Justice (Counsel #2)

by Shenda Paul

  It's three-thirty when I catch sight of Jodi being escorted our way. I nudge Jon and smile as his face lights up at the sight of her. "You look very handsome today, Thorne," she greets me with a smile. "You, of course, are exceptional every day," she tells Jon, leaning up to accept his kiss.

  "Adam, this is…I've never seen anything this stunning!" she exclaims, looking around.

  "Thanks. You look stunning too." I kiss her cheek and then excuse myself as more guests approach. I've barely greeted Bristly and his wife, Louise, when I hear my name called. "My daddy's giving Angel to you today," Flynn says in an accusatory tone, raising a laugh from my boss.

  "I know; I'm so lucky," I answer, greeting Nic with a kiss on the cheek.

  "You better look after her," he challenges, looking for all the world like his father did when he questioned my interest in Angelique. " She's s'posed to marry me when I get big."

  "I'll take the very best care of her," I assure him.

  He sticks his hand out. "Daddy says men should shake on it," he announces solemnly to yet another chortle from Bristly and everyone else within earshot. Mom approaches while I introduce Bristly and Louise to Nic and Flynn. She lets me know that guests are being seated in preparation for the ceremony.

  "Dad's gone to get Grace," she says before I can ask. Simon signals me then, and, excusing myself, I hastily round up Matt and Jon. It's ten minutes to four when we take our places, and for the first time since everyone began asking how I feel, my pulse starts to race.

  Dad arrives with Grace, and I hurry to greet her and help move her chair into position. "You look incredible," I tell her, crouching down to kiss her cheek.

  "Wait until you see my daughter." She brings her hand to my face. "You look even more handsome today; you two are such a perfect pair. Now go and stand back there before I cry," she gently commands, a catch in her voice.

  Jon leans forward to smile his encouragement, and Matt claps me on the shoulder when I rejoin them. "Not long now," he murmurs. "How are you feeling?"

  "Anxious," I finally admit, taking a deep breath in an attempt to regulate my staccato heartbeat. I check my watch and turn to glance at Dan, who shakes his head, letting me know that the bride's party hasn’t left yet.

  I look at my watch at least twice more before the prelude to Ave Maria stops the low murmur of voices. "Heavenly…" Jon whispers as the soprano's voice rises in the air. I send a silent wish for Rory to be witnessing our tribute to him and this momentous event in his daughter's life.

  Samantha makes her way down the aisle, and a few moments later, Mandi steps into sight. Audible sighs of appreciation come from the audience as the last angelic note of music fades away. The next moments feel like the longest of my life, and my heart thumps so loudly in my chest, its thudding pulsates in my ears.

  Finally, the haunting sound of a flute heralds the start of the music I've been anxiously listening for. I barely register Grace’s rapt and glassy-eyed expression because the vision just beyond Mandi has me mesmerized. Breath catches in my throat, and my heart stutters, practically halting before taking off at a gallop.

  Angelique’s beauty has enthralled me from the beginning, but today, she transcends my every dream. Her head is bowed on her graceful neck and her eyes downcast as she steps onto the carpet of petals on Samuel's arm. He leans down to speak to her, and even from this distance, I can tell she's emotional. I can’t see what he says, but she slowly raises her head to meet my gaze.

  I step forward, anxious to reach her, but Matt’s hand stays me. My eyes remain riveted on Angelique as she floats down the aisle toward me. I ignore the muted gasps and quiet murmuring as our guests, too, take in her beauty. All I can think is that I love this woman more than life and that soon, very soon, she'll be mine in every sense of the word.

  "I love you," I whisper as she draws near. Her face lights up. "I love you too," she mouths, to the delighted titters of our spectators. She and Samuel come to a halt before Grace's wheelchair. He removes her hand from his arm and places it into her mother's, and I step forward, finally able to claim my bride.

  Grace kisses Angelique’s hand before placing it in mine. "Thank you," I whisper what could, quite possibly, be the most inadequate words I’ve ever uttered. "Be happy," she tells us tearfully.

  "You're exquisite," I say to Angelique as I lead her to our place before the minister.

