000

Chapter 21

000

Horatio unobtrusively clenched his jaw. That souvenir was all Hagen was ever going to get from Calleigh and he'd see to that.

"Speed," Horatio said. "I think it's a good time, now."

Speed nodded, gave Alexx a look and left to go inside the café.

Horatio stood at Calleigh's side and offered his hand, "May I have this dance?"

Calleigh smiled brightly, cheeks flushing pink at the charming request.

Speed inserted the CD and, to "Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini", Calleigh and Horatio had their first dance as a married couple. It was the music from one of Horatio's favorite movies, "Somewhere In Time". He loved Chet Swiatkowsky's piano solo. The song started softly with only the piano and Horatio took Calleigh in a slow waltz, looking deep into her gorgeous green eyes.

"Forget about him, Calleigh," Horatio muttered to her ear. He knew her eyes still drifted to John in anger. "He's just trying to get to you." He wanted her to concentrate on him, but he understood how she felt. Making her spin with finesse, once in while, until the strings joined and the music took a different intensity. Slow, small steps became faster and wider, augmenting with the rhythm of the song as the sound amplified.

"I shouldn't have invited him. I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it. Let me take care of it." Horatio seemed on top of himself, managing to guide his newly wed through the steps they had learned and practiced together weeks ago.

"No. I will," she replied with resolve.

"That's my Calleigh," Horatio smiled.

Not once did he look to his feet, not once did he step on his partner's foot, or train. He concentrated solely on her eyes. Light on his feet, Calleigh fell into step with him perfectly.
The crescendo was magnificent and they spun around together one last time until the music slowly diminished. The piano started again, alone, and Horatio pulled Calleigh closer and they danced slowly against one another.

"I love that you're protective of me and yet you let me choose."

"Anytime." Horatio responded as the music gradually faded as the song ended.

Everyone clapped and cheered happily as he dipped Calleigh, claming her lips for a passionate kiss.

Then a slow song followed and their family and friends joined them on the dance floor and Calleigh's father asked for Horatio's permission to dance with his daughter.

"You look as beautiful as you were when you were born, Lambchop," Kenwall complimented his daughter.

She laughed, "Thank you, Daddy."

He leaned close to her ear, "I had a talk with Horatio after he asked me for your hand and he promised to take care of you, so I guess I should be happy."

She nodded, listening to the man she'd come to admire for having gotten over his drinking problem.

"Truth is, I feel like I'm loosing my little girl."

Calleigh shook her head, "I'll always be your little girl, dad."

He nodded, dewy-eyed, "I'm glad you're happy, sweet pea."

Calleigh's father gestured to the groom, but Calleigh stopped him, "There's something I have to do first, dad."

She walked over to Hagen, who was having a friendly conversation with Meghan, and told him, "C'mon, I wanna talk to you."

Hagen candidly put his drink down and followed Calleigh inside, in a private corner.

"I invited you, John, because I thought we were over each other, but clearly you're not and if you want to continue to embarrass me in front of my family, you can leave."

"How do you think I feel, Calleigh? I come to your wedding and you act as if nothing ever happened between us. It's bad enough that you broke up with me because I said something I never meant to say - I said I was sorry. I apologized, you know that."

"Yeah and I forgave you, John. Move on."

"I can't. Ever since I saw you with Caine, I've been thinking about us - "

"There is no 'us'," she said almost inaudibly.

"Calleigh, you don't mean that."

"All I want is for us to be friends."

"There's that same song again - "

"Hey, if you don't want to hear it - " she shook her head in bewilderment, "I can't believe you're doing this on my wedding day - This is just like you." She took a deep breath, "If you can't handle being here, no one's holding a gun to your head, okay?"

"Message received," his gaze was hard.

"Good," she said stiffly.

He looked at the wall separating them from outside where the party was and pointed his finger, "I just hope you don't wake up some day and realize the mistake you've done."

She smiled with animosity. He was the mistake.

"I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that."

"You've got nothing in common with that man," Hagen took a step closer, "and he's fourteen years your senior."

"You can go now, John. I think you've proved your point - feeling threatened doesn't suit you."

"I'm just saying... you've said before that you wanted a family..."

"You better stop this right now." He was on thin ice and her patience was disintegrating.

"Alright," he lifted his hands in surrender, "I'm gone."

"John," she called as he was leaving for the door. He stopped and placed a hand on the doorframe in front of him.

"Don't come back."

John nodded gave her a last 'you'll regret this' glance and left.

