Chapter 10 and (Penultimate)

By 7:00 pm that evening all the invited guests had arrived at the Casa Tua restaurant in James Avenue, South Beach, and been welcomed by Suzie and Ivan and were either standing around with aperitifs in their hands or sitting in the garden wicker chairs placed randomly around the gardens, and all were chatting amicably amongst themselves. As on other occasions when Aileen and Horatio had had parties here, the gardens looked pretty with a variety of fragrant colorful flowers on display in the garden beds; numerous colored lights hanging from the trees, and candles on the tables. And they were lucky as the weather this late in February was warm enough to dine outside. They did have awnings pulled over the eating area in the event of rain, but not expected to be needed this evening.

Aileen was sitting in one of the chairs, under one of the trees, next to her father who had Hannah on his lap keeping her amused, and Tommy was sitting the other side of his granddad. Aileen had not been sure about bringing Hannah along as she was no longer the tiny baby who could be laid down in her stroller and be expected to sleep more or less to order. She was only a few days away from being 19 months old and lively now. But Ivan and Suzie had stressed they would be happy for Hannah to be there, and not to worry. Aileen had brought the stroller with them though, and tucked it in a corner of the garden just in case she needed it. It was a good size stroller so Hannah was still small enough to use it. Also, this restaurant being run by Italians, who loved children, was very child friendly and someone had already placed a special space save high chair on to one of the restaurant chairs. The restaurant had one large round table for large parties and the manager had ensured this table had been reserved for Ivan's party so they could all dine together.

While Aileen was sitting with her father and Ivan and Suzie talking to the management, Horatio introduced Olivia to Kyle, Amy and Raymond who were chatting with Madison, then he took her over to Aileen's father, who handed Hannah over to Aileen while he stood up politely and smiling shook hands with her saying, "How nice to meet you Olivia." Then with twinkling eyes he added. "I have heard a lot about you."

Olivia with equally twinkling eyes responded. "Oh dear, all good I hope Daniel."

"Trust me all very good, I think you have all the men here tonight under your spell, they have all spoken highly of you. And may I say you look a picture Olivia."

Turning to Aileen Olivia said, "Your father is a charmer Aileen." then chuckling she added, "But I like charmers."

Grinning Horatio just shook his head from side to side. This lady never changed, and he didn't want her to...she was outward for sure, but in a delightful way and it was true what Daniel said, she did look a picture. Olivia who was a slender woman, carrying no weight had changed from her outfit worn for the wedding ceremony and was now wearing a black fitted skirt, with a dressy casual chiffon black and cream print top with butterfly sleeves, and remarkably she seemed to have instantly charmed Daniel. Then he chuckled, as he thought she had probably been flirtatious all her life.

Olivia smiled at Tommy and asked. "Still reading Tommy?"

"I was so pleased you enjoyed reading Ragged Dick, and I loved the note you sent to me telling me you had enjoyed reading it with your dad."

"I love that book Olivia, dad has it somewhere safe in his study and we will read it again soon, won't we Dad?"

Horatio smiled and patting Tommy on the head, "Yes we will Tommy?"

Colin had seen her from across the gardens and smiled at her fondly when Horatio guided her his way and grinning said, "Here she is Colin, I'll leave Olivia with you for a few minutes; you were her first conquest after all."

"Everyone seems to be mixing well so going to join my wife now until the meal is served." On his way back to Aileen, Suzie stopped him and said, "Thank you for making sure Olivia met everyone Horatio. The meals will be served in about ten minutes now."

"Was my pleasure Suzie."

Olivia was delighted to see Colin and smiled broadly at him as he stood up and said, "How lovely to see you again Olivia, you're looking well," and gave her a hug. Then he introduced her to Yelina, and said, "Sit down with us for a while. Yelina's son Raymond is talking to the other young ones here this evening."

"Yes I just met him. Horatio mentioned he was your son Yelina. Good looking young man."

"Thank you Olivia."

"I understand he and young Madison are half brother and sister?"

"I suppose you are wondering about their coloring Olivia."

"No dear, I know the circumstances, but to tell you the truth had I not known the first time I met Horatio I would have thought she was his daughter."

Colin looked at Yelina anxiously, but she smiled and said, "I did as well, when I first met her Olivia, because Madison looks nothing like her father. Madison's coloring and looks are apparently inherited from their mother's side of the family. Horatio says she looks just like his mother."

"Well your son has inherited your coloring and good looks Yelina. So the right way around in the circumstances don't you think?" Yelina smiled, Olivia in her wisdom was right.

"Life is strange sometimes because Kyle does not look like his father. Shame in some ways, as his niece is pretty much the image of him. But he is nevertheless a good looking young man."

Yelina responded, "Kyle has his mother's coloring and looks Olivia, but he has many of Horatio's ways, which are clear to those that know them."

Then turning to Colin, her eyes sparkling with mischief, Olivia asked, "And when are you going to make an honest woman of this beautiful lady by your side Colin?"

