Another Chance
Chapter 63
Alexis puts out the tortilla chips - the good ones, freshly made from the Mexican restaurant - not the ones from a cellophane bag. Dad should be arriving any minute with his dip and the poker chips. She'd managed to give Micah a few lessons using M&Ms when they could keep from eating them. He caught on fast - very fast. Not only does he understand the odds of making a particular hand, he can also read her like a book. But he knows better than to try to beat the judge or her father. Markway should be the big winner, it's little enough for him to ask.
She and Micah called everyone they wanted to invite to the wedding. For him, that consisted of his parents, a couple of co-workers and a few fellow students. For her, in addition to family, it's Lanie and Esposito, the Ryans, her friends Buttons and Sarah El-Masri. That will make for a pretty full room, but Markway said he's OK with it.
She is going to have a bouquet. She's not sure who'll she'll aim it at. Buttons has a serious boyfriend, but then Alexis has always wanted Lanie to find some happiness too. She'll probably toss it over her shoulder on the courthouse steps and whoever catches it will catch it. Dad offered to pay for dinner for everyone at a local steakhouse with a back room, and Gram insisted on ordering a cake. She thought about having her little sister at the ceremony, but Dad and Kate decided that it would be best if Aletha spent the few hours with a very carefully vetted caregiver. Perhaps in a few years that will be a Thera 10.0.
Her father rings the doorbell, barely juggling not only a huge bowl of dip and the poker chips but a bottle of his good scotch. Micah announces that the coffee is ready and fills a plate with crispy shortbread cookies.
When Judge Markway arrives, he rubs his hands together and claps his nemesis on the shoulder. "You're going down, Ricky."
The thought flicks through Rick's mind that Kate would guard that particular action rather jealously for herself, but he pushes any visions of sexual hijinks aside. He has work to do. Holding back his most ruthless impulses will be difficult, but then a man will do everything for his daughter. He'll just have to keep reminding himself of that - and a couple of fingers of Scotch won't hurt either.
Alexis' hands are steady, but she can feel her insides jumping around. She'd thought about carrying a card in case her vows flew from her head, but every word is etched on her heart. "Micah, when I met you, I wasn't looking for anything more than the distraction of an afternoon at the movies. You shared your candy and your insight, and now I want to share my hopes, my dreams, my life with you. I know everything won't always go the way we planned. We'll have good times and bad times. There may even be moments when we'll be scared to death. But I've learned that if you can hold tight to the person that you love, you can make it through anything, and I'm never going to let go of you. I promise to be your friend, your companion, and love you with all my heart, for whatever time the universe gives us in this life." Alexis gives her bouquet to Buttons who hands a wedding band to Alexis. The bride slips it on Micah's finger. "May our love always shine as brightly as the gold in this ring."
Micah glances at Judge Markway, who gives him an almost imperceptible nod. "Alexis, you are a miracle I never dared to hope I'd find. The moment we met, even Jujubes became magic. You are encouragement in a dark night and the joy of a breaking morning. I can't imagine a life without you at my side. I promise to be your support and your companion and hold you in my heart for as many years as we are given." He takes a slim band from the pocket of his good suit and slides it on Alexis' finger. "May our love always shine as brightly as the gold in this ring."
Markway clears his throat. "By the considerable authority vested in me by the city and state of New York, I now pronounce you husband and wife. For the attorneys who usually face off in here, a kiss is generally the last thing on their minds, but in sealing this particular plea deal, I say go for it!"
Alexis is in Micah's arms before Markway finishes his sentence.
As Alexis prepares to throw her bouquet, Jackson watches through his scope from the window of a building a quarter of a mile away. He checked up on the Micah kid. He's not someone who would move in Jackson's circles, but that's a good thing. Designing devices to help children and the disabled is a lot safer than picking off terrorists in the hills of Afghanistan and possibly more useful. So far, the kid is doing all right, but Jackson will keep an eye on him.
Esposito has a strange expression when the M.E. Alexis interned with catches the flowers. It's somewhere between sick, shocked and pleased. It will be interesting to see how that works out if Jackson can stay in country for a while, but he has only a passing curiosity. What matters is that is granddaughter will be secure and happy with her new husband. From the joy on her face, they seem to be off to a good start.
The steakhouse has pushed four tables together to make a large one that will accommodate everyone who was at the wedding, including Judge Markway. The server offers a vegetarian option, but no one takes her up on it. The prospect of charbroiled steaks, fluffy baked potatoes, and crisp salads appeals to everyone in the room except Martha who decides that grilled chicken will be less aging.
Martha enlisted a baker she met at a Serenity retreat to make the cake. It is decorated with doves with their heads and necks entwined, symbolizing peace and love. Rick would have thought something more robotic looking appropriate for the couple in question, but Micah will eat anything edible, and Alexis is happy with the pastry, which is all that counts.
Micah is grateful that Alexis doesn't want any part of the custom of bride and groom pushing cake in each other's faces. He thinks it's a pretty stupid idea himself. Alexis cuts neat slices of the vanilla and orange cream confection and Buttons helps to pass them around. The dinner is over in a couple of hours, and Alexis and Micah return to their condo while Kate and Rick go back to the loft.
Rick tucks Kate's head beneath his chin as he lies in bed staring at the ceiling. "I wanted to start the kids off right with a check, but Alexis didn't want one. I pulled Micah aside though to let him know that if they're ever in trouble, there's a safety net. He thanked me but barring a massive natural disaster or a hostile power knocking out the country's electric grid, I doubt that either one of them will ask for much in the way of help."
"And that bothers you?"
"It shouldn't should it? A good parent raises the chicks to be able to fly away and build their own nests. It's just that she'll always be my little girl."
Kate snuggles into his chest. "I don't think Alexis would have it any other way."