Found at Sea - By Anne Marie Duquette Page 0,94
wedding anniversary.
“That was some celebration today.” Aurora leaned on her husband’s shoulder. “We must have had every family member from the East and West Coasts at the party.”
“And the press. And half the Mission. And a few party crashers, as well. I like this better.”
Jordan gathered her closer to his right side. Aurora had lost more than half the hearing in her left ear, but hearing loss in her right ear was mostly in the very high and very low tonal ranges. She didn’t need amplification for that ear and hadn’t been fitted for a hearing aid like the one she wore inside her left when on land—which wasn’t often. Ever since the hospital, Jordan had become used to directing his speech toward her good ear and made it a point always to kiss the damaged one, ever since Aurora once commented, “At least the thing’s still good for something.”
“Thankfully no one told them our secret,” Aurora said, smiling. “Or we would never have made it out of the harbor.”
“That we found another galleon outside Florida and have the rights to it?”
“For starters. After all, we start work next week, right after Neil and Donna’s wedding.”
Roberto and the divers from the Boston Castillos had already started equipping Castillo’s Bride, the couple’s new salvage ship purchased back East, with proceeds from the San Rafael necklace. Neil and Donna planned to join them for their honeymoon.
Not only was their salvage business going well, the Castillos’ new fishing fleet now sailed in full force in New England waters.
“I wish...” Aurora quickly bit back the words.
“You could dive the wreck with me,” Jordan finished for her. “I know.” He pulled her even closer. “I wish you could, too.”
“You promised to outfit Castillo’s Bride with monitors for underwater camera work. I want to be able to see every single thing.”
“You will.” He paused, then added, “You implied another secret, love. I know you’re late. Are we...?”
“We are.” She set down her glass inside the mahogany deck cup holder and slid both arms around his neck. “According to the obstetrician Dori fixed me up with, we’re now officially parents-to-be.”
“Wow.” He blinked. “Wow,” he said again.
“So don’t feel bad about me not diving. Even if my ears were good, I wouldn’t be able to.”
Jordan’s eyes glowed with a light that was more than just the sunset’s reflection. “Pregnant with our child.” He paused. “Any idea if it’s a boy or a girl?”
“I don’t know, but we Collinses always have girls.”
“We Castillos usually father boys. So I guess we have a fifty-fifty chance either way.”
“I guess we’d have a fifty-fifty chance regardless.” Aurora grinned. “Happy anniversary, Daddy.”
She remembered their wedding at Mission San Diego, at the adobe church amid the warm weather’s full riot of brightly colored orchids, roses and lush, tropical trees. A quiet haven for wild parrots, darting hummingbirds and softly cooing doves—the setting for the wedding of Aurora Collins and Jordan Castillo.
Aurora had waited in the campanario courtyard for the ceremony to begin. Jordan would soon appear to walk her inside to her father’s arm and the trip to the altar. Until then, she’d felt content to be alone with her thoughts.
Aurora smiled as she thought about the long, antique Spanish-style gown and matching mantilla her new in-laws had brought her from Florida. She’d wanted to purchase a simple knee-length dress off the rack, but was glad she hadn’t. The Castillo women had readied her for her wedding with respect and warmth, while the assisting Collins women, including Tanya, had been astonished that their “tough as nails Rory” could look as beautiful as she did. Tanya was there with her own fiancé, Roberto, and future in-laws, all of whom treated Aurora as a very special person in their lives.
For once, Aurora hadn’t minded “the fuss.” She felt both their families deserved a special day after all the darkness of the past.
The Mission bells had begun to ring just as Jordan came to the campanario courtyard to collect her, clad in a black formal Spanish outfit with a snowy-white shirt.
“The bishop’s waiting. Are you ready?” he’d asked.
She’d nodded. “I love you, Jordan.”
Jordan had lifted her chin with a tender touch and kissed her lips, too moved to speak. He’d gestured toward the chapel, and Aurora took his arm.
As the church bells continued to ring, the wedding march began. She glanced down at the San Rafael’s necklace with its emeralds and gold and let Jordan proudly walk her inside and up the ancient tiles to the altar