Harry tapped nervously on the steering wheel as he and Daniel sat waiting beside a telephone booth for Daniel's contact to call back with the information they were looking for. "If we stay here much longer, we're going to start attracting attention," he fretted. "I can just see Laura having to tell her mother that she has to come bail us out of jail."
"Relax, my boy. I'm sure Gus will be calling any moment now."
"You said that half an hour ago," Harry reminded his mentor.
"And we agreed that if a policeman does ask questions, we'll simply tell him that we're waiting on a friend of mine to bring us a gift for your fiance."
Harry sighed, then turned to look at Daniel, who was studying a newspaper. "As long as we're waiting, Laura wanted me to speak to you about something -"
"Oh? What might that be?"
"Her mother."
"You know, I'm aware that mothers and daughters don't always get along, but I must say that I was surprised to meet Abigail. She's quite charming -"
"Daniel -"
"Yes?"
"She asked me to remind you that you're supposed to be keeping Abigail off balance, not sweeping her off of her feet."
He finally folded the newspaper and turned in his seat. "Harry, can I help it if the woman has fallen victim to my inestimable charm?" Daniel asked lifting one eyebrow.
"And Laura says that *I* have an ego," Harry sighed. "Just - dial it back a bit, eh?"
"I'll try, Harry," Daniel replied with a grin that widened as the telephone in the booth began to ring. "Hopefully that's Gus."
Two other calls during the last hour had been wrong numbers, so Harry had little hope that it would be Daniel's friend. But this time, Daniel stayed on the telephone longer, and when he finally came back to the car, he was smiling. "I think we should move along now, Harry," he said. "There's a police car coming up the street at a rather slow pace -"
Harry glanced into the mirror, verifying Daniel's statement as he started the car and turned on the signal to make the right turn. The police car continued on straight, and both men relaxed. "What did Gus have to say?"
"His people told him that Webster keeps his private collection at his home in Hyde Park. He was surprised that we were asking - said that it's well known that the gentleman's security system is one of the best that money can buy."
"Then we'll just have to test if for him, won't we?" Harry asked with a broad smile. "Did you get Webster's office number from Gus, by chance?"
"I did," he nodded, waving the small notebook he was holding. "So if you can find another telephone out of the view of the local constabulary, I'll make the call."
***
"I *love* it!" Frances declared when she saw the dress that Laura pulled from the locked suitcase. The white satin dress was designed with straight lines, with a lace bodice and sleeves. The sleeves and neckline were decorated with tiny seed pearls, and it was knee-length.
Abigail looked in the suitcase, finding the white satin high heels and white stockings - with a lace garter belt, then turned. "What about a veil?" she asked.
"Madame Lilli didn't have one that was a good match," Laura sighed. "I thought I might be able to weave a crown of flowers from the garden -"
"I have something that will work *much* better," Abigail insisted. Laura began to fold the dress to return it to the suitcase - until Abigail said. "Frances, get a hanger out of the armoire, please," taking the dress out of Laura's hands.
"Mother?"
Once Frances handed her the wooden hanger, Abigail placed the dress on it. "It needs to hang to get the wrinkles out of the fabric," she declared. "I'll put it in my room - I seriously doubt that Harry will find it there. Come on."
This was the imperious Mother that Laura remembered - making decisions without explanation. There was no choice but for the sisters to follow her into the hallway, and into her bedroom, where she placed the dress inside of her own armoire. As she closed the door of the free-standing closet, she said, "Now, we have to go to the attic."
"The *attic*?" Laura repeated, but she followed back into the hallway, then to the door at the end of the hallway, then up the short flight of stairs. As children, she and Frances had played up here, allowed to dig into the trunks of old clothes. It had been fun, then. Now, Laura asked, "What are you looking for, Mother?"
"You'll see in a moment. Frances, would you open that trunk over there, please, and tell me what's inside?"
"Men's clothes," Frances told her, slowly lowering the lid, giving Laura a questioning look. All Laura could do was lift her shoulders and shake her head in response.
"Try that one to your left." Finally, as she opened the fourth trunk, Abigail said, "I found it. I should have remembered it was this trunk -"
"*What* was this trunk?" Laura asked. The lid to the trunk hid its contents, so only Abigail knew what she was talking about - until she lifted the lace fabric and draped it over the lid. "Is that -?" Laura began, stepping closer to lightly touch the hand-made lace decorated with tiny seed pearls and white silk thread.
"Grandma Hasty's wedding veil," Frances finished, joining them. "It's lovely," she declared.
"And it's perfect for your wedding dress, dear," Abigail said.
"It's probably too long -" Laura told her.
"No, she wore a short veil - like a chapel scarf. Here, let me show you -" She came around the trunk, carrying the half-folded fabric. "Just a second -" she placed the lace over Laura's head, then stepped back. "What do you think, Frances?"
"It's perfect!" Frances declared.
Abigail stepped away, lifting the dust cover away from a large mirror, letting Laura see the effect for herself. The lace framed her face, softening it, ending midway down her back. "Oh my," she sighed.
"Let's see. With your new dress, and this will be the old, - I have a handkerchief that I can let you borrow -" Abigail observed.
"That just leaves something blue," Laura told her, smiling. "Yet another tradition I guess I'll be keeping."
"Will a blue garter work?" Frances wondered, and both women turned to look at her. "It's light blue, with small pearls on the - what are you looking at?"
"I can't quite see you wearing a garter, Frances," Laura said.
"And just for that, I won't tell you where it came from. Do you want it or not?"
"Of course - if you don't think that you'll need it -"
"I'll have it here tomorrow," was Frances' response, but all three women were smiling.
"Let's get back to the veil, shall we?" Abigail suggested, turning back to Laura. "We can put a small headband with flowers - Oh my goodness," she gasped.
"What?"
"Flowers. I haven't made any arrangements - you'll need a bouquet, and Harry and Daniel will need rosebuds for their lapels -"
"Mother, we have an entire garden filled with flowers. And I don't want a bouquet," she insisted. "A single, long-stemmed rose will be fine."
"And what about your maid of honor -?"
"Frances can carry a single rose as well," Laura stated, taking the lace and beginning to fold it. "This will need to be cleaned -"
"Laura? Did you said that *I'm* going to be your maid - matron of honor?" Frances wanted to know.
"Didn't we agree when you got married and I was your maid of honor that when I got married -"
"That I would be yours," Frances nodded. "But - I thought you'd ask Mother -"
"Don't you want to do it?" Laura asked her.
"Of *course* I do!" Frances confirmed, moving to hug her little sister, crushing the bundle of lace between them. "I have to find a dress to wear - and I'm sure that Donald will agree to give you away if -"
"I appreciate you volunteering Donald, but - I know it's not traditional, but I was hoping that you would agree to give me away, Mother." Abigail blinked, clearly surprised by the words. "I hadn't intended to be 'given away' at all - but -"
Suddenly a huge smile appeared on her mother's face, and Laura found herself in a bear-like embrace. "Oh, Laura, of *course* I'll give you away - I mean - you know what I mean. Thank you."
Laura wasn't sure, but she *thought* there were tears in Abigail's eyes.
***
Frances was just leaving, offering to drop the antique lace veil at the cleaners' since it was on her way home, when young Danny arrived. "Hello, sport," Laura greeted him.
"Hello," was his reply.
Seeing the pile of textbooks under his arm, his mother observed, "It looks like you have a lot of homework."
