“In the limo. They aren't taking any chances on getting left behind again. Take your time. I have to roust Dennis and Sadie. No, I guess I don't. Here they come.”
Lily waved from the doorway. “I'm sorry about this, Mr. Sonner, but as I told you, I want the closet closed up. Take all the time you want. We'll be gone a month. Just lock up when you leave. I want to check the closet one last time to make sure nothing is in there.” Minutes later, she dropped to her knees, flashlight in hand. Her heart skipped a beat when the minuscule light revealed nothing but the floorboards. Using her hands, she ran them up one board and down the other. The Wish Keeper was gone. She'd put it there herself, had wedged it between the floorboards, and now it was gone. She felt so light-headed she leaned her head against the wall.
“Miss Harper, are you all right in there?”
“I'm fine, Mr. Sonner. Listen, maybe I was too hasty about this. Would you mind not doing this till we get back? Crawling around in here made me realize how much space there is in this closet. I'm not sure I'm willing to give it up. I'm sorry I made you come out here for nothing.”
Act normal, Lily. Stop shaking and pretend everything is all right,
she cautioned herself.
“No problem, Miss Harper. Call me when you get back. I can see myself out.”
Lily sat back on her heels, staring at the inside of the closet. “So you gave me my wish after all. Thank you.” She took the steps two at a time, then whizzed through the door to the waiting limo. “The door locks itself. Let's go! The Wish Keeper is gone. Do you hear me? It's gone. I told Mr. Sonner to forget about closing up the closet I don't believe it's gone, but it is.”
“Good!” Sadie said. “That means life can return to normal. This is a very happy ending for all of us. Las Vegas is going to be such fun. I still can't believe the Thornton family is closing the casino for your nuptials. Babylon is the most famous casino in Vegas. You two are getting married and going on your honeymoon. Digitech stock went up twenty points. Dennis and I have become
good
friends. The Laroux brothers are in the pokey awaiting trial. Mrs. Figgins is happy with the new pipe we bought her, not to mention the two little kittens to keep her company. Our world is right side up. Life is wonderful!”
Lily squeezed tighter against Matt's side. “Matt, were you serious about giving me anything I wanted for a wedding present because if you are, I know what I want.”
“Name it, honey, and it's yours.”
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The Great White Way.
Lily waved her arms high over her head. “I feel like I should be shouting, Viva Las Vegas!”
“Then do it,” Matt grinned.
“Somebody might see me. I can't do that. Here's the deal. In two hours we are having a candlelight ceremony at Babylon's wedding chapel. The whole Thornton family will be there. Sunny's family. You all know about Sunny. After a hard day on the course, Sadie, Sunny, and I would sit and talk way into the night. We know all about that fabulous family. They own a mountain, Matt. Sunny's brother lives on it. When Sunny was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, her mother, Fanny, with the aid of all the casino owners, built this special place in the cottonwoods for handicapped people. To show you what a remarkable person Sunny is, she gave up her son to her brother Sage to adopt because she couldn't take care of him. That young man is something else. He loves his mother so much there are no words to describe it. Sunny will tell you herself that when she dribbles, he wipes her mouth. There's nothing he wouldn't do for her, but she knew he needed a family and sometimes I just want to cry when I think about it. Her husband divorced her when she became ill. She doesn't give in. She pushes herself and her husband Harry, too. He also has multiple sclerosis.”
“I can't wait to meet her. Did you tell her about your idea for a camp, honey?” Matt asked.
“No, not yet. You gotta get her on the side and get her to tell you how she and Harry survived in a snowstorm in wheelchairs. It will make your blood run cold. But, she survived, and so did Harry. That's what this is all about. She's going to go over the moon when I tell her. Well, let's sign in and get spruced up. Sunny told me we each have our own room.”
“Isn't the other side of Sunny's family coming, too, Lily?” Sadie asked.
