Chapter 11 #2
It wasn’t a formal wedding, given that it would take place out on the sand and there were sure to be tourists and dog walkers passing by.
Yet every member of the family was making the effort to look their best. Two of the assorted exes helped one another with the finishing touches to their makeup, while Nate’s mom adjusted a hat that might take off like a kite in the first breath of wind.
Even Tamara was making a couple of last-minute changes to her hair, although Nate thought she looked perfect.
Nate’s aunt was in charge of arrangements, and around two fifteen p.m., the guests began to organize themselves.
Florentine’s family and friends were the first to make their way down to the beach.
They were followed by Nate’s family, and by the time all the guests were standing in place, anyone could see that something exciting was about to happen.
There was quite a contrast between the wedding guests in their wedding finery and people just yards away, sunbathing and picnicking.
The minister waited under the awning for the bridal party to arrive.
A moment later, Florentine’s two bridesmaids processed down the natural pathway formed by the guests.
Then Florentine and Tim appeared, holding hands and smiling, looking as happy as any couple could be.
Florentine was every inch the classic bride in white organza, her veil catching the breeze and flowing around her.
Every time she took a step—barefoot—her dress sent up small waves of sand.
Her bouquet was elegant and gorgeous, featuring lily of the valley and sweet peas.
Tim wore a cream linen suit with a white linen shirt, along with a bright green sprig of lily of the valley in his buttonhole. They were perfect.
Tim might have talked about keeping the wedding small and simple, but it seemed as if both families had pretty strict ideas about how you conducted a wedding, and there was only so much “simple” allowed.
One of Nate’s cousins snapped photographs on her phone, and Nate found himself filing away the idea for work.
Maybe they could use guests’ personal photos, upload them to cloud storage, and then make them available for the world to see?
“Nate, are you paying attention?” Tamara whispered. “I can tell when you’re thinking about work.”
He turned to look at her, amazed she knew that he’d been thinking about something other than the wedding.
Then again, no one knew him quite as well as Tamara did.
And that was becoming more evident every day.
He certainly felt closer to her than to anybody he’d ever met.
They stood side by side, very close to the bride and groom, forming part of the semicircle of people gathered around.
Nate glimpsed a couple of people wandering in off the beach to see what was happening, but that was fine.
With this kind of wedding, it was almost expected.
Tamara slid her hand into his and smiled up at him.
He felt as if his heart would burst. This was what life was supposed to be.
Everything was perfect. He knew he loved Tamara, and if they weren’t at this wedding, he’d be throwing caution to the wind and saying those words aloud. But the ceremony was about to start.
“We’re gathered here today to celebrate the marriage of Tim and Florentine,” the minister began.
Tamara glanced again at Nate, and there was something in her eyes—a sense that the romance of the occasion wasn’t just limited to the people getting married.
It was a simple ceremony, and they couldn’t have picked a more beautiful spot for it.
Nate had always thought nowhere could be as beautiful as the beach at Malibu, but this stretch of San Diego shoreline was definitely up there.
There were miles of golden sand, and the deep blue waves seemed as though they could swallow the world.
Seabirds rested on the water, obviously waiting for the tide, while the olive-green and rust hues of the rugged cliffs were dazzling.
Tim and Florentine spoke their vows, looking at each other with tears in their eyes, meaning every word. Nate watched as they placed the wedding bands on their partner’s fingers—an act done with so much love.
The wedding was beautiful with a relaxed, intimate feel to it—just Tim, his bride, and the people who cared most about them, sharing that one special moment.
Nate found himself looking at Tamara, and she returned his gaze with an intensity that spoke volumes. Their regard of each other spoke of a story that was as yet to unfold. He wanted to kiss her in that moment, and only good sense prevented him from holding her tight and then never letting go.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the minister said, and the two didn’t need to be told to have their first kiss as husband and wife. The assembled crowd, including the new onlookers, cheered and clapped. Nate found himself joining in, caught up in the excitement of the moment.
One thing about a beach wedding was how quickly it could give way to a party.
