“Damn it, Courtney.”
“Go take a shower.”
“Yes, Madam DiaZem!” Valerie mocked her and retreated with her robe to the bath.
Watching people buzz around her from the mirror of the vanity gave her mind an opportunity to wonder. Would everything go as planned? Would Jarrett ruin everything even before the couple could say their vows? She shook her head slightly, and to the annoyance of a woman pinning her hair, but she had to shake her mind of what was worrisome. Caleb in his tiny gold, perfectly tailored cummerbund he would wear for the ceremony melted her heart. Dressing up and seeing her friends happy also brought a smile to her face. While they contoured her makeup and teased her hair, Lalit broke her mental vacation by putting her face next to Valerie’s.
“You have three choices of accessories.”
“You pick, Lalit. I’m already far too overwhelmed.”
Shooing the aestheticians away, Lalit fixed a black head-comb with light pink crystals over her right ear and handed her one of the matching earrings to put on while she placed the other. Once Valerie was ready, Lalit unzipped the garment bag holding her dress, revealing a long pink-satin gown with intricate black-beaded flowers on the long sleeves and around the waist.
“The neck is deep enough, but not so deep that your bosom is all they see.”
“I’ll never get used to this.”
August stood tall next to Valerie in his black suit and bow tie. She looked up at him holding her hand in the crook of his arm. She tried on her rehearsed smile, but the grin came easier. Was it admiration for his patience or her just surrendering to the gene? Neither mattered. Valerie could use his proximity to make Hyka’s day the best day of her life, but she would take all the rehearsing she could get. The doors of the train slid open, and the couple stepped off together, arm in arm. Kevin held Caleb’s hand and followed. The once empty and quiet space now bustled with cameras and reporters armed with permission to broadcast the comings and goings of attendees. The red carpet, which had been laid out for them and the other guests led to a backdrop where Jasmine and David smiled for the camera wearing their matching wrist ornaments.
“Look at this show of glamour, strength, and unity in our region. And think!” Courtney chirped. “Hyka fought me, almost physically, about the televised coverage, but she couldn’t argue with the need for positive publicity.”
Courtney took Monica’s hand and walked ahead of them with her chin high and introduced her wife to the new DiaZem couple. As Jasmine and David exited the photo-op area, Courtney motioned to Valerie and August to take their place.
“She’s so good at this,” Valerie whispered to August, a small laugh escaping her.
She posed like Courtney showed her, placing a purposeful hand just under her belly. She smiled closed-lipped: sweet but strong. Valerie had to practice being in the public eye again—this time without Hyka—but all it took was a look at August’s freshly shaven face, dark eyes, and perfect smile. Her lips parted and her happiness, fabricated or not, beamed through, triggering a strobe of camera flashes.
“Breathe,” she kept reminding herself. “Graceful strength. Just go with it.”
Thankful Lalit chose low heels, the walk from the platform to the grand hall still felt like miles. When the massive doors closed behind them, creating a barrier from the media, Valerie gave Kevin the sign to release her squirming son. Caleb ran up the long aisle.
“Can I tell you something?” August asked, taking her hand in his as they followed Caleb to the platform. “My heart might literally explode.”
Valerie grinned at the floor. She felt his pulse and hers beat in time. “Maybe I could’ve coped better if I had let you help from the beginning.” She looked up at him, her eyes pleading for mercy. She spent months torturing them both, thinking the separation was for the best.
“The road doesn’t matter, Val. The fact we’re here now is enough for me.”
He squeezed her hand when they reached her seat in the front row next to Teresa. August skipped every other step until he took his place at the top of the platform.
“You look exquisite,” Teresa said, leaning over.
“This is the first time I’ve dressed up since my wedding almost ten years ago.” Valerie remembered her wedding anniversary to Scott was only months away. Breathe, she reminded herself. “How is your room in the hotel? I know the accommodation is temporary, but it will save you a walk to the living area every day.”
