We decided to go out for lunch to celebrate the case being over and finally behind us. For a change of pace, we went to a Chinese restaurant. Oliver called his wife and she joined us. Afterward, Doc and I went back to the apartment to get what we wanted to take home with us to the farm, then headed out of the city. Alex and Deanna were staying at the apartment for a couple days.

It was great to be home for good. For the first time in what seemed like forever, I felt safe and able to completely relax. We had Karen and her family over for dinner so they could celebrate too. Doc was only too happy to cook a nice meal, even if it was on short notice. They stayed for part of the evening, and we had a good time talking and laughing and joking around. We'd told them all about the sentencing when they got here, then declared the subject of Jane and court off limits for the rest of the evening.

That night, I slept better than I had in a long while – without a sedative. Doc slept well, too. I felt we were finally back to “normal” and hoped it would last forever.

Two days later was the hospital's Christmas party. We debated on skipping it, with the wedding only a week away. We'd not planned on court lasting as long as it did. In the end, we decided to go but to come home early. Oliver Hampton cornered me when he saw me. “How are you doing, Meredith?”

“I'm doing well, Dr Hampton.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. Now that court is done and Jane is going away for many years, I've finally been able to fully relax again. I've been sleeping better than I have since this ordeal began.”

“I'm glad to hear that. How is your heart? Has Julian been monitoring it?”

“He's watching me like a hawk. He says it's getting better.”

“I'm happy to hear that. I know this is going to be a busy week for you, but I'd like to see you in my office some day between now and the wedding. Call my receptionist on Monday. I will tell her to make room for you.”

“On one condition, Dr Hampton.”

“What's that? Wait a minute – it's me that is supposed to impose conditions, not the patient.”

“Haha. The condition is that you do not try to stop the wedding.”

He got very serious. “Meredith, I would never do something like that unless it was a dire situation. You've planned for months for this day, and if you had to cancel it, you'd have to pay out a lot of money in fees to the reception centre, florist etc. Not to mention the fact that you and Julian are very much in love and wanting to get married and spend the rest of your lives together. If worse came to worse, I'd suggest having the wedding somewhere private with just a small dinner or in a hospital room if it had to be, but I don't see that happening. From what you say, it sounds like you are doing well. I'm just being cautious.”

Alex was the next person to corner me. “I talked to Julian”, he told me. “He says you are both doing very well.”

“We are, Alex.”

“I've left you alone because I felt you two needed your space so you could relax and try to forget about all that's happened.”

“I appreciate it, Alex. You and Deanna are welcome back at the farm any time. There's more space there than at the apartment, and Deanna loves walking through the woods.”

“She's going to miss it when the snow gets too deep to walk in it.”

“Spring will be here before we know it.”

“I hope this spring is better for you than last year! How are wedding preparations going?”

“*They* are going great. Christmas ones are a bit behind.”

“Don't overdo it, Meredith. You don't want your chronic pain to flare up or to have cardiac problems. Go easy on the Christmas stuff. There will be many more years to go all out.”

“You sound like Doc, Alex.”

“We are both very wise men”, he said with a wink.

Julian and I left early, as we'd planned. “Why don't we go sit by the lake for a bit, hon?” he asked me as he started the car.

“Sure, Doc.” It was a mild night. We hadn't had much for snow yet and what we'd had had melted. It was way too warm for this time of year, as far as I was concerned. But then, maybe that wasn't a bad thing. We didn't need to get snowed in just before the wedding.

We went through a coffee shop drive thru and got decaf to take with us. Doc had only had one drink at the party so he was safe to drive. Normally, we'd have just stayed in the city for the night, but we'd been away from the farm so much this year, I didn't want to. Doc agreed, to my surprise. It seemed he was liking it - the farm - more than he let on.

Since it was so mild, we got out of the car and sat on a bench to drink our coffee. When I finished mine, I leaned against him and he put his arm around me. We watched the small waves lap against the shore. The moon was out and it was a clear sky, so we had good visibility. It was so good to spend time together without anything bad on our minds.

“Just think, Doc”, I said. “One week from now, we will be married.”

“I can't wait, hon.”

“Me either, Julian. I just hope nothing happens to spoil it.”

“Now, Meredith – no negative thinking, though I understand why you might worry. Our luck hasn't been the best this year. But I think we've turned a corner.”

