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custom-tailored tux. Chris stared at himself in a pier

glass. "Cathy, am I gaining weight?" he asked with

concern.

"No, darling. You look terrif--as Cindy would

say."

"What do you say?"

"You grow more handsome with each passing

year." I stepped closer to encircle his waist with my

arms as my cheek rested against his back. "I love you

more each year . . . and even when you are as old as

Joel, I will see you as you are now . . . standing twelve

feet tall, in your shining suit of armor, soon to ride your white unicorn. In your hand you'll carry a twelve-foot spear with a green dragon's head perched

upon its point."

In the mirror I saw his reflection; tears had

come to glisten in his eyes. "After all this time, you

remember," he whispered hoarsely. "After all these

many years . . . '

"As if I could forget . . ."

"But it's been so long ago."

"And today the moon shone at noon," I

murmured, moving to face him and slide my arms up

around his neck, "and a blizzard blew in your unicorn

. . . and I saw to my own delight that you've always

had my respect. You didn't need to earn it." Those two tears trickled slowly down his

cheeks. I kissed them away. "So you forgive me,

Catherine? Say now, while we have the chance, that

you forgive me for putting you through so much hell.

For Bart would have turned out differently if I had

stayed only his uncle and found another wife." I was careful not to smudge his jacket with my

makeup as I rested my cheek over his heart, which I