They were in Lindsay and Nathan’s apartment—Nathan having gone to Jay and Kate’s to get ready.
Lindsay stood frozen to the floor, dressed in her fine French bra and panties and the delectable Vera Wang silver-white pumps Nadine had found for her.
“I can’t do this,” she said.
“Yes, you can,” Meg insisted.
“I don’t have anything borrowed, and nothing blue. I knew I was going to forget something.”
“I didn’t think you cared about those silly old customs,” Meg said in her best analytical lawyer tone.
Meg was a finer-featured, thinner, more delicate version of her older sister. It was from her successful, Midtown practice that many of their clients were referred.
“Except for the dress. And borrowed and blue are part of the dress. Nadine, isn’t that right? I don’t want to jinx this marriage before it even starts.”
“I have it covered,” Nadine said calmly. Like Meg, she hadn’t thought Lindsay would worry about the finer details, but just in case she’d brought along her mother’s blue lace handkerchief.
She’d found it in the cedar box that her mother had packed for her when she’d moved into her own apartment. The hankie was meant for her to wear at her own wedding, but Nadine had serious doubts that that day would ever come.
She couldn’t imagine loving anyone but Patrick.
And she couldn’t see a future with him, either. It wasn’t healthy for her to be the one who always gave, who always compromised. Much as she needed Patrick, she would not be part of such an unbalanced relationship.
After that awful fight, when she’d said those awful things, he’d tried to call her a bunch of times the next day. But less than twenty-four hours later, he’d stopped calling completely.
She wondered if he’d met someone else. It was certainly possible. It would always be possible given the life he led.
“That’s perfect, Nadine.” Lindsay held the handkerchief gently. “But where do I put it?”
“Let’s get the dress on first,” Meg said patiently. “You’d better step in so you don’t mess up your hair.”
“Thanks, Meg.” Lindsay moved as directed, then held up her arms. “Now do the zip. And all those little buttons…”
Lindsay’s dress was strapless and hugged her body like a second skin.
“We’ll tuck the hankie in your glove,” Nadine said. “There. You look beautiful.”
Beyond beautiful, really. With her pale blond hair, flawless skin and light blue eyes, Lindsay could look ethereal when she wasn’t busy kicking someone’s butt or working a case.
Lindsay checked out her reflection. “Not bad.”
“And perfect timing.” Meg checked her watch. “The limo should be waiting downstairs. Kate, do you need a few more minutes?”
“No, thanks. Alice is a fast eater…like her father.” Kate bundled the baby in a snowsuit, then buckled her into a car seat. “Nadine, do you mind grabbing the diaper bag for me? I’m afraid my days of traveling light are over.”
“No problem.” Nadine took Lindsay’s overnight bag, as well, since she and Nathan were staying in a ritzy downtown hotel for their wedding night.
The honeymoon in New Zealand wasn’t going to happen until Kate returned from mat leave.
It was almost eight when they arrived at the Garden Restaurant, which was on the top floor of a forty-story building and had a fabulous city view.
The ceremony was supposed to be simple. Just an exchange of vows and rings, with no music or bridesmaids or processions of any kind. “I’d burst out laughing if I had to walk down an aisle,” Lindsay had said, and Nathan had agreed it wasn’t her style.
“As long as we are legally husband and wife by the end of the evening, I’ll be a very happy man.”
And it looked as if he was going to get his wish, Nadine thought, as she entered the reserved room ahead of the others. A long, rectangular table was set up in one corner for the meal. The officiant was standing by the window, conversing with Nathan.
The other guests were milling around the bar. Nadine smiled at Jay and Eric. “Kate and Alice are right behind me,” she assured them. “Kate wanted to stop in the washroom to change the baby’s diaper.”
“And Lindsay?” Nathan asked.
“Meg’s putting the finishing touches on her makeup. She’ll be right in.”
Noticing that the others had glasses of champagne in hand, Nadine headed for the bar. She wanted to be ready for the toast when the short ceremony was over.
She walked up to a woman who had dark, curly hair and a warm smile. “You must be Nathan’s sister.”
“Yes, I’m Mary-Beth. And you must be Nadine. It’s so nice to meet you. This is my son, Justin.” She placed her hand on the head of a towheaded toddler. “He usually goes to bed around now, so this should be interesting.”
Nadine crouched to say hello to the little guy. His eyes were bright and she guessed adrenaline was going to keep him going for a while, yet.
As she rose, she became aware of someone else in the room. He was standing in shadow, in the far corner, and…
“Oh my God.” It couldn’t be him, could it?
But then he smiled and she had no doubt.
It was Patrick. Somehow he had managed to make it to the wedding.
THE MOMENT NADINE RECOGNIZED him Patrick knew all the organizing and phone calls and pleading and rescheduling had been worth it.
