The men lined up for Adam were Kyle Ward, Ted Craven, Anthony Johnson and Jordan Kane. These were the men he had served with in the sand and he was thrilled to be with them again. The only one missing was the one who would have been his best man, Calvin Ward. Here, on his most important day, he missed his old friend more than he could say. Standing in for Jenny, and now waiting across from his groom’s men, were Natalee Ward, Jenny Martinez, Emma Pare and Maxine Craven (with two of her dogs).
The feast they would take part of later would not only be the wedding feast of the Cross’, it would be the first annual Thanksgiving feast. Adam was honored to start off their concept of a new life together with the ceremony that kicked off his new married life. Rich walked to the front with his guitar and began playing the wedding march on it, it was gorgeous. The opening of the chapel was suddenly filled with Kate Ward, and the most beautiful version of Erica he had ever seen. Somehow, in secret, they had dug up a wedding dress and she stood there, shining in white as she walked down the aisle to meet him. He thought the smile might break the corners of his mouth, he smiled so widely.
When she reached him, he took her hand from Kate and Kate went to sit down in the front row. The ceremony was beautiful, but Adam could not have told you what happened. He only had eyes for Erica, the new Mrs. Cross. But, as the ceremony finished and he walked his new bride back down the aisle, he had only one thought. The goodness of life continues, was all he thought. It showed itself to be true.
THE END OF BOOK ONE
GLOSSARY OF NAMES
Adam Cross – 33, former US Army Medic, now restaurant manager at Pep’s
Alan Stone – 64, commanding officer at Fort Carson; Lieutenant General
Alton Tooney – 57, registered sex offender and neighborhood handyman, Black Forest
Amy Paolo – 26, wife of Mike
Andy Summers – 28, clerk at Fort Carson, Private First Class
Anthony Johnson – 27, scrounge, heavy weapons, Corporal
Beth Merritt – 68, mother of Kayla Craven and Kate Ward
Brick Martin – 52, pastor of the Spring Life Church, megachurch pastor, televangelist
Britton Casco – 22, Cadet Commander at Air Force Academy
Calvin Ward – 48, Dojo owner, former soldier
Cliff Ko – 12, role-playing gamer
Clinton More – 67, Commandant at Air Force Academy; Major General
Corporal Danvers – 36, Black Forest Police Department
Cooper Paolo - infant
Donna Harris – 24, Private First Class, stationed at NORAD
Ellen Harris – 28, server at Pep’s
Emma Pare – 42, botanist; stationed at NORAD
Eric Fine – 54, infantry officer, dojo owner; Major
Erica Butterfield – 26, server at Pep’s
Hermit – middle aged, unknown origin and identity, considered an urban legend
Jeff Prince- 35, store manager at the sporting goods store
Jenny Martinez – 27, yoga instructor, businesswoman, local celebrity
Jessica Peters – 19, student, retail employee at sporting goods store
Jim Colson – 49, government worker for city government
Jordan Kane – 22, technical support at NORAD; specialist
Jose Rio – 21, infantry soldier, stationed at NORAD; Private
Karen Pile – 47, Realtor, Black Forest resident, overtly religious
Kate Ward – 43, Cal’s wife
Kayla Craven – 45, Ted’s wife
Kin Ko – 21, student at Denver University
Kyle Ward – 20, student at Pikes peak Community College; works at Sporting goods store
Maxine Craven – 10, Ted and Kayla’s daughter
Mike Paolo – 28, Amy’s husband
Miles Damiano – 33, former army scrounge; part time dojo manager at FMAA
Natalee Ward – 17, prom queen
Peri – 21, Jenny’s assistant
Rich Carson – 59, pastor of small church in Black Forest; neighbor of Ted and Kayla
Ronnie Jones – 25, drug dealer
Ted Craven – 48, infantry NCO; stationed at Fort Carson; Sergeant First Class
Zane Meyer – 50, infantry NCO; stationed at Ft. Carson; Staff Sergeant
Age of Mystics (Saga of Mystics Book 1) Page 29