Sean's Reckoning (16 page)

Sean sighed. “Then there’s nothing I can say?”

“I can’t think of anything,” she said.

“I guess there is a bright side,” he said finally. “At least Hank won’t win a few hundred bucks from the guys at the station.”

She stared at him blankly. “What does our wedding date have to do with Hank winning a bunch of money?”

Sean hesitated, then shrugged. “Now don’t get too upset, but he’s got a bet going at the station. He thinks
I don’t know about it, but nothing stays secret down there for long. He bet that you and I would wind up married by fall.”

“He what?”

“I told you not to get upset,” he scolded. “All the other guys thought it was a sucker bet. Hell, even I thought it was a sucker bet. I’d have put my money on Hank and Ruby getting to the altar a whole lot faster that the two of us.” He shook his head in disgust. “I can’t believe those two are still dillydallying around. Anybody with two eyes can see they’re meant for each other.”

Suddenly Deanna saw the humor in the situation. “And if we’re not married by fall,
this
fall, Hank loses, right?”

“Exactly.”

“Maybe I should re-think this,” she said, her expression turning thoughtful. “Winter officially begins December twenty-first.” She snuggled just a little closer to this man who’d taught her to dream again. “I know it’s not quite as soon as you were thinking, and it’s a whole lot sooner than I was planning, but actually I’ve always thought it would be wonderful to get married on New Year’s Eve.”

“New Year’s Eve,” he repeated slowly, his gaze locked with hers. “
This
New Year’s Eve?”

“Seems like the perfect time to commit to a fresh start, don’t you think?” she asked solemnly, trying to keep a grin from spreading across her face.

For a minute Sean seemed to be absorbing the comment, interpreting it, and then he let out a whoop. Deanna wasn’t entirely sure if Sean’s delight was at
her sneaky way of winning the bet or at his success in getting her to say yes to a very short engagement.

Then his mouth was covering hers, and none of that mattered. In fact, she didn’t have any more doubts about anything at all.

H
ank was still grumbling about having been cheated out of hundreds of dollars by a few short weeks, but he was decked out in a tuxedo and standing beside Sean as they waited for Ruby and Deanna to walk down the aisle of a church in the neighborhood. They’d considered the same church where Ryan and Maggie had wed, but the reality was that Father Francis’s hands were tied, because Deanna was not only divorced, but Protestant.

Once the old priest had heard the whole story, though, he’d said, “That doesn’t mean I can’t participate in a service held at another church, if that’s what you two would like.”

Sean had grinned at his clever way of skirting the rules. It was little wonder Ryan and Maggie adored the man.

Now, as the organist began to play, Sean’s gaze shot
to the back of the church. Kevin appeared first, wearing a tuxedo that was already wrinkled, a cowlick of hair sticking straight up despite the gel Sean had used to tame it. When he spotted Sean, a grin split his face and he started forward, holding tightly to a pillow bearing the rings as if he’d been entrusted with a priceless piece of fragile crystal. Sean gave him an encouraging wink.

Beside Sean, Hank sucked in a breath as Ruby appeared in a gown of black velvet that clung to every curve and yet managed to have a totally proper and regal look to it. Sean knew that an engagement ring was all but burning a hole in the pocket of Hank’s tux. If he was any judge of anything having to do with love, Ruby was bound to say yes. New Year’s Eve was going to be a night to remember for all of them.

Then Deanna appeared, framed by splashes of red and white poinsettias, her white satin gown shimmering in the candlelight. Every single thought in Sean’s head vanished at his first glimpse of her. She was stunningly beautiful, but there was an unmistakable hint of sadness in her eyes that he suspected only he could see. He also thought he knew the cause.

He held his breath before finally catching a movement just to her side. He heard a whisper, saw her gaze shift and a look of wonder spread across her face. Until that moment Sean hadn’t been sure he’d done the right thing. Now he knew he had.

A tall, distinguished-looking man stepped into place beside Deanna and held out his arm. After the slightest hint of hesitation Deanna linked her arm through her father’s, and together they walked toward the front of the church.

When they reached Sean’s side, her father, his eyes
misty, bent and kissed her, then placed her hand in Sean’s. His gaze held Sean’s for just a minute and then he moved to take a seat beside a woman who was unashamedly crying in the front row.

Apparently hearing the faint sound, Deanna gasped. Her gaze flew toward her mother, and for an instant Sean thought she was going to burst into tears, too, but she rallied and turned back to face him, her eyes shining.

“Thank you,” she whispered. “I know you did this.”

“I wanted this wedding to be perfect.” Then he leaned closer to whisper, “Don’t cry. People will think you don’t really want to marry me.”