I looked up at him. “I sure hope so, honey.”

I was very busy all week. Monday was the final fitting of my wedding gown. The seamstress told me I could pick it up on Wednesday. I spent a couple days making and freezing baked goods for our Christmas party/open house on Dec. 15. Doc would be cooking in the days prior, so I wanted my part finished so that he could have the kitchen to himself.

Wednesday night, we were sitting in the living room with our after dinner decaf when a car pulled into the laneway. It was dark, so we couldn't see who it was. I got up to answer the door. “Let Julian get it”, Alex said. You relax.” He and Deanna had come back to the farm earlier in the week.

Doc answered the door and I heard a scuffle. Alex went to the door and I followed him. Two men were forcing Doc down the steps. “Oh my God!” I said. “Doc, I'm calling 911!” I yelled. I had my phone in my hand.

“Meredith, no”, Alex said to me. “It's just Curt Wilcox and Oliver Hampton. We're taking Julian to his surprise stag party. We'll have him home by dawn.”

“Oh my”, I said. “I don't know if he will like this.”

“Don't worry about him, he'll be fine.”

I did worry about him. This was not something Doc would like. I had no idea where they'd taken him. Hopefully, some place classy but I had my doubts. I didn't have much time to ponder, though, as Celia and Leslie, Oliver and Curt's wives respectively, had come with the guys and stayed. They brought some wine and cake and cookies for a surprise bridal shower. Karen came over and joined in. The guys had picked Kevin up to join them at the stag. Once I had a glass of wine, I loosened up and put my worry about Doc aside. The girls had reassured me that their husbands had said if he was truly miserable after an hour or so, they would bring him home.

“How are they going to bring him home if they are drinking?” I asked.

“The plan is to take a cab and it will pick us up and take us home”, Celia said. “Now, relax and enjoy the party.”

We did have a great time. Doc and I had requested no wedding gifts as we had everything we needed and could afford to buy pretty much anything we wanted. My guests said that didn't apply to the bridal shower, though. They gave me some lingerie, perfume, scented candles and Karen gave me a green schoolgirl skirt and a couple sets of cookie cutters in the shape of sexual positions as well as a tin of cookies made with them. I hadn't told her of Doc's schoolgirl fantasy, but she saw me in the red skirt and blouse that day she came in just after we had played around. She must have put two and two together.

We all had a little too much wine and were quite tipsy when the guys got back around 2 in the morning. Oliver and Curt collected their wives and said good night. They had dropped Kevin off at his place. I told Karen she was welcome to stay the night as I didn't want her driving home after drinking, even if it was only next door. She said she'd walk but I didn't like that either. Doc was the only sober one among us – he'd only had one alcoholic drink – so he drove her home. Alex disappeared upstairs and I began taking the dirty glasses and plates to the kitchen. He came back down with a big present in his hands. “This is for Julian and you”, he told me. “From Deanna and I.”

“Oh, Alex, you shouldn't have. Doc and I have everything we need.”

“This isn't a practical gift. Well, in a sense, it is. But it's for fun times.”

“I'll let Doc unwrap it. I've already unwrapped a bunch of gifts tonight. Which reminds me – thank you for the lingerie and candles.”

“Those are from Deanna, Meredith. I don't want any sense of impropriety with a therapist giving lingerie to a patient – even as a wedding present and even if the patient was a friend long before becoming my patient. Just in case the wrong person found out.” I knew he was talking about Jane.

“I understand, Alex.”

Doc returned from taking Karen home. I handed him the wrapped gift. “Here, Doc, you unwrap it. I unwrapped a bunch earlier. This is from Alex and Deanna.” He took the gift and sat down to open it. It was a big picnic basket. Inside was a blanket similar in pattern and colour to the schoolgirl skirt Karen had given me. Doc looked puzzled.

“Every newlywed couple needs a picnic basket, Julian”, Alex said to him, trying not to smirk. Doc clued in when he saw Alex's smirk and he blushed.

“Meredith, you didn't tell him!”

“That we went for a picnic? He was here when we got home, remember?”

“Deanna and I figured you would like your own picnic basket instead of having to borrow one from Rick.”

“I have a picnic basket but not this big”, I told him. “This is lovely. Thank you both.”

