Dammit, I would.
When I emerged from the washroom, the sound of approaching voices made me spin to retreat inside again.
Too late.
Reggie, Jack, and Katie rounded the corner and spotted me.
“Kelly!” Reggie exclaimed. “I don’t see any guards. Does that mean you’re in the clear?”
I pushed a smile onto my face. “Yep. Thanks for all you did. And Jack, Katie… thank you.”
“Oh, Aydan.” Jack hurried forward to wrap me in a hug. “Thank God. We were so worried about you.”
“Thanks, Jack.” I hugged her in return. “And Reggie and Katie… you guys were brilliant! I can’t believe you figured that stuff out.”
Katie grinned. “We’re scientists. It’s what we do.” She nudged Reggie with a suggestive hip. “Maybe now we can let our hair down and have a bit of fun.”
Reggie stiffened and my heart sank.
“Katie…” he said in a gentler tone than I’d ever heard him use. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Her smile faded. “I’m not going to like it, am I?”
He sighed. “Probably not. Working with you has been a blast. You’re brilliant and beautiful and funny, and-”
“And you don’t fancy me,” she said flatly. “Got it. So why did you blow all that bull dust in front of everybody?”
I caught Jack’s eye and backed away, hoping to give them some privacy.
“Oh, not so fast now.” Katie snagged my sleeve. “I want witnesses. Make sure the ratbag tells me the truth this time.”
Reggie reddened, but looked her in the eye. “I honestly didn’t think you felt that way about me. I thought you’d slap me down in public the way I did to you. That’s what I deserved.”
“Oh.” She made a face. “It’s no big deal; I just thought we could have a bit of fun.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t honest with you,” Reggie said. “But the truth is…” His gaze flicked to Jack, then focused on me. “I’m… in love with somebody else.”
Oh, shit.
My heart plummeted to my toes. “Reggie, um… don’t be too hasty…”
He frowned. Then his face cleared in comprehension and he let out a whoop of laughter. “Shit, Kelly, stop panicking. I wasn’t talking about you. I wouldn’t fuck up a perfectly good friendship. I meant…” He reached out, and Jack tucked her hand into his. “Honey and I are… together.”
She smiled and leaned over to kiss him. “And he’ll finally let me tell everybody.”
I stood gaping like an idiot.
“Hey.” Katie nudged me. “You’re catching flies, love.”
I closed my mouth, then opened it again. “Wh… When did… Well, shit. You sneaky bastards. So that was the big secret Jack was holding over you!”
“Congratulations to you both,” Katie said sincerely. “Reggie, it’s been fun. Next time you have a bit of a mystery, give me a call.” She headed for the stairs. “Cheers, all!”
As soon as the door closed behind her, Reggie let out a breath. “Thank God. I can finally take off this stupid goddamn face and hand!”
Jack patted his arm. “Just hold onto your disguise for a few more minutes. Wait until she’s out of the building.”
I stared at the two of them for a few more moments while a grin slowly stretched my face. “Well, shit. I had no idea. Congratulations! I’m happy for you both!”
“Thank you,” Jack said complacently. “I’ve been working on him a long time, you know. He’s been very slow to respond.”
Reggie snorted. “When I realized you were interested I responded so fucking fast I damn near tore a hole in my pants. But… I didn’t want to rush into a relationship. It wasn’t fair to you or the kids until I’d dealt with some of my shit. I’ve been working on cleaning up my language…”
“And mostly failing,” Jack teased. “But you do very well around the children.”
He grinned and kissed her again. “I’m not trying when I’m at work.” His smile faded as he faced me. “But my main worry was my alcoholism. I was stalling, afraid to tell Honey about it; but after I tested myself at the meet-and-greet and failed, I knew I had to.” He turned back to Jack. “And I still don’t think this is a good idea. Alcoholics wreck families.”
Jack frowned. “I won’t deny that I’ve had a couple of sleepless nights pondering it.” She waved a rueful hand at the dark circles under her eyes. “But as I pointed out earlier, it wasn’t a realistic test for you to dive into a difficult social situation after an immensely stressful day and expect to be able to drink in moderation. I believe you’re sincere about not relapsing again, and I’m willing to take a chance on you. But I will unhesitatingly cut you out of my life if it becomes necessary.”
