The words punch me in the chest. He’s reaching for the door and I feel a compulsion that has me saying, “It matters. You’re her father. She loves you. And for that reason alone, I’d protect you with my life.” And then, because I’ve seen a few behavior patterns through his communication with Candace, that doesn’t sit right, I add, “But don’t do something stupid and repeat history. Don’t try for a do-over with a new task force. We did it. It went badly. It’s over.”
He glances back at me over his shoulder and says, “I’ll keep that in mind.”
And then he opens the door and disappears into the hallway.
Adam and Adrian step back into the room.
It’s almost time.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Candace
I’m standing in front of the mirror again. And my dress is stunning, the flowers on the skirt and veil even more beautiful today than I remembered in the store.
“The veil.” Linda sighs. “It’s sweeping all the way down to the floor and beyond. It’s just breathtaking.”
There’s a knock on the door. “I’m guessing that will be your father,” Linda says, glancing at Jessica. “Let’s give them a moment alone.”
The door opens and it’s Julie, looking stunning in a pale pink gown. “Your father is waiting to see you, but I just wanted to wish you luck. Lauren is helping at the door or she’d be here, too. And oh my God, you’re beautiful. Savage is going to lose his mind when he sees you.”
“Thank you,” I say, and needing something other than the many guests about to watch me potentially trip down the aisle, I ask, “Me aside for a moment, did you tell Luke about the baby?”
“I did.” She smiles. “And he’s already being a protective papa bear. He’s funny but so very happy. It’s wonderful.”
Linda, Jessica, and I ask her questions for a few minutes but Jessica returns us all to the moment, and me. “Me and my sister will help you get to where you’re going without damaging your gown.”
There’s another knock on the door. My eyes go wide. “Is it time?”
“Not yet,” Julie assures me. “You’re fine on time.”
Julie opens the door and then points at Linda and Jessica to follow her. I frown, confused, as they all wordlessly disappear into the hallway.
That’s when my father steps into the room. Of course, that’s why they left.
“There she is!” he exclaims, shutting the door and looking debonair in his tuxedo, his gray hair neatly groomed, his newly grown goatee rather handsome on him. “My God,” he gushes. “You’re beautiful. Your mother should be here. Damn it, I’m going to cry. Grown men don’t cry.”
“Yes, she should be. And now, you’re going to make me cry and mess up my makeup.”
“Oh no, honey. Don’t you dare cry,” he commands in his best general voice.
I laugh and sober quickly. “I need you to be happy for me. I love him with all my heart.”
“And he loves you. I know. I just saw him. We had a chat.”
“And?”
“And I believe that man would die and come back from the grave and do it again to protect you and keep you happy. I made mistakes, honey. I regret those mistakes. I didn’t want you to end up with a guy like me.”
“Funny. I wanted a guy just like you.”
“I think you did better,” he says, and my heart swells with his approval.
The door opens and Linda announces, “Now, it’s time.”
My heart flutters and butterflies explode in my belly. “Oh gosh. Oh gosh. What if I fall, Dad? What if I trip and fall in front of all of those people?”
“Then I’m quite sure Savage will pick you up and carry you to the front of the church.”
“Rick,” I say. “Today, he’s my Rick.”
“Rick,” he amends.
Jessica rushes into the room and offers me my bouquet of lilacs and lilies. They were my mother’s favorite flowers and that’s why they decorated the entire church. I wanted her with me, with us.
“Rick,” Linda announces, “is already at the front of the church. And he looks handsome.”
Tears burn my eyes and I fight them hard. In a rush of activity, I’m at the entrance to the chapel, and the wedding march music starts. My father offers me his arm. “Ready, princess?”
“Since the moment I met him,” I whisper, accepting his arm and seeking out Rick, who is so far away right now, too far away.
We start walking down the center of the room, and the seats are filled with people. Military friends of my family and his. Doctors from the hospital in San Antonio where Rick started his career. Clients of Walker Security who became Rick’s friends, many of whom are alive today because of him. I don’t know how he can call himself a monster. One day I’ll make him see the truth in himself is much grander.
Finally, I can see the front of the room, where all three of my ladies, and friends, are lined up in a rainbow of silver, pink, and cream, just opposite Rick’s handsome best man and groomsmen. But my focus is on Rick, and the closer I get to him, the calmer I become. But that moment, that moment, where he steps to the center of the aisle to greet me, and our eyes meet, it undoes me in ways I’ve never been undone. My father goes to hand me off and Rick catches me to him and kisses me. The room hums with voices and I laugh. “You weren’t supposed to do that yet.”
“I couldn’t help myself,” he assures me. “You look beautiful, baby.”
“You don’t look so shabby yourself,” I whisper. “I can’t believe we're finally doing this.”
“Oh, we are,” he says, his fingers brushing my cheek. “And I’m a lucky man. I want to make this official before you change your mind.”
“Never, and yes, now.”
And so, we step in front of the priest and the ceremony begins. And when it comes time for our vows, after much debate, Rick and I decided to say only a few short sentences each. Enough to get the point across to each other without the world knowing our private thoughts. The priest explains this to the crowd. Rick goes first. “There’s a song called Love You Like I Used To. I don’t love you like I used to, Candace. I love you more than every single day before.”
Now I tear up because those few words speak so much to our lives we’ve shared together and apart. Now it’s my turn and I say, “You’re a good man, Rick Savage. I know it. Everyone in this church knows it. It is my vow that one day you will know it, too. You make me whole. I need you. Don’t you dare forget that.” And now I’m crying.
Rick kisses me again, and the crowd goes nuts. The priest clears his throat. “Not yet.”
Rick and I laugh, as does everyone else, as he says, “The rings please.”
Eagerly, impatiently, Rick and I exchange rings, and then it’s time to say I do.
“Do you, Rick Savage, take Candace Marks as your lawfully wedded wife?”