Alicia stood in the doorway in her wedding gown. The wedding planner smoothed out the train to Alicia's wedding dress and the bouquet in Alicia's hands was huge. She had a veil on her head and she was smiling.

"Are you kidding me!?" one of the guests whispered.

"She's wearing white?!" someone whispered.

"This has to be a joke," someone whispered.

Alicia walked down the aisle as she looked straight ahead, but she paused when she saw me. She scanned me with her eyes then she gave me a pity look. She headed down the aisle while I flicked the joystick to turn the wheelchair to face front and she walked up the stairs to Rupert.

"Be seated," the minister said. The guests sat as he started the service and I watched my best friend make the biggest mistake of his life.

The reception was in a large tent set up near the chapel and the floor was laid out for those of the guests in wheelchairs.

"Want a drink?" Louisa asked.

"That would be nice," I said and I watched her heading for the bar. We were sitting at a table with Freddie, Samantha, Tamara, Michael and Marcy and I noticed Tamara was alone.

"I have to say that was…different," Michael said.

"More like embarrassing," Freddie said.

"I've seen circus clowns who were better dressed," Marcy said.

"I heard Alicia designed the dresses," Samantha said.

"I could tell," Tamara said.

"Those poor girls," Marcy said.

"One of them practically stormed down the aisle. She looked so embarrassed."

"Or pissed off," Samantha said and they nodded.

Louisa returned a short time later with two glasses of something and she sipped on the drink. She held up the glass to help me drink and I took a small sniff.

"Um… I don't think you should be drinking this," I told her and she frowned.

"Why not. It tastes really good," Louisa said.

"There's a lot of alcohol in it. And you're driving."

"Oh," she said and she placed the glasses on the table.

"Are you alright, Lou?" Samatha asked.

"Someone thought I was one of the waiting staff and demanded I get them a drink. Rupert explained I was a guest," Louisa said and I flicked the joystick to turn the wheelchair to face her. Louisa gently sat on my lap and she slid her right arm around my shoulders.

"The nerve. Guess they don't know who you are, Darling," Grace said while walking closer and she smiled at us. "Hello."

"Hello," I said and Louisa introduced her to Michael, Marcy, Freddie, Tamara and Samantha.

"Now…," Grace said while she sat in Louisa's seat. "What did you think of the wedding?"

"It was…interesting," Louisa said.

"It was a joke," Freddie said as a waitress brought over some drinks and she placed the glasses on the table.

"My allergies were a mess," Marcy said as she used a small handkerchief to wipe her nose. "I had to leave at one point so I could clear my head."

"What was with all those ribbons?" Tamara asked.

"I have no idea," Rupert said after he walked to the table then he looked at Louisa. "I should have asked you to decorate the chapel. And I am sorry about what happened with Alicia's uncle. He is… He's…"

"A bloody snob. That's what he is," Marcy said.

"Yes," he said with a sigh.

"Where is Alicia?" Samantha asked.

"She is getting into her reception dress."

"Were you able to get the caterers to make food that Will can eat?" Louisa asked.

"I'm afraid not. Alicia insisted on that particular menu."

"Then I guess I'll have to order take-out," I said and Louisa lightly hugged my shoulders.

"Looks like I'll have to do that as well. I'm allergic to some of what's on the menu," Marcy said.

"I didn't like any of the choices" Michael said.

"Good thing I did order something to be delivered here," Freddie said.

"Yes. He ordered some curries," Samantha said then she looked at me and Marcy. "We asked and they had some special items for someone who has digestive issues or food allergies."

"I'll go check and see if your orders here," Rupert said then he walked away.

"I didn't make a choice either," Grace said. "May I join you?"

"Yes," I said and we chatted for a while.

Our food arrived just as the caterers were serving and Alicia entered the tent dressed in something which nearly made the guests choke on their food.

"If that dress was cut any lower in the front, we'd see her panties," Freddie said while Louisa fed me some honey chicken.

"I would fall over on those heels," Tamara said.

"Where did she find this DJ? In the forties?" Samantha said while we listened to the music playing over the speakers.

