Shattered Edge(83)

The bride’s blonde hair moved with the gentle wind floating up from the ocean and her smile was radiant as she looked up at the groom. The minister spoke the words while the couple secretly looked at each other, and then they repeated after him. When the groom slipped on her ring, which caught the rays of the sun, tears also glistened on her pink cheeks.

The minister pronounced them as husband and wife and it was quite sexy watching them kiss. Every female witnessing their display of affection wished it had been like that on her wedding day. For those that were still single, well they now had something to dream about.

As the couple turned, arm in arm and walked away, a photographer caught them in a multitude of casual poses. When the photographer was finished, the couple smiled and slipped off into the sunset, eager to begin their new life together as Dr. and Mrs. Justin Middleton.





Preston



They had no idea I was there. I’d registered as David Stockton. There wasn’t a chance I would let them go through with this alone, without some kind of protection. He was a Middleton after all so his name would soon be plastered everywhere, announcing their marriage. Pete Kowalski was also here. He didn’t tell me what name he was using.

I dressed in a pair of jeans, long sleeved shirt, hiking boots and I pulled a baseball hat down low over my eyes, which were covered in sunglasses. I walked with a slight limp and I had shaved my head. On the back of my neck was a large tattoo of a winged bird, completing my disguise. This would wash away after a few days.

Late in the afternoon, as the sun was sinking low, I found the perfect spot behind a copse of trees to watch Caroline and Justin exchange vows. I was too far away to hear anything, but I was able to see everything from this vantage point. Pete would be on the opposite side, checking things out on his end. All was clear and nothing was amiss. The only thing that bothered me was that damn photographer snapping all those photos. I was going to have to “borrow” her camera afterward, to remove her smart chip. I would get the pictures to Caroline, so she would end up knowing I’d been here after all. I just didn’t want to take a chance of having those pictures ending up online anywhere. Way too risky.

I had to hand it to them, they both looked great. This place was something else now. Big Sur made the perfect backdrop for a wedding. Caroline looked beautiful and Justin looked a high roller with that fancy tux he was wearing. I’m sure it must’ve cost him a pretty penny. And this place...I booked the cheapest room they had and almost choked on that. Close to a thousand a night. No telling how much their suite was costing them. They were probably staying in that fancy Cliff House. I certainly hoped so because they both deserved every damn bit of happiness that came their way for the shit they had been through because of me.

After they were officially married, they kissed and wandered off. I “accidentally bumped into” the photographer, causing her to drop all of her equipment. In the melee, I was able to extract her little card. She never knew what hit her. I hoped she wouldn’t look at that camera until tomorrow.

I went to the restaurant where I noticed Pete and gave him a slight nod. I grabbed a bite to eat, silently toasted the newlyweds and headed back to my room for a good night’s sleep. My last thought before I drifted off was that I was glad Dr. and Mrs. Justin Middleton had finally tied the knot.





THE END