"A little," he confessed, "I have a read a chapter in history and diagram a few sentences, then do some math problems."
"I'll take the books and you can do the homework when you get there. That way you won't be tempted to let Aunt Laura do your math homework." Taking the books, she told Laura, "We have a strict policy that the children do their homework when they get home before going outside to play. But I think we can make an exception today, since Danny's been looking forward to spending some time with his aunt."
"Thank you," Laura said. "Give me a minute to go change my clothes, Danny, and I'll join you in the backyard, okay?"
He grinned, grabbing his ball and two gloves out of his mother's car. "I put these in the car last night so we'd have them. I figured you didn't bring a glove, so I brought an extra."
"That was very thoughtful, because I did somehow manage to forget to pack my glove. See you in a few minutes."
"Just for an hour!" Frances called after her son as he walked to the house with his aunt.
"Aw, Mom!" he said, but nodded before entering the house.
***
Abigail was in the kitchen later when she heard a car pull into the drive, so she removed her apron, pausing at the mirror near the front door to examine her hair and pinch her cheeks, smiling as the front door opened to admit Harry and Daniel.
"Hello," she said. "Errands all done?"
"I think so. I needed to make reservations for the honeymoon," Harry explained in a quiet voice before looking around. "Where is Laura?"
"She's in the backyard with Danny."
"Ah," he nodded. "I believe that I'll go watch," he decided, giving Daniel a glance as he took a step toward the kitchen.
"You might remind Danny that his mother wants him home before dinner - and he'll just make it if he leaves now," she suggested, then turned to smile at Daniel. "So where are they going?" she asked.
"Going?" Daniel questioned, moving to the small bar and lifting a bottle of whiskey. "Do you mind?"
"Of course not," she replied. "On their honeymoon," she clarified. "Where are Laura and Harry going on their honeymoon?"
Daniel made a show of pouring a generous portion of liquor into a glass. "Oh, I believe Harry said something about Niagara Falls."
Smiling, Abigail brought her hands together. "Oh, how delightful! Another vote for tradition."
"I beg your pardon?" he asked.
"Just something silly," she told him. "In case you haven't noticed, my youngest daughter is a bit - unconventional. She preferred jeans and tennis shoes over dresses and Mary Janes, and insisted on going to her high school proms by herself. I thought she would never get married simply because she thought it was the traditional thing to do."
"I believe Harry was surprised by her agreement for just that reason."
"When she told me that they were going to be married, I think that I expected her to insist on getting married barefoot wearing jeans, with a guitarist playing anything except the Wedding March. But she's surprised me."
"Howso?" Daniel asked, tossing the rest of the whiskey back, then pouring another. He finally saw her hesitate before continuing to talk.
"She's wearing a simply lovely dress - which she's keeping hidden from Harry. She asked Frances to be her Matron of Honor -"
"And Donald will give her away, no doubt," Daniel said, lifting his glass in silent toast, only to pause when Abigail shook her head.
"No. She asked *me*," Abigail declared, clearly delighted by this particular lack of tradition. Seeing her smile, Daniel put the still full glass onto the table.
"That is good news," he said, reaching out to take her hand. "I'm happy for you," he told her, picking up the glass again as Danny Piper came from the kitchen.
"Bye, Grandma!" he called.
"Daniel Piper, you come here and give me a proper hug, young man!" Abigail ordered, and the boy came over to her, giving Daniel an embarrassed grin.
"I gotta go or I'll be late!" he insisted, slipping away from Abigail and nearly running to the front door.
Abigail followed him to the door, then turned back to Daniel, watching him finish the second drink. "Daniel, is something wrong?" she asked, coming over to touch his arm.
***
"I thought you told me that you weren't going to have someone give you away?" Harry was asking Laura. "You said it was an archaic holdover from when men thought that they owned women just as though they were slaves, and that you didn't need *anyone* to 'give you away'?"
Laura, her hair tied back into a loose pony-tail, and wearing blue jeans and a tee-shirt, managed a smile. "I did say that, didn't I?"
"Quite forcefully if memory serves."
"I changed my mind," she told him. "I suppose it was when Frances said that Donald could do it that I realized I could stand by my words and have Mother do it instead."
"Traditional, yet decidedly nontraditional," Harry nodded, pulling her to his side and smiling. "That's my Laura." He looked around. "Now, where is this all supposed to happen?" he asked.
"Over there under the rose arbor," she explained, leading him in that direction. "And we'll cut the wedding cake over on the patio." As he was studying the layout, she asked, "So where are we going to find those lovely pieces of jade?"
"Hyde Park," he informed her. "Daniel made the call to Webster's office to remind him of his agreement to let a reporter and photographer look around the place."
"Speaking of Daniel -"
"I told him what you said - asked him to dial the charm back a bit."
"What did he say?"
"I'm sure he'll -"
"Harry."
"The telephone rang, and since we were worried about the local police being curious as to why we'd been sitting there so long, he went to answer -"
Laura exhaled loudly. "I'll speak to him."
"I'm sure that won't be necessary, Laura," Harry told her her.
***
"What do you mean?" Daniel asked, preparing to pour himself another drink, but Abigail reached out to cover the top of the glass, preventing the action.
"You seem to be drinking quite a bit - you've had two almost full glasses of whiskey - probably on an empty stomach -"
"I'm quite well," he insisted, but allowed her to pull him away from the bar and toward the kitchen.
"Come on. You can sit in the kitchen and have some coffee while I finish making dinner. I might even let you help me," she said, holding onto his arm with both hands. Once in the kitchen, she saw him to a chair at the table, and went to get a cup of coffee. Placing it before him, she smiled. "There you go."
When she would have moved away, Daniel grabbed her hand. "You are a very special lady, Abigail," he was saying as Laura and Harry entered from the back yard.
Laura gave Harry a look that he reacted to with a shrug. "Is everything all right?" she asked.
"I think Daniel just overdid it today," Abigail told her. "He'll be fine once he has something to eat and another cup of coffee." She glanced at Harry. "Did the two of you stop for lunch today?" she asked with a faintly accusatory tone.
"We were busy," Harry began, sounding vaguely apologetic, aware that Laura was staring at him.
Laura moved toward Daniel. "I think what Daniel needs is some rest - why don't I help you upstairs -"
"Nonsense!" Abigail declared, turning from the stove to confront her daughter. "What he needs is a good meal!"
"Mother!"
"Laura!"
Harry stepped in. "Now, now, ladies. There's no reason for you to be at each other's throats. Why don't we let Daniel make the decision as to what he needs?"
Three sets of eyes turned to look at Daniel, who calmly took a sip of coffee, then smiled as he answered. "I am feeling a bit - famished," he stated.
"Augh!!" Laura groaned, and left the kitchen.
"What's gotten into her?" Abigail asked Harry.
"Wedding nerves, no doubt," Harry insisted. "I'll go talk to her." He paused a moment. "Dinner smells delightful, by the way," he told her, before following Laura from the kitchen. He saw her disappearing into the hall at the top of the stairs and moved to follow, wincing as he heard the bedroom door slam shut as he was halfway up the stairs himself.
He was surprised to find the door unlocked, and entered to find Laura staring out of a window. With some caution, he moved toward her to look over her shoulder. "I hadn't realized what a lovely view this room has," he observed. "I suppose I've been too - interested in other sights until now." Very slowly, he wrapped his arm around her waist, feeling the tension in her body begin to dissipate.
"He's doing this on purpose," she declared.
