Chapter 28 #2
Ten minutes later, Frank gave him permission to kiss his bride.
Dan was careful not to embarrass her too much when he kissed her.
“It’s my great pleasure,” Frank said, “to introduce for the first time as Mr. and Mrs.… Dan and Kara Torrington.”
While their guests applauded enthusiastically, Dan escorted his wife down the aisle and ducked into the secret garden inside the hedges to steal a better kiss.
Surrounded by fragrant flowers, Dan took her into his arms and kissed her passionately, thrilled to finally be married to the woman he loved more than life itself.
“Finally,” he whispered against her lips. “There’s no getting rid of me now.”
“Oh damn, really?”
“You knocked the cover off the ball with this dress, babe. I mean, seriously—wow.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“I love it. I’ll never forget how you looked as you walked toward me today. Best moment of my entire life.”
“Mine, too.”
He kissed her forehead and held her in his arms, hoping they wouldn’t be missed for a few more minutes. “You think anyone would notice if we split?”
“Probably. We are the hosts, after all.”
“We should’ve let your parents do it.”
She looked up at him with horror, and they lost it laughing.
He took hold of her hand. “Let’s get this over with so we can get to the good stuff—the wedding night and honeymoon.” He’d surprised her with two weeks in Ireland followed by a week in England. They were leaving the island on the noon boat tomorrow.
“I’m with you, Counselor.”
He tucked her hand into his elbow. “Yes, you are.”
They emerged from the garden to find Lizzie waiting for them, pretending to check her phone.
“Right this way.” She gestured for them to follow her to where their photographer waited to take the family photos Judith had insisted on.
They went through the motions, posing with both families as well as Grant and Stephanie and then headed up the back stairs to the Chesterfield, where the reception would be held in the big rooms downstairs as well as on the back veranda.
“It looks amazing, Lizzie,” Kara said.
“Couldn’t agree more,” Dan added.
“I’m so glad you’re happy with it.”
A theme of navy, periwinkle and white had been carried throughout the big rooms full of friends and family who’d come to celebrate their new life together, including the entire McCarthy family, Alex and Jenny Martinez, Paul and Hope Martinez, Luke and Sydney Harris, David Lawrence and Daisy Babson, and even Slim Jackson and his fiancée, Erin Barton, had returned to the island for the wedding after spending the last few months in Florida.
Lizzie led them to the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Lizzie said into the wireless microphone she carried along with her clipboard.
“Please direct your attention to the dance floor! Dan and Kara have chosen their friend Evan McCarthy’s new single, ‘Can’t Stop,’ for their first dance as husband and wife.
Here to perform his new hit is our own Evan McCarthy! ”
As Evan played the first notes of the song they’d loved the first time they heard it, Dan took Kara into his arms and let the rest of the world slip away as he focused on the woman who was now his wife.
Look how far we’ve come
Look at all that we’ve become
Look how high we’ve flown
Your heart has always been my home
Listen to the rhythm of the rain
Wash away our tears and then we start again
Listen to a whisper in the wind
It’s calling me, it’s calling me
I can’t stop wanting you for the rest of my life
Holding you in the middle of the night
Falling in love with you
All over and over again
I can’t stop wanting you for the rest of my life
Holding you in the middle of the night
Falling in love with you
All over and over and over and over again
Found the beauty of
A timeless, endless love
So much left unknown
But my heart will always be your home
Listen to the rhythm of our hearts
They beat as one no matter how far we’re apart
Listen to the echo of a dream
It’s calling me, it’s calling me
I can’t stop wanting you for the rest of my life
Holding you in the middle of the night
Falling in love with you
All over and over again
I can’t stop wanting you for the rest of my life
Holding you in the middle of the night
Falling in love with you
All over and over and over and over again
The song ended with a rousing round of applause for Evan as well as Dan and Kara. Dan kissed Kara and took her by the hand to lead her from the dance floor.
Lizzie handed the microphone to Grant, who cleared his throat dramatically.
“Oh jeez,” Dan said, groaning. “Here it comes.”
Lizzie ushered them to their seats at the table they would share with Grant and Stephanie as well as their parents. Thankfully, Chuck and Judith Ballard had hit it right off with Dave and Nancy Torrington, and the two couples were already like old friends after knowing each other a couple of days.
As he held the chair for his wife, Dan took note of his new brothers-in-law, who were hitting the open bar hard. He wouldn’t hesitate to cut them off if they started to get unruly, which was another benefit to being the host of this shindig.
“As Dan’s best man, it’s my job to thoroughly embarrass the bride and groom,” Grant said, drawing laughs from their guests. “But since Dan usually does a pretty good job of embarrassing himself—and Kara—I’ll leave that to him.”
Dan glanced at Kara to find her nodding in agreement. Traitor.
“From the first minute Dan met Kara, he had his heart set on her. It took some convincing and some cajoling and a bit of blackmail, but he finally won her over to his way of thinking.”
“A lot of blackmail,” Kara said, smiling at him.
“Raise your glasses to Dan and Kara,” Grant said. “We wish you a lifetime of love and happiness.”