“Orchids are my favorite,” Maia said. “How did you know?”
“Gerry picked them out for you. Well, I helped with the design, but he wanted you to have the orchids. He also wanted you to have this.” Addie held out a black box about six inches long and two inches wide.
“What’s this?”
“I don’t know,” Addie said with a twinkle in her eye. “Maybe you should open it.”
Maia flipped the lid and gasped at the two little gold, diamond-studded hearts connected to each other by a small bar that hung from a gold chain. “This is beautiful. There’s a note.” She picked up the small folded piece of paper and read. “Maia, my love, you own my heart and will always be in it along with our girls. Please wear these hearts, one for each of the beautiful babies that we made together.”
Addie placed the necklace around Maia’s neck.
“It’s almost time to start,” Breena said.
“Okay, we have to go walk down first. You okay?” Addie asked with a sweet smile.
“I’m fine. Go on. Go be beautiful.”
“Ha. That’s your job. It’s your day, Maia. No one is more beautiful than you are.”
Maia sighed and turned to look at herself in the mirror. She almost couldn’t believe her eyes. She was stunning—big belly and all. She glanced around to make sure no one was watching then stood close to the mirror and touched her hand to the glass. “Are you there?” she whispered and instantly felt silly but looked deeply into her reflection’s eyes, searching them and wondering, now that the ordeal of being arrested for murder was over, if her future self would appear anymore.
“We do look beautiful.” The figure in the mirror smiled as Maia turned to the sound of her own voice. The woman, who was herself, stood to the side of the mirror, wearing the same gown Maia now wore.
“I wasn’t sure if you’d still be around … now that I’ve been cleared of murdering Careen. Why are you dressed the same as me?”
“We share the same past now. Our future is ahead of us.”
“Can you tell me anything? What about the twins? Are they happy? Healthy?”
“Thanks to them and you, that future no longer exists. I’m merely a reflection of you now, still tapping on their abilities. I told you in that other future I didn’t get to raise them or nurture them. I couldn’t have known them well. I only know what you know. They must have kind hearts to have been capable of doing what they did in clearing you. The strength within your womb and their power gave me the ability to come back to warn you, to make things right. To give you a different future. I only know what you do now, and what has already transpired in our meetings.”
Maia swallowed. “What are their names?”
“Even if I knew, you wouldn’t want me to tell you that. Your future is bright, different from the hell you might have had. Give them the names you love.” Maia, the reflected Maia, took her hands in hers and Maia gasped at the sensation. They felt so … so transparent, as if she were touching a ghost. “Make your future. Live the life you and Gerry deserve.”
“But we still don’t know who killed Careen. How can we be certain that this future will be any different than the one you lived?”
“You must have faith.”
Before Maia could respond, she was gone. Maia took a deep breath then another, not quite sure if she would ever be able breathe normally again.
“Wow. If I was a younger man …” Maia startled, turning to see Bart standing in the doorway. “Maia MacKenna, I never thought I’d see such a beautiful woman grow from that scrawny little girl I knew way back a million years ago. You … you look magnificent.” He put both thumbs against his forefingers and held them up, pursed his lips and kissed the air.
“Bart.” Maia turned from the mirror, hoping he hadn’t witnessed her conversation with herself. God, that sounded so nuts. “Thank you,” she managed.
“Like an angel. I swear there is a glow around you.”
Maia glanced back at the mirror half expecting to see a light around her body. At this point, nothing would surprise her.
“Are you ready?” Bart asked, walking across the room toward her. Calming her breathing, Maia smiled at her friend. His bright blue eyes dazzled and played off the pale purple silk hankie in his pocket. He looked like a movie star with his peppery hair slicked back into a ponytail, secured neatly at the nape of his neck. His dark tuxedo transformed the old ex-hippie into a very dashing man. How all the men managed to find tuxes at the last minute amazed and baffled her.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” she said as she fisted the stem of the bouquet of flowers in one hand and took Bart’s arm with the other. “Wait.” She let go of his arm and grabbed the invitation she’d written her vows on. “Almost forgot this.” Maia took Bart’s arm again. “Thank you for walking me down the aisle.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way, sweetheart. Your dad would be proud of you today. I suppose Ristéard would be too, and I’m happy to stand … er, walk in their place. Maia, you and me? We’re the ones in the shadows of our siblings. We’ve always had a special bond.”