"At least some of my age group is enjoying themselves," Grace said as she looked at the other guests. "I like modern music."

"You always go with what's now," Louisa said and Grace nodded.

"Uh, Lou? Can I give it a try?" Samantha asked as she pointed to the fork.

"Is alright if Sam feeds you?" she asked me and I nodded.

Samantha got up as she walked to the wheelchair and Louisa handed her the fork. I opened my mouth as Samantha fed me and she moved the straw so I could take a drink. Marcy, Michael, Rupert, Freddie, Grace and Tamara took their turns and I didn't mind if I was becoming the center of attention. I had seen some of the other guests watching us and the ring boy had run over to ask if he could feed me.

"Jamie! No!" his mother called out.

"It's fine," I said and Jamie's father walked over to pick him up high enough so Jamie could feed me.

"He has an uncle who's in a wheelchair. Helps feed him when he comes over for a visit," Jamie's dad said.

"He was in Iran. Got his arms and legs blown off," Jamie said.

"Wow," I said and I accidentally did my cat meow. Jamie laughed and I smiled. "Thanks for the help."

"You're welcome!" Jamie said then he and his dad walked off.

The caterers glared at us as they cleaned off the table and people watched Rupert dancing with Alicia. He looked miserable, but she was smiling. The other guests went to dance and Louisa sat on the chair next to my wheelchair.

"Having a good time, Clark?" I asked as she looked at the people dancing.

"Yes. I am," Louisa said.

"I saw you talking with some of the other guests. Fans of yours?"

"Yes. I never thought I'd be so popular."

"Want to know the truth? I'm a little jealous," I said and she got up and sat on my lap.

"You are?"

"I guess it's because I am used to be the center of attention. People wanted my help making deals or taking over companies. Or needed help with their finances. There were people who were afraid to face me over the conference table. Now? Now, I'm just me. Or I'm Louisa Traynor's husband. That's why I got a little bent out of shape while you, Freddie and Samantha were talking. None of you said a word to me. The reason I didn't make a big deal out of all of it was because I am also so damn proud of you. I wanted you to feel what it's like. To know people other than me, your family, my family, Nathan and the kids are proud of you. It helps me feel better. Knowing you'll be fine once I'm no longer here. You could talk freely about your career, the kids and things you're going to be doing and not give one thought about me."

Her eyes darkened. Her eyebrows went down. Anger appeared on her face. She moved until we were nose-to-nose and she placed her hands on my shoulders.

"That is the biggest load of rubbish I've ever heard. There is no way in Hell I would stop talking about you once you're gone. You are the only reason I got this far. What happened in the hedge maze happened and I was devastated. I was going to quit. No one was going to change my mind. Then you showed up. What you told me made sense. You kept me going while I was at university. You encouraged me when I wanted to quit while working for Grace. Everything I did had you involved in one way or another. And I will make damn sure people will remember how important you are to me. To our kids."

Her eyebrows had been moving in so many directions while she talked and I smiled.

"What are you smiling at?" she asked as she moved back.

"You just did something you haven't done in a long time. You gave me the Louisa Clark Double Barrel Mad Talk," I said and she softly laughed. "Damn. How I have missed that."

"I know there are times when I wanted to do that, but I didn't want to upset you."

"Clark, that never upsets me. In fact, I rather enjoy it. You release your inner tigress. Your inner fire. And it is so beautiful."

She was blushing and I titled my head to one side. She brushed some hair out of my eyes and I felt the love in her eyes.

"Once more thing," I said and she waited for me to speak. "You know I have a hard time waking up. There are days I wish I could just go back to sleep. But you… The kids… All of you are the reasons I do get up. To face the day in this bloody chair. To do what I have to do. Which isn't much. If I was alone? I might have sunk into a deep hole of depression and I would never had come out."

She moved in to kiss me when someone cleared their throat and I saw Mary Rawlinson standing there. She was a friend of my mother's and she was wearing a tight, peacock blue dress with a matching sun hat and shoes.

