The rehearsal dinner was Friday night. In the afternoon, Regan received a special delivery from Pamela and Arnold. It was one of Pamela’s antique bracelets. The card read, “We wish you the best tomorrow, Regan. Please accept this bracelet as a token of our affection and gratitude.”

Regan called to thank them. Pamela was exuberant on the phone. “Regan, our son just called us. He and his wife were in the process of adopting a baby but didn’t want to tell us until it went through. They didn’t want to get our hopes up. So we will have a baby to spoil after all. You and Jack will have to come by when they’re in town.”

“We will,” Regan promised.

Brianne called as well. She was about to head out to her rehearsal dinner. Her gown was hanging safely in her parents’ house. Alfred and Charisse had worked for three days and nights getting it done.

“Regan,” Brianne said, “I wish we could be at each other’s weddings.”

“Me, too, Brianne. When we get back from our honeymoons, we’ll have a night comparing our videos and pictures.”

“I’m so glad we’re friends, Regan. I feel as if we really got to know each other.”

“That we did!” Regan laughed.

“And I’m sorry if I acted like a jerk when you first met me.”

“Hey-don’t worry about it. Your dress was the one in shreds.”

“Can you believe it?” Brianne asked, her voice becoming agitated. “I still wish I could have shown those two bums a thing or two.”

“Brianne, I think they got your message,” Regan chuckled. You can be comforted by the fact that they’re suffering right now. Especially Francis. That guy is never going to recover.”

“You’re right, Regan. Can you believe we’re the only two out of the five April Brides getting married? I think Alfred is a jinx.”

“Brianne!”

“It’s true, Regan.”

“I don’t think it’s Alfred’s fault that less than half of his April Brides are making it to the altar. You and I are lucky. And Tracy ’s better off without Jeffrey. Those other two, well, as Alfred would say, ‘At least they have good taste in wedding dresses.’ ”

Brianne laughed. “All the best to you tomorrow, Regan. You’re going to make a beautiful bride. And you’re going to make someone very happy.”

“So are you, Brianne,” Regan said sincerely. “I’ll see you in a few weeks.”

Saturday, April 9th

69

At the back of St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Manhattan, Alfred and Charisse were making a final fuss over the train of Regan’s dress when the processional music began.

“You look gorgeous,” Alfred whispered.

“Fabulous,” Charisse said as she blew a kiss. They hurried through a side door and up to their seats.

Kit handed Regan her bouquet. “It’s really happening, Regan. You’re getting hitched.”

Regan smiled at her best friend. “I know. I’m glad I’m not just visualizing this.”

Jack’s three sisters were also Regan’s bridesmaids. One of them started down the aisle, followed by the second, the third, and then Kit, Regan’s maid of honor.

Regan looked up at Luke, her arm tucked in his. “Are you ready, Daddy?”

Luke’s eyes were misty. “I never thought I’d be ready for this moment. But the guy you’re marrying makes it all seem right.”

The music switched to the bridal processional. The congregation stood, and faced the back of the church, eagerly awaiting Regan’s appearance.

Luke and Regan came around the corner of the vestibule and went up the steps.

On the altar, Jack’s breath was taken away by the sight of his beautiful bride.

As Luke and Regan made their slow walk down the aisle, Regan savored every second. She was about to marry her soul mate, and the people she and Jack loved had come to share their joy.

Family, old friends, new friends. Some very new friends.

Tracy was with Jay, beaming. I’ve got to hand it to her, Regan thought. She’s a survivor. Not many women could get out and celebrate someone else’s wedding on the day she was supposed to be married, no matter how big a creep her fiancé turned out to be. Joyce and Tom were in the same pew. Tom had his arm firmly around Joyce’s waist as she stood on one foot.

Regan smiled at them as well as at many of the other friends she’d met through her work. Lem and Viddy from Vermont, Thomas from the Settler’s Club, the actress Whitney Weldon and her boyfriend, Whitney’s aunt Lucretia Standish, Ellie Butternut, an aspiring actress from Los Angeles who Regan was sure would be a star, Louis, the restaurateur from Aspen, Lady Veronica from England, Will and his wife, Kim, from Hawaii…

Her dear friends Alvirah and Willy Meehan had a place of honor behind the family. Alvirah had helped them find Luke when he was kidnapped. She was wiping her eyes.

“I’m warning you,” she’d told Regan. “I always cry at weddings.”

Nora was in the front pew, her eyes shining with pride. Regan reached out and touched Nora’s hand as she went by. Jack’s parents were in the front pew on the other side. She couldn’t ask for better in-laws.

Jack was standing at the altar waiting for her. He was so handsome. His groomsmen, including his two brothers, were lined up next to him. Everyone looked so happy.

Regan thought of the time Jack had shown up at her parents’ house unexpectedly after her father was safely returned after being kidnapped. She would never forget the words he spoke to her when she opened the door…

Luke kissed her on the cheek, shook Jack’s hand, and stepped away. As Jack reached for her, she leaned toward him and whispered, “Have you got room for another Reilly around here?”

Jack smiled broadly as he took her hand in his. “Like you had to ask…”

Carol Higgins Clark