“Sunny said the Colemans from Texas are coming and the Colemans from Kentucky. Let's see, Texas is oil and airplanes. Kentucky is Thoroughbred racing. It should be a night to remember. I swear, Matt, if you stand me up again, I will ... I will ...”
“It won't happen. Trust me.”
“It better not. Sadie and I will meet you at seven o'clock in the chapel. Be on time, Matt, or I won't wait!” She waved as he walked off with Dennis.
“God, Sadie, all of a sudden I have this awful feeling. I don't know what it is. Nothing is going to go wrong, right?”
“Nothing is going to go wrong. You are going to be married promptly at 7:10 this evening. Period. Oh, look at the room number, Lily! It's 711. Aren't those supposed to be lucky gambling numbers?”
“I have no idea. Okay, here's the room. I hope my suit isn't wrinkled.”
“Sunny! Oh, Sunny, it's so good to see you. I didn't know you were waiting up here. I would have moved a little faster,” Lily said, bending down to hug the thin, pretty woman in the wheelchair sitting in the middle of the room.
“Harry and I have a room here for the night. Security called to say you had checked in. I'm just two doors away. Harry will be over in a few minutes. So, are you ready for the big step?”
Lily sat down cross-legged on the floor next to Sunny. “Yes, I'm ready, but first I have to tell you something. Okay, here goes. Matt said he would give me anything in the world that I wanted for a wedding present. He meant it, too. Do you know what I asked for? I asked for acreage in Natchez, Mississippi, to start my own survival camp for people like you and Harry. What do you think?”
Sunny squealed her pleasure. “That's a kick-ass present if I ever heard of one. That's wonderful. Sign me and Harry up. Lily, the past two summers were the best for Harry and me. We came back here more determined than ever to push ourselves to the limit. That is so wonderful. I can't wait to tell Mom. Hey, the whole damn family is here. Turn around, Lily.”
Lily turned and gasped. “Sunny!”
“Do you like it, Lily?” she asked shyly.
“Like it. It's the most beautiful creation I've ever seen. Where in the world did you get it?”
“My sister Billie made it for you. It's one of a kind. The minute you called to tell me you were going to elope to Las Vegas, I called her.” Her voice turned shy again. “She made yours, too, Sadie. Do you like it?”
“You are too much, Sunny. It's gorgeous, it's breathtaking. How did she know what size, what color . . .”
“I might be wasting away, but there's nothing wrong with my brain. Yet. I remembered everything you two said, and I had all those pictures. Billie is an expert designer. She'll be up in a minute for any last-minute alterations. I'll leave you to get ready. I just wanted to be here to welcome you. How much is it going to cost, Lily?”
“What do you mean how much is it going to cost?”
“For people to take the course. Ozzie's camp was expensive. Most of the people at the center have no money. Harry and I were lucky that my family could afford it.”
Lily dropped to her knees. “It's free, Sunny. For any and all handicapped. Matt is going to fund it. Maybe not Matt directly, but Digitech will be there, too.”
The relief on Sunny's face brought a smile from Lily. “Like your mama said, when God is good to you, you gotta give back. Matt's a good guy. You're gonna like him. If he doesn't stand me up again.”
“Not a chance! Can Harry and I call the center and tell everyone?”
“Absolutely! Tell the world.”
“Good, then I'll leave you to get ready. Billie will be up in a minute, and she'll take you to the chapel. We'll be waiting. Thanks, Lily. Thanks for everything.”
“Lily, I think this is going to be a night to remember,” Sadie said. A scarlet-satin maid-of-honor dress. Is this gorgeous or what?”
“It is gorgeous.”
“We have exactly ninety minutes to shower, put on makeup, curl our hair, and climb into these fantastic creations. Move, Lily!”
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At six o'clock the loudspeakers in every casino on the Great White Way blared to life. The announcement was the same in each one. “The Casino doors will close promptly in exactly thirty minutes. We apologize for any inconvenience. Thirty minutes, ladies and gentlemen!”
