CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
R honda and I stepped into the dining room and sighed with pleasure. The small room looked stunning, with dark green tablecloths on the tables. Crystal goblets sparkled at each place beside shiny silverware. In the middle of each table was a crystal vase holding sprigs of dark green pine, white orchids, and holly branches to add to the holiday décor.
At the far end of the room, the bar was set up, and next to it was a place for the harpist to sit and play music.
“Seeing this makes me want to get married all over again,” gushed Rhonda.
We walked to the Bridal Suite and heard the sounds of laughter before we even opened the door. The “Fab Five” plus Cilla and another woman we hadn’t met were all talking.
Seeing the group of women like this, I made a mental note that doing something like this for small wedding groups was a great way to put people who might not know one another at ease.
Caro saw us and came over to us. “This has been such a lovely day already. Come meet my mother.”
She led us to a tall, thin woman with gray and white streaked hair who was strikingly attractive. It was very clear where Caro got her lovely looks.
“This is Adrienne Graber. And Mom, these are the two fantastic women I told you about. Ann Sanders and Rhonda Grayson, the owners of the hotel.”
“It’s such a pleasure to meet you both,” said Adrienne. “I applaud women like you who’ve accomplished so much. I’ve had my own retail business for years.”
“Retail, like the hotel business, has its ups and downs,” I said.
“Oh, yes,” Adrienne said. “I’d hoped Caro would take over the business, but she’s off on her own adventures. I understand how important that is.”
“I haven’t seen Henry yet to congratulate him,” I said. “But he’s a lucky man.”
“Yes. They both are,” said Adrienne. “They make a great couple.”
“Thanks, Mom,” said Caro. “I’m going back to the house now to change.” She turned to Jane. “Ready?”
Jane stopped talking and came over to us.
“I’m Caro’s matron of honor,” she said, her eyes tearing up.
Touched by Caro’s sweet gesture, Rhonda and I led them out the door.
We stayed with them as they made their way to the house. One last time, we wanted to make sure everything was the way Caro wanted it.
When Caro walked in and saw the flowers and the chairs arranged in a circle before the fireplace, she clasped her hands. “Oh my! This is beautiful! I can’t believe this is actually happening.”
“Has Henry seen this?” I asked.
Caro shook her head. “I don’t think so. He, Slade, and Amelia should be arriving any minute, which is why I need to hide in the bedroom to change.”
“Okay, we’ll leave you to it,” I said, and Rhonda and I left.
###
“I ’m going home to change ,” said Rhonda. “Then Will and I’ll return and make sure both musicians have arrived.”
“Okay, I’ll change and hurry back to make sure Amelia, Slade, and Henry have settled in.”
Excited about the wedding, I hurried home and changed out of work clothes into a brown linen dress. The wedding was to be a simple one with the men wearing sports coats and slacks, no ties.
After making sure Robbie was fine at Liz’s house, Vaughn and I left for the wedding. He was used to my leaving his side to take care of the supervision of affairs like this. I hoped this would be a positive time for him to chat with Will.
###
V aughn and I arrived at the house to find two Secret Service people protecting it. Amelia went nowhere without them. One was an older gentleman; the other a young woman. Rhonda and I had seen and talked to them before.
“Looks like a nice day for a wedding, after all,” said Vaughn.
They both continued to scan the area.
Inside, Amelia was talking to Caro’s mother. Each time I saw her, I was reminded of Amelia’s struggles to succeed in the political arena. She could’ve become jaded or bitter but instead had chosen to remain a lovely, approachable woman who knew how to get things done.
“Hello, Ann. How are you?” Amelia said, coming over to give me a quick hug.
I hugged her back, hoping she didn’t have more people she wanted to send to Rhonda and me at the hotel.
As if sensing my feelings, Amelia said, “No more special requests for you. For now.”
I chuckled. An excellent politician, she’d always leave the door open to another one. “How do you feel about Henry and Slade both falling in love with women they met here at the hotel?”