"Hello, William," Mary said as she moved one of the chairs over to the wheelchair then she sat down.

"Hello, Mary. This is my wife, Louisa," I said and she looked at Louisa.

"Ah. So, you're the Louisa Clark-Traynor I have been hearing about."

"Hello," Louisa said as she tried to get up from my lap, but Mary held up her right hand to stop her.

"No need to get up, Dear," she said then she looked at me. "How are you, William? Your mother told me you had to move back home."

"Yes. I did. She wanted me close in case I needed her," I said then I looked at Louisa. "She built us my dream home."

"More like a dream castle by the look of it," Mary said with a smile. "I would very much like to see it in person."

"Alright," Louisa said with a nod.

"Good. I'll contact William's mother and set up a time."

Mary and I talked and Louisa did get off my lap to go to the bathroom. She returned after Mary had left and the others had returned to the table.

"I swear I'm going to fall asleep with this music," Freddie said as he drank some of the whiskey in his glass.

"Maybe it will get lively later on," Marcy said.

"I doubt it," Tamara said as she looked at some of the guests sleeping in their chairs.

"Anyone up for some clubbing," Rupert suggested as he walked closer and he leaned his hands on the top of the table.

"Seriously?!" Tamara asked with wide eyes.

"Wouldn't Alicia mind?" Freddie asked.

"Who cares," Rupert said as he stood up. "I am bloody bored. And, to be honest, I am dreading the wedding night."

"I'm game," Michael said and Marcy smiled.

"Sounds like fun," Freddie said and Samantha and Tamara nodded.

"I would have to get Will back to the hotel soon. It's almost time for his night routines," Louisa said.

"Night routines?!" Michael asked with a sly grin. Rolling my eyes, I explained and he nodded.

"How are we going to do this? Alicia will notice if we all go at once," Tamara said.

"We'll just take turns. Say that we're tired or not feeling well," Freddie said.

"I have seen some of the other guests leaving," Marcy said as she watched an older couple heading out of the tent after saying goodnight to Alicia's parents.

"What club should we go to?" Freddie asked.

"There isn't one far from here," Rupert said as he glanced over at Alicia. "Meet me at the gate and I'll show you the way."

We took turns leaving and Alica's mother gave me a deep pity look. She said it was nice to see me again and she had tears in her eyes.

Rupert's sportscar was at the gate and Tamara was sitting next to him in the front. He led the way as we left the estate and he was right. It didn't take long for us to get to the club. The security guard was on first name basis with him and he led us to one of the private rooms. The music thumped loudly around us and there was a small dance floor in the room. The waitress served us drinks, but Louisa didn't drink and the waitress had brought me a frosted glass of juice.

"Care to dance?" Louisa said as she leaned on the armrests of the wheelchair.

"Lead the way," I said and she headed for the dance floor. Freddie was dancing with Samantha. Michael was dancing with Marcy. And Tamara had her arms draped over Rupert's shoulders while they danced. They moved out of the way as I steered the wheelchair into position and Louisa sat on my lap. I moved the joystick as the wheelchair moved in small circles or back and forth and we didn't take our eyes off each other. I heard soft giggles and hushing as we danced and Louisa moved in to kiss me.

We stayed at the club for a few hours before Louisa took me back to the hotel and she was careful cleaning off my tubes after changing the catheter bag. One of the hotel staff helped her get me into bed and I felt so relaxed as she did my night routines. I don't remember when I fell asleep, but I do remember telling her I love her.

Granta House

I was sitting in the den after we had gotten back from the wedding and I had told the chatroom what happened.

"Damn. Sounds like you had a ball at the club," Ritchie typed.

"I did. It's been a long time since I danced," I said and the words appeared on the screen.

"Wish you had some photos of the wedding. I want to see those dresses," Wheelergirl22 typed.

"They really were awful."

"I thought it was sweet when the ring boy started talking to you." WheelerDealer typed.

"He even fed me."

"Did the bride really wear a hooker dress?" FourWheelDrive asked.

"At the reception? Yes."

