A Very Merry Superhero Wedding (Adventures of Lewis and Clarke) Read Online Free PDF Page A

to be sure you know that yo u d o still have a choice. Humor me and say, ‘Yes, Dad.’”
    Tori grinned and hugged him again. “Yes, Daddy. Thank you. I’ll let you know if you need the gun, okay?”
    Danny kissed her forehead and shook his head. “Where’s my little girl gone?”
    “She hasn’t gone anywhere,” she said with an affectionate smile. “She’s just adding someone new to the family.”
    “He seems nice enough, I guess. I’m not sure if he’s good enough for you, but—”
    “Okay, time to go,” Tori interrupted, pushing away from her dad. She grabbed her purse, a duffle with the clothes she would change into for tonight’s bachelorette party, and her wedding shoes to wear at the dress fitting. She pointed to a box of little gifts and prizes Lexie had wrapped for the bridal shower games, and Danny took it out to Lexie’s car.
    A fresh dusting of new snow covered the ground and cars. Just enough to be beautiful and make it feel like Christmas. Perfect.
    Dixie carried Ben outside, kissing his cheeks and making him giggle. “Honey, don’t go to the mall with Ben, okay?” She handed Ben to her husband to buckle into the child seat.
    “Why not?” Tori asked. “They have a S-A-N-T-A playground there that will keep him happy for an hour, at least.”
    “Haven’t you heard about the ring of thieves targeting mall shoppers? It’s just horrible. Breaking into cars, holding people up at gunpoint.”
    “I’m not sure there were any guns, honey,” Danny said in a reassuring voice.
    Dixie gave him “the look” and Tori watched her dad back down.
    “But I promise, we won’t go to the mall today,” he said. He kissed her and turned her around toward Lexie’s car. “Now go have fun. The men can take care of themselves.”
    Tori smiled at the exchange and opened the car door for her mom. Soon everyone was in the correct vehicle with the things they needed — Lexie almost forgot to give Danny the diaper bag — and off they went. Tori suddenly felt that surreal feeling come over her, like you wondered if you were dreaming or inside a movie or something. A movie dream where you got to be the bride.
    Thank you, Go d , she said in her head . Please let the rest of this week be filled with love and laughter and no arguing.
    An hour later, Tori stood on a dais looking at herself from half a dozen mirrored angles. Her breath caught in her throat. Today she saw herself in a way she never had before — beautiful. She caught her mother’s eye. Dixie’s chin trembled as she tried to restrain her tears. Then she gave it up.
    “It’s my blood right to cry when my babies get married,” she said as she wiped at her cheeks. She sniffled and thanked the shop attendant when she handed Dixie a box of tissues.
    Lexie walked out in her bridesmaid’s dress. She stopped suddenly when she saw Tori. “Oh, Tori, you’re stunning!”
    Tori smiled at her sister and glanced back in the mirrors. The white satin dress had clean, simple lines, cap sleeves, and a sweetheart neckline. Delicate lace fell from her waist partway down the skirt. The train trailed just a foot or two behind her.
    She looked like a princess.
    Joe was going to love this.
    Tori’s best friend, Hayley Addison, walked out in her bridesmaid’s dress and stopped in her tracks. “Oh my gosh! Tori!”
    Tori giggled. “This dress is a show-stopper, isn’t it?”
    “No.” Hayley, generally full of something to say, paused as if looking for the right words. “ Yo u are the show-stopper.”
    Tori felt her eyes well up.
    “She’s right,” Dixie said. And her face and tone conveyed that motherly love and pride that Tori so often longed for more of.
    She stared at her mother in the mirror, smiling at her. This was one of those moments she needed to remember and cherish forever, especially when times were tough. “I love you, Mom.” Tears rolled down her cheeks.
    Suddenly all of the women jumped toward the dais.
    “Don’t let the tears fall on