Doc changed the subject. “See what the guys got us, hon”, he said, handing me an envelope.

“What's this, Doc?”

“A voucher for two nights in the honeymoon suite of a hotel.”

“We thought you'd like a mini honeymoon to tide you over until January”, Alex said to me.

“That's so sweet of you, Alex.”

“It's from all of us - Oliver, Curt, Adam Beckett and a few of the other doctors at the hospital. As well as myself, of course.”

“I'm sure we will love it.”

“Do you like your gifts?” he asked.

“I love them! Thank you.”

“What did you get, hon?” Doc asked.

“Some lingerie – which you will eventually see – candles, cookie cutters, cookies, a skirt.”

“A skirt?” I held up the school girl skirt. Doc blushed. “Who gave you that?”

“Karen. She thought it would be a change from the red one.” Doc sputtered but couldn't get anything out.

“Relax, Julian”, Deanna said to him. “We are all adults here. Alex likes me to dress up in a maid's outfit.” Now, Alex blushed.

“Hey, there's one we could try!” I said. Poor Doc. He looked like he was going to have an MI. “Come here and sit down, Doc.” I put my arm around him. “We're just having fun, honey. It's just Alex, Deanna, and us.”

“I don't know what to do with you, Meredith.”

“You could always marry me, Doc.” He laughed.

We tidied up and put the dirty dishes and glasses in the dishwasher. The others went upstairs while I stayed down to let the dogs out. I think next to Doc, I was the least drunk, though I was definitely tipsy. When I went up, he was in the shower. I poked my head in. He was scrubbing himself vigorously. “What's wrong, Doc?”

“They took me to The Bearded Clam, hon”, he replied, distress evident in his voice. The Bearded Clam was one of the city's two strip joints and a small step above the other one in sleaziness. Not a place Doc would be comfortable in at all.

“Oh, Doc, I'm so sorry.” It was evident he was trying to, in his mind, scrub the 'cooties' off him. I opened the sliding shower door and got in without even removing my clothes. He was scrubbing his chest. I put my hand over his and stopped him. “How many times have you washed yourself?”

“I don't know.”

“Okay, Doc. Give me the soap.” He let me take it and the wash cloth from him. I put the soap in it's holder and hung the wash cloth up. Then I wrapped my arms around him in a hug. “I'm sorry, Doc”, I said again. “I'll bet Curt was the instigator. I have a few words for him!”

“No, Meredith. Please don't get involved. Let's just look ahead to Saturday.”

“If you're sure, Doc...”

“I'm sure, hon.”

I took the shower head off it's holder and ran the water over Doc's body, washing the soap away. His skin was red. “Out of the shower, honey. I'm going to have a quick one after I get these wet clothes off. Don't put your pj's on yet.”

“Why not, Meredith?”

“I'm going to put some lotion on that red skin. I won't be long in here.”

“The shower needs to be cleaned.”

“It can wait until tomorrow. Out you get. That is an order.” I didn't often order Doc around, this was one of the few times I did. He got out and I stripped down out of my clothes, then did a quick wash. Finally, I turned the hot water off and stood under the cold for a few seconds to sober up a bit. After drying myself off, I went into the bedroom, leaving my clothes in the tub. Doc would have a conniption in the morning, but I'd deal with it.

He was lying naked on my side of the bed , his pajamas beside him, still folded up. I got into my nightgown, then got my tube of lotion and applied it to his chest and other places where he'd scrubbed himself so hard. Thankfully, he'd left his genitals alone. I helped him into his jammies and got him under the covers. I got in on his side and turned off the lamp. “Did you have fun at all tonight?” I asked him as I snuggled up to him and lay my head on his chest.

He sighed. “Yes, it was good to be with my friends and they were so nice to give us that gift of a couple nights in a hotel. I need to ask you something, hon. Did you know that was going to happen?”

“No, Julian. That's why I was calling 911 when Alex stopped me. I thought you were being kidnapped by someone related to Jane.”

“I'm sorry, Meredith.”

“It's not your fault, Doc.”

“I'm going to have words with the guys on Friday at the rehearsal.”

“Maybe let it go, honey. Let's not mar the wedding. Tonight is our second last night together before the big day. Let's not go to sleep upset over anything.”

