***
The wedding takes place in the garden gazebo, a judge presiding, Tess and Gil witnessing along with Carol and my VP, Peter. Lucy is the bridesmaid Sabrina chose, and David reluctantly bears the rings in his white tux. I, too, am wearing a white tux with a royal blue bow tie while Sabrina is wearing a simple, high-waisted, white chiffon dress, a sparkling, royal blue sash wrapped around her waist.
Simple, but stunning.
She’s no longer wearing her contacts, her bluish-gray eyes as beautiful and mesmerizing, if not more so, than her black ones. Her hair is still copper, though, since she said she’s become used to it and for the first time, it’s flowing free from a crown of blue and white flowers, the tips curled and bouncing lightly off her shoulders as she walks. With each step, the folds of her dress drape around her legs, the hem rustling atop the grass. When she looks at me, her lips, coated with her new Estee Lauder lipstick, curve up into a smile. I can’t help but smile as well, my heart drumming.
I know this may not be a real wedding in a sense – yes, there’s a judge but it’s only as real as those on TV reality shows. Even so, I can’t help but feel like a lucky, proud groom.
Damn, she’s one hot bride.
Gil seems to think so, too, as he shakes my hand and puts his arm around me after the wedding.
“Look at that,” he says as he looks at her. “Who would have guessed she was your son’s nanny?”
I grin.
“Hell, if all nannies are that hot, I should sign up for one, too.”
“You need a kid first before you can get a nanny,” I tell him. “Remember that.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“And stop staring at my wife.”
My wife. I can’t believe I get to say that again, and I must admit it feels good.
“What did I say, huh?” He nudges me. “Didn’t I say you were going to end up here?”
“Yeah, you did. But remember, it’s not like that.”
I’ve told Gil the truth, of course.
“Whatever. If I were you, I’d start rethinking that.” He winks.
Just then, Sabrina approaches us. “Hey.”
I hold her arm. “Sabrina, let me introduce you to Gilbert Callaghan, my best man. Gil, this is Mrs. Sabrina Brewster.”
“Now, that has got a nice ring to it,” Gil says, taking Sabrina’s hand. “Though not as nice as that ring on your finger.” He kisses her hand. “Pleasure to finally meet you.”
“The pleasure is mine,” Sabrina says. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
Gil grins. “I’m sure it feels nice to finally have a face to go with those amazing qualities, which is exactly how I feel about you.”
“Charming,” Sabrina says. “But I think I’ve rather developed a dislike for men with honey-coated tongues. Since you and Randall are friends and I guess that makes us friends, why don’t we just cut the bullshit and stop flattering each other?”
I laugh.
“The rose has thorns,” Gil says.
And yet, she’s never shown those to me. Is it because I was her boss or is it because of another reason?
“It looks like you and Gil will get along,” I tell Sabrina as Gil goes off to talk to someone else.
She nods then looks around. “Where’s David?”
I sigh. “He’s gone inside with Lucy. He said he wasn’t feeling well.”
“Really?” Sabrina looks concerned. “Then I should…”
I pull her arm. “He’s just acting up because he still doesn’t want us to get married. I told him he had to be at the wedding, but since it’s over I guess he left.”
Sabrina frowns. “I really wish he was happy for us. Have you told him the truth?”
I shake my head. “No. He doesn’t really want to talk to me.”
“Or me,” Sabrina says sadly. “Do you think maybe we should have?”
“I doubt it would have made a difference.”
“Yeah.”
“He’ll be fine,” I assure her. “He’ll come around. Now, don’t frown. It’s our wedding day.”
She gives a weak smile.
“Congratulations to the bride and groom,” Carol says as she approaches. “I know this isn’t a real wedding and all…”
Sabrina told her the truth, too.
“But I’m still happy. I think this is a good thing.”
“Have you noticed anything suspicious lately?” I ask her.
“None since the hacking.”
“Hacking?”
“Oh. Sabrina didn’t tell you. My computer was hacked.”
“No, she didn’t mention it,” I say, glancing over at Gil.
Was it one of Vince’s men who hacked her computer, or was it one of Gil’s men?
“But don’t you two worry about it. I just know that Vince isn’t going to come close now.”
“I won’t be too sure,” Sabrina says.
“Oh, stop being such a pessimist,” Carol scolds her. “Oh, look at you, from nanny to wife.”
“I’m still David’s nanny,” Sabrina reminds.
“Yes, technically, you still are but now you’re a wife, too.”
“A pretend wife.”
“Oh, shush.” Carol holds a finger to her lips. “Let’s just call it what it is – wife, husband, wedding. Now, you come with me, and I’ll tell you a thing or two about being a wife, hmm?”
As Sabrina and Carol leave, Tess comes to offer me her hand. “I guess congratulations are in order.”
I shrug but shake her hand. “Have you made the arrangements for the announcement in the papers?”
“Yes, I have. Any minute now, I’ll send them the wedding picture I took earlier.” She shows me the picture. “And they’ll publish the announcement of the wedding at least twenty-four hours after.”
“Good.”
I want Vince to know that Sabrina James is no longer available.
“By the way, nice dress,” I tell her, looking at the royal blue fabric.
“Thank you. Didn’t I tell you royal blue was a good color?”
She was the one who suggested it.
“Yes, and you happened to have a dress the exact color.”
She chuckles.
“Oh, and the lipstick looks perfect on Sabrina.”
“Yeah. I think you already told me that a dozen times. Why don’t you stop staring at it and wipe it off her?”
“I’ve kissed her,” I remind her.
“You call that a kiss, Randall Brewster?” she teases me before walking off.
I exhale then gaze in Sabrina’s direction, watching her as she continues to talk to Carol. I do want to kiss her, really kiss her. Hell, I want to do more, much more.
Suddenly, I can’t wait for tonight.