It was an end-of-April evening on the island of Kauai. Flo adjusted the white ginger lei around Melanie’s neck as Beatrice Martin looked on.
“You look absolutely beautiful, my dear,” Bea said as her gaze passed from the wreath of flowers in Melanie’s hair down her shimmering, flowing, white silk and chiffon dress to her delicate white shoes. “You’ll knock Zack right off his feet when he sees you.”
Melanie took a deep breath, anticipating the moment when she’d see Zack for the first time today under the flowered arch the hotel manager had explained would be perfect for their wedding ceremony. This resort was an exclusive one that Zack had chosen specifically for its special services and amenities.
“I still can’t believe I’m here,” Bea went on. “That man you’re marrying is something special.”
Melanie knew that. She’d known it from the moment she’d met Zack. The night he’d proposed, he’d insisted he wanted to court her properly. He wanted their wedding night to be the most special night of their lives, and he didn’t want to rush anything. So they’d planned the wedding for the week after Easter and had brought everyone with them who was important to them—Ted and Amy, Flo, Bea, Barbara and her husband, John Finney and his wife. Everyone who was important to them except…
Melanie’s one regret was that Jordan Wilson couldn’t be here to witness the ceremony. His practice kept him too busy for that. Everyone else was here, though.
Over the past few months many things had changed. Ted had become so much a part of their lives that Zack had told him about Melanie’s corneal transplants and about everything that had led her to him. Ted hadn’t seemed at all buffaloed by it. He’d just patted Melanie’s hand and said, “I’m glad you’re going to be part of this family.” He’d even accepted the gift of this trip to Hawaii from Zack because he knew how important it was to both of them. Flo had been afraid she’d be out of a job, but Zack had insisted she stay on as their housekeeper since Melanie would be working, at least part-time. Melanie, as well as Flo, had become good friends with Bea over the past few months. Zack had insisted the elderly woman accept this trip because he and Melanie might not be together without her and her care of the pink-and-blue baby booties.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Melanie responded with a smile at Bea’s comment about Zack being a special man. “I’m so glad all of you are here.”
There was a knock at the hotel room door.
“That better not be Zack,” Flo warned. “All day he’s been itching to see you.”
Tonight she and Zack would be moving out of the hotel into a small cottage closer to the beach. He’d wanted their nights to be a true honeymoon, even if they spent their days with the people they loved. They’d only be a stone’s throw from the suite where Bea and Flo were staying with Amy, as well as Ted who would be keeping the room he’d been sharing with Zack.
Flo hurried to the door, and when she looked through the peephole, she smiled and then opened it.
Jordan Wilson stepped inside.
“Jordan!” Melanie went to meet him.
He took her hands in his. “Zack said to tell you I’m part of your wedding present.”
Before their trip she’d given Zack a Vincente Largo sculpture of a man and woman embracing. He’d given her a diamond bracelet she would treasure forever. But apparently he’d also guessed that having Jordan here would make her wedding day complete. “I thought you couldn’t get away.”
“I wasn’t sure I could, but Zack insisted I try. I did want to be here.”
If Zack had once been jealous of Jordan, he wasn’t anymore. In fact the two men had played golf a few times. Zack had known how important Jordan had been in her life, and she loved her husband-to-be even more for encouraging her friend to come.
“I’m returning to L.A. tomorrow,” Jordan explained. “But just seeing you looking this radiant was worth the trip.”
“Thank you for coming,” she said, squeezing his hands. “It means a lot to me.” Then she kissed him on the cheek.
After another hug he winked. “I’ll see you again outside.”
As Bea and Flo checked Melanie over one last time to make sure they hadn’t forgotten anything, her heart began beating faster. She couldn’t wait to be Zack’s wife. She couldn’t wait to be truly one with him. She couldn’t wait to be Amy’s mother.
The women took the elevator down three floors and walked along a hall with windows facing the ocean. While Bea’s cane clacked on the intricately painted ceramic tile floor, Melanie’s heart was so full she felt she would burst. Ever since the night Zack had proposed, she’d felt such a sense of peace, such a sense of rightness. She’d had no more dreams, except those of her future with Zack, and no more feelings that weren’t her own. All of the puzzle pieces had finally fallen into place, and she knew that Sherry Morgan was at peace, too. It was the kind of knowing that couldn’t be explained, only felt.
