October
“You look beautiful,” Marie exclaimed when Ava turned from the mirror and let all the women who’d come to help her prepare for her wedding get a good look at her gown.
“You really do, even if marriage is an outdated construct of a patriarchal society,” Ava’s mother said.
“You’re married,” Ava pointed out.
“Tax breaks,” her mother said. “I’d hoped that would change by the time my children grew up.”
“Ellen, where’s your sense of romance?” Marie exclaimed. “Marriage is a wonderful institution, and I’m glad Ava found a man she loves and admires enough to share her life with.”
“I am, too,” Ava said, determined for once not to let her mother’s pronouncements throw her off. “And I love my dress.” It was a crepe sheath dress with a low neckline that skimmed her body perfectly and flared at the hemline. If it was any other color than white, she’d feel right at home walking a red carpet in this gown. She knew she looked stunning in it and couldn’t wait to see the look on Sam’s face when she walked down the aisle.
She’d asked Emma, Penelope and Marie to be her bridesmaids. They wore mulberry-colored gowns that were just as elegant as her dress. Both mothers wore mauve, her own sporting a chic number she’d bought in Paris on her way home from West Sumatra and Sam’s in a traditional sari. Everyone looked beautiful in Ava’s eyes, and the Blue House was at its best.
They were to be married on the back deck, which Emma and Penelope had helped to decorate. Kate, Aurora and Connor made sure the lawn beyond it was in fantastic shape. A catering company was providing the appetizers and dinner after the ceremony, but Emma had made them the most wonderful wedding cake.
“This place is growing on me,” her mother remarked as she got ready to go downstairs and take her seat. “I always thought California was a little too obvious in its charms, but your home has real character and so do your friends.”
“Thank you.” Tears stung Ava’s eyes. From her mother that was a hell of a compliment.
“Your father is proud of you,” her mother went on. “We both are.” She dropped a kiss on Ava’s cheek and made for the door before Ava could entirely take that in.
Proud of her?
That meant a lot.
“I’m so happy Sam found you,” Divya said, coming to give her a hug, careful not to crush Ava’s dress or smear her makeup. “You’ve made my son so happy. He’s needed a good woman to center his world.”
“I’m glad he found me,” Ava said. “You’ve raised a wonderful son.”
Divya beamed at her, pressed her hands and followed Ava’s mother out the door.
Ava turned to the mirror to check her makeup one last time.
“Excited?” Penelope asked her.
“My heart is beating a mile a minute,” Ava admitted.
“That means you’re exactly where you should be.”
Ava nodded. She didn’t have any doubts about that. She loved Sam and knew he’d be a good partner. He’d already become her best friend.
“Time to take our places,” Penelope said. She handed Ava her bouquet, and the four of them went to the door.
“Ready?” Emma asked.
“Ready,” Ava said.
“You look so handsome,” Chitra said as she followed Sam from the room where he’d gotten ready, Priya and Leena close behind.
“Thank you.” Sam’s palms were damp as he headed for the stairs. It was time to take his place under the flowering arch they’d installed on the back deck.
“Do us proud,” Priya told him as she hurried past to take her seat.
“You’ve found your destiny,” Leena said as she edged around him.
“We all love you.” Chitra touched his arm and then she was gone, too.
Sam’s father waited for him at the bottom of the stairs. Ben was standing at a respectful distance near the wide-open door leading to the deck.
“You’ve done very well for yourself,” his father said. “I want you to know how proud we are of you and how happy we are to welcome Ava to our family.”
“Thanks.”
“Your sisters think we should sell the house and buy something out here.”
Chitra had already found a job in San Jose. Priya was interviewing at a hospital in San Francisco later this week. Leena had taken a more philosophical stance. “I’m sure an opportunity will present itself if I’m meant to live in California,” she’d told him a week ago.
“You should live where you want to live,” he told his father, “although of course we’d love to have you nearby.”
“It’s a conversation for another time,” his father said. “Now, let’s get you married.” He shook Sam’s hand. “See you on the other side.”
When Sam reached the doors to the deck, Ben joined him and led him to the arch.
“Ready?”
“I think so.” Sam took a deep breath. “I can’t believe this is happening.”
“But you’re happy, right?”
“You bet I am. This is what I wanted. A wife. A family. Working with my best friend.”
Ben brightened. “It’s what I want, too. Think there’s any chance I meet someone in Seahaven? It’s not that big a place.”