She blinked back the threatening tears and smiled. “Better?”

“Beautiful,” he assured her. “The most beautiful bride ever.”

The service went by in a blur. Sean spoke the vows he’d written himself, amazed that he didn’t stumble even once, not even over the promise of forever. In fact, believing in an eternity rich with love was becoming almost second nature to him.

Deanna’s voice was steady and clear as she promised to be steadfast in her love. “Nothing, not sorrow, not crises, will shake the foundation of the family I am committing to give you today. I take you as my husband, my son takes you as his father, from now through all time.”

Sean hadn’t expected his heart to be so full. He knew as well as anyone that words could be too easily spoken, that promises could just as easily be broken, but his faith in Deanna and this marriage was strong.

Then the minister stepped aside, and Father Francis
rested his hand on theirs. “I ask God to bless this union,” he said. “Now and for all time.” His mouth curved into a serene smile as he added, “And I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

“And son,” Kevin chimed in.

The old man grinned. “And son,” he added, putting his blessing on the adoption that would officially take place as soon as the papers could be signed.

Sean hoisted Kevin into his arms, then turned to take Deanna’s hand for the rush down the aisle and into a future that looked brighter than anything he’d ever imagined.

Deanna still couldn’t believe that Sean had somehow managed to convince her parents to be a part of this day. If he’d searched the world’s finest stores, he couldn’t have found a more perfect wedding gift.

There were still a lot of old wounds that would need time to heal, but this was a start, and she owed it all to a man who had virtually no relationship with his own family. Maybe no one could understand better than Sean how bereft she’d felt all these years. She hadn’t understood it herself until she’d looked up into her father’s face as he’d joined her for the walk down the aisle. The emotions had almost overwhelmed her.

“You’ve married a fine man,” her father said approvingly, his gaze shifting to the other side of the room where Sean, Ryan and Maggie were huddled together. “He made it clear to me that this was a chance to make things right between us and that if I blew it, I didn’t deserve another chance.”

“He does tend to be plainspoken,” Deanna said, amazed that her strong-willed father had taken such an ultimatum so well. Perhaps he’d been waiting for
an excuse to mend fences and Sean had simply given one to him.

Beside Deanna, her mother seemed less impressed. She was gazing around Joey’s restaurant with a disdainful lift to her chin. “I just can’t imagine what he was thinking, picking a place like this for the wedding reception.”

Deanna laughed. “Don’t blame Sean. I insisted on it. Joey and Paulie would have been heartbroken if I’d had it anywhere else. Besides, the price was right. They refused to let us pay for a thing.”

“We would have—” her mother began, only to have Deanna’s father cut her off in midsentence.

“This is what Deanna wanted,” he reminded her. “It’s her wedding.”

Her mother sighed heavily, but a glance in Sean’s direction brought a half smile to her lips. “He is a handsome young man.”

“Better than that, Mom. He’s a good man,” Deanna said. “If you’ll excuse me, it’s been too long since I’ve let him steal a kiss.”

The truth was she was worried about the intense expression on Sean’s face as his conversation with Ryan and the obviously pregnant and glowing Maggie went on. Deanna slipped up beside him and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Everything okay?”

Ryan’s expression immediately turned guilty. “Sorry. Sean and I have been discussing family business. It could have waited.”

“Don’t be silly.” She studied her husband’s stony expression. “Is this about Michael?”

Sean nodded. “Ryan’s located him.”

“That’s wonderful,” she said, but neither brother
seemed to agree with her. She looked at her sister-in-law. “Isn’t it?”

“He was injured in the line of duty a week ago,” Maggie said. “He’s in a hospital in San Diego. He hasn’t regained consciousness.”

“Then go to him,” Deanna said at once. “Tonight, if there’s a flight available.”

Sean searched her face. “You wouldn’t mind?”

“We’re not taking an official honeymoon until later, anyway. This is important. You need to go.”

Ryan seemed to be waiting for Sean’s response. At Sean’s nod, a weight seemed to lift off his shoulders. “I’ll make the arrangements. You enjoy your party and see to your guests. As soon as I have flight information, I’ll find you.”

When Ryan and Maggie had gone, Sean stood looking at her as if he couldn’t get enough of the sight. “You’re remarkable. You know that, don’t you?”

“Why? Today you gave me back my old family and started a new one with me. How could I not do anything necessary to see that you get yours back, too?”

“I love you, Deanna Devaney.”

“I love you, too.” She touched a hand to his cheek. “And when you see your brother again, tell him that we can’t wait for him to come home.”