The Last Oracle (9 page)

“He’s someone I always want to be like because, well, he can do all kinds of cool things and he never yells at me…well, hardly ever anyway.” There was a chuckle of laughter from the crowd and Caleb looked down, clearing his throat again as a momentary squeal came from the speakers. Caleb looked as if he was in trouble, but Lars flashed a smile and
a thumbs up to him, as if to go on.

“I used to think that I never wanted to be in love because it made Alex so sad when Val was away and—well, I just didn't think I wanted to ever feel like that.

“But then I see how different Alex is when he’s with Val, and I realized that…well, it was like all that unhappiness just disappeared and you kind of forget it was ever there. Umm, well, I think that Alex’s life is kind of special because...well, because of how much he loves Val.” There was an emotional “ahhh” from the crowd, and with that, Caleb’s courage rose as he continued. “Alex would do anything for Val—he would swim through the river of death, he would even give her up if he had to—because he loves her that much. I realized that Alex is lucky to have that kind of love. And he’s especially lucky that it’s with someone as special as Val. So, I guess that’s all!”

He sat down abruptly and handed the microphone to Lars, who chimed in, “To Alex and Val!”

Everyone applauded and Valeria blew Caleb a kiss. Camille stood and took the microphone from Lars.

“I’ve never had a sister—until this year.
 Valeria you have become my sister and my closest friend and confidante. And now you are
officially
part of my family. You are honest and loving and the kind of woman who inspires us all to be better.

“I cannot think of a finer man for you—as Caleb so beautifully expressed. Alex is the kind of man who chases his rainbows, regardless of the difficulty, regardless of the personal hardship and pain.
 To see him finally have the woman of his dreams makes me believe that miracles can come true!

“I love you both!
To Alex and Valeria!”

Everyone cheered and Alex and Valeria rose to embrace both Caleb and Camille.

Then the music began and it was
All the Way
.

“You know that’s our song,” Alex said as he pulled Valeria onto the dance floor.

A few minutes later, Caleb asked to cut in, so Alex asked Shinsu to dance. Mani danced with Camille and Tavish danced with every woman under seventy at the wedding.

As the evening progressed, Daphne sat by herself, with her chin in her hands, looking bored and depressed. The candle light from the crystal chandeliers seemed to intensify the star-studded sky. Paolo noticed that they were the only two sitting at the tables, with the exception of Tavish and Kenny who had both taken a break from the dance floor and seemed to be arguing, but you could never tell with Tavish. Paolo knew Daphne only by sight. Most of their encounters had involved an exchange of insults.

“So, bella, you aren’t dancing with Tavish?”

Daphne rolled her eyes. “I’d rather shoot my foot off,” she said.

Paolo sat down next to her and shrugged. “Valeria makes a beautiful bride.”

Daphne glared at Paolo. “I’ve heard quite enough of that for tonight!”

“You are melancholy, also.”

Ignoring his comment, she tried to think of an insult but was too depressed to even care.

“We must dance,” he said.

Daphne glared at Paolo again and then took a good look at him and sighed. With a shrug, she took his hand.

As they slowly moved over the dance floor, Paolo touched a mark on her neck. “Have you always had that mark?”

Daphne pulled back in disgust. “Oh, dear God, please don’t tell me you have one! I have heard that line before, you know.” 

“Well then, I shall have to show it to you…later this evening,” he smirked. “Or would you prefer to search for it?”

Daphne rolled her eyes, but then after a moment, her expression softened.
“Perhaps.”

Tavish was back on the dance floor, with his arms and legs flailing wildly. He glanced at Valeria, who was dancing with Mani.

“Cin I cut in?” Tavish said in his heavy Scottish accent, made stronger by the ale he downed like water. Valeria opened her mouth; she knew she should say yes, but as much as she loved Tavish, she just couldn’t bring herself to dance with him.

“Tavish, Valeria was just telling me that she needs to sit for a while. I suspect I may have stepped on her toes a few too many times,” Mani said with a slight wink to Valeria.

