Captain Day cleared her throat, drawing my attention to her.

“I understand that we’re doing the truncated version?” She addressed the question to me, her brown eyes smiling and friendly.

I nodded then glanced to Alex. But Alex wasn’t looking at Captain Day.

Oh, no.

Alex was looking at my hoochie outfit.

Oh, yes.

“Alex,” I said gently.

“Hmm? What?” His eyes snapped to mine.

“Truncated version okay with you?”

“Yeah. Sounds good.” He shifted a step closer, as though compelled, and reached for my hands. It was then that I noticed the small, crocheted flower pinned to his shirt. I glanced at Janie and she shook her head, pointed at Nico.

I shifted my attention, snagged Nico’s gaze over Alex’s shoulder. He, of course, grinned and winked at me. Ah…Nicoletta.

“Let’s get started.” Captain Day glanced at us both then addressed our assembled friends, reciting the ceremonial words that she must’ve memorized after years of officiating.

I should have been paying attention to those words, letting them make an imprint, marking their meaning, remembering them for posterity. But I wasn’t. Instead, as I held Alex’s loving gaze, I was concentrating on not crying and keeping my chin from wobbling into oblivion. I marveled at how much emotion I felt, how strong was my urge to both laugh and cry. It felt completely crazy-town and wonderful.

Captain Day reached the portion of the ceremony dedicated to the vows and asked for the rings. I shook my head and opened my mouth to explain that we had no rings when Nico stepped forward, cleared his throat, and placed two simple gold bands in the captain’s hand. I kept forgetting that he used to be a Boy Scout—always prepared.

“Now, Sandra….” Captain Day turned to me and handed me Alex’s ring. “Repeat after me.”

I squeezed Alex’s hands and interrupted. “Do you mind if I say something else instead? I mean, I don’t have vows written, but I’d like to wing it, if you don’t mind.”

The captain gave me a polite smile and nodded. “Feel free.”

I turned back to Alex. My hands rested in his, and he rubbed light circles over the backs of my knuckles. He was watching me with an expression of half apprehension and half amusement. I cleared my throat, moved a fraction of a step closer to him, and unleashed a ginormous smile.

“Alexander Greene—I think that’s the first time I’ve called you by your full name. Anyway, Alexander Greene….” I gathered a deep breath. “I am stupid in love with you. What I mean is that I have been made stupid by how much I want, need, and love you.”

His eyes moved between mine—searching, raw, fierce—and his expression became sober.

I continued. “You are remarkable and extraordinary.” My chin wobbled, and I tried to ignore the crack in my voice. “Not because of what you’ve lived through or what you’ve accomplished. You are remarkable because of who you are, right now, right here, in this moment. I love your stubbornness….”

He gently shook his head, rolled his eyes—but I saw that his gaze shone as it returned mine.

“…And your cleverness, your generosity, and your kindness. You are remarkable because you are the most honorable person I know; and you’re the strongest, and also the strangest.”

His smile in response was small and fleeting as I finished my vows. “I want to know you, to love you, to support you, and to cherish you. I want to be—just be—with you, always, for the rest of my life.”

I slipped his ring on his finger and had to press my lips together to keep from making the ugly cry face; two fat tears rolled down my cheeks. Alex smiled at me, and his eyes followed the trail of my tears. My neck and cheeks heated; my heart galloped in my chest. He stepped forward and wiped the tracks of moisture away with the pad of his thumbs.

“You’re so lovely,” he whispered, so that only I could hear, and then he stepped away.

His touch was excruciating and heartbreaking in its devotion and reverence. I couldn’t fathom loving him more.

Alex twisted to one side to accept my ring from Captain Day. He then turned back to me, his eyes no longer shining.

They were steady and focused, intense and sincere.

He said, “I’m not used to talking to people unless it’s about Indian food.”

This statement earned him a few light laughs and chuckles. I sniffled, thankful for the humorous reprieve from my upwelling of wifely feels. However, Alex’s expression remained earnest, solemn. His eyes never left mine, and I wondered if he were even aware of the others in the room.

