Chapter Forty-Two
The announcement of the Deranged Bride’s Covenant Marriage to Mr. Owen March, president and CEO of Forensic Psi-Genetics Consulting, made the front page of the Curtain.
“Aside from referring to me as the Deranged Bride, the story is okay,” Alice announced, greatly relieved. “It could have been so much worse.”
She and Owen were on the balcony of her little house in the Dark Zone.
The ruins of the ancient Dead City glowed in the night, flooding the neighborhood with green shadows.
She was still in her wedding gown. The white satin skirts cascaded over the edge of the lounger and pooled on the floor.
She had discarded the high heels in favor of fluffy pink slippers that resembled dust bunnies.
Owen had removed his tux jacket, loosened his tie, and unbuttoned the top buttons of his pleated white shirt. He looked very dashing, she thought, watching him pour champagne into two glasses.
Sebastian was perched on the balcony railing, munching pretzels and communing with the night. He was wearing his tinfoil helmet. The lenses of his sunglasses glinted an eerie green, thanks to the light from the Great Wall.
Life was good, Alice decided. Never perfectly balanced, but good.
“Read the article to me,” Owen said.
“All right.
“ ‘The wedding was a small affair held in a chapel in the Dark Zone. The reception was catered by Ollie’s House of Pizza. Guests included several clients and the staff of the Aurora Street Dream Clinic.
“ ‘Readers will recall that Ms. Radstone recently inherited a large number of shares in Kelbrook Industries, a closely held company.
Ms. Radstone returned the shares in exchange for a multimillion-dollar donation from the company that will go directly to the Aurora Street Dream Clinic and other community-based counseling services.
“ ‘The death of Dunstan Kelbrook and a company vice president has shaken the firm. Kelbrook’s eldest son, Lawrence Kelbrook, has assumed control. He made it clear to the press and the financial world that he was pleased to have the shares back in the family and to know the money paid for them would go to such a worthy cause. “We are very grateful to Ms. Radstone,” he said. “We consider ourselves in her debt. The shares she inherited were worth a great deal more.” ’ ”
“No mention of the fact that his father and a company VP tried to kidnap you and have you committed again,” Owen remarked.
“And nothing about how they tried to murder you.”
“People like the Kelbrooks are good at tidying up news releases.” Owen handed her a glass of champagne. “Look on the bright side. The Kelbrooks claim they are in your debt.”
Alice shuddered. “I don’t want to have anything to do with that family ever again.”
Owen touched the edge of his glass to hers. “Agreed. But I think they feel the same way about you, so I doubt that there will be any problems in that direction. All of which means we are finally free to plan our own future.”
She smiled. “Yes, it does. Got some ideas?”
“A few.”
“I have a few ideas, too,” she said.
“Why do I have the feeling that we will argue about some of our plans?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. We are two intelligent people. We will have logical, reasonable discussions per the Ballantine Method.”
“And then have wild makeup sex,” Owen said, pleased. “Works for me. Just so you know, the only thing that matters in my plans is that you’re in them.”
“Coincidentally, the only thing that matters in my plans is that we’re together.”
“I’ll be there,” he promised. “Always.”
She lost herself in the loving heat of his eyes. “So will I. Always.”