Page 133 of Once a Hero

But today was a happy day. A joyful day.

A peaceful day as a man and woman married in the presence of the Lord.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” The pastor closed his Bible.

Jake reached for Beatrice, as though they had all the time in the world, and that the fifty guests had no problem waiting. Slowly, he pushed aside her veil, which covered part of her face. He ran the back of his fingers across her chin.

Beatrice smiled. She did not want to get caught on camera saying, “Hurry up, will you?”

Jake found his way to her lips, a gentle touch that meant much to Beatrice. He had always been gentle with her. Always.

God knew the kind of man she needed in her life.

With her job as a treasure hunter, she had to go to some rough places to find clues and dig up artifacts. When she came home, she wanted to rest and relax and have everything quiet and just so.

Now that she would be at home for a long time, she wanted to continue living quietly with as little stress as possible.

God had sent a man who was calm in crisis, collected in conversation, and overall a charming hero for her daily life.

“Ladies and gentlemen, may I introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Jake and Beatrice Kessler.”

Yes, Beatrice had decided to take her husband’s last name. After all, she had been a Wright, Peterson, and Glynn.What’s a fourth last name?

Everyone cheered and clapped as Beatrice and Jake waltzed down the aisle. They waved to Jake’s parents sitting in front, and then to Jake’s FBI friends. They waved to all the employees at Glynn Research, Inc. And they waved to—

There, sitting in the back row, were two people in wigs. Of course they were wigs. Beatrice could spot that nose and those eyes anywhere. He should have used a prosthetic nose.

Dad.

Beatrice smiled broadly. In her mind, she suspected that he had sneaked out of WITSEC to be here today.

But who was that gorgeous fifty-something woman sitting next to him? She seemed to have a beach tan. Her arms were covered with freckles. And she had a hunk of a diamond on her ring finger.

Seriously, Dad?

Beatrice squeezed Jake’s arm. He turned and nodded to Dad.

“Stay,” Beatrice mouthed. She wanted to cry. “Please stay.”

Slowly, Dad nodded.

And he did.

The reception was indoors because of the threat of rain, and half the FBI agents had left for work. Jake’s brothers were the life of the party. His sister merely sat to one side and kept busy on her phone.

Dad stopped by the wedding to give Beatrice a hug and to tell her that he had eloped with Amelia.

“Eloped?” Beatrice was stunned.

“At my age, there’s no time to plan too much,” Dad explained. “Better use the money for long honeymoons.”

“Priorities.”

“Exactly.”

“Well, congratulations!” Beatrice hugged her new stepmother.

“Before we go, I want to leave you with this.” Dad handed an envelope to Beatrice.

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