"It's that friend of yours, Mike, right?"

She nodded, and tears started to swell in her eyes. "Yeah, it is."

"Grieving is part of living, Mary," he said tenderly. "If you open yourself up to love, you also open yourself up to grief."

She sniffed and looked down at her glove-covered hands. How was she supposed to use a tissue with these on?

Ernie appeared by her side with a big handkerchief and wiped her eyes, then held it at her nose. "Go ahead, blow your nose," he ordered tenderly.

She did and then she leaned her head back against the wall. "Does it ever stop aching?" she asked.

He smiled sadly and shook his head. "No, sister, it don't. But the ache, it seems to get smaller or maybe you just get used to it. But it's always there. Love don't go away easy."

"It's worth it, right?"

Nodding, his square face broke into a wide grin. "Oh, yeah, it's everything."

She pushed herself away from the wall and walked back up to the punching bag, slowly, rhythmically striking the leather. "I have a wedding I have to be in tomorrow," she said. "A part of me wants to call her and tell her I just can't do it. I don't want to ruin her wedding by crying all the way through it."

Ernie was immediately by her side. "You can't do that," he ordered. "You gotta go to that wedding."

Surprised at his vehemence, she shrugged. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

"Oh, sister, I know I'm right," he said. "Come on, a couple more punches and you're done for the day. Why don't you take the day off and get ready for the wedding? Do some girlie things."

Mary smiled. "That sounds like a great idea, Ernie. Thanks."

The sun was just rising as she left the gym, reflecting off the windows of the downtown buildings and casting a pink hue on everything. She could hear song birds waking up and calling out their varied songs. The air smelled of moist soil from the late night rain and, from the bakery nearby, cinnamon. Inhaling deeply, she realized she did feel a little better. Maybe Ernie was right, maybe it would hurt a little less.

She drove her car the few blocks to her office and was pleasantly surprised to see Bradley waiting for her. She parked the car and stepped out. "Good morning," she said.

He walked up to her and cradled her face in his hands. Tenderly running his thumb over her cheek, he searched her eyes and found the sadness. "I understand how much it hurts," he whispered before he gently kissed her lips.

She wrapped her arms around him and laid her face against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and just held her, and she felt instantly comforted. "I just miss him," she whispered.

He nodded, "Yeah, so do I," he said. "He was a great friend."

She couldn't speak because tears were clogging her voice, so she just nodded. Bradley guided her into her office and over to her desk. He pulled a tissue out of the box and handed it to her. She dabbed at her eyes and took another deep breath.

"It gets easier," he said.

"Yeah, I heard that," she said, "Especially when you're surrounded with people who love you."

"Lots of people love you, Mary," he said, lifting her chin with his hand. "But no one loves you as much as I do."

He kissed her tenderly at first, then pulled her closer and crushed her lips with his. She moaned softly and he deepened the kiss. She felt her body go into meltdown and wrapped her arms tighter around him.

"Bradley," she whispered desperately.

"Yes, darling, what?" he replied, as he placed hot kisses along her jaw line.

Her breath was coming out in short gasps and her hands slid up to the collar of his shirt. "Bradley, how expensive are uniform shirts?" she gasped.

He snorted and then laughed, and pulled her into a tender hug. "I love you, Mary," he said, placing a final kiss on the top of her head.

She smiled up at him. "The feeling's mutual," she said. "And thanks. I feel much better."

"Hey, anytime you want me to come by and kiss you senseless, don't hesitate to call," he replied.

"Well, next time, wear an old shirt," she teased.

"I think I'm going to head to the thrift store and stock up on old shirts," he said, kissing her once again. "Can't have enough of them lying around."

Chapter Fifty-five.

Linda is a beautiful bride, Mary thought as she watched her friend apply the finishing touches to her make-up.

"How do I look?" Linda asked, turning around in front of Mary and Rosie.

"Stunning," Mary said. "Bob is going to fall in love all over again."

Rosie nodded. "Just let me fix your flowers," she said, bustling up and adjusting the white rose and lilies of the valley corsage she was wearing.

She stepped back and looked Linda over. "Yes, now you look impeccable."

Linda hugged her. "Thank you, Rosie, I don't know what I would have done without you."

"You would have still been a beautiful bride," Rosie replied. "But I'm so glad you let me help."

The music started in the church's chapel.

"Oh, well, I'd better run and get my seat," Rosie said, giving Linda a quick kiss on the cheek. "You're just gorgeous, now go and enjoy your wedding day."

Rosie slipped out the door and Mary saw the concern on Linda's face that prompted Rosie's comment. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing, really," she said, shaking her head. "My stepfather is still angry about the wedding. I thought by now he would be over it, but..."

Mary hugged her. "Rosie's right, don't let him spoil your day. This is all about you and Bob."

"I wish my dad could be here," Linda said, a single tear slipping down her cheek.

"He probably is," Mary said. "You just can't see him."

Linda smiled. "You're right," she agreed. "My dad wouldn't let something as minor as death keep him from my wedding."

