by Ann Heathman
Quickly drying her hair, she applied some simple make-up, and then rushed down to join the group for breakfast. Everyone was engaged in lively conversation, taking up where they’d left off the night before. All the men were speaking Spanish. She knew Zach was Hispanic, but she’d never heard him speak Spanish until now. Evidently it was his father’s preferred language. As soon as she joined them, they switched to English.
Juan was at the table too, a pair of crutches lying beside his chair. She went down to where he was seated and greeted him with a big hug. “What happened to your leg?” she asked.
“No big deal. Just a slight break. I should be back on my feet in about five weeks.”
She wanted to ask how he broke it but figured it was useless. There was no way any of them would talk about anything that happened while they were away.
“Can I get you something from the buffet?” she asked.
“I’m all set. Thanks for offering. Lorena here has been taking care of me.” He smiled at his girlfriend who was refilling his coffee.
“I can never thank you enough for all you’ve done for my daughter,” Kathryn said, as Arianna sat down across from her and next to Zach. “I’m afraid she was in quite a precarious position when she met you.”
Zach nodded. “I was glad I could help.”
“I admire my daughter’s courage as a journalist, but after the attempt on her life, I’m afraid for her safety.”
Arianna frowned at her mother. “Mom, we’ve talked about this. I had an important story to tell and with that comes risk. I think it was worth it.”
“I wonder if Zach agrees.” Kathryn glanced at him. “What do you think, Zach? Is what she’s doing worth risking her life?”
Zach paused, glanced over at Arianna, and then looked at Kathryn. “You know your daughter best. Would you expect her to do anything less than what she’s done?” he asked.
Kathryn smiled with pride at Arianna. “No, she’s always been a trailblazer, but again, do you think it’s worth the risk?” She took a sip of coffee, her eyes still looking at Zach over the rim of the cup. “She almost got killed last month. I’m scared to death something’s going to happen to her.”
Zach reached over and took Kathryn’s hand. “She has a bodyguard everywhere she goes. She’ll be all right. I’ll make sure of it.”
“She has an independent streak. It wouldn’t surprise me if she took off on her own someday despite the danger.”
Zach looked at Arianna. “She won’t do that. I think we settled that long ago.”
Arianna blushed. No she wouldn’t put herself through that again, but more importantly, after her narrow escape with death, she realized how important it was to have a bodyguard.
“Speaking of which,” Arianna said, “Kevin’s pretty much healed up and wants to start our next story… down on the Texas-Mexico border. I think after the wedding, we’d like to go down there and nose around. We want to do a story on all the children coming across the border from Honduras and Mexico.”
“Oh, that sounds dangerous too, Arianna.” Kathryn threw her hands in the air. “Can’t you think of some safer stories to follow?”
Arianna frowned at Kathryn. “Oh, Mother, please!” She glanced over at Zach. “She always does this to me… lays a guilt trip on me, so I’ll feel bad and not do these things. That’s why I usually don’t tell her what I’m doing.”
Zach didn’t say anything. He got up to refill his plate.
“I think he agrees with me,” Kathryn said, when he walked away.
Arianna chuckled. “No. That’s just the way he is. He doesn’t say much most of the time. You have to get to know him to figure out what he’s thinking.”
“He’s quite a handsome guy. Even more handsome than you described him. And he has a lovely family. I spent some time with his mother last night, getting to know her. I like her very much.”
Arianna looked over and saw Zach on his phone, then Tony walked over to where he stood. Her antenna went up as they turned to walk into the house. She jumped out of her chair and rushed over to them.
“Zach,” she said, a fearful look on her face. God, please don’t let him be leaving again so soon.
He stopped and turned around to see the apprehensive look on her face. “What’s wrong?”
She hesitated and twisted the napkin she held in her hand. “Are you…? You’re not… I’m, uhm, kinda panicking thinking you’re leaving. Uh…”
He stepped back and pulled her close. “No, babe. Relax. We’re just going into the office to return a call. Go finish your breakfast. This afternoon, we’re going to get the boat out and take everyone for a cruise. Go relax and enjoy yourself.”
