Page 132 of An Echo in the Sorrow

“Ready to get married?” Jono asked as she took it.

“I’vebeenready,” Sage said feelingly.

“She’s just happy the planning is over,” Emma said with a laugh.

“That, too.”

They left the flat for the small limousine waiting for them in the street. The driver had the door open, and Jono helped Sage and Emma into the back before climbing in after them. The drive to Rockefeller Plaza was made in good time, though Sage kept checking in with Jono to make sure they were on schedule. Manhattan traffic being what it was, they’d factored in the start of rush hour to ensure they wouldn’t be late for the midafternoon ceremony.

A parking spot in front of the entrance to the building with the rooftop garden at the Rockefeller Plaza had been cordoned off, and attendants were ready to usher them upstairs. Jono ignored the mobiles pointed their way from pedestrians catching their arrival, focused on making sure Sage and Emma exited the limousine safely.

Emma held up Sage’s skirt to keep it from dragging on the pavement, only releasing it when they were inside the building. They took a private elevator all the way to the roof, arriving in an open space that could have been used as the reception, except they’d opted to have the meal at the Rainbow Room instead.

Sage’s wedding planner greeted them with a smile, not a hair out of place as she clutched her iPad. “We’re ready when you are.”

“Let’s go,” Sage said, smiling widely.

The entrance to the outdoor garden area was blocked off by an opaque white tent beyond the glass doors, hiding Sage’s arrival from view. Emma set about sorting Sage’s dress and veil for the walk down the aisle as the wedding planner spoke into her walkie-talkie to address the DJ for the ceremony.

The soft strains of “Air” fromWater Musicstarted up, drifting in the air. Jono and Sage stepped out of sight of the tent opening as Emma went first, attendants pulling aside the drapes with gold rope. Once they dropped back down again, Jono extended his arm to Sage, who slipped her hand around the bend of his elbow.

“I’m happy for you,” Jono said, leaning over to kiss her gently on the top of her head.

She was pack, and she was their dire, but more than that, she was his friend. Jono hadn’t had many of those who counted over the years, but Sage would forever be that and family to him.

“Let’s get me married,” Sage said.

Jono escorted her to the tent entrance, the drapes getting lifted, and they stepped out into the bright summer day. The aisle between the rows of chairs was made up of white rose petals, the crushed scent of them drifting up as they walked toward the altar where Marek waited, Leon standing as his best man.

The outline of Manhattan’s buildings pierced the sky around them, St. Patrick’s Cathedral a gorgeous backdrop off to their left. The garden was blooming with an abundance of flowers, the grass vibrant, and the sounds of the city had been quieted by a silence ward.

Sage’s grip grew tighter as they closed the distance to Marek, who looked as if he were about to cry. When they reached the altar, Jono let Sage go. She reached for Marek on her own while Emma adjusted the skirt of her ball gown before claiming the bridal bouquet. Jono retreated to the only remaining empty seat in the front row on the bride’s side between Patrick and Wade.

“They look happy,” Patrick said in a voice barely above a whisper as the judge appointed for the ceremony welcomed everyone to Sage and Marek’s wedding.

“Yeah, they do,” Jono said.

He settled his hand on Patrick’s thigh, squeezing gently, watching a moment unfold for their pack they hadn’t been sure would happen.

Patrick tipped his head in Jono’s direction. “What about you? Are you happy?”

Jono tore his gaze away from the altar to look Patrick in the eye, seeing the shadows there that had become more prominent since Saturday. In the wake of everything that had happened, the knowledge of what they still had to face, Jono refused to lose the moments, big and small, that were important.

“I’ll always be happy with you,” Jono murmured.

Patrick’s smile was small but real, brightening his eyes, a wordless promise returned on a beautiful summer day that Jono would always remember.

~~~