregnancy?"
"Wha…" She sniffled, squeezing her eyes shut as she forced out the words. "What if I… Oh, Dixie… I don't know how to be a mother! What if I disappoint Marco? What if I do something wrong and upset Mama Lopez? What if… What if I lose this one, too?"
"Shhhhh," the nurse crooned, gently stroking Beverly's hair away from her face. "You haven't answered my question. How far along are you?"
The younger woman merely shook her head. "I… I don't even know for sure that I'm pregnant."
"You mean… you haven't seen a doctor?"
Again, Beverly shook her head. "Marco doesn't suspect anything. He just thinks I'm working too hard. I… I can't tell him. What if I'm… I mean, what if I can't have children after the…"
Dixie knew what she was thinking. She had first met Beverly after she had nearly died from a forced abortion across the border in Mexico. She knew how deeply that had impacted the young woman, feeling that her near fatal experience had been a punishment by a brutal God who hated her for being a prostitute… as though the profession and resulting medical fiasco had been of her own choosing. It had taken several years for her to come to the realization that she had been a victim of a ruthless trafficking ring… where money and pleasuring men were more important than the lives those pursuits destroyed. She knew Beverly wanted children, wanted to raise a family with the man who loved her, but she also knew that the young woman feared never being able to achieve such a blessing… fearing that she was permanently scarred and completely unworthy of such joy.
The kind nurse used a neatly manicured finger to guide Beverly's chin so that she was facing her. "Beverly… that was a long time ago and you were never given a choice in the matter. Your body has recovered. And if you are pregnant, you need to get into care as soon as possible. When was your last period?"
"A couple of weeks before Marco and I got married."
Dixie pressed her lips together, mentally calculating the weeks. "That means you were at your most fertile time during your honeymoon. So… you could be well into your second trimester. Have you had any bleeding, even spotting since then?"
Beverly shook her head.
"Any nausea… breast tenderness?"
"Both."
A warm smile spread across Dixie's face. "Well… I think you need to come by Rampart in the morning and let's do a test. No one will suspect anything… not even Marco, if I call you as soon as I go on shift. Try not to use the bathroom before you get there. First morning's urine is the most accurate for these tests, okay?"
"Are you sure no one will find out?"
"Well… if the test is positive, I think you need to at least let Marco know," she said, with a playful wink.
"Do… Do you think I …. I might really be…"
"We'll know for sure in the morning. But right now, let's go back to the party before we rouse suspicions."
E!
March 27, 1976 was a perfect day for an outdoor wedding. The white wooden chairs were aligned neatly in rows, the ones along the aisle were adorned with ruby-red and navy-blue ribbons that danced in the gentle breeze. The chairs were facing a silver-toned archway decorated with a variety of flowers in patriotic hues. Among the decorations, hydrangeas in deep blue, red and white carnations and roses, and matching red, white, and blue ribbons awaited the bride and groom to take their places. It was obvious that Iris had used her unmatched floral skills to make the setting perfect, and Greg and Miriam Marks had spared no expense to make the day special.
Beverly took her position at the front of the line of bridesmaids as the soft music echoed in her ears. She carried a small nosegay in red, white, and blue that nestled against her abdomen, feeling the fluttering of the tiny life growing there. She smiled to herself as she thought about the tears of joy that had coursed down Marco's face when she had told him the news. She had been afraid that he would be angry that she had not started prenatal care earlier, but he understood her concerns. After all these years, she still felt like she didn't deserve the happiness of being both a wife and a mother. Marrying Marco Lopez had been the best thing that had ever happened to her, so how could she believe that her second dream would also be fulfilled? Yet, it had. Yes, she would have to put her plan of becoming a therapist on hold, but she was more than content with the direction her life had taken. Being the founder of the Wellhouse is what had brought her into the lives of the Lopez family.