She nodded and gave him a weak smile. “I’m sorry. I feel so clingy. I don’t know what’s wrong. This is not me.” She had a hitch in her voice, and she almost cried.
“I know, babe. It’s all right.” He lifted her chin and gave her a kiss. “I’ll only be gone a few minutes.” He turned and left.
No this was not like her he thought as he went down the hall. Not one little bit. Miss Independence was usually unflappable. But he recognized what was going on. He’d seen it many times before. PTSD. She’d just need some time and some tender loving care to recover from the trauma of the shooting. The external wound was healing nicely, but no one had treated the psychological trauma. He needed to be a rock and help her get through this, and he would.
“What’s up?’ Tony asked when they got into Zach’s office.
“With Arianna?” he asked.
“No. The phone call. Where’s your head, man?”
Zach waved him off. “Veritas. That was Veritas on the phone. He wants us to go back to Libya.”
“You’re shittin’ me. Why?”
“Well, since Jamal came out of country with us, they need someone to go back and get Noreen out.”
“Why us?”
“I guess because they think we know the area better than most.”
Tony shook his head and started to pace. “So what did you tell them? Christ, we just got home. I gotta be honest. I have no desire to go back there for a very long time.”
“Roger that. Me either. I told him my sister is getting married, so I couldn’t do anything until after the wedding next week, then I’d consider it. He said okay. Noreen is safe for now. He’ll check back in a week.”
“Thank you! That was a rough trip. Plus Juan’s out of commission, so it would just be you and me.”
Zach snapped his phone back on his waist. “Right, so sit tight until I know something more.”
The estate was bustling with activity as the wedding day drew near. The ceremony would be held in the Catholic cathedral on the outskirts of town, and the reception would be at the Costa Luna Country Club. Aunts, uncles, and cousins from both the Hispanic and the American side of the Acevedo family would be in attendance. The guest list had blossomed to over two hundred people with the addition of relatives from Peter’s family, his buddies from the Naval Academy, plus several of Camilla’s sorority sisters who planned to attend. It seemed everyone loved a destination wedding.
A large pre-wedding party had been held the previous night to entertain the many out-of-town guests who had traveled from faraway places to attend the big event. This pre-party was held poolside at Zach’s estate. The guests enjoyed hors-d’oeuvres, canapés, and an open bar. A live band played late into the night as the guests danced and enjoyed the evening.
Arianna was thrilled to meet Zach’s relatives. She received many appreciative nods and comments. It seemed they approved of Zach’s choice of her as his girlfriend. She wondered if any previous girlfriends had met his family. She felt quite special when Zach’s mother, Muriel, confirmed she was the first girlfriend she’d ever met.
Also, she had begun to relax, comforted by Zach’s presence since he’d returned from his latest deployment. Her wound had almost healed although, a large Band Aid on her arm would be an unplanned for accessory to the sleeveless maid of honor’s
dress she’d be wearing. Earlier bouts of weepiness and depression had subsided, and Zach had been exceptionally warm and loving as she healed from the emotional trauma of the shooting.
On the day of the wedding, the women commandeered the main house and banished the men to a suite of rooms at one of the hotels in the city. A battalion of hair stylists and make-up artists descended upon the estate. The entire bridal party plus all the mothers were getting their hair and make-up professionally done. This process started early in the day and took hours to complete, but when the task was finished, everyone looked beautiful, especially Camilla.
“I love my hair,” she said to Arianna who helped her into her dress. “But I knew I would. We did a trial run a week ago. I didn’t want to wait until the day of the wedding to try a new hairstyle and end up hating it. That would have ruined everything.”
“That was smart, and your hair style is perfect.” Arianna adjusted Camilla’s veil. “You’re going to be a beautiful bride.”