Reggie looked into her eyes, his jaw firm with resolve. “That’s the only reason I’m willing to try this. I’ll try not to let you down.”
Jack smiled. “I know you won’t.” She turned to me. “We shouldn’t keep you, Aydan. You must be eager to get above ground.”
Suddenly I was.
When I hurried out of the time delay chamber into the lobby, it was filled with people. Katie and her team occupied one corner along with their luggage; Moonbeam, Karma, Skidmark, and Stemp formed a smiling knot near the door; and Kane and Hellhound stood at parade rest near the reception chairs, frowning.
As I emerged, their expressions lightened. I hurried over to hug each of them in turn.
“How did it go?” Hellhound demanded. “Stemp said everythin’ was okay, but he didn’t tell us what happened.”
Resisting the urge to burrow into his arms and stay there forever, I squared my shoulders and held my voice level. “Nora Taylor is actually my mother, Nola Kelly.”
“And…?” Kane studied me worriedly.
“And she was lying about the programming.”
I found myself engulfed in a three-way hug while they murmured relief and commiseration. I clutched them both, their love and concern feeling for the first time like a bastion of safety instead of smothering bonds.
When I pulled away at last, Moonbeam was approaching with her usual luminous smile. “Oh, my dear. You have certainly borne the burdens of the universe lately.” She hugged me, a motherly embrace that filled my heart with bittersweet memories.
Banishing them, I hugged her tightly. At least I had one mother figure I could love and respect.
She greeted Arnie and John with hugs as well, then turned back to me with her smile fading as she held out my phone. “I texted Blaze Featherwind when it became obvious that you wouldn’t be able to get to Calgary in time. She knows you won’t be there for the wedding, but I’m sure she would appreciate a call from you.”
Accepting the phone with a heavy heart, I checked my watch. Five-thirty.
A two-hour drive to Calgary…
“Maybe they can delay it a bit,” I said with rising hope. “It’s scheduled for seven o’clock with a cocktail reception afterward. If they just had a few cocktails first, I could get there in time for a ceremony at seven-thirty…”
Moonbeam’s expression made me trail off.
“Oh, dear,” she said. “You haven’t been above-ground since noon, have you?” She took my hand in a sympathetic clasp. “I’m so sorry, Storm Cloud Dancer, but it’s been snowing all day and the highway is closed. You couldn’t make it even if you tried.”
“Oh.”
The single syllable fell out of my mouth and plummeted into silence. I flopped into the nearest chair and closed my eyes to hide the stinging of tears.
I had tried so hard.
Not good enough.
Chapter 51
Fortunately nobody touched me or offered sympathy, and I managed to cram my emotions back into their usual box. Dragging myself upright in the chair, I held my voice level.
“Thanks, Moonbeam Meadow Sky. I really appreciate all you’ve done. I’ll read through the text conversation before I phone her.” I slumped back on the cushions and started scrolling throu
gh texts.
The earliest ones were Bridezilla moments, written with Nichele’s usual impish humour. Reading them and Moonbeam’s deceptively realistic replies, I smiled in spite of myself.
My smile faded as I read the more recent texts. Even though Nichele’s comments were upbeat and she poked fun at the ongoing disasters, I knew how much she had needed someone there to help her with the myriad details, to laugh with her and commiserate over fuckups like the florist who didn’t seem to know an orchid from a lily.
When I read Nichele’s response to the ‘I’m so sorry but I won’t be able to make it’ text, my eyes filled all over again.
“Hey, girl, it’s okay. We know how hard you tried. When you’re back, we’ll get dressed up and re-enact the whole thing just for you. Luv U 4ever!”
Moonbeam had responded, “Luv U 4ever 2!”
I sank my head into my hands and took some deep breaths. Dammit, as soon as I heard Nichele’s voice on the other end of the line I was going to bawl like an idiot; I just knew it.
When I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder I straightened, expecting Moonbeam; but instead Stemp stood beside my chair.