The music changed and she looked up to see the men of Station 51 making their way to the altar. Her gaze landed on her handsome husband as he stood beside an obviously nervous Chet. She blushed when he offered her a knowing wink. The cool morning breeze was reminiscent of the chill that had gone up her spine when he ran his fingers across her belly after she had informed him of the positive pregnancy test at Rampart. His eyes had sparkled, then glistened.
"I love you, Bev… and I love you too, little one," he said, dropping to his knees and kissing her abdomen.
They had decided to keep their joyous news between themselves until after Chet and Caroline's wedding. They didn't want to take the focus off the happy couple. Of course, Dixie and Dr. Brackett knew. She offered a friendly grin to the two medical professionals sitting in the back row, knowing her secret was safe with them. She thought of what a handsome couple they made and briefly wondered why they had never married.
On cue, Beverly began making her way down the aisle. The navy-blue dress was fitting a little tighter than it should have but no one seemed to notice. Maria had done a remarkable job of letting it out so that her baby bump wasn't obvious. The older woman, the only other person aware of Beverly's condition, had agreed to keep the impending birth of her grandchild a private matter. Beverly fought back a snicker as she remembered the look on her mother-in-law's face when she asked her if she could alter her dress for the wedding. Maria had eyed her suspiciously, raising both eyebrows in a look of hopeful anticipation. She had squealed with delight when Beverly had given her an affirmative nod but was quickly cautioned about the need to keep the news a secret. She hugged the mother-to-be tightly, sniffling with tears of joy. She promptly agreed to remain silent but the rosy look on her face as Beverly walked past her down the aisle let the younger woman know just how excited she was about the new addition to the Lopez family. Beverly took her place at the altar then turned to face the next bridesmaid.
Lily slowly walked down the aisle in a ruby red gown. Johnny watched with a lop-sided grin as the mocha beauty smiled at him. The pearly headband she wore allowed Johnny to see her face clearly, even though the breeze tried to push her dark locks forward. Their eyes locked and he thought she looked beautiful. He knew she was going to make a gorgeous bride. He had fallen in love with her when they were mere teenagers. Their chance encounter as he was hitchhiking had led him on a journey to Alabama during the height of the civil rights movement over a decade earlier. The two of them had bonded due to having witnessed so much violence and both being of mixed heritage. Now, they would soon be joining their lives forever, symbolically uniting three cultures, and triumphantly overcoming the prejudices of their ancestors. His heart swelled with pride that soon she would be making her proverbial walk down the aisle and would become Mrs. John Roderick Gage.
Beverly watched with a sense of pride as her sister-in-law began her slow walk towards the altar, wearing a dress that matched her own, albeit a little looser in the waist. She noted that a certain engineer, standing stoically beside Marco, never took his eyes off the pretty bridesmaid as she sashayed into her place. Her dark hair was gathered at the nape of her neck by a ribbon that perfectly matched her blue gown. Beverly thought she looked beautiful and, thankfully, healthy. She was beginning to see confidence in the younger woman and silently sent up a prayer of thanksgiving for reuniting Lexi with her family. Beverly shifted her eyes slightly, casting a quick glance beyond the place where Lexi stood. There she couldn't help but notice the blush that colored the tips of Mike's ears as his eyes lingered a little longer than necessary in Lexi's direction. Although he was trying to hide it, Beverly could see the sadness in his chiseled features. Only time would tell if Antonio might one day experience the joy that little Corrie was soon to experience, the joy of a father's love.