“You're right, hon.” He leaned over and kissed me.

Friday came faster than I expected. We were having the rehearsal at 7pm and the rehearsal dinner at Rick's at 8. Doc would be staying at the apartment for the night, keeping with the tradition of the groom not seeing the bride on the day of the wedding until she walked down the aisle. I thought it was a silly tradition, but he wanted an old fashioned wedding since he hadn't been married before, so I humoured him. I never sleep well without Doc in bed with me, so I knew it would be a restless night. “I'll be in the same boat, hon”, he told me. “I don't sleep well when I'm away from you.”

The rehearsal went off without a hitch – except for Julie Anne wanting Doc to hold her the whole time! “Oh, Julian, perhaps you should rethink having her there”, Charlotte said to him afterward. “I don't want her to ruin the ceremony.”

“She won't ruin it, Charlotte”, Doc replied. “If I have to hold her the whole time, then I'll hold her. I'm sure Meredith won't mind.”

“Of course I won't mind.” I smiled at him. “Julie Anne is like part of the family. We both love her.”

After the dinner, Doc and I drove back to the farm and he spent an hour or so with me before leaving to go back to the city. Karen came over and had a glass of wine with us – except Doc had decaf coffee since he was driving. He asked me if I was going to be okay on my own.

“I'll be fine, Doc. I plan on staying up as late as I can so I fall asleep from utter exhaustion.”

“I can give you a sedative before I leave, hon.”

“No thanks, if you're going to be tossing and turning, it's only fair that I do it, too.”

“I'll leave you a pill so you can have it if you want it. But if you do want it, no more wine.” I walked him to his car and we kissed good night. I watched him drive away, sad that we were spending the night apart, but happy that tomorrow I would become Meredith Richards.

Karen and I had another glass of wine before she went home. Before she left, she let Jessie and Heidi out so that I wouldn't have to do it. Shortly after she left, I went upstairs to bed. My arthritis was flaring a bit but wasn't too bad. I couldn't take anything for it as I'd had a couple drinks. I had a hot shower then fell into bed, thinking I'd zonk right out. Wrong. I tossed and turned and tossed and turned. Finally, I fell into a fitful sleep but woke up a while later in a cold sweat. I'd been dreaming that Doc had stood me up at the altar.

I went to the bathroom, then turned on the tv for a while. I watched a B grade movie for half an hour then turned it off and tried to go back to sleep. Eventually, I did and dreamed that I got cold feet outside the church. I woke up in another cold sweat. What did these dreams mean? Did I deep down not want to marry Doc? No, I refused to believe that. I loved him with all my heart and wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. I looked at the clock. It was just before 6:00. Too early to call Alex, even though I knew he'd understand if I did call that early.

I got up and put my robe on after taking a pee. I made my way downstairs and let the dogs out, then put a pot of coffee on. I got their breakfast ready and gave them fresh water. When they came in, I put their food dishes down and poured a cup of coffee for myself before sitting down at the table to supervise the canines. If I didn't, Jessie would gulp her food down, then try to get Heidi's. Alex and Deanna's dog was a slower eater. I had to put their dishes at opposite ends of the kitchen.

Karen and Chey came in to have coffee while the horses ate their grain. They were both doing chores this morning, so they could be done sooner. The wedding was at 2:00 but there was lots to do beforehand.

Doc called just after 7. “I hope I didn't wake you, hon. I've been waiting to call you, I missed you so much overnight.”

“Same here, Doc. It was a lonely night, if not an empty bed night.”

“Both dogs slept in the bed?”

“Of course. Alex and Deanna let Heidi sleep in their bed, so she presumed she could sleep in mine.” He laughed. “Hey Doc, is Alex up yet?”

“Yes, he's in the bathroom.”

“Could you have him call me when he has a moment?”

“Sure, hon. Are you okay?”

“I'm fine, I just need to talk to him about something.”

He called me about ten minutes later. “What's up, Meredith?”

“Alex, I really need to talk to you, if you have time this morning.”

“I can come out right now, are you okay?”

“Yes....sort of. I know Doc is going to ask you why I want to talk to you.”

“I can invoke patient confidentiality, but you know he's going to think that you are going to stand him up at the altar.”

“I'm not, Alex. I would never do that to him. But I'm anxious about some dreams I had last night.”