“The Australian team is leaving now,” he said formally. “They will be flying by Griffon directly to the Calgary airport. I understand you have a pressing personal engagement in Calgary, and there are seats available in the helicopter.”
For a moment I sat blinking with dull incomprehension. Then hope rose, a slow warm tide swelling into my chest.
“Are you… offering me a ride to Calgary…?” I hardly dared to say the words in case I’d somehow misinterpreted his offer.
“Yes.” Stemp smiled and glanced at Kane and Hellhound. “And there would be sufficient seats for you to bring two guests.”
His words sank in, and I rocketed out of the chair and seized him in a bear hug, pinning his arms to his sides. “Thank you, thank you! Omigod, I have to call Nichele right away…” Half laughing and half crying, I released him self-consciously.
He gave me a stiff nod and straightened his suit jacket, but he was smiling as he said “Be ready in five minutes,” and turned away.
My shaking fingers barely managed to punch in Nichele’s number.
When she answered with a falsely-bright, “Hey, girl!”, my throat constricted.
“I’m coming!” I babbled. “I hope you have that dress ready for me because my luggage is gone and I’ve got nothing but jeans and boots and I’m on this crazy flight that doesn’t get in until six-thirty, but I’m coming! I’ll be there! Don’t start without me!”
“Omigod, omigod … DAVE!” Nichele’s shout was filled with joy. “SHE’S COMING! AYDAN’S GOING TO MAKE IT AFTER ALL!” She returned to the phone at her normal volume, laughing and sniffling at the same time. “Omigod, girl, this is the best news I’ve had all day! You wouldn’t believe everything that’s gone wrong; the caterer slipped on the ice and dropped the wedding cake, and the string quartet we hired is stuck in Banff so we don’t have any music, but omigod I’m so glad you’re coming!”
“I’ll be there! I’m leaving right now…” Inspiration seized me. “I’ll see if Arnie can bring his guitar to do your music. He can play beautiful classical music, or whatever you want…”
In the background, Hellhound nodded acquiescence, looking pleased.
“And…” I questioned Kane with my eyes. “…Is it still okay if I bring a guest…?”
He nodded, smiling.
Nichele pounced. “Hell yes, girl! Please tell me you’re bringing Hot John!”
“All right.” I winked at Kane. “I’m bringing Hot John.”
Kane’s smile widened to a wicked grin.
“Omigod, seriously? Or are you just messing with me?”
“Seriously,” I confirmed.
“Omigod, girl, finally! It’s about time you came to your senses!” Nichele switched to planning mode. “Dave will pick you up at the airport and then-”
“No, it’s okay, I’ll grab a cab,” I demurred. “You and Dave stay at your party and enjoy your guests, and I’ll call John and Arnie and we’ll be there as soon as we can. I have to get on my plane now. See you soon!”
A little after seven o’clock the taxi deposited me outside the upscale hotel where Nichele and Dave had rented a ballroom. Feeling self-conscious, I hurried through the elegant lobby in my jeans and boots and parka. When I got to the ballroom I poked my head in the door, remembering as I did that I hadn’t even brushed my hair since… shit, since before Grandin had attacked me.
Raking my fingers through the tangles, I was about to retreat to the nearest bathroom for a date with my hairbrush when Nichele’s squeal cut across the murmur of voices.
“THERE SHE IS!”
She and Dave descended on me and we staged an embarrassingly emotional hugfest. At last we pulled apart and Nichele wiped her eyes, smearing her makeup beyond repair.
“Oh-em-gee!” She giggled, surveying the black smudges on her fingertips. “I must look like a raccoon. And you look like…”
“Absolute shit,” I completed her sentence, and we all laughed.
Dave took charge of the situation. “Okay, you two go and do your girl stuff. I’ll hold the fort here.”
“Thanks, Sweetie!” Nichele kissed him, then seized my arm and hurried me to the elevator. “I have your dress and shoes and everything up in our room. And we have to do something about your hair, omigod…”
Half an hour under Nichele’s expert hands transformed me from a bag lady to a tired-looking woman who could at least enter a nice restaurant without getting kicked out.