***
There was nothing in the world that could have removed the grin on Gerry’s face as he watched his bride walk down the green manicured pathway between the two sections of chairs. Shades of pink and peach colored rose petals lined the way and a bouquet of flowers to match the one Maia carried adorned each chair at the end of every row. Maia’s hand was tucked securely in the arm of one of his most cherished friends. Gerry sighed, a sound filled with relief, love and happiness. Everything was perfect. Maia was perfect, and Christ, was she beautiful.
Since Maia wanted to wait a few days after the funeral, Gerry had Cael take him back to Scotland with two airline tickets for his pop and stepmother. He smiled at them as his dad looked on from a front row seat on the groom’s side. An odd tradition, Gerry mused. Why people felt the need to segregate families when they were there to witness the joining of two of their own loved ones was beyond him.
Loving friends and family occupied every seat in the yard. They couldn’t have asked for better weather. The waves below the cliffs roared faintly in the background and not a cloud in the sky threatened to rain down on this beautiful February afternoon. As Gerry took Maia’s hand, the sun kissed her cheeks and played against the necklace he’d sent her to wear. Bart let go of her arm and kissed her on the check before taking his place in the front row beside Cael. Aiden stood on the other side of Gerry as his best man. Gerry touched his fingers to the two hearts at Maia’s throat and whispered, “Ours.”
Maia’s knees nearly buckled causing her to sway a bit. Gerry grabbed her arms, steadying her. “Are you okay?”
She nodded.
The minister greeted the guests and shared some wonderful thoughts on love and devotion, then looked at Gerry. “You may state your vows now.”
Gerry and Maia faced each other. “Maia, I love you. You are my best friend. I will never lose faith in you. No matter what obstacles we face, we will conquer them together. Your dreams are my dreams. Your hopes, my hopes. I promise I will be your equal partner in everything we do, including raising these,” he splayed his hand over her stomach, “babies. I will laugh with you in times of joy and try my damnedest to comfort you in times of sorrow. I will keep no secret from you ever and I promise to love you until the day I die. Today and every day, I take you as my wife.” Gerry turned to Aiden and Aiden placed a ring in his hand. After Gerry slipped the gold band that matched the sapphire and diamond ring she already wore onto her finger, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers.
“Now Maia,” the minister encouraged.
***
Maia glanced at the invitation she had folded in her hand as she held on to the bouquet with the other. She decided not to open the folded paper; she could do this without looking. Even though it took less than twenty minutes to write her vows, they’d been on her mind for months, the words were ingrained in her brain, even before he proposed. She to
ok a deep breath and stared into Gerry’s green eyes, the emerald pools mesmerizing her for a brief moment. This was the happiest day of her life and she couldn’t speak for fear her words would come out in sobs.
“Maia?” the minister coaxed.
Maia turned to Addie and handed her the bouquet and invitation before turning back to Gerry, placing her hands in his. Her throat was dry and she swallowed before speaking. “Gerry, today I take you as my husband.” Her voice shook and she fought to steady her words. “My partner, my lover, my friend. I will be your equal in parenting and sharing goals. I will always be honest with you, share my innermost fears,” her lips curved a little, “my secrets and my dreams. I promise to laugh with you, celebrate in your joys and comfort you in your sorrows. I vow to help create a life together that we can cherish and do everything in my power to continue to inspire your love for me and mine for you. I want to grow old by your side as your lover and best friend. And I promise to take care of you when you’re ill.” She grinned. “I take you, Gerry, as my husband, always. I’ll love you until the day I die.” Addie gave her the ring she had for Gerry and she slipped it on his finger.
“By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Please kiss your bride.”