“You know how much I love this hotel. It seems appropriate somehow. I’m very glad, though, that they’ll continue to work for me.”
“Yes, both Caro and Amy will be moving to D.C.”
Rhonda joined us. “Hello, Madame Vice-President. It’s a pleasure to see you here.”
“I’m delighted as always,” Amelia said, hugging Rhonda. “It’s always marvelous to see two of my favorite women. And today is a special one for Henry and Caro. Henry introduced me to Caro on Facetime right after Caro returned to Pennsylvania.”
“Sweet of him,” I said, noting more guests were arriving. I left Amelia’s side to greet them.
The bride and groom’s parents arrived, along with Henry’s younger brother, who looked remarkably like Henry, and his date, a pretty, young Asian woman.
At a signal from Rhonda, the guitar player Caro had hired for the ceremony started playing. People hurried to their seats. Amelia took her place in front of the fireplace. Henry and his younger brother joined her, wearing tan slacks, white shirts, and navy blazers.
I noted the way Slade and Amy were smiling at one another and felt that they, too, would find happiness together. Carl, standing next to Amy, suddenly smiled, and I glanced over to where Jane and Caro were making their entrance.
Leading the way, Jane wore a simple, dark green sheath with short sleeves. A white orchid was pinned in her hair and matched the strand of white pearls she wore. Her focus remained on Carl, and I knew how much she loved him.
My gaze turned to Caro, and I felt my breath catch in my throat. Caro was stunning in a crochet lace scoop neck midi-dress that showed off her lovely figure tastefully. Her auburn hair was worn in a loose shoulder-length style. A crown of assorted white flowers lay in a circle on her head.
“Such a beautiful bride,” someone whispered.
As she came closer, I could see that the flared crochet-lace skirt had an intricate scalloped hem. And as her back faced us, we could see the buttoned V-back.
I glanced at her mother and saw the tears that leaked down her cheeks.
Henry’s eyes filled as they focused on Caro with such love that I felt a sting of tears of my own.
After Jane stepped aside, Henry took hold of Caro’s hand and lifted it to his lips before facing Amelia.
Amelia talked briefly about the importance of commitment, and then the vows were exchanged, promising love and support to one another.
We in the group were silent as their words filled the room and our hearts. And when Caro told Henry she’d never felt this way before, we all knew that was true. His love had healed the hurts from the past and given her a new reason to speak like this.
The moment Amelia said, “You may now kiss your bride,” Henry swept Caro up in his arms and twirled them around in a joyous circle.
Watching them, we all applauded. It was such a short, simple ceremony, but it was much more moving than one with more pomp and less emotion.
“I’ve got the bubbles,” Amy announced.
She and Slade filled the tulip glasses placed in the kitchen. While they handed them out to the wedding guests, Rhonda and I slipped out of the house and headed to the private dining room to make sure things were organized.
We found the harpist ready to begin playing. A waitress was lighting the candles on the tables. A server was standing behind the bar, prepared for action.
The wedding group entered the room, and soon, it was filled with the talk and laughter from a congenial gathering.
Amelia stood with several of the men, talking about one of her duties. Her bodyguards were in place by the entrance.
I stood with the other wedding guests and participants in the private dining room, filled with satisfaction. Caro and Henry had found one another here at the hotel. Rhonda and I had created a space where guests could be assured of privacy, beautiful surroundings, and excellent service and food. More than that, we and the hotel staff worked hard to provide an atmosphere that encouraged our guests to experience the joy of living each day, even finding love here.
For a lonely little girl growing up, I saw these new friends as family and hoped they’d come back again and again.
Vaughn wrapped an arm around me.
From across the room, Rhonda caught my eye, and sensing my feelings, she lifted her hand in a silent salute to us and to all we’d accomplished.
Bubbles of happiness spread through me. There was no better place to be than at The Beach House Hotel.
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