Mike stood in position, as still as though he were at roll call in at the station. His heart felt as though it had skipped a beat when Lexi made her entrance. She had gained a little weight and her skin had a glow he had never seen before. His azure gaze followed the dark-haired beauty, but his mind was sent reeling back in time. He remembered the first time they had met. She had assumed he was picking her up for sex, but he was actually working with Marco to attempt to rescue her off the streets. It had taken a lot of effort, but he finally had gotten through to her, convinced her that she deserved a better life. Over time, he had fallen in love with her. However, in a moment of weakness, he had made love to her – and he had regretted it ever since. He felt as though he had taken advantage of her vulnerability and he hated himself for it. He thought about the letter he had received from her, the one that still remained tucked beside his phone. She had poured out her heart to him in that letter, obviously believing that she would not survive her meeting with Ricardo. In her letter, she had said her final farewell to him, but she had also told him that she did love him. Over the last few weeks, he had questioned that comment many times. He had purposefully given her space away from him, neither calling nor visiting with her. He thought that time away from him might help her see the truth – that she only thought she was in love with him because he had been instrumental in her rescue. But the time apart had done nothing to lessen his feelings for her. While he was watching her, she turned her head in his direction, their eyes locking, and she gave him a simple smile. Yet, the smile was one like he had not often seen from her. It was a smile that lit up her entire face, including her deep brown eyes. It was genuine… and it was solely for him. He offered her a quick nod, but before he could respond with a smile of his own, she averted her gaze to the next lady walking down the aisle.
Rebecca Stanley was next and gave her husband an adoring look as she walked toward the altar. It hadn't been very long ago that she had feared losing him, either to divorce or by his own hand. The death of a young firefighter under his command had taken a toll on the captain. She could see a few more gray hairs accumulating around his temples. Glancing at the other men beside him, all wearing their dress uniforms filled her with bittersweet thoughts. Her red dress made her eyes sparkle but the reminder of what could have been just a few months earlier made her eyes moisten. These same men could have been wearing their dress blues at Hank's funeral. Thanks to them, she had gotten her Hank back and now he stood with them. She had always known her husband was a hero, but these brave young men who looked up to him for direction were just as heroic in her eyes. She loved each one of them. She especially had a fondness for the junior lineman. When Hank had punched him while on shift, he could have ended the older man's stellar career with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. But that incident remained hidden from headquarters. Chet had refused to file a complaint and Mike had determined that it wasn't necessary to take steps to relieve Hank from his duty as captain of the A-shift at Station 51. She used her fingertips to stop her mascara from running. No one suspected that her tears of joy and gratitude were for the five men standing with her husband in their midst, not for the impending nuptials. She stepped into position, turning to face the matron of honor.
Joanne began waltzing down the aisle in her blue flowing gown, looking elegant with her short auburn hair held back on one side by a white pearly comb. Roy's face brightened as he watched his beautiful wife, walking so elegantly in the formal gown that showed off her figure. No one would ever have known that she had given birth to two children. He had come so close to losing her during a time when he had questioned her love and fidelity. His insecurity and frustration had weakened his resolve to a point that he had almost compromised his own wedding vows. He hoped that Chet would never allow a lack of communication to create a dilemma like the one to which he had nearly succumbed.
Those who had gathered to witness the exchange of wedding vows suddenly began snickering and offering up their 'oohs and ahhs' as the next duo began walking down the aisle. Corrie was wearing a white dress with the hem just above her white ballerina slippers. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a tight bun with ringlets framing her cherubic face. In one hand she carried a white basket with navy blue ribbons dangling from the sides and filled with deep crimson rose petals. Her other hand was tugging on a reluctant Antonio.
"C'mon, A'tonio… We're gettin' married!"
Antonio beamed with pride until he nearly stumbled as he was being dragged down the aisle. When he locked eyes with his mother, he offered her a big grin then looked downward around the small white satin pillow he was carrying. "Look, Momma. I got my boots on the right feet this time!"
Maria, who was sitting in the second row, blushed as she waved her dainty pink ladies' kerchief in his direction, an action he knew meant he had spoken too loudly. He quickly covered his mouth with one hand, nearly dropping the pillow he held in the other.
By the time the precocious couple had made their way to the altar, the entire wedding party was laughing, even the chaplain who stood reverently in front of the decorated archway. Before the two of them parted ways, Corrie turned to Antonio and planted a loud smacking kiss on his lips. The little boy grimaced and wiped his mouth with the satin pillow, then took his place beside Marco.
