Justice(52)

“Oh. I’m sorry, Mr. Mayor, we have to deal with this. Excuse us.” He ushers Rebecca away, and I trail behind. As we walk back toward Lucy and Marnie, they smile and nod at the other guests.

“Thank you,” Rebecca says. “He would not stop talking!”

“My pleasure.”

“So, where’s this surprise you promised?” Justin asks.

“Um…it didn’t pan out.” Justin and Rebecca exchange a look. “No biggie, guys.”

Marnie and Lucy meet us halfway. “I told the photographer we’re all here now,” Lucy says. “He’s setting up by the waterfall.”

“You guys waited for me?” I ask.

“Of course,” Rebecca says.

“They’re waiting,” Lucy says impatiently.

“Oh, wonderful,” Marnie says as if reading my mind. We smirk at each other as Lucy leads us toward the waterfall. The photographer and his assistant set up a tripod in front of the lit-up, blue waterfall that twinkles like sapphires. Sparkle Cohen, the grand dame of society reporting for the past fifty years, is taking notes while chatting with the photographer. Her withered frame is encased in an ornate yellow dress with huge collar. She reminds me of a cobra with that collar and skin pulled tight across her face. As we walk Justin whispers something into Rebecca’s ear, and she pecks him on the lips. Sparkle jots that down.

“Are you enjoying yourself, Sparkle?” Justin asks before kissing her cheek.

“You know I always love your soirees,” she says. “They’re always so elegant and tasteful. Much like your choice in fiancée. Hello, Dr. Thornton.”

Rebecca embraces the woman. “Sparkle.”

“I want to get the future bride and groom first,” the photographer says.

As Justin and Rebecca arrange themselves for the photo, Sparkle turns her attention to me. “So, Joanna, I’ve been meaning to ask, how are you and the future Mrs. Pendergast getting along? She’s exquisitely beautiful.” Sparkle loves needling me, hoping I’ll flub up and give her something juicy to write. Hasn’t worked yet, but I do admire her tenacity.

“Oh, yes. Both inside and out. The woman’s a living angel. To be quite frank, he doesn’t deserve her.”

“And I heard you two didn’t get along,” Sparkle says.

“Well, you heard wrong. How can I not like her? She makes my best friend happy. She’s like my sister.”

“Right,” Sparkle says with a fake smile.

Justin waves the rest of us over. “Excuse me, Sparkle. Duty calls.”

The photographer sets up again as Rebecca and Marnie fix each other up for the next shot. Lucy hangs back, talking to Sparkle. “Long time no see, stranger,” Justin says. “I was beginning to think you were mad at me.”

“I’ve been living at the station. I haven’t had time to be mad.”

“Well, I appreciate you taking time away from saving the city. I know you hate these things. Though you look great.”

“Thanks.”

We stand side by side with the trumpets and piano playing “In the Mood,” but the silence between us is unbearable. He glances at me, but I just watch as Rebecca and Marnie pose for the camera. “Now, just the Pendergast family,” the photographer says.

Justin signals to Lucy, who excuses herself from Sparkle, and rushes right over. “Our turn,” Justin says. He takes Lucy’s hand and then grabs mine. I look up at him, surprised. “If you’re not family, I don’t know who is.”

And the Grinch’s heart grew three sizes this day. I follow them to the waterfall, trying and failing to hide my pride. As always, when he puts his arm around my back I get a little tingly. Baby steps, Jo. Baby steps. The photographer snaps the three of us, then have Rebecca and Marnie join us. He releases me and greets her with a loving smile. We position ourselves: me, Rebecca, Justin, Lucy, and Marnie. His arm instinctively wraps around her waist, and she takes my hand.

One big happy family.

After the photos Shannon, Justin’s assistant extraordinaire for the last nine years, whisks the couple away to chat with the Ambassador of France while Marnie goes to call the baby-sitter. Lucy and I exchange an uncomfortable glance then go our separate ways, she to Sparkle and I to the bar. Jack Daniels keeps me company. After watching Justin stare into Rebecca’s eyes as if she was the only woman in the universe and kiss her, and after I suppress the hint of anguish it stirs, I check my cell. There are no calls or texts. All the joy from the last few minutes shatters. It hits me. I’ve officially been stood up.

He must have weighed our relationship against the job, and the job won. That I can understand. I can. We are the job. It’s our calling. I was having a tough time with this too. I never took him for a coward, though. Not that this is all his fault. I got my hopes up. I know better. There’s only one man I can really trust. I just stand at the bar for a few minutes, watching the crowd and trying to hide my embarrassment and pain. The perpetual wallflower who no one dares to come near. I’m just not worth it.