His white gloves squeezed her arm and, keeping in character, he said, "That I do, my girl. That I do. Now, I must be on my way. The rein-ponies are waiting."
"Rein-ponies?" He just waved and kept walking. His black cowboy boots clicked on the sidewalk.
Her mother had mentioned something about Claude rigging up his pony cart to resemble a sleigh. Her heart suddenly felt lighter than it had been in days; she picked up her bag and went inside.
"Hey, everybody, I just bumped into a guy in a red suit outside. Who's got the number for our Neighborhood Watch?”
Children's squeals and shouts echoed throughout the house as Maya, Luca, Gemilla and half a dozen second- and third-cousins stampeded to the windows to look for Santa.
"Way to go, Alexa," Grace teased. "We were just gonna feed them."
"Sorry," Alexa said, handing her bag of wrapped gifts to Gregor. In a soft voice, she asked, "How come you're not out helping with the sleigh?"
"Nick and Mark volunteered so I could stay with MaryAnn," he answered in an equally quiet tone.
Mark's here already? She glanced around and, sure enough, there was Braden standing between Luca and Maya peering out a window. And sitting on the sofa, as demurely as a princess, was Gregor's wife. She scooted forward slightly, looking interested in what the children were doing.
"Wow. MaryAnn looks great," Alexa whispered. "Better than great. She looks like her old self."
Gregor beamed as if Santa had handed him the best gift of all. "I know. I think she's going to make it. I really do." Alexa gave him a quick hug then dashed to the couch to talk to the woman she'd once considered a dear friend. They'd lost a lot of the closeness over the years—from work and pressures only MaryAnn truly understood, but Alexa was determined to be a better friend to MaryAnn in the future.
"Welcome home, stranger," she said, sitting down. "Santa really has granted us our collective wish—to have you back, safe and sound."
MaryAnn smiled tearfully. 'Thank you, Alexa. It's good to be here. I honestly wasn't sure this day would ever happen, but Gregor promised me it would, and I guess that's what I needed—someone who really believed in me."
They talked a bit longer, until Grace walked into the room and shook one of Alexa's sleigh bells to get everyone's attention. "Dinner is served," she said theatrically, then added, "Santa won't come until the last plate is in the dishwasher, so let's move it, people."
Mark held the leather halter of the pretty little pony with no small amount of trepidation. The ornery beast had tried to take a nip out of his leather jacket a few minutes earlier. "Listen, the antlers weren't my idea. Okay? You don't have to take it out on me. I'm just trying to fit in here."
The animal shook its head, which made the felt-and-wire contraption tilt forty-five degrees to the right. Mark didn't try to fix it. Served the nippy little rein-pony right.
"Are we going to have to stand here all night?" he asked the volunteer wrangler across from him.
"God, I hope not," Nikolai said. "Did you smell the food in Yetta's kitchen? My stomach's growling so loud these beasts are going to think a wolf is after them."
Mark liked Nick. They'd had several phone conversations about what being a cop in Las Vegas might be like. He gathered that Nick was seriously considering Zeke's offer.
Curiosity got the better of him. "So, what did Grace say when you told her about the job?"
There was just enough light in Gregor's backyard for Mark to see the grin on Nick's face. "It wasn't so much what she said as what we did to celebrate. The I Dream of Jeannie bottle was really rockin' ."
"I beg your pardon?"
He coughed delicately. "Sorry. Take a peek inside Grace's trailer sometime. The little one behind Yetta's house. You'll understand. In the meantime, let's just say we didn't spend the time house-hunting, but we will. Soon. She plans to tell her sisters tonight."
"Do your parents know?" Zeke had explained about Nick's situation back in Detroit.
"Not yet. They're flying in the day after tomorrow. We'll have plenty of time to talk, but I know they'll be fine with it. They want whatever makes me happy."
"They sound like really decent people. What about your birth father? Where's he?"
"Jurek and Rip got here this afternoon. Rip is my dog. They're staying next door at Claude's. Maya insisted on taking Jo's pooch over to meet Rip. They got along okay, but I'm a little worried about what might happen if he gets out. He's a city dog. Never seen a horse."
