Chapter 38
Saturday dawned bright, sunny and cool, a perfect September day for a wedding. The best wedding gift they received was the return of power to the island around noon.
Hallelujah, Seamus had declared in a text, along with photos of him stringing lights through trees in a finishing touch they’d expected to have to forgo without power.
“I don’t know how you people can stand to live in such a primitive place,” Victoria’s mother said for at least the third time since she’d arrived the night before to an island still cleaning up from the storm and functioning without power after nearly a week.
“We love it here,” Victoria said, also for the third time. “It’s home.”
They were in the honeymoon suite at the Beachcomber, where Shannon and Victoria would spend their wedding night.
“What about when you have children? You won’t want to raise them on a remote island in the middle of nowhere.”
“I can’t think of anywhere better to raise them, Mom. This is the best place I’ve ever lived. The best people I’ve ever known.”
Her mother didn’t care for that, but Victoria was about to rescind her mother’s invitation to the wedding. “He’s still just a deckhand on a ferryboat and could be deported at any time. Are you sure about this, Victoria?”
Vic summoned the patience she needed to keep from punching her mother in the face. It wasn’t the first time she’d had to control that urge, and it probably wouldn’t be the last. “As I’ve told you, repeatedly now, Shannon has applied for citizenship and is studying to take the captain’s exam.”
“And you’re certain this wedding isn’t about a green card?”
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that and ask you to leave now so I can finish getting ready.”
“It’s a valid question, Victoria.”
“This is my wedding day, Mom. If you’re going to say hateful things about the man I love, you’re going to be uninvited to the wedding.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“You don’t think so? Say one more word about him or our lives, and you’ll be officially uninvited.”
They engaged in a stare-down that was interrupted when someone knocked at the door.
Victoria walked away from her mother to answer the door.
David and Daisy smiled widely as they greeted her.
“Please come in,” Victoria said, relieved to see them. “You guys look gorgeous.”
“So do you,” Daisy said. “Your hair is incredible.”
“Cindy did it this morning.” Victoria had gone with an elaborate style that included braids and flowers woven in.
“Wow,” David said. “You clean up well.”
Victoria scowled playfully at him. “As do you, Doc. Um, this is my mother, Carol. This is David and Daisy Lawrence. David and I work together at the clinic.”
“Ah, yes, you’re the doctor,” Carol said. “Very impressive.”
“I’ll see you at Seamus’s house, Mom. You’ve got the address, right?”
“Yes, I do. Your father and that woman should be on the island by now. I can’t believe you had to invite them.”
“I’ll see you there, Mom,” Victoria said, showing her to the door and shutting it behind her. “She’s horrible. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize to us,” David said. “Are you okay?”
“I was having a great day until she suggested that Shannon is marrying me for a green card.”
David’s mouth fell open. “She said that?”
“She sure did, while also mentioning that he’s only a deckhand on the ferry. She was far more impressed with you.”
“I wondered what the doctor thing was about.”
“She’d be much happier if I was marrying you.”
Daisy curled her hands around his arm. “Sorry, but he’s taken.”
“You’re so lucky to be married to a doctor, Daisy,” Victoria said, imitating her mother.
“Wow, that’s spot-on.”
“Sadly, I have years of experience in dealing with her.”
“Don’t let her ruin this day for you, Vic,” David said.
“I won’t. Don’t worry. I just need to put my dress on. Daisy, can you help me?”
“Isn’t that the job of the maid of dishonor?” David asked with a grin.
She and Daisy laughed, and just that quickly, Victoria was back on track, thanks to her closest friends. “Thanks, you guys.”
“For what?” Daisy asked.
“Everything. Your friendship means so much to me.”
“Same goes for us,” David said.
Victoria went with Daisy into the bedroom and closed the door. She closed her eyes and leaned against the door.
“Are you all right?” Daisy asked.
“I’m great. I just needed a second.”
“I had a mother like yours, always with a comment to undercut me, to make me question my own judgment, to make me feel small.”
“Yes,” Victoria said softly. “That’s how she’s always been.”
“You’re not under any obligation to keep her in your life. Walking away from my toxic mother was the best thing I ever did, even if it was also the hardest thing.”
“That thought has been in my head for a while now. After today, I may need to make a move. I wish I hadn’t invited either of my parents to the wedding.
All they do is stress me out. They hate each other.
They haven’t seen each other since my college graduation, another day I’d rather forget because of them. ”
“We won’t let them ruin today for you.”