Stepping outside was truly like stepping into paradise. Palm trees, lush greenery, bougainvillea along with fuchsia and white hibiscus lined the walkway to the private area reserved for weddings. As they approached the arch of flowers, the view of ocean and sky, as well as the kaleidoscope of purple, pink and gold from the setting sun, acted as a backdrop that Melanie would never forget.
The minister stood on the other side of the arch, and then Ted and Zack were there, too. Ted was holding Amy. Though he was Zack’s best man, Zack’s father wore a flowered shirt he’d bought in the hotel’s gift shop after they’d arrived.
Her gaze swept from Ted’s wide grin to her husband-to-be. Traditional to the core, Zack had worn a tuxedo. He was devastatingly handsome. The world of love she saw in his eyes drew her to him.
Flo was her matron of honor and walked before her until they arrived at the arch. Then, like Ted, she stepped to the side so only Zack and Melanie stood before the minister. Melanie was aware that Bea and Jordan sat with the two couples on chairs set up for the occasion, but all of her attention was on Zack and what they were about to do. The hotel manager had asked if they’d wanted music, but they’d decided to let the sound of the waves, the rustle of palms and the chirping of birds be their music.
Zack took her hand as they turned to face the minister.
The older man with his white robe, white hair and deep voice began with, “Dearly beloved…” Melanie smiled at Zack, and he smiled at her.
Each word the minister uttered went straight to Melanie’s heart, and she could see Zack was filled with as much emotion as she was.
When it came time for their vows, Zack faced her, taking both of her hands in his. “You came to me in a very special way, Melanie. I know we’re right for each other. I know you were chosen to be my life partner from this day forward. I know you were chosen to be Amy’s mother. Because I know all this, because I feel closer to you than I’ve ever felt to another person, because I love you with a love that is growing stronger each day, I promise you my life, everything I am, everything I have. I will listen to you and trust you and walk beside you every day of our lives. I vow to be faithful and to cherish you each precious moment we have together. I love you, Melanie, and in the years to come I will try to show you how much.”
Melanie was overcome by everything Zack had said straight from his heart. They’d decided to make their vows this way…to honestly say whatever they were feeling. She was feeling so much she didn’t know where to begin.
Then she looked into his eyes and knew anyplace would be the right place to begin. “Not so long ago, I thought I’d lost everything. Then I dreamed of you. My journey brought me to you, to your kindness and tenderness and passion. You and Amy have brought light to my world again, and I can truly see what’s important. You are my soul mate, Zack. I can see and feel the love you want to give me, and I want to give you everything I am in return. I promise to love you each day as if it’s the only one we have. I promise to stand beside you and honor you and respect you. I will be the best mother I know how to be to Amy. She’s already a part of my heart, just as you are. I will try to make our home a haven, a place where honesty and patience and consideration abound. I give you my whole heart today, Zack. I promise you all of my tomorrows.”
They were lost in each other.
Although the minister began speaking again, their silent I love yous were much louder than any human voice. When Zack slipped her diamond wedding band on her finger and vowed, “I thee wed,” his voice was husky. When she slipped the wide gold band onto his finger, her voice trembled.
The minister’s blessing fell upon them, gently cloaking them in the knowledge that they belonged together. When the older man proclaimed to Zack, “You may kiss the bride,” the last golden light of day lingered on the horizon.
Zack’s kiss was the beginning of their future and the assurance of every promise they’d made. Her response was the acceptance of everything he’d offered her, as well as her pledge to love him for a lifetime.
Finally the minister cleared his throat, and Zack gently ended the kiss. Though he leaned away, he kept his arms tightly around her. “I can’t wait till tonight,” he murmured near her ear.
She whispered back, “Neither can I.”
Then everyone was congratulating them. Amy leaned away from Ted toward Melanie and kissed her on the cheek. She took the little girl from her grandfather, and Zack smiled down on them both.
“Let’s go celebrate being a family,” her husband said.
“I’ll second that,” Ted agreed, and kissed Melanie on her other cheek, patted Zack on the back and proclaimed loud enough for all to hear, “Everything’s right about this, son. Absolutely everything.”
As Zack wrapped his arm around Melanie’s waist to walk her back to the hotel and their wedding reception, he stopped in the middle of the path and kissed her again. The breeze wafted the chiffon of Melanie’s gown around them, and she returned her husband’s desire, knowing they were one in spirit, knowing they would soon be one in body, knowing the rest of their lives would be filled with gratitude and love.