"That's rein-pony. Get it straight."
The two men shared a chuckle. A few minutes later, they were relieved of duty by Gregor's older brothers. "Better hurry," the eldest, whom Mark remembered meeting years before, said. "The kids inhaled their food, but Grace told them Santa wouldn't arrive until the dishes were done."
"She's tough," Mark said to Nick.
"You better believe it. Has a bullet wound to prove it."
Mark was a little surprised by how easily he'd been accepted by the other men. No one seemed to question his presence, even though he hadn't arrived with Alexa. Yetta had asked him to come early so she could have a little quiet time with the children before the festivities started. That was how he'd wound up playing stable boy.
Now, he was cold, starved and anxious to see Alexa.
And suddenly there she was, handing him a plate and a rolled-up napkin filled with cutlery. ''That's a pretty red nose you've got, Rudolph," she said with a grin.
"Thanks. Donner and Blitzen send their regards." He lifted one foot to check for proof. "Literally."
Her laugh made him instantly warm and happy. "Save me a spot, and I'll find you in a minute," she said. "Braden and the other children are eating in Maya's room."
He was delighted and relieved to hear that his son was being included in the children's activities. Moving along the chow line, he helped himself to Cornish games hens, ham with crackling cranberry sauce, rosemary-garnished potatoes, vegetables that looked too pretty to eat and a dozen side dishes.
"Punch?" Grace, who was manning the refreshment table, asked. "We have virgin and not-so-virgin."
"Virgin, thanks," he said. "So when's the big announcement."
"What announcement?" Liz, who was next to him in line, asked.
Grace groaned and handed him his glass. "Way to go, Mark." But he could tell she was teasing. A moment later, she let out a loud, dramatic sigh. “I guess now."
She grabbed her future husband's arm, nearly making Nick drop his heavily loaded plate, and dragged him to the open archway between the living room and dining area. "Everybody. If I could have your attention a minute."
Alexa cut through the chatter with a whistle that made the entire group stop talking.
"Thanks, Alexa. Okay. I just thought you should know that my amazingly generous, fabulously thoughtful and caring fiancé gave me the best present anyone has ever given me this afternoon."
"There are children present, Grace. Keep it clean," a voice called out.
Grace stomped her foot. "Oh, for heaven's sake, Gregor, grow up. Nikolai told me that he's going to take over Zeke's job when he retires in a couple of months. We're moving home."
The place erupted in chaos. Mark couldn't quit grinning, which made eating rather problematic, but the food was so good, he managed.
Three hours later, after the mock sleigh rides with Santa Claude and the rein-ponies and a fairly well-orchestrated gift exchange, Mark sought out Alexa. He'd been watching her all evening and could tell she was starting to fade.
"Kate, would you mind keeping an eye on Braden? I think I should walk your sister home. And congratulations on the new addition."
'Thank you. We're really excited—even though Maya is convinced Santa—not Rob—is the father." They both laughed, and then she added, “Take your time. The kids are all immersed in their gifts. We won't be able to get out of here for hours."
Mark double-checked on his son before seeking out Alexa. Indeed, Braden and Luca were shoulder-to-shoulder building some kind of futuristic w
ar machine with plastic interlocking blocks.
Alexa, he discovered, was still in the kitchen with her mother, putting away dishes. He went to Yetta first. “Thank you so much for having Braden and me tonight, Mrs. P. This could have been a tough holiday for us, but you and your family really made us feel welcome." He kissed her hand.
"Oh," she said with a flustered little laugh. "You always were such a gentleman. I'm sorry Kingston was so hard on you. I think you reminded him too much of himself."
"I take that as a compliment," Mark said. "Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to run off with your daughter— before she has a relapse."
Alexa put up a halfhearted protest, but her mother seconded Mark's suggestion. "You know her well. Always doing for others and not herself. She needs someone to remind her who comes first."
Mark agreed, and he had a sense that they both knew he was that someone.
"Will we see you tomorrow at Romantique?" Yetta asked, as Mark took Alexa's hand and started toward the door.
