The Shadows Fall: Chapter 7

The sun was shining into the bedroom, as they woke, both of them seeming to stir at the same time. She sat up straight up, "Your tux."

He rubbed his eyes, "What about it?

"Did I get it?"

"I don't know, did you? It's a little late now, but it's all right if you didn't. I'll go borrow John McBain's again."

She gave him the eye roll and kissed his cheek. "I have to say something, Mr. Manning."

"Sure, what?"

"You were fantastic last night.  You're an amazing lover."

He couldn't help but love the flattery. "You weren't so bad either." He stopped, looking at her, no make up, except for a little smear of mascara under each eye, no clothes, and rumpled hair.  She could not have been more stunning to him.  "Today's the day, Blair. Today you get that Manning name back. For good."

She shivered with excitement. "I'm so grateful for that. Blair Manning. I always loved that name. Remember when you got me that saddle, as a gift, and it said 'Blair Daimler' and I was disappointed?"

"Again, I remind you, I remember every little bit. I spent eight years memorizing it all."

She felt wistful whenever he mentioned his abduction, but she would never stop him from expressing it.  The sorrow he felt and had shared with her since his return was at times daunting for him.  His missing his children growing up was a very real and haunting presence in his spirit.  She honored all of his thoughts, fears and dreams, and just then realized that it made her what she was fully going to be, possibly for the first time: his wife.

"I'll go check on it.  Do you have anything to do?"

"Uh, yeah, ya think?"

She laughed.  "Well get going.  Only 3 hours until show time.  Going to shower."  

She kissed him on the cheek, and he grabbed her arm. "I love you, so much."

She answered, "I love you, too," and went to get herself ready for first part of the day.

While she showered, he was on the phone, calling all over the state and beyond, organizing last minute details.  It had to be perfect and he didn't care about the cost.  He had only spent a hundred thousand dollars so far, and to him, that was not really much.  Anything that came up, he solved it with dollars.  "Guess that's what being rich means," he said, "never having to say no."

His particular concern rested with Key West.  He needed everything there to be just as he had described and no different.  That arrangement in Florida had cost the most of everything, but he knew it was worth it.  Nothing was too much, too elaborate, too perfect for his woman.  Nothing.  He heard her singing in the shower, "That's why darling, it's incredible..." 

Nothing could be good enough for her, my one true babe.  God, is it really here?  Is all the trying and losing and fighting finally over?  Well, not the fighting, we'll always disagree on things, argue...make up.

He continued to access his tablet, organizing the last minute details and emailing his demands and paying bills electronically.  And, she continued to sing to his heart from the shower.

***

"Blair, our ride is here, we have to go?"  He called to her from the penthouse living room.  As always, he was standing before the windows, surveying the city.  Without much noise, she descended the stairs.  He turned and froze.  She was radiant.  Her gown was a replica of the one she wore over fifteen years before, when they were married in St. James Church.  It was different also, as if bringing both worlds together, both parts of their lives.  It was golden; ivory satin with a thin gold layer of organza over it, and sparkled in the light.  All of the accents were a beautiful red; deep pomegranate and contrasted the gold beautifully.  His eyes watered.  He extended his hand.

She took it.  "Do you like me, Mr. Manning." He was visibly moved. Kissing her hand, he looked into her green eyes, vulnerable in his love for her.  She took her hands, and framed his face on either side, using her thumbs to erase the tears under both eyes.  "You are so handsome.  You look wonderful.  I am so proud to become Mrs. Manning today."

She wore no veil, and had her hair in an upsweep similar to that of the gold balloon wedding that he had planned for them almost 20 years before.  And like before, when he married her at St. James, sparse ringlets grazed her collarbone.  He didn't know what to say, but realized at that moment that his surprises throughout the rest of the day would be in perfect sync with where her heart and head were - they had seen this day the same in their minds.  He smiled with this knowledge and kept those secrets to share with his bride later.

"What?"  She asked.

"Nothing, except you.  You make me smile.  We have to go, our ride is waiting.  We're lucky, a beautiful day."

"We're lucky," she repeated.  They left the penthouse arm in arm.

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