“I hope you don’t mind that I surprised you. I wasn’t sure, at first, if I was going to be able to make it. My connection was really tight. And then my flight into New York was delayed by almost an hour. I was afraid all my planning would be for nothing.”
“I can’t believe you’re really here.” She touched the sleeve of his jacket tentatively.
She was happy to see him, he could tell by the way her face glowed. Though, as far as he was concerned, Nadine always had a special light around her.
He drew her close and kissed her. “It’s so wonderful to be here.”
“What made you decide to come?”
“I realized this was an important occasion. And that I should be here to share it with you. I want to share all your important occasions, Nadine. And the not-so-important ones, too.”
“Does this mean you’re no longer ‘falling’…but that you’ve actually fallen?”
It took him a minute to understand what she was asking. Then he realized, ruefully, that he should have been more specific with his language the first time. “I’ve been in love with you practically from the moment we met.”
She grasped his lapels in her hands and pulled him in tightly. “I love you, too, Patrick. I love you like crazy.” Then the light in her eyes dimmed a bit. “How long until you have to leave?”
“I’ve only got twenty-four hours,” he confessed. “And then only a month before I need to go to Canada. But I’ve decided that this is going to be my last book. I might even have tried to get out of this contract, but I’m hoping I’ll get to spend time with Stephen when I’m doing my research.”
“What do you mean, your last book?”
“I mean, I don’t want to live away from you for most of the year. I’m going to find a regular job. Maybe something in the magazine business. I have lots of contacts in the publishing world. I should be able to find something.”
“Really? That would be so wonderful…but will you be happy? Won’t you miss the travel and the adventure?”
“Traveling is a young man’s sport. And I’m thinking making a new life with you might be enough of an adventure. What do you think, sweetheart? Are you up for the challenge of having me around every morning, and every night, and full-time on the weekends?”
“Patrick, that sounds very much like you’re asking me…”
“If you’ll marry me. Yes, that’s exactly what I want. With children in the package, too, if that’s okay.”
“Oh, babies would be wonderful.”
“Hopefully by then I’ll have won over y
our parents.”
“I hope so, too. But either way, you’ve already won over me.”
This had to be the happiest moment of his life so far. He had great hopes that there would be more of them. But someone else had center stage now.
He leaned over to whisper into Nadine’s ear. “A lady in a long white dress just came into the room. I think we’d better give her our attention for a little bit.”
PATRICK KNEW HIS OWN JOY colored his perception of the ceremony, but it seemed like the most perfect wedding he’d ever attended. It didn’t hurt that it was over quickly. Once the vows and rings had been exchanged, Nathan proposed a toast to his bride, then Lindsay returned the favor.
“Now it’s time for good food, good drink and good times,” she concluded, laughing as she linked arms with Nathan and invited everyone to take their place around the table.
As people shuffled around, checking place cards, and finding the appropriate spot, a woman came up beside him.
“Are you Patrick O’Neil?”
“Yes. Why?”
She helped her son into a chair with a booster seat, then brushed her hair back from her eyes. “It sure is a small world. I used to teach at Columbia University. A very good friend of mine, someone you knew, taught there, as well, but she passed away recently.”
The color leached out of Patrick’s face. “You knew June Stone?”
“Yes. I’m the one who mailed her letters to you.”
Patrick tightened his grip on Nadine’s hand, then realized he must be hurting her. But she said nothing. She, too, was astonished by Mary-Beth’s pronouncement.
“You mailed the letters? But what a coincidence that we should meet this way.”
“It isn’t a coincidence at all,” Nadine realized. “Mary-Beth is Nathan’s sister. And Nathan is who June told you to look for if you wanted to find Stephen.”
“I take it you did track down your son?”
“It wasn’t easy.” Patrick gave Nadine a private smile. “But yes, with Nadine’s help.”
“I’m sorry. I gather Stephen took off shortly after June’s funeral. Her death will be hard on him—they were very close. I’m glad you’re willing to be a part of his life now.”
“Frankly, I wish I’d had the opportunity sooner.” June had called him selfish, and he wasn’t denying that was the case. But he liked to think he would have responded to unplanned parenthood with more maturity than she had given him credit for.
Mary-Beth sighed. “It isn’t easy being an unmarried mother. Don’t be too upset with June.”
He could only imagine the sacrifices that she must have made. “Fair enough.”
He pulled out a seat for Nadine, then sat in the chair next to her. Mary-Beth settled beside him.
“June almost changed her mind about those letters. I was with her on her last day. She told me she was losing her nerve. I managed to convince her that it was the right thing.”
“I’m glad you did.” Patrick watched Nadine tuck her hair behind her ears, as she leaned forward to read the menu. Not only had June’s letters connected him with his son, but it had led him to his future wife, as well.
Maybe things had worked out exactly as they were supposed to, after all.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-5047-9
RECEPTIONIST UNDER COVER
Copyright © 2010 by Carla Daum.
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