A Very Merry Superhero Wedding (Adventures of Lewis and Clarke) (14 page)

Joe dusted the snow off his knees and grinned at his friends. “What a day, huh?”

“Behind you!” Bull ran forward as Joe turned.

Another sedan sped toward them down the aisle. The three men worked together to stop the car before it ran over people, including themselves.

Joe and Bull ran toward the car, giving themselves space to slow it down before it hit the barely idling car directly behind them. Off to the side, Tick Tock threw his arm out toward the moving vehicle and focused.

The engine began rattling before the car got to Joe and Bull. The acceleration had dropped off, but it still hit the men with force.

Not as much force as Bull hit the car, though. Joe threw both hands onto the metal hood, felt the cold, hard energy rush through his body, and let his feet slide on the snow for a few yards. Then he and Bull both pressed their feet more solidly against the snow-packed asphalt.

The ragged sound coming from the engine gave Joe confidence they’d stop the car without any problem. Then he looked behind him. They were still closing in too fast on the car Tick Tock had disabled.

He reached one hand behind him, turning his body sideways. Bull saw him and imitated his movements. Tick Tock shouted to the shoppers walking down the aisle toward them. One teenage girl was talking on her phone and not paying any attention.

Joe and Bull braced for impact. Tick Tock ran toward the girl.

Bam!

Joe felt his teeth clatter together as the bone-jarring impact rippled through his body. But his power protected him, and he didn’t get pinned between the vehicles. The cars slid several yards on the snowpack before he and Bull stopped them.

Joe looked up to make sure all the pedestrians were safe. He saw Tick Tock with the shocked teenager between two parked cars. He turned to trap the passenger into the car the way he had the others.

Thwack!

Joe heard a loud crack and felt a blazing pain burst from his hip down his leg.

He hit the ground hard, remembering at the last moment how to land without hurting himself more. He realized his eyes were closed against the pain. Training and instinct pushed him to open them, looking for his attacker to strike again.

A lug wrench swung inches from his face when Joe reached out with both hands and gripped it hard.

A battle cry burst forth as his body reacted to the steel against his hands. He felt his muscles instantly gain strength equal to the metal, felt his skin tighten, and the pain in his leg lessen.

Joe jerked the lug wrench to the left, pulling his attacker off his feet. He rolled on top of him and pressed the X-shaped bar against the other man’s chest. With the intense pain in his hip and leg, it was all he could do to remember not to press down so hard that he might break the man’s ribs.

The man kicked and punched at Joe, but to no avail. Joe knew hitting him now was like hitting a metal statue. The man probably broke a couple knuckles before he realized he couldn’t fight back.

Joe heard sirens, shouting, and in a minute — it felt like ten — a police officer pulled Joe off the other guy. Joe fell onto his back again, squeezing the lug wrench in his fists.

This did not sit well with the police officer who put his hand on his holstered gun and yelled for Joe to drop the weapon.

But Joe couldn’t drop it. The power coursing through him from the metal tool was the only thing keeping him from screaming in agony.

A moment later, Tick Tock knelt next to him. Joe heard him tell the officer to cuff the other man, that he’d take care of this one.

“Joe, talk to me, brother.”

Joe gritted his teeth, trying to squeeze the metal harder. He focused on the steel. His body’s reaction to metal was instant and all-encompassing. The incredible healing power of his body accelerated dramatically when combined with the metal’s strength.

He just had to wait it out.

He groaned, squeezing his eyes tight. Vaguely, he noticed the cold snow beneath him, smelled the acrid exhaust from running cars, sensed moisture on his face. But mostly, he felt searing pain throughout his right leg like he’d never felt before. He clenched his jaw tighter, trying to hold in a scream.

“Focus, dude,” Bull said quietly from nearby.

Joe heard his friend praying for his healing. Pray faster, he wanted to say.

But he couldn’t speak.

Instead, he held on tight.