Colin just chuckled and replied, "You are a trouble maker Olivia Patterson – We are perfectly happy as we are."

Ten minutes later Ivan asked them all to sit at the table now as meals were ready to be served. They sat clockwise round the table, Ivan, Suzie, Madison, Horatio, and Aileen with Hannah in between them, Tommy, Daniel, Kyle, Amy, Raymond Yelina, Colin and Olivia.

Each person on arrival had chosen the meal of their choice all of which were served up with perfect timing, together with a small specially prepared baby meal for Hannah, which Aileen helped her with, when necessary. Over the next two hours, they dined and happily chatted away, conversation flowing well throughout the evening.

When eating was over one of the waiters, at a nod from Horatio, brought a tray of champagne filled glasses to the table, and handed them around, with a fruit juice for Tommy.

Then Horatio as Ivan's best man stood up to say a few words but knowing in advance that Ivan wanted to say a few words as well he kept it short and his words were going to be meaningful and not flippant. Glancing around the table he started by saying," Ivan and Suzie, I first want to thank you on behalf of all of us for inviting us to join you in your special celebration today." Then looking at Suzie he said, "Suzie, Madison and I go back a long way, but you all know our history now. There have been ups and downs along the way, but Suzie has always been a survivor and she has shown us just how much, in recent months, and I am proud of you Suzie Vetrov, and I mean that sincerely." He paused for a moment as he watched the smile that crossed her face at his words, and then continued. "Ivan has been by her side the last few months, and together they have overcome personal tragedies and are now looking forward to their future."

Then raising his glass of champagne and looking at them both Horatio said, "Suzie and Ivan, I wish you both a very long and happy future together. You both deserve it my friends."

The others raised their glasses and in unison said, "To Suzie and Ivan."

Then Horatio picked up some cards from the table that Aileen had placed there ready for him and said, "Bear with me a little longer, I have three cards for you from New York, first is from Michael and Maeve Hayes, wishing you a happy day and future, and one from John and Sharon Kelly, sending their congratulations. They sent them to me to open for you tonight. But Michael also sent me one which appears to be from Roman Stanislav." Horatio chuckled then and handing the third card to Ivan, he added, "Unfortunately, without Eric by my side I cannot read for you as it is clearly written in your Russian language."

Taking the card and reading Ivan smiled and looking at Suzie said, "Roman says, Congratulations Suzie and Ivan, I wish you a long and happy marriage together. Then he says you will know what I mean Ivan when I tell you I have been to St Agnes's church and met Father Downey and he helped a lot. Thank you for the advice, it worked. I will be in Miami in less than a week now and I'm looking forward to that drink with you."

Ivan looking at Horatio said, "You have such good friends Horatio...here and in New York."

"Yes I have Ivan, wonderful friends."

"Anyway, just one more minute." Then removing a small box from his jacket pocket and looking at Madison sitting next to him Horatio surprised her when he withdrew a heavy silver antique locket on an eighteen inch length chain from the box and stepping behind her he fastened it around her neck, saying as he did so, "It is usual for the best man to buy a brides attendant a present, but in this instance I would like you to have this locket, if you will accept, it belonged to my mother, your grandmother. My grandparents gave it to her on her 21st birthday, and if you look at her photo inside you will see you are the image of her Madison...it is right you have this now, she once said that she hoped it would be passed on to her first granddaughter if I or my brother were lucky enough to have a daughter some time in our lives." Then after a chuckle he added. "My brother beat me to it by a long way." This caused a ripple of amusement from the others.

Looking down at it and holding in her right hand fingers for a few seconds, Madison opened the locket and gasped, the picture was just like looking at her own image in a mirror. She closed it and jumped up with moisture in her eyes and flung her arms around Horatio's neck. "I love it, thank you so much, I will always treasure it Uncle Horatio always...always."

Olivia smiled. How touching of Horatio she thought, a truly compassionate and family man. Madison now had a lovely reminder that by birth she was a Caine, and a precious keepsake of her grandmother's, and knowing Madison well now she knew the girl would treasure that forever.

Ivan gave Horatio a direct smile, and gave him a nod of approval. He knew in advance what Horatio had intended, as he had asked him that morning when he was at his place getting ready for the wedding if he minded him giving the locket to Madison this evening at the celebration as he didn't want to cause an unwanted distraction in the celebrations. Of course he didn't mind. It was the perfect place for him to have passed the locket on to her.

Suzie also smiled at Horatio and said, "Thank you Horatio that will mean a lot to her and does to me."

Horatio nodded his head and sat down saying, "Over to you now Ivan."

Ivan stood up and said, "Suzie and I wish to thank you all for joining us this evening in celebration of our marriage today. As you will know and as Horatio has touched on, the path in reaching this point was not easy," then looking at Suzie and taking hold of her left hand and raising it to his lips for a kiss, he added, "But we made it together and are now eagerly looking forward to our future journey together, with Madison joining us on that journey."