"Daniel?" Harry sighed. "To be fair, we haven't eaten very much all day - he probably *is* a tad peckish."
"Taking Mother's side is *not* what I would consider *dialing it back*," she said.
"Honestly, I'm sure it's just a harmless flirtation," Harry pointed out.
"We're talking about my *mother*," she insisted. "I'm sure she's lonely, and I don't want her to misunderstand his intentions."
"You're trying to protect your mother, I understand that. And I think Daniel understands as well."
"I wish I could be sure of that," Laura told him, turning to face him.
"Trust me?"
"You know I do."
"Do you trust Daniel?"
She had to stop and think about that. "I know we had a rough start, but yes, I suppose I do."
"Good. The problem's solved. And now, I would like a proper welcome home kiss from my fiance."
Laura smiled, recalling Danny's "Ew, gross," when she had given Harry a very brief kiss earlier. Sliding her arms around his neck, she pulled him down to place her lips on his, enjoying the feel of his arms around her. "I suppose we don't have time to -" she finished by glancing at the bed with regret.
"Laura! Harry! Dinner's on the table!" Abigail called up the stairs.
Laura sighed, resting her forehead against Harry's chest as he called back, "We're on our way, Abigail!" She was smiling as Harry pulled her toward the door, and he asked, "What are you thinking?"
"Just that you need to eat - you're going to need your strength later."
"You're determined to kill me, woman," he said, but he found himself smiling as well.
***
During dinner, Abigail told Harry, "Has Laura told you about Judge Malcolm's visit tomorrow?"
If she noticed the sudden wariness on the part of Harry and Daniel, she didn't acknowledge it as Harry asked, "Judge?"
Laura smiled, reaching over to touch his hand. "He's the local Justice of the Peace," she explained. "He's going to officiate at the wedding."
"Of course," Harry nodded. "But I had thought that you and I would go and get the marriage license tomorrow morning," he told Laura. "Frances mentioned last night that we would need to have blood tests and -"
"I hadn't even thought about that," Abigail confessed. "And I should have. I could call Martha and see if he can reschedule for Thursday morning instead of tomorrow. I'll do that after dinner."
"Martha?" Daniel asked.
"Martha Malcolm. The Judge's wife. She's part of my bridge club," she explained.
***
After dinner, Laura and Harry offered to clear the table and take care of the dishes while Abigail went into the living room to call her friend. After making the call, Abigail turned to see Daniel pouring a drink and joined him.
"Something *is* wrong," she stated, sitting on the sofa and patting the seat beside her. "Sit down, Daniel."
"Really, Abigail, I -"
"Please?" she added, and he made a show of picking up the glass before joining her.
As soon as he was seated, she took the glass from his hand, putting it onto the low table in front of her. "You don't need that."
"I believe that's my decision to make."
When he would have picked it up again, she grabbed his hands, refusing to let go. "Talk to me. You were fine this morning - but this evening, you've barely looked at me. What's wrong?"
"I wasn't sure about turning the dishwasher on, Moth-" Laura was saying, pausing as she saw their hands clasped together. "-er," she finished, her eyes narrowing as they fixed on Daniel. "What's going on here?" she wanted to know as Harry lifted his own eyes toward the ceiling, reaching for Laura's arm.
"Daniel and I were just talking, Laura," Abigail informed her, having seen Harry's reaction and Laura's apparent anger toward Daniel. She released Daniel's hands, picking up the glass from the table to take it back to the bar. "Excuse us, Harry, Daniel," she said. "I need to speak with my daughter. In private, I think."
"Mother, I'm not a child -"
"Then stop acting like one," Abigail told her.
Harry and Daniel went toward the kitchen, leaving mother and daughter alone. "Why is Daniel suddenly drinking as though he owns stock in the liquor company?" Abigail asked.
"Why are you blaming *me*?"
"I'm not blaming you, I'm asking. There's a difference."
"Oh, no. Not when it comes to me. It's always *my* fault when something happens."
Abigail took a deep breath. "Ever since he and Harry got back here, Daniel hasn't seemed himself, Laura. It's like he's trying to make me dislike him by drinking too much - *Does* he drink more than he should?"
Laura hesitated, wanting to lie and say yes, but she knew that doing so might backfire. "Not that I've ever noticed -"
"And you would, since you and Harry have been staying at his home when you're in London. What's going on, dear?"
"I just - I don't want you to be hurt, Mother," Laura finally said, deciding that maybe, in this instance, honesty was the best policy.
"Hurt? You don't really believe that Daniel would -"
"Not physically, no. But, well, Daniel's a bit of a - ladies' man. He's not looking for a long-term relationship. He can be *very* charming, and I don't want you to mistake his attention as anything - serious." Abigail started to laugh, surprising Laura. "Mother, I'm not joking!"
"I know, dear," she said as her laughter faded. "Do you really think that I might be hurt by Daniel's flirting with me?"
"I just - I know that you never dated anyone when Frances and I were growing up - and then you were here with Grandma, and busy taking care of her, so there was no time -"
"Come and sit down," Abigail said, leading her over to the sofa. "You're right that I haven't dated very much since your father - left. But that doesn't mean that I never dated anyone. My mother was able to take care of herself - right up until the end. And with Frances and Donald so close, -"
"Mother, what are you trying to say?"
"About a month after your grandmother died, I went to a seminar on plaque. I still like to keep current, I really wish Frances would do the same - but, that's where I met - Harvey." She sighed.
"Harvey?"
"Dr. Harvey Fennerman. He's a dentist, of course. Children's orthodontia. Before I knew it, we were spending a lot of time together, I was even considering going back to work in his office to be close to him."
"I had no idea - does Frances -?"
"Oh, no. I couldn't possibly have told her any of this. She and Donald are so happy she simply wouldn't understand my need for - companionship. She would be shocked at the very idea that her mother was planning on spending a weekend with a man."
"A weekend," Laura repeated.
"Oh, yes. He had to attend some meetings on the west coast, in Oxnard, and when he asked, I was delighted to accept. I even bought an entire wardrobe of clothes in his favorite color: purple."
"What happened?"
"Everything was going well, and then - he - well, he made his proposal -" As she paused, Laura's eyes widened in shock.
"He asked you to marry him?"
"Hardly. When we arrived in Oxnard, he told me that we weren't going to be alone for the weekend, that it wouldn't be right - that his wife was already there, and that we would all have a chance to - get acquainted."
"His wife? He was married? What did you do?"
"I simply couldn't be a good sport about it. I slapped him in the face, made a suggestion about what he could do with himself, then I picked up my suitcase and went to another hotel. Then the next morning, I flew home."
"I'm sorry that something like that happened, Mother, but - don't you see? It only supports my concern about you falling for Daniel's charm."
"The point is, dear, that I survived what happened that weekend, and it's made me stronger. Let me ask you something: do you like Daniel?"
"Yes," Laura answered honestly.
"Do you trust him?"
"Of course I do. He's Harry's - best friend," she replied, barely hesitating as she kept her promise to Daniel.
"So stop worrying that he's going to break my heart. I'm a big girl and can take of myself after all this time. If he wants to flirt a little, and I flirt back, what's the harm?"
"None, I suppose. After the wedding, he'll be going back to London anyway."
"And I'll probably see him when I visit you there," Abigail stated. "Besides, it's good for me to have someone close to my age to make me feel that I'm still alive and attractive."
"I think I understand," Laura said. "Harry asked him to dial the charm back - I guess I can tell him to forget it."
