Slowing enough to keep the dust to a minimum, he was again spotted by the construction supervisor, who again yelled that it was critical for them to talk. Jack didn't even bother to answer. Outside, the taxi was still waiting. Jack crossed the street and jumped in.

" Riverside Church!" Jack yelled.

"Do you know what cross street?" the driver asked, looking at Jack in the rearview mirror.

"One hundred twenty-second," Jack clipped. He began struggling with his studs, dropping one on the seat, where it quickly disappeared into a black hole between the seat and the seat back. Jack tried to get his hand into the crack but couldn't and quickly gave up. Instead, he used the studs he had, leaving the lowest buttonhole empty.

"Are you getting married?" the driver asked, continuing to glimpse at Jack in the mirror.

"I hope so," Jack said. He then turned to the cuff-link challenge. He tried to recall the last time he had donned a tux as he finished with the first cuff link and began on the second. He couldn't remember, although it had to have been back in his previous life, when he was an ophthalmologist. After the cuff links, Jack bent down and tied his shoes and dusted himself. The final job was buttoning the top button of his shirt and hooking the bow tie behind his neck.

"You look fine," the driver said with a broad smile.

"I'll bet," Jack said with his usual sarcasm. He leaned forward and extracted his wallet. Looking at the taxi meter, he got out enough twenty dollar bills to cover it, plus two extra. He dumped the money into the front seat through the Plexiglas partition as the driver turned onto Riverside Drive.

Ahead, the Riverside Church 's sand-colored belfry came into view. It towered over its neighboring structures and stood out with its Gothic architecture. In front of the church were several black limousines. Except for the drivers, who were out of their vehicles leaning against the sides, there were no people. Jack looked at his watch. It was one thirty-three. He was three minutes late.

Jack again had the taxi door open before the car was completely stopped. He yelled a thank-you to the driver over his shoulder as he leaped out into the street. Buttoning his jacket, he took the church's front steps two at a time. Ahead in the open doorway, Laurie suddenly appeared like a mirage. She was gowned magnificently in a white wedding dress. From behind her issued forth powerful organ music.

Jack stopped to take in the scene. He had to admit she looked more lovely than ever, truly radiant. The only slight detraction was her hands, which were balled into fists and planted defiantly on her hips. There was also her father, Dr. Montgomery, who looked regal but not amused.

"Jack!" Laurie intoned in a voice hovering between anger and relief. "You are late!"

"Hey," Jack called back spreading his hands. "At least I'm here."

Laurie broke into a smile in spite of herself. "Get yourself into the church," she ordered playfully.

Jack climbed the rest of the way up the stairs. Laurie reached out with her hand, and Jack took it. She then leaned close and looked at him appraisingly with a touch of concern.

"God, you look awful."

"You shouldn't flatter me so," Jack said with feigned bashfulness.

"You haven't even shaved."

"There are worse secrets," he confessed, hoping she couldn't tell he'd not showered for more than thirty hours.

"I don't know what I'm getting myself into," Laurie said with her smile returning. "My mother's friends are going to be appalled."

"And indeed they should be."

Laurie smiled wryly at Jack's humor. "You are never going to change."

"I disagree. I can tell I've changed. I might be a tad late, but I'm glad I'm here. Will you marry me?"

Laurie's smile broadened. "Yes, of course. That's been my intention for more years than I care to admit."

"I can't tell you how thankful I am that you were willing to wait."

"I suppose you have some elaborate explanation for this anxious, down-to-the-wire arrival."

"I'm looking forward to telling you. Frankly, the denouement in Boston has me stunned. It's a story you are not going to believe."

"I'm looking forward to hearing it," Laurie said. "But now you'd better get into the church and up onto that altar. Your best man, Warren, is fit to be tied. Fifteen minutes ago, he was out here and said he was, quote, 'going to whip your ass.'"

Laurie propelled Jack forward into the interior of the church, where he was engulfed by the organ music. For a moment he hesitated, looking down the length of the impressive nave. He was overwhelmingly intimidated. The right side of the church was packed, with hardly a seat available, whereas the left was nearly empty, although Jack saw Lou Soldano and Chet. Ahead at the altar stood the priest, or reverend, or pastor, or rabbi, or imam: Jack didn't know and didn't care. He was not thrilled by organized religion and did not feel one was any better than another. Next to the clergyman stood Warren, and even from a distance, he looked impressive in his tuxedo. Jack took a deep breath for fortitude and started forward into a whole new life.

The rest of the ceremony was a blur for Jack. He had to be pushed and nudged in this direction or that or whispered to in an attempt to get him to do what was required. Because of his being in Boston, he'd missed the rehearsal, so from his perspective, it was all ad lib.

The part he liked the best was running out of the church, because it meant the ordeal was over. Once in the car, he had a rest, but it was much too short. The drive from the church to Tavern on the Green and the reception was only a quarter of an hour.

The reception was less intimidating than the wedding, and in different circumstances of being less exhausted, he almost would have found it enjoyable. Particularly after a heavy meal including wine and some obligatory dancing, Jack was beginning to fade. But before he did so, he needed to make a call. Excusing himself from his table, he found a relatively quiet spot at the restaurant's entrance. He punched in Alexis's cell phone number and was pleased when she answered.

"Are you married?" Alexis asked as soon as she knew it was Jack.

"I am.

"Congratulations! I think it's wonderful and I'm very happy for you."

"Thank you, sister," Jack said. "I particularly wanted to call to apologize for my role in creating more turmoil in your life. You invited me to Boston to help Craig and thereby help you, and I ended up doing the opposite. I'm terribly sorry. I feel complicit."

"Thank you for apologizing," Alexis said. "I surely don't hold you responsible for Craig's behavior and for it being exposed. I truly believe it would have eventually. And to be entirely honest, I'm glad to know It will make my decision-making much easier."

"Did Craig reappear in court?"

"No, he didn't, and I still have no idea where he is. There is a warrant for his arrest, and the police have already appeared at the house with a search warrant. They have confiscated all his papers, including his passport, so he's not going far. Wherever he is, he's just putting off the inevitable."

"Surprisingly enough, I feel sorry for him," Jack said.

"I feel sorry for him as well."

"Has he tried to see the children or call?"

"No, he hasn't, although that doesn't surprise me. He's never been close to the children."

"I don't think he's ever been close to anyone, except maybe you."

"In retrospect, I don't think he was even close to me. It's a tragedy, and I personally believe his father shares a portion of the blame."

"Please keep me posted!" Jack said. "We're heading out on our honeymoon, but I'll have my cell phone."

"I did learn something else disturbing this afternoon. A week ago, Craig had refinanced our house, taking out several million dollars."