“That turned out to be my fatal mistake.” He laughed.
“How long have you been divorced?”
“Over ten years,” he said.
“I guess you’ve recovered your bachelorhood.”
“Yeah,” he said. “I guess. Can I get you anything? Something to drink, maybe?”
“No, thanks. I think I’ll just enjoy the stars.”
“Mind if I enjoy the stars with you for a while?” he asked her.
She looked at him and tilted her head slightly. His question finally coaxed a smile out of her, a real one, and he thought, damn. This girl is beautiful. “That would be nice, Joe.”
Jack was the first to leave when he noticed Mel was looking tired. He collected his son, said goodbye to his boys and took Mel out onto the porch. They passed Joe and Nikki and said good-night as they left. Next to leave was Brie, giving Mike a kiss good-night on the porch before walking across the yard to their RV. Paige disappeared for good as she tucked herself in with Christopher for the night—advanced pregnancy requiring rest. Next was Vanessa, out on the porch looking for Nikki. “Hey, you can stay as long as you like—there are plenty of people around to take you home.”
“I could do that,” Joe offered. “I’d be glad to do that.”
“No,” Nikki said. “A maid of honor’s work is never done.”
Finally it was the general and Tom. Rick walked outside with them. Tom shook his hand and said, “Come out to the house tomorrow. Bring your girl.”
“Thanks, I might just do that. But not till after the wedding. No way I can let Lizzie see a wedding.”
By the time Rick walked back into the room, the tables were pushed together, the cards were out and the cigars were being snipped. “Get over here, boy,” Zeke said. “Get out your money.”
Rick laughed. Someone pressed a cigar on him and he said, “God, do I have to smoke this ugly thing?”
“As long as you get your money out, you can do whatever you want.”
“I don’t have that much money, guys,” he complained, but he was sitting down.
“Don’t worry about it, kid. We’ll take whatever you’ve got.”
Fifteen
The general’s house was a busy place on Saturday. The nuptials were scheduled for 4:00 p.m. with a party to follow. Sunday night would belong to Tom, his family and his girl since he’d be leaving early Monday morning.
Caterers arrived in the morning, setting up a trellis strung with white drape in the yard behind the house. Fifty folding chairs were unloaded, champagne chilled, flowers placed around the house and yard. Paul’s family arrived just after noon and his mother gratefully took charge of Mattie so the bride could primp. The general was happy to host the Haggerty men and Tom out on the deck while activity around the house and yard kept them out of those regions.
The next to arrive was Shelby. She drove up from Bodega Bay. It hadn’t been that long since her mother’s passing, but she was already changed; she’d dropped a few pounds, wore her shiny, honey-colored hair free, flowing down her back, and for the first time in years, she wore makeup. She looked so great that when Tom saw her, he grabbed her up in his arms and whirled her around, making her laugh. “Look at you,” he said. “What have you done to yourself?”
“Not so much,” she said, smiling. “I just have a little more time now, that’s all.”
“It’s more than that. You’re looking hot.”
“Thanks, honey,” she said. “That’s nice. I’ve never been hot in my life.”
Next it was Paul to lift her off the ground and make a fuss over her, and finally she was pulled into the circle of women with Vanni exclaiming over how wonderful she looked. The only one not surprised was Walt, who’d been making regular visits to Bodega Bay since his sister’s passing. As they were getting the house back into shape he’d been watching the slow and startling transformation of his niece as she found her footing, making her way into a new life.
Paul was showered before noon so he could clear out of the bathroom, finally putting on his suit at three, as did the best man and Walt. When the guests began to arrive, cold champagne was pressed into their hands as they were directed to the chairs in the yard. The minister, Harry Shipton of Grace Valley, was more than happy to accept his champagne with the rest of the gathering. Right at four, Vanessa and Nikki stepped out onto the deck from the house, making their way to the yard where the vows would be spoken.