Mary laughed. "Exactly. Now come on, you have an anxious groom waiting for you."

They walked out into the lobby and Mary saw Bradley standing near the door, talking on the phone. He looked up and winked at her. She smiled back.

"Call from the station?" she whispered.

He nodded.

Katie stepped forward with Maggie who was dressed in a frilly gown that matched Linda's suit. She was wearing lilies of the valley in her hair and holding a basket of rose petals.

"I'm so excited," Maggie said. "I've never been a flower girl."

"You look lovely, sweetheart," Mary replied. "Like an angel."

"Okay, Maggie, remember, when Mary taps your shoulder, you walk slowly up the aisle and sprinkle your flowers on the ground," Katie reminded her.

"And then there's cake?" Maggie asked.

Mary laughed and nodded, "And then there's cake."

Mary picked up her flowers and positioned herself in front of Linda. She turned back and smiled. "You ready?"

Linda nodded, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "Yes. Yes, I am."

They moved to the entrance of the chapel and waited until the processional music began. Mary tapped Maggie on the shoulder and the little girl moved forward, her little face solemn as she concentrated on distributing her flowers. Once Maggie had reached the halfway point, Mary moved forward, matching her steps to the music.

When Maggie reached the front of the chapel, her basket empty, she skipped back down the aisle towards her mother. "Do we get cake now?" she called, to the delight of everyone in the chapel.

Bob grinned and Mary heard Linda chuckling behind her. Nearly to the front herself, Mary heard the music change and the traditional Here Comes the Bride began to play. She saw the look in Bob's eyes as Linda entered the chapel and was awed at the love shared between the two.

Mary walked to the end of the aisle and moved to the left, making way for Linda. When Linda stepped up, Bob slid over and took her hand. He lifted it to his lips and kissed it.

"You look beautiful," he whispered.

The minister walked forward, standing two steps above them on the raised dais. "Shall we begin?" he asked.

Suddenly, the door behind the altar burst open and Linda's stepfather, Neil, unkempt and obviously drunk, stepped forward. The minister spun around in surprise. "What do you think you're doing?" he demanded.

Neil glanced at the aging minister and knew he would get no trouble from him. "What happened to the *who gives this woman away' part?" he slurred, moving forward on unsteady legs. "Ain't that supposed to be my job? Ain't I supposed to give my permission?"

"Neil, you promised you wouldn't do this," Linda's mother called from the front pew.

"Don't tell me what I can and cannot do, woman," he shouted back.

"No, Neil, don't do this," Linda pleaded.

Bob put his arm around Linda as Neil came forward. "Neil, you're not wanted here," he said. "Go back home and sleep it off."

"Oh, yeah, sure," he said. "You say I'm not wanted. Well, you're not wanted either. Why don't you go ahead and kiss her good-bye, *cause this is going to be your last chance."

He reached behind him, pulled a gun out of the waistband of his pants and aimed it unsteadily at Bob. "You ain't taking her away from us."

Neil staggered down the carpeted stairs toward the couple. He glanced at Mary and grinned. "Boo," he taunted.

Mary could smell the stench of his alcohol-ridden and unwashed body. She felt her body reacting, once again, like he was Gary. Her heart started to pound, her vision started to blur...

"Snap out of it, sister," Ernie yelled, appearing next to her. "You gotta save the day. You can't let this SOB win. You're stronger than that."

She remembered what Jeannine told her, those were not her memories. Those things did not happen to her. She had to believe she was stronger than that.

She was a warrior.

And she wasn't going to let anyone ruin Linda's day.

Neil stood just in front of her, on the first step, his focus on Linda and Bob. Mary dropped her bouquet, tightened her hands into fists and lifted her arms into a boxing stance.

"There you go, champ," Ernie exclaimed. "give it to him in his breadbasket."

"Now, I'm gonna tell you what we're gonna do," Neil began.

Mary threw her first punch, straight into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him. The gun dropped out of this hand.

"What the h.e.l.l?" he wheezed, stumbling back.

"Good girl," Ernie shouted, "move into position. Now upper cut."

Mary pivoted closer and threw an upper cut, catching him solidly under his jaw. His head snapped back and fell against the podium.

"Now, give him the old one-two," Ernie coached.

Mary danced around him and used him like the punching bag, throwing a series of sharp jabs into his ribcage and stomach.

"Now finish him off," Ernie said. "The big one to the jaw."

Mary c.o.c.ked her arm back and then threw the last punch, catching him in the jaw. His eyes widened, his jaw dropped and he fell to the ground in a senseless heap.

"Oh, Mary, thank you," Linda cried, running up onto the altar and hugging her.

"I can't believe it," Bob said, checking Neil's motionless body. "He's out cold."

"Alright!!!" Ernie yelled. "The winner and new champ, Mary O'Reilly."

Mary took a deep breath, "Isn't this what a maid of honor is supposed to do?" she asked.

"Well, if it is, Linda sure picked the right one," Bob said, hugging Mary. "Thank you."