The awards ceremony was short but poignant. First Captain Mayrick read the citation that accompanied Mitch's medal, citing his bravery and determination in exposing criminal activity within his unit, at the cost of his own life, and then he awarded the medal, giving it to Julie (at Natalie's request).
Lieutenant Gautier read the citation that accompanied Trudy's award, citing her similar bravery and determination to seek the truth and expose corruption within the Navy, at the cost of her own life, and then he awarded the medal to Adrian.
Neither Adrian nor Natalie could keep tears from falling, but both had expected this and had tissues at the ready. The applause from the small audience was prolonged and heartfelt. Afterwards, there were obligatory photos, and they gave a brief statement to Susanne Campana.
Both Adrian and Natalie were relieved that the reporter wasn't able to stay for the small reception. If she found out about Peggy and Marcia's connection… well, it wouldn't be a bad thing, exactly, but neither of them wanted that little tidbit of news to be public knowledge quite yet — not before they'd had a chance to process it themselves.
Ambrose and Jack Monk, Sr., had indeed managed to make the ceremony. Despite the fact that the room held a great many unfamiliar people, Ambrose managed far better than Adrian had expected. He didn't mingle, but neither did he look like he was preparing to bolt at any moment. Adrian was also impressed at how his father stuck close to Ambrose's side without being obvious about it.
He introduced Ambrose and his father to the Ellisons, as well as the Davenports, and Marcia took an especial interest in drawing Ambrose out. Ambrose seemed unusually comfortable with her, even though she was a stranger, likely because she looked so much like Trudy.
Bobby Davenport, on the other hand, took an especial interest in Jack Monk, and talked with him at length. Upon hearing that Jack was still looking for a job, Bobby told him submit an application to Davenport Industries, promising that he'd personally call his HR department on Monday to recommend him for a position at one of his San Francisco warehouse locations. Behind Jack's back, Natalie winked at Adrian, and he realized she'd put in a good word for Jack with her father. He smiled his thanks, resolving to show his gratitude more effusively once they were in private.
The small reception drew to a close, and although the Ellisons invited Ambrose and Jack to join them for dinner, the two men declined, electing to go home instead. Adrian wasn't surprised by this, and took a moment to personally thank his brother, and his father, for coming to the ceremony.
In short order, Adrian, Natalie, and Julie, along with Bobby and Peggy, arrived at The Waterfront, a ritzy seafood restaurant in the Embarcadero district. Both Adrian and Natalie had initially balked at the suggestion, not wanting the Ellisons to go to so much expense on their account, but Dwight and Marcia had insisted, saying it was their favorite place to eat whenever they visited San Francisco. In fact, Adrian recalled, it was where they had taken him and Trudy to celebrate their engagement.
The restaurant had been remodeled since then so it didn't closely resemble the place he remembered, but he could still see a few familiar details, including the long patio with a superb view of the San Francisco Bay.
They were seated at a large table near the patio exit, and given water, menus, and bread with efficient speed.
"So how long has it been?" Julie asked Peggy and Marcia, after the two had been chatting nonstop about old school friends for a good fifteen minutes. "Since you two saw each other last?"
"Oh, heavens," Marcia sighed, tapping her chin with her forefinger. "Let me think. It was the summer before we moved to L.A. — Dwight, when was that? 1973?"
"Fall of 1972," Dwight supplied.
"So it must have been about thirty-eight years ago."
"Yes, it was," Peggy remembered. "Natalie had turned two about a month beforehand."
"That's right!" Marcia said. "We missed her birthday party."
"And we decided to have a lunch date to make up for it," Peggy said, nodding.
"Trudy gave Natalie that Raggedy Ann tea set, do you remember?" Marcia said, starting to laugh.
"Natalie adored that tea set," Peggy said with a smile. "I think we still have it in the attic somewhere."
"They were still playing with it when we got back from lunch that day," Marcia said.
"Wait," Natalie interrupted them, her face pale. "I knew Trudy?"
"Of course you did," Peggy said, taking a sip of water. "She baby-sat you all the time when Marcia and I would go out for lunch, or for a manicure or whatever."
"We invited her to come out with us, but she always preferred to stay at Peggy's house with you," Marcia said, smiling fondly at her. "She loved playing with you."
"And, Marcia, remember? Whenever all of us went out together, people would assume they were sisters, because they both had blond hair and blue eyes," Peggy laughed.
"And Trudy wouldn't let us correct them," Marcia chuckled.
