Chapter 48
Chapter Forty-Eight
Finch
Never did I think I would be getting married on a private yacht, but turned out Frankie and I had quite a few friends in high places. Hannah had managed to organize the luxury vessel. We set sail through the islands at sunset as Frankie walked down the makeshift aisle adorned in white roses and baby’s breath. I was grateful for the even seas as the nerves bubbled up in me, but the sight of her quelled all my fears.
Frankie always looked stunning, but the sight of her in her wedding dress made my heart skip a beat. A flowing mermaid gown hugged her curves, her neck draped in a waterfall of diamonds, her hair curled into flowing golden waves.
There was not a dry eye in the house as she and I exchanged our vows. We kept the ceremony short, the reception located an easy walk to the deck above.
I danced with our nephew, Simon, on my hip, the spitting image of Hawk when he was a kid. I danced a dramatic, goofy tango with him that sent him into a giggly fit.
“Alright, it’s my turn,” Lark cut in, reaching out and hoisting Simon’s little body from my arms. “I think your wife finally has an opening from her adoring circle of well-wishers for you to swoop in.”
I glanced over at Frankie as the long line of our friends finally gave her some space to go grab more drinks. “Are you sure you got him? I?—”
Lark gave me a stern look as she balanced Simon on her hip, her swollen, pregnant belly protruding prominently in her form-fitting dress. “I live on a farm,” she reminded me. “I can pick up a twenty-pound child.”
“Of course you can.” I leaned in to Simon and added, “You’re going to grow up to be as strong as Auntie Lars, aren’t you?”
“Alert! Alert! I spy a grandmother making a beeline for Frankie,” Lark said. “Get in there now before you miss your chance.”
I shot forward, weaving through the crowd and snagging Frankie’s hand. I yanked her away from the crowd of well-wishers before our yammering grandmother could reach her.
“I need to ask you a question,” I said loudly for the benefit of all the loitering guests.
“Thank you,” Frankie mouthed to me as I dragged her down to the bottom deck and out to the front of the boat where guests were technically not supposed to go. But seeing as we were the brides, I thought they’d make an exception for us.
Frankie hugged me, dropping her cheek to the lapel of my slate-gray jacket. Her fingers toyed with my white boutonniere that matched her bouquet. “I thought we’d spend more of the reception for our own wedding together, but god, your family can talk.”
“Too late, they’re your family now too.” I chuckled, kissing the top of her head. “Dance with me?” I asked as she grinned up at me. “What?”
“Last time you asked me to dance with you on a yacht, I fell in love with you.”
“And see how well that turned out?” I crooned, waggling the diamond ring on her finger back and forth.
“I still can’t believe this was in a flamingo’s stomach.”
“It gives rite of passage a whole new meaning, huh?”
Frankie chuckled, folding her arms around my neck as we rocked side to side in a slow dance. “I have a confession to make.”
“Yeah?”
“The night of that yacht party all those years ago,” she said. “I didn’t see Jake watching us. I just really wanted you to kiss me.”
I laughed and dropped my head to kiss her. “I knew then that I was in love with you,” I confessed. “Long before I had the words or the courage, my heart knew. I wanted you to be mine.”
“I’m yours,” she said softly. “And you’re mine. Goldfinch Lachlan Benedetti.”
“Francesca Lachlan Benedetti.”
“Definitely not a mouthful,” Frankie said with a chuckle.
“Definitely not,” I echoed as she kissed me again. “Thanks for loving me, Goldilocks.”
She grinned up at me. “It was the easiest thing in the world.”
“Finch!” Dove called, drunkenly leaning over the railing, her boobs practically toppling out of her dress.
“What?” I barked back.
“It’s time to cut the cake!”
“One more song!” I called back, still dancing Frankie around the empty deck.
Dove lifted a hand, squinting at the setting sun, and cursed. “There’s a paparazzi boat following us. So if you don’t want the moment splashed all over the tabloids, we better do it now.”
“Thanks so much for bringing your fiancé to this intimate ceremony,” I grumbled.
“I’m sorry!” she called. “I thought we could keep it under wraps.”
“Be nice,” Frankie whispered.
I rolled my eyes and kissed my wife on the nose. “You are too sweet, you know that?”
“Come on. I’ve been wanting you to come taste the wedding cake all evening,” she added with a wink. “Not every bride makes her own wedding cake.”
“Not every bride is an award-winning chef,” I added lovingly. Then I craned my neck up to my sister. “Okay, Dovey, we’re coming. Now put your tits away or they’ll be in the tabloids tomorrow too.”
Dove gasped when she realized the cleavage shot she was giving the open ocean and quickly stood upright, adjusting her chest. “Thank you,” she called. “I’m still getting the hang of this.”
I gave Frankie one last, deep kiss. “Let’s go, wife,” I said.
“Okay, wife,” she replied with a chuckle. “We’re going to be insufferable now, aren’t we?”
“Yep, it’s our turn,” I added and gave her a tight squeeze before leading her by the hand back to the party. As the sun set over the open ocean, I sighed, wandering through the crowds of loved ones, holding the hand of the person who made my heart complete. “If the rest of our siblings are anything to go by, I have a feeling we’re going to be insufferably adorable for a really long time.”
THE END