Chapter 10

TORI sat in the passenger seat of Bull’s truck as Hayley drove them to the church. The men hadn’t come back inside the mall or answered their phones. The parking lot, at least the area where they’d parked that morning, looked normal. No screaming or running people, no police, but no Joe or Bull either. Tori kept telling herself not to worry. Joe had promised her that he knew what he was doing.

Hayley had reminded her a few times as well, but Tori could see she was concerned. They hadn’t heard from either of the guys since that initial phone call in the food court.

That was the unspoken reason why they arrived at the church a little earlier than necessary. Just in case the guys were already there. But they weren’t. And the girls were too early to meet up with everyone for the Christmas caroling party. So they busied themselves with unnecessary tasks.

They checked the bride’s room to be sure there were enough chairs and tissue boxes. They peeked into the sanctuary to see if the decorating had begun. Then they walked downstairs to the fellowship hall to see if anyone had started bringing in food for tonight’s rehearsal dinner.

They found a big pan covered with aluminum foil in the kitchen. They wiggled their eyebrows at each other like schoolgirls.

“Should we peek?” Tori asked. Anything to keep her mind off Joe.

“It’s probably for your wedding rehearsal,” Hayley said. “Or even the wedding lunch. Nothing else requires food, right?”

Tori pulled up the edge of the aluminum foil. “Oh my gosh, I think these are Hannah’s oatmeal raisin cookies,” she exclaimed. “I swear, I recognize them.” She inhaled deeply, the scents of cinnamon, oatmeal, and raisins making her mouth water.

Hayley giggled. “Should we have one? They must be for you.”

“Split one?”

Tori waited for a nod from Hayley, and took a cookie out. It was soft and thick. She broke it in half and gave Hayley the bigger piece.

They bit into the dessert, closing their eyes in pleasure, then were startled by a man’s voice.

“Gotcha!”

Tori spun toward the kitchen door and froze mid-chew. Joe’s dad, Pastor Owen, walked toward them. She didn’t know what else to do so she giggled, covered her mouth, finished chewing, and said, “Hello, Owen.”

He grinned at them both, kissed Tori on the head, and reached for the pan. Before he lifted the foil, he looked over his shoulder toward the door. “I think she’s still at the house. Have one more. I don’t want to get in trouble by myself.”

Hayley laughed and reached for another cookie. “I knew I liked you for a reason.”

Tori hesitated. “I’ve got to fit into my wedding dress tomorrow, you guys.”

“We walked around the mall for like,” Hayley shook her head, “five hours or something. I think you’ve exercised enough for another cookie.”

Tori grinned and took one before Owen sealed the foil around the edge again. “Hannah makes the best cookies.”

“Hannah makes the best everything,” Owen agreed.

“I hear my name,” Hannah called from the kitchen door. She walked toward them, then stopped, hands on her hips. “Do I have to lock up all the food to keep it from being eaten?”

“Speak of an angel and she appears,” Owen said.

“Don’t try changing the subject, mister,” Hannah scolded. She kissed him. “Just as I suspected, you taste like cinnamon and oatmeal.”

Tori looked at Hayley and grinned. Owen and Hannah were so cute. She hoped that she and Joe would be like that.

“So where are the boys?” Hannah asked. “I thought they were with you today.”

“They’re working,” said Hayley. “The mall thieves came back while we were there.”

Owen and Hannah looked from Hayley to Tori and back.

“It’s okay,” Tori said. “Joe told me this is his job, and not to worry. I’m not worried.” Okay, maybe a little, but he said to trust him, and she did.

Joe’s parents look relieved, more so than Tori would have expected under the circumstances. They knew Joe worked in security. Where they always this worried about him? They looked to Hayley, who shook her head slightly.

Tori appreciated the way they all tried not to worry her or speculate about what might have happened.

“They’ll probably be here anytime,” Hayley said. “They know what time the caroling starts.”

Both parents frowned. Hannah put her arm around Tori and pulled her toward the kitchen door. “Well then, girls, let’s go get ready to sing. I hope you brought warm enough clothes.”

