Page 30

Two months later …

Andy dabbed gently at her lashes so as not to smudge the rare bit of mascara she’d applied. Even though she hadn’t thought she could tear up any more today, her eyes had started leaking again. It was so unlike her, but…

These were her people and Cobble’s. Friends. Family. Colleagues. They’d all come out in force for her and Cobble’s wedding day. Cobble’s parents had arrived this morning from Vermont, along with Chuck’s folks, whom she’d met briefly before, but already loved. She could see that Mr. and Mrs. Smalley were busy getting to know Agent Tertia, which was good. Andy had a feeling Chuck and Elody, who’d finally stopped fighting their public displays of affection, would be the next to marry.

At a nearby table, Andy’s entire family had flown in from Minnesota, and they made for a lively and large crew.

There were friends, both old and new also in attendance, which made for a gathering that threatened to bust Wiley’s barn open at its seams.

And here she was. Soon to be marrying Cobble.

It blew Andy’s mind. She was finally getting her happily ever after. Just like so many others in the room, before her.

Happiness was everywhere.

Her boss, Del, stood hand-in-hand with his wife, Bri; five-year-old, Liam, and two-year-old Lila on either side of them, perched on grown-up chairs, fingers covered in wedding cake frosting.

Prez and Maygan sat at the same table; Prez holding two-year-old Aisa on his lap, while their older daughters, Lakisha and Rainie laughed over something Missy’s daughter-of-the-heart, Rory was saying. It still warmed Andy’s heart, how readily Rory had embraced Cobble into their lives, and how she’d already started debating over calling him “Pops” or “Dad”.

Wiley and Solina, at the next table over, were busy cooing at their new baby, Hattie, while Sarge and Brigid took turns abandoning their chairs to follow their newly walking son, Baylin, around the room.

Billboard and O’Shea remained quiet, while having eyes only for each other. They hadn’t announced it yet, but they’d told Andy in secret earlier today, that they were expecting, and were over-the-moon about it. They were waiting until O’Shea’s first trimester was complete to announce things to the world.

Andy’s gaze traveled to Perk and Sloane. The newly wedded pair had spent the last few months teasing their teammates mercilessly about all the rug-rats running amok, but Andy knew they weren’t going to hold out much longer before starting a family of their own.

Andy sighed happily, glancing back at Billboard, whose hand lay on O’Shea’s still flat stomach.

Wow. Someday soon, that might be her.

Cobble came up behind her, threading his arms around her waist; shaking Andy out of her daydreams. He brought her head back to the reality of today as he hugged her tightly. “Are you enjoying your upside-down wedding?” he asked quietly in her ear.

Andy wanted to giggle.

She was loving it, but she’d also been getting some serious shit over the way she’d orchestrated things today. But screw any dissenters. She’d had a long time to think about how she’d do things if this wedding ever came to pass, and she’d gone full steam ahead, not relenting when anyone made fun of her arrangements. This was the way she’d wanted her day to go, and Cobble had backed her the entire way.

“I’m thrilled,” Andy returned. “Just look at everybody. So comfortable, so engaged,” she sighed happily.

“You’re right. And for the record, I think you’re onto something, here,” Cobble agreed.

Andy gave over to a snicker.

They’d “borrowed” Wiley and Solina’s barn, where she, Cobble, and the SOS team—as well as the operatives’ partners and their kids who were old enough to help—had hidden away all the exercise equipment and mats, transforming the huge room into a wedding-venue-extraordinaire. They’d done an amazing job with the place, but that wasn’t the divergence from tradition to which Cobble was referencing.

It was something even more non-traditional.

When the guests had walked in, they’d expected—of course—to see neat rows of chairs, an aisle for a wedding party to access, and an officiant at the head of the room. But that’s not what had greeted them. The first order of business had not been for Andy and Cobble to stand up in front of the crowd and say their vows.

Nope. Everyone had been told, upon arrival, to grab their favorite drink from the open bar, then mingle, talk, and dance to the DJ’s offerings.

After a bit of confusion ensued, everyone had eagerly embraced the change of tradition.

After a period of time passed, the guests had been seated at tables by the wait-staff, where they’d then been served food and more drinks. Once the meal had been consumed and cleared away, everyone went back to not only socializing, but dancing again, this time to a lively jazz band that had set up during the meal.

Uh, huh. It was all good.

Andy and Cobble had yet to say their vows, but the time was fast approaching, and people would, instead of relocating to sterile rows, sit back at their very same tables for the ceremony.

“This is awesome,” Perk emoted, coming toward them with his arm firmly around the waist of his new wife, Sloane. “An unbelievable shake-up. Can I give you a both a congratulations on the order of operations, and a pre-congratulations on getting hitched?”