“Everything is great. I’m very comfortable. Thank you, ma’am. I still cannot get over your dress, though! You didn’t even try this one on.”
Valerie knew Teresa was warm and inviting, maybe her first day was pretty rough. The woman sitting next to her was relatable and friendly.
“That’s Ms. Lalit for you. Watch, she’ll be sending up unsolicited dress designs for little Janie the moment she’s born.”
“Oh, my queen! Princess Janie? What a fitting name. So cute, but not unusual.”
“Keep her name to yourself, though. August and I only came up with it last night.” They laughed together.
“Speaking of secrets, I do have to talk to you about something. Later, of course. I guess kind of work-related.”
Valerie sat for a moment. She was sick of secrets, and while Teresa was admitting the surprise up front, Valerie felt she might already know about this one.
“Is it about my brother?”
“If I say yes, am I fired?”
Valerie thought on the possibilities. If Teresa were to become familiar with Kevin, she could use her to get more information. Without any other ways of investigating, she had few options. She might as well take advantage of the situation if that was indeed what Teresa meant. “We’ll talk later. Don’t worry. I’m not firing you.”
Valerie took out a pen and paper and mulled over the toast she was to give at the rehearsal dinner. Jack and Hyka were the only ones remaining from the original ’Squatch Team that helped her trek over one hundred miles home after the Awakening. It was only fitting the two would vow to never part. Valerie swallowed the happiness mounting in her pulse, afraid if she was too excited, the two could be ripped away like so many others.
The little boy, pillow in hand, ran as fast as he could to where Jack stood on the stairs leading up the platform. Valerie laughed so hard to herself, tears pressed from the corners of her squinted eyes. Her son was growing up fast, and her best friend was getting married to someone she loved like a brother. More than her actual brother.
Hyka stood on the platform, awkward yet stunning, exotic, and anxious. Her bobbed hair blocked her face on the side, but Valerie could tell she was mouthing words through clenched teeth at Jack. She gripped Jack’s hands with white knuckles, and he occasionally broke her grasp to wipe his palm on his suit jacket. August stood between them, trying his hardest to keep the mood light and fun. Courtney tapped away dutifully on a tablet with the event coordinator, ignoring the mess of nervous Hyka displayed next to her.
Valerie took the time to look around the room, which was now a different space than the hateful atmosphere of her coronation. The giant screens hung along the walls, which would later broadcast her allied DiaZem from around the globe, now showed recorded views of the mountains. Up on the platform, Hyka argued loudly with August on the choice of words for the ceremony. Jack just shrugged at August’s looks for help. He knew what he was getting into when he agreed to officiate the wedding.
“I want ‘I love you forever. Let’s do this.’ That’s all I want to say. Nothing foofy. No big long speech about the importance of the sanctity of marriage. We’re here. We have nothing to prove. We want it done.”
August looked to Jack who shrugged again.
“Smart man, doesn’t argue,” August pointed out. He took a pen from inside his jacket and crossed out paragraphs in his book. Finally, he threw the pen down, closed the book, and threw it over his shoulder. “Well, enough then.”
Valerie reached out an arm and snatched Caleb as he ran back
down the aisle. She hugged him in her lap and tickled until he submitted to staying there.
“What’s a first date without a hyper preschooler?” August joked as he walked down the platform stairs.
“Can you watch him for a minute? I want to grab Kevin before he leaves. I still have the jitters.”
“Of course. We’ll wait for you by the door.”
Valerie stood Caleb on the floor and smoothed out her dress before she approached her older brother. “Thank you, Kevin.”
“Yeah? For what?”
“For helping me.” Still feeding off of August’s energy to sound genuine, her pulse knew she was lying. “For believing in me. For understanding why I was so angry with you and respecting my decision. Thank you for rebuilding the city and reestablishing order to the chaos. Your work helped me figure things out in here. You did a lot, and I’ve waited too long to tell you how much I appreciate it. Caleb missed you, too.”