“No problem.” Gerry took Maia in his arms and kissed her as everyone hooted and hollered.
***
The reception was in full swing. The band played almost nonstop. Gerry and Maia danced. Gerry danced with Addie, then with Siana. He even danced with little Breena. He was a dancing fool, he laughed to himself. Life could not get any better. Gerry caught sight of Cael sitting alone typing something into his cell phone and walked to him. Pulling the nearby wooden chair closer, he sat beside him. “So, when are you and my niece going to tie the knot?”
Cael didn’t even look at him but seemed lost in his own thoughts as he fiddled with the device. Setting the phone down, he picked up his glass and downed the contents. “Sorry, just changing Maia’s last name in my phone,” he said with a smile. “As for your question, now, that depends.”
“On?”
“On how soon we can recover from this one and ask all these fine people to go through another ceremony.”
“Don’t forget the wedding gifts.” Gerry laughed as he gestured toward the table hidden under swarms of presents. “They’ll need time to recoup the money in their bank accounts. Tell me something, soon to be nephew of mine.”
“Oh, you like that, don’t you?” Cael said, grinning. “Make you feel like a big man?”
“The biggest,” Gerry smirked. “Now that we got that out of the way, tell me. What went on with Careen’s autopsy? What is it Chief Thompson wants to talk to me about that made you and Duane smirk?”
Cael laughed and shook his head. “You’re not going to believe it.”
“Try me.”
Cael picked up the bottle of whiskey and poured a generous two fingers in two of the glasses sitting on the table. “Let’s have another shot first. You’re going to need it.”
They each picked up a glass. “Slainté, Gerry said and downed the golden brown liquid in one gulp. “Now spill.”
“Okay. So, it’s no secret how Careen felt about you, right?”
Gerry nodded.
“Well, she was, let’s say, a huge fan of yours.” Cael’s eyebrows rose with the word huge.
“So?”
“Well, apparently, Careen fancied tattoos. In particular, a tattoo of the face of the man she loved.”
Gerry eyes almost popped out of their socket as he blinked. “What the fuck?”
“Right here on her stomach.” Cael made a circle with his hands over his own belly. “The tattoo artist did a fantastic job. The resemblance was quite remarkable.” He laughed and patted Gerry on the shoulder.
“Christ. She had my goddamned face tattooed on her stomach?”
Chuckling uncontrollably, Cael added, “The artist even had you smiling.” Gerry shoved him, knocking him off balance and Cael almost fell off his chair in hysterics.
Just then, Finn walked over. “Oh hey, Finn,” Cael said, still laughing. “How are you these days?”
“You think it’s funny?” Finn said, slurring the word “funny” so that it sounded like “finny.” It was obvious the guy was smashed and Gerry cringed, realizing he’d over heard their conversation.
“You think it’s a big joke that my girlfriend had this bastard’s face tattooed on her stomach?”
“Uh … well ...” Cael coughed and damned if he didn’t try his best to wipe off that smirk. “No. Not funny.”
“No, Finn. It isn’t funny,” Gerry stood put his hand on Finn’s shoulder and led him away from Cael. “Not funny at all.” Sad, Gerry thought.
Finn wrestled his shoulder free from Gerry’s grip. “Don’t fuck with me, Gerry. Why in God’s name should you get to be happy? Huh? Tell me! Why?”
“Listen, man, you’ve had a few too many. How about we get you home? I know it’s been a rough week and being here must be hard,” Gerry said.
“Don’t tell me what’s hard. I’ll tell you what’s hard. Having the woman you love get her ex-boyfriend’s face permanently etched on her stomach, having her call out your name when we made love.” Gerry cringed at that thought and Finn continued, “Knowing she saw you when she closed her eyes whenever I kissed her. That’s what hard is, Gerry.”
“I’m sorry, Finn. I had no idea,” Gerry said as he tried to comfort Finn with a touch to his arm.
“Don’t touch me. Don’t fucking touch me.” Finn pulled his arm away and stumbled but managed to catch himself before tumbling into Siana and Breena standing by the bar.
