“I’m assuming that was a rhetorical exclamation,” Nick answered. “I got rolled. Don’t act like you’ve never seen it happen before. You and the Daughter of Darkness roll me quite frequently. Are you pissed off because an acquaintance did it?”
Rachel took a deep breath, and let her arms slip to her sides as she straightened. “Maybe. I’m shell shocked. You only last night returned from ending an incredibly dangerous threat. I heard you wake to tackle Diego’s continuing adventures, all happy-go-lucky. Then, you walk Jean to school, and return with us as the main ingredients in Dimah Kader’s wedding, including you giving away the bride – at a wedding her family will probably send suicide bombers to. How am I doing?”
“Pretty fair, except you forgot to mention my agreeing to help Dimah’s cousin from the East, also running from her psycho family,” Nick replied.
“Madre de Dios!”
“I’m getting a lot of that lately.” Nick turned to the very entertained Gus. “See, Payaso, I told you Rach would be calmly tolerant of my newly acquired duties.”
“I want my husband back! You know… the one I married. The one who shot a woman right between her horns while petting her dog. Let’s see… what was it you said when I asked you if she was bad? Oh yeah… you said ‘she was to someone’. You probably ate the dog later. That’s my husband! Where is he! What have you done with him?”
By that time both Gus and Nick were engrossed in amused appreciation of Rachel’s verbal tantrum. Rachel plopped down on a kitchen chair. “I’m glad you and Payaso think this is so funny, Muerto. You could have pointed out the fact there is such a thing as elopement to Dimah. You could have written them a check for a Las Vegas special with an entire hotel wing for her fiancé’s Marine detachment.”
“Is there something you don’t understand about the admission, ‘I got rolled’.”
“Never mind. I’m going to fix this for you. When you chaperone the dance, have Dimah call me. I’ll make some polite suggestions, and add an offer to help with a planned Vegas special. They have some great package deals I’m sure she’ll enjoy. I don’t think she’s considered the unintended consequences of having even a moderately attended wedding with her whacko relatives anywhere around.”
“That sounds good to me, Rach. I’ll punt that ball out on her one yard line the moment I have a chance to discuss things with her during my chaperone duties.”
“Sometimes, it takes a woman’s light touch in these matters.”
“By the way… I didn’t eat the lady’s dog, you Philistine.”
*
Nick was stationed near the older kids at the dance. The principal rightly assumed with the reputation he had garnered, there would be less likelihood of any trouble with the students nearing their teenage years. Having accidentally on purpose killed a gunman in the school hallway went far beyond making gang signs with fingers, and wearing pants at the thighs. He was the real deal, and the dancers under his supervision respected that fact with relatively good behavior.
Nick could see Jean interacting with her friends, and dancing with whatever boy was courageous enough to ask her. When she did, he recorded it with his small zoom lens digital cam. Since she didn’t turn anyone down, more of the boys gravitated to her. Sonny danced with her a couple of times, but seemed more taken with her conversation between dances which Nick also recorded because he knew Rachel would think them cute. Nick had already relayed Rachel’s request to Dimah, who promised to call her before she and Nick talked. He saw Dimah approach hurriedly with a big smile as the song ended.
“Rachel is so happy for me! She agreed to be Maid of Honor if Quinn is born on time. You two are the best! I have a beautiful spot picked out near ‘Lover’s Point’ amongst the trees there.”
“That is a beautiful area. Well, what a nice surprise,” Nick said. “Rachel never hinted to me that she would be interested in being part of the wedding. I thought perhaps she had some other suggestions for you. I guess it’s all set then. It’s good you weren’t shooting for an April wedding. I will need most of this month to handle the book signings in Washington.”
“I can’t possibly do it until June, which will be perfect. I believe Rachel hopes Quinn is early. She mentioned being very tired of her pregnancy.”
“It would not be good for her to have Quinn on our trip, but what happens… happens. As long as he’s healthy, inconvenience means very little.”
“Yes, so true. How do you like our April dance for the kids. I bet you pictured all manner of scenes with your imagination.”