"She wasn't s'posed to do that, was she?" Antonio asked, looking up at his uncle.
Corrie, realizing that she had forgotten to sprinkle the rose petals along the path her mother was about to take, stepped away from her position beside Joanne and turned the basket upside down in front of the fire chaplain.
Chet felt his nervousness melt away amid his laughter. He had watched the ladies entering in red and blue dresses, reminiscent of the clothing worn by Corrie on that horrible foggy morning when they had first met. He had been the fireman who had removed the still form of the child from beneath Caroline, both trapped in the wreckage of Caroline's van. The little girl had been without respirations or a pulse. Johnny had been busy with an unconscious patient and Roy was tending to Caroline who had suffered a severe back injury. This left Chet to start CPR. His adrenaline-filled body performed the actions with perfection; no one had realized that it was the first time he had performed the life-saving measure on a child. Her tiny body was lying lifeless on the pavement while the other men worked to extricate Caroline from the overturned vehicle. He had worked so hard to revive Corrie while her mother's cries of anguish crushed his heart. Then overwhelming relief had washed over him when the toddler had begun to breathe on her own, opening her green eyes and batting her long eyelashes up at him. She should have been afraid of the stranger with the fluffy hair and mustache staring down at her. Instead, she had smiled at him, and stollen his heart. He remembered brushing her dark blonde hair away from her eyes then looking over at the place where Caroline was lying strapped to a backboard. He recalled how her sobs had turned into cries of joy when he had announced that Corrie had a pulse and spontaneous respirations. A spark inside his heart had been ignited at that moment and he knew that his life would never be the same. He was no longer the immature man whose primary concern was for himself. For that spark had begun to warm his heart to the idea of uniting his life with a loving woman, perhaps even raising a family. And now that day had arrived.
It took several long moments before wits were gathered and guffaws faded. Once the crowd had calmed down, Roy gave Chris the signal and the young boy clicked the button to change the music.
When the first cords of the Bridal March sounded, Greg Marks opened the back door of the DeSoto residence, offered his elbow, and escorted Caroline down the aisle. Those who had been laughing only moments earlier gasped at the beautiful bride being escorted to meet her groom.
Caroline wore a stunning white flowing satin and chiffon gown with long lace-covered sleeves that buttoned at her wrists. The medium length train was made of the same satin and lace. Her hair was swept in a soft loose ponytail gathered by matching satin ribbon. Soft curls fell in front of her ears beneath an over-sized white hat with matching satin and chiffon veiling flowing from the back brim down to the gathered skirt. The modest slight V-neck bodice elongated her slender neck which was adorned by a pearl necklace with matching dangling earrings. She carried a large bouquet of various white flowers, seed pearl sprays, and tiny hints of red and blue flowers as accents. The satin ribbon matched her dress perfectly and fluttered in the breeze as she took the stroll to meet the man she loved.
Chet wiped his eyes with his fingers. He had never seen such a stunning beauty in his entire life. He was about to pledge his undying love and devotion to her and she to him. He felt his heart pounding in his chest and for a moment, he thought he must be dreaming. Then he saw Greg remove her hand from his elbow, kiss her on the cheek, and gently place her hand into Chet's outstretched one. This wasn't a dream… this was what he had been waiting for his entire life.
Greg took his seat next to Miriam in the front row, allowing her to cradle her hand into the crook of his arm. They watched as the young woman who had been like a daughter to them turned to face her groom, prepared to recite the vows to become Mrs. Chester B. Kelly.
The chaplain cleared his throat and began the ceremony. "Chet… Caroline…" he began, looking at each one as he called out their names. "You have come to me signifying your desire to be united in the bonds of matrimony and being assured that no legal or moral obstacle prohibits this union…" The chaplain continued by leading the couple in their vows and the exchanging of rings. but when the formalities were completed, the chaplain neither instructed Chet to kiss his bride nor did he pronounce them to be husband and wife. Instead, he focused on Chet.
