Graham belonged in the fantasy, but not like this.

Not standing beside her so solemn that he looked as if he were attending a .

funeral instead of a wedding.

His wedding.

Their wedding.

Tired pink plastic roses drooped from vases strategically set around a

living room crammed with knickknacks.

"The Wedding March" floated weakly out of a music box that appeared older than she was.

Everything needed dusting.

There were no friends to wish them well, nothing about this ceremony to

differentiate it from the thousands of others that had come before.

And the thousands of others that would come after.

Nothing, she reminded herself, clutching the plastic bouquet that the

justice of the peace's wife had shoved into her hands at the last moment, except the two of them.

That made the difference.

They had arrived at the last-minute decision in her drive way.

Graham had taken the only chance he had of keepin Jake.

He had agreed that they should drive to Las Vegas an get married.

Quickly, before common sense stepped in an forbade him to go through

with it.

They had paused only long enough for Graham to call h mother from Caitlin's house.

And then only to inform I-11 that he wouldn't be home that night.

He didn't say a word about getting married.

Caitlin, overhearing the conversation and what wasn' said, tried not to

let it bother her.

His mother had told him that Celia had come over an tried to see the boy.

Jake had been playing at a friend' house and Lily had turned her

away.

If Graham had had any lingering doubts about going through with the wedding, that had made up his mind for him.

His back was to the wall.

So they had driven the three hundred miles that stretc between Phoenix

and Las Vegas, stopping only long enou to get gas and pick up

hamburgers, sodas and fries.

Her prenuptial supper, Caitlin had thought wryly, holing Graham's container of fries up for him so he could e and drive at the same time.

It might make for an interestin story someday.

If they had a someday together.

Six and a half hours later, at ten-thirty at night, hausted, wired and

dusty, with a freshly inked license i sued by the all-night marriage license bureau on Thir Street, Graham had woken up Justice of the Peace Hen Richards at The True Love Chapel and asked the elder man to perform the wedding ceremony.

Caitlin's stomach was tied up in knots, but she couldn stop smiling.

Not even when Flora Richards had shuffled out in a hot pink robe that had

several long threads hanging from the hem, pushed the plastic roses into her hand and produced a veil, of all things, for her to wear.

She was marrying Graham.

At two minutes to eleven, with the required fee tucked into the pocket

of his nubby peacock blue bathrobe, Henry Richards was sleepily murmuring the appropriate words over them.

"The ring, please."

Looking at Graham, Henry stifled a yawn.

ked at Caitlin, taken aback.

They had driven here so quickly he had completely forgotten about getting a ring.

"Don't you have a ring, dear?"

Flora asked kindly.

Sympathy was etched into her face.

Not waiting for an answer, she tugged off a thin band from her pinkie,

struggling to get it free.

"It's a friendship ring."

She laughed, offering it to Graham.

"It's only costume jewelry, but in a pinch, until you can get her a

real one.. ."

Her voice trailed off, melting into the smile on her lips.

Flora Richards had witnessed over five thousand ceremonies performed

during her own marriage.

In all that time she couldn't remember ever seeing a more

radiant-looking bride than the one standing here beside her somber groorh.

More than five thousand ceremonies, and each and every time the scene

left her misty-eyed.

She dabbed at her eyes with the corner of her sleeve as she held the ring up for Graham.

Embarrassed, Graham accepted the ring with a murmured thanks.

He felt for his wallet with his other hand.

"How much do I owe you?"

Flora's hand closed over his, pushing it away.

"Nothing, dear. Keep it. For luck," she said softly.

Her eyes shifted to the young woman standing beside him.

You two are going to need it.