Death of an Adept

With that she marched the pair of them over to the cake to make the traditional first cut, with Philippa then taking over to serve individual portions. In the wake of Teresa's pronouncement, the guests made a valiant effort to do justice to the cake - and Ximena and Adam dutifully fed one another the requisite morsels - but neither happiness for the bridal couple nor the spirit of Christmas could overcome the sadness of Alan Lockhart's passing, even if tempered by relief that his ordeal was over.

With the fragile festivity of the occasion thus irretrievably muted, the guests soon began to disperse, Jenny Carstairs bidding one and all a good night and a peaceful Christmas, and the medical personnel headed back to their duty stations. As a somewhat recovered Vance helped Laurel gather up the sleeping Emma to take her down to a car, and Austen conferred with his mother and Philippa, Adam set aside his champagne glass and turned to Ximena.

"What about you?" he asked. "Are you all right?"

Ximena nodded somewhat numbly. "I think so. At least I will be. I feel a little punchy, but - it isn't nearly as bad as I thought it might be. I guess it's partly because we'd already taken so long to say goodbye…."

"Think of it as an au revoir, not a goodbye," Adam said quietly. "A casting-off of a worn-out garment. You will see one another again, someday."

"Yes, I believe that now," she replied. "I'll miss him - and I'm sad for that - but I know it's for the best. And wherever he is now, I know he's going to be fine. I have a clear sense that some part of him continues. You said faith would come to me. I guess you knew what you were talking about."

Philippa joined them as they were speaking, and slipped an arm around Ximena's waist to hug her.

"Dr. Saloa is going to see to the arrangements here at the hospital," she informed them. "And Alan apparently left very detailed instructions with Jenny Carstairs, so she'll handle the rest - but not until everyone's had a good night's sleep. Austen and Laurel are taking Teresa and Vance on home with Emma. They've brought two cars, so they've offered to drop me off at my hotel on the way. So there's nothing to stop you two from taking yourselves off. It's your wedding night, after all."

"Thank you, Philippa," Ximena murmured, wearily resting her head for a moment on her mother-in-law's shoulder.

After making sure the remnants of the reception would be cleared away, Philippa accompanied the newlyweds down to Ximena's car, fending off several well-wishers en route. When Adam had handed Ximena into the passenger seat and closed her door, he turned back to bid his mother good night.

"Good night, darling," Philippa murmured, returning his embrace. "You take good care of my new daughter. She's a very special young woman, but she wants holding just now. It is your wedding night, but I wouldn't expect too much."

Adam smiled faintly and kissed her on the cheek. "I expect to spend the rest of my life with her, Mother," he whispered. "Ximena and I have all the time in the world now."

Chapter Fourteen

ALAN Lockhart's funeral was held on the day after Christmas, at the small Episcopal church in the Mission District where he and his family had worshipped for more than thirty years. Despite the season, the service was well-attended, with many of the Lockharts' friends and former clients on hand to bid him farewell. Indeed, the church itself was something of a memorial to the deceased, for over the years Alan Lockhart had given generously of his time and professional expertise to restore and maintain the building. In accordance with his wishes, the service was conducted jointly by the local rector and Jenny Carstairs.

Adam and Philippa sat with the Lockharts at the service, lending their prayers and support to all the members of the family. Under the circumstances, it had been decided not to announce Ximena and Adam's marriage until after the formal public ceremony in Scotland; but at the reception which followed the funeral, Adam was introduced as Ximena's fiance, and all interested well-wishers outside the immediate family were given to understand that the couple had become officially engaged on Christmas Eve, with Alan Lockhart's blessing. The news did much to brighten the mood of the occasion.

"At least Alan got to meet your young man," one of Ximena's paternal aunts confided to Ximena, as she was at the point of leaving. "I only wish he could have lived to walk you down the aisle. But your ring is gorgeous, my dear. Diamonds and a sapphire - how very Old World. I'm sure he must have been very proud."

"He was, Aunt Ellie," Ximena whispered, with tears in her eyes as she returned the older woman's embrace.