The Other Side - J. D. Robb [107]
“Take all the time you need, darling. But in the meantime, I suggest we move up the date of our wedding, so that I can properly take care of you and Tyler the way only a husband can.”
“That’s sweet.” She paused while Mrs. Mellon walked across the room to place a silver tray on a side table.
“Shall I pour, Miss Christina?”
Chris shook her head. “Thanks, Mrs. Mellon. I’ll do it.”
She crossed to the table and filled a cup, taking time to squeeze a wedge of lemon into her tea.
When they were alone, she turned to Mark. “In fact, I’ve been thinking of postponing the wedding for a while.” At his sound of disgust she added quickly, “It simply isn’t possible for me to make wedding plans while my life is in such turmoil.”
“Just like that?” He tossed back the rest of his drink and got to his feet. “Without consulting me, you’ve decided to cancel all our plans?”
“It’s only for a while, Mark. Just until things settle down in my life. How can I possibly think about designer gowns, caterers, wedding lists, celebrations, at a time like this?”
He walked to her and smoothed a hand over her hair. His tone lowered to a whisper. “I’m not some insensitive clod. I know how devastated you are at the loss of your parents. Why don’t you think about this instead? Forget about the extravagant wedding your parents had planned for you. Instead, we’ll have a simple morning ceremony before Judge McShane. He’s an old friend of your family. I’m sure he’d be happy to choose a time in the next few weeks when he could fit us in. Then we’ll wait to celebrate the happy event with family and friends at a more appropriate time, after you and Tyler have had time to get past your grief.”
“You’d do that for me? Forgo the fancy ceremony and the celebration we’d planned?”
“You know I would. All I want is your happiness, darling.”
Tears sprang to her eyes. She pressed her hands over her face, muffling her voice. “Let me think about it, Mark.”
“Of course.” He gathered her close. Against her temple he muttered, “All I want is your happiness. I want to help you. And I can’t think of a better way than by being a permanent part of your life. Promise me you’ll give my idea some serious thought.”
She drew in a deep, shuddering breath. “I will. Thank you for understanding and for being so patient. Can you stay for supper?”
“Sorry. I’ve already had to shuffle several appointments today. I’ll be playing catch-up the rest of the week.” He kissed her before turning away. In the doorway he paused. “I’ll call you later today. I hope by then you’ll have had a chance to speak with the judge and you can give me your answer.”
She nodded and blew him a kiss.
As his car started down the drive, she turned to find Tyler sidling up beside her to stare out the window. With a smile Christina dropped an arm around his shoulders and waved until Mark was out of sight.
“Tyler is lucky to have such a loving sister.” Ted watched with satisfaction as Christina led her little brother outside to the garden, where they stood together in the dappled sunshine.
“You’re right. But I wonder if we haven’t placed too much of a burden on her young shoulders.”
“What do you mean, babe? Look at her. She’s doing all the right things, putting her own happiness on hold while watching out for Tyler.”
“That’s just my point. If she isn’t careful, Ted, she’s going to lose Mark. You can sense his frustration.” Vanessa pointed to a distant vision of Mark taking the hairpin curves of the highway at a dangerous speed.
“You heard him. He understands Christina’s need to look out for Tyler. In fact, I like his suggestion that they have a small, private wedding now, and wait until later, when Christina is more settled, to celebrate with family and friends.”
“Maybe.” Vanessa crossed her arms over her chest and began tapping her foot, a sure sign that the wheels were turning in her brain. “I sensed a real tension in him. Didn’t you?”
Ted’s eyes narrowed. “Now that you mention it, I did.”
“Christina has been so caught up in her grief and in Tyler