Whale Harbor Blooms (Saltwater Sunsets Book 6)
Chapter 1
Between herself and her sister Darla, Marty had always been the more conventional of the Sims sisters. It wasn’t that she was uptight or stodgy, but Darla’s artistic vibe had always been a little quirkier than Marty’s more classic style.
But today Marty was the one breaking with tradition, she thought with a private smile as she held hands with her mother, Lori, on one side, and her sister on the other.
Maybe it wasn’t traditional, but she’d wanted both women to be there to walk her down the aisle. At first she’d fretted over the change in typical proceedings before deciding that it was her wedding day, darn it, and she could walk to meet her groom with whomever she wanted.
“Guys, you have to stop crying!” she exclaimed laughingly as Darla and Lori both sniffled. “If you cry, I’m going to cry, and I don’t have any free hands to blot!”
“I really didn’t think I was going to be so weepy.” On Marty’s left was her sister Darla Mahoney, who had recently gotten married herself. Darla, two years older than Marty, was just about the spitting image of her sister, if you didn’t consider that where Darla’s curls were auburn, Marty’s were a rich chocolate brown. Darla was wearing an icy blue bridesmaid dress, in nod to Marty’s winter wedding. As she wiped at her welling eyes, a diamond engagement ring glinted alongside her gold wedding band. Darla had recently gotten married, so she was officially Marty’s matron of honor.
“Well, I knew I was going to cry,” Lori declared. On Marty’s right, she wore an elegant mother-of-the-bride dress in navy that complemented the color of the bridesmaids’ dresses while giving her some distinction in her role. “It’s been nonstop waterworks from me since you girls got engaged.”
“We know, Mom,” Darla joked, scrunching her nose at her sister. If Lori hadn’t been able to stop crying since her daughters got engaged, her daughters hadn’t been able to stop teasing her about it… lovingly, of course. Lori, who had not been much of the ‘weepy type’ prior to this year of wonderful changes, took the teasing in good spirits.
Wanting to show her mother just how much she appreciated this show of affection, Marty leaned over to give Lori a peck on the cheek.
The trio of women stood in the back of the beautiful old church in Whale Harbor, Rhode Island, where Marty and her soon-to-be-husband, Wyatt Jameson, had chosen to get married. Getting married within the boundaries of their hometown had been important to both Marty and Wyatt, as it was the place they had met… and the place they had reconnected and fallen in love, when Wyatt moved back to Whale Harbor a few years ago.
Getting married during a New England winter had been a gamble, but the day was perfect, with a crisp new layer of snow on the ground that reflected the shining sun. The world outside felt peaceful, beautiful and new, and it was the exact kind of atmosphere that Marty wanted for her wedding. She would have called it a good omen if she didn’t already know for absolute certain that her marriage to Wyatt was going to be a wonderful new adventure, no lucky charms or good signs necessary. But it was still nice to have the day she’d been waiting for be everything she’d hoped.
Marty resisted the urge to bounce on her toes like a little girl. She couldn’t wait to be married to Wyatt, to start the next stage of their lives together.
“After this,” Lori declared, “I’ll dry my eyes for a while… until one of you decides to give me a grandbaby, that is. Then all bets are off.”
Her tone clearly suggested that she would be happy to see those grandbabies sooner rather than later. The sisters exchanged another smiling glance. Not that long ago, their mother had been insisting she was too young to be a grandma, but recently, she’d gotten the grandparents’ version of ‘baby fever’ and kept making comments about how much she would enjoy holding a little bundle of joy.
“Do you think I could actually get married first?” Marty joked, nudging her mother with her shoulder. “And save the babies for after?”
Lori pretended to heave a sigh, although the twinkle in her eye suggested that she was teasing her daughters in return. The sisters had learned it somewhere, after all.
“I suppose so.” Then her expression turned heartfelt. “You know I’m so happy for you, don’t you?” She squeezed her daughter’s hand tight and Marty had to blink back against the tears that threatened to spill over. “And I never thought I would think any man was worthy of you, but goodness me if Wyatt hasn’t proven me wrong.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Marty said, her voice thick. “That means a lot to me.”
