Gemma
“How much was all this?” Adonis asked as they walked to the groomed lawn dressed up for a winter wedding, California style.
“The British don’t talk about money in polite company. It’s my gift to give.”
She was happy to have done it. Dominic and Bridget had planned to get married in his backyard or hers when they couldn’t find a venue they liked on such short notice. That would have been quaint, cozy, nice even. But Gemma wanted to right a wrong. She’d been so self-involved that she’d let a man lie supine on her floor while she called Sylvester, and Sylvester called his son, and so on.
That had been one of the worst moments of her life. It had also been one of the best moments. It had been a catalyst for change. She’d sought out Giovanni.
She turned toward the man in his dark suit and covered his hand with hers.
“You clean up well.”
Adonis threw back his head and laughed. “You make me laugh. Every single day.”
“Are you laughing at me, or with me?”
“Both. British people are funny. Will the rest be as funny?”
Gemma purposefully stiffened her upper lip, then put him on the spot. “I don’t rightly know. Speaking of London, we can’t put this off. I promised to start after the beginning of the year. I need some kind of answer from you. I can’t—”
He squeezed her hand. “Later. The happy couple is here.”
“Okay. Later.” She had to believe in her heart that love would triumph. Wasn’t that what this day was all about? Things had been so much better since London. But every night as she lay next to him, watching him sleep, she dreaded the morning, not knowing if he was going to walk out her door, never to return.
Tucking away her anxiety at this being their last time together, at him throwing out the compromise of a long-distance relationship, she plastered on her best smile and went to greet the happy couple.
“I hear you’re off to London,” Dominic said after kissing her on both cheeks and wrapping her in the world’s warmest hug.
“I’m looking forward to it. I only hope I can convince your son to come with me.”
“He’s gotta hard head, but a big heart. But I know him. He’ll make the right decision. Give him time.”
Because it was Dominic’s wedding, she didn’t mention that she didn’t have the luxury of time. In a week’s time, she’d be on a whole different continent.
“So, this is Mason Manor…” she started, leading them on a tour of the impressive house that was like a little piece of Britain in Malibu.
After that, she talked to the couple about logistics, food and drink. Leaving them in the small upstairs dressing rooms, she came back down the steps of the stone mansion overlooking the Malibu cliffs and looked at the ocean. As if someone were watching over them, the evening mist didn’t come down and shroud the lawn.
She talked to the caterer one last time. An hour later, all was set. The outdoor heaters blazed on the bluff. About thirty white folding chairs were fanned out in an arch facing a trellis draped with winter-white flowers, where the couple would say their vows, but also facing the ocean, where the sun was soon to dip close to the horizon.
On the hill, the house was blazing. Upstairs in dressing rooms, Bridget and Dominic were getting ready. Downstairs, caterers rushed about setting up the reception buffet. Giovanni would be proud. She certainly was.
Gemma crossed her arms, pleased with herself. She’d done good. Finally.
For a moment, the call of seagulls stilled. She looked up into the dusk sky, expecting to see the first stars, but instead was greeted with the whoop-whoop of helicopter blades.
Out of protective instinct, she ducked her head, lifted her skirts and ran toward the house. Out of habit, she lifted her phone and started to dial Sylvester.
“I’ve got this,” Adonis said, laying his hand over the phone.
“I think it’s because of me. I’m so sorry. I should have known that booking a house for a wedding would hit the tabloids. I just thought—”
“We’ve got this.”
And they did. Adonis huddled with Nick and Bridget’s sons. When they broke it up, Bridget’s younger son, Ryan, took out his phone and in ten minutes, the call of birds came back. She almost cried in relief.
Maybe she wouldn’t have to go it alone from now on. Maybe she could reach out a hand and ask for help.
Five minutes later, when it was clear the chopper wasn’t returning, the music started. Her cheeks widened in a smile she couldn’t keep in.
Bruno Mars.
It had seemed kind of a young music choice for the couple, but when she put in a couple of CDs she’d had Sylvester send over, she realized he sang about love and acceptance.
Everyone filed out when “Just the Way You Are” started playing. The seats filled, Bridget’s kids in the front row on the left. Zoe and Nick filed down on the right.
“You coming?”
“In a minute,” she whispered. She wanted to make sure all was perfect before she took her seat. She ducked into the kitchen and signaled to her surprise.
“Alessandro, I’ll never be able to thank you for doing this.”
“Who says no when a movie star calls and asks me to officiate at my younger brother’s wedding? Arizona won’t miss me while I’m gone.”
The man, so much like her lover’s father, kissed her and walked outside, making his way to the front. Gasps, hugs, kisses and frantically-whispered conversation filled the air. From what she understood, Dominic’s brother hadn’t been back to California for a good while.
Dominic came down next. He looked utterly debonair in a navy suit and silver tie. His hair was shiny with product.
“Thanks for this,” he said as he leaned down and placed a kiss on her cheek. “Bridget would never indulge and you gave us the excuse to do it up right for her.”
“You’re welcome. So very welcome.”
Alessandro Andreis was looking out at the water, but turned when his brother came to a halt. The men hugged hard for a long time. Gemma swallowed a lump in her throat. She willed herself not to cry.
There was a pause in the music, a moment of quiet as Dominic situated himself under the trellis woven with lilies.
Softly at first, then more loudly, Bruno Mars started again. The first strings of “Marry You” filled the air.
Everyone rose as Bridget appeared on the arm of her eldest son, Cameron. He was in full LAPD dress uniform, white gloves and all. The smile on the older woman’s face was tremulous. It was as if Bridget was so happy she wanted to laugh and cry, all at the same time.