“Aw, man!” Tori smacked her forehead. “I left my duffle with my long underwear in Joe’s truck.”

“Not to worry, my dear,” Hannah assured her. As Hayley came up to the door from the other side of the long stainless steel table, Hannah wrapped her other arm around her shoulders, too. “This is Northern Michigan. Melissa and I have enough to go around.”

By 4:45, Joe and Bull still hadn’t called or shown up at the church. Tori hung back as the caroling group, including quite a few people in the wedding party, started outside.

“Go on, Tori,” Owen urged her. “Sometimes in the security business things take longer than you expect.”

Tori made a face. “He did say that it would be awhile if he had to file a police report.”

Owen grunted in agreement. So that’s where Joe got it from. “That’s certainly the truth,” he said.

She did want to go Christmas caroling, but she really wanted to do it with Joe.

Hayley came back inside, looking for her. “They’re waiting for you.”

Owen patted her back and gave her a little push. “I’m sure he’ll be here by the time you’re back. Have fun. Stay warm!”

Tori gave him a little wave as Hayley pulled her outside. Did Owen’s expression change to worry as she stepped through the door?

It only took a few minutes for the infectious good cheer to buoy Tori’s spirits. Everyone had a little book of song lyrics for the songs they would sing. Some people held fat candles, other people had flashlights. Tori decided a candle would be the most fun, and potentially warmer. She just had to remember not to get it too close to the songbook.

They walked through the neighborhood singing “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” “Joy to the World,” “Silent Night,” and so many more. The darker it got, the more beautiful the scene looked with all the candles and lights. Tori was glad she’d come.

Except that Joe still hadn’t arrived. She kept looking back over her shoulder, searching the darkness for him. Keeping people safe was more important than caroling, true. But he was supposed to have this week off. They’d planned for this whole day to be special, ending with their wedding rehearsal. She knew he wanted to get married, but…

Tori forced herself to ignore her doubts and believe in Joe, believe he’d be here as soon as he could. Meanwhile, she would focus on singing. That always made her feel better.

They stopped at every third or fourth house, waving to anyone who watched and waved from the windows. It was bitter cold out, and the snow that had been spitting on and off all day began to fall in heavy fat flakes.

It was beautiful.

About twenty minutes in, as they stopped to sing in front of another house, the song leader announced that they would sing “Mary, Did You Know?” together at the marked parts, with a soloist singing the other verses. The first notes that he sang alone were rich and sweet. Tori looked around to see who was singing. He was an older black man she recognized from the choir.

As he sang, wondering aloud to Jesus’ mother Mary if she knew that her baby would walk on water and give sight to a blind man, Tori felt her heart swell with the emotion of the season. There was something haunting and beautiful about the words and the tune together. Tori always felt like crying when she heard this song. With tonight’s temperatures, she would have to control herself if she didn’t want frostbite on her cheeks for her wedding day.

If only Joe were here. Then it would be a perfect, beautiful night.

Another twenty minutes of singing and walking, then the leader asked if people wanted to return early. Normally they would stay out for an hour or more, but most people’s hats and scarves had a coating of snow on them, icy where their breath froze against the material.

Soon they were back at church. By then, even the dissenters were glad they’d returned to the warmth of the building. Hot chocolate, coffee, and cookies awaited them in the fellowship hall.

When people noticed a few of Tori and Joe’s friends and relatives decorating the hall, they came over to tell her congratulations and ask where Joe was.

“He had to work,” she told everyone, “he’ll be here any minute.”

But she was beginning to wonder. Maybe their conversation this morning had given him pause. Maybe it wasn’t just that he’d gotten tied up with something. Maybe he hadn’t called because he was trying to decide if he was sure now was the right time.

That seemed to be the gist of their problem. Not should they get married — they were both convinced of their love for each other — but when. Maybe he was rethinking it and didn’t know how to tell her.