"Did she even notice all of you were gone?" BrightStar typed.

"I have no idea. I'll ask Rupert when he gets back from their honeymoon."

"I'm still surprised you went to the wedding," MamaWheels typed.

"I had to support my friend," I said then I thought of something. "I do have something to ask. Do any of you know somewhere I can take my family on a holiday? We want to celebrate Lily's official adoption in June."

"Where do you have in mind?" Ritchie typed.

"It has to be somewhere which is wheelchair friendly and has a hotel for people with disabilities."

"What about the beach?" BrightStar typed.

"I'm not much of a beach fan."

"What's wrong with the beach?" WheelerDealer typed.

"I… I used to be a very active man. Jumping off cliffs into water. Surfing. Climbing mountains. Hiking. I even tried racecar driving. Just lying on the beach and doing nothing is boring."

"Ok. My cousin is a travel agent. Let me see what he's got," Ritchie typed.

"Thanks."

"Will," Louisa said as she slid her arms around my shoulders and I turned my head to look at her. "Sorry to do this, but it's bedtime."

"Night, Will. Night, Bumblebee," the others wrote and I told the computer to shut the chatroom window.

"Computer off," I said and the computer turned off. I followed Louisa out of the room and she flicked the switch to turn off the lights in the den.

June

Stortfold Castle

The first week in June is when the tourists are treated to the summer festival at Stortfold Castle. Father would have the castle cleaned from dungeons to towers and carnival games and food vendors stalls were set up on the lawn. The hedge maze was even trimmed and the paths cleaned.

We haven't seen Father in a long time. Louisa did tell me she had seen him with a red-haired woman while she was in town and I knew full well who that woman was.

Della.

She had been Father's mistress for a while now.

Also, Louisa's father had been let go from his job. They didn't know how they would make ends meet. I did some checking and I found out there was a maintenance position available at the castle. He wasn't sure about applying for the job at first, but I assured him they were looking for someone who would do a first-rate job instead of someone younger, who wouldn't do the job in accordance with the rules of how to maintain the castle and its grounds. He got the job.

The other thing which happened was Treena going back to university. She had been accepted in March. This was what Bernard was talking about when he said they had two girls to be proud of. Treena had gotten housing for her and Tommy on campus and they came home on the weekends.

Nathan watched as the small lift lowered the wheelchair and I flicked the joystick to move the wheelchair down the path. I listened to the music playing on the speakers, the excited sounds of the children, the calls of the food vendors and carnival games and I smelt the scents of food cooking somewhere.

"Balloons, Papa Bear! I wanna balloon please," Stevie said as he pointed to the balloons.

"Ok," I said.

"Which color do you want, Squirt?" Lily asked.

"I wanna green one," Stevie said.

"Ok."

Lilt went over to the balloon cart as she purchased a green balloon and she walked back to the wheelchair.

"We'll tie it to Dad's wheelchair, ok?" she asked him and Stevie nodded. She carefully tied the string to the balloon to the left armrest and the balloon spun in the soft breeze. We headed down the path and Lily went off with some friends to play the carnival games.

"So, do we try our luck at the games, too, or do you want to check out the castle?" Nathan asked as he looked around.

"Go have fun. Will and I'll go to the castle," Louisa said and he nodded. He knew when we wanted to be alone. After picking him up, Nathan walked off with Stevie and Louisa and I headed down the path. We headed for a certain spot as we looked out at the scenery and Louisa placed her left hand on top of my right hand.

"Beautiful," Louisa said and I looked at her.

"Sure is," I said and she blushed.

"I was talking about the scenery."

"I know, Clark. Just teasing you."

"It must have been amazing. Being able to grow up in the shadow of the castle. Being able to play in the hedge maze. Did you ever pretend you were a prince?"

"Many times. I even borrowed one of the swords from the Grand Hall. Thought I would be banned for life after I tried to put the sword back in the display. Stupid thing was so heavy and I dropped it on the floor."

"Poor you," she teased and I smiled. She sat on my lap when she slid her right arm around my shoulders and we locked eyes.

