CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
In the late afternoon, I dressed for the beach wedding in a flowing floral skirt and a pink silk blouse.
Nell and Clint had requested that we all dress casually.
The men would no doubt follow Clint’s choice of khaki pants and polo shirts.
I knew Liz and June were wearing sundresses, and I was certain most of the others would wear pretty spring skirts or dresses as well.
Bo and Rosie were beside themselves with excitement. They’d spent the whole week playing with their cousins and were excited to be included in a wedding. Bailey had told them and the other kids about her important role. Ned wasn’t as excited, but I knew he would be when the moment came.
I left my bedroom and went to see what I could do to help Robbie. He looked very grown-up in his khaki pants and a blue polo shirt, with his dark hair slicked back.
“Are you ready to help Clint?” I asked him.
“I told him I’d meet him at the hotel,” said Robbie with a note of pride.
I checked my watch. “I guess we’d better go. Where’s Dad?”
“Outside talking to Ty,” he said.
We left his room and found everyone gathered outside, dressed for the wedding.
“Robbie and I want to go to the hotel to help Nell and Clint,” I said. “You’ve got a little more time.”
“I’ll come with you,” said Vaughn. “Ty, you can take my car. Okay?”
“Sure, Dad. We’ll follow in a little bit.”
As Vaughn drove to the hotel, I could see the tension in his shoulders. I knew this was a big moment for him, even though Robbie would be walking Nell onto the beach.
“How are you doing?” I asked him as Robbie turned on his earphones.
“It may be the second time around for Nell and Clint, but in some ways, it feels like the first one,” he said. “I’m proud of them.”
“You’re not feeling left out, are you?” I asked.
“No, I’m very proud that my son, Robbie, is going to walk Nell onto the beach. But I’ll still be the one giving her away all over again, as Nell put it.”
I loved the tender look that crossed his face.
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We arrived at the hotel, and I immediately went to the bridal suite where Nell, Angie, Liz, and June were gathering. The children would be part of the ceremony, but the real essence of the wedding was the behind-the-scenes support.
When I saw Nell in her wedding gown —a pale pink silk midi dress with capped sleeves and a sweetheart neckline —my breath caught. She was stunning. Her blond hair was pulled away from her face in a type of braid, into which a few orchids had been placed.
“Oh, my darling, you are beautiful,” I whispered as I hugged her.
“Thank you for helping me pick out the dress,” she said. She looked around the room. “Ready, everybody?”
“I know how excited you are, but give us time to get onto the beach,” said Liz with a teasing smile.
Robbie knocked on the door.
I let him in and then we women left.
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Standing on the beach between Vaughn and Liz, I listened to the guitar music, felt the gentle sea breezes brush my cheeks, and let out a joyful sigh. This was such a special occasion. The situation between Nell and Clint could’ve ended very differently.
The lapping of the nearby water made a soothing sound.
It blended with the classical guitar music being played.
I gazed at the small, white wooden altar that had been placed in the sand.
A huge arrangement of pink flowers, including roses and orchids, sat in a white wicker basket atop the altar with electric candles flanking it.
The woman overseeing the ceremony was a friend of ours who officiated at weddings all over the area.
Ned proudly stood by his father near the altar that had been placed in a quiet section of the beach in front of the hotel. Seeing him like this, I could well imagine Ned as a grown adult.
The circle of people of all ages waited in anticipation. Even the children, as excited as they were, behaved.
When the guitar player shifted to a new song, John Legend’s All of Me, I turned and watched as Bailey, in a pink halter dress and wearing a crown of orchids to match her mother’s, stepped onto the sand, a darling maid of honor.
Smiling, she held onto a bouquet of pink flowers that matched the arrangement on the altar, and bravely made her barefoot way to her father.
When she was in place opposite Ned and their father, the guitar music switched to Perfect by Ed Sheeran.
We turned to see Nell.
Robbie held onto his sister’s arm, carefully leading Nell onto the beach.
Gasps of delight echoed around me as Nell, smiling, walked toward us, but she had eyes only for Clint.
Watching her, Clint’s eyes welled up with tears.
Bailey and Ned looked as proud of their mother as I felt.
Vaughn squeezed my hand, and I knew he was feeling emotional like the rest of us.
Seeing a couple get married for the first time was special, filled with hopes for a happy future that were shared by all.
But this evening, with the sun lowering in the sky and the sea breezes whispering endearments, this wedding couldn’t be matched because we all knew what it had taken to reach this point.
I glanced at Rhonda. She and I had hosted many weddings at The Beach House Hotel and would continue to do so.
Moments like this made all our hard work worth it, allowing us to provide such a lovely setting.
We shared the hopes and dreams of all who came here to be joined in matrimony and welcomed those who came for rest, privacy, fun, and excellent food.
Standing on the opposite side of the circle, wiping her tears, Rhonda winked at me. I knew she was as proud as I was that we’d accomplished what we’d set out to do. On a sea breeze, I blew her a kiss, and she sent one back.
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