“Yeah well, I still have plenty to do without you trying to ship me off. Outbursts, like the one at the mall and the attack on my place, have been happening more frequently in different areas. I had things under control, but I worry about leaving the situation unsupervised.” He took a breath and changed his tone. “Enough business. How’s my little niece?”
“She’s fine. Growing. I’m due right around Christmas, but with the DiaZem gene, we aren’t sure what delivery exactly looks like yet.”
“Is August treating you okay?”
“More than okay. He’s constantly trying to protect me. It’s infuriating.”
“Everyone is trying to protect you. You mean a lot to the region, and the country. You’ve made such an impression all over the world. Everyone is excited to see all this on TV.”
She heard the mocking in his tone. As if on cue, the giant doors of the grand hall opened to the clamoring of well-wishers, Facility residents, and the press. Courtney stole Valerie away from Kevin for interviews where she met August and Caleb at the podium.
Teresa waited for her as well, making like Valerie’s shadow and positioning herself between Valerie and Courtney. Teresa blatantly ignored the publicist’s direction. Red-faced with annoyance, Courtney huffed in defeat. Valerie found the exchange entertaining. The girl had spunk.
One reporter managed to shout over the rest, “Valerie, when will the city hold an election for local officials? Will your brother run for Governor of Colorado?”
“The territory lines are still flexing as we attempt to maintain state government and continuity. With the influx of our generators and our power footprint larger than that of any other region, we are working with other DiaZem teams to handle overlap.”
“Have you any diplomatic contact with the Eastern DiaZem regarding those shared territories?” another asked.
“Despite many attempts to reach out to the Eastern DiaZem, we have had no luck with negotiations,” Valerie answered again, then tapped August to signal she was done with the press.
“One more question,” August dictated and pointed someone out.
“August, how do you feel about becoming a father in just a few short months?”
“Breathe,” Courtney whispered over Teresa’s shoulder.
She smiled and looked at August, excitedly awaiting the answer as much as the reporters.
“Being a new father is all very exciting. I will love her and raise her like my own daughter, but she will know the incredible man her biological father was.”
“Is it true that you’re the real father?” someone shouted out of turn as they stepped away from the microphones.
“Is it true you knew each other before Phase Two?”
“Did your husband find out about August’s baby before he died?”
Reporters continued to blatantly ignore August’s statement of her child’s true heritage as they filed off the podium. Flashes of cameras blinded her and microphones pointed in her direction. Valerie held tight to Caleb through the crowd before escaping onto the train. The doors slammed, making Valerie jump.
“See?” Courtney said quietly. “This is why we need positive media coverage.”
August pulled the collar of his white shirt away from his neck. “How dare they question her fidelity to her own husband? People are disgusting.”
“Are you going to deport them for having an opposing view from yours?” Kevin asked from the back corner of the train car.
“Shut it, Kev,” Jack said, catching everyone off guard. “I’m not dealing with your shit today.”
The harsh words toward her brother made Valerie nervous. He was so back and forth; she worried he had something up his sleeve with his constant antagonizing. As the train slowed, August placed a hand in the small of her back to steady her. She relaxed her shoulders and set Caleb down just as the doors slid open.
“You two are last to get off,” Courtney ordered, taking one of Caleb’s hands and Monica taking the other. The boy jumped and swung between the two ball gowns over the threshold of the train onto the platform.
Valerie watched as the party exited one and two at a time. August pulled her hand away from the entrance, just out of sight of the waiting crowd. He held her face in both of his hands and covered her mouth with his.
“You are so beautiful. I’m sorry they hurt you.”
“Those rumors have been flying for months. I’m fine. Let’s go before they come looking for us.”
Flowers, ferns, and lights transformed the hotel platform leading to the convention rooms above. While Valerie and August received their share of attention, Jack and Hyka were met with applause as they entered the dining area. Jack gave an over-the-head wave to those in attendance, while Hyka ducked her head to hide her smile.