“Of course, Mistah Perkins,” Andy responded with a laugh.

He bent and kissed Andy’s cheek, then aimed his lips teasingly toward Cobble’s scruff, but Cobble easily ducked the gesture.

“Spoilsport,” Perk snickered, then in lieu of Cobble’s peck, he laid one on his wife before reiterating his previous statement. “I’ve never been to a wedding like this, and I’m loving every minute of it.”

Cobble looked proudly around. “Yeah. Andy’s idea, of course. And it looks like our guests have enjoyed the topsy-turvyness that she ordered up. They’re all pretty mellow now,” Cobble chuckled.

“Speaking of mellow…” Andy waved her empty wine glass at him. “I could use another one of these before our ‘I do’s’.”

“Your wish is my command.” Cobble leaned down and bussed her nose before taking her glass and hurrying away.

Andy watched until he disappeared into the crowd, then elbowed Sloane. “Go tell Director Baskins it’s time.”

Sloane grinned and dragged Perk across the room toward Baskins where after a brief conversation, the director glanced over and gave Andy a lift of his brow.

Andy nodded her approval, and Baskins winked.

He grabbed up a square box that he’d clearly kept under the table at his feet, then with it tucked safely under his arm, he strode to the front of the room. There, he took charge of the microphone that had been set up at a podium for the pending ceremony.

He tapped the mic and cleared his throat.

“Testing. Testing. Can everybody hear me?”

“Yes,” the crowd cried out with gusto.

“Good. Because I have an announcement.”

Cobble arrived back at Andy’s side and handed her, her glass. “What’s going on?” he asked. “What’s Baskins up to?”

Andy just shrugged, trying to keep a grin from breaking free.

Cobble settled in beside her, relaxed—with a contemplative look on his face in Baskins’ direction—but Andy’s leg jiggled nervously up and down beneath her yards of satin material. She was damned glad she’d gone for a wide-skirted wedding dress to disguise her nerves.

Baskins placed the box up on the podium in front of him, and wasted no time. “As you all are aware at this point, the joining of Missy Andriopolos and Sawyer Blue has been a long time in coming. Our friend Sawyer had to remain in hiding for fourteen years , which meant he couldn’t make any promises to Missy, which we all know had to be tough.”

There was some sympathetic murmuring from the crowd.

“What you may not know, is that during those years, Sawyer Blue didn’t let that get him down. At least not to the point where it ruined his life. He could have, but he didn’t abjectly sit in his safe house to whine and mope about his fate. No. He embraced his immediate reality, sucking every bit of opportunity out of his surroundings. He did this regardless of often being moved with only a few hours’ notice before getting dropped into a brand-new environment.”

Again, there were utterances of commiseration.

Andy looked up at Cobble. His ears were red at the kudos Baskins was bestowing, but his smile said he was pleased.

She squeezed his arm and leaned into him.

“Now, I want to give you a short list of Sawyer’s accomplishments while he was off the grid.” Baskins extracted reading glasses from his shirt pocket, then withdrew a paper from inside his jacket. He shook the page a few times to straighten it out.

Clearing his throat, he began. “During his time in hiding, Sawyer held down seven different construction jobs—”

A cheer broke out from one table off to the left, and one at the rear. They were filled with people Sawyer had worked with on building houses over those many years.

Cobble, true to his word, had looked up each and every one of the co-workers with whom he’d previously felt a connection. He’d gone on to explain exactly what had happened, and to a person, they’d understood, sympathized, and been ecstatic to be invited to meet the real Sawyer, attending his and Andy’s nuptials.

Baskins let the huzzah’s wind down, then continued. “But did his involvement in his temporary communities stop with his employment? No,” Baskins apprised the now rapt crowd. “He upped his game at every turn. He went to college, completing degrees in psychology, environmental science, and business management. He was also certified as a Wilderness First Responder, an outdoor education instructor, and an adventure expedition leader.”

The audience looked awed.

“He took classes in welding, cooking, and glass blowing. He learned how to sail. He volunteered at soup kitchens and homeless shelters,” Baskins enlightened them. “And also became one hell of a pitcher.”

Those in the know, laughed and cheered.

“When others might have folded,” Baskins went on, “or given up under the pressure of having a non-life, Sawyer Blue embraced it. He became not only a friend to many, but a valuable addition within each community where he lived.”

“Here, here,” Daire yelled from somewhere to Andy’s right, and the room erupted in whistles and applause.

Baskins waited patiently for everyone to settle down before he started up again. “Of course, this was all done, unfortunately, under a raft of aliases. Which meant Sawyer couldn’t take credit for any of it. He couldn’t keep the friends he made, nor could he put any of his accomplishments in a resumé to secure a job at his next stop. He couldn’t take credit for any of the good that he did. But that never stopped him.