"Before I met Suzie and her daughter, I had no living family left in my life, but I seem to have acquired an entire new family due to the connections you all have with Madison, and I thank you all for letting me into your lives. There is absolutely nothing in this world that compares to having family around you. A few months ago I would never in my wildest dreams have thought I would be standing here, a happy man with a beautiful wife and her daughter by my side and a new circle of friends."

Then looking directly at Horatio he said, "But none of this would have been possible for me personally without the belief in me by Horatio in the first place and Michael Hayes who followed through more than once in New York. Now the fact this all coincided with the search for Madison seems surreal now. Coincidences in life can be amazing at times."

"And for finding Madison and bringing her to join Suzie here in Miami we have to thank you for your supreme efforts on that front Colin."

"I had help Ivan."

"Yes, I appreciate that, and I thanked John Kelly when I was in New York recently. But I know full well you did not hesitate in offering to assist Horatio by going to New York in the first place and Suzie and I will be eternally grateful to you."

"I would finally like to say thank you for being my best man Horatio, and thank you Olivia for making the trip from New York to join us."

Horatio nodded his head and Olivia responded. "Thank you for asking me Ivan, I would not have missed this gathering for anything."

"Well that's all from me. Would you all like another round of coffees to finish the evening off?"

Getting an overall affirmative Ivan ordered coffees and they all sat there for almost another hour, some talking amongst themselves but others taking the opportunity to stand up and stretch their legs and Horatio was one of them. He wandered around the gardens and Madison seeing him on his own as he was staring at a bed of flowers and deep in thought moved to join him and seeing her approaching he gave her a soft smile. Reaching him she said, "Uncle Horatio. I know Ivan has told you he is in the process of adopting me and I am happy about that, but I want you to know I will always love you...always."

Horatio's eyes threatened to mist over as holding his arms open for her to walk into he said, "Come here ...I will always love you too Sweetheart. I have loved you from the very first day I met you, when you were no more than four years old. I just knew you had to be my brother's daughter; you looked too much like my mother not to be. I was just thinking about her."

Olivia noticed them, and though she had always known Horatio was Madison's uncle she thought how ironical the girl looked just like him, when his own son apparently looked like his mother. Then Yelina, sitting next to her chuckled and said, "How could anyone be blamed for making a mistake in thinking they were father and daughter Olivia. She looks even more like him now than she did as a small child, and even then the likeness was uncanny."

Then Daniel sought Olivia's attention and asked her to sit with him for a while and they soon got into an animated conversation, as they sipped on a second round of coffees. Making his way back to Aileen Horatio noticed and smiled. Daniel looked happy in Olivia's company. It was easy to forget that Daniel might just like the company of a female, other than a family member; he had never shown any signs of a need for this before.

Then, twenty minutes later as they were all starting to make moves to leave, Ivan stood before them with his hands on Tommy's shoulders and smiling said, "Once again, thank you all for joining us, Suzie and I have enjoyed your company, and just before you leave young Tommy is going to say a few words in Russian on our behalf."

So a beaming Tommy said, "Spokoynoy nochi vsem - Безопасный путь домой"

Ivan added, "Tommy just said, "Goodnight everyone. Have a safe journey home."

Everyone smiled and in unison clapped and said, "Thank you Tommy."

Kyle close to his brother patted him on the head as he said, "Well done Tommy." Chuckling he added "I can't speak a single word in Russian."

Aileen and Horatio were proud of him. Ivan had taught him to say that when he was at their place in the morning, and Horatio had noticed Ivan talking quietly to Tommy a few minutes ago, probably making sure Tommy could remember. They had learned over a period of time though that Tommy had a good retentive memory. Aileen had often wondered in the past who he took after, but had realised who when her real father Daniel Conlon had come into her life, he was a lot like his granddad, who was a well educated man.

Then people did start moving, Horatio, left first, as Hannah who had been really good all evening, was now asleep in Aileen's arms. He removed her gently, and held her so her head was on his shoulder, and then he, Aileen and Tommy said good bye to everyone. Daniel followed them lifting the stroller out to their car for them, stowed it in the trunk and waving watched Horatio drive away, and then left himself, he had his own car. Colin, Yelina and Raymond left next and Kyle by arrangement took Olivia and Madison home as he only lived a few apartments away, and was no problem for him as Amy was staying the night so didn't have to run her home after or make a detour.

Olivia left the party feeling blessed; she would have plenty to look forward to the coming week apart from spending this with Suzie, Ivan and Madison she had received invites from Colin and Yelina to visit as well as from Horatio and Aileen, and Daniel. She liked Daniel he was roughly her age and she was rather sorry he had moved from New York, he was good to talk to, and she could have invited him to tea some afternoons.

Once they had all left Ivan thanked the restaurant management for their service and then he and Suzie made their way up to their romantic luxury room booked for two nights. The villa had five such rooms and Ivan had booked it as a surprise for Suzie, but did tell her once they were home from the cemetery so she could pack a few necessities. He had informed Madison and Olivia in advance as they needed to know they would not be home for the weekend. He had been lucky as the villa was extremely popular with couples wanting a romantic weekend.

TBC