  Chapter Thirty

  "This is a joyous occasion," Simon addresses our gathering. "Adam and Angelique have asked me to welcome you and thank you for joining them in the celebration of their marriage.

  "We all need and desire to love and be loved, and marriage is the highest form of love between two people within a monogamous and committed relationship. Marriage is a conscious act in which two people see their partnership as the joining of mind, body, and spirit; in which they create a new environment to share their lives, facing life and the world as one. Commitment to marriage includes the willingness to be open and vulnerable and the courage to take risks.

  "Adam and Angelique have decided to create such a relationship. They have each chosen to entrust their innermost selves into the care of the other and to make this commitment before you, their family and friends. For them, it is both an emotional and spiritual act they are undertaking. They promise to embrace discord as well as harmony, adversity as well as success, to work as well as play, to give as well as take, to remain faithful to, and move toward one another, always.

  "Will you please join hands and face your witnesses as you say your vows?" he asks, and Angelique gives Mandi her bouquet before we turn to face each other and our assembled guests. Her hands, when I take them in mine, are trembling. I stroke them with my thumbs and give her a reassuring smile.

  "Angelique, Mo shíorgrá, my heart, as you already know, belongs to you. Today, before our family and friends, I pledge it and everything I am to you. I choose you above all else and all others. I promise to love you in every way, to be gentle and respect you always, to encourage, comfort, protect and defend you. No matter what life chooses to throw our way, I will remain at your side, the rock you can depend on, always.

  "I promise that not a day will pass that I don't remind you of just how much you mean to me, how much I love you and just how empty my life was and would be again without you. I love you, Angelique; now and forever."

  A tear rolls down her cheek, and I, choked with emotion, gently wipe it away with the pad of my thumb. Angelique takes a deep, steadying breath.

  "Adam," she says, her voice soft and tremulous. "As a little girl, I dreamed about Prince Charming rescuing me and taking my mom and me to his perfect kingdom. As a teenager, I realized the stories I'd clung to were nothing but childish fantasies, and as a woman, I’d given up hope that such a man existed for me.

  "Then I met you. I came to I realize how good and true, what a principled man of character you are. I love you, M'fhíoghhrá. I worship you with my mind, my body, and my soul. You have renewed my life, and I promise to support you in everything you do, to comfort you in your setbacks and rejoice in your victories. I promise to be your loving wife, your friend and your confidante; to be one with you, from this day until eternity."

  We turn to face Simon, who, holding an open Bible, turns first to Matt and then Mandi to lay our rings on it.

  "Adam, will you take this ring and place it on Angelique’s finger, and as you do, repeat after me."

  "Angelique, I give you this ring as a symbol of our love and my commitment to you forever," I say those binding words proudly and with conviction as I move the ring into place, and then raise Angelique’s hand to kiss it.

  Simon turns to Angelique and asks her to do the same. "Adam, I give you this ring as a symbol of our love and my commitment to you forever," she says and does what I did. She looks up at me and kisses the ring on my finger. We get lost in each other's eyes until Simon clears his throat.

  "Adam and Angelique," he s
ays, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Today, in the presence of these witnesses and before God, you have expressed your desire to become husband and wife. You have declared your love and made vows of faith and devotion to each other and have sealed those vows with the exchange of rings. It is my privilege, as a minister and by the authority vested in me by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to pronounce you husband and wife. Adam, you may kiss your bride."

  Everything and everyone fade into oblivion; all I can see is Angelique, her eyes brimming with love and my ring on her finger. I cup her face in both hands and keep my eyes locked with hers as I lower my head. I kiss my wife tenderly and at length, trying, with every exchanged breath, to impart the depth of my love, my pure joy at having her as my wife. "I love you, Mrs. Thorne," I tell her before reluctantly drawing back.

  "As I love you," she replies, as visibly moved as I am.

  We step into our new life amid the well-wishes of family and friends and the sounds of John Legend’s 'All of Me'. When their enthusiastic congratulations run out, our guests are served champagne and canapés while Angelique and I, accompanied by our wedding party, move to another part of the garden to pose for official photographs.