“You!” The unfamiliar female voice shouted from across the room and Gerry turned, recognizing the woman as the one he saw in the cemetery the day of Careen’s funeral.
“You killed my sister!” she screamed, pointing her finger at Finn.
The music stopped and everyone stood around staring as Maia approached the woman. “Your sister? You’re Careen’s sister?” Maia asked.
“No. I’m Tara’s sister, Kendra.”
“Who is Tara?” Gerry asked.
“His ex-girlfriend,” she supplied, still pointing at Finn. “You killed Tara, the same way you killed this Careen.”
“You’re a crazy bitch,” Finn said, stumbling back as she approached him.
“You murdered my sister and framed my boyfriend almost exactly like you did here with woman. You’re not very creative. When I read about Careen Faraday’s murder and saw your name listed as her boyfriend, I knew right then you’d done it.”
“No, you’re wrong. I didn’t. I didn’t mean to,” Finn stammered.
“What?” Gerry couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You didn’t mean to? Are you admitting to killing this woman’s sister … Tara?”
“No. I … I …don’t know what I’m saying.” Sweat trickled down from Finn’s temple and he swiped at it then ran his hand over his mouth.
“You killed her in cold blood. A week before you killed her she told me you two had been fighting. She told me how you beat her. God, I begged her to leave you, but she said she loved you, kept saying how you didn’t mean to hurt her. But you killed her. You got away with that one, but you slipped up on this one, didn’t you? You got careless and sloppy, trying to cover your tracks.”
“No, it … it was an accident. Just like …”
“You murdered Careen?” Gerry asked.
“No, Gerry! I loved Careen. It nearly killed me inside when she died. It was an accident, I swear. We argued, she fell, her head … she fell sideways, hitting her head on a chair. Her neck snapped. I … I panicked. I didn’t know what to do.”
“I suppose it is just a coincidence that Tara died of a broken neck also,” Kendra yelled.
“No.” Finn pulled out a knife from inside his boot and grabbed Maia, pressing the blade against her throat. “I didn’t do it on purpose. You can’t get me for murder. I never meant to kill them.”
Gerry took a step toward Finn and Maia.
“Don’t come any closer, Ger, I’ll slice this knife right through her jugular. It won’t bother me one bit to do it. The love of my life is gone. I have no problem taking yours. Let me leave and I won’t hurt her.”
“Finn, you don’t need to do this. You can leave, man. Just put the knife down. I won’t stop you, please just release Maia.”
“You stole my woman, so now I’m fucking taking yours with me. Why should you have your happily ever after? Huh? What makes you so damn special?”
“I’m not, Finn. I’m not special.” Finn’s statements were becoming irrational and it was clear to Gerry that he was borderline certifiable. Gerry feared Finn was so distraught over what he’d done he just might do something drastic without even realizing it. “Please, Finn. Just put down the knife.” Finn’s grasp on the knife was strong and Gerry couldn’t get a grip on it through his mind. There were too many people in the bar to risk yanking it out and having it stab someone by accident.
“No. Come on darlin’, you and me are gonna have a party of our own.” Finn led Maia out the door. Gerry, Cael and Addie followed as Finn took Maia across the gravel parking lot and into the wooded area.
“Breena, go back inside,” Gerry heard Addie yell as they followed Finn into the woods. Twenty yards into the forest, Finn stopped and turned toward Gerry. “You can’t have her. Not this time, Gerry.”
Addie raised her hand and the knife went flying out of Finn’s hand and stuck in a tree ten feet away from Finn and Maia.
“Good job.” Gerry nodded at her as he had been about to do the same thing.
Finn shoved Maia away and pulled out a gun from the waist of his pants, pointing it at Gerry.
Cael teleported behind Finn and wrestled him to the ground. Addie held up her hand and Breena gasped, “No, you can’t. You’ll hit Cael!” Breena ran closer to Cael and screamed, “The gun.”
Reflections Page 24