Chapter 3

Fred drove them to Rossmore to get their packing finished. There were some significant additions to make to their suitcases, like a unique gown for her, and a tuxedo for him. They had decided to make a detour through Las Vegas to get married. But although the destination was not the romantic one they would have chosen to exchange their vows, it wasn't an excuse to be not dressed up to their usual level for the most important occasion of their lives. The last detail was added by him right into the tux pocket in a hidden movement entirely lost by Laura. Once their task was complete, they headed to the LAX airport thanks to Fred's driving services. Their tickets to San Francisco were decidedly forgotten, and new ones to Las Vegas in the next flight were their choice.

They were already in their seats, belts still unfastened, Mr. Steele trying to be interested in one of the airline magazines, and Laura with an opened folder in her lap. After a brief moment, she closed the file and raised her left hand to her temple, exhaling a deep sigh. Noticing how worried she was, Mr. Steele took her right hand in his, and after a soft pat, he told her, "Relax Laura. Everything is going to be all right. It will be easy, and we'll be out of this mess in a blink. Okay?"

"Okay." She answered looking at him, closing her left hand over their joined ones.

The plane took off, and they finally found some relax after a glass of champagne.

"I have the impression we are taking the steps in the wrong order," told him Laura with a choke breaking the silence.

"Come on, Laura. Don't tell me we had waited too long to take this step when we were supposed to take it earlier. I'd hate to think about lost time…"

"I wasn't talking about that step. We are having champagne before the wedding is started.

"Oh, that step…I'm sure we will be able to correct our mistake with a lot of champagne later. A solitaire toast would be an incredible waste. Don't you agree?" he winked an eye.

"A lot of champagne? Only for toasts?" she wickedly returned his comment.

"Not my hope, Laura. Certainly not my hope…"

The plane landed in Las Vegas, and after being settled in a respectable hotel, they asked the clerk for a place to get married, preferably with no Elvis around. A small chapel would be enough for them. They got a recommendation about a beautiful place, and after a brief detour by their room to get the correct attire on, they were in front of a minister, saying the words.

Although Laura wasn't too much emotional about any wedding ceremony, she got genuinely touched when Mr. Steele retrieved the velvet box from his pocket containing the very simple Peppler's bands inside. Just the sight of the golden rings threw her back in time, directly to that night at the office, when he had asked her to never remind him the words escaping through his lips. He had enjoyed being a Peppler… and he was sad about their divorce… He had been a romantic dreaming about staying with her from the beginning. And he brought these simple gold bands to seal their commitment. But her surprise was even bigger when she heard the words flowing through his lips.

"With this simple ring, I thee wed. Although we can blame our meeting because of a beautiful blue stone, no royal lavoulite in the world can top the meaning of a simple wedding ring, infinity. Will you give me one more day, every day? Stay forever with me Laura." He took her hand in his, and after putting the ring on her finger, he kissed it with his eyes locked on hers for a time that felt like forever.

Trying to find the correct words in her mind after the lump in her throat disappeared; she grabbed his ring and said "With this ring, I thee wed. No royal lavoulite in the world can top what I feel for you. I have the perfect blue gems to look at for the rest of my life. One of the important things I learned from you over the past years; is to try to take every day as it comes, and cherish it. Infinity beside you sounds perfect to me."

They were wholly entranced by their own reality for the rest of the ceremony. Just when a long silence followed the minister's words, they kissed; and they felt the moment just as the most exquisite and unique one. Only once they would have the chance to be in front of each other for the first time, after making the most significant commitment of their lives.

Still remaining in their embrace, Laura asked him smiling, "What are we going to do now?"

"It will come to us…" he told her.

The ceremony was over before they noticed, and their Marriage License in Mr. Steele's tux inside pocket. They would be sending a copy to Estelle Becker early in the morning, to add it to Mr. Steele's INS file. With luck, his resident status would be considered regular, and the INS affair would be behind them.

They returned to the hotel, where the usually chilled bucket was waiting for the new couple at their room. Mr. and Mrs. Steele were ready to start the first chapter of their new life.