"Chet, I believe you have something to add to this ceremony."
Caroline felt her heart leap into her throat. She had no idea what he was planning. She watched as he reached inside his pocket and withdrew a child-sized ring adorned with a crystal ladybug. He looked beyond his beautiful bride to her daughter… his daughter.
"Corrie, will you step over here with your mommy and me, please?"
The little girl grinned from ear to ear, her entire face lighting up. She dropped her empty basket and scurried to the place Chet had indicated. She began swinging from side to side, her dress flowing outward as she swayed. Chet dropped to one knee and reached for her little hand. Holding it in his own, he began.
"Corrie, I love you with all my heart, just like I love your mommy. "Corrie Marks," he looked deeply into her sparkling eyes, "Will you allow me to be your Daddy?"
The little girl who was never at a loss for words, couldn't speak. She grinned, sucking her bottom lip into between her teeth and nearly jumping up and down as she happily nodded her response. She watched as Chet placed the ring on the index finger of her left hand. He held it there, looking from Corrie up to Caroline then back down to Corrie. "Corrie Marks, I promise to love you as my daughter, from this day forward, as long as we both shall live." He looked up at his wife as he continued. "And Caroline, I promise to treasure and love her as you do. I vow to protect her and provide for her as I would my own child." He kissed the little girl's forehead as he stood up. Turning to face Greg and Miriam, he nearly choked on his words, but pushed passed the lump in his throat. This was something he had to assure them. "Greg, Mim, I promise to be the husband and father to Caroline and Corrie that they deserve. And I further vow that your son's memory will never be forgotten and will hold a place of honor in the Kelly household. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity by giving our marriage your blessing."
The older couple sat, overwhelmed. This had been as much of a surprise to them as it was to Caroline and Corrie. Miriam dabbed at a tear in the corner of her eye while Greg tried to find his voice. Failing, he simply nodded his acceptance and gratitude for the public profession made by the young man.
Somehow, the chaplain managed to continue with the ceremony. He had known Chet had a surprise for Corrie, but he had not been given the details. This had to have been the most incredible wedding he had ever officiated. "By the power invested in me by the State of California and County of Los Angeles, I now pronounce you husband and wife… and daughter," he added, grinning down at the beaming face of Corrie. "Chet, you may kiss your bride."
"Gladly," the lineman said, cupping Caroline's face in his hands. He licked his lips, suddenly feeling his nervousness return. He placed a chaste kiss on Caroline's soft lips, a precursor of the enjoyment they would experience later that night. When the kiss ended, he opened his eyes and turned to face the gathered crowd who had come to honor them.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Chester B. Kelly," the chaplain announced.
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Chris clicked on the music and Caroline accepted her bridal bouquet back from Joanne who had been holding it during the ring exchange. Corrie retrieved her basket from the place where she had dropped it and the trio exited down the aisle toward the DeSoto deck for their reception. The men quickly began switching places so they could offer their elbows to escort the special ladies in their lives. Antonio ran ahead of Marco and Beverly, uncaring that this was not how he had rehearsed his exit. Johnny stepped forward when it was Lily's turn, leaving Mike and Lexi as the only two remaining. Nervously, Mike offered his elbow. Lexi accepted it, with a shy smile. She had not wanted to make him feel awkward. They hadn't spoken in several weeks and now they were arm in arm at a wedding. She trembled at his closeness. She had missed him much more than she had realized.
When they reached the end of the chairs, he cleared his throat as they continued walking to the reception. "Ahem… you, ah… you look beautiful, Lexi. I… I truly hope you're doing well."
She stopped, turning to look up at the tall engineer. "I really am… thank you, Michael. Um… so… how have you been?"
Before he could answer, the gathered crowd began walking hurriedly past them towards the reception. There were shouts and laughter while everyone offered their congratulatory remarks to the newlyweds. Lexi caught her son by the collar of his suit as he ran past her.