"Absolutely. Braden and I are both looking forward to joining the serving line. I've had more than my share of good fortune recently and I can't wait to give some back."
Alexa was too tired to object very heartily when Mark helped her into her jacket. Naturally, it took another half hour to say goodbye to everyone, but she was impressed by how patiently he followed her from room to room. He even seemed to genuinely enjoy chatting with everyone he met.
"You really don't have to walk me," she told him once they were on the street.
The fancy white horse trailer, fully loaded with ponies— sans antlers—was parked in front of Gregor's house. One or two of the spunky little beasts gave a whinny as they passed by.
“Your uncle really gets into the role of Santa, doesn't he?"
His hand felt good holding hers, despite the gloves they'd both donned. "Ever since Dad died, Claude has sorta risen to the occasion. The sleigh-on-wheels is a new addition, but I think the kids really had fun."
"I know Braden did. He's never been around animals much, so this was pretty exciting."
Alexa had observed both father and son all evening and had been impressed by how well they fit in.
The cheerful lights provided plenty of illumination to see to unlock her door. She assumed he'd want to get right back to the party and his son, but instead he stepped past her and pulled her inside, too.
"Aren't you—?"
"Going back? Pretty soon. I'm not done giving gifts."
Alexa frowned. She'd already given Mark his present— a novel she'd heard him discussing with Zeke and a DVD set of an old sitcom they'd been devoted fans of when they'd been dating. In return, Braden had helped her unwrap a fabulous pair of opal earrings. "I—I...p-picked 'em," he'd said proudly.
"But you already gave me my present." She started to reach up to touch her earlobe, but he grabbed her hand and led her down the hall to her suite of rooms. Grace had brought in a tiny pre-lit tree to cheer Alexa up while she was sick. The miniature lights cast a festive—and rather romantic—glow.
"Can I get you a cup of tea?"
Mark laughed. "No. I'm still stuffed from dinner, but even if I wanted something, this isn't the time."
"It's not?"
"Alexa, I probably haven't earned the right to ask you this—not yet, anyway, but being around you the past few weeks has shown me how empty my life is without you in it." He pulled something out of the pocket of his coat and said, "I love you, Alexa. You're the only woman I've ever loved, and even though I don 't deserve it, I'm asking for a second chance."
He opened his fingers to display a small gray velvet ring box. It looked used, and a bit worse for wear. Her intuition made her throat go dry; her heart started to beat erratically.
It can't be.
"Open it."
Her hands were shaking so badly she could barely pry up the lid. There, on a bed of white satin was the engagement ring she'd first worn so proudly eight years earlier. A three-quarter-carat diamond in a simple setting of white gold. The prettiest one in their price range.
So many emotions hit her at once she had trouble finding her voice. "You didn't give this to Tracey?"
Mark crushed her to him. He shook his head. "I was afraid you might have assumed that, but, no, sweetheart, never. Not in a million years would I have given your ring to another woman. It hurt so bad when you sent it back to me I almost threw it in Lake Mead, but I couldn't do that, either. I kept it in a safety deposit box that I opened at the bank in my name only."
She pushed free of his hold and turned on the overhead light. "It's been so long I've forgotten what it looks like," she said, sitting down on the end of her bed.
As she studied the simple design, a memory flicked to life. The two of them shopping at a jewelry store that claimed to offer the best prices in town. "I don't want some fabulous rock that I'm afraid to wear to work, Mark. Just something simple and honest and affordable. We'll buy each other gaudy jewels for our fiftieth anniversary."
"We could have it reset," Mark said. "Styles have probably changed. I wouldn't know. I'm not exactly—"
She stopped him. "Mark. I don't think so."
"Why? I know you still love me. I feel it."
She couldn't deny the truth. "I do. I don't think I ever stopped loving you, although Lord knows I tried."
