Page 111 of Ultimate Justice

Tish, her maid of honor, poured more glasses of champagne, handing one to Gemma and another to Patty McGarry.

Grace looked at her mother and sighed, whispering, “Between Evan and my parents, they have so much love to give. I don’t know if I’m ready for all of it, yet.”

“I know it can be overwhelming at times, but it will get easier. On all of you. I promise.” She hooked her hand around Grace’s elbow. “C’mon. Let’s get some bubbly.”

Grace sighed again, but this time, the corners of her mouth lifted, something Marlie had noticed was coming more easily to her with each passing day. The reintroduction to Evan and her parents—particularly Evan’s father, Sean—was slow, but they were making progress.

“Here you go.” Patty handed Marlie a flute, then did the same for Grace, giving her daughter a hesitant smile.

“Your dress looks beautiful,” Grace said as she looked at her mother’s cream-colored silk dress, one chosen to complement the pink sheaths the rest of the bridal party wore. “Mom,” she added.

Patty blinked, doing an admirable job of holding back the floodgates. Instead, she placed a hand on her daughter’s cheek. “Thank you, dear.”

Oh, shoot. That was the first time Grace had called her mother “Mom,” and the first time she’d witnessed Grace receive one of her parent’s touches without flinching. Now Marlie had to blink or risk ruining the makeup Tori and Gemma had so painstakingly applied.

After getting over the initial shock of seeing Grace for the first time in twenty-four years, the difficult part of the reunion had kicked in full force with the inevitable questions. The who, what, and where, were the easy ones to answer. It was the why Evan and his parents had difficulty accepting.

Gracie—the little girl—hadn’t thought her parents loved or understood her, and that she would never be what they wanted. The camp had reinforced that belief. Years later, after she’d escaped the camp and regained at least some of who she’d been, she figured her parents’ life would be better without her in it. Reaching out to her family had seemed far too daunting, although a few years ago, she’d driven to her parents’ house, intending to knock on the door, but chickened out. Then, as more time passed, it was simply easier to remain hidden. And safer. But after watching the TV news footage about the camp takedown and the Wilsons’ arrest, she decided to call the FBI tip line.

They all had a long road ahead of them, and Marlie would help them every step of the way.

Tish held up her glass. “I’d like to make a toast.”

“Then someone better help me up.” Tori set her glass on the table, then held up her hands for Gemma and Grace to haul her from the sofa. The moment she was on her feet, she placed a hand in the small of her back and groaned. “Baby Deck is already huge, just like his father.”

Gemma arched a brow, and in typical Gemma fashion, said, “No need to brag.”

Tori elbowed Gemma. “Get your mind out of the gutter.”

“Okay, okay.” Gemma held up her flute. “Tish, you were saying…”

“A toast.” She waited for them to raise their glasses. “To my best friend, a woman with more courage and guts than an army battalion and more love to give than anyone I know. Your journey to get here has been a long one, but you persevered and you triumphed. I love you. We all love you and wish you happiness and joy for the rest of your life.” She held her glass higher. “Which starts today.”

Amid the “hear-hears” and the clinking of glasses, the tears Marlie had held back earlier began rolling down her cheeks. Today was the start of the rest of her life, one filled with a new family, friends, and the greatest loves she could possibly know. Evan and Noah.

“Oh no, girl.” Gemma set her glass down and raced for the box of tissues on the table. “You do not get to cry. Not yet, or you’ll ruin our hard work.” She dabbed at Marlie’s cheeks.

“Sorry,” she said, laughing through the tears and making everyone else laugh and cry right along with her.

A knock sounded, and the door cracked open a few inches. Two faces poked through the opening: Noah’s and Crystal’s. Someone had tied a pink silk flower around the dog’s neck.

Noah looked so handsome in the black tuxedo Evan had rented for him. Together, they’d officially adopted Noah, so he was now Noah McGarry. Together, they’d also been doing a lot of something else: getting a room, because they both wanted another child. Their child. Even Noah was excited by the idea of a baby sister or brother.

“Are you ready yet?” he asked excitedly, his green eyes glittering. “It’s time!”

Marlie nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat as she looked around the room at the women who’d become her friends and extended family. She was ready, and it was time.

Time for the rest of her wonderful life to begin.

…

Late April usually brought with it gusty winds on the terrace overlooking the famed Red Rocks amphitheater, located at an altitude of nearly 6500 feet. Today, Mother Nature was on their side, although Evan didn’t care if the heavens opened up. He’d stay rooted right where he was, waiting for the love of his life to walk down the aisle.

For the last twenty minutes, the sun had been playing a game of hide-and-seek with the clouds, darting behind them, then suddenly popping out. The temperature was a balmy sixty-five degrees. Terrace flags and flower boughs brought in for the wedding rustled in the light breeze.

Seats on both sides of the aisle were filled. Family, friends, and work colleagues, including field agents from multiple agencies and every boss in the Denver Special Ops Task Force were there. His father had been smiling so much since Gracie had returned to them, Evan thought the man’s face would split in two. All of Marlie’s family had flown in from Long Island.

Brett and Deck stood at his side, along with Blue, who sported a black bow tie to match their tuxedos.