Chapter 39 - Gwen - Bumping into You
Chapter 39
Gwen
The stars twinkle outside as I lie on the bed next to a sleeping Niall. How is this man so perfect? Why couldn’t we have met when we weren’t on a time crunch? Once the cruise is over, he is going back to Boston, and I’ll be heading back home to Chessie Valley. He has a home, a life, in Boston, and I have my business to run back in Tennessee.
I can’t settle my mind. What’s going to happen with Niall and me once the cruise is over? At the thought of us going our own ways, I am engulfed with so many emotions: sadness, hope, worry, anticipation, confusion, a lightness I can’t describe. Could this be love?
No, this is too fast. I must be feeling something else. I’m not going to let myself fall for someone this fast.
Who am I kidding? I am in love with Niall.
I toss and turn all night, watching as the midnight blue of the sky retreats with the stars. The sun crests over the horizon, a new day bringing fresh beginnings.
Glancing over at Niall, so serene in sleep, I reach over and gently move his hair out of his face.
“Morning, mo ghrá ,” he murmurs, even before opening his eyes.
My heart skips a beat at his use of the Irish word love . It’s just an Irish thing, right? He can’t possibly love me so soon too.
Rolling over, Niall kisses me gently on the lips, a hint of desire in his eyes. A sweeping tornado of need suddenly passes through me, shocking me to my core. I kiss him back, setting aside my thoughts and swirling emotions about what will happen to us after the cruise. Right now, I am cared for. Right now, I am his.
The day seems to pass by in one breath. It’s late afternoon, and I’m dressed in my bridesmaid dress and checking on some last-minute features in the reception room.
We have one hour until the wedding is set to begin.
Gillian and Maggie walk up to me. Maggie shows no sign of the sickness that kept her down half the day yesterday. “Feeling better?” I ask.
“Yes, thank goodness,” says Gillian.
“Auntie Gwen, look at my beautiful dress!” Maggie spins around, her dress twirling around her. She is an adorable flower girl, dressed up in a puffy white dress with a pink ribbon around her waist and a matching one in her hair.
“You look so pretty, Maggie. You’re going to be the most beautiful flower girl ever.”
“I know,” she replies.
“Come on, honey,” Gillian says as she takes Maggie’s hand in hers. “Auntie Gwen has to finish making sure everything is ready.”
One problem solved. We have a flower girl. Check. Now, if only we could find the rings.
“Gwen!” Trent shouts my name from across the room. My stomach drops for a moment, unsure if it’s good news or bad. I brace for the worst.
As I turn around, I’m greeted by Trent’s smile. A smiling Trent can only mean . . .
“We found the rings!” Trent announces as he jogs up to me.
Overcome with happiness, I fling my arms around his neck and kiss his cheek. “That’s excellent news,” I exclaim, excitement pouring out of me as Trent spins me around, his smile stretching all the way up to his eyes.
Setting me down, he says, “I know, I was so stressed out yesterday, but Courtney helped me tear my room apart. She found them in my dress shoes. I forgot I’d put the ring boxes in there so I wouldn’t forget them when I got dressed this morning.”
I’m not sure if I want to hug him again or smack him. I’m just so relieved they found the rings. “Courtney saved the day!” I say.
“She sure did,” agrees Trent.
“Thank you. Now go finish getting dressed. We’ve got a wedding to put on.”
I find Courtney and thank her for finding the rings. Then, we go over more last-minute details. After, I make a final lap around the wedding space. It’s one of my simpler designs, but even so, it’s magical.
As I walk into Holly’s room, the sound of crying immediately hits me. I rush in to find Holly in tears.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, looking over at Margot and Mrs. Palmer, who’ve been helping Holly get ready.
“I can’t find it. Everything is ruined,” she sobs.
I scan the room trying to figure out what is missing. I see her dress, a gorgeous Oleg Cassini, off-the-shoulder, beaded lace mermaid wedding dress hanging up on a hook on the wall. Her ballet flats and bouquet sit waiting for her on the side table.
Kneeling down in front of her, I take her hands in mine. “Hols, what can’t you find??”
“My wedding vows, G. I wrote them down, and I know I packed them, but I can’t find them. And I was too nervous that I would forget them if I tried to memorize them that I didn’t even try.”
“Oh, well Holly, no worries. Remember when I made you and Greg send me your vows?”
She nods, wiping a tear from her eye, “Well, I always make a copy of the vows for my brides and grooms just in case this type of thing happens. You can use my copy.”
“Really?” she squeaks, tears of happiness now falling like waterfalls down her face.
“Yes, now let’s freshen up your makeup, get you into that gorgeous dress over there, and then get you married to my brother. How does that sound?”
“That sounds amazing. Thank you, G. I don’t know what I’d do without you!” I give her one more hug and step back as Margot comes armed with makeup.
Finally, the evening arrives. The deck is lit up in strings of lights with a spotlight shining down the aisle. Greg and the groomsmen look dashing in their tuxes—Greg with a dark pink tie and boutonniere, and the groomsmen with matching pink vests. Niall looks handsome, and it’s hard to keep my eyes off him, but he’s not my main focus right now.
After the bridesmaids walk in, the music changes, preparing for the bride. The anticipation in the air is palpable, a mix of excitement and nerves. Glancing over at Greg, he’s fidgeting, waiting for the moment he gets to see his bride.
I’m filled with a sense of rightness. I’m so happy for my brother, who deserves someone amazing, and for Holly, who deserves the love and respect of a real man, someone who will treat her right and show his love for her in every interaction they share. Plus, I’m excited that my best friend, who has always felt like a sister, will actually be my sister in a few minutes.
Finally, it’s time. Holly walks around the corner with her dad.
Greg gasps at his beautiful bride. Her gown is a masterpiece of beaded lace, her long train flowing elegantly behind her. Her veil, delicately held in place by a simple tiara, adds an air of timeless beauty to her look.
In all my years of knowing Holly, I’ve never seen her as happy as she is in this moment. Her eyes, sparkling with joy and love, are locked on Greg’s. A quick glance at Greg allows me to catch the moment a tear rolls down his cheek. The same joy and adoration echoes off his face. The rest of the world seems to fade away, leaving only the two of them in an eternal moment of connection.
Holly continues her slow approach, each step sure and graceful, deliberate with every second of her walk. The gentle sea breeze plays with her veil and train. The light catches on the beads, the shimmering adding a touch of magic to this moment. The ocean behind her has a gorgeous array of colors, the sunset appearing like a painting on a canvas. The moment couldn’t have been more perfect.
As Mr. Palmer puts Holly’s hand in Greg’s and steps back, I glance at Niall and find him watching me. The smile on his lips causes my face to heat. Turning my attention back to the bride and groom, I watch as their two lives become one. As they start their life as husband and wife.