“It’s okay. How’s the shoulder?”
Jared grinned at me for a moment and then intertwined his fingers in mine. “Did something happen to my shoulder?”
“Is that like the tree fal ing in the woods making a sound question?” I asked, watching the large diamond glitter on my finger.
Jared’s bel owing laughter fil ed the room. “Yeah, something like that. Claire wil be here soon with Mom. They’re bringing over some magazines, catalogs, things like that.”
I smiled and ran my fingers through his wet hair. “You keep me fairly entertained.”
“They’re bringing wedding stuff. Lil ian has resorted to harassment to get me to let her come here. I made her wait until you were a little stronger before she ascended the loft with swaths and centerpiece options. I’m afraid it’s just given her time to col ect more supplies.”
“You didn’t tel them about the island, did you?” I accused.
Jared squint one eye. “I think I’m going to need back up for that.”
“You’re letting them come over here thinking we’re planning a big wedding? Jared!”
He cringed at my reaction. “It’s okay! We’l explain it together.”
I rol ed my eyes and nervously twisted my engagement ring around my finger. “If I can tel Cynthia I’m getting married before I graduate col ege, you can tel your mom we’re going simple.”
Jared looked down and smiled. “You used to do that with Jack’s ring. It’s funny to think this time last year I would smile when I’d see you fidgeting with the Peridot. Now you’re twisting your engagement ring around when you’re nervous. It’s very….surreal,” he mused.
“Tel me about it,” I grumbled.
Jared nodded once. “Cranky when planning weddings...check.”
I pressed my lips together, trying not to smile.
Jared pul ed my hand to his lips and kissed my fingers tenderly. “It wil be fine. I promise.”
The sheer white curtains swayed lazily back and forth with the summer breeze. The wal s of the loft were now in beiges and whites, and when the sun filtered through the windows, everything seemed to glow. Light seemed to engulf Jared, and I smiled at the halo it created around him. His eyes were a soft blue-grey, cloud free since he’d brought me home from the hospital.
Seconds later there was a knock at the door. Claire, Lil ian and Bex walked through, arms ful of sacks and thick catalogs.
Jared smiled at the sight of his family, and then laughed when he turned to see my overwhelmed expression.
“Be brave, sweetheart. Show no fear,” he whispered into my ear before affectionately greeting his mother.
“Nina!” Lil ian gushed. “You look so much better, honey. You had us so worried!”
Claire set white sacks on top of a hot pink duffle bag while Lil ian straightened a stack of bridal magazines on the coffee table.
Lil ian smiled as she looked around the room. “Oh…Oh! I just love what you’ve done in here! It’s so light and peaceful! I’ve been tel ing Jared for years to brighten this place up and you manage to talk him into it within weeks!” She winked. “That a girl, Nina.”
“He practical y forced me to choose a new color palette and shop for new décor. He was sure I didn’t like it before.” I smiled warmly at Jared who watched me with a soft expression.
“New color palette and décor?” Bex snorted.
Jared lunged at him and wrestled him to the floor, putting him in a headlock and rubbing his knuckles against Bex’s head.
“You’l understand one of these days, punk,” Jared said, laughing.
Laughter fil ed the loft as we watched them wrestle on the floor. Bex made an impressive effort, but he was unsuccessful in escaping Jared’s grip.
Jared final y stood up, bringing Bex with him by the col ar. Jared hooked Bex’s neck with the crook of his arm and squeezed, and Bex threw his arm up and over his big brother’s shoulder.
“Have you seen this one, Nina?” Lil ian asked, grabbing a magazine from the top of the stack. She licked her thumb and flipped to an earmarked page.
The picture was of a woman standing on a beach, the bright blue sky and azure waters behind her, looking quite bored and desperately in need of a meal. She wore a bright white v-neck dress, clinging to the edges of her shoulders. The bodice was gathered from shoulder to the silver beaded empire waist. The chiffon and silk dropped straight down into a flowing a-line skirt.