“Hold still,” she commanded. “I’m just going to fix those dark circles under your eyes.”
I obeyed, and several minutes later she pronounced me finished.
As we emerged from the elevator into the lobby, I said, “Lucky you bought matching shoes. Hiking boots would have been quite a look with this.” I indicated the dark green gown that hugged my body in all the right places while concealing the not-so-right bulges and jiggles.
“You look awesome,” she said with satisfaction. “I knew that dress would be perfect on you.”
“Thanks, Nichele. I mean… really.” I halted, looking down at her. “Thanks for being my best friend. I’m so glad I can be here to watch you and Dave get married.”
She dabbed at her brimming eyes. “Stop it, or I’ll have to go back and fix my makeup again.” She flung her arms around me. “Thanks for being my best friend. I’m so glad you’re here. It just wouldn’t have been the same without you.”
As I hugged her in return, a warm baritone voice said, “I hope you’re saving a hug for me.”
“An’ me,” added a familiar rasp.
“John and Arnie!” I straightened and turned, my jaw dropping. “Wow, you look… wow. Just… wow!”
Both men smiled at me. John’s perfectly-tailored dark suit and crisp white shirt showed off his short dark hair and breathtaking physique to perfection. Arnie was casually sexy in a tan suede blazer over an open-necked black dress shirt and dark blue jeans, his beard neatly shorn.
“Well, come on!” Nichele tugged us toward the ballroom, a tiny dynamo in a designer silk wedding dress. “Let’s get this party started!”
As we stepped into the room, I leaned over to whisper to Arnie, “How’s your wedding phobia?”
He chuckled. “Alive an’ screamin’. I’m tellin’ myself this ain’t a weddin’; it’s just another gig with everybody dressed up a bit better’n usual.”
“Hold that thought.” I gave him a quick kiss before Nichele whisked him away to the front of the room with his guitar.
Taking a much-needed moment, I faded back against a wall and took in the scene. Despite the absence of the ill-fated wedding cake, the rest of the ballroom reflected Nichele’s impeccable taste. The linens on the cocktail tables glowed in rich jewel-toned colours accented with floral centrepieces that managed to be festive without actually screaming ‘Christmas’. Banks of fresh flowers su
rrounded a bower decorated with a fairyland of tiny white lights and misty tulle. Tuxedoed waitstaff circulated with silver trays of gourmet canapés and flutes of champagne.
As the first notes of Arnie’s guitar began, Kane dropped back to stand beside me, and I reached over to lace my fingers in his. He smiled and leaned down to place his lips next to my ear. “I like this new easiness between us,” he murmured.
I cuddled a little closer. “Me, too.”
My old demons stirred, whispering poison. What if Kane started expecting me to be like this all the time? He would be hurt and disappointed later…
I couldn’t help easing away a fraction.
Kane’s grip loosened instantly. “It’s all right; I don’t have any expectations,” he said gently. “Let’s just take it as it comes.”
I let out a breath and relaxed. “Thanks.”
Nichele hurried over. “Hey, girl, I need my matron of honour!”
“I’m all yours.”
We retreated to the small alcove at the ballroom entrance, and Nichele clutched my hand. “This is it.” She drew a deep breath. “The point of no return.”
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“I…” Her grip on my hand tightened and she let out an unsteady breath. “I’m scared.”
My heart clenched. “Oh, Nichele, I know. Believe me, I get it. But-”
“But I’m okay,” she said firmly. She peeked around the corner, where Dave and his best man had taken their places in front of the bower. Dave glanced back, and when their eyes met I glimpsed the radiant bond of love between them.
Nichele drew back to face me, her smile glowing. “I’m more than okay. I’m sure. I’m scared spitless, but I’m sure.”
I threw my arms around her, barely able to speak around the lump in my throat. “I’m so glad. I’m so happy for you.”
Then the wedding march sounded, and I led Nichele down the aisle.
Soon my best friend was saying ‘I do’ to the steadfast man she’d waited her whole life to find. Dave and Nichele were pronounced man and wife at last, and our joy overflowed in toasts and dancing; laughter and happy tears.
Once Burned, Twice Spy Page 40