“Were they about the wedding?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, I'm on my way.”

When he got here, Alex and I sat down in the TV room with a cup of coffee. I told him about my dreams. “I don't know what to think of them, Alex!” I cried.

“Meredith, you aren't the first bride to be to have that type of dream before the wedding.”

“No?”

“No. And you won't be the last.”

“I was so scared that they mean that deep down I don't want to marry Doc.”

“I can't say for absolute certainly what it means, Meredith. Only you know if you really want to marry him or not. I can say this - there was a time I felt maybe you two shouldn't be planning a wedding just yet. But after living here for a few months with you both, I realize that you two were made for each other. I see how much Julian loves you and how much you love him.” He paused. “What are you afraid of, Meredith?”

I sighed. “Of losing him. Alex, I couldn't handle burying another husband. One was too many.”

“Nothing in life is certain, but Julian is very healthy. Your first husband abused alcohol and that is what caused his death. Julian doesn't have any bad habits, unless you consider being anal retentive about cleanliness a bad habit. It won't kill him, though. I know that, given the age difference between you two, chances are you will outlive him, but you should have a few decades together.”

“Well, with my MVP and tendency to get injured, maybe he will bury me!”

“See? You never know what the future holds. But don't go making him bury you anytime soon.”

I laughed. “I don't intend to!”

“Feel better now?”

I nodded. “Talking to you always helps, Alex. I don't know what I'd do without you.”

“I'm glad you listened to me – this time. Not all my patients do.” I laughed. “I better get back to the apartment and see how Julian is doing. You aren't the only one who's nervous.”

“I can imagine, Alex. Were you able to reassure him about my dreams? That I wasn't going to leave him standing at the altar?”

“As much as I could, Meredith. He's still antsy, though. But you know Julian – where you are concerned, he gets anxious easily.”

“If you think it will help, you can tell him about our conversation.”

Shortly after Alex left, my hairdresser arrived. She was doing the wedding party's hair at the farm, since we all lived out this way. After that, we were going to go for lunch, then head to the church. Because I lived so far from the city, the parish was letting me use a room to get dressed in. That way, I wouldn't have to travel so far wearing my wedding gown.

We had a fun lunch, but my stomach was in knots so I didn't eat a lot. I was getting really nervous. Not scared of getting married or wanting out, just nervous. Wanting everything to go smoothly. Afraid I might screw up with something I was planning as a surprise for Doc.

On the way to the church, we got into a traffic jam, caused by an accident. We weren't in a spot where we could take a side road and detour around it. With each passing moment, I became more and more impatient. Finally, Karen got her phone out and called Curt, the best man. She couldn't get a signal. I tried with my phone, but no signal. None of use could get one, we must be in a dead zone. Damn. I had to get there on time. Poor Doc would be going out of his mind if I was late. I looked at my watch. 1:30. Impatiently, I undid my seat belt and opened my door. I grabbed my dress from the hook it was on, got out and started walking toward the accident. Karen was beside me in a flash. “Where are you going, Mer?”

“To the church. If I have to walk, I'm going to get there.”

“We're going to get there, Mer. If we're late, we're late.”

“Doc will freak if we're not there at 2 and they can't reach us.”

“He will understand.”

“Yes, when we eventually get there. But in the meantime, he's going to think I've left him at the altar.” Just then, I noticed a police officer walking toward us.

“I have to ask you to get back in your car”, he said to Karen and I when he got to within hearing distance.

“I have to get to my wedding, Officer”, I said to him. “Even if it means walking.”

“What time is it to start?”

“2:00.” He looked at his watch.

“There's a really bad accident up ahead. “Serious injuries. I can't let you go anywhere right now. Sorry, you'll have to wait until we let vehicles through. Can you call and let them know?”

“We're in a dead zone”, Karen told him. “None of us can get service.”

“Okay, I'll see if we can let you through soon. I can't promise, though. But you'll have to get back in your car.”

Karen and I got back in my minivan and he walked back in the direction from which he'd come. We impatiently waited for him to come back, but time went by and we saw no sign of him. We were still unable to get cell service. 2:00 came and went. Finally, at around 2:30, another officer came down the line and straight to our car. “Are you Meredith Kingsley?”, he asked me.

“Yes!”

