husbands following them to the front pew on the left.
Then Shelley walked down by herself.
There was a brief wait while Mike took his mother's arm and escorted her to the front next to Shelley. Jane was surprised that everyone stood and looked back at them with big smiles.
The ceremony itself was relatively short. Rings were exchanged for the second time. Mel took Jane in his arms and gave her a serious but dignified kiss. A sound system burst into 'Here Comes the Bride' and the two of them walked back slowly, stopping to shake hands with a number of people close to the center aisle. Mel was well represented with what looked like half the police force, some in uniform, most in plain suits.
Jane and Mel stood beside the door, while Todd and Mike escorted the Grants, Katie, and Addie's family back down the aisle. Uncle Jim brought Shelley down the aisle. Then everybody else was left to file out neatly from front to back and be pointed to the dining room by Miss Tarlington. Some of Mel's friends hung back to congratulate Mel and Jane. A few of Addie's rich clients stopped to compliment her as well. She smiled and thanked them for coming, then joined the rest of the crowd, ignoring thewhole of Jane's family. Jane could hear Mel grinding his teeth and muttering.
The rest of the family went to the dining room, leaving Jane and Mel alone for a minute or two. 'I'm sorry, Mel. But you know the way she acts. It's normal for her.'
'You're right. It's sad though.'
They made their way, arm in arm, to the dining room, and again everyone stood up and applauded. When they sat down, Miss Tarlington spoke into a microphone. 'Someone at each table will find a penny concealed in their napkin. Mr. and Mrs. VanDyne have told me that those who get one are entitled to take the flowers on the table home.'
There was a great rush to open napkins.
The wedding party was already seated, and Addie got up and leaned over Jane's shoulder, 'What happened to my flowers?'
'They've gone to a nursing home. I'd told you repeatedly that I was choosing my flowers.'Then she turned to Mel and asked, 'Did you get the penny?'
Addie had apparently wanted to please her clients so much that she'd provided three courses: salad, choice of salmon or filet mignon, scalloped potatoes, asparagus, and an array of desserts on a buffet at the back of the room for later.
Addie had provided a huge wedding cake and Mel and Jane did the obligatory cutting of the first slice and
feeding each other a bite. When the waiters started clearing tables, Mel and Jane circulated. Jane had invited very few people. Ted's wife and children, and the nice lady, Mrs. Jefferson, from Thelma's funeral, and a very few neighbors and women she'd known from the room mother's group.
Mel made a point of introducing her to his assistant, Officer Needham, who was wearing a bright red suit and a big matching hat. Jane said Mel had told her what a great researcher he thought she was and Jane hauled her along to meet her parents and children.
Eventually the room was cleared and guests were herded into the room where the dance was to be held. Some of the guests starting slipping away. And as Mel took her arm for the first dance, Officer Needham, ear to her cell phone, whispered something to him.
His response was a huge grin. 'I'm going to dance with my wife while you gather up the team.'
'What's this about?' Jane asked as they started to dance.
'The reporter from the
'Right here in Chicago. They're living in a rental in Evanston. They never left the area. That trip to San Francisco was a sham. Janey, I'm so sorry but—'
'It's your job, Mel. I understand. Now go! I'll dance with Uncle Jim, my dad, and Ted instead.' When she'd finished dancing with them, she went to find Mrs. Jefferson, the nice church lady she'd met at Thelma'sfuneral. 'I guess you learned to waltz when you were a girl. Would you do this next dance with me?'
Mrs. Jefferson smiled. 'I learned dancing at a girls' school. I still remember.'
When Jane and Mrs. Jefferson took the floor, other couples backed away, smiling. The photographer took several pictures, and other guests who'd brought cameras along joined in. As soon as the waltz was over, Jane bowed to Mrs. Jefferson and stood beside her, holding hands as others took more pictures. Both ladies did a curtsy. Jane then asked Mrs. Jefferson if she needed a ride home. 'Ted Jeffry doesn't drink. He'd be glad to take you.'
'No, thank you, Mrs. Jeff — I mean Mrs. VanDyne. My grandson is arriving to fetch me in a few minutes.'
Jane stayed in what was supposed to be the honeymoon suite. She didn't mind that the groom wasn't there. He was doing his job. If she'd ever had the chance to be sent on a book tour, she wouldn't dream of making him take time off to go with her.
Besides, she'd packed a bag with the clothes she'd come here in and others she intended to wear the next day. She had her makeup and vitamins along. Her mother called Jane at nine the next morning. 'Jane, dear, that waltz with the pretty old lady was the highlight of the wedding. I'm so proud of you for singling her out.'
'She was the only nice woman at Thelma's funeral and I wanted to give her a tribute.'
'I take it as a tribute to your father and me as well for raising such a nice thoughtful woman.'
'You and Dad did a good job of teaching me good manners.'
'Have you heard from Mel?' Cecily asked, changing the subject.
'Not a word. Where are we having breakfast?'
'We might as well just eat at the hotel. I stepped outside a few minutes ago and it's really too hot to walk somewhere else.'
'I'll meet you as soon as I can catch an elevator.'
Her mother, father, and Katie were waiting for her as she emerged.
'Did you invite Todd and Mike?' Jane asked.
'They're already here, holding a table for us.'
As they entered the dining room, Todd hopped up and pulled his mother aside. 'Mike had too much champagne and let me drive his truck home. It was cool. When are you going to buy me a truck? You bought his. I remember that.'
'Katie doesn't have a car yet. You have to wait your turn,' Jane said, taking his arm and leading him to the table.
As Jane sat down, Katie asked, 'Why did Mel disappear from the wedding after the first dance?'
'Because he'd been waiting for some people to be found and somebody found them.'
'Who are they?' Katie asked.
'You'll have to ask him about it later.''How much later?'
Jane just shrugged and said, 'Nobody knows. And he might not want to talk about it yet.'
'But you know, Mom?'
'Just a little of it. I'm starving,' she said, picking up the breakfast menu.
