Edge of the Heat 4 (2 page)

Vivian looked sad for a moment. “Yes, that’s true isn’t it.”

Craig broke in. “Yeah, Hawk and I always thought we’d be best men for each other too.” He laughed and shrugged it off in typical Craig style but Vivian looked stricken.

She took Hawk’s hand in her own.  “Oh sweetheart, I’m so sorry. I never thought of that.”

Hawk laughed a little, sweetly, and covered Vivian’s hand with his other hand, pulling her close and kissing her neck again. “Don’t even worry about it. It’s not that big of a deal. He may not be my best man but I’ll share an anniversary with him for life. That’s plenty special.”

Vivian smiled, relieved. Hawk always knew how to make her feel better.

Dinner was set before them, and it smelled like heaven. Vivian dug in right away, but tried to listen to the conversation Emma and Craig were having to her left.

“So you are still working on the Oberlin case?” Emma said. “He’s been dead for a year.”

Vivian saw Emma’s mouth turn up slightly when she said
Oberlin,
like she had bitten into something nasty.

Yeah sis, I still feel like that when I think of that monster being our father too, s
he thought.

Emma glanced at her and smiled.

“I know,” Craig said. “I can’t believe how much evidence there is to wade through. And some of it is indicating that he wasn’t acting alone.”

“So what, he had accomplices?”

“Yes, accomplices, or a boss.”

“You’re kidding. He was a U.S. Senator trying to become president. Who else would be in charge of him in a gun scandal? The current president?” Emma practically whispered.

Craig cocked an eyebrow with a mischievous smile and Emma covered her mouth as it dropped open in an O of surprise. “Oh no!”

Craig laughed and took her hand. “No, I’m just kidding. Not the current president. Maybe another senator. We’re still looking into it because the guns are still moving even though Oberlin is dead and gone. Someone has to still be buying them.”

Emma shook her head, more worry on her face. Again, Vivian shared her feelings. Would this mess never end? When Craig and Hawk had been investigating Oberlin, people they loved had died and Hawk had almost been the victim of a frame-up job that would have cost him his job for sure and possibly put him in jail. Plus Emma and Craig had been held hostage by him for a short time and who knows what would have happened if Craig hadn’t been able to text Hawk to come get them out of there.

Vivian remembered something Grandma Maisie had said. Grandma Maisie had a son who was a police officer in neighboring Santa Mar Rey and had been for 18 years now. She said you couldn’t let the worry for the man steal the joy of the day. You had to trust in his abilities and skills and that he wouldn’t leave this earth before his scheduled time, no matter what. And once it was his scheduled time, no amount of worrying and praying would change anything. Vivian let the sentiment wash over her and did her best to let go of the worry. Hawk and Craig were smart and competent and they could handle anything that came their way.

She looked out over the crowd attending their rehearsal dinner. Soon, the practice speeches would start. Once dinner was over, it would be a whirlwind of activity until tomorrow night when she was secured in her honeymoon suite with her new husband. Vivian reached out and found Hawk’s hand on the table next to her and squeezed it. He smiled at her and squeezed back, still eating heartily. God she loved him. A sense of appreciation and gratitude for the gift she had been given washed over her so strongly, it stole her breath for moment. How was it that she deserved all of this? Tears of pure joy formed in the corners of her eyes.

She wiped her tears with her napkin, then noticed movement to her right. Craig was getting up. Heading to the bathroom? She watched him enter the corridor to the bathroom and then kissed Hawk on the cheek and whispered
bathroom
in his ear, then hurried after Craig.

When he came out of the men’s room she was waiting for him.

“Hey Viv.”

“Hey Craig, I just wanted to ask you a quick question about Emma.”

“Shoot.”

“How is she? Emotions-wise? I ask because she still seems sad to me sometimes.”

“Sad? Nah, she’s fine.”

Vivian watched Craig closely. “You don’t think she still feels guilty at all for what happened to Jerry?”

“No. She knows it wasn’t her fault. Don’t worry so much Viv. Emma’s a rock. She’s good.”

Vivian shook her head. “You’re too optimistic Craig. You think everything’s fine all the time, even when it’s not. And you think everyone’s happy, just because you are.”

Craig laughed and looked at the ceiling. “You got me there Viv. Sorry, I’ve always been like that. But really, Emma’s good. She’s happy. Trust me.” He grabbed Vivian’s hand and pulled her down the corridor towards the party.