Marty and Lori had always gotten along pretty well, something that hadn’t always been true for Darla and their mother, since the two had had differing ideas about how to embrace the other’s perspective and advice. Even with her smoother history with her mother, however, Marty valued Lori’s good opinion a lot, and hearing her praise Marty’s choice in life partner was really meaningful.
“Who would have thought, back in high school, that you’d end up here, huh?” Darla asked. “You and Wyatt, just like old times. Only even better now.”
“Way better,” Marty agreed. “Because we have you and Rick around, not to mention all our friends, to share in our happiness.”
Plus, she thought with a private chuckle, a real relationship is way better than a secret high school crush, even if that crush went both ways. Back when they were kids, she and Wyatt had never confessed their feelings to one another. They’d drifted apart for a few years after graduation, and their past had made Marty a little hesitant when it came with trusting her heart. But she’d been brave and Wyatt had been wonderfully protective of her feelings and her love.Her fiancé always made sure she knew how much he loved her, and she loved him for that in addition to his many other wonderful qualities.
Pulling her thoughts back to the present, she squeezed her sister’s arm. “You and Rick are a model for the kind of marriage I hope to have, Dar. We may be all grown up now, but you’re still a role model to me. I hope you know that.”
“Oh, stop,” Darla said, flapping her free hand. “You can’t say stuff like that and tell me I’m not allowed to cry!”
“I love you, Dar,” Marty said. “And you, Mom.”
“You too, Mar,” Darla said, using their childhood rhyming nicknames.
“My girls,” Lori wailed, scrambling for a handkerchief from her pocket.
The sisters exchanged a knowing look before swooping their mother into a group hug.
When they pulled apart, they spotted Jeannette, the woman who coordinated events at the church, smiling at them.
“All right, ladies,” she said. “Everything in here is ready when you are.”
Darla and Lori took up their original positions. Darla squeezed Marty’s hand. “You ready, little sis?” she asked.
Marty’s stomach was full of butterflies, but they were excited ones, not born of nerves.
“You know it,” she said, unable to keep the grin from her face.
The grand double doors at the back of the church were opened by two ushers—Wyatt’s cousins, who had happily taken on the role—and there was a quick murmur that went through the crowd as the attendees got to their feet.
Absently, she felt Darla squeeze her hand, but Marty barely noticed. She didn’t have eyes for anyone but Wyatt.
Her heart raced as she walked down the aisle, staring into the eyes of her best friend, the man she loved with her whole heart. His gray eyes were shining with emotion, and he looked so handsome in his tux that it made Marty feel a little giddy. She struggled to keep her pace measured as she approached. All she wanted to do was rush into his arms.
When she finally reached the end of the altar, she gave her mother and Darla each one last kiss on the cheek before Darla went to stand with the wedding party and Lori went to sit in the front row, dabbing at her eyes. The church looked absolutely perfect, with sprigs of green and white flowers placed at the end of each pew. Dozens of candles lined the sanctuary, and the electric lights were kept low, giving the entire room a romantic glow while still letting everyone see the bride’s beauty and the groom’s happiness. Marty, who was an interior designer both by trade and by passion, had planned every last detail of the setting with her keen eye for elegance and décor.
As she placed her hand in Wyatt’s, however, Marty barely noticed anything about the world around her. Just then, it was her and Wyatt alone, perfectly happy to be absorbed in one another. She smiled, the gesture taking over her face… not that she tried to stop it.
And in that moment, everything was right with the world.
Wyatt had never thought that he would enjoy feeling like he couldn’t breathe. But staring into the eyes of his beautiful bride, his Marty, the love of his life, he felt like he couldn’t catch his breath… and he wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.
“Hi,” she whispered, voice almost shy. He grinned, understanding how she felt. He felt humbled by how lucky he was to marry the woman of his dreams.
“You look so beautiful,” he whispered back as the audience settled back into their seats.
His eyes drank her in. He hadn’t seen her wedding dress before today, of course, as that was bad luck, and he was happy he had waited to get the full effect. Her dress was simple in the front, the neckline high, but two thin straps made of pearl beads announced the more dramatic back, which swooped low and ending in a large bow that reminded him in many ways of an Old Hollywood style. Even the thought made him smile. He wasn’t a design guy himself, but being with Marty had helped him learn some of the lingo. He loved the idea that she was rubbing off on him.