“Thank you for being here with me.”
“Of course. Let’s get you into this gorgeous dress.”
As the beautiful silk dress surrounded her, Victoria felt giddy with excitement and anticipation. Today, she would marry Shannon, the love of her life. As long as she stayed focused on him and their love, this would be the best day ever.
Shannon couldn’t wait to see her. He’d dropped her at the Beachcomber earlier with their suitcases and her dress in a garment bag.
David and Daisy would deliver her to Seamus’s house in the next few minutes.
He hoped her parents weren’t causing any drama for her. They’d debated endlessly about whether to invite them. He hoped they didn’t regret asking them to come.
His mother, Breeda, came into Seamus and Carolina’s bedroom, where Seamus had told him to wait. Seamus was in charge. Shannon was along for the ride.
“How’re you holding up, love?” his mother asked.
“I’m fine. Excited. Ready.”
Breeda pinned a flower to his lapel. “There was a time I thought I wouldn’t live to see this day. I can’t tell you how happy I am for you and your Victoria. She’s a lovely young lady, and it’s so nice to see you smiling the way you used to.”
“It feels good to be happy again, even if I never forget.”
She kept her hands flat against his chest. “Of course you don’t, love. How could you? Fi would be so proud of how you’ve carried on. I know I am, and so is your da.”
“That means a lot to me. Thank you.”
Seamus came to the door. “Are you ready, mate?”
“You know it.” He extended his arm to his mother. “Let’s get married.”
When he stepped outside with his mother and Seamus, he was surprised to see a huge crowd waiting for him.
The entire town had turned out for them, or so it seemed.
He walked his mother to the front row of the chairs they’d set out earlier and kissed her before he hugged his dad, uncle and aunt Nora, who was already dabbing at tears.
With everything set up for the wedding, it was hard to believe the yard had nearly been destroyed by the storm less than a week ago.
Seamus and the rest of their friends had done yeoman’s work to get the place ready in time for the wedding.
He and Victoria would be forever thankful to everyone who’d pitched in to save their big day.
He, Seamus and Slim had dug a hole for an old-fashioned New England clambake, which had been simmering since the night before. A tent had been raised in the side yard, where Carolina had spent the morning supervising the setting of tables and other preparations.
And now it was time, and just when he might’ve wondered what was keeping Vic, she appeared with David and Daisy at the far end of the aisle between the two rows of chairs. A white liner covered the aisle. Vic had told him that was intended to protect her dress from the dirt.
Daisy held her own bouquet and Victoria’s, which she handed to her.
When they were in position, Shannon signaled to Evan McCarthy and Niall Fitzgerald, who were providing music.
Daisy came first, wearing a champagne-colored dress, and yes, he’d learned from Victoria that champagne was a color.
While Evan and Niall played instrumental music, Victoria took David’s arm to begin the walk down the aisle.
“Ought to be me doing that,” Shannon heard Victoria’s father say.
“Hush,” his wife said.
Shannon couldn’t have said it better himself.
His gaze was fixed on the gorgeous woman who would soon be his wife.
She was radiant, her smile bigger than it had ever been as she came toward him on the arm of her best friend.
After David delivered her to him, Shannon took her hand, kissed the back of it and stared at the face of his beloved. “Thanks for coming, love.”
“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”
Frank gave them what they’d requested—a quick and simple ceremony that made their commitment to each other legal.
In a matter of minutes, he’d declared them husband and wife, and Shannon was kissing his bride, his forever love, his happy ending.
Hours later, the party was still going strong with most of the island’s residents—or so it seemed—on the dance floor.
Big Mac and Linda had danced until their feet hurt and were taking a breather with Carolina, Seamus, Ned and Francine, Frank and Betsy, Kevin and Chelsea and baby Summer.
“What a week this has been,” Linda said. “A hurricane and three weddings. That must be a record.”
“I think it is,” Big Mac said.
“How’d you hear about the third wedding?” Frank asked. “That was supposed to have been a secret.”
“I have my sources,” Linda said with a coy look for her brother-in-law.
“Who else got married?” Chelsea asked.
“We’re not telling,” Frank said, “because feelings would be hurt if people found out they weren’t invited. The couple in question plans to hold a wedding next summer, but they wanted to be legally married now.”
“That’s very romantic,” Francine said.
“Indeed it is,” Frank replied.
“And great news from Providence that Jeff’s hip surgery was a success, and he’s on the road to recovery with Kelsey,” Big Mac said.