Adrian suddenly stood up, nearly knocking over his chair in his haste. "I'm sorry, I… excuse me," he said, his voice choked. He walked rapidly away from the table.
"Oh dear," Marcia said, the humor fading from her eyes. "Did we upset him?"
"I think he just needs a little time alone," Natalie said softly. She'd caught a glimpse of his face as he'd left the table, and she could tell he was struggling to process some deep emotion — something he'd do better with privacy.
The server came by at that juncture to take their orders. Natalie ordered for both herself and Adrian, since she probably knew better than he would what he'd want to eat, and then slipped away from the table.
She found Adrian outside in a shadowed, secluded corner of the restaurant patio, leaning against the railing and breathing in the ocean air.
"Adrian?" she said tentatively, not wanting to startle him.
He turned toward her, and she could see tears on his cheeks. "Natalie," he said, his hands gripping the rail reflexively. "I had to — I couldn't — "
"I know," she said, moving to stand next to him at the railing. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
He shook his head, his gaze returning to the water. "I can't quite wrap my mind around all this," he said. "First we find out that Trudy and Mitch knew each other. Now we find out that not only did your mother know Trudy's mother, you and Trudy knew each other. And none of us knew any of this when I took your case, or when you became my assistant. It's just…" He paused, searching for a word that could convey his feelings.
"It is pretty incredible, when you think about it," Natalie supplied, gently nudging him with her elbow.
He chuckled. "I know I said that before, but now… 'incredible' doesn't even begin to describe it."
"It's quite the coincidence," Natalie agreed.
He shook his head again. "Leland always says that 'coincidences are hooey.'"
She smiled, remembering when Leland had told her the very same thing, after they'd first found out about Mitch's cooperation with Trudy.
"I remember," Adrian said, drumming his fingers on the railing, "a particular conversation Trudy and I had about…having children. She told me how much she'd loved this little girl she used to baby-sit, and how she used to pretend they were sisters." He turned to Natalie again, the light from the setting sun reflecting the intensity in his dark eyes. "That was you. Trudy told me about you years before we ever met. I just didn't know it until now."
Goosebumps prickled Natalie's arms. To think, she and Adrian might never have met, and might never had unearthed these uncanny connections, if she hadn't stabbed a man to death in her living room. She never could have imagined how that one traumatic event would be the catalyst for so many amazing changes in her life.
Adrian gripped the railing so hard that his knuckles turned white. "It feels like… she chose you for me. I know how strange that sounds, but — "
"It's not strange," she said quietly. "It's sort of… comforting, in a way."
His hands relaxed their death grip. "I should have known you'd understand."
"I don't remember her," she said with deep regret.
"You were so young," Adrian mused. "I'm not surprised."
"You would have," Natalie pointed out. "I wish I had your memory."
"No, you don't," Adrian said emphatically. "Sometimes it's more of a curse than a gift."
"I remember the tea set, though," Natalie said, smiling. "My mother was right — I loved that tea set. I just never thought to ask who'd given it to me."
"Why would you?" Adrian said, shrugging. "And even if she had told you, you may not have put two and two together when you started working for me."
"True," Natalie agreed. "You'd have to be Adrian Monk to do that."
He smiled sheepishly, putting his arm around her shoulders and hugging her to him. She rested her head against his shoulder, taking his other hand in hers. They both stood, staring out over the water, for a long moment. Then he said, "I'm starting to wonder if that's how Trudy met Mitch in the first place."
She turned to look up at him. "What do you mean?"
"Well," he said, a bit hesitantly, "what if she was trying to, I don't know, reconnect with you? Maybe something prompted her to track down the little girl she used to baby-sit. But somehow, while trying to get in touch with you, she got in contact with Mitch first, and… I don't know." He shrugged. "It's just a theory."
Natalie considered this for a moment. "It's possible," she said thoughtfully. "I guess we'll never know." She squeezed his hand. "Do you feel ready to go back?"
"I think so." He exhaled deeply. "I suppose everyone's already ordered by now."
"I ordered for both of us before I came out here," Natalie told him. "I got you the beef tenderloin, and I told them to put all of your food on separate plates."
"Did you really?" he said, raising his eyebrows.
"I did," she said, smiling.
He nodded. Then he hauled her up against him and kissed her, so thoroughly and with such passion that she half expected the wooden slats of the patio floor to burst into flames at their feet.
"Okay," he said, releasing her at last and gulping in a great lungful of fresh air. "Now I'm ready to go back."
"That makes one of us," Natalie said, so breathless she felt dizzy. But in short order she caught her breath and they walked, hand in hand, back to the table.