Horatio was having a discussion with Frank's wife, Christine, when he saw Hagen leave.

Calleigh took a few minutes to collect herself and then walked outside like nothing had happened.

"You okay?" Horatio asked, pulling her aside.

"Absolutely."

"You sure?" His sad brow questioned.

"I'm going to be."

"C'mere," he said softly, "C'mere," he repeated and she finally relinquished the defensive front with which she had shielded herself from Hagen.
Calleigh placed her palms on either side of Horatio's face and kissed him. They swayed gently together to the music and Calleigh rested her head against him.

000

Horatio had made reservations for two nights at the Delano hotel in South Miami, and the black limousine pulled up at the door.

The driver opened the door for them and Calleigh stepped out, cheeks flushed from smiling so much. Horatio hadn't told her where they were going and had been teasing her for a while now.
Horatio followed her out of the car and asked the valet to bring in their bags. They would be staying there for a short time before leaving for their honeymoon in Italy.
Horatio took Calleigh's hand and held it in the crook of his arm as they ascended the front steps to the hotel, hidden by the tall green hedges.

At the entrance, diaphanous white curtains cascaded down the from lobby ceiling. Calleigh had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming. It was all beautifully surreal.
She looked up at the gigantic lampshade hung over the front desk as Horatio was given access to their room.

"Congratulations on your wedding, sir," the man at the reception said.

"Thank you."

"Can we get you anything?" the man asked.

"Calleigh?" She heard Horatio and tore her eyes from the gorgeous furniture in the lobby.

"Do you want anything?"

"Oh, no, I'm fine. Thank you." She turned back to the lobby at the wide-plank Brazilian-cherry floors and wood-paneled walls. It was dark and rich. A sensual atmosphere that differed immensely from the still bright afternoon sun outside.
"Alright. We'll take your luggage up to your room, right away, Mr. Caine. If you need anything, there's staff all around. Have a pleasant stay."

"We will," Horatio turned to Calleigh, "Honey, let's go have a look around." He knew she wanted to.

Walking down the long corridor leading to the orchard and the pool, Calleigh was enchanted by the big terrace.
This place was made for sophisticated people, she thought, looking around.
They made their way to the showpiece pool where they could hear underwater classical music. The pool was enormous, but only one inch deep at the shallowest and five feet deep in deepest.

"Made for lounging around," Horatio whispered in her ear.

"It's so calm here and beautiful."

"Madam', would you care for a frozen strawberry daiquiri to celebrate?" a man, head to toe in white, apparently part of the staff, asked Calleigh.

"Perhaps later," she smiled imagining herself lying in the clear blue water with Horatio, drink in hand.

"Very well," the man walked off.

"Look there, Handsome," she gave a nod towards the private poolside cabanas with wafting white curtains.

"Mmm. They say there's a dining option too."

"How sexy... and elegant at the same time."

"Ready to see our room and change into something more comfortable?"

"Yes," she knew his tie was annoying him and he'd been in black under the sweltering sunlight all day.

Horatio pulled the door to their room open, saying, "I'm sorry I couldn't get the penthouse. It's booked for another six months."

"Horatio, don't even speak - " she entered the blinding white room and he followed her in, staying by the door.

The first thing she noticed was the dreamlike whiteness. Shimmering epoxy floors, painted-white wood furniture... Everything was stalk white: the CD player, the desk, the television ...

Then, she saw the pewter angel fixture mounted high on one of the walls and the green apples perched in a silver sconce on each pillow of the queen size bed.

"Flowers," she walked over to the table and smelled the white tulips. "You know how much I love tulips," she grinned remembering his proposal.

The pure white gave a calm, soothing ambiance to the room. She knew why Horatio had chosen this place to come and relax.

"There are in-room massages and spa services available upon request," he informed her, moving the luggage the valet had brought up aside.
She nodded, not quite listening to him, taken by the luxurious accomodations.

She went to the window, pulling on the gauze white curtains to reveal a sublime view of the Atlantic Ocean.

"Oh my gosh! An oceanfront view."

Horatio came up behind her, circling her with his arms, "Thought you'd like seeing the sea instead of the Miami skyline, since you love looking out from my balcony at home."

She looked down at the palm trees lined up by the pool down below, the landscaped garden, the orchard, the beach and back at the sky. In a few hours from now, it would be pink and orange from the sunset and she sighed imagining it.

"Horatio - " she turned in his arms, "All this for me?" she asked.

"I love you, Calleigh Caine."

TBC...