Page 43 of The Clearing Rain

“Really?”Lacey wasn’t sure.She stood and smoothed down the bodice of the dress.When she’d tried it on, Steph at the bridal shop had assured her that there was no better dress for Lacey on the whole of the island of Tasmania, in the whole world even.The cream silk fell like a waterfall over her hips, over her still flat stomach—she still wasn’t showing yet, although everyone knew she was pregnant now—and down her legs all the way to her toes, and the lace bodice fit her like a glove, leaving her shoulders bare.But through her overwrought eyes, it looked completely out of place.How could she think she deserved a dress like this?

“Oh, honey.That dress is perfect.Wait till Nico gets a look at you.”Catarina came up and ran a soothing hand down Lacey’s arm, and Lacey’s pounding heart slowed a little.

“Really?”she asked, staring into Catarina’s blue eyes to make sure the older woman wasn’t just telling her what she wanted to hear.

“Really,” Catarina replied, patting Lacey’s hand in sympathy.“It’s just pre-wedding jitters, my love.Everyone gets them.”Just as Lacey predicted, Nico’s mum had seen straight through to the heart of Lacey’s near hysteria.

“You don’t think the flowers are too much?”Lacey reached up to touch the small headband of white native flowers the hairdresser had nestled into her hair.Her long, blonde hair hung down her back in loose waves, and to Lacey’s mind, the hairdresser had fussed for way too long over each individual curl.

“No, no,” Catarina crooned.“They look simple and elegant.Pretty, but not overindulgent.”Catarina took her hand and led her over to the chair in front of the mirror.“You look amazing,” she told her again.“There’s not going to be a dry eye in the house when you walk up that aisle.And remember who will be waiting for you at the other end.My handsome son.And he can’t wait for you to become his wife.”

“Thank you,” Lacey finally replied, deciding to believe the older woman.“And I can’t wait to become his wife,” she added, immediately realizing it was true.Why had she even questioned it?Of course she wanted to marry Nico.

Catarina patted her shoulder and beamed down at her.Naturally, it was Catarina who’d come to find Lacey at the last moment; her own mother would be too busy holding court with the other guests out in the yard.After only meeting Catarina and her partner, Andy, for the first time two days ago, Lacey knew she would get on well with her soon-to-be family-in-law.Catarina had called Laceyhoneyandmy loveright from the start, and Andy had given her a huge bear hug the moment he’d met her.Her own mother would never use any such term of endearment or hug her like that.She tried to stop the disloyal thought, but it came anyway.If only her mother could’ve been as caring and empathetic as Catarina.But there was no point in wishing for things that were impossible.Elora was who she was, and Lacey would either have to deal with it, or move on.

After much deliberation, she and Nico had decided to invite her mother and father to the ceremony, but under strict conditions.Elora was to keep her thoughts to herself about the choices Nico and Lacey were making, and not to interfere in any of the wedding arrangements, because Elora would try to take over if she was given the slightest chance.Silently, Lacey believed her mother would break the rules before the end of the night—a leopard like Elora never changed her spots—but she couldn’t find it in her heart to exclude her mother from such an important occasion, and so was prepared to ignore any fallout.This was her wedding and nothing was going to take away her joy today.

It’d been three weeks since Nico had defeated Serge and finally put him in jail.But a lot had happened in those three weeks.

Those few seconds, when he’d pulled her into his lap after he’d triumphed over his father, were etched into her mind forever.She’d had no words to explain how scared she’d been.How helpless she’d felt.Hearing the two men battling like vikings outside and not being able to see what was going on.Not knowing who was winning.Not knowing if Nico was alive or dead.

The shock at seeing Nico appear at the door while Serge had held a gun to her head had been so great she nearly burst a blood vessel in her brain.But that was nothing compared to the shock when Nico had obeyed Serge’s words and obediently turned around and headed out of the door.She could hardly believe it.He was leaving her alone and unprotected?So he could what…?Go and fight it out man-to-man outside?The noises coming from outside were incredible, and she was desperate to see what was going on, so she’d started to shuffle and roll her way toward the open door.But the flea-bitten furniture hindered her movements, and she’d only made it a little way before she’d been blocked because the gap between the couch and the wall had been too small for her to fit through.She kicked and screamed through her duct tape at the couch, but her need to at least overhear what was going on outside had outweighed her frustration at being stuck inside.And so, she’d rolled back to her spot in the corner and lay there, trying to quiet the breath that wheezed in and out of her nostrils as she struggled to breathe so she could decipher the noises coming from the front yard.

