Chapter 26
Chapter Twenty-Six
TEN MONTHS LATER…
Piper woke and stretched lazily. The bed was empty beside her because Sullivan had spent the night at their house.
No, their home.
He had been incredibly supportive of her career, especially when she landed the Broadway role she’d auditioned for.
He encouraged her to sign the contract for the six-month run and that it would be up to her whether she renewed it or not.
Rehearsals had been exhausting, but she had thrived on performing on a Broadway stage.
The revival had opened the first week of November, and Piper had stepped into the lead’s role when the woman came down with COVID the week of Thanksgiving.
That meant not only had her parents seen her perform in a secondary role, but their trip had coincided with watching their daughter take the stage as the top-billed performer in the cast. Spying them in the audience as she took her curtain call and seeing the look of pride on their faces meant the world to her.
Piper had moved from her cramped Brooklyn apartment into Sullivan and Zane’s spacious one.
In a move which surprised everyone, Zane married very quickly, leaving them the apartment and finding a new one—in the same building.
Sullivan went back and forth between New York and Texas, overseeing the construction of the dream home that they had discussed and designed together.
He had also opened his design studio and spent about four days a week in the Bay, building his business and producing custom pieces, returning to New York for long weekends so he could catch at least one of Piper’s performances before spending all day Monday with her when the theater was dark and no performances occurred.
Though the producers encouraged Piper to extend her run in the musical, saying she was one of the chief reasons it had received such rave reviews and did great at the box office, she had accomplished that professional goal. Besides, her man—and a new life—waited for her back in Driftwood Bay.
She rolled out of bed and went through a half-hour of Zumba before jumping in the shower.
She had stayed the night in a lavish suite at Tidewater, and their wedding guests had also been offered rooms at the luxury resort.
The rehearsal dinner had been held last night in the restaurant Ty headed.
Her old friend was also in charge of the food for today’s reception, which would also be held in the same restaurant.
While the rehearsal dinner had been a sit-down affair, today’s fare would consist of various stations, from a brisket carving bar to a taco bar to a mashed and sweet potato station.
Ty had also included a charcuterie board, two seafood stations, and a gelato bar.
They had FaceTimed several times leading up to the wedding, tweaking the menu, and she thought their guests would enjoy the selections prepared for them.
Mila was the first of her bridesmaids to arrive.
She had bounced back from her pregnancy and looked much the same after giving birth to Jessica last October.
Although Piper had been unable to come home to see Jess at the time, being back in the Bay full-time would give her plenty of opportunities to play with the baby and watch her grow up.
Layne sailed through the door next, carrying Alicia in her arms. Her friend had given birth two weeks ago, and Piper had arrived in time to be at the hospital to meet the baby when Keaton brought her out to introduce the newest Maxwell.
“I’ve got to feed Alicia now,” Layne said, “then Dotty is going to take over. It was so generous of Zane to provide a room for kids, as well as babysitters.”
“I know,” Mila said. “I dropped Lily and Jess off and promised Dotty that I’d stop by to check on them between the wedding and reception.”
The baby latched onto Layne’s breast and began sucking enthusiastically.
Piper felt a maternal wave wash over her, and she hoped that she and Sullivan would start a family in the next couple of years.
Her first move, however, was going back to college.
They had discussed it at length, and her fiancé had encouraged her to finish her degree since it meant so much to her.
She was registered for the upcoming summer session at a university in Corpus, and Piper knew she would feel better about herself by having that degree in hand, no matter what she chose to do upon graduation.
She put on her makeup, talking with Mila and Layne as she did so.
Kylie, her third bridesmaid, arrived in the middle of this.
Kylie truly had become d’Artagnan, the fourth musketeer to their tight trio of three.
Since Kylie also lived in New York, they saw one another when they could, and Piper was thrilled that her newest friend had found lasting love the way the rest of them had.
Layne went to take Alicia to where the children were staying during the ceremony and reception.
Not only had Zane provided space for that, but he had thought of everything.
Provided rooms for their guests for the weekend.
Picked up the cost of both the rehearsal dinner and wedding itself.
She knew there had been no way her parents could have afforded the cost of a wedding held at Tidewater, but Zane assured her that this was his gift to the newlyweds.
It meant a great deal to Piper and Sullivan that they would wed at a property he had designed, one where they had spent happy times together.
Piper’s mom showed up, complimenting her daughter on how beautiful she looked as tears misted her eyes.
“Everything is ready downstairs,” Mom said. “They’re simply waiting on the bride and her party to show up.”
“How is Dad holding up?” she asked.
“Pacing a hole through the carpet.”
“Then let’s go, everyone,” Piper said.
They rode the elevator downstairs and went to the room which had been decorated with abundant flowers. It had glass walls on two sides, so that it almost seemed as if the wedding took place outside. Dad brightened as he spotted her.
“There’s my girl,” he said, beaming proudly at her.
Piper slipped her hand through the crook of his arm as her bridesmaids lined up.
She saw the harpist looking in their direction and nodded to her.
The music began, and her friends went down the aisle, one at a time.
She had wanted a low-fuss wedding, so each bridesmaid wore a dress of her own choosing in varying shades of purple, Piper’s favorite color.
She herself wore a simple, A-line wedding gown in soft ivory.
As the last bridesmaid left them, Dad said, “I hope you aren’t disappointed that I passed on performing the ceremony, honey. I would’ve blubbered through the entire thing and made a mess.”
She squeezed his forearm. “I like you being right here in this role, Dad. Father of the Bride.”
Now that all bridesmaids had arrived at the other side of the room, Dad stepped into the center of the open doorway as the harpist struck up Here Comes the Bride.
Her gaze immediately was drawn to her groom.
