Beyond the Grave (22 page)

Most people would say that it wasn't a perfect wedding. Heavy rain forced the outdoor plans inside, so the vows were said within a wood-paneled courthouse instead of a gazebo decorated with roses. The groomsmen sported black eyes and arm slings. The bridesmaids wore dresses that didn't quite match: one was in long sleeves, one in short sleeves. And it may have seemed odd that at one point, everyone in attendance, including the bride and groom, turned toward a video camera and yelled, “Hi, Karen!”

It was a ceremony filled with imperfections. But the vows were recited with the kind of love and sincerity that made guests reach for their tissues, and the applause that followed drowned out the thunder rumbling overhead.

There was no way to explain what had happened to the mystified police when they'd arrived at the penitentiary. Our attacker had vanished. Ryan was the one who had identified his father as the assailant. Later, he told me that Beth had explained everything during the ride to the prison. He and Jeff hadn't believed her, but they had believed Noah was in trouble. Beth had told them they would understand when they
got there. “And the instant I saw him, I knew what she said was true,” Ryan had told me later that day. “I knew it wasn't really my dad.”

Jeff had been knocked unconscious and suffered a concussion. I met him for the first time in the hospital, where I received a dozen stitches to my arm. He looked just like Ryan, with slightly lighter hair. All he said was, “This is one tough family my mom's marrying into.” But I think he knew we made up for it with heart.

Noah and his brothers weren't exactly acknowledging the death of their father, because who knew what happened after he went through the gate? For now, they were focused on recovering from their injuries and moving forward with the wedding. There would be more than enough time later to come to terms with the fact that the father they barely knew had disappeared from their lives permanently.

Two days before the wedding, we'd made a trip to see Mom. She still couldn't talk, but her eyes had lit up when we walked in, despite our bandages. I'd worn long sleeves to cover my arm, which was wrapped in gauze. There would be a permanent scar, the doctor had warned me, but it really didn't bother me. It was my scar. I had earned it.

After the ceremony, we left for the reception under a canopy of umbrellas. Inside the reception hall, strings of little white lights blinked from behind the leaves of tall topi aries, and candles glowed from inside pumpkins that had been carved with Shane and Trisha's initials. The music began, toasts were made, and pictures were taken. We clapped when Shane and Trisha kissed. I had never seen them look so happy.

Noah and I sat at a table with Avery and Jared, who was thrilled to discover that the pasta dish was vegan. “Look who I brought with me,” Avery said. She opened her oversize purse
and Dante peeked out. I laughed and fed him a piece of my steak.

“Is that your dog?” Bliss came up to our table and smiled down at Dante. “He's cute.”

“Thanks.” Avery beamed. “You look great, Bliss.”

She was dressed in a pale green gown. Her ear was bandaged, but she had styled her hair so it fell to one side, covering the injury. Doctors had been able to reattach most of the ear, but Bliss would require at least one more surgery. I noticed that the color of her gown matched the color of Michael's tie perfectly. He had been released from the hospital that morning and leaned on a cane as he limped over to our table.

“I'd ask you to dance, but I don't think I can,” he said to Bliss.

She kissed his cheek. “We can just watch, then.”

“How's Beth doing?” I asked Michael.

“Not too bad, considering both her arms are broken. I'll be helping out at Potion while she recovers.”

Dad came over to say that he was leaving to see Mom. “And you're staying at Avery's tonight, correct?”

Annalise had told him everything before she joined Beth and had headed for the penitentiary. Dad had contacted the police and arrived with them moments after the gate had sealed itself. And while he was upset that I hadn't come to him, and shaken over having to see me in the hospital again, he was trying to stay positive. We were alive, and that was what mattered. And although he did not see the Watcher, he believed my story without question.

“The next time you think there's even a chance that something might possibly be after you, I expect you to talk to me immediately,” he had said.

I promised I would. It was an easy promise to make. For the first time in over a year, I felt safe. Really, truly safe.

“Could you take these to Mary Ruth?” I handed him one of the centerpieces. “Trisha said it would be okay.” I wanted to keep the promise I had made to myself when Mom woke up. My favorite nurse would find the floral arrangement on her desk the next day. Dad kissed my forehead and left with the flowers.

A new song started. “Is this ‘War Pigs'?” Jared asked. He grabbed Avery's hand. “We are
so
dancing to this.”

“It's not really a dancing song,” she protested, but Jared was already halfway to the dance floor.

“Can I talk to you?” Noah asked.

“Sure. Bliss, will you keep an eye on Dante?”

She patted the dog and fed him more steak. “I'd love to.”

Outside, the rain had slowed to a light drizzle and the sun was setting. Already, the full moon was visible in the darkest part of the sky. Noah and I stood under an awning. He looked amazing in his tux, and the bruise that I had once thought was permanent was finally beginning to fade from his neck. A pink line was etched across his face where he had been cut by the Watcher, but I knew that would lighten with time, too.

“I've barely seen you,” Noah began, his eyes focused on the sky. “And so much has happened. We haven't had a chance to really talk.”

I looped my arm through his. “But things are better now and settling down. We can be together more.”

He inhaled deeply. “I broke my promise to you.”

“What promise?” I didn't know what he was talking about.

“On your birthday, when I gave you the bracelet. I said I wouldn't be the cause of your tears.” He looked away from the sky and into my eyes. “I broke my promise so many times over the past few weeks.”

“It wasn't your fault. I know that.”

And I knew that he had believed he was going to school and completing his daily routines. In reality, he'd drifted through the days in a kind of walking coma as he was sucked into the Watcher's control.

“I should have been stronger. I should have been able to stop it.”

I put my hand on his cheek and he closed his eyes. “It took all of us to stop it. You couldn't have done it alone, and not because you're weak in any way, but because it was a force beyond your control. You have to let it go, Noah. For both of us.”

He put his hand over mine. “Do you think you can ever trust me again?”

Like so many things, I had realized that trust is a choice we make. I kissed him lightly on the lips. “I already do.”

“Thank you.” He pulled away and reached into his pocket. “I know your bracelet was broken, so I got you this.”

He held out a long, black velvet box. I opened it. Inside was a necklace. A single Apache tear was attached to the end of a long silver chain.

“I love it.”

I turned around so Noah could put the necklace on me. Once it was fastened, he kissed the back of my neck.

“So we can start over?” he whispered.

“No,” I said, turning to face him. “But we can keep going.”

We choose what we leave behind. For some, it is anger and grief and a hurt so deep it echoes for centuries. For others, it is joy and wonder and gratitude.

I reached for Noah. He smiled and took my hand.

I made my choice.