Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Vivian clasped her hands together tightly, taking a deep breath that filled up her lungs.
She watched Dean as he stood just beside the beautiful wooden archway that he had picked out with Noelle for their wedding.
The spaces in the artfully carved archway had been filled with flowers of all kinds, mainly daisies and white roses.
The effect was charming and magnificent at once, and the archway was a breathtaking sight, especially set against the backdrop of the verdant fields and woods at the edge of the Turners’ property.
Dean looked as though someone could have knocked him over with a feather. He was a little pale, but his face was shining with a joy that Vivian had never seen in him before.
He looks so handsome in his tux, she thought, thinking inevitably of when he was a little boy, and she’d first put him in a little suit to be the ring bearer at her cousin’s wedding.
Tears rushed into her eyes as she thought of all the happy years she’d spent watching over him.
Her heart filled with peace, knowing that now Noelle would look after him as well as any woman possibly could.
She knew, since she had asked him just a few hours earlier, that he had no pain at all that day.
Her whole body felt as if it was filled with a prayer of thanks, and she felt incredibly grateful that her son was about to experience the wonderful wedding that he had waited for for so long without any physical discomfort.
Around her, the other guests sat on white wooden chairs, chatting and laughing. Everyone was clearly in high spirits. It felt as though they’d all come out of the aftermath of the storm, and they were waiting together for a new time to begin. A time that would be even sweeter than before.
Violin music began to play, and the voices hushed immediately to excited whispers.
The bridesmaids and groomsmen began to walk down the aisle, all of them looking wonderful.
Faith and Ryan came first, arm in arm, and Vivian thought Faith looked gorgeous in her moss green dress.
As they passed her, she heard Ryan whisper to Faith, “I can’t wait until it’s our turn. ”
Next came Alexis and Grayson, and Vivian couldn’t help thinking of how proud she was of Alexis, who had turned away from her career as a model and become perfectly content to live out of the spotlight.
She was creating such a warm, wonderful home for herself and her husband and son, and Vivian couldn’t wait to see what new joys the future held for the three of them.
Then up the aisle came Julia and Cooper.
Their arms were linked like the other couples, but they were pressed up against each other as if they were embracing as they walked.
Vivian knew that having two children right at the start of her marriage had been challenging for Julia, but that with Cooper’s help, she’d learned to juggle with confidence.
Vivian’s heart swelled with pride in her daughter, who looked as happy as a woman could be.
Finally, Hazel and Jacob came up the aisle, both of them seeming to shine with a kind of secret joy.
Vivian knew that the two of them would be able to do anything together if they set their minds to it.
They had turned a big old house into their dream home through hours and hours of hard work, and now they were going to have another baby, bringing more life and joy into their lives.
Vivian thought to herself with a chuckle that if she could go back in time and tell high school Hazel, who had been absolutely, crushingly smitten with Jacob, that this would be her life when she grew up, she probably would have fainted.
Finally Macey toddled down the aisle, splashing white rose petals from side to side as if she were a tiny benevolent fairy.
She looked absolutely darling in her pink dress, which was sprinkled with glitter which sparkled in the sunlight.
The smile of glee on her face made several people murmur, “Aww!” under their breath.
Vivian loved seeing the little girl look so happy, knowing that she felt safe and secure under the care of two parents who adored her.
I remember when Julia thought that she would spend the rest of her life hustling after her career in New York, she thought. And then a handsome widower and his darling little girl swept her off her feet and she never looked back.
She smiled, knowing that it hadn’t just been Cooper and Macey who had caused Julia to decide to stay in Rosewood Beach.
It had been the entire town itself, and the warmth and peace it brought to people.
It had been their close-knit family too, which Vivian knew was an irreplaceable treasure in all their lives.
Next, Terrence started down the aisle, carrying a dapper little ringbearer Cash in his arms. Cash was old enough to hold onto the ring box, but it was also secured around his neck with a loop made out of ribbons, just in case.
Vivian chuckled when she saw the chubby-cheeked toddler gazing at the faces around him in glee as if he was sure that all this fuss was about him, and her heart stirred with a deep affection when she noticed how handsome her dependable partner looked.
He winked at her as he passed her by, and she sighed a bit dreamily, excited for when he came to sit next to her for the rest of the ceremony.
Then the music shifted, and everyone stood up.
Vivian immediately began to cry. She usually cried at weddings, but this time the tears were hot and uncontrollable.
She pressed her clasped hands against her lips as Noelle appeared at the end of the white fabric aisle, wearing the dress of her dreams and looking as beautiful as an angel.
Dean took a shuddering breath the moment he saw her, clearly trying not to cry, and Vivian clasped her hands together, knowing how happy he must be feeling in that moment.
His eyes were shining like stars as he watched his beautiful bride walk down the aisle toward him on her grandfather’s arm.
The bridesmaids and groomsmen watched her approach with huge smiles on their faces, and Hazel had tears rolling down her cheeks.
The vows began, and although neither Dean nor Noelle spoke very loudly, their expressions were radiant as they made their way through the binding words, pledging to love each other for the rest of their lives.
After all of the setbacks that had stood in their way, it’s so beautiful to see that after so much perseverance, they’re finally getting their happy ending, Vivian thought, watching Dean speak softly to his bride, his hands holding tightly onto hers.
