Symphony In Rapture (21 page)

Nick glanced back. “I don’t know. They sent me out.” The three of them watched anxiously until the crowd around Michelle’s bed began to thin, nurses exiting the room. “I have to go back.” He shut the door and stalked back into the room.

Michelle’s doctor smiled. “She’s going to be okay,” he said. “We won’t know for sure until we’ve done some additional testing, but she doesn’t appear to have suffered any lasting damage. This lady of yours has a tough head on her shoulders. “

Nick smiled despite the lump in his throat. “You don’t have to tellme that.”

He went over to the bed, knelt by her side. “Are you okay?”

Michelle reached out and grasped his hand. “I am now.”

He kissed her fingers. “I’m so sorry,” he began.

“Shhhh.” Michelle shook her head, very slightly. “I’m the one who’s sorry. Talk about macho crap…” She giggled. “Oh. Ouch.” She grasped her pounding head with her free hand. “I think I was jealous,” she confessed. “That Duncan was the one who was able to convince you to open up to me.” She met Nick’s gaze. “It was stupid. I don’t care who or what brought us back together,” she murmured. “Just so long as you love me.”

Nick cupped her cheek with his hand. “Will you marry me?” he asked.

“Don’t ask that, Nick. Not if you don’t mean it,” Michelle whispered, eyes bright and hurting.

“I mean it.”

Michelle stared into his eyes for a long time, and Nick felt as though she could see into every nook and cranny in his selfish soul. Finally, she seemed satisfied with what she saw. “Yes,” she said.

* * * * *

Penny helped Michelle change into her traveling suit after the wedding—a dove white number with pearl buttons and a low, scalloped neckline. She whistled appreciatively. “Mile-high club, here you come!” Michelle blushed. Although actually, now that she thought about it…she wondered if two people really could fit into the tight airplane toilet. She shook her head. Penny had corrupted her.

Nick and Michelle were flying to Ireland for their honeymoon, planning to spend three weeks on the Emerald Isle. Michelle figured Nick would make a pretty excellent tour guide, since he’d lived in Europe for over a hundred years and was acquainted with many of the historical sites first-hand. She laughed to herself. It was so funny, to be able to think something like that and take it in stride. Truth really was stranger than fiction. Michelle would never again be able to readany story without wondering if there were more than a kernel of truth to it. The concept of fiction had taken on whole new ramifications for her.

She shook herself out of her reverie. Turning to Penny, she said, “So? Show me the ring!” Penny blushed, holding out her left hand for Michelle’s inspection.

“It’s beautiful,” Michelle said.

“I still can’t quite believe it,” Penny murmured.

“Me neither,” Michelle responded. “Who would have thought—Ramey’s most sought-after confirmed bachelorette, engaged at last. And to Duncan, of all people.”

Penny smiled dreamily. During Michelle’s time in the hospital, she and Duncan had spent a lot of time together out in the waiting room. Penny had been pleasantly surprised to find that they had a lot in common. He wasn’t her usual type. But Duncan was not nearly so boring as she would have expected. He was strong and tender, and treated her with respect. Before she even realized what she was doing, she had asked him out.

The rest, as they say, was history. One thing led to another. Penny grinned her canary grin. They had turned out to be compatible in bed, as well—extremelycompatible.Hmmm , she thought to herself,I wonder if two people really canfit into an airplane toilet?She and Duncan might have to investigate that, on their own honeymoon flight.

Michelle interrupted her reverie. “Can you fasten this for me?”

Penny fastened Michelle’s necklace and smoothed out the back of her dress. She handed Michelle her bouquet. “Time to go, honey,” she prompted.

Michelle embraced her. “Thanks, Penny. I’ll call you as soon as I get back!”

Penny returned the hug. “You’d better. We’ve got a lot of planning to do, if I’m going to get married next spring.”

Michelle met Nick in the doorway of the church and ran with him to the car beneath a shower of birdseed. At the door, she turned and tossed her bouquet. Penny caught it with a practiced hand, and smiled up at Duncan standing next to her, his arm around her shoulders. He grinned. They both waved as Nick and Michelle drove away.

Michelle turned and faced the road ahead. She did not know what life had in store for them. Geneticists and biologists around the world were working on cures for aging. Nick’s own doctors were conducting research into whether or not there was a safe way to stimulate Nick’s cells to begin aging normally. Whatever happened, she was sure of one thing. She and Nick would face it together.

The End