"Let me tell him," her mother stated, a huge smile on her face as she considered the possibilities. "Now, as to your earlier question - I'll turn the dishwasher on before I go to bed - and Judge Malcolm will be here on Thursday morning for coffee."
***
Harry and Daniel entered the house to find Abigail alone in the
living room. She was pouring two glasses of sherry while a record
played softly in the background. "Where's Laura?" Harry
asked.
"She decided it would be a good idea to have an early evening," Abigail informed him, "she the two of you have to leave early in the morning. She asked me to send you upstairs."
Harry looked in Daniel's direction as his friend shrugged. "Then I'll bid you both good night," he told them, heading toward the stairway.
"Abigail," Daniel said, still not sure what might be going on, "I don't want to cause a rift between you and Laura - I've become quite fond of her."
"And she of you," Abigail nodded, turning to hand him one of the sherry glasses. "I'm really glad that you're a part of her life, Daniel. Laura - whether she admits it or not - needs a father figure."
"I'm afraid that I'm a trifle confused," Daniel admitted. "When Harry and I left -"
"Oh, that." She smiled again. "I just had to explain to my daughter that I don't need to be protected from a little harmless flirtation, that's all. She thought I would take your charming attention seriously -"
"But you haven't?"
"Of course not. I do hope that you'll consider me a friend -"
"Oh, I do, dear lady," he assured her, lifting his glass. "To friendship," he toasted.
"To friendship," Abigail agreed, laughing softly, then taking a sip of the liqueur as she listened to the music. "You know, I used to love dancing. Laura's father was an excellent dancer."
Daniel smiled, taking her glass and putting it beside his on the table before bowing. "Would you do me the honor?"
"Of course," she told him.
As they waltzed around the room, she told him, "You're very good."
"Thank you. So are you."
"Now, why don't you tell me why you reacted the way you did when I mentioned Judge Malcolm?"
"Reacted? Did I?"
"I let it go then, but - "
"It was nothing, really. I - had a spot of trouble when I was much younger left me with - shall we say - a distrust of judges and courts."
"I hope it wasn't anything serious?"
"I was in need of funds and fell in with the wrong crowd," he said. "I paid for the mistake - I'm still paying for it in some respects. And that, my dear Abigail, is all I'm going to say about it."
***
Harry entered the bedroom, ready to duck just in case Laura was in a bad mood after talking to her mother. He heard water running in the bathroom, and slowly approached the doorway to find her sprinkling something into the water that was filling the oversized claw-footed tub, while wearing a towel. "Should I grab your Fedora and toss it in first?" he asked, relieved when she turned to look at him, a smile on her face.
"Don't you dare. If it gets wet -"
"I take it you and Abigail settled your differences?"
Laura reached over and turned off the water, dropping the towel before climbing over the edge of the tub to sink into the bubbles. "I just realized that she can take care of herself," she told him.
"So you're okay with the fact that she and Daniel are downstairs having sherry and listening to music?"
"I will be if you join me."
"Be right there," he promised, removing his jacket…
***
"You're sure that you can find your way around town, Laura?" Abigail asked the next morning.
"I have the address of Dr. Shearer's clinic," Laura replied. "And the county registrar's office. I think we'll manage."
Abigail watched as the car left the driveway, waving before going back into the house to say to Daniel, "We have until lunch, at least, to ourselves," she told him with a smile.
"So we do. Do you have anything in particular planned?" he asked, taking her hand and slowly leading her toward the sofa. "Any chores or telephone calls to make?"
Sitting down beside him, Abigail shook her her. "No."
"Expecting any visitors?"
"Nary a one." She made a half-hearted attempt to stand up. "I suppose we could go and look at the garden," she suggested.
"You forget - I live in England. I've seen gardens before." Daniel lifted his arm and placed it across the back of the sofa as she sat down again. "So - you're here alone with a man you only met two days ago -" he leaned closer, "and you're not afraid?"
"Should I be?" she asked.
"Not even a *little* bit frightened?"
"No."
Daniel sighed. "I'm losing my touch," he declared with a heavy sigh.
Abigail lifted a hand to touch his cheek. "I doubt that, Daniel."
He brought her hand to his lips, placing a kiss there. Suddenly he stood, pulling her to her feet as well.
"Daniel - what -?"
"I think I *would* like to see that garden after all. Laura tells me that your roses are second to none in the area. And the idea of walking in a rose garden with such a lovely lady sounds like a wonderful idea."
"Oh, Daniel," Abigail sighed. "You do say the sweetest things."
***
"We're back, Mother," Laura declared as she and Harry entered the house early in the afternoon. Only silence came in reply. "Mother?"
"Daniel?" Harry called with the same result.
Laura looked into the kitchen, shaking her head as she came back out into the living room. "They're not in there," she told him, then saw him glance upstairs. "Oh, you don't think -" she made a move toward the stairway, but Harry grabbed her arm.
"Now, Laura. You don't know -"
"But I'm going to find out. And if what's happened is what I *think* has happened -"
Suddenly the sound of Abigail's laughter, followed immediately by Daniel's reached their ears - but not from upstairs. After listening for a moment, Harry told her, "It's coming from outside - in back."
Laura led the way through the kitchen and outside. Daniel and Abigail were sitting in the wrought iron chairs on the patio. "Oh my," she was saying. "He sounds terribly fascinating, Daniel."
"There you are," Laura said, crossing to join them.
"Hello, dear. Harry," Abigail greeted them. "Daniel was just telling me about a little man he knows in London -"
"Jacob," Daniel said, and both Laura and Harry nodded. "Did you get all of the paperwork completed?" he asked.
"I had no idea one had to fill out so many forms just to get married," Harry said. "But we're all set."
Abigail stood up. "I'll go start dinner," she announced.
"I have a better idea," Harry told her. "If you'll make a reservation for the four of us, we'll eat out."
"That's not necessary, Harry," Abigail insisted. "I'm perfectly fine with -"
"He's right, Mother," Laura chimed in. "The next few days are going to be hectic - coffee tomorrow with the Judge, then getting everything else ready for Saturday -"
"If you're sure," Abigail said. "I'll go see if I can get reservations at Che Rive. It's a little French restaurant in town."
"Sounds delightful," Harry assured her, watching her walk back toward the house.
"What did you two do all day?" Laura asked, and Harry sighed.
"Just what you see here. We went for a walk around the garden - you were right about her roses. They *are* remarkable. Then we took lunch out here, and sat here drinking coffee and talking."
"That's all?"
"Laura, you sound as though you think I'm a monster -"
She smiled, reaching out to touch his hand. "No, I don't, Daniel," she assured him. "I just need some time to get used to the idea that my mother doesn't need me to protect her."
"From the big, bad wolf?" he suggested, and all three laughed as Abigail joined them.
"It's all set," she said. "Reservations for four at seven o'clock."
***
Che Rive was built on the premise of the old nightclubs, with singers and dancers to entertain the clientele while they were enjoying their meals. "I had no idea this place was here," Laura told her mother as the applause died down after a dance number. "Have you been here before?"
"Yes. A few times," Abigail replied, suddenly focused on the food on her plate.
"The food is excellent," Daniel said. "Don't you agree, Harry?"
"Yes. I was surprised by that, actually. One doesn't think about finding nearly authentic French cooking in Connecticut."
"The chef was trained in Paris from what I was told," Abigail told him.
"Abby! Is that you?"