"Is it because of the past?" He dropped to both knees in front of her. "Alexa, I was a stupid, frightened kid the first time around. I've grown up—not because I wanted to but because I had to. Going through a divorce was a real eyeopener. Tracey and I saw three different marriage counselors. I didn't learn anything that could save my marriage, but I learned a few things about myself. I know I'm not perfect, but—"
"It's not you, Mark. It's me. I don't even know for sure if I can have kids. If the cysts come back, I might have to go back on the pill. And if they don't come back, the scarring might be too bad.. ." She looked down at the ring. "I'm not the same woman I was the first time you proposed to me."
He stood up and pulled her to her feet. "I'm bringing you one child, Alexa, and you're giving me twenty or thirty more at the Dancing Hippo. If that's all the kids we ever have, then think how blessed our life will have been."
"But—"
"Alexa, marry me. Please. I don't deserve you, but I do love you, and I promise I will never give you any reason to question that love."
She looked into his eyes and saw the future. Her first honest-to-goodness Romani vision. Christmases, births, christenings, weddings, graduations, funerals. All the images of life unfolded before her, and always at her side was one man. This man.
When she finally found her voice again, she swallowed hard and said, "Yes.” Blinking away her tears, she repeated her answer since he seemed frozen in shock. "Yes. I’ll marry you.”
He let out a soft hoot of joy. "When?"
“I...I don't know. Grace has finally decided on May twelfth for her date. And Liz hasn’t announced her plans. She's such a loner she and Paul might just elope, but I suppose I should ask her before we decide—"
"New Year's Day," Mark said with conviction.
"A week from tomorrow? Are you crazy?"
"Why not? Your family will all be here. Liz and Paul are only going to be gone a week, right? Nick's parents are flying in. And, most importantly, you and Braden and I can start making a life together. Why wait?"
"Do we need to talk about this with Braden?"
Mark pulled out his cellphone. Her mother's number came up with an image of Yetta taken earlier that night. A few seconds later, his son came on the line.
Mark put it on speaker and held the phone between them. “Braden, I just asked Alexa to marry us. She wants to know how you feel about that. Do you have something you want to tell her?"
Alexa's heart was thundering. She hated to put the little boy on the spot like that with all of her family around in the background. "Braden, honey, it's okay. You don't have say anything now. Your dad and I will come back over and we
can talk in private."
There was a pause, then, in a clear voice, unfettered by hesitation or doubt, she heard him say, "I love you, Alexa."
Tears filled her eyes as she looked at Mark. “I love you, too, Braden."
Mark’s grin made her heart do a back flip. "Good job, buddy. All that practicing paid off. I think her answer is yes."
A loud cry of rejoicing echoed over the line, followed by a seemingly endless line of family members who wanted to extend their congratulations. Mark handled each one with finesse—and made sure that everyone knew about the wedding that would take place in just seven days.
Finally, he said in voice that brooked no debate, "I'm hanging up now. I have to kiss my bride-to-be."
And he did.
Epilogue
The wedding was simple; the party afterward considerably more involved. First, there'd been the matter of a big enough venue. Kate and Jo had offered to use Romantique, but between cops, firefighters, preschool families and Romani, the list of guests quickly numbered more than the restaurant could hold. Fortunately, Grace had come up with an idea.
"Remember when I was going to use my trust fund to remodel the dining room at Charles's casino?" she'd told her family the day after Christmas. "Well, guess what? On a hunch, I contacted Charles's ex-partners, the Salvatore brothers, and, believe it or not, they went ahead with my idea. Gave the Xanadu a complete makeover. But the contractors fell behind schedule, and they couldn't open on New Year's Eve as planned. The work is all done, but the health department hasn't signed off on the permit so they can't use the kitchen. Which means we can hold a private party there. We just need to bring our own food."
Yep, Grace is definitely back in town, Alexa thought as she and Mark greeted their guests at the post-nuptial reception and dance in the hip new restaurant.
They'd exchanged vows two hours earlier at the Dancing Hippo. Not the most romantic setting, perhaps, but Alexa had felt a sense of coming full circle, since this was the house she and Mark had originally planned to buy together.
Soon, it would be their home—until their family grew. She still hoped to have a baby of her own, but even if that never happened, she was thrilled to be Braden's mother.
A Match Made In Vegas Page 20