Gemma did her best to blink back tears as she smiled at the bride. When the music softened to something instrumental, only then did she take her seat next to Adonis.
“You did good,” he whispered in her ear.
“When Sylvester told me that anyone could officiate a wedding, I knew who I had to call.”
Alessandro had practiced like he promised and started in the usual way. “We’re gathered here today to celebrate the union of my brother, Dominic Andreis, and Bridget Becker. They’ve prepared their own vows. They’ve asked that you listen with an open heart and mind.”
Alessandro nodded and Dominic turned to the crowd. He pulled a small index card from his breast pocket. He took a deep breath then spoke.
“My life has been long and happy. My greatest lessons, I’ve learned from my kids. From Nicki, I learned to love with a big heart, and to grab at the unexpected with gusto. From Zoe, I learned that life does have second acts, and that even when you think you can’t, you can reinvent yourself. From Adonis, I learned that you have to forgive yourself. Also, the most important, date the hot chick and go with her wherever she asks. You hear me?”
When the laughter died down, Dominic handed Bridget a card.
“What? I don’t have pockets in this thing.” When she squinted at the words, Dominic took off his reading glasses and slipped them gently onto her nose.
“I guess vanity is one I’m going to have to work on.” She turned from her notecard to the small crowd. “Ryan and Cameron, I love you dearly. You’ve been my life for almost as long as I’ve been alive. Thank you for all you’ve done, but I think this guy can take it from here. I’ve learned a lot from the two of you. How to mend furniture. How to stop a fight. Seriously though, Ryan, from you, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected, and be okay with it. From Cameron, and you too, Yesenia, I’ve learned that life is about grabbing at the second chance for happiness. I promise, Dominic, to hold tight to our second chance with both hands.”
Alessandro smiled at his brother again and nodded.
“I love California in all its hippy-dippy greatness. But I’m a traditional guy. I, Dominic, take you, Bridget, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death.
“This is my solemn vow.”
If Gemma thought she could hold back tears during Dominic’s love letter to his children, then it was doubly hard now. She’d never been in a place with so much love. She swallowed hard. Then it was Bridget’s turn.
Bridget repeated the same vows, nearly word for word. The couple looked at each other as if the rest of the world had fallen away. As if it was just the two of them.
Suddenly, achingly, she wanted this. This joining of lives, this joining of souls. She looked down between her and Adonis and grabbed his hand and squeezed, hoping he got the implicit message there.
“By the power vested in me, by the State of California, for one day only, I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
If she thought this older couple would skip that part, she was dead wrong. Her throat clogged and she had to look away. If anyone asked, she’d blame the tears on the setting sun.
“I present to you, Dominic and Bridget Andreis.”
Gemma was out of her seat the moment the couple started the recession.
“Congratulations.” She shook the hands of the new couple, kissed both of them, then escaped to the reception area.
She pulled the manager aside. “I need a minute. Where can I go?”
“There’s a little room on the third floor,” he said, not skipping a beat. “Do you—”
“I’ll find it,” she said, lifting her skirt and running from the room.
What people don’t tell you about being a recluse is that it’s easy. No messy relationships, sex, or emotions get in the way when you’re alone. She needed that solitude just now. Giovanni’s advice had seemed so innocent. Go out. Meet people. Make friends.
Then she’d fallen in love.
All the feels. That’s what Americans said now. All the feels. She had them. Love for this little family she’d adopted. Love for Adonis. Fear for the future and all she couldn’t control.
When a knock sounded on the door, she ducked into the tiny powder room. Pulling square after square of toilet paper from the roll, she dabbed at her eyes, blew her nose.
“Hello,” she said to Adonis, who was sitting on a tiny Queen Anne chair at an equally tiny vanity.
“What happened?”
“Overwhelmed is all. We better get back down there. You have to make a toast, right? You and Cameron.”
“No one’s going anywhere. Let them get a couple of drinks.”
“I got sparkling grape juice for you.”
“I’m sure you’ve got it covered, Gemma. You’re an excellent planner.”
“This was a walk in the park. You should see a movie director pull together a two-hour feature.”
Zoe’s head poked into the room. “They’re about to start the toast… Oh, you know what. We’ll wait.” The door slammed and Gemma could hear her murmuring to someone else, then high heels descended the narrow stairs.
“Oh, Gemma. My life was like a bad movie, that started with a tragedy and the guy lived like a zombie. Dad was right in what he said today. Life is about second acts and second chances. Yes, I’ll go to London with you. I’m going to grab on to you with both hands and never let go. If that’s okay with you.”
“I love you, Adonis Andreis,” she said, free for the first time to love him and all his flaws, knowing that he loved her and all of hers.
“I’ll love you forever, Gemma Hart.” Adonis sank to one knee, and produced his own notecard from his pocket.
“I’m confused.”
“I was going to do this downstairs. And yes, I got my father’s permission. It was partially his idea. But now’s the right time. Here goes.
“Gemma Wynter Hart, I love you. I promise to take the second chance that life has given us. I promise to keep your house in order, love your dog like he was my own, and pamper you all the days of my life. Gemma Hart, will you marry me?”
“Yes! Of course. Yes.”
“I think we need to get down for the toasts.”
“Right. Yes. Let’s chivvy along.”
“I vow to get a teacher and learn British English. Starting with spanners. I’m thinking I’m going to need a lot of those.”
Gemma dabbed her eyes, swatted him with her free hand then pulled him down the stairs to start their future.