Vivian guess that meant the conversation was over. Craig’s optimism and general level of contentment was one of the best, but also most frustrating, traits he had. She just hoped that he was right this time, for her sister’s sake.

E
mma’s eyes flew open and she sat straight up in bed. She jumped out of bed and ran down the hall to Vivian, in the guest room. The guys were staying together at Vivian and Hawk’s place. Emma didn’t know what time it was but she didn’t care. Today was her wedding day!

Vivian had heard her coming and sat up. They wore identical smiles of giddiness as Emma rushed into the room.

“It’s today! It’s here,” Emma cried, delighted. She ran to her sister and hugged her, Vivian laughing at her exuberance.

“What time is it? Can we start getting ready yet?” Vivian asked, just as excited.

Emma glanced at the clock. “Only 8:30.” She laughed. They had set alarms for 9 a.m. but of course they didn’t need them.

“Let’s go out for breakfast. That will kill some time.”

“Ok, go get dressed.”

When they were both dressed and ready, Emma sampled the weather as they walked to the car. It was an early fall day, and the air was still crisp. That was good, that meant it wouldn’t be a scorcher by 4. There was no wind, and not a hint of clouds. Emma smiled and turned her face to the sun. It was her wedding day. For some reason, even though she had done this before, it all felt new to her. New and right.

She remembered marrying Norman - a small, civil ceremony with no one in attendance but the public judge and recorder. There was none of the excitement of this event. This wedding was going to include her sister. This wedding was going to be witnessed not only by every one of her friends, but also by this huge, close family she didn’t even know she had until a year ago. In this wedding she was going to be wearing the most beautiful dress she had ever seen and she was going to have her hair and makeup done by someone else and people were bringing presents and giving speeches and - Emma broke her stream of thoughts and hugged herself at the car door, feeling like a princess.

Emma and Vivian purposely drive as far as possible to an out-of-the-way restaurant and ate as slowly as possible, neither one of them wanting to return to the house and just sit around until it was time to get their hair and makeup done. This morning was just for them. They had decided not to meet the bridesmaids (and Jerry, who would be the ‘man of honor’, since he was Emma’s closest friend) until they arrived to the church grounds. They chatted lightly about the day and their plans, their excitement increasing with each moment that passed.  Finally, it was noon, time for their appointments.

They drove to the salon and each got their hairdo of choice. Vivian’s long brown hair was left flowing over her shoulders, gently curled, with diamond clips placed on the sides to hold the hair in place and direct it down her back. The effect was startlingly beautiful. Emma chose a loose updo, with a delicate spray of white and pink flowers holding it in place. Emma didn’t look until it was done, and then she sucked in her breath. She couldn’t believe it was her hair! She had never had anything so extravagant done to her hair.

She glanced at her sister, who looked like a movie star, and knew Vivian was more comfortable looking like this, but she didn’t care. She liked who she was normally, and she was secretly glad that she also could pull this look off. She’d actually been a little worried.

Next was makeup, which took another 45 minutes, and then it was time to head to the church grounds. They were getting married on the grounds of the Old North Church, which was one of the oldest buildings in the state. The large lawn overlooked the bay and had the most spectacular view of the city. And it was close to the Eller’s mansion where they were having the reception.

When they arrived at the church, Hawk’s mom, Vivian’s mom, Craig’s mom, and Grandma Maisie, plus all the bridesmaids were already there, laughing uproariously at Grandma Maisie’s stories. Emma wondered if they were drunk. She hoped not. They still had a lot of day to get through. Her eye immediately found their dresses, which were clean, wrapped in plastic, and hanging up on hooks on the wall.

Hawk’s mom saw them and rushed to them. “Girls, girls, oh my goodness you look beautiful. Come, we have your dresses all ready.”

They were fussed over and oohed and aahed over by all the women. Grandma Maisie and Craig’s mom helped Emma into her dress, a fitted, basque-waist ball gown with a Queen Ann neckline. All white silk and amazing lace. Emma twirled in the mirror and couldn’t believe she was looking at herself. Even the gown she’d worn to the Senator’s mansion seemed homely compared to this amazing wedding dress.