“Mani, you may be a doctor but you’re a bit of a clod if you ask me. And really, your lack of style in your dance is unforgiveable.”

Mani bit back a smile. “Yes, well, in any case, I believe Valeria would prefer to sit for a while.”

“Yes, yes, Tav, would you mind?” Valeria asked.

“Not at all, lass!”

They walked to the tables and sat down. Valeria took in the beauty of the evening with the tiny, twinkling lights that resembled fireflies and ran along the edge of the grass. Small tea light candles hung from ribbons on the tall timbers that surrounded them. A waiter walked by with champagne and Tavish grabbed two glasses, handing one to Valeria.

“I am happy to see ya married. That lad has been by himself for too long.” Tavish narrowed his eyes as he continued, “And this is a bit of a delicate subject but I feel a responsibility.”

“Oh?” She wasn’t certain she wanted to hear it.

“Well, lass, I dislike being vain, but ya can thank me later for any successes tonight.” Tavish’s eyes sparkled.

“Alright," Valeria choked out.

“Well now, you probably didn’t know this...though I am certain that you’ve suspected—old Tav, here, is quite the ladies’ man!”

Valeria just nodded and took a sip of champagne to keep her snickers to herself, though Tavish was totally unaware of the effect he created.

“Oh, I’ve given many a lass the drum treatment.” Valeria covered her mouth with her napkin as the champagne shot out. When Tavish glanced at her, she let out a bit of a cough trying to keep from laughing. “Ya all right there lass?” He patted her back a bit too heavily. “As I was saying, old Tav always leaves the ladies with a smile...in fact, they call it the Tavish glint, in my parts.”

“I’m sure.”

“I informed the laddie of my trick. See, you would not know about these things, but we men...oh, I was not thinking of wee men,” Tavish said as he let out a roar of laughter. “I meant, us men. Well, we get in a hurry...as will probably be the case with the lad,” he tossed his head back and shrugged, “being inexperienced in these things. So I shared my secret. I told him: when you feel like you cannot hold it back, grit yer teeth like so...” Tavish clamped his jaw down and opened his lips revealing his yellowed teeth. To which, Valeria lost her composure. To hide her laughter, she hugged Tavish and her body shook. Tavish patted her back. “There, there lass. I know it’s a lot to behold...quite attractive, I'm told. Ah, lass, I can see you’re touched!”

Seeing Valeria’s expression, Alex rapidly approached her. “Tav, I believe I need to dance with my bride.” 

“Ahhh, she’s had quite enough of you clods tromping on her toes! But she is your wife, and you have a right to abuse her if you wish.”

“Thanks, Tav,” Alex said with as straight of an expression as he could manage.

Tavish raised a finger toward Alex. “Remember how I’ve instructed you, lad!” And facing Alex, Tavish bared his teeth as he thrust his hips.

Alex’s eyes widened and he bit his lip to restrain his natural response as he pulled Valeria’s hand into the crowd, tears of laughter streaming down her face.

Tavish turned to a couple of New Yorkers who sat at the table. “Did you see how touched the bride was with my bit of advice?” Tavish leaned back and threw his arms over the chairs on either side of him, rocking back a bit as he looked up in thought. “I have often seen the desire in her eyes for me. But it just wasn’t meant to be. Alex is like a brother to me. Ahh, well…that’s her loss, I suspect.” The New Yorkers broke into laughter but Tavish didn’t notice. He drew a deep breath. “Time for another ale!”

Alex and Valeria danced closely and then Valeria whispered, “I want to be alone with you.”

“You know, Tavish mentions a good point,” Alex said, and Valeria noticed a slight flinch in his eyes.

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s just that I don’t have the experience like—”

“Like?”
She knew whom he was thinking of and it wasn’t Tavish. She saw his eyes move toward Paolo. “I knew it was a mistake inviting him!”

“Paolo’s been well-behaved, of late. However, there is merit to something he said to me many years ago. He suggested that you would be better satisfied with…well, you get the idea.”