Thirty-three minutes later, the Great White Way slipped into velvety darkness.
“The only thing that's going to be missing is Elvis Presley,” Sunny giggled as she wheeled herself to the chapel. “What do you think, Harry? Do you think Lily will like Dallas Lord and the Canyon River Band? He's going to sing in public, for the first time, the song he wrote for his wife Sara. It's called âSara's Song.' But tonight he's going to use Lily's name. Isn't it a hoot? My brother Sage knows Dallas's wife, and that's how we got him to come here and sing. He's coming out of retirement to do it. Do you wish we'd be able to dance together, Harry?” Sunny blurted.
“Yeah, I do wish that. We can sit next to each other and hold hands. I know it's not the same thing, but we're used to that. I'm hoping, if we keep improving, maybe Lily and Matt will let us help out on some of the courses. Some people are going to be intimidated and scared. If they see us doing it, it might give them the confidence they need to go for it.”
“Sure. That's what it's all about. I told Mom, and she was delighted. She's with the Colemans, and they seem real happy about it, too. Look, there's Nealy Coleman. That branch of the family just came to life. Boy, is that a story in itself. She's a jockey. Can you believe that, Harry?”
“I believe anything and everything about your family. They just seem to know how to make things happen. Especially the women.”
“Now you're getting it, Harry. Listen, I have a confession to make to you. We snagged Dallas Lord and the Canyon River band for
you.
I know they were always your favorite band. For Lily and Matt, too, but mostly for you. Just because we're in these chairs doesn't mean we lose our appreciation for the things we love. Is it a good surprise, Harry?”
“The best! You did that for me?”
Sunny's head bobbed up and down. “C'mon, let's go. We get front and center because we're
handicapped.”
“My God, Sunny, everyone in Vegas is here! How'd that happen?”
“I called them. This whole town uses Digitech software. You're right,” Sunny said, craning her neck to look around, “there must be two thousand people here. Do you think they all brought gifts? Look, Mom's already spreading the word among the owners. About the camp, Harry.”
“Jeez, Sunny, here comes Dallas Lord. What should I say? Holy shit!”
“Say hello.”
Upstairs, Lily positioned the veil on top of her head. Sadie clapped her hands. “Lily, you are absolutely beautiful. Now, dammit, wipe that frown off your face. Matt is going to be waiting for you when you get to the chapel. He's going to be there, so let's see a smile. How do I look? Am I going to blow Dennis's socks off?”
“Yep! What time is it?”
“We have five minutes to get downstairs. This is not one of those times when you want to be fashionably late. Let's go, Lily.”
“I'm so nervous. My legs are twitching. I just know I'm going to trip and fall or put a hole in this gorgeous gown. We don't really know these people. We only know Sunny and Harry, and they're doing all this for us. How am I to accept all this?”
“Lily, look at me. Read my lips. Shut up! Billie is waiting for us by the elevator. It's time to go.”
In the suite, one floor up, Matt Starr looked down at his shiny black shoes and muttered, “I hate these shoes. I feel like a monkey in this suit.”
“Every groom feels the same way. Suck it up, buddy. This is your big day. The Thornton twins are waiting at the elevator for us. I promised Lily I would personally hand-deliver you to her in the chapel. Time to go.” Dennis burst into laughter at the look of panic on Matt's face. He snapped his fingers in front of Matt's face. When his friend didn't so much as blink, he cupped his elbow in his hand and led him from the room.
The elevator door slid open, the Thornton twins, Birch and Sage, entered, followed by a glassy-eyed Matt and Dennis. The door swished shut.
At six minutes to seven, the elevator stopped between the eighth and ninth floor when a buzzer sounded from the control panel. Birch fiddled with it, pressing one button after another until Sage withdrew a key from his pocket and unlocked the phone. He dialed security and wasn't surprised when no one answered. The casino was closed for the wedding.