A cousin Emma hadn’t met yet ushered in the two photographers, one for Craig and Emma’s pictures, and one for Vivian and Hawk’s pictures. Grandma Maisie introduced Emma and Vivian to the cousin, whose name was Amanda, and explained how they were related. Cousin Amanda kissed them both on the cheek and hurried off. Grandma Maisie had taken over and obviously had things under control.

Emma sat down and sipped some water, and watched Vivian’s mom and Hawk’s mom fuss over Vivian. Her dress was a mermaid dress with a sweetheart bodice. Emma watched Vivian’s mom, Mary Beth, zip up the back and immediately burst into tears.

“Oh you look so beautiful, Honey!” Mary Beth exclaimed, the photographer snapping pictures of her.

Mary Beth was right. Emma thought she’d never seen anyone look as pretty as Vivian did right at that moment. Her hair flowed down her back, the diamond clips sparkling in it. Her dress fit her form perfectly and showed it off in a very flattering way. And her makeup accentuated her prominent cheekbones and soft, full lips. Emma laughed to herself at the thought of Hawk seeing her look that way. Those two couldn’t keep their hands off each other anyway. Hawk was really going to have a hard time today.

Emma thought of Craig and wondered what he would think when he saw her. Would he be blown away? She hoped so. Would he be able to keep his hands off her? She hoped not. Her face heated in a little blush as she thought of their honeymoon suite tonight. They hadn’t had sex in three weeks, purposely trying to ‘save themselves’ for the wedding. It had been her idea. She wanted their wedding night to be special and she had thought maybe this was one way to make it so. Now it seemed a little silly to her. Today was already the most special day of her life.

Emma heard more and more people talking outside and went to peek out a window. The grounds looked amazing. The chairs were all done up with white ribbon. 6 colors of orchids spotted the grounds. The archway sat square in the middle of everything. It was a double size, since four of them would be standing under it, and it was wound so tightly with green leaves and pink and yellow and white flowers that she couldn’t even see the material underneath.

Wow
. She had left most of the actual planning to Vivian, not really having a preference about things like flowers and archways, and Vivian had outdone herself. Everywhere Emma looked she saw bright colors and classy decorations.

Emma watched as people walked around the grounds, examining the flowers, picking their chairs, talking and laughing. She saw 3 of Grandma Maisie’s other children: her aunts Missie, Jacinda, and Elsa Sue. Grandma Maisie had shown her pictures of all the girls when they were little, and Elsa Sue had looked almost exactly like Vivian when she was younger.

She watched Craig’s dad, Hawk’s dad, and Vivian’s dad greet and seat people, and in between take sips from the punch bowl and tease  each other. She loved that they were getting along so well. They were all dressed identically, in black tuxedos with red ties and pocket squares.

She thought they looked very dashing, especially Craig’s dad. She loved how much Craig looked and acted like his dad. She adored Craig’s dad from the first time she met him, his mom too. They were very down-to-earth and happy people. Their marriage was strong and sweet, and she hoped that when she and Craig had been married for 30 years they were just as happy together.

“Emma!”

Her attention was pulled from the window by Craig’s mom, Cynthia, calling her name. “Emma dear, it’s getting close. Come take pictures with Vivian.”

Emma smiled and walked over in her bare feet, not wanting to slip on her heels yet. Her dress was long enough to cover her toes. Cousin Amanda rushed back in, bringing the flower girls. Emma sat down next to Vivian, smoothing her skirt underneath her, and smiled at the lovely, blond, identical twins, each wearing a white, poofy dress, with white socks and patent leather shoes, plus bright red and white flowers in their hair. They were Jennifer and Jessica, both 6 years old, and daughters of another of Emma and Vivian’s cousins. They had so many cousins that they couldn’t even keep track at this point.

Grandma Maisie had pleaded for them to let the twins be flower girls. It hadn’t taken much convincing though, both Emma and Vivian loved the idea.

Grandma Maisie led the girls over to the brides and sat them down in front of them: Jessica in front of Emma, and Jennifer in front of Vivian. All the women came and fussed over the brides and the flower girls a few times, then the pictures started. There were pictures with the flower girls, pictures with the mothers and Grandma Maisie, pictures with just Emma and Vivian, pictures with the brides and the bridesmaids, pictures with everyone, pictures with the bouquets, pictures without the bouquets, pictures sitting and pictures standing.