He said, “Sandra Elise Fielding,” then gave me a moment to react to the knowledge that—despite my never having shared it with him—he knew my middle name. I guess that’s what I get for marrying a hacker.

Holding me with his eyes and heart, Alex said, “You’ve shown me joy where before I saw only despair. You’ve taught me hope where before I knew only hopelessness. I may be broken, but all my pieces are yours. And I’ll work every day of my life to deserve you.”

I inhaled a shaky breath as he pushed the ring on my third finger. As it fit into place, I succumbed to an eruption of indefinable, exquisite feelings and completely surrendered to the ugly cry. Tears leaked unabated from my eyes, and my breath was plagued with chokes and sobs. I was ridiculous.

Alex, looking only sublimely pleased with himself, and with no trace of liquid emotion, held my face between his hands and kissed my eyes and cheeks. Then he pulled me into his embrace, wrapped his arms around me, and held me against his chest for the remainder of the ceremony.

I heard no other words spoken. I didn’t want to, because I was listening to the beating of his heart, and life was good.

***

The bride wore black leather pants and a red, V-neck halter-top that made her boobs look boss.

The groom wore black pants and a black T-shirt that said, I married Sandra Fielding, and all I got was this lousy T-shirt.

They were married aboard a dinner cruise liner on Lake Michigan by a female boat captain who was also a Unitarian minister.

The bouquet was made of skeins of yarn bound and tied together with white ribbon. It was caught by Kat Manning. The garter—a quickly assembled band of crochet—was caught by Daniel O’Connor.

Their first dance was a karaoke version of Shakira’s Whenever, Wherever sung by the bridesmaids and matrons—Janie, Elizabeth, Ashley, Fiona, Marie, and Kat.

The apparent and contagious happiness of the couple and their devotion to each other was remarked upon by friends and strangers alike.

When they departed to Cloud City, that unattainable apartment in the sky, Sandra Fielding and Alex Greene entered it as partners in actions, words, crimes, and deeds. And most of all, in love.

CHAPTER 28

Wednesday’s Horoscope: You might find yourself frustrated today by your inability to help someone close to you. You can make a breakthrough if you remember that, sometimes, being yourself is more helpful than being an expert.

Alex was asleep. In bed. Next to me. And we were married.

Life was so very, very good.

I took advantage of his slumber and stole into the bathroom to freshen up. Yes, we were husband and wife, and he was going to witness my crusty eyes and drooly face on more than one occasion. But it didn’t need to be the first morning of our marriage.

I rummaged through an overnight bag full of supplies that Janie had left in the apartment—basic hygiene products—plus some clothes for Alex and me. The clothes must’ve belonged to Quinn because they were made for a tall, muscular guy. As I compared Quinn’s shirt to Alex’s discarded one on the floor I realized, with astonishment, that the clothes would likely be a perfect fit.

Janie’s clothes, however, were a size too big and three lengths too tall. I opted for a men’s T-shirt that fell to my mid thighs then silently crept back into the room.

“You’re up early.”

I started at the sound of Alex’s voice, gripped my chest. I wasn’t scared, just startled. After a deep breath, I quickly recovered.

“Sorry, did I wake you?” I gripped the T-shirt hem, tugged it a little lower. His eyes followed the movement.

“Why are you wearing clothes?”

“Because.” I cleared my throat. “Because I was going to retrieve something from the living room and didn’t want to walk around here naked.”

“Oh. Is someone else here?”

“No.”

His eyebrows arched and he tucked his hand behind his head, propping himself upward. “Then, again, why are you wearing clothes?”

I slanted my eyes at him, tried to appear displeased; but the lovely heat that spread through my chest and up my cheeks gave me away. Regardless, I was on a mission. There would be plenty of na**d time in the coming years.

In the coming years….

I smiled.

“I’ll be right back. Don’t move.”

I darted from the room. Fairly certain I’d left the item I desired next to the front door, I quickly maneuvered to the entryway. The reusable grocery bag was sitting where I’d left it, and Alex’s gift was inside it.

I grabbed the wrapped object and sprinted back to the master bedroom, bounding in happily and claiming a seat at the end of the bed. I wanted a good view when he opened it.