The middle-aged man who had stopped at the table was blonde with blue eyes - and oozed what Laura could only refer to as 'smarmy charm', which caused her to remind herself to apologize to Daniel if she had ever used that term for him.
Abigail's smile had frozen momentarily upon hearing his voice before she turned to look at him, moving subtly closer to Daniel in the circular booth where they had been seated. "Hello, Harvey," she said, and Laura was surprised when Daniel's eyes narrowed slightly.
If Harvey noticed, there was no sign of it, because he smiled in Laura's direction. "And who is this pretty lady?"
"My daughter, Laura - and her fiancee."
"Of course. I should have known." He smiled at Laura. "Your mother told me all about you - I'm -"
"Being signaled by the woman sitting at your table, mate," Harry told him, and Harvey turned to look in that direction.
"I suppose I should go," Harvey nodded, then turned back to Abigail. "Give me a call - or I can drop by -"
"Abigail's going to be far too busy to talk for the foreseeable future," Daniel informed him as he took her hand in his. "Isn't that right, my dear?"
She smiled, nodding. "Yes. Good-bye, Harvey."
The dental Lothario lingered a moment longer, as though he hoped she would say more, until Daniel kissed the back of Abigail's hand. Then he slowly turned away, returning to his own table and the woman who had been trying to get his attention.
"Thank you, Daniel," Abigail said.
"So that was the cad who lured you out to California," he said.
"Yes. That's Harvey Fennerman," Abigail confirmed.
"When did you tell Daniel about -?" Laura wanted to know.
"This morning. I suppose that's the reason I made the reservations here at Che Rive. We came here several times while we were seeing each other."
"Is that is wife?" Laura wanted to know as she looked at the other woman. She was well dressed, with dark hair.
"I have no idea," Abigail confessed. "I never met Mrs. Fennerman. I didn't know that she even existed until we got to Oxnard."
"I doubt that lady is she," Harry stated. "A man doesn't bring his wife to the place where he brings other women. Too dangerous. What if the waiter spills the beans?"
The next act appeared on stage, drawing their attention, and bringing the conversation to an end. But Abigail's smile never faded as Daniel continued to hold her hand.
***
After Harry and Laura went upstairs, Daniel asked Abigail to join him for a walk in the garden. "I really should thank you, Daniel," she said.
"For what?"
"Helping me deal with Harvey at the restaurant," she explained. "You didn't have to -"
"Nonsense. You thanked me at the restaurant, remember? And I had the impression that, given the slightest amount of provocation, Laura might just take it into her head to tell him off."
She laughed softly, "You could be right. Still, thank you."
"It was my pleasure."
"I suppose I owe you an explanation about how I ever thought I was attracted to someone like him."
Daniel took her elbow to steer her toward a bench. "You don't owe me a thing, Abigail. I'm sure it's been lonely for you - your husband leaving, having to raise your daughters alone while taking care of your mother long distance -"
"I thought it would get easier once I moved back here," she sighed. "Laura in college, Frances settled with Donald - Mother tried to convince me to start dating again, but I kept insisting that I didn't need the complications that having a man in my life would bring."
"Complications?"
"Having to fight not to lose myself again," she told him. "I told you - can you believe that before Laurence left, I didn't even know how to balance checkbook?"
"But you learned how to do it."
"Because I had to. Besides, I had to take care of Mother. I didn't really have time to meet anyone. Then she was gone, too. You're right, I *was* lonely. I suppose Harvey came into my life at just the right moment. I was weak, and vulnerable-" She smiled. "I still can't believe that I bought all of those purple clothes just to please him."
"What happened to them?" Daniel asked. "I don't think I've seen anything in the house with that color."
"I burned them the second I got home," she said.
"Burned them?"
"Burned them. I lit a fire in the living room fireplace, and threw the clothes in one at a time until they were all gone - while I sat watching and reminding myself that I was perfectly fine on my own." This time it was Abigail who covered his hand with hers. "And then I met you."
"Oh, Abigail," Daniel began. "You -"
"Don't worry. I know that you're not serious. But the attention is wonderful for my ego. I can see why Laura fell in love with Harry. He has his father's charm."
Daniel quickly hid his reaction to her statement. "I beg your pardon?"
"Don't bother to deny it, Daniel. I won't believe it."
"My dear Abigail, you have no idea -"
"What I don't understand is why you haven't told him that you're his father?"
"I must ask, Abigail, that you don't discuss this absurd theory with Harry."
"Surely he'd be delighted to find out that -"
"That the father that he hates has been here the entire time? Hypothetically, of course."
"Why does he hate you?"
"Harry blames his father for abandoning him, forcing him to grow up being passed from pillar to post, never knowing his family."
"What happened, Daniel?" Abigail asked, and Daniel rose from the bench to pace toward the house. For a moment, she thought he might continue in that direction without answering her question.
"I need your promise, Abigail. Not a word to Harry." He turned momentarily to study the windows of the master bedroom, keeping his voice low. Sounds tended to carry at night.
"You have it," she confirmed. "It should come from you, not anyone else."
"Meghan was a true daughter of Erin," Daniel began. "The moment we met, we knew that we were in love. Her parents insisted that she was too young to marry anyone - much less an almost penniless Canadian with no real prospects … "
Abigail sat quietly, listening as he recounted the events. His and Meghan's elopement, that fact that she had been disowned by her angry father, who, up until a few months prior, had been Daniel's employer. Then Daniel's foolish decision to join in a bank robbery that went south, leaving Daniel holding the bag - and in prison.
While there, he had received a letter from his wife that she was expecting a child, and that she was staying with her older sister until he was released. "When I left prison, I went to her sister's - at least the last address I had for her - only to discover that they were both gone. Her parents refused to see me - except to inform me that -" Daniel drew a deep breath as he recalled those days, and the continued "-that both Meghan and the child were dead, and that their other daughter had emigrated to England. I spent the next year more drunk than sober, until I finally went back to England as well, determined to put the past behind me and start over. It was nearly two years later that Meghan's sister found me and told me that while her sister had died in childbirth, my son had been very much alive."
"But she didn't know where he might be?"
"No. Apparently her parents had placed him for adoption in Ireland, and when I told her that I was going back to find him, she insisted that she would go, that people would be more likely to talk to her than to me."
"It must have been terrible for you," she said, "Knowing that he was alive, but not knowing where he might be."
"You have no idea - perhaps you do, not knowing exactly where Laura was these last few years. I should have pushed her to contact you more, I suppose."
"I guess Harry's aunt found him?"
Daniel shook his head, finally smiling. "No. I did. Actually,
it was happenstance. I was leaving a friend's place one day in
a rather disreputable part of London and a young man made a nearly
successful attempt to pick my pocket."
"Harry?!"
"Harry it was," he confirmed.
"But how on earth did you know that he was your son?"
"I've asked myself that same question at least a hundred times," he admitted. "The last place I ever expected to find the boy was on a dirty street in Brixton, of all places. I decided that it was his eyes. It was a though I was looking into her eyes. It took me awhile to convince him that I wanted to help him. He'd built a wall to keep anyone from getting too close. I shudder to think about all of the things he went through during the twelve years before he agreed to let me take care of him. Even then, he was as skittish as a young colt. I think he only began to trust me once he realized that he could leave anytime he wanted to, and I wouldn't stop him."
"Could you have done that?"