Sullivan had never looked more handsome, wearing a dark blue suit and the biggest smile she had ever seen.
Dad led her toward her groom, and Piper’s heart almost burst with joy. She had never been happier.
The local minister from her parents’ church asked who was giving away the bride, and her dad replied, “Her mother and I.”
He brushed a kiss along his daughter’s cheek and then placed her hand in Sullivan’s before he took a seat next to Mom on the front row.
Piper grew warm under Sullivan’s loving gaze.
“You are incredibly beautiful,” he said huskily, looking as if he might shed a few tears.
Trying to lighten the mood a bit, she whispered, “You clean up pretty well yourself, Prepster,” and winked at him.
His sunny smile grew wider, and she could feel him relaxing next to her.
The ceremony moved along quickly. They hadn’t wanted it to be lengthy, only meaningful. A quarter-hour later, they were pronounced husband and wife.
The preacher then announced to those gathered, “I give to you Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan Shepherd.”
Their guests applauded heartily as she and Sullivan sailed down the makeshift aisle. For the first time, she was aware of the videographer who stood at the door, capturing that first walk as man and wife.
They posed for several pictures, both with family and friends, and then Zane said, “Chef Chastain is waiting for you. Please follow me.”
Guests began filing from the ballroom until only Piper and her new husband remained. Sullivan kissed her tenderly, his fingers caressing her cheek.
“I missed having you sleep next to me last night, Mrs. Shepherd.”
“I missed you more. Especially in the shower,” she said saucily, causing him to laugh aloud.
“Let’s go to our reception and celebrate,” he said.
They had agreed to a late morning wedding when Zane told them it would be easier to close the restaurant and have Ty cater the reception if they held the wedding at eleven and reception at noon. Piper hadn’t minded because it meant she got to marry Sullivan even sooner than she’d expected.
They made their way to the restaurant, and Ty greeted them himself, saying, “Welcome, lovebirds. I hope you’re going to enjoy everything my staff and I have prepared for you.”
Just like last night’s rehearsal dinner, the food turned out to be exceptional.
The pastry chef had created a three-tiered wedding cake, which was almost too pretty to cut into, but they did so together.
Zane had remembered how much Piper loved Blue Bell ice cream, and scoops of it accompanied each slice of the wedding and groom’s cakes.
While they tasted everything offered at each station, they spent time going around to each table to visit with each of their guests.
The last table they reached was the table which seated her parents, Sullivan’s parents, and Alexander Wagner.
Instead of standing, they slipped into seats so they could visit longer.
Piper actually liked Oliver Shepherd a great deal. She had met him several times during her months in New York. He had also attended her musical twice. The second time, he brought his wife along, saying he wanted her to see how talented Piper was.
Her eyes flicked to Jacqueline Shepherd now. The woman would never be a warm, loving mother-in-law, but at least she had agreed to attend her son’s wedding at the last minute.
“Who would have thought that I came from the Bay and I’d be back here, celebrating the marriage of a man who has been almost like a son to me,” Mr. Wagner said. “This is a very happy occasion, Sullivan and Piper, and I’m thrilled that we’re here together today, celebrating you and your love.”
“Thank you, Mr. Wagner,” Sullivan said.
“Did you know I spent some time at Sullivan Design Studio yesterday, Piper?” Wagner asked her.
“No, I didn’t, but I’m thinking that you found something you wanted while you were there.”
“I had no idea how talented Sullivan was with his hands. I commissioned a new dining table and chairs for my house on Martha’s Vineyard. I entertain quite a bit there, and the table is going to be larger than my current one.”
“It’ll seat twenty-four,” Sullivan said. “I’ll be working on this commission for months to come.”
Zane strolled up and said, “I predict once Dad’s friends see it, they’ll all be clamoring for a custom piece from you. Just make sure you charge Dad a fair price. Don’t give him some kind of family and friends discount.”
Zane’s words caused everyone—except Jacqueline Shepherd—to laugh.
“I think we’re going to say our goodbyes now,” Sullivan told those seated at the table. He looked to his parents. “Thank you for making the trip from New York. Piper and I appreciate that you came to our wedding.”
Jacqueline nodded stiffly, while Oliver said, “We wouldn’t have missed this for the world, son.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Sullivan said, and Piper was happy that the two men had reached a new level of closeness in their relationship.
She hugged her parents and was pleased to see Sullivan do the same. Mom and Dad had Sullivan over once a week for dinner while she’d been in New York, and he had grown close to them, telling Piper how much he enjoyed being in their company.
They excused themselves and went to find Ty, thanking him and his staff for putting together such an amazing reception.
“Not only was the food outstanding, but I know you cooked from the heart for an old friend,” Piper said. “We’re so grateful you were a part of this day.”
They exited the kitchen, and Sullivan got the attention of their guests.
“We’re saying our goodbyes now. Remember, as guests at Tidewater, you have access to all the amenities on the island. I hope you’ll take advantage of the golf course this afternoon. The pools. Even coming to the club tonight and being entertained there.”
He turned his gaze to Piper. “As for Mrs. Shepherd and me, we’ve got some catching up to do.”
They left the restaurant, the friendly laughter wafting out behind them.
In the elevator, the groom took his bride in his arms and gave her a lingering kiss.
“Ready to start the next chapter in our lives together, sweetheart?” he asked. “I hope you’re going to enjoy Maui.”
That was their honeymoon destination, which they would squeeze in before she started classes. They would leave Tidewater now and take the ferry back to the mainland, going straight to the airport and their evening flight to Hawaii.
“I hear that Maui is heaven on earth, but I’ve already found that in your arms, Sullivan.”
“Good answer, Mrs. Shepherd,” her new husband said, kissing her again.
Happily ever afters do come true, Piper thought.
And they would be living theirs every single today. Together.