Once Upon a Marriage

He remembered the kiss Marie had given him back in Denver the day before they left.

Neither of them had so much as acknowledged it. But he was never going to forget the stupendous effect that chaste little peck had had on him.

As he sat there with her family, knowing that he was never going to have a real relationship with Marie, he thought about kissing her again. Really kissing her. For a moment he allowed himself to imagine that he and Marie were every bit as much a couple as everyone else sitting at that small private party.

And hoped to God that this time what happened in Vegas, even if only his mind, really stayed in Vegas.

* * *

MARIE HAD NEVER been to Las Vegas. By early afternoon on Saturday, she decided she loved the place. There was so much energy, so much to see and do. So much beauty.

There was filth, too, but she chose not to look at it. Not that day.

The luxurious resort in which they were staying was opulent. Beauty unimaginable and over-the-top, from life-size real floral art pieces that moved, mosaic art on ceilings and floors, live entertainment even that early in the day. Pretty clothes. Pretty shops. Pretty faces.

Her mother was married. She was laughing out loud. Something Marie hadn’t even realized had been missing from their lives until she was pleasantly shocked by the sound.

Gabi and Liam were holding hands. Her new step-uncle, Michael, had just whispered something to Aunt Erin. And Elliott had sat next to her at brunch.

The party had broken up shortly after that as everyone went to change into jeans and sweaters for a day of adventure—except Elliott, of course, who stood out in his daily blacks. When she’d seen the length of the Strip, Marie was glad she and Gabi had packed tennis shoes.

She’d been alone in her hotel room while everyone changed.

But from the minute the party regrouped, Elliott had been by her side, staying by her side, as they made their way through the huge resort and out to the limo that was waiting to take them to the small airport that housed several helicopter pads. She was about to take

a helicopter ride above the Hoover Dam, compliments of her new stepfather.

Elliott leaned in to ask her, “You scared?” He’d moved closer as the crowd grew thicker.

“Not in the least.”

She couldn’t wait.

For whatever Las Vegas might bring her that day.

* * *

AS SOON AS Marie saw that the helicopter seats were in rows of two, the little dance going on inside her sped up. She and Elliott were going to be sitting together. As they had in the limo. She couldn’t think of anything she wanted more in that moment than to experience her first helicopter ride, her first look at mountains and canyons she’d never seen before, with him.

“It looks like it’s you and me again,” he said as he buckled himself into the seat beside her in the back of the helicopter. Liam and Gabi were directly in front of them, with Michael and Erin directly behind the pilot. The bride and groom had their own helicopter.

“I don’t mind if you don’t.” She was happy and didn’t bother to hide that fact. They were in Vegas.

“Are you kidding?” He leaned over to speak so that only she could hear. “Of this whole group, you’re the easiest one to be with.”

Not the least bit romantic, but her heart soared anyway. She was grinning from ear to ear. As though she’d just received an avowal of everlasting love from the man of her dreams.

She was over-the-top. And didn’t care. She was in Vegas.

And Elliott wasn’t just another guy. He’d been different since the day she met him. Almost like what her mother had described feeling the first day she’d seen Bruce as a man rather than a therapist.

The pilot came on. Asked them all if they were comfortable. Checked their seat belts. Went over safety measures. Gave them a rundown of what they were in for. And told them it would be another couple of minutes before they were ready to take off.

Gabi turned around to ask, “You ready for this?”

“Yep!” Marie smiled at her. Gabi looked at Elliott and smiled back.

“Anyone want to go skydiving next?” Liam asked.