  "I think I've got all I need," Randy finally announces. Everyone else departed some time ago to rejoin the festivities while Angelique and I stayed to allow him to photograph just us.

  "I'll have the proofs ready by the time you’re back from your honeymoon," he informs us as Dan approaches. I tip Angelique’s chin up and place a soft kiss on her mouth.

  "What do you say to us sneaking away for a little while?"

  "That would be lovely, but Mandi's waiting to help me freshen up."

  "I’ll tell Dan to let her know to meet us in half an hour," I decide; and that's what I do. I also ask him to provide Randy and his assistant with refreshments before they photograph our guests and some of the reception highlights.

  "Leave it to me, Mr. Thorne," Dan smiles conspiratorially.

  As soon as we're safely inside Grace’s home, I turn to Angelique. "May I kiss my wife," I ask.

  "I thought you'd never ask," she teases as I hold her in my arms, careful not to crush her dress.

  "I love you," I whisper before covering her lips with mine. I take my time in exploring her sweet warmth, gently at first, and then more insistently until I withdraw with a groan, reminding myself of our waiting guests. "You're so incredibly beautiful. I swear my heart stopped when I caught sight of you." I caress her flushed cheek. "The music upset you, I know; I nearly raced down the aisle to you."

  "I was overcome, even though I knew what to expect," she confesses. "I swear I felt Dad's presence, I could almost hear him reciting the words as Irish Blessing was sung. That’s when I wanted to cry. Samuel told me to look up. 'Adam’s waiting for you,’ he said.

  "Thank you," I tell her.

  "For what?"

  "For making me so incredibly happy, for your beautiful letter and meaningful gift."

  "I'm the lucky one; your words, Adam, and the jewelry…I don't know what to say, truly."

  "Just love me, A'mhuírnín, that's all I ask."

  "I loved hearing you call me your eternal love and now my darling…" She strokes my cheek. "Your Gaelic’s pretty good, Mr. Thorne."

  "You can thank Declan for that. I researched the words, but he's responsible for me knowing how to say them."

  "It's not an easy language to learn. Thank you."

  "I'd do anything for you, Darling."

  "Just love me," she repeats my words, and I cup the back of her neck, drawing her in for another kiss.

  "There you are," Mandi announces brightly, her voice forcing us apart. "I hate to break this up, but people are starting to look for you."

  "Thanks for not giving us away," I tell her before turning to kiss Angelique on the temple. "I'll wait here while you do what you have to."

  It's nearly six-fifteen by the time we rejoin our guests, and Angelique and I move from group to group, thanking each person for sharing our auspicious day. Her cheeks bear a permanent blush as she accepts effusive compliment after compliment about how beautiful she looks.

  We find Declan and Fiona, his daughter, in the company of Mrs. Sedgwick. "Those two are getting along like a house on fire," Angelique announces with a satisfied smile as we leave them.

  "I thought you said he was still in love with his late wife, you little matchmaker?" I tease.

  "Of course, he is, but they're both lonely; they’d be good company for each other," she replies. "That’s all," she adds, smiling at my feigned disbelief.

  We join my boyhood friends and their partners next. I chose not to invite Tess, but Ian called to ask whether Angelique and I would be offended if he brought her as his partner. They are, he told me, giving their relationship another chance. He assured me that she deeply regrets her behavior, and through him, she asked me for the opportunity to make amends. I refused of course, but I mentioned it to Angelique, and gracious as ever, she decided we should give Tess the benefit of the doubt.

  "She was, and may still be, in love with you, Adam—her actions may have been misguided, but she was fighting for you," she said.

  "I was never hers to fight for," I stated adamantly.

  "I don't want to start our life together by knowingly making others miserable. She can't do anything to harm us unless we let her. You should let your friend bring the person he most wants with him," she said, and her gentle nature won out. I called Ian and warned him that if Tess as much as looked at Angelique askance, I'd demand that they both leave.