Looking for ways to stay busy, Tori and Hayley helped set out paper plates and cups and plasticware for the rehearsal dinner. When Hayley took a call, Hannah called Tori into the kitchen.

“Do you think your parents will like this?” she asked, holding a fork for Tori to taste some kind of casserole.

Tori blew on it and took a bite. “Oh m
y
gos
h
,” she exclaimed. “What is that? It’s amazing!”

Hannah sighed in relief. “Oh, good, I wasn’t sure.” She told Tori that it was an old family recipe, passed down from her grandmother on her mother’s side. She explained how it was made and promised Tori she would teach her to make it, if she wanted.

“That would be wonderful, thanks, Hannah,” Tori said.

Hannah looked over Tori’s shoulder. “Oh, look! Joe and Bull are here. Why don’t you go sit with him and we’ll finish up in here.”

Tori spun around. There he was, seated in the groom’s chair at the front table in the hall. He looked a little tired, but he waved and smiled as he caught her eye. Tori smiled in relief and rushed over to him.

“Hey,” she said as she gave him a hug, “I was beginning to wonder if you weren’t coming.” She’d meant it to sound teasing, but even she could hear the insecurity in her voice.

“Oh honey, I’m sorry.” Joe pulled her down to sit next to him, and gave her a longer hug. “I know I should’ve called.” He leaned back. “Check this out.”

He opened his shirt pocket and pulled out several pieces of electronics that looked like they might have once been a phone. “I believe this is what is referred to as smithereens.”

Tori’s eyes popped open. “Holy cow! How did that happen?”

“It got run over by a car,” Joe said. “Bull’s phone broke, too. He tried calling Hayley several times, but it just made a bunch of weird sounds and wouldn’t put the call through. But we helped catch that ring of thieves at the mall. Proud of me?”

Tori grinned and hugged him again. “Of course, I am.” She looked at him more closely. “Did you get in a fight?” she asked in a quiet voice.

He shrugged one shoulder. “A little one. I’ll be fine. A slight limp that will be gone by tomorrow.”

Her heart gave a little stutter. How hurt was he really? Men never came clean about that kind of thing. She knew her dad and brother always tried to make injuries sound like nothing at all.

He leaned closer. “Do me a favor, wife-to-be?” He smiled at her.

Tori’s heart thumped harder. All it took was his smile. Add in the loving words in that husky voice and she would do anything he asked. She nodded.

“Act like nothing’s wrong, okay? I don’t want to worry anyone. Do you mind? We’ll sit here tonight and let them”—he nodded his head toward the roomful of guests—“come to us.”

“On one condition,” she said. “Promise you’ll never lie t
o
m
e
about whether you’re okay. I mean it. If you tell me the truth about that, I’ll always trust you. And I’ll back you up.”

Joe raised his hand to her cheek, and gazed into her eyes. Solemnly, he said, “I’ll never lie to you about whether I’m okay.”

A funny picture of The Grinch crossed her mind, and her heart swelled three sizes more. Joe trusted her with his secrets. He trusted her to protect him from nosy, if well-meaning, friends. He trusted her enough to marry her. He hadn’t decided to call it off.

“To prove it, I’ll admit to you and you only…” He leaned over and whispered into her ear
,
“Ow.
”
He chuckled a little. “I’d like to give what-for to the guy who hit me, I’ll tell you what. But I controlled myself.”

“Tell me where it hurts so I don’t touch you there,” Tori said. “Then tell me where to find the guy and I’ll beat him up for you.”

Joe laughed and hugged her. “Want to know a little secret?” he asked. He pulled her chair closer, and spoke low in her ear. “I asked Bull not to tell anyone, but I wanted to share it with you. In fact, I wished you were there.”

He told her about a boy he’d met recently, how he had an opportunity to buy stolen food for his family for Christmas, and how Joe had promised to bring Christmas dinner for them as a reward, of sorts, for the boy doing the right thing.