Steele Dreaming

by Tanya Reed

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own Remington Steele. Wish I did.

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"Do you, Edward Warren McKinnon, take Grace Abigail Steele to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do."

"And do you, Grace Abigail Steele take Edward Warren McKinnon to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do."

Laura faintly heard the words, but she wasn't really listening. Instead, she was staring at a very beautiful young woman. She was tall and thin, built like a willow tree. Her black hair was neatly tucked up under a white veil that framed her pale and delicate face. Blue eyes shone from that face; Laura could see tears on its eyelashes.

Laura felt near tears herself. Grace looked like an angel. Never had she seen her daughter look more happy, more alive. Grace was so much like her father, and for years Laura had worried that this would prevent her from ever finding real happiness.

It didn't seem possible to Laura that her Grace could actually be old enough to get married, and it didn't seem possible that this very poised, very grown-up young woman could be the same Grace. In her mind, Grace was still a child. A million pictures went through Laura's head as she stared at her daughter. She saw first steps, first words, tears, laughter, a child's joy, and the pain only a child can feel. Now it was all over. Grace was leaving, moving on to have a family of her own. No longer would her joyful laughter ring through their halls; no longer would they hear her singing when she thought no one was listening. Laura would have been deeply depressed if it weren't for the fact that Grace was completely happy. She was happy. Laura couldn't ask for anything more.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Laura was jolted back to the present as she heard those words. She saw Grace lean forward to kiss the lips of her blond husband, and the tears she felt in her eyes overflowed. Mrs. Grace McKinnon. The tears dripped down her face slowly, but Laura was smiling. She felt an arm go around her shoulder, and she looked up. Remington was smiling down at her, the tears in his eyes mirroring her own. On impulse, Laura gave him a quick kiss. She could only hope that her eldest daughter had found a man who was at least half the man she had found.