"I would have had no choice. So many times, I wanted to tell him the truth, but after hearing him talk about how much he blamed a father that he'd never known for his never having a family, a home, and what he planned to do if he ever met his absent father -" Daniel shuddered as he recalled Harry's angry words. "I knew that I'd be more likely to remain a part of his life if he believed that I was no more than a mentor and friend. If he ever finds out the truth, I fear he'll walk away and I'll never see him again."
"I won't tell him, Daniel," Abigail promised him. "Thank you for telling me about it."
"How did you know?"
"I suppose it would take someone who's a total stranger - there are similarities. And once I found out that you'd been married at one time and then asked me to *not* talk to Harry about it -"
"I had a feeling that that admission was a tactical error," he sighed. "Perhaps, one day, I'll have the courage to tell him, but - not now."
Abigail relaxed, resting her head on his shoulder. "You'll know when the time is right."
"I hope so."
"He said that his name was an 'old family name'?"
"It was given him by one of the families that he stayed with as a youth, at least the first and last names. I started calling him Harry out of a need to call him something, and that's when he gave me the name Remington Steele. We added Harrison to it because he rather liked the name Harry." He sighed. "Now, it's late, and I have a feeling that the judge will be here early tomorrow morning. Why don't I walk you up to your room?" he suggested, standing up and holding out his hand to her.
***
George Malcolm and his wife Martha arrived precisely at ten the next morning for coffee and to discuss the wedding to be held in two days. "I'm sorry if my accompanying George was a surprise, Abigail," Martha said as Abigail returned from getting another cup.
"It's a pleasant surprise, Martha," Abigail assured her friend, pouring the coffee. "We're meeting out on the patio," she told her guests. "I thought it was a good idea, since the wedding will be held in the rose arbor."
"That's an ideal setting," Martha agreed. "Who's idea was it to have it there?"
"Laura's. That's where my parents were married." She led them through the kitchen and out to the patio, where the others were waiting. "My daughter, Laura," Abigail began, "her fiancee Harry Steele, and Harry's best friend and best man, Daniel Chalmers. This is my friend Martha and her husband Judge George Malcolm."
"I've heard so much about you, Laura," Martha gushed as she took Laura's hand. "You're much prettier than the photos that your mother showed me."
"I was a gawky teenager," Laura recalled, smiling. "I spent most of my time in jeans and sweatshirts and tennis shoes."
Abigail poured the coffee, and everyone found a place to sit as they talked. "So, Laura and - Harry, right?"
"That's right, Judge," Harry confirmed. "Short for Harrison."
"How long have you known one another?"
"Almost six years," Laura answered. "We met right after I went to London from Los Angeles."
"Do you have the marriage license?"
Harry drew it from his coat pocket, sliding it across the table. "Got it yesterday."
Malcolm studied the paper, then handed it back. "All in order. As to the actual ceremony - is there anything special - I've had people write their own vows, use non-traditional vows, one of them even had her brother serve as her attendant."
They all laughed, and Laura said, "Well, my sister Frances is going to be my attendant. And - Mother's going to walk me down the aisle."
"How sweet," Martha sighed, reaching over to touch Abigail's arm.
"As for the vows -" Laura began, "there is one change -"
Malcolm lifted a hand. "Let me guess: you'd like to remove the word 'obey', am I right?" Laura nodded. "Don't worry. Modern brides sometimes don't like that word. I can forget to say it. So no - handwritten vows, then?" Both Laura and Harry shook their heads in the negative. "Very well. Abigail tells me that the ceremony will take place over in the rose arbor - how many guests are you expecting?"
"Just us, and Frances and her family, of course," Abigail told him. "Frances is also making the cake - you know how good she is at doing that kind of thing, Martha," she said, and Martha nodded, smiling.
"What about music?" Martha asked.
Abigail's eyes widened as she looked at Laura. "I can't believe that I forgot -"
"We don't really need any music, Mother," Laura said. "Or maybe a portable record player with the Wedding March and something to dance to later - we could put Danny in charge of it -"
"I could do it," Martha told them. "I have a portable keyboard that I play - Abigail, you know that I've played it at several parties - Your grandmother taught me to play, Laura," she said. "If we could get that piano outside, I'd offer to play that, but I think my keyboard will work just as well. I even have a setting on it that makes it sound like an organ -"
"You have the job, Mrs. Malcolm," Laura assured the woman. "And our thanks."
"I enjoy playing at weddings," Martha replied. "It's my favorite thing to do. George and I never had any children of our own, so I tend to live vicariously through my friends' children and grandchildren."
"Now that that's settled," Malcolm said, "What time is this all going to start?"
"Four o'clock," Laura told them. "That's the time of day when the smell of the roses is the strongest in the arbor."
"Are we going to have a rehearsal tomorrow?"
Laura and Harry looked at each other, then Harry said, "I think we can forego that, since it's going to be such a small affair."
"You're being quiet, Mr. Chalmers," Malcolm observed. "Is there something you'd like to add?"
"Laura and Harry are the important ones at the moment. I'm just here to support him as best I can." Malcolm nodded as the doorbell rang in the house. "I'll see who it is," Daniel announced, already halfway out of his chair.
He finally took a deep breath as he entered the house, wondering if he would ever be able to feel at ease around a judge. As he came out of the kitchen, the front door opened and Frances appeared. "Frances."
"Hello. I told Mother that I wasn't sure that I'd be able to make it -" she looked around. "Where are they?"
"On the patio," he informed her, extending his elbow.
"Allow me."
She gave a tittering laugh as she took his arm. "Thank you."
***
On Friday morning, Harry and Laura left the house to make a visit to the local grocery to purchase the ingredients for what Harry referred to as 'the Wedding feast'. But when he turned to the left instead of the right at an intersection, Laura turned to look at him. "You're going the wrong direction," she told him.
"I told Abigail that we were going to have lunch in town," he told her. "And that will give you a chance to call Jonas Webster's office and verify that you and your photographer will be at his Hyde Park home on Monday afternoon to begin the photo layout."
"Have you made the reservations for Sunday night?" she asked.
"At the Hyde Park Inn," he confirmed. "The Bridal Suite was already booked, but I managed to get their Presidential Suite instead."
"Oooh," she sighed, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Complete with a champagne breakfast the next morning, which is why Miss Myrtle Groggins and Luke Abernathy won't be arriving at Webster's until afternoon."
"And where are we having lunch today?" she asked, sliding her fingers between the buttons of his shirt.
"Abigail mentioned a small Italian cafe downtown - help me find Logan Street, will you?"
She looked around, then turned her face toward his neck, blowing on the sensitive skin there. "Oh, that's easy," she told him. "Two more blocks. If it's on the square, it'll be to the right."
"Laura, love," he said.
"Hmm?"
"I love you, but it might be a good idea if you let me drive instead of distracting me."
She smiled up at him. "I'm a distraction?"
"You know you are, woman," he growled, making the right hand turn. Luckily there was an empty parking space near the restaurant, and Harry pulled the car into it. Looking around, he reached out and slid his hand around the back of her head, capturing her lips with his. As the kiss ended, he told her, "Our reservation is for eleven thirty. We have half an hour to kill -and I somehow don't think the local authorities would be willing to overlook our making out in the car, eh?"
Laura looked around, then sighed. "I suppose you're right. Okay. Come on, we can walk in the town square until time for our reservation."
"And when are you going to call Mr. Webster?"
"I'll call from the restaurant," she told him. "*After* we have lunch."
***
"No." The one word answer was delivered by Laura in a calm, rational tone.