"Do you know what I'd like to do right now?"

"Yes. I know."

She placed her forehead against mine when I had the feeling we were being watched and she moved her head back. I flicked the joystick to turn the wheelchair around and Nathan smiled at us. He had Stevie in his arms and Stevie had his cheek against Nathan's right shoulder.

"Sorry. He wants to go into the hedge maze," Nathan said.

"Alright," I said, but Louisa pressed her lips into a tight slit.

"You go. I'll… I'll go check on Lily," Louisa said.

"Mama!" Stevie said as he held his arms out. She took Stevie in her arms then she looked at me. I knew why she didn't want to go into the hedge maze. She stood still for a few seconds then she nodded and we headed down the path toward the hedge maze. People were laughing as they went inside and the sounds of kids' voice came from behind the hedges.

"Let's go," Nathan said as he headed inside and I looked at Louisa. She looked straight ahead and I knew she was going to panic.

"We don't have to do this," I said in a soft voice.

"No," she said with a shake of her head. "I can do it."

Nathan was waiting for us as we entered the hedge maze and the shadows moved over us. He gave me a worried look and I barely shook my head. We started walking down the paths as I glanced around with my eyes and I tried to remember how to get to the center. Nathan had to get the balloon unstuck from the branches a few times as we walked along and Louisa stayed close to me.

"Are you ok?" I whispered and she nodded.

We headed around the corner when some kids ran out of a side trail, screaming and laughing, and Louisa gasped.

"Watch it!" Nathan shouted.

"Sorry!" one of the kids shouted back.

Louisa placed Stevie on my lap then she placed her face in her hands. She was slightly shaking and I could hear her breathing hard.

"Lou? Are you ok?" Nathan asked then he looked at me. "Is she claustrophobic?"

"No," she said as she lowered her hands. "I… I just had a really bad experience in here."

Nathan knew better then to ask and he nodded his head. We kept walking as the headages grew closer and I took the lead. I could hear the laughter and voices of others around us as I focused on which way to go then I saw the entrance to the center of the hedge maze.

"Finally," I whispered. We went into the center of the hedge maze and the sky opened above us. Louisa went to sit on the cement bench as I moved the wheelchair around the path surrounding it and some of the kids came running into the center.

"Told you I knew where it was!" one of the kids said as he laughed.

"Bet'cha can't find your way out!" his friend challenge and they ran back the way they came.

I watched my wife trying to calm down when she placed both of her hands on the edge of the cement bench, looked up at the sky, sighed then lowered her head.

"Ready to go back?" Nathan asked.

"Yes," Louisa said and she stood up. We left the center of the hedge maze as she walked next me and I smiled up at her. We exited the hedge maze to see Lily and her friends walking closer and she ran to Louisa.

"What happened?!" Lily asked.

"I faced my fear," Louisa said. She had told Lily about what happened in the hedge maze and Lily looked at it then at her friends.

"Sorry, guys. I'm going to hang with my family. Ok?" Lily asked and her friends nodded.

"Lily… You didn't have to do that."

"Yeah. I do," she said and Lily slid her right arm around Louisa. "You're almost my mom, right?"

"Right."

I was so proud of my little girl as we walked off and Louisa placed her right hand on my left shoulder.

Stortfold – two weeks later

We arrived at the courthouse for Lily's official adoption trial and I noticed how nervous she was.

"Lily," I said and she looked at me. "Just relax. They're just going to talk to you."

"But should I tell them about me having to take some of the food money, take money out of Fuckface's wallet and Mum's purse just so I had money or when I wanted to come here to see you?" she asked.

"No. Just tell them she didn't give you an allowance and you had to use your birthday and Christmas money."

"It's that still lying?"

"Maybe. But don't let them intimidate you."

We entered the courtroom. I watched Lily answer the questions and the judge was shocked with what she was saying. Louisa and I testified as well as the police officers who were involved in the case against Tanya and some of Lily's former and present teachers and head masters. It only took a few days for the judge to make his decision and Lily officially became my and Louisa's daughter.