In the Blink of an Eye

Chapter Fifteen: Change in the Air

It doesn't take long to contact John Buchanan to tell him that the divorce is off, and I even pay him handsomely for his time, so there are no hard feelings between us. I find myself with a bit of a skip in my step when I head into the squad room in the weeks that followed, waving to all of my detectives, especially to Melanie and Nate, before slipping into my office. One sunny early November afternoon, just after I go over some cold case files, I find myself looking up to see Nate stepping into my office.

"Hey, Nate," I say brightly. "What's up?"

"Uh, well, I wanted to drop this off," he says, sliding over an envelope which can only contain something important.

"Ooh!" I found myself saying, opening the envelope quickly, feeling the high-quality paper in my hand. I survey the formal calligraphy, with the words WE CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO THE WEDDING OF NATHANIEL RUPERT BARNES AND VIOLETTE CLARA FAIRFAX, TO BE HELD ON JUNE 22, 2013. FORMAL INVITATION TO FOLLOW. I raise my eyes to Nate's and find myself smiling. "Quick wedding," I observe casually.

Nate chuckles. "Yeah. Violette's really wanting to get married, so..."

I nod. "I'm sure."

"So we'll need about six weeks off this summer. She's already planning this elaborate trip..."

I hold up my hand. "Nate, you've done so much for the department. Six weeks off for the both of you is not a problem. We can handle it."

Nate sighs a little at that. "Thank you."

"Not a problem." I look down at the invitation again, smiling at the thought of Nate and Violette looking so happy in the glamor shots. "Was there something else, Nate?" I ask, looking up at him.

"Yeah. Violette's brother, Reed, is planning the whole occasion and Violette would actually like to speak to you about something of pressing importance regarding the wedding," Nate puts in.

I smile. "Well, by all means, tell her that I am at liberty to discuss anything and everything she wants to discuss about it. Is that all?"

"Yes. Uh, no. Not exactly, Maggie, no..."

"Well, then, Nate, please. Say what you want to say."

He shuffles then from foot to foot. "Forgive me if I'm being imprudent or intrusive in any way, Maggie, but I've noticed you're wearing your wedding ring again after a few months..."

I smile, turning my eyes down to rest upon the glittering jewel. "Yes, I am."

"May I ask why?"

I laugh a little. "You can, of course you can," I reply, raising my eyes to his. "First of all, Nate, you are not just my second-in-command, you are also my friend. I trust you with this squad and with my life—is that understood?"

"Yes, Maggie," he replies.

"Good," I say. "Secondly, I am wearing my wedding ring because Hunter and I have begun to resolve our differences. I've ended divorce proceedings. We've actually been living predominantly in the big house in Westchester for the last six weeks and we've been 'married' for the last seven and a half weeks..."

"So you're Captain Holbrook, or...?"

"No, I put in a request a few days ago to have my papers formally changed back to 'Captain Grayson' and my office door will be formally looked at as well," I tell him as I shuffle a few lose papers upon my desk. "Now, then," I say, raising my eyes back up to him, "would you be a dear and send Violette in to me, please? I would like to know what she would like to speak to me about..."

Nate grins at me. "Yes, ma'am," he replies, slipping from the room, leaving my door open. He bends over Violette's desk and whispers something to her and she kisses him on the cheek as she gets to her feet. She is five-foot-eight to Nate's six-two and they look lovely as the pair of them stand together. She walks from her desk towards my office door, shutting it.