“Come with me. All of you. Bring everything you need to take to the church. You must have friends in high places”, he said to me. “The Chief himself is sending cars to take you gals there.”

“What about my car?”

“Give me your keys. We'll get it there. Right now, the scene is unpassable by car. You'll have to walk to the squad cars on the other side. I'll carry whatever I can.”

We piled out of the car and followed the officer, gowns in our arms. He carried the bags with our accessories and make up. A friend of Karen's who's a cosmetologist was going to do our makeup at the church.

“How did the Chief find out about us and why is he doing this?” I asked the officer.

“I don't know, Ma'am. I just do as they tell me to do.” I thought about it as we walked toward the scene. Then it hit me. Scott Fletcher, the detective who'd been on Jane's case, was invited to the wedding along with his husband, Bruce. I wondered if he'd found out about the accident and put two and two together when we did not show up. I made a mental note to ask him after the ceremony.

As we walked by the scene of the accident, I said a silent prayer for the victims, hoping they would be okay.

Karen was able to get Curt on the phone once we got into the police car. Three had been sent to get us. She told him what had happened and he told her they knew, that Scott had made some calls when we didn't show up by 2:15. He found out about the accident and the long line of cars that were held up because of it and he called the Chief, who directed that squad cars be sent to the scene to get us, if they could be spared for a half hour. I made a mental note to send the Chief a personal thank you note and to get Scott a bottle of his favourite booze. I didn't think I could legally give the Chief a gift. I'd probably be pushing it with Scott, but if worse came to worse, we could have him and Bruce out for dinner some night and send it home with them, saying we'd bought too much.

Finally, we were at the church. Karen's friend was there waiting for us and started on our makeup. She did an amazing job and in what I was sure was record time. Julie Anne was there with her Dad. She was hungry and still nursing, so I told Charlotte to go ahead and feed her while we got ready. “They know we're here, so a few more minutes won't matter.”

After I was dressed, I went to the adjoining room, where Walt and Ben, Julie Anne's father, were. Charlotte was there, feeding Doc's namesake. Doc and his groomsmen were upstairs. Walt gave me a hug. “You look lovely, Meredith. How are you? I understand there was a delay in getting here.”

“I'm frazzled, Walt. There was an accident on our way here from the restaurant. They said that nobody could get by in vehicles so we had to wait. Finally, they let us walk to the other side of the accident site, after the ambulances were gone, and police cars brought us here. I don't know for sure, but I suspect Scott Fletcher had something to do with it. We were in a dead zone, so we couldn't get cell service to let you guys know. Do you know how Julian is?”

“He's okay now, Meredith.”

“But he wasn't?”

“He was a little anxious.”

“More than a little, I'll bet.”

“I don't want to upset you.”

“You won't, Walt. I know Doc. He was probably going out of his mind thinking I'd stood him up.”

“We reassured him that you would never do that.”

“I hope it helped calm him down.”

Just then, Karen poked her head in. “We're all done, except for Charlotte.”

“I'm finished, Karen. I'll hand her to her father to clean her up and change her diaper, then I'll come back to dress her.”

Fifteen minutes later, we were making our way upstairs to the vestibule. My knees were hurting, but I ignored the pain. I was getting more and more nervous by the minute. This was getting real. I was about to become a married woman. For the last time, I hoped. We took our spots in the processional line, with Walt and I at the back. Julie Anne was in her stroller, with a small basket of flower petals on her lap. Whether or not she'd toss them out like we'd practiced was anyone's guess but if she didn't, it wasn't a big deal.

By the time we heard the Wedding March start on the organ, I was a huge bundle of nerves. Walt squeezed my hand. “You'll be fine, Meredith.”

Charlotte started out of the vestibule and into the church, pushing Julie Anne's stroller. David and Michael, Julie Anne's brothers, walked side by side, each carrying a pillow with a ring on it. Then Karen as Matron of Honour, followed by the bridesmaids and groomsmen in pairs. Doc and Curt, his Best Man were at the front of the church. I couldn't see if Julie Anne was throwing the rose petals, but once Walt and I started down the aisle, I noticed some on the floor, so she was doing good. I looked down the aisle and saw Doc standing at the front. At that moment, I lost all nervousness and my heart swelled with love for Julian and excitement at becoming his bride.