Page 64 of The Library on Plum Island
There were those words again, and as soon as Harriet uttered them, Daniella’s heart picked up speed again, waking the flutterings in her stomach. “I know!” She nodded. “Is everyone here and ready?” She made a feeble attempt to change the subject away from love and the wordsreal wedding.
“Yes.” Harriet nodded. “Harley has finished setting up the video feeds, so we are all set to go.”
“It was so nice of Jennifer’s father to do this for us,” Daniella commented, knowing she was stalling for a few seconds to try and calm her nerves. “He’s really come through for us.”
“Andrew Gains is not a bad man,” Harriet remarked. “He’s also trying to make up for lost time and a few decades of pain he caused his two eldest kids.”
“I feel kind of bad, like we’re exploiting that,” Daniella admitted.
“Andrew also wants to catch and put away Ron Jackson and his father,” Harriet pointed out. “So don’t feel bad. If this works and we manage to flush the Jacksons, Andrew gets to take two bad men off the streets.”
“Thank you for making me feel better.” Daniella smiled nervously at Harriet. “If everything’s set, then I’m ready.”
“Let’s do this.” Harriet handed Daniella a bouquet.
Daniella followed Harriet to the room where the wedding was to take place. Her eyes widened when she stepped through the door, and her feet touched a red carpet. It ran from where Daniella entered through the door to where Harley had set up a beautiful arch. Beneath this, Andrew Gains stood in his judicial robes. His face split into a smile as he saw her at the door and indicated to the side of him. Daniella’s head turned to see Harley hit a button on the remote, and the wedding march began.
Daniella looked around the room and saw everyone in attendance. Her eyes widened as the people stood. This was a bigger attendance than Daniella had anticipated.
“Everyone’s attending the wedding?” Daniella whispered to Harriet.
“Yes,” Harriet followed Daniella’s gaze while they waited for Harley, who was acting as the DJ, the best man, and who was going to walk Daniella down the aisle. “Harley set up all these screens so you could see everyone.”
Daniella’s eyes scanned the room, and felt her cheeks heat as all eyes were turned to her.
“Sorry,” Harley said, straightening his pristine tux.
Harriet picked up a basket of rose petals, chuckling. “I’m doubling as the flower girl.”
Daniella couldn’t help the nervous smile that sprung to her lips. She was grateful that Harriet was trying to lighten the mood before walking in front and spreading the petals.
“Ready?” Harley asked, holding out his arm for Daniella, who looped her hand through it and nodded.
Daniella turned away from all the eyes looking at her and focused her thoughts down the aisle to the where… her brow creased. Only Andrew Gains stood at the arch. Daniella looked around, her heart lurching when Alex stepped through the doors behind the arch. He looked even more handsome in a tuxedo; his hair was neatly brushed back, and a smile spread across his face as their eyes locked and held while Daniella made her way toward him.
Daniella started to feel light-headed by the time Harley placed her hand in Alex’s and realized she’d been holding her breath.
“You look beautiful,” Alex whispered.
“You don’t look too bad yourself,” Daniella whispered back.
Daniella didn’t even notice Harriet step up and take her bouquet as Alex took her other hand, and they faced each other.
“We are gathered here today to join Daniella and Alex in marriage,” Andrew Gains started the ceremony. “They’ve asked me to keep the ceremony brief and simple.” He looked past Daniella and Alex to Harriet and Harley. “Do you have the rings?”
Rings!Daniella’s eyes widened. “I didn’t get you a ring,” she whispered to Alex.
“Don’t worry, Harry sorted us out,” Alex whispered back and winked.
Harriet stepped up to Daniella and handed her a ring for Alex, while Harley did the same for Alex. Daniella barely heard Andrew’s words as she slipped the ring on Alex’s right finger because of his broken hand, and she felt him slip a ring on hers.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” Andrew said and looked at Alex. “You may kiss the bride.”
Daniella’s heart jumped into her throat, blocking her windpipe. Her eyes locked with Alex’s blue ones, darkening with emotion as he stepped toward her. She felt mesmerized by his intense stare and forced herself to breathe as his lips melded with hers. Suddenly, her world shrunk to a size that only fit her and Alex. Everything around them faded away as her arms wound around his neck, and he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss.
The sound of applause forced reality between them, and Alex slowly pulled away, looking as flustered as Daniella felt while the feeling of his lips still tingled on hers. Alex’s warm hand curled around hers as they stood, smiling at all the faces looking at them through the monitors.
“Daniella,” Meg Parks caught her attention as she and Alex stepped away from the wedding arch. “Thank you so much for including me in today.”