No words could explain how her heart had soared when it’d been Nico who walked through that door a few minutes later.She couldn’t speak because of the tape over her mouth; all she could do was implore him with her eyes.He’d sat down beside her and lifted her so tenderly into his lap, removing the tape as he did so.

“All I could hear was you fighting, and then your father screaming,” she’d sobbed into his chest.“I didn’t know what was going on.I didn’t know if you were alive or dead.”

“I’m very much alive, baby,” he’d crooned when she’d burst out crying as he touched her, and then his own eyes had filled with tears.

Nico had cradled her as he called for backup on his cell phone, and she laid her head against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat and felt nothing but gratitude and love.There was nothing with which to cut through her ties, but she’d been happy just to lean against him and let him run his hand over her hair, soothing her like a lost kitten.Once he’d arranged for a unit to get here ASAP to take Serge into custody—Lacey had no doubt the place would be crawling with just about every cop from Burnie station in the next half hour—they’d sat in the corner and savored each other’s company.Lacey drew strength from Nico’s quite assurance.He had an aura around him that hadn’t been there before.An air of supreme confidence, as if he’d just conquered Mt Everest and made it down alive.And perhaps Serge had been his own Everest.

“You are the best thing that ever happened to me,” Nico said suddenly, with such vehemence Lacey was taken aback and looked up into his indigo eyes.

“We’re getting married as soon as is humanly possible,” Nico had murmured fiercely into her ear.“I’m making you my wife, and we’re giving this child a family, a name he can be proud of.I’m going to keep him safe, and I’m going to keep you safe.I’m not going to let my father’s legacy be my own.”

She’d absorbed his words.“It’s a him, is it?”Lacey had challenged tearfully.

“Definitely.”

“Then I guess I’ll marry you.Even though it might be a girl.”

And that was that.Nico hadn’t so much asked her to marry him as demanded it.But in that moment, it was okay with her.They’d just walked through fire and come out—not necessarily unscathed—the other side.Emotions were running high, but they were both safe, and that was all that mattered.

They’d chosen this date, because it was the soonest they could find a celebrant to marry them.And Nico was at a loose end for a while, since he’d been suspended pending an internal investigation into his actions on that day at the farm.So they could even have the luxury of taking a few weeks for a honeymoon afterward, despite the circumstances.Nico had known full well what he’d been doing by going against direct orders.Shadbolt had been none too happy when Nico had called in for a police car to attend the farmhouse and take the serial killer into custody.And he’d had plenty to say to Nico afterward.But the fact was they had the murderer in custody and Lacey was safe.The only two things that mattered to Nico.

Lacey was still sore at him for breaking all the rules and putting his job on the line to come and rescue her.But he was still sore at her for putting their baby at risk.So in both those aspects they were pretty much even.But neither of them would stay mad for long, because they had extremely good reasons for doing what they did.And everything had worked out okay in the end.

“I think they’re nearly ready for you outside,” Catarina said, breaking Lacey’s reverie.“Are you up to it, my darling girl?”Catarina’s gaze found hers in the mirror.

“Yes.Thank you for your help.”Lacey stood and embraced her soon-to-be mother-in-law.At least Nico’s side of the family was easy to deal with, and she was so happy to be welcomed with open arms.She pushed away and straightened her shoulders.

“You’ll do good.”Catarina touched her face lightly, then turned to open the bedroom door and helped Lacey through the doorway; even with such a short train on her dress, it got tangled in everything.Lacey breathed deeply as she preceded Catarina down the dim hallway, heading toward the noise and bustle coming from the backyard.

“If you’re sure you’re okay, I’ll go back and join Andy,” Catarina said.“Your father is waiting for you just down there.”She pointed through the screen door to where Lacey could just make out the top of her father’s head over the railing of the back porch.

“Thank you again.”Lacey leaned in for one more hug as Catarina fussed with her hairpiece.Then she was gone and Lacey stood alone on the threshold.

She stepped out onto the porch and surveyed everything below.

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