The overhead lights gave an intimate glow to the room, supplemented by tall black candelabras hosting red tapered candles. Low fixtures glowed red around the walls. Everything in red and black, very Hyka-esque.
Valerie stood and cleared her throat. Camera flashes blinded her instantly. She gave them a few moments before raising a hand for them to stop. Her glass of sparkling juice shook as she raised her arm toward where Hyka and Jack sat, quieting the room. Graceful strength, just go with it and breathe. Inhale. Exhale.
“Ladies and gentleman, thank you for attending tonight’s dinner to celebrate two people close to my heart. When I first met Jack, he was mean.” A small laugh whispered around the room. “I pointed a gun at him, and I’m sure I threatened to shoot him, so he had good reason. I got my first impression of Hyka when she stole a shot of tequila right from out of my hand and drank it in front of me. She was terrifying but quickly became my right-hand and my best friend.” Valerie caught a knot in her throat, cleared it, and continued. “Our journey together, in the beginning, was hard. We trekked about one hundred miles on foot…” Valerie’s memory slipped to saving Major’s life on the highway. She looked at Hyka sitting next to her and remembered the angry words she had said, pointing a bloody knife in her face. More quiet laughter brought her back to the moment.
“Without these two, I wouldn’t have made it. A lot of people wouldn’t have made it. The same is true of today. Jack, you were my father’s best friend. I know when we lost Mike Burton and Austin Major, Hyka and I lost our fathers, and you lost brothers. The best we can do is add more love to our lives to fill the void they left vacant. Hyka, my strong, deathly sarcastic sister. You keep me afloat. Love for the two of you overflows my heart. As you merge your lives in the ceremony tomorrow, know the horrible events we’ve faced with unity and a combined strength will always connect your souls. Cheers.”
Valerie raised her glass and dabbed at a tear escaping down her cheek. August stood with her and drank to the couple. He caught Valerie’s hand before she could sit down. Her heart fluttered, and the lights brightened ever so slightly. Though she was blushing, the look on Courtney’s face was endearing. August wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her close to his side. Flashes erupted all around them until August raised his glass to begin his speech.
“You brought her back to me,” August announced. “Who knew the stereotype of the old doctor snagging the hot nurse was a matter of genetic disposition?”
Valerie threw a hand over her face to mask the deeper blush that crept into her cheeks. His charm hit the mark, and the crowd laughed louder than they had for her. Did he have to be so damn perfect?
“In the past four months, you two have weaved the threads that pulled me from my corner of this Facility and Valerie from hers. Your marriage will show the world that through the ashes, we can rebuild with patience and love. While a chapter of your life closes, a new and exciting one begins.”
August reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small box. “In this new chapter, I have also found patience and love.” He held Valerie’s hand and lowered himself to one knee.
The entire room took one audible breath and held it. Her heart pounded.
“Breathe,” Courtney whispered.
Valerie exhaled slowly. Just go with it, she reminded herself.
August opened the small box that held the locket. Valerie wanted to laugh but maintained her close-lipped smile. She was even a little disappointed. Her heart wanted to explode for the man looking up at her. If a ring were in the box, she would have thrown every apprehension out the window and accepted. Instead, she nodded to him as he stood and placed the locket around her neck.
Applause erupted, and cameras flashed. Even more so when August kissed her cheek. Valerie wrapped her arms around his neck.
Before she could pull away, lights above them burst, raining down glass. Teresa screamed and shuffled under the table. Kevin scooped Caleb up and shielded him from the falling debris. A quick draft extinguished candles across the large room. Hyka shielded her wine glass with her hand. Once the glass finished falling she slammed back the Merlot and cursed. Jack took her arm as the attendees evacuated. August wrapped Valerie in his jacket and escorted her to the door. As they hurried to the stairwell, mounted bulbs on cameras burst.
Despite the scary interruption, the spirits of the wedding party ran high. They were on the brink of winning the war with Lucas Jarrett’s ghost.
Shifting Power Page 17