The reception was casual, like the couple, like the wedding. It was in the park, in the clearing Maggie considered hers. Although, it was quickly changing to ‘ours' in her mind. Maggie stood next to Adam as he spoke to the people she didn't know, which was most of the crowd. Most of the ones she did added a rainbow of colors in her second sight, and it made her smile.
A hand touched her shoulder, and she turned to smile at her father. "Come dance with me," he said this time. "It's tradition."
She turned to tell Adam where she was going, then allowed her father to lead her onto the dance floor. "Are you okay?" she asked gently. His hand had drifted to her shoulder all afternoon, almost as if he were reassuring himself she was actually there.
He smiled, misty eyed, and hugged her gently. "I'm fine. Just the odd mixture of happy and sad that every father goes through at his daughter's wedding. Are you sure this young man understands you?"
Maggie smiled, raised up on her tiptoes, and kissed his cheek. "I'm sure, Daddy. Don't worry about me, or him. We'll be fine." She caught sight of her father's ‘date'. "Are you happy with Karen?"
He stiffened slightly. "I am, Maggie."
"Good," she said decisively, and he relaxed again. "I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your wedding."
"It's okay," he said gently, with a smile. "I saw your car. I was just glad you survived."
"So am I, believe me," she said, then a hand tapped her shoulder again. She turned to smile up at Adam and Karen, her eyes lighting up as she saw her husband.
Karen chuckled softly. "Trade me?" she asked. "Adam's nice, but I rather prefer your dance partner."
Her father chuckled as Maggie let him go. "Go, spend time with him," he said quietly.
Maggie blushed and stepped into Adam's arms. Without a second thought, he led her off the dance floor.
Someone blocked their escape route, and Maggie grinned. "Tanya! You made it!" she exclaimed, and gave the other woman a hug.
"I'm sorry I missed the ceremony," she said as Maggie let her go again. "I don't have much time, but I wanted to stop in and tell you both congratulations." There was a shadow in her eyes when she looked at Adam, who had turned to talk to Rocky, and it was gone when she looked back, but Maggie had seen it. Tanya smiled the best she could with the pain in her heart.
"I'm glad you did. Thank you." Maggie leaned closer. "I wish you love and happiness, Tanya. And I wish that you recognize it when you see it."
Tanya stared at her, then slowly a smile spread over her face. "Thank you. Really. Um. Adam?"
He turned. "Tanya. Thank you for coming." He reached out to give her a hug. "I'm glad you could make it."
"It's a short call, I'm afraid. I made them give me a longer lay over, so I could make it, but I have to get back." She seemed much more at ease, less... regretful. "But congratulations. And I wish you both the best." She leaned down and kissed Adam on the cheek, then hugged Maggie again and made her way from the clearing.
"What did you say to her?" Adam asked Maggie, slipping an arm around her waist.
"That I wished her love and happiness - and that she'd recognize it when she saw it."
He brushed her hair from her face. "You amaze me, sometimes," he said softly. "You just do."
"Yeah, well... the feelings mutual," she whispered. "I'm still not sure how I got to be so lucky."
"Blessed," he corrected her softly. "Blessed."
"I'd like to make a toast," Rocky announced, and the talking paused. Maggie and Adam turned to face him. "Adam has been one of my best friends for years. We've been through a lot together, most of it good, some of it bad. Through it all, amazingly, we've managed to stay friends. He never forgot me when I was hurt, and stuck with me through the physical therapy when I threatened to kill him on a daily basis.
"Maggie, on the other hand, has been on of my best friends for years." He winked at her as everyone laughed. "Not as many as Adam, granted, and many of those she was off traipsing around the country. I still don't have many details, hint hint, about what happened. But she is no less dear for that. And no one deserves happiness more than these too - not that most people deserve it less, but you know what I mean. So, I give two of my best friends."
A cheer went up, and Adam hugged Maggie closer. "He went on forever at Aisha's wedding, and really made her embarrassed," he murmured. She grinned up at him.
"What did you do to keep him from doing that?" He gave her an innocent look, and she laughed. "Fine, don't tell me," she said softly.
There were a few more toasts, none quite as funny as Rocky's, then the music started up again. The guests went back to eating and dancing, and slowly, Adam began drifting for the edge of the clearing, taking Maggie with him. Once they reached it, they slipped through the trees until the music was a low noise in the background.
Adam took a deep breath, and the tension drained from him. Maggie grinned. "Not a crowd person, I guess."
"No, not really." He reached up and brushed hair from her face. "You know," he said, almost conversationally, "you have made me the happiest man I know."
She hugged him tightly, then relaxed without moving away from him. "Well, good, because I'd hate this to be one sided," she murmured.
"How long do you think it will be before they come looking for us?" he whispered.
"Far too short. On the other hand," she added, stepping back from him to meet his eyes, "we have a couple of weeks just to ourselves."
"When does it start?" he whispered.
"Far too long," she whispered back, then sighed as someone called her name. "See, far too short." He squared his shoulders, and they walked back to the clearing.
Finally, the reception was nearing it's end. Maggie breathed a sigh of relief and sagged limply against Tabitha. "I like all of these people I don't know, and I love all the ones I do, but this is ridiculous!" she muttered. "I want to go sleep somewhere."
"Sleep?" Tabitha teased.
"Yes. Sleep. A nice, long night of sleep - and lots of play afterwards." She blushed, but grinned anyway.
Tabitha chuckled. "Oh, you'll be fine. There he is. Go on. I'll see you when you get back."
Maggie surprised her friend with a hug. "Thank you for everything, Tabitha. And have fun. I'll see you soon."
She turned and smiled at Adam - her husband - and at the butterflies the sight of him still conjured in her stomach. He held out his hand to her; she took it and he tucked hers into his elbow to escort her out of the clearing under a shower of bubbles, and to the sound of laughter.
Secrets