She handed Mia a rectangular box. Inside lay a sapphire and diamond tennis bracelet set in white gold. “Oh, Mom. It’s beautiful. Can you help me put iton?”
Her mother lifted the bracelet from the box and clipped it onto her wrist. “I want you to keep it. You remind me of your grandmother. You have her passion forlife.”
“Thankyou.”
A troubled expression came over her mother’s face. “I’m sorry for the way we behaved the other night. I have nothing against Joaquin. I just worry about yoursoul.”
“You should have a long talk with Joaquin’s grandmother. She’s worried, too, because I’m not converting and we’re not getting married in the CatholicChurch.”
Her mother stared at Mia—then smiled. “I suppose she and Idohave something in commonthere.”
“Don’t you think it was God who brought Joaquin into my life?” Mia wasn’t a religious person, but the words felt true to her. “He saved me, Mom. He literally put himself between me and a bullet, and then he crawled across my condo, close to dying, to kill the man who was trying to murderme.”
Did her mother notunderstand?
“He is very brave—and so areyou.”
“Apology accepted. I don’t suppose Dad knows about this littletalk.”
“You just enjoy your day. I will deal with your father.” Her mother smoothed a hand over Mia’s curls. “You are a beautiful bride. Let’s not keep Joaquinwaiting.”
* * *
Joaquin stoodwith Matt in the Rose Pavilion at the Botanic Gardens, which had been closed off to all but members of the wedding party and their guests. The roses were in full bloom, their scent filling the air. No wonder Mia lovedit.
Chairs had been set up, and most of the seats were filled, family and friends mixing on both sides, some coming up to congratulate Joaquin. The string quartet they had hired sat in the shade, tuning theirinstruments.
It was all comingtogether.
“Did the judge get his payment?” Joaquin had found a Spanish-speaking judge who was willing to marry them outside of his courtroom—for an extrafee.
“Yes.” Matt, Joaquin’s best man, fidgeted with Joaquin’s rosebud boutonniere. “Would yourelax?”
“Weren’t you nervous at yourwedding?”
Matt shook his head. “I was drunk. That’swhythere was awedding.”
That explained a few things—such as why Matt was nowdivorced.
Matt glanced around. “You saved a fortune on flowers by having the wedding here, man. Look at thisplace.”
“This is Mia’s favorite part of thegardens.”
“It’s strange that she works here and she’s getting married here. I sure as hell wouldn’t want to get married in thenewsroom.”
Joaquin laughed. “She lovesroses.”
Most of the guests had arrived, his relatives mingling with their I-Team friends and Mia’s co-workers, talking and laughing with one another. Jack and Nate made their way through the crowd with Janet and Megan, Jack in an Army dress uniform and Nate in his Marine dress blues. Zach, too, had come in dress uniform, complete with his Medal of Honor. They’d worn their uniforms to honorMia.
Everyone was smiling—including his long-sufferingabuelita. She sat up front with his parents, holding thelazoin her lap. It was the only element of a traditional Mexican wedding that he and Mia had preserved.Padrinos—godparents or mentors—draped it around the bride and groom in a figure eight before they made their vows as an added blessing and a sign of the unity of marriage. If they’d had a church wedding, thelazowould have been an extra-long rosary, but Joaquin and Mia had opted for orange blossoms, which were alsotraditional.
The judge made his way up the aisle, dressed in black robes. He shook Joaquin’s and Matt’s hands. “The big day is finally here. This place islovely.”
Joaquin was in the middle of telling him that this is where Mia worked and that the roses were her favorite part of the gardens when Matt interruptedhim.
“Here comes Mia’s mom,” Mattsaid.
That meant Mia was here—and that the ceremony was about tobegin.