“I think there’s every chance you could meet someone here. Just be yourself. Tell people who you are and what you want. Make sure the women who are attracted to you know the kind of man you are, so you weed out the ones who aren’t compatible.”
“Is that what you were doing when you met Ava?”
“Not exactly,” Sam admitted. “But somehow it all worked out.”
“Guess that’s what counts,” Ben said. “I suppose I’ve got to be patient. Not sure I want to be, though.”
Sam patted him on the back. “Soon as I’m married and back from my honeymoon, I’ll get to work on finding you a woman.”
“Deal,” Ben said. “I think the ceremony is about to start.” The strains of Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus” started up. Ava must be close to walking down the aisle.
Sam took another deep breath and let it out. He couldn’t wait to see his bride.
When Ava stepped out of the house onto the back deck on her father’s arm, she was gratified by the number of friends and family who were there to witness the vows she was making to Sam, but she barely registered their faces. Her gaze was drawn inexorably to the man she was about to marry. Sam was gazing back at her, so much love shining in his eyes that it took her breath away.
She’d never thought it possible that a man could build his life around hers the way Sam was doing. He was so strong and so loving, their time together was always a joy. Since he’d moved in, she’d grown in confidence with both her teaching and her business. He never butted in, but he was a resource for her when times got hard, always ready to listen when she needed to air her frustrations, ready to pitch in when there was a job to do, and ready to back her up, a strong, solid presence in her corner when she needed his help.
Together was a word she hadn’t really understood before. Growing up, she was on the fringes of her family. With Todd, she was more like an audience for the show he put on daily. Being with Sam was different. They were present for each other. Able to discuss things and hammer out common ground. When Sam took her hand, it wasn’t to hurry her along or dictate the direction she should head, it was to make that connection between them tangible. They faced troubles together, talked together, laughed together, made love together.
And she never wanted to be apart from him again.
She reached the flower archway Kate and Aurora had constructed with Connor’s help. Her father kissed her on the cheek and passed her over to Sam. Ava smiled up at her fiancé as he took her hand. There they were again—connected—just the way she liked it.
Throughout their vows, he kept his gaze on hers, and she hoped he could read just how much he meant to her in his eyes.
“You may now kiss the bride,” the officiant said.
Ava went up on tiptoe as Sam bent down. Their kiss went on and on until the whoops and cheers of their guests rained down around them.
When they finally pulled apart, Ava’s heart was full. This was the life she’d always wanted, and now she had the man she wanted to spend it with.
“Happy?” Sam asked.
“Happy,” she confirmed.
Sam never wanted to let Ava go again, but they were thronged as they walked up the aisle. Soon everyone was moving the folding chairs aside so tables could be set up on the deck and lawn. The caterers began to carry platters of food out from the kitchen, and the hubbub of voices and laughter filled the air.
When they’d shaken everyone’s hands and gotten hugs and kisses from enthusiastic friends and family, he drew Ava to the side.
“Let everyone else get things set up. I want a minute with you.”
“You’re going to get a whole lifetime with me.”
“Good.” He kissed her again, even longer than they had before, and felt his whole body stirring with want, the way it always did when she was near.
“I love you,” he told her. “I always will.”
“I love you, too.”
“Can’t wait to be alone with you. It’s time for us to really start working on that baby.”
“I’m looking forward to it. But I think this party is going to go on for a while.”
“Guess that’s okay.” He lost himself in kissing her some more. All too soon it was time for them to take their places at the head table, which had been set up on the deck.
“Guess what?” Penelope asked when they were seated with their meals. “I got confirmation this morning. My first guests are coming next month. I’m going to host a celebrity wedding!”
“That’s fantastic!” Ava said. Sam had a feeling she wanted everyone to be as happy as they were.
“Who is it?” he asked.
“Olivia Raquette. She’s marrying Vincent Chadwick.”
“The actor?”
“That’s right. Olivia is a social media personality, and together the two of them will garner a lot of attention. If I can pull this off, I should get plenty of bookings!”
Ava beamed at her. Emma popped up from her chair and hugged Penelope. “I’m so proud of you.”
“I’m proud of all of us,” Ava said. “All of our dreams coming true.”
“I hope so,” Penelope said wistfully.
Later, when the deck was cleared for their first dance together, Sam gladly took Ava in his arms again.
“Have all your dreams come true?” he murmured, drawing her close and swaying with her.
“They have,” she confirmed. “What about you?”
“Every single one.”
To find out more about Emma, Noah, Ava, Penelope and the other inhabitants of Seahaven, look for Beach House Wedding, volume 3 in the Beach House series.
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