"Really, Laura, it's only for one night," her mother pointed out. "It's bad luck for the groom to see the bride on their wedding day."
"Mother, we're in the same house! How do you suggest that Harry keep from seeing me? Go around with his eyes closed?"
"I could offer my services as a guide," Daniel suggested, only to retreat when Laura's eyes narrowed dangerously.
Abigail sighed. "Of course I'm not suggesting any such thing. I simply thought you could stay up in your room all morning - I'll bring your breakfast up, then we can start getting ready for the ceremony."
"So I'm to be - kept in that room like I'm a princess in a fairytale?"
Harry, sitting beside her, brought her hand to his lips. "You're *my* princess," he reminded her. "I know how much you dislike being too traditional, love, but it *is* just for one night. I think we'll survive, eh?" he said, his smile promising that he would make it up to her.
"Okay," she finally answered. "You win, Mother."
"I changed the sheets on the bed in the room across from Daniel, Harry, so you might want to move whatever you'll need tonight and tomorrow morning in there."
"Of course." He rose from the sofa, extending a hand to Laura. "Care to help?"
"Dinner will be ready in an hour," Abigail called after them as they left the room.
***
Laura stood in the bathroom doorway, watching as Harry gathered his razor and other toiletries into a leather case. "You could sneak into my room after she goes to bed," she suggested. "Or I could sneak into yours," she added, coming up to slide her arms around him.
"You told me that she's a light sleeper, remember?"
"Doesn't it bother you that we'll be apart for the first time in - well, a long time?"
He smiled, turning to drop a kiss on her lips. "Of course it does. But it will make your mother happy - and it's not really too much to ask, is it? We'll have the rest of our lives together after tonight." He moved past her, pulling his suitcase from beside the armoire to open it before putting some clothes inside.
"I doubt I'll get any sleep."
"Why?" he asked, glancing at her. "Having second thoughts?"
"I'm wondering why I didn't go with just eloping instead of coming here," she admitted. "All of this - fuss!" Laura sat down on the edge of the bed, clearly out of sorts. "And now, I can't even sleep with you -"
"For one night," he reminded her, coming over to sit with her. "Think about how much sweeter it will be tomorrow when we come through that door together and lock it behind us," he said.
She smiled, turning to look at him, putting her arms around his neck. "Okay. You've sold me. But I still say I won't get a wink of sleep tonight without you beside me."
"And I say that you'll probably sleep like a baby," Harry suggested. "Care to make a wager on it?"
"How would you know if I'm telling you the truth?"
"I trust you to honest with me."
"What's the bet?"
"If you sleep, then -" he whispered in her ear, and Laura's smile widened.
"And if I don't sleep?"
"Sauce for the goose -" he reminded her.
"It's a bet," she told him, pulling his head down to hers to seal the deal.
***
Harry stood under the rose arbor when he heard footsteps and turned to see Daniel. "I thought you and Abigail were still in the living room, Daniel," he said.
"She went to bed. Not that she'll likely sleep much - she keeps wondering what she's forgotten to do. I think she's convinced that the entire thing is going to implode tomorrow afternoon."
Harry grinned, standing in the entrance to the arbor, his gaze fixed on the path that Laura would take to get there.
"Having second thoughts?"
Daniel's question caught him by surprise. "What? No. Not at all. You know, Daniel, there was a time when I never would have contemplated marriage."
"You ran the other way more than once, as I recall," Daniel pointed out. "That Contessa in Nice, remember? And the daughter of that fisherman in Greece - what was her name?"
"Delia," Harry recalled. "But I honestly can't see my life without Laura at my side."
"But marriage -"
"I know, it wasn't necessary - on the surface, perhaps. But I wanted to find some way to reassure her that I wasn't going to vanish into thin air one day."
"Her parents were married, and her father ran off," Daniel pointed out.
"I know. But for someone like me, who's never really wanted that sense of - permanence, it shows her that that's exactly what I want now. And for the rest of my life." He glanced at the window of Laura's room, seeing the light was now out. "That's one reason why I agreed to her scheme of going at least partially straight. Less risk means less chance that something might happen."
"You don't have to explain to me, Harry. I understand. I hope you know that while I wasn't quite as sure as you were about Laura when I first met her,-"
Harry grinned. "That's an understatement. You tried almost every trick in the book to get her to leave. But she refused to back down. That's another reason I love her. She's not afraid to stand up for herself."
"Precisely. As time has gone on, I've realized that she's probably the best thing that could have happened to you."
"I agree with you. After meeting you, of course." He placed a hand on Daniel's shoulder. "I'll never be able to thank you for everything you've done for me, Daniel. And for Laura."
"Harry -" Daniel said, then smiled and continued. "You'd best get some sleep. Tomorrow's going to be a busy day."
***
The morning went by quickly between Harry making breakfast for them - which Abigail delivered to Laura in her room -, followed by Frances' arrival with the cake and the dress she was going to wear. She disappeared upstairs to see her sister, while Harry busied himself with preparations for the wedding feast.
Abigail button-holed Daniel into helping her with hanging crepe paper along the path to the arbor, and then to gather the roses they would all need. After the patio was decorated and chairs put into place at the rented tables, Abigail joined her daughters upstairs.
"How much longer do I have to stay locked in here?" Laura was asking Frances when their mother entered the room, carrying Laura's dress and the veil.
"Only another couple of hours, Laura," Frances answered.
"She's threatening to make a break for it, Mother."
"I've already had my bath, and I'm wearing everything but the dress and veil and shoes," Laura stated, pulling her silk bathrobe aside to reveal the blue garter that Frances had brought.
"Let me see what I can do about your hair," Abigail told her. "Do you want to wear it up or leave it down?"
"I said I wanted a simple wedding," Laura said with a frustrated sigh. "Nothing fancy."
"Frances, would you please give us a moment?"
"I'll be downstairs having coffee," the older Holt girl announced, slipping out of the room.
"Mother, I don't need a lecture -" Laura began.
"You're nervous, aren't you?"
"Nervous? Why should I be nervous! Harry and I love each other, and -"
"And you're suddenly realizing what you're about to do - and you're terrified that your marriage will end the way mine did."
Laura sank down on the vanity stool. "There are no guarantees," she said. "Marriages break up every day for - all kinds of reasons."
"I know you've always blamed me for your father leaving, dear. Maybe you're justified in feeling that way, I don't know. I've never known exactly why he left like he did."
"You see what I mean? I don't want to end up an unhappy divorcee."
Abigail closed her eyes, shaking her head before speaking again. "Laura -" When Laura turned to look at her, Abigail lost her nerve and said, "Harry loves you," she pointed out. "He would never leave you."
"Daddy loved you, too. But he still left." Abigail had to strain to hear the words, they were spoken so softly.
"Let me ask you something: Would his leaving hurt any less if you weren't married to him?"
Laura looked up at her. "It would still hurt," she confirmed.
"So you might as well marry him, don't you think?"
"I suppose so," Laura nodded, finally smiling at her reflection in the mirror. "I think leaving my hair down would be better, wouldn't it?" As Abigail gave a sigh of relief and joined her at the dressing table, Laura lifted her gaze. "Thank you, Mother."
Abigail beamed, bending down to give Laura a kiss on the cheek. "Let me comb this - I don't suppose you brought any curlers with you?"
***
When the front doorbell rang around three-thirty, Abigail, already dressed in the pink and lace dress she had pulled out of her closet for the day, came to the railing at the top of the stairs. "Daniel? Harry?"