"Slow down, Antonio. I don't want you getting grass stains on your new pants." By the time she looked up, Mike was being pulled into a conversation with Chet's parents. Charles and Charlotte Kelly hadn't seen Mike in several years and had wanted to catch up with him. There was so much Lexi had wanted to say to Mike, but now it seemed her opportunity was gone. She turned and walked away. If he wanted to find her, he would. She had poured out her heart to him in her last letter, the one she wrote when she had assumed she would be killed by Ricardo. Honestly, there was nothing left to be said.
As the afternoon wore on, and the eating, drinking, and dancing dwindled, Chet and Caroline changed clothes and prepared to leave for their honeymoon. Greg and Miriam had agreed to keep Corrie, grateful to spend time with their grandchild.
Antonio ran up to Chet, tugging on his pants. "Uncle Chet, can I have one of your balloons?"
Chet felt his face flush. "Um… did the guys decorate my car, Ant?"
The little boy nodded. "Uh-huh, but they won't let me have a balloon. Can I have one?"
"Hey, fellas," Chet called out, peaking around the corner of the deck. It was exactly what he had expected. His van was covered in shaving cream and blown-up condoms. "Um… Marco… you've got some explaining to do to your nephew." He grinned beneath his bushy mustache. "He, uh, he wants a balloon."
Marco cackled. "He'll understand soon enough," he said, laughing.
"Chet, time for the garter toss," Roy called out.
Chet returned to the deck just in time to see the single ladies vying for position at the bottom of the steps. Caroline turned her back to them, using both hands to toss her bouquet over her head. Dixie dodged it, stepping aside and allowing Lily to have the honor. Cheers ensued and Johnny wrapped his arms around her in a big hug.
"We are next, Baby," he said, planting a kiss on her rosy lips.
As the single men gathered, Chet snapped the garter belt from his index finger. His aim was off and the garter belt smacked Mike in the face before dropping at his feet. The stunned engineer reached down, picking it up and tossing it in Johnny's direction. "How did that guy ever score the winning shot in that basketball game?" he muttered with a snicker.
Johnny caught the garter, stuffing it in his pocket. "He just got lucky, I guess." He looked over at the place where Chet and Caroline were getting ready to run to his van, the crowd parting and gathering up handfuls of rice. "He couldn't hit the side of a barn after that," Johnny laughed. "But he sure got lucky with her, didn't he?"
Both men nodded in agreement as they were given rice and took their places near the van. Mike watched as Lexi explained to Antonio how he needed to toss the rice up into the air and not throw it like a baseball at the departing couple. Yea, some guys got lucky and found the love of their life… but for others… the love of their life was always just out of reach, he mused.
The happy couple counted to three then ran down the steps and through the parted crowd, rice raining down on them and sticking in their hair. Chet pulled out his handkerchief to open the door for Caroline. He knew the routine of coating the underside of the door handles with petroleum jelly. He didn't want to get that on his hands. He closed the door then used the handkerchief to open his own door. He laughed, knowing he had outsmarted his friends. He tossed the handkerchief into the back of the van, then grimaced when he wrapped his fingers around the gear shift. "Ah, damn it," he groused, his hand covered in a greasy film. He laughed out loud, taking the friendly prank in stride - nothing was going to ruin this day.
With his new wife at his side, he drove away, thankful that his shiftmates had kept the windshield and windows clean. They had been called to the scene of too many incidents where the antics of drunken groomsmen had caused an accident. He looked in his rearview mirror as the crowd waved goodbye to them, then looked over at his beautiful bride. Her smile told him that she was just as happy as was he. He rubbed his hands together to remove the remnants of the greasy film from the gearshift then reached out for Caroline's hand. His thumb brushed across the golden band he had placed on the third finger of her left hand a few hours earlier. The band was a complete circle, without end. It was a symbol of their union, and the fact that each member of his shift had stood with him on this day was a testament that A-shift of Station 51 was indeed a band of brothers, a house united.
The end