Her chocolate brown curls, which usually framed her face, had been swept up into an elegant updo held in place with pins that matched the straps of her dress. Her makeup was simple, but the rosy pink lipstick taunted him with the idea that he had to wait until the end of the ceremony to kiss her.
He loved Marty every way. He loved her in her pajamas, in her work clothes, in beat up old jeans for working out in their yard. Even so, he had a feeling he’d never, ever forget what she looked like in all her wedding finery.
The officiant, an older man who had been performing weddings at this church for decades, smiled at them both. “Ready?” he asked.
The couple looked at each other and then, with matching grins, nodded.
Wyatt felt totally focused on Marty as the officiant went through the standard parts of the wedding ceremony. The couple’s eyes were locked on each other, and Wyatt had to swallow hard against the wave of emotion that threatened to overtake him. It was surreal, this moment, standing here with Marty. It was magical.
But the best part was that it wasn’t either of those things. It was real, and he got to live the reality with her for the rest of their lives.
Wyatt was only able to focus on anything besides the shining love in his bride’s honey eyes when it came time for the vows. He cleared his throat, feeling a little nervous. He knew Marty would love whatever he said, but he wanted to get his feelings for her into words.
“Marty,” he said, holding her hands in his. She gave him an encouraging squeeze, and he returned the gesture. It was a perfect reminder that they were partners, always. “I am the luckiest guy in the world—twice. First, when I met you when we were younger. You took a chance on the new kid in town and welcomed me into a friendship that changed my whole life. Second, when I came back to Whale Harbor and reconnected with you. You gave me another chance to win your heart and I promise that I will never forget it and will never stop working to honor it. I can’t imagine what my life would be like without you, and I don’t like to even try, so I won’t,” he said, and the audience chuckled. He smiled. “But knowing you, loving you, is the best thing, Mar. It’s just the best thing in my whole life, and I can’t wait to do it for the rest of our lives.”
A happy tear trickled from the corner of Marty’s eye.
“Wyatt,” she said, quickly dashing the tear away. “I’m marrying my best friend. What’s better than that? And if you’re lucky, then I’m lucky too, because I get to spend my life with you. You are kind and smart and driven. I know I can rely on you for anything. You challenge me when I need it, always support me, and are the perfect person to come home to at the end of any day, good or bad.” Wyatt could feel himself tearing up, the love in his heart overflowing. “I love you so much. I’m so happy to be marrying you. In fact, I’m going to end here, because I can’t wait a single minute longer to be married.” The audience chuckled again, although Wyatt could hear some sniffles too. “But I love, love, love you. Let’s get married, huh?”
He grinned at her.
“You heard them, folks,” the officiant said, voice cheerful. “By the power vested in me by the State of Rhode Island, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride.”
And Wyatt did.
The audience erupted into cheers, but he barely noticed, because not only was he kissing Marty… he was kissing his wife.
They were both smiling too hard for the kiss to last very long, so they pulled back, clasping their hands between them and raising them in the air, to raucous cheers from their assembled family and friends.
They walked back down the aisle, surrounded by love and well wishes. When they reached the vestibule, Wyatt gave into the impulse he’d been fighting ever since he’d seen Marty and swept her into his arms.
“You’re supposed to do this over the threshold when we go home!” she exclaimed, laughing breathlessly.
“I’ll do it then too,” he promised, planting another joyous kiss onto her mouth. “I just… I don’t even have the words to say how much I love you, Marty.”
“Ahem,” she teased, eyes dancing. “That’s Mrs. Jameson to you.”
Naturally, he had no choice but to kiss her again.
“Okay, lovebirds.” A voice from nearby caught their attention, and they broke apart.
Wyatt settled Marty back on her feet and adjusted the crumples he’d left in her beautiful dress. They looked over to see Wyatt’s father beaming at them.
“There will be plenty of time for that later,” his father continued. “But for now, we have to get some pictures before we can party.”
“Aye aye,” agreed Marty with a silly salute. Wyatt pressed a kiss against her cheek. He loved her playfulness.
Holding hands, the newly married couple headed off to join their friends and family for photographs. Wyatt went, thinking that he was so happy to be starting the rest of his life with this wonderful woman in this wonderful place.