Wyatt wanted one minute alone to prepare his daughter. Sandy walked away and saw her brother standing at a window, overlooking the dark ocean. She tapped his arm. She'd tell him her news, but the second she saw his face, she swallowed and asked, "Michael, what's going on?"
"Are you planning on going to Calliope and Chris Sommers' wedding tomorrow?" he asked with his arms crossed.
Tomorrow, when the ship ported in Cozumel, she'd planned on going to the resort where Calliope Evers, a girl on her high school cheerleading team, was to get married. She nodded, though he did not seem happy. "Yes, when we port. It all worked out wonderfully, where we have all these weddings?"
The last was said as a question. Seriously, her brother seemed like he wanted to tear through the wall of the ship and swim to shore. She crossed her arms and waited for the reason. Michael said, "Chris is having an affair."
Poor Calliope. She had been nice, though Sandy hadn't interacted much with her over the years. "What? How do you do know?"
"I ran into Chris and Roxanne. Roxanne is a teacher. She had no idea about Calliope." Michael must have seen them more often.
Wow, awkward. Jay's mother had been friends with the Sommers family, so they'd seen them every so often as children, though Sandy wasn't close to any of them personally. She gently pushed her brother's arm with her own. They were the only two left in their branch of the Marshall family. They had to stick together. "Chris told you?"
Michael's hands were fists as he spoke through pressed lips. "He told me not to say anything. Tomorrow's wedding will be a disaster."
Her brother had ended a relationship with Eva a few months ago, not that it had been a healthy relationship. Calliope was always the sweetheart, willing to volunteer and do good deeds, the churchgoing type. So Sandy's brother should not look like he wanted to punch anyone. Was he interested in someone like her? "Calliope was always nice."
He dropped his hands and put up his poker face. "She deserves better than Chris Sommers, but none of this is why you are glowing with happiness."
For now, she'd let that go. Michael was an adult, but an interest in a good girl would be good for him. She shrugged. Now was not the time. Wyatt came behind her and placed his hand on her spine. She held up her hand and said, "Michael, Wyatt asked me to marry him."
A huge smile grew on his face, but then he spoke in a serious tone. "Congrats. Wyatt, you might be a marine and the son of a general, but I will find a way to kill you if you hurt Sandy."
"I believe you." Wyatt nodded. "And I would never. I love her."
He loved her. The words sang in her heart. It was good her brother acted like her father, though unlike their actual father, Michael had a good heart and head. He pointed. "Good, now go. That little girl is waving to you both."
"Charlotte," Wyatt said as they both turned.
Sandy waved goodbye to her brother, who then went to speak to Jay as Penny danced with her father.
As they approached, Charlotte left her dog with her grandmother and ran into her father's arms. "Daddy, this wedding is great."
"It is," he said, and took Sandy's hand in his.
Charlotte smiled and stepped out of her father's hug as she said, "Sandy, have you thought about marrying my dad at all? I promise I'd be on my best behavior."
Sandy was about to answer when Wyatt squeezed her hand and dropped down on one knee. "What does this best behavior include, Charlotte?"
Charlotte turned and stared at her father as she drew an X on her heart with her finger. "I won't scream or throw a temper tantrum, most of the time."
"Most? What about never again?" Wyatt tilted his head and stared at her.
She sucked in a breath and then turned toward Sandy. "Daddy, don't make me sound horrible. We want Sandy to marry you so we can stay together, forever."
Sandy knelt down in her high heels and fancy dress. "Your dad is just teasing you, sweetie. He asked me, and bought me this ring when I said yes."
Charlotte wrapped her hands around her neck and shouted. Wyatt shushed her. So Charlotte then tried to whisper, but it sounded like a shout. "So you're my new mom?"
Sandy took both hands in hers and nodded. This was a good beginning. "I will be, but I'll need you to be in the wedding ceremony. Can you handle that?"
"Flower girls are for little girls." Charlotte held her head higher. "Can I be a bridesmaid, like you were today?"
For a five-year-old, she acted like a teenager. Sandy nodded. Why not? "Sure."
"Sandy, can I talk to you a minute?" Wyatt said as he stood. He motioned for his father, who'd just returned to the table to sit with Charlotte. His daughter took her dog back without a word.
"Yes," she said as she followed him to the edge of the dance floor, where no one else lingered.
He took both her hands and held them to his head. "I said I'd ask you later. I'm asking you now. Will you marry me?"
"Yes, Wyatt." She hugged his neck and smelled a home she'd never had. With Wyatt, her life was perfect. She kissed his chin as she let go.
"Did I just hear a proposal?" The bride's voice echoed behind her.
Sandy turned around and showed the ring. "Penny! Yes. Yes, you did."
Penny hugged her, hard. "I'm so happy for you both."
"Me too," Jay added as he shook Wyatt's hand.
Wyatt then loudly said, "We're happy, together, and in love."
No more secrets. No more wallowing in the past. This was a new beginning. Their old friendships were renewed, and now Sandy had the love of her life. Everything was amazing. "See how perfect your brother is?"
"I see how much he cares." Penny laughed.
Wyatt wrapped his hands around Sandy's waist and leaned in for one more kiss. She closed her eyes and realized this was the moment. She had her happy-ever-after.