“Yeah, well Paolo can be a big jerk!” Valeria said, irritated.

“He is right, though. It’s been 2,500 years since I’ve made love to a woman. I just hope you aren’t expecting…” He looked away for a moment.

She reached up and took his face in her hands. “Hey, look at me,” she said softly. His eyes stared into hers. “I wouldn’t want it any other way. Tonight will be about us and nothing else matters.”

Alex kissed her passionately as his hands moved over the uncovered small of her back; again she felt the sizzle of energy between them. They heard Camille clear her throat and they both looked up.

“You two look like you are ready for some time alone.”

Valeria beamed and Alex winked at her.

“I need to take care of a few things before we leave,” he said. He kissed her forehead and then stepped toward Lars and Ava who stopped dancing and turned toward him. Valeria watched as Ava kissed and hugged Alex and then the three of them began to speak in hushed tones.

“I think he’s more nervous than I am,” Valeria said to Camille.

“He’s waited longer…and let’s face it, the pressure is
all
on the guys!”

“I never thought of it that way. I guess you’re right. Camille, what should I do?”

“Be yourself. Trust me, that is
all
that man wants! I’ve left some things for you in the cottage. Wear all of it, some of it,” she gave Valeria a mischievous grin, “or none of it.” 

Alex returned and took her hand.  She held the train of her dress as they walked through the magical forest path with its romantic trail lighting. It felt as if she had stepped through time and was now in Shakespeare’s
Midsummer’s Night Dream
with the fairies Oberon and Titania hiding nearby.

She saw fireflies doing their dance of love and the scent of jasmine filled her senses. Neither Alex nor Valeria could speak out of their nervousness and excitement. As they passed by her giant ginkgo tree, where they had been pronounced husband and wife hours before, Alex suddenly swooped her into his arms and carried her up the porch and through the double wooden doors. He set her on her feet in the living room in front of the fireplace.

Staring at her husband adoringly, she brushed the side of his face and whispered, “Do you know how much I want you?”

Alex chuckled, but it didn’t sound like Alex. He kissed her gently. “Would you like to change first while I…well, I’ll take care of a few things.” He cleared his throat and when he spoke again, it sounded more like Alex.

“I…was wondering, if you would like a glass of wine…first?” His hand caressed the back of her neck for a moment and then his fingers played momentarily on each vertebra, lingering on the small of her back. Another rush of heat flashed across her skin. She was certain he could see her every emotion—a cross between passion and sudden fear.

She forced herself to look away. Obviously, he wanted to move things a little more slowly than she did. Now she wasn’t certain what to do.

“Yes. Please,” she said woodenly, thinking how silly that sounded. Did Alex know which question she was answering? “I meant,” she said softly, “yes, to both. I’ll change and I would like a glass of wine.”

In the bathroom, she found a pearl-colored silk negligee with a matching robe. She wondered if she should put on the robe, but opted against it. Then she realized that Alex had a vision that he felt compelled to duplicate but it was a vision of what could be—not what was. Still, it was the vision that had kept him dreaming of her and fighting impossible odds for over thousands of years.

That vision was why they were here together, married, and so very happy. She wondered what her role was in the vision, and how did she play it when she didn’t know what it was. On the other hand, Valeria didn’t want to be chained to what she should do. Not tonight. Still she felt the need to honor the vision and wondered how she would do that.

After brushing her teeth and washing the makeup off, which took roughly three attempts, she bent over and, with her boar hair brush,
stroked the underside of her hair repeatedly before flipping it back. The curls fell softly to below her shoulders, and she glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Immediately, her eyes drifted to the south and she noticed that the thin silk of her negligee left absolutely nothing to the imagination.

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, Camille,” she muttered. She wished she had the nerve to walk out in just the gown. Instead, she pulled on the silk robe. Then she noticed a small triangle of material dangling from the hanger and pulled it down. After surveying it for several minutes, she realized with shock that it was a g-string.