Because the hurricane storm surge had eroded some of the beaches, and huge dredges and barges were making noisy repairs, Kris and Mitch’s wedding was held at the Naples Botanical Garden near the two-tiered waterfall.
What a lovely, relaxing sound, Claire thought as white water spilled into the small, calm lake. So much better than the shrieks of a hurricane. She and Brit, wearing peach-hued gowns and straw hats, accompanied the bride. Jace, of course, was Mitch’s best man.
Kris had insisted that even the younger children come, so Nita was tending Trey and Clarita. The dig team who worked with Kris were here, along with several of the NOAA flight crew, and the manager of the Marco Island Airport where Jace and Mitch were locating their new Fly Safe flight school. The love of Heck’s life, Gina, also came from Miami, and both were beaming since he had proposed and she had accepted, though that meant he’d be moving there at least until she finished med school. He’d already secured a new position with the Dade County police in their Digital Forensic Unit.
Lexi and Jilly were flower girls, beaming under their little straw hats. Claire could see Darcy and Steve from where she stood as the vows began. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered together...”
Her dearly beloved were here, family and friends, including several friends the four of them—Claire, Darcy, Brit and Kris—had made volunteering with a local hurricane disaster service group. Steve had helped Bronco put a new roof on their house, and now that it was done, Claire would be sad to see the little family moving out of the Markwood home. At least Nita would still work for them and bring Clarita with her. But their not living in the extra bedroom where Clarita was born would be another wrench for Lexi, who had announced she was too old to bother with dolls now, because Clarita was like a little doll.
Claire blinked back tears when Kris and Mitch exchanged rings, said their vows, kissed and walked up the grassy aisle together. What a rocky path she and Nick had had together, but things had ultimately worked out so well. She felt herself blush at the memory of last night in bed, for their love had grown in meaning and depth since their own shotgun wedding, and months later their reception, which had literally blown up in their faces.
No rice was to be thrown in this lovely setting amid so many stunning gardens. Some foliage had been uprooted or damaged by the storm, but trees and bushes were coming back strong. There was a butterfly house here, but they had decided against a release because that meant the butterflies had to be imprisoned first. That had made Claire happy. She’d had enough of innocent creatures being taken prisoner.
The single women gathered to catch Kris’s bouquet, which she tossed over her shoulder without looking. It flew perfectly to Gina. Heck was so excited at that he hugged Nick where they stood watching. “Thanks to you and Claire getting in trouble in Cuba, boss, ’cause that led me to Gina!”
“See, Claire,” Nick said, pounding the happy man on his back. “Our almost getting killed in Cuba was for a good cause!”
A lot of good had come out of their toughest times, Claire realized. Nick had even given a deposition on behalf of Lincoln Yost, who was caught up in the Ralston scandal because of his ties to the Onward projects. Hometown hero that Yost still was, he did not go to prison but did have to pay such a hefty fine that he was selling his dream home and moving into a house in Golden Gate, not far from the one Will Warren had vacated.
Clint Ralston, who had regained minimal vision, was soon to stand trial along with Jedi Brown. Of course, Nick was keeping clear of those criminal cases.
Gina ran over with the bouquet and hugged Claire as the bride and groom began to greet their guests in an impromptu reception line near the catered food table featuring a large cake.
“Mommy!” Lexi cried. “Jilly and I think this wedding is totally awesome!”
Jilly’s brother, Drew, hands thrust in his pants pockets, muttered, “This isn’t as cool as some birthday parties I’ve seen, ’specially one I went to that had paintball. But I guess there’s lots of food here.”
Claire thought it was a blessing Drew had not been here during his mother’s disappearance, because even being told about it had made him angry. So Darcy had found herself counseling Drew while counselors—and Claire—still counseled her.
“Totally awesome?” Nick repeated what Lexi had just said when the kids ran off together again. “Why is our little girl suddenly sounding like a teenager?” He put his arm around Claire’s waist to give her a little squeeze.
“Don’t say that. Next you’ll be signing our toddler son up for Little League or teaching him how to get clients off the hook in a court of law.”
“Speaking of that, thank goodness Steve was finally cleared of any wrongdoing. And I’d bet that crazy cake over there that they’ll never find Will if he doesn’t want to be found.”
They strolled toward the buffet table where there were chairs set up on the grass. The wedding cake was perfectly unique. Instead of the usual decorations of flowers, entwined hearts or a bride and groom, the baker had custom decorated it with a small plane on one side with Fly Safe written on it, and on the other side, a picture of a primitive, doll-like effigy that Kris had recently excavated from an ancient burial at the Black Bog where Claire had once worked.
“Well,” Nick told her as they looked down at the design, “two unique people joining their lives.”
“Like us,” she said, “and look what we’ve made of things.”
“Meaning the calm, good times, not the mess—the dangers.”
“Of course, and I’m not sure what you could be referring to,” she said, elbowing him gently in the ribs.
“Ah, my beloved Claire,” he said with a little sigh. “We’ve come so far and, hopefully, have a lot farther to go.”
“Dark storms or not, I predict a lot of happiness ahead. For Darcy and Steve, too.”
“The two of you seem even closer than before.”
“Working on it. By the way—you heard it here—I’m retiring from dangerous endeavors, just wait and see.”
“Yeah, right. Heard that one before,” he said, rolling his eyes.
Although Claire could hear Trey starting to cry for her across the way, and it wasn’t their wedding, she stood on tiptoe in the thick grass, threw her arms around Nick and kissed him hard.
When they stepped apart, she whispered, “For better or worse, till death us do part.”
Nodding with tears in his eyes, he said, “I’ll take the better with none of the worse, but whatever happens, to love and cherish you, I will and I do!”