  Tess looks visibly uncomfortable as our eyes briefly meet, yet, when her turn comes, she congratulates us civilly and even compliments Angelique on her dress. "Thank you," Angelique responds with a genuine smile, in yet another demonstration of just why I find her so extraordinary.

  The last people we join are Gerard and Louise Beazley, who are talking to Mom and Dad. "Adam, Angelique, it was such a lovely ceremony," Louise gushes.

  "It was, and you look beautiful, my dear. Thank you again for including us; we're having a great time," Bristly tells Angelique and kisses her on the cheek before extending his hand to me.

  "If we don't get the chance to speak again tonight, enjoy your honeymoon. I look forward to you stepping into your new role when you return."

  After much discussion with Angelique and agonizing over it, I accepted the promotion, but I informed her unequivocally that I have no desire for politics. She smiled and repeated her vow to support me in whatever I wanted to do. Bristly and I agreed that he’d start looking for a suitable candidate for the administration manager's job while I'm away. We plan on making the announcement on my return.

  "Thank you, Sir, I'm looking forward to it as well," I reply, just as Dan announces that dinner is served.

  After the entrée, Dad rises and on behalf of Grace, Mom and himself, proposes a toast to Angelique and me. "You came to us as a little boy, adding joy to our family. Today, you stand before us, a man on the threshold of a new and exciting life. Your Mom and I have always been proud of you, Adam—the boy of seven, the man of today, and at every stage between; but what has made us most proud is your capacity to love your family. That capacity has reached a new depth since you met and fell in love with the beautiful woman at your side.

  "Angelique, your beauty, quiet dignity, and gentle nature endeared you to us almost instantly. But what we cherish about you most, is the way you love our son. You have provided Adam with the happiness and contentment that Emma and I hoped, for so long, he’d find. And so, I’m delighted to officially call you daughter and welcome you to the family," he finishes.

  Matt speaks on behalf of the bridal party and, as tradition dictates, regales our guests with some rather embarrassing stories about me. He removes a sheet of paper from his pocket. "I'd like to thank everyone involved in today’s fact-finding mission," he says then lists the number of time
s and elaborates on each occasion I was spotted checking the time, which I’d apparently started doing at breakfast.

  "Every ten minutes on average, and this from the man who insisted he wasn't nervous," he adds, to the amusement of his audience.

  "I was impatient," I counter, and to everyone’s increased mirth, someone, I swear it was Alan, calls out, "Overruled, Counselor."

  "All joking aside," Matt finally says, "Adam is the best friend and brother any man could wish for; and Angelique, I've come to view you as the sister I never had and have always wanted. You're the perfect partner for my best friend and brother."

  I respond by thanking our parents and pay special tribute to Rory. I toast the bridal party, thanking them for their support and friendship and tell Angelique how much I love her. Angelique and I cut the cake shortly after, and Dan then ushers our guests to the dance area, where they're invited to make themselves comfortable on the lounges. While they enjoy coffee and petits fours, I lead Angelique onto the dance floor to the strains of Luther Van Dross’ ‘Here and Now’.

  "Has anyone ever told you what a sublime dancer you are, Mrs. Thorne?" I murmur in her ear.

  "You’re not so bad yourself, Mr. Thorne…and I love your choice of music," she adds. We don't speak again. We choose, instead, to immerse ourselves in the joy of being in each other's arms. Music fades, and the song she chose for us starts to play.

  I kiss her on the mouth. "Perfect," I whisper as Nora Jones' sultry interpretation of 'Love Me Tender' fills the air. The words, so simple yet sincere, epitomize Angelique perfectly. Tightening my hold, I revel in the feel of her cheek resting against my heart. The music changes and, as Joe Cocker's raspy voice sings 'You Are So Beautiful', our guests are invited to join us.

  At nine-thirty, Angelique leaves with Mandi and Grace and returns wearing a shorter, simpler version of her wedding dress. Her hair, which had been pinned up, hangs down her back in luxurious waves. Guests line the path under twinkling lights to bid us farewell with our family gathered at the end of the line. Cait and Matt are first to step forward as we approach them. "Take care of yourself and our little bump, Sis," I say as we hug each other tightly.