Chapter 28
Twenty-Eight
Kara hadn’t been kidding when she’d referred to her family as a shitshow. The Ballards had descended en masse onto Gansett Island two days before the wedding, and now Dan was at the police station to retrieve three of her brothers, who’d been arrested after the rehearsal dinner.
Blaine Taylor greeted him with a grim expression on his face. “Quite a crew.”
“How bad are we talking?”
“They busted up the Rusty Scupper,” Blaine said. “The owner is determined to press charges.”
“I’ll reach out and see if we can make it go away.”
“They’re leaving after the wedding, right?”
“First boat out on Sunday.”
“Excellent.”
“Sorry about the trouble.”
“Certainly not your fault.” Blaine led him into the hallway that housed the island’s single cellblock, where Kara’s brothers Keith, Kieran and Kyle had spent the night.
Keith and Kyle had sleeve tattoos, earrings in both ears and chips on their shoulders a mile wide.
Kieran seemed slightly more tolerable when he wasn’t under the influence of his older brothers.
“Gentlemen,” Dan said, using the term loosely. He wondered how the oh-so-prim-and-proper-country-club maven Judith Ballard had managed to raise hoodlums like them.
“Aren’t you supposed to be a hotshot lawyer?” Keith asked. “Get us out of here, will ya?”
“Happily, but there’re conditions. Chief?”
“Make restitution to the Scupper, or the owner will press charges,” Blaine said. “Stay out of trouble, or I’ll put you on the next boat to the mainland, wedding or no wedding. Am I clear?”
Keith didn’t like being told what to do, that was obvious, but he nodded, nonetheless. “We’ll take care of it.”
“I’ll expect to hear from Pat at the Scupper within the hour, or I’ll be rounding you up again.” Blaine unlocked the cell, and the three brothers filed out. “Good luck,” he said to Dan under his breath. “You’re going to need it.”
“Thanks for calling me and not Kara. I’d hate for anything to ruin this day for her.”
“No problem. See you at the wedding.”
Dan’s future brothers-in-law were in the parking lot when he emerged into the bright sunshine, dropping Ray-Ban Wayfarers from the top of his head to cover his eyes. “Let’s have a little chat, boys.”
“We’re all set,” Kyle said.
“Yes, I can see that by the way you spent the night before your sister’s wedding in jail,” Dan said.
“What do you want?” Keith asked, hands on hips.
“Keep it together for Kara today and tonight, or you’ll deal with me, and I can be a royal pain in the ass when I want to be. We clear?”
“All good,” Keith said tersely. To his brothers, he said, “Let’s go.”
They headed toward the Sand & Surf Hotel, where they were staying. No doubt Laura and Owen would have a few stories to share after the weekend. “You’re welcome for getting your sorry asses out of jail,” Dan said to their retreating backs.
Dan got into his Porsche and drove home.
Kara was at the Chesterfield, where the four-o’clock wedding would be held.
He checked his watch. Right about now, Chloe would be doing Kara’s hair and makeup.
She’d left that morning with everything she needed for the rest of the day, kissing him and telling him not to be late.
As if he’d be late for the most important event of his life. He’d almost done this once before. What had once been one of the most traumatic things to ever happen to him, second only to losing Dylan, he now listed as one of the great blessings in his life.
If he’d married Jamie, he never would’ve met Kara, and that would’ve been a tragedy of epic proportions. He wouldn’t have known how lacking his earlier relationship had been because he wouldn’t have had Kara to show him the way it should be.
Dan missed Dylan fiercely today, but that was nothing new.
He missed him every day. He ran his hand over the steering wheel of the car that had belonged to his brother.
Having the car kept Dylan close, but on days like this, his absence was a physical pain that nothing could soothe.
He felt guilty about missing his weekly visits to Dylan’s gravesite while he was away from California, but Dylan would tell him to knock that off and enjoy his wedding day.
He was thrilled to have the rest of his family with him for the big day. The entire Torrington family had come from California and was staying at the McCarthys’ hotel in North Harbor, thankfully nowhere near the Ballards.
True to her word, Bertha had sat out the wedding, but had called first thing to wish them all the best of everything.
He pulled into his driveway and parked beside his best man’s car. As Dan emerged from his car, Grant came out of the house to greet him.
“You got one hell of a day to tie the knot,” Grant said of the gorgeous sunshine.
“We sure did.” June weather on Gansett was a crapshoot, but it could be pouring rain for all he cared.
“Where you been?”
“Getting Kara’s brothers out of lockup.”