"Harry's in the kitchen," Daniel called back to her.
The doorbell rang again. "Would you see who that is, please? I expected Donald and the children would be here - but they wouldn't ring the bell!"
"I'll get it," Daniel told her, moving in that direction. Opening, it, he stepped back upon seeing Judge Malcolm and his wife. "Judge. Mrs. Malcolm," he said. "Please, come in."
"Martha decided that we needed to be here early to get her keyboard set up," Malcolm explained.
"It will take two of you to carry everything," Martha explained. "I thought Dr. Piper would be here?"
"He's due any moment," Daniel assured her. "But I should be delighted to help."
"I parked the car near the back gate and opened it before we rang the bell," Malcolm said, leading the way to the station wagon. "I thought it would be a good idea to carry it in that way rather than through the house," he continued as he opened the rear door of the wagon to reveal an electronic keyboard, stand, and a box. "I'll get the keyboard, if you wouldn't mind bringing the stand? I'll get the box on the second trip."
Daniel pulled the wire stand out of the vehicle, carrying it through the gate to the patio, where Abigail had run an electrical extension cord. Malcolm placed the keyboard onto the stand, then turned as Danny Piper appeared with the box. "Dad thought you might need this, sir," he told them.
"Thank you, young man," Malcolm said. "There's still a bench and some speakers in the back of the car, would you mind getting them for me?"
"Yes, sir," Danny nodded, running back toward the gate.
"I'm supposed to tell you, Judge, that Harry would like a word with you upon your arrival."
"And where is the groom?"
"In the kitchen." Seeing Malcolm's surprised expression, Daniel smiled. "He's also our chef for the evening."
"Aha," Malcolm said, nodding. "Then I'll go see what he has to say. Thank you for your help, Mr. Chalmers."
"Daniel, please."
"And I'm George. When the young man brings the bench and speakers, just have him place the bench at the keyboard. Martha will be out momentarily, I'm sure, and she'll know where to put the speakers."
***
Martha was in the kitchen, pouring herself a cup of coffee, and smiled when she saw her husband. "Oh, George, doesn't it smell *delicious*? I can't wait to taste it!"
Harry smiled. "Thank you. I hope you feel the same once you do."
"Oh, I'm sure I will!" she declared. "Laura is ever so lucky to have found you, Mr. Steele."
"I think that I'm the lucky one, Mrs. Malcolm."
"Your keyboard is ready, Martha," Malcolm told her.
"Then I suppose I should start playing, shouldn't I? Excuse me, Mr. Steele."
"Now, young man, what did you want to talk to me about?"
Harry looked around, wiping his hands on a towel as he turned to face the Judge. "I have a favor to ask. A *slight* change to the ceremony…"
***
Abigail walked Laura down the rose-petal strewn aisle behind Frances, relinquishing her youngest daughter to Harry before sitting down beside Donald. Laura considered running back upstairs and hiding - until she saw the look in those blue eyes. Handing the single rose she was carrying to Frances, she took a deep breath as the Judge began to speak.
"We are gathered here today to bear witness to the marriage of two people…" Before Laura realized it, she was slipping the thin gold band on Harry's finger, and expected that he would turn to Harry to repeat his vows. But Judge Malcolm surprised everyone when he said, "Before repeating his vows, the groom has something that he'd like to say to the bride."
Harry, already facing Laura and holding her hands, said, "I just want to assure you, Laura, that I love you more than life itself. And I want to tell you in front of these witnesses that, if it's within my power, I will never leave you alone."
Laura blinked, hoping to avoid the tears that were filling her eyes, but they escaped to roll down her cheeks as Harry nodded to the Judge that he was ready to continue the ceremony. "Repeat after me…"
She managed to fight more tears as Harry placed the ring on her finger, bending to kiss her hand after doing so. "In as much as Harry and Laura have sworn to each other in the presence of these witnesses and by the giving and receiving of rings, I now pronounce that they are husband and wife. You can kiss her now," he told Harry.
This kiss was long enough that the men were looking at their watch, at anything and everything, while the women sighed with envy. Only Danny's "Yuck!" caused the kiss to end, and everyone started to laugh.
***
It was almost midnight before Laura and Harry were able to head up to their bedroom through a shower of rice just outside of the house. At the bottom step, they stopped to embrace and exchange kisses. Finally Harry lifted her into his arms and carried her upstairs while Laura's fingers tangled in his hair. Inside of the room, he slowly returned her to her feet, his back to the door as he kicked it closed.
"How did you sleep last night?" he asked.
"Like a baby," she answered. "I guess that means I don't need you around after all," she mused, her fingers giving lie to her words as they worked to unfasten the buttons on his white shirt.
"Sounds as though you lost our little wager, Mrs. Steele," he told her.
"So I did… "
***
Downstairs, the Malcolms departed, with Danny and Donald helping to load the keyboard back into the station wagon. Then Donald and the children left as well. "Will you be much longer?" Donald asked Frances.
"I'm just going to help Mother clear up this mess," she told him. "The girls are exhausted, and I'm sure Danny will crash soon as well, so they need to be at home to take their baths and get into bed."
"You should tell Daniel good-bye," Abigail reminded him. "I'll be driving him to the airport tomorrow afternoon."
"Hope we'll see you again soon, Daniel," Donald said, shaking the other man's hand. "It was a pleasure to meet you."
"Same for me," Daniel acknowledged. "Frances, you needn't stay," he continued. "I can assist your mother with clearing-up. I'm sure the children would appreciate your being at home."
"He's right Frances," Abigail agreed. "Go on home. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Call me when you get home from the airport to let me know you made it there and back safely."
"I will, dear. Goodnight."
The two women embraced, and Frances smiled at Daniel. "Have a safe trip back to London, Daniel."
"Thank you. I'm sure I shall." He was surprised when she gave him a quick hug before following her husband and children. Once they were gone, he began to roll up his shirt sleeves as he turned to Abigail. "Where do you suggest we begin?"
***
"I almost didn't go through with it," Laura told Harry later as they lay in bed.
"What changed your mind?" he wanted to know.
"Mother. She made me realize that even if we didn't get married, it wouldn't change my feelings if you were suddenly gone. I'd feel the same either way."
"I must remember to thank your mother for that."
She looked up at him, her head resting on his shoulder. "And thank you for what you said during the ceremony."
"It was from my heart," he promised.
"I know. Is there anymore champagne?" she asked. They had been surprised by the magnum sitting in an ice bucket with two glasses.
"Indeed," he assured her. "We need to remember to thank Daniel for it," he said, leaving her long enough to refill the glasses and bring them back to the bed. "What should we drink to this time?"
"Let's see: we've toasted Mother, and Daniel, and Frances -"
"The Malcolms," Harry added. "How about the future?"
"To the future," Laura agreed, clinking her glass to his. Maybe being Mrs. Steele wouldn't be so bad - but she winced internally at the idea. "Harry," she said after taking a sip of the bubbly liquid.
"Hmm?" he asked, laying back against the headboard.
"Would you mind terribly if I decided to be Laura Holt-Steele instead of Laura Steele?"
With steadied deliberation, Harry set his glass onto the nightstand before doing the same to hers. Taking her hands in his, he kissed each one. "Laura, my love, I don't care what you call yourself, as long as you're by my side," he stated, slowly pulling her so that she was perched astride his hips.
"Always," she promised, leaning forward to capture his lips…
To Part 3