Six
It was Gary’s wedding day, and Jamie was excited for his son. Mandy was a lovely girl and Jamie was glad Gary was making an honest woman of her, although he knew it was an old-fashioned way of thinking. The young couple had chosen to have a beach wedding, on the less populated beach opposite Jamie’s cottage, with lunch at the yacht club afterwards. Before Archie was born, Mandy had worked there part-time and had been able to get a good deal on the meal.
Dressed for the occasion in a crisp pale blue shirt and cream chinos, his short greying hair neatly brushed, his skin tingling from the unaccustomed application of an aftershave Gary had given him for Christmas, Jamie crossed the road to the beach. When he stepped onto the beach, his feet, inappropriately encased in a pair of dress shoes, sank into the soft sand. He cursed inwardly, wishing he’d worn sandals.
Most of the others were already there, standing beside a flowered arch together with an unfamiliar figure. Jamie guessed she was the marriage celebrant.
‘Hey, Dad!’ Rory greeted him.
Jamie noticed his eldest son had come more casually dressed, his multicoloured shirt, white pants and sandals more suited to the conditions. The groom was similarly dressed, though his shirt had a white background and his feet were bare. His long hair, so like Jamie’s had been at his age, and often tied back in a ponytail, was neatly tamed into a bun.
Jamie went up to his sons. ‘Well, Gary, this is it,’ he said. ‘No backing out now.’
‘As if,’ Gary said with a grin. ‘Mandy would kill me.’ He chuckled, then looked around warily as if to see if anyone was listening.
Jamie’s eyes roamed around the rest of the group. There was Mandy’s mother, Liz, and grandmother, Joan, with the pram containing little Archie. Standing beside them was Liz’s partner, Finn Hunter, along with the daughter who had arrived in town only a year earlier and her daughter who was still a teenager. Next to them was… Jamie blinked, then looked away. It couldn’t be… but it was. Standing there with a smile on her face, arm-in-arm with a guy who looked as if he’d stepped out of the pages of MEN and wouldn’t look out of place in a boxing ring, was Cindy, his ex-wife.
Although Gary had warned him she’d be there, he really hadn’t expected her to turn up. He glanced over again to see her stare at him, then whisper to her companion. Jamie flinched. He could guess what she might be saying about him. It would be nothing complimentary. He remembered her last scathing comments before she’d left him for good. He looked away to where Mandy and her older sister, Tara, were approaching from the pathway to the beach, accompanied by Tara’s husband, Mark.
As they drew nearer, the sound of music which had been muted, grew louder. It was the same tune which had been played at his and Cindy’s wedding. He felt like he was travelling back in time as the chords of Sweet Caroline sung by Neil Diamond drifted across the beach.
Suddenly the music stopped, and everyone’s attention was focussed on the couple standing under the arch. Mandy looked beautiful, dressed in a loose white dress, her feet bare like Gary’s. Jamie felt a lump in his throat as the pair spoke their wedding vows, promising to love each other for the rest of their lives. They exchanged rings then gazed into each other’s eyes with such love Jamie had to look away to hide the moisture in his eyes.
It was almost thirty years since his own wedding, since he and Cindy had made similar vows. Mandy’s mother was divorced too. She’d have done the same, filled with hope and anticipation for the future. He hoped Gary and Mandy’s marriage would last longer than their parents’ had, that they’d have the happy ever after they deserved. But, as he knew, life was a lottery, as was marriage, and no one could predict the future.
The music started up again, this time it was Your love keeps lifting me higher sung by Jackie Wilson, and everyone joined in. It was a joyful occasion, and Jamie determined not to allow the presence of Cindy and her new man to spoil it for him.
‘Congratulations,’ Jamie said, going up to Gary and hugging him, then turning to hug Mandy and kiss her on the cheek. ‘Welcome to the family, Mandy,’ he said. ‘I hope the pair of you will be very happy together.’ Then he moved away as he saw Cindy approaching.
The formal part of the proceedings over, everyone made their way to the yacht club where a large table had been prepared for them. Since it was early, they were the only ones there.
Fortunately, Jamie was seated at the opposite end of the table from Cindy, next to Liz and Finn, so he was able to enjoy the meal and the conversation which revolved around Mandy and Gary and little Archie, who had slept through the ceremony and was still asleep. As was usual at the yacht club, the food was delicious, a seafood meal comprising oysters, then lobster served with potatoes dauphinois and broccolini. This was followed by a delicious dessert of tiramisu, and all washed down with a chilled pinot grigio from South Australia.
When the meal was over, and everyone had been served with glasses of champagne, in the absence of a father of the bride, Jamie rose to toast the newly married couple and give the speech he’d spent the last three nights preparing. He cleared his throat. Unused to public speaking, he was more comfortable on the deck of his boat than standing here, even though he knew everyone present. And he was conscious of Cindy’s jaundiced expression. As he’d planned, he spoke of Gary’s heritage, his father’s life on the sea, his own history as a fisherman, and his pride in Gary’s move into the diving school. Then he talked of Mandy’s entrepreneurial skills in establishing her personal training business, how Gary and Mandy had met, finishing with the birth of their son and his best wishes for their future happiness. Finally, with a sigh of relief, he asked the group to join him in a toast to the bride and groom, glad to be able to sit down again.
To Jamie’s surprise, Rory took his place, giving his own short speech, followed by Liz, then Tara. By then, other guests were arriving in the restaurant. It was time for the wedding party to leave.
As she walked past his chair, Cindy brushed against him. ‘Same old Jamie,’ she said in a sneering voice. ‘I made the right decision.’
Jamie was stunned. Their marriage had been over for years. She was in a new relationship. There was no reason for her continued bitterness. He opened his mouth to reply, then thought better of it. It was neither the time nor place to get into an argument with his ex-wife.
‘Okay, Dad?’ Rory asked.
‘All good.’
Outside the club, everyone went their separate ways. The young couple had decided against a honeymoon and were returning to the apartment they’d moved into together a year earlier.
Jamie found himself alone.
As he walked back home, he reflected on the events of the day. The wedding had gone well, his speech probably could have been better, but he’d got it over. The only awkward note had been Cindy’s comment at the end.
Back home, Jamie made himself a coffee and took it into his front yard. He could see the ocean from here, hear the roar of the waves. It was almost as good as being at sea.
He thought again about the day, the ceremony, the words of the marriage vow Gary and Mandy had chosen. Marriage was a serious commitment, one he valued. Despite the failure of his own marriage, he’d seen enough happy ones to hope that, maybe, one day…
He’d been sorry when his marriage fell apart, felt responsible. But had it been his fault? Over the years he’d pondered on that question, failing to come to a conclusion.
Seeing Cindy today had emphasised how different they were. Although like him, she’d grown up in Pelican Crossing, she’d always hankered for a life in the city. Now she’d moved on with her life, whereas he’d remained here, still tethered to the sea which was part of his heritage.
His thoughts moved to Erica, to the young girl she’d been when, as teenagers, they’d sworn their undying love. He’d been heartbroken when she left, but it wasn’t how it had been with Cindy. He and Erica had been too young, and she wanted to pursue a nursing career. At the time, he’d imagined she might come back, work in the local hospital. He sighed. But she was back now. He remembered the last time he’d seen her, on his fishing boat with her brother a year earlier. She had changed, but he suspected the girl he remembered wasn’t far beneath the surface and he was excited to discover if he was right.