Grant’s mouth fell open. “Seriously?”
“Serious as a heart attack.”
“What’d they do?”
“Busted up the Scupper.”
Grant wrinkled his nose. “Why were they hanging out at that dive?”
“Your guess is as good as mine. What’re you hearing from Stephanie?”
“Everything is going well and right on schedule.”
“Excellent. I’m going to grab a shower, and then we can head over there.”
“A little eager much?” Grant teased.
“You have no idea.”
Kara stood before the mirror, taking a critical look at herself in the casual yet elegant dress she’d chosen for her big day.
The ivory silk hugged her curves in a way that Dan would appreciate, but it wasn’t so sexy that she’d be uncomfortable in it.
Tiffany had helped her pick it out, and as usual, her friend had been spot-on in her suggestions.
She wore her long auburn hair in an elaborate updo that left her shoulders bare and had gone with just enough makeup to appear dressed up and to ensure that Dan would actually recognize her when he saw her.
She couldn’t wait to see him in the navy sport coat and khakis they’d chosen for him and Grant to wear.
As she thought of him waiting for her downstairs, the tension and strain of the last few weeks slipped away.
Kara had followed his advice and kept the contact with her mother to a bare minimum, which had infuriated Judith.
Not that Kara cared. She refused to be sucked into her family’s never-ending drama on this of all days.
No, today was about her and Dan, and she was determined to make it the best day of her life.
Stephanie came into the room, wearing a periwinkle, tea-length dress that showed off her spectacular legs. The two women had become even closer friends during the winter they’d spent together in LA, and having Grant and Stephanie as their only attendants had been an easy choice for her and Dan.
“You look amazing.” Stephanie had brought Kara’s bouquet of white hydrangeas, and Stephanie would carry the same bouquet in blue.
“Thank you. I feel pretty amazing today.”
“Your handsome groom has arrived, along with mine, and the guests are taking their seats.”
“Glad to hear he actually showed up,” Kara said with a smile.
“Wild horses couldn’t have kept that man away from you today. Your dad is in the hallway, and Lizzie says we’re ready whenever you are.”
Kara took a deep breath to calm the butterflies in her belly. She never had liked being the center of attention, but even that couldn’t detract from her joy at marrying Dan, the absolute love of her life. “You can send my dad in, and, Steph? Thank you so much for being my matron of honor.”
Stephanie squeezed her hand. “My pleasure. See you downstairs.”
Kara’s dad came in, dressed in the same blue blazer and khaki pants that Dan and Grant were wearing.
“Sweetheart,” Chuck said, “you look lovely.”
“Thank you, Dad.” She’d debated whether she wanted him to give her away after everything that’d happened. But she had only one father and would have only one wedding, so she’d asked him despite her reservations.
“I want you to know how thrilled your mother and I are that you’ve found someone who makes you so happy. We’re very proud of you, and we love your Dan.” He hesitated, as if considering whether he should say more. “We handled things badly with Kelly, and you were hurt by it. I’m sorry for that.”
Stunned to hear him admit to being wrong about anything, Kara had no idea what to say.
“What she did was wrong, and I’ve told her so. I’ve also told her she’s to stay far, far away from this island today. This is your day, and she doesn’t belong here.”
Overwhelmed, Kara hugged him. “Thank you.” She was relieved to know that Kelly and Matt wouldn’t try to crash the wedding.
He extended his arm. “Now, let’s forget all that nonsense and get you married.”
She slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow.
He covered her hand with his. “I love you, Kara, and I wish you and your new husband the very best of everything.”
“Thank you, Dad. I love you, too.”
Dan thought he was prepared for whatever she might have in store for him.
He was dead wrong. She blew him away with her simple elegance, her embarrassment at being the center of attention and the way she kept her gaze firmly fixed on him while she made her way to him on the arm of her father on the lawn of the Chesterfield Estate.
Dan’s heart felt like it might explode from the emotional overload of this moment. With his parents, sisters and their families seated in the front row and Grant standing by his side, Dan took a step forward to meet his bride.
Chuck shook Dan’s hand and kissed Kara’s cheek before taking a seat next to his wife and family.
Dan kissed Kara. “You’re beautiful.”
“You don’t look too bad yourself.”
He smiled at the predictably saucy reply. He couldn’t wait for a lifetime of her particular brand of sauciness.
Grant’s uncle Frank presided over the brief ceremony in which Dan and Kara exchanged traditional vows and rings. Knowing his bride hated the spotlight, he’d agreed to keep it short and sweet.