The caterers, who had looked after brunch, were now ready to handle the reception.
Waiters wearing pastel-colored shirts appeared with glasses of champagne.
They quickly set up stations to handle the drinks and food and got the music going.
Pretty soon, everyone was celebrating, even the people who had wandered in off the beach.
No one really minded. It was an opportunity to celebrate, and if complete strangers wanted to help them do it, then that had to be a good thing.
In that moment, Nate truly understood why Zach Jarrs wanted to broadcast his wedding to the world.
It brought so much joy to other people. If Nate were the one getting married, he would want the world to know about it too.
“Hey, you,” Tamara said softly. “You’re thinking about work again, aren’t you?” She linked her arm with his.
That was only partly true. “Actually,” he replied, “I’m thinking about you.” There was only one person he could imagine being married to, and she was standing next to him.
He might have said more, but Tim and Florentine were finishing up their first dance out on the beach, whirling together in a way that kicked up a small storm of sand.
“Come on,” Tamara said, grabbing his hands and pulling him out to join in the dancing. “Do you remember what happens when we hit the dance floor?”
How could he forget? This was the same thing she’d done at the launch party, but he didn’t even try to resist this time.
They found a spot among the other guests, and it wouldn’t have mattered what music was playing, because they wrapped their arms around each other and danced a slow dance. Nate could feel every breath Tamara took, and yet, he still wanted to be closer to her.
They pulled back a little and, with their foreheads touching, gazed at each other.
All around them, people were laughing, the sea breeze whispered, and the sun shone brightly, but it was as if nothing else existed.
The energy changed, and all Nate knew was that one moment they were staring deep into each other’s eyes, and the next they were kissing, as naturally and passionately as the moment demanded.
It was as if they would die if they couldn’t embrace.
Nate needed the taste of Tamara’s lips. He needed to run his hands through her hair, holding her close while her tongue found his and her hands slid down his back. It was magic.
“Get a room, you two!” his sister called out, joined by a few others. Nate knew they wouldn’t have any more worries about whether or not they looked like a couple.
They broke their kiss and smiled a little sheepishly.
“I think your relatives may have a good idea there,” Tamara whispered in Nate’s ear. “We should get a room.”
Nate grabbed her hand and led her away from the dancers. “We already have one.”
They slipped away from the party, but no one noticed. The families were in full party mode. The ceremony might have been simpler than his family usually went for, but no one was going to skip the opportunity to make the celebration special.
“You don’t think they’ll miss us?” Tamara asked as they entered the beach house.
Nate shook his head. “Are you kidding? They’ll be too focused on devouring all that amazing food. You don’t know my family.”
“But I know you, and you’re the one I’m interested in.”
They kissed again in the kitchen, empty apart from a couple of waiters, and it felt like the most obvious and natural thing in the world. When they reached the stairway to the upper floor, Tamara began to undo the buttons of his shirt.
“Easy,” Nate said with a laugh. “At this rate, we won’t make it to the room.”
“I’m not sure I care,” Tamara whispered in his ear. They made it upstairs, still stealing kisses and exploring each other as much as they dared through their clothes, holding back just enough so that it wouldn’t be embarrassing if a stray aunt wandered past.
“This is what I thought might happen last night,” Tamara said, murmuring the words between kisses.
“What do you mean?”
“When we were in bed last night, I whispered your name,” Tamara said, her fingers working their way through more buttonholes. “I thought… Well, I hoped for a lot of things. But you were asleep!” Playfully, she shook her finger at him.
He was stunned. If it had been any other moment, Nate would have asked questions. Why hadn’t she woken him, for one? Or, what did it all mean? But it wasn’t another moment. It was now, and now was everything.
“When you didn’t answer me, I figured you didn’t want me,” Tamara said.
“Trust me,” Nate replied, looking at her with love and then pulling her closer. “I want you. I’ll always want you.”
They stopped at the top of the stairs for a moment, breathless and excited and giddy. Laughing, they raced down the hallway to their room and slammed the door shut, not intending to come out until morning.