“It’s perfect,” I said, sighing over its beauty.
Jared peered over from the end of the couch and Claire covered his eyes with her hand. “You can’t look!”
“Wel , you’re going to be easy to shop for!” Lil ian giggled. “Does your mother have any favorites?”
“Cynthia doesn’t…do weddings,” I said with a smirk.
Jared pul ed his sister’s hand from his eyes and smiled at me. “You like that one?”
“Wel , I’d have to try it on.”
“Oh my, you wil look so beautiful in that dress, Nina.” Lil ian said as she hugged me to her, kissing the top of my head.
“Does it go with a smal white chapel on a tiny island off Nicaragua?” Jared asked.
I looked up at him, trying to keep the corners of my mouth from turning up. “I think so.”
“What?” Lil ian asked, looking at Jared with a confused half-smile.
“When we went to Little Corn during Spring Break, we found a little chapel on the island. That’s where the ceremony—the very smal ceremony—wil be. It only seats about fifty...possibly less.”
Lil ian looked at me with surprise.
Claire gasped and then laughed, her mouth formed into an ‘O’. “You are so dead, Jared!”
“A Nicaraguan island?” Lil ian said softly. “Okay…we’l make it work,” she said with a sweet smile.
“You have to take a boat to get there, Mom,” Jared added.
Lil ian looked at Jared and then at me, trying to find words. “Wedding guests taking a plane to Nicaragua, and then a boat to a tiny island with huts for accommodations,” she thought aloud.
I shut the magazine as Jared walked over to his mother, patting her shoulder. “It gives us a good excuse to keep the guest list to a minimum.”
Lil ian’s eyes brightened. “There’s always the reception,” she chirped, thumbing through another magazine.
Jared laughed at his mother’s unfailing optimism.
Lil ian hugged me again and stood up, hooking her arm around the shoulders of her youngest son. “Bex has an early training session in the morning. Let me know if you need anything, Nina. I love you both,” she smiled.
Claire shook her head at her mother with amused affection and then looked at me. “She lives for this stuff.”
“Don’t think you’re going to get away with anything like this, young lady,” Lil ian cal ed to Claire. “Plan on a ridiculously lavish church wedding, now.”
Claire waved to her mother, and I could see her expression turn to unease as I looked down to flip through more pages of the magazine.
“What is it, Claire?” Jared asked.
“We left a few loose ends at the restaurant. Those men are loyal to Grahm, Jared.”
After several moments of silence, I looked up. Jared’s expression was impatient. “This could have waited.”
“I disagree,” Claire said in a concerned tone. “Bex wil be watching Ryan for me. I won’t let them come after Nina again.” She looked at me with a maternal softness.
“What do you plan to do?” I asked, feeling a twinge in my chest.
“I’m going to find every person involved, every enemy of Jack’s, every cop that is wil ing to avenge Grahm’s death…and I’m going to eliminate the threat.” She looked at Jared. “It’s what Dad would have done.”
Jared looked at his baby sister with an appreciative smile. “And when do you plan on doing this?”
Claire walked over to the table and unzipped the hot pink duffle bag. Within seconds, she molded a rifle from several pieces and then clicked on the scope, swinging the thick black strap over her shoulder.
“When are you coming back?” I asked, leaning forward in reaction to her apparent departure.
“When the job’s done,” she smiled, loading her holsters. She lifted her foot to the table and twirled a large knife around her finger, shoving it into a case in her thick, black boot.
Jared rested his hands gently on her shoulders, kissing her forehead. “Watch your six,” he said, joining me on the couch.
“Claire….” I said, feeling my eyes gloss over.
She laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous. I never miss.” Her eyes became unfocused and her expression turned menacing. “They ended their lives when they aimed at my sister.”
She pul ed her sunglasses over her eyes, and her straight, platinum bangs fel over the top of the rims. Walking to the door, she gripped the strap of her rifle with one hand, and twisted the knob with the other.
“Gotta go to work,” Claire smiled wickedly, and then shut the door.