“On sheer personality alone, Sawyer continued to find people who believed in him, trusted him, hired him, and befriended him. It speaks loudly of just the kind of person Sawyer is.

“So now, it’s time to give back to this amazing man.” Baskins beckoned Cobble’s way. “Sawyer? Can you step up here for a minute?”

Cobble looked at him, confused

“Don’t worry. You won’t be marrying me today,” he added, and everyone laughed. “Nor will you be seeing me as your intended’s maid of honor, thank God.”

Andy snickered.

“What’s this all about?” Cobble whisper-asked Andy before she turned him so his feet pointed toward the front of the room. Andy merely “hmphd” before giving him a push; elated when he didn’t hesitate, but moved forward.

“Ahh. Here’s the man of the hour,” Baskins stated as Cobble joined him. Everyone clapped and stomped loudly again.

Baskins cleared his throat. “Sawyer Blue, you can thank Agent Vessers and Agent Smalley for what I’m about to show you, but you also need to know that it was your almost-wife who started the ball rolling.”

Cobble looked a bit bemused, but he smiled back toward Andy.

Baskins, with a flourish, took the cover off the box he’d placed on the podium.

“Have a quick look inside,” Baskins told Cobble. “I think you’ll get the gist of things without digging through it all.”

Cobble gingerly lifted the first folder from the box, opened it, and…his mouth dropped open.

“Can you tell the folks what it is?” Baskins prompted.

“It’s… It’s a degree. In Business Administration.” Cobble blinked twice, as if he couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing. “And… It’s in my real name.” He pulled out a second file, and shook his head, clearly astounded.

“Here’s another, in Soil Science.” He swallowed hard and shuffled around in what lay in the box. “It’s full of…everything I’ve done.” Cobble looked up and caught the eyes of both Vessers and his cousin Chuck. “You two…did this?”

Chuck didn’t hesitate to stand. “We did. I only wish it could make up for all the years you lost, but it’s the least we could do. There are more degrees in there, as well as certifications and papers of your course completions. All now under the name of Sawyer Blue.”

Andy didn’t know if she’d ever seen Cobble quite as lost for words. He kept opening his mouth and closing it, before finally heading toward Chuck to embrace the shit out of him. Once he was done with that, and had swiped the unabashed tears from his eyes, he did the same with Sloane Vessers-Perkins.

Andy smiled wetly as after that over-the-top display, Cobble strode directly for her.

Picking her up and burying his head in her neck, he squeezed her hard and bit back a sob. “Thank you, Andy. Thank you, a million times, over. I’m not sure what I did to deserve you, but… This is an unimaginable gift.”

“I’m glad you like it,” she whispered back, fighting her own tears for the umpteenth time today. Who knew she could be so happy, after so many years of misery and uncertainty.

She sniffed.

Cobble did, too.

“So, Ms. Andriopolos,” Cobble managed gruffly, “what do you say?”

Cobble slid her down his body while maintaining eye contact. “Is it time to get married?”

He said the last, loudly, and with so much joy, that the room quieted.

It was as if everyone were holding their combined breaths.

“Yeah, doll,” Andy responded giddily. “Let’s do this.”

The ovation from those assembled, couldn’t have been louder.

Linking hands, Andy and Cobble made their way back to the front of the room, where Del now stood, a shit-eating grin on his face. He’d excitedly agreed to take a page out of Andy’s book—who’d been the officiant at Perk and Sloane’s wedding—and had received his “One-Day Marriage Designation” from the Governor’s office, so he could perform Andy and Cobble’s ceremony.

Del couldn’t stop the smile that threatened to overtake his face as he began.

“Dearly beloved…”

****

Andy didn’t process many of the words that passed between Del, Cobble, and herself during the short proceedings, but she was fully aware when Del wrapped things up by saying, “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may seal the deal with a kiss.”

The room erupted once again as Cobble captured Andy’s lips; not truncating the kiss for the sake of propriety, but doubling down to dip her backward and ravish her thoroughly.

Andy gave back as good as she got, messing up Cobble’s hair and biting his bottom lip with unspoken promises of what they’d enjoy later as they began their honeymoon, rafting in Colorado near one of Cobble’s many, past stays.

“Mmm,” Cobble growled happily and deeply in his chest, ultimately drawing Andy upright.

“Good?” Andy asked breathlessly, drawing her face away a scant few inches.

Cobble stared down at her.

His arms, strong bands that would hold this precious woman steady for the rest of their lives.

“Are you kidding?” he rasped. “Best kiss. Ever.”