In fact, she realized, glancing around at the crowd for a moment, it seems that everyone I care about is so much happier than they were before.
Vivian reflected with a smile that in addition to the happy endings of her children, her friends had all received one as well.
Terrence’s happy ending was her, and she was determined to keep on showing him how much he meant to her every day.
Sally, her best friend, had found love in Oscar, whose grumpiness had been transforming more and more into a quiet contentment and even joy as he spent his days alongside the optimistic, colorful café owner.
Tom, after spending many years content to be a bachelor, had found love with the beautiful and fascinating Delilah Bates, who had also turned out to be one of the kindest new members their community had ever had.
Rosewood Beach is the perfect place to foster love at any stage in life, Vivian thought, feeling a sigh of perfect contentment escape her lips. I know that I’ll keep witnessing wonderful things happening around me for the rest of my life. What more could anyone ask for?
As she turned her attention back to Dean and Noelle, she thought about Faith’s words during her toast at the party for Rosewood Beach that they’d held at The Lighthouse Grill.
Rosewood Beach truly was a special place, Vivian thought, but it was the people there who made it that way.
They all cared about and looked after each other, and that started in the heart of every individual there.
Kindness was given and inspired and returned over and over again, creating a cycle of love that was never going to run dry.
She felt full of gratitude to be able to call a community like that her home.
Dean and Noelle’s vows finished, and the pastor made the exciting announcement, “You may kiss the bride.” Everyone cheered wildly as Dean and Noelle shared an ecstatic, romantic kiss and were presented to the guests as “Mr. and Mrs. Owens.”
After the ceremony, Vivian hugged Dean and Noelle tightly, welcoming Noelle officially into the family, even though it felt as though she’d been part of their family for a long time.
The wedding party went off to take pictures, and the guests milled around the grounds and inside the barn, sampling hors d’oeuvres and drinking wine and soda.
Vivian heard people commenting on what a lovely wedding it was over and over again, and every time she heard it, she exchanged a grin with Terrence.
They should be proud of themselves, she thought, looking around the barn at the twinkling lights and flowers. The place had an almost other-worldly beauty, and she felt tears blur her vision for a moment again. They’ve worked hard and they’ve waited a long time for this.
The wedding party returned to the barn, and the reception began officially.
The food was delicious, and the air was filled with the sound of glasses clinking, people laughing, and the serene music of the live band.
Several people made speeches, and Jacob’s had people doubled over with laughter while Hazel’s had most of the room crying nostalgic tears.
“Are you having fun?” Terrence asked Vivian with a twinkle in his eyes as he returned to their table with slices of cake for them both.
“The most fun,” she said, squeezing his arm in thanks.
The dancing began, and Dean and Noelle danced the first dance to a slow, romantic song that Vivian had never heard before.
Its sweet strains of music made her think tenderly of her first years with Frank, and of the way she was feeling now, about Terrence.
She turned to look at him a few times as the dance progressed, touched to see that he was a little misty-eyed as he watched the happy couple dancing.
Vivian knew how much Dean and Noelle had wanted this moment to be special, a moment in which Dean could be pain-free.
And he is, she thought, feeling misty-eyed herself. It all worked out.
The next dance was between Noelle and her grandfather, and while it happened, Dean came to sit next to his mother. They didn’t speak, but they exchanged a look that spoke volumes. Vivian knew just how happy her son was simply by looking into his eyes.
Next came the mother and son dance. Dean and Vivian had chosen “What a Wonderful World,” sung by Louis Armstrong for their dance, and as they danced they laughed and whispered together.
Vivian got caught up in the joyful feeling of the music, and she and Dean got a little goofy in their movements, causing sounds of mirth to ripple through the surrounding crowd.
When their dance was over, the floor was opened for everyone, and an upbeat pop song played over the loudspeakers. People flocked to the dance floor like a rush of colored raindrops, clearly ready to boogie.
Vivian held back for a little while, content to watch her family and friends dancing with joyful abandon. When a slow song began playing, however, Terrence stepped up to her and held out his hand.
“May I have this dance?” he asked, a warm look on his face.
“Of course.” She smiled.
She took his hand and together they went out onto the dance floor.
He put his arms around her and they began to sway slowly in a kind of watered-down waltz.
She felt her heart beating faster as he held her in his arms, and she knew that she was falling even more deeply in love with him in that moment.
“It’s been a good year so far,” Terrence said softly after a while.
She nodded, smiling. “A very good year. Tough, but good. I think despite the lows, it’s been just as it should be. The highs have made it all worth it. And I’ve loved seeing our town work together to repair everything after the storm.”
He nodded. “We’ve stood by each other through thick and thin. And I think we always will.”
She nodded, her eyes tracing over his face as she smiled. She felt eager for the future—she didn’t know what it would hold, but she felt sure that it would be good. With Terrence and her beautiful family at her side, she was certain that they were going to keep making amazing memories together.
The night wore on, full of color and laughter and light and love. Vivian watched her family dancing and laughing, and in her heart, she thanked Frank for blessing her with their children. He had been an imperfect man, but he’d given her the family that surrounded her with love and joy every day.
“I know you’d be so proud of all of them,” she whispered.
Her heart filled with love and she closed her eyes and smiled a small smile that was just for Frank.