She sat solemnly through the rest of the wedding, and watched the procession file sedately past her on the way out, and when it was over, she went through the reception line like any other stranger, shaking hands with the twenty or so bridesmaids and ushers, until suddenly she reached Teddy, and he grabbed her by the arm.

“What are you doing here, silly?”

“I don't know.” She looked suddenly embarrassed. Had she done the wrong thing? She felt foolish and he put an arm around her with a grin.

“You don't have to be so formal. Want to stand here with us?” But Serena knew that their mother would undoubtedly have a fit.

“I'll just wait outside.” She stood there for a moment beside him, and suddenly Pattie saw her and stared angrily.

“This is my wedding, Serena, not yours, or had you forgotten?”

Serena flushed to the roots of her hair, stammered something, and began to back away. But Teddy was quick to grab her. He knew how much she had already been through, and he wanted to slap Pattie for what she had just said. “Can't you just shut your damn mouth for once, Pattie? If you don't watch it, you'll end up looking like a shrew, even in that dress.” With that, he left the line, his arm around Serena, and signaled to Brad to meet them outside. Margaret was looking daggers at them, and Pattie had gone white, but only one or two people had overheard them, and a moment later they were safely outside.

“Well, at least I have you to make things even.”

“Hmm?” She was still looking upset and distracted as they stood in the bright sunshine.

“I've got one wonderful sister-in-law and one bitch.” Serena laughed in spite of herself and saw Brad coming toward them.

“Something happen in there?” he was quick to ask, and Serena shook her head, but Teddy waved a finger and frowned.

“Don't lie to him, dammit.” He smiled at his brother. “Our brand-new sister-in-law is just being herself.”

“Was she rude to Serena?” Brad began to smolder.

“Of course. Is she ever anything but rude, except to those she is trying to impress? Christ, I don't know how Greg is going to stand her.” He said it sotto voce so only his brother heard him, but they both knew the answer to that one, and neither of them liked it. Most likely Greg was going to stay drunk for the rest of his life. That morning, in his still-besotted state, he had told his older brother that he was marrying her because she had been Brad's fiancée, and everyone knew that Brad was terrific so she had to be a terrific girl. In a moment of madness Brad had tried to dissuade him from getting married, but Greg was too frightened to alter his course only hours before the wedding, and all morning in church Brad had remembered Serena's question: “Are you going to be the one to stand up and object at the wedding?” He had wanted to, but he hadn't dared.

A few minutes later the entire wedding party disappeared into six limousines and moved on to The Plaza, where the Grand Ballroom had been reserved. Here again the flowers were lavish, and the orchestra struck up the moment they arrived.

Serena was once again seated with strangers at a table far from the others, and it seemed ages before Brad came to find her. She looked tired from the strain of making polite conversation, and she was a little overwhelmed by the crowds around her.

“Are you all right, love?” She smiled and nodded. “How's my daughter?”

“He's fine.” They chuckled at each other, and he led her onto the dance floor in a slow waltz a moment later. Teddy sat at the bridal table and watched them circling slowly together. They were truly the perfect couple. His tall, handsome blond brother, and the graceful golden-haired woman in his arms. Their faces met at precisely the right angle, their smiles would have lit the room, they looked so happy that they should have been the bride and groom, and not the nervous, high-strung little brunette drinking too much and talking too loudly, sitting beside the man she had just married, who sat staring straight ahead, as Teddy watched them. Greg had no sparkle in his eyes, instead there was a dull glaze as he finished his Scotch on the rocks and signaled the waiter for another.

It was only a few moments later that Brad and Serena came to find Teddy. Brad leaned down to his brother's ear and whispered that they were leaving.

“Already?”

He nodded. “We want to catch the train tonight, and I want Serena to rest for a while. We have to pack—” He faltered for a moment, and his younger brother laughed at them. Maybe he did want her to rest, and they did have some packing to do, but it was apparent that B.J. had other things on his mind as well. If they had been alone, Teddy would have teased him. “We'll see you in San Francisco, kiddo. When exactly are you coming?”

“I'm leaving New York on the twenty-ninth of August, so I should arrive in San Francisco on September first.”

“Give us the details when you write and we'll come to meet you.” Brad held his shoulder for a long moment and looked into his brother's eyes. “Thank you for everything. For making Serena feel so welcome.”

“She is welcome.” His eyes moved over to his new sister. “I'll see you out West, Serena.” And then he grinned. “By then you'll be as big as a whale.” The three of them chuckled.

“I will not!” She tried to look offended, but didn't. Instead she put her arms around him and kissed him on both cheeks. “I'll miss you, little brother.”

“Take care of each other “

The two men shook hands, Teddy kissed Serena again, and a moment later, after Serena had said a polite farewell to the bride, shaken her parents-in-law's hands, and congratulated the almost incoherent groom, they left the party. It was an enormous relief to have the wedding behind them. As they left The Plaza hand in hand Brad pulled off his tie, dropped it with his gloves into his top hat, and hailed a hansom cab to take them home to the apartment on Fifth Avenue.

Serena was enchanted as they clip-clopped into the park behind the horse, and he put an arm around her. It was a hot sunny day, the summer had begun, and by nightfall they would be on their way to their new life in California.

“Happy, darling?” He looked down at his wife, his pleasure at finally being alone with her shining in his eyes.

“How could I be anything but happy with you?” She reached up to kiss him and they held each other for a long moment, as they drove slowly down Fifth Avenue to the apartment.





26

“You'll come back.” She said it softly, remembering how she had felt when she left Rome, but he shook his head as he looked down at her.