And speaking of waiting until the day of, Arianna studied her own hair which the stylist had fashioned into an up-do. Although it looked elegant, she wasn’t sure it suited her. She was more a wild and carefree girl and worried it looked too fixed and severe for her face.
“Are you kidding?” Lisa asked, giving her own hairdo one last spritz of hairspray. “You look like Grace Kelly or someone sophisticated like that.”
“You think? I guess the real test will be when Zach sees it.”
Lisa laughed. “Don’t worry. He’ll like it, and even if he doesn’t, he won’t say anything.”
“You’re right. Anyway, this is Camilla’s day not mine, so it doesn’t matter if my hair’s not perfect.”
“Right, so stop worrying, and let’s go.”
Two stretch limos waited in front of the house. Kathryn, Muriel, and Peter’s mother departed for the church in the first car. The second limo transported Camilla and her bridal party. The men had already arrived at the cathedral, and Peter was safely sequestered inside, so he couldn’t see Camilla before the wedding. Zach was his best man, so the two remained in a room just steps from the altar.
The guests were all seated, and the wedding procession began. Arianna preceded Camilla down the aisle and almost swooned when she saw Zach standing next to Peter at the altar. He looked strikingly handsome in his black tuxedo, and his appreciative gaze told her he liked what he saw as she approached. It did cross her mind that one day this might be them getting married, but she didn’t allow herself to dwell on that thought. Zach had never mentioned marriage. Never even hinted about it, and she knew she’d never bring it up. But today wasn’t the day to think about that anyway.
Camilla walked down the aisle on the arm of her adoring father who managed to give her hand in marriage and make his exit without tripping on the train of the bridal gown. The beautiful ceremony came off without a hitch.
IT PAYS to know the right people. It had taken some scratching around and calling in some favors from old friends at the Agency, but Clare had managed to find Zach’s address. After the ceremony, she stood in the crowd outside the church, waiting for the bride and groom to appear. She’d skipped the receiving line, not wanting to risk being recognized by Zach, although her blond wig and sunglasses hid her identity for the time being. This wedding had provided just the opportunity she needed to carry out her plan for revenge.
“She’s a beautiful bride,” Clare said to a girl standing nearby. “Her brother Zach is smokin’ hot, too. Is he married?”
“Oh, no. He’s quite single,” the girl answered, “but very much taken. That’s his girlfriend standing next to him in the receiving line.”
Clare’s heart sank. She’d seen that girl in the wedding party and thought she was one of the most beautiful women here. Of course, that would be Zach’s girlfriend! But no matter. Given the plan she had in mind, she wouldn’t be his girlfriend for long.
“Oh, well. You can’t win them all. What’s her name?” Clare asked.
“Arianna. Arianna Garrett. I think they’ve been going together for about six months.”
The young lady moved on, and the crowd started to get excited as word reached them the bride and groom were on their way out of the church. Clare moved through the gathering until she found what she was looking for. There in the side pocket of one of the ladies’ purses was an invitation to the reception. As the guests threw confetti on the exiting couple, Clare reached in and snatched the invitation out of the purse and quickly put it in her own handbag. This would provide her entry at the reception. She smiled as the first element of her plan came together.
FINISHED WITH all the bridal party pictures, Arianna could finally relax and enjoy the reception. She excused herself to visit the ladies room and then made her way to one of the bars in search of a cocktail.
“Beautiful wedding,” someone said.
Arianna turned to see a young, blond-haired woman in line behind her. “Yes, Camilla was a lovely bride. They’re going to be so happy together.”
“Hi, I’m Emma,” the young lady said. “I’m one of Camilla’s American cousins. I just got into town today, so I don’t think we’ve met.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Arianna. I’m here with Camilla’s brother, Zach.”
“Oh, nice meeting you, too. We were all very close growing up. Those two lived in Puerto Rico, and I lived in the States, but I would spend summers at their house.”
“That sounds like fun. So which of your parents was related to Muriel?”
“My mother was Muriel’s sister.”
