Chapter 29

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Melody

I kept glancing nervously at the flap of the big tent we had set up for the wedding and reception. Gretchen and Charles’s grandmother had gotten everything together in record time. It was December thirty-first, twenty minutes until sunset.

The wedding was all set up right next to the lighthouse. It was a beautiful evening with the temperature in the low sixties. Fittingly, my beaded wedding dress had long sleeves. It tapered to a pointed waistline and then flared out all the way to the bottom, where my flip-flops were exposed.

Gretchen helped me with my hair, and we stared into the mirror when she’d finished. “You look beautiful,” she gushed. “I just can’t believe this. You and Charles get back together, and a week later you’re getting married. This is the most exciting thing that has happened in Jewel Cove in a long time.”

I smiled weakly, feeling so many emotions and wishing for so many things. Will had told me he would come, but he was supposed to get in last night, and then he’d told me he wasn’t sure he’d make it today. It made my heart sad, but I understood. Will had gone through a lot in his life. I had gone through a lot in my life too, and I wanted Charles with me for the rest of it.

The tent flap opened, and Will strolled in.

Gretchen squealed. “You came! You’re here! This is perfect.” She rushed over and hugged him.

Will smiled at her. “Thank you.”

My heart felt like it would beat out of my chest, and I moved toward him.

“You look beautiful,” he told me, opening his arms.

I laughed and hugged him close. He was four inches taller than me. “You’re here. Thank you for coming.”

Will pulled back. “I didn’t think I would make it with all the flight cancelations. Did Charles not tell you about it?”

I was confused. “No.”

Will grinned. “He called me yesterday and sort of introduced himself, and then he offered to send his private jet.” He laughed. “I mean, who can refuse a private jet? He said he wanted to make sure that I got here, and he wanted to make sure it was okay with me that you were getting married to him.”

My heart melted. “He did?”

“He did.”

Happiness burst through me. I hugged Will again.

Hazel popped her head through the tent flap. “It’s time.”

Butterflies assaulted me. “Oh my goodness.”

Will gave me an up-and-down look. “Mom, I’m really happy for you. Seriously. You’re going to have to explain how you fell in love with this guy so quickly, but he seems great. He told me you guys knew each other growing up. That’s cool.”

I took his outstretched arm, my heart soaring. “Then let’s get to walking me down the aisle, son, shall we?”