“Well, I’m glad you could make the wedding. I’m sure it means a lot to Camilla. Where do you come from?”
“New Orleans. Have you ever been there?”
“No, never.” She took a sip of the Cosmo she had ordered. “Always wanted to go to Mardi Gras but never made it.”
“We can fix that. Why don’t you write your email address on this cocktail napkin, and we’ll plan a little get away for the next Mardi Gras? I’ll email you all the details.”
Arianna hesitated. If she went to Mardi Gras, she wanted to go to with Zach, not his cousin who she’d just met. Not wanting to be rude however, she borrowed a pen from the bartender and wrote her email address down.
They continued to chat a bit longer when Zach suddenly appeared at her side.
”There you are,” Arianna said. “I was just talking to your cousin Emma.”
To Arianna’s surprise, Zach didn’t look all that happy to see Emma who stepped forward and gave him a big hug.
“So nice to see you again, Cousin Zach,” she whispered.
Zach briefly returned the hug and responded with a rather terse, “Cousin Emma.”
Arianna paused a moment, puzzled by Zach’s unenthusiastic greeting. “Emma just arrived today, so she missed the party last night.”
“Sorry everyone,” Tony said, barging in and taking Arianna by the arm. “I think Camilla needs you to help cut the cake.” He began to escort her away.
“Me?” Arianna reluctantly moved away with Tony who kept a steady pressure on her arm. “That’s the groom’s job. Why am I needed?” She looked back to say good-bye to Emma, but Zach was escorting her toward the main lobby. She watched as they stopped and appeared to be arguing about something. It didn’t look like Emma wanted to leave, but Zach continued to move her toward the door. Emma tried to hug Zach, but he pushed her arms off him. The next thing she saw was him putting his arm around her waist and continuing on out the door with her.
“That’s curious,” Arianna said to Tony. “I think they’re fighting about something. What’s going on?”
Tony didn’t respond to her question. Instead he continued to guide her to the other side of the room, away from the entrance. “Here. Let’s go find Camilla.”
They were standing there talking to Camilla, when Zach joined them, a nondescript look on his face.
“Were you just fighting with your cousin?” Arianna asked. “You didn’t seem very happ
y to see her.”
Zach let out a guarded laugh. “It’s complicated. It’s an old sibling rivalry thing stemming from something that happened long ago. It’s no big deal.”
She still didn’t understand, but the night was young, and she didn’t want anything to spoil the occasion, so she dropped the subject. Lisa ran up and started to pull her away.
“Come on, Ari. Camilla’s going to throw the bridal bouquet. We can’t miss that. Never know. We might get lucky.” She winked at Tony and the two of them moved out onto the dance floor where the toss was to be held.
“Damn, that was a close call,” Tony said when the girls moved away.
He’d been the first to notice the resemblance the blond girl had to Clare and pointed it out to Zach. They studied her face a bit more and realized it was Clare, but had no idea why she was here. The only thing they knew for sure, whatever the reason, it couldn’t be good.
How to handle the situation was a problem. If not handled properly, things could blow up real fast. Obviously Clare was there to cause trouble. Since she’d been burned as a CIA agent, they wondered if she was there to ‘out’ Zach and his team. That could not be allowed to happen.
They also considered she might be there to make another play for Zach. Try to cause trouble between himself and Arianna. All these were unknowns, so Zach knew he needed to proceed slowly. It irked him, but to some extent he was forced to play along with whatever charade she employed. No way could he tell Arianna or anyone who Clare really was. He was thoroughly pissed at her, but reason had to rule. He had to get her out of the room without causing a scene.
Zach looked nervously back at the front door. “I handed her over to the security team who are supposed to stay with her until she leaves the island.”
Tony stood there shaking his head. “You had her pegged right. What a wacko bird. We need to talk to Veritas about getting this chick some help.”
“What help? You can recommend it, but she doesn’t have to take it.” Zach ordered another Jack Daniels and Coke. “On top of that, I hate lying to Arianna.”