Chapter 22 Six Months Later #3
Grace had offered to supervise our furry, floppy-eared ring bearer.
She walked beside him, the rings tied to a small pillow attached to Trevor’s flower collar.
He seemed to know his mission, heading straight toward Grady without hesitation.
It probably had to do with the hidden treat in Grady’s pocket.
Robbie stood beside me, hands clasped behind his back, standing straight with his head held high, possibly wishing he were taller. His bowtie was centered perfectly and the beloved brown loafers gleamed. A sunflower boutonniere had been pinned on his lapel.
I glanced down at him, and he met my gaze.
“Mother, as you know, I’m no fan of hyperbole. However, you are most certainly the most beautiful bride there has ever been.”
“Oh, Robbie, that’s so nice. Thank you.”
“And although it is not tradition to have a son walk his mother down the aisle, I’m honored you asked.”
“It was you and me, kid, for a long time.”
“I know. But not anymore.”
I took a peak out to the patio. Delphine and Seraphina were next to each other, with Tyler and Annie on either side.
Alex and Gillian sat together, with their three children.
Dorian Flynn, who had become tight with Grady and the rest of the guys, had come alone, but sat next to Lila and Mia.
Vance was serving as our officiant. Wearing a sharp blue suit, he stood in the middle of the arbor, with Grady next to him.
We’d known his elegant ease with words would be a perfect choice for our special day.
My mother and father were there too, behaving remarkably well.
They’d come into town a few nights before and were staying at the inn.
Thank the good lord! Grady and I had joined them for dinner at The Pelican the first evening, and it had gone better than I could have expected.
No one could resist Grady’s charm. Not even my prickly mother.
Grady’s sister Mara and her husband Hank, along with their two children, had come up from L.A. for the wedding. We’d spent several long weekends with them over the last few months. I adored them both. And it was gratifying to see Grady’s love for his sister and his niece and nephew.
The first notes of Here Comes the Sun reached me before I stepped outside.
They came from an acoustic guitar, gentle and unhurried.
Grady had left most of the wedding details to me and my girlfriends, but he’d asked that I walk down the aisle to the song that reminded him of me.
I assumed Grady had hired a musician. However, I was shocked to see that it was Hunter Sloan, perched on a stool near the arbor, strumming a blue guitar, his big hands moving over the strings.
I’d had no idea he was a musician or that he could sing.
His tone was warm and clear, with a slight twang. Why had he kept this hidden?
As I began to walk, my hand in the crook of my son’s arm, any thoughts other than the man waiting for me vanished. It was his eyes that caught mine, pulling me toward him with the strength that’s born only from a deep love.
He was devastating in his cream linen suit, with his wavy hair tamed momentarily. But just as I arrived next to him, an ocean breeze, carrying the scent of the sea, fluttered through his hair, and the familiar locks, so dear to me, fell over his forehead.
Robbie let go of my arm, looking up at me, and then at Grady.
“I trust you will care for her from this day forward?” Robbie asked.
“You have my word,” Grady said, his voice wobbling.
Robbie placed my hand in Grady's. He straightened his bowtie and took his place at Grady's side, his expression solemn but his eyes shining. Madison stood on the other side of us, with Trevor pressed against her leg, wagging his tail and smiling at me.
Vance waited for me to give my bouquet to Madison and take Grady’s hands.
When I was settled, he began by welcoming everyone.
“It is a great occasion that brings us together. One that Grady and Esme’s friends prayed for, but weren’t at all certain would happen.
But today? Today we’re here to celebrate a great love and the merging of four people into a family.
They have written their own vows and will recite them now. ” He nodded toward Grady.
Grady’s eyes misted. “Esme, there’s not much better for a man obsessed with surfing than a sunny day at the beach.
You are that sunny day. The only thing I’ve wanted since the first day I met you was to be by your side for eternity.
I promise to love you, cherish you, and put your needs and desires above my own.
Regardless of what comes next—good or bad—I’ll be there, basking in your life-giving light.
” He turned to look at Robbie, then Madison.
“As for you two, it’s my privilege to be the man in your life who will be there for every important moment.
School events. Graduations. Weddings. Robbie winning the Nobel prize.
” That brought a chuckle from our friends.
“But I also promise to be there for the small moments too. Watching documentaries. Reading together. Spontaneous visits to the ice cream shop. All the moments that make family life sweet—I’ll be there. You can count on me.”
He returned his gaze to me. “Thank you for choosing me, Esme. Being your husband is the best thing that could ever happen to me. I won’t take that for granted.”
My vision blurred slightly from the tears that gathered in my eyes.
“Grady, loving you is the easiest thing I’ve ever done.
You make me want to be a better person because you’re so good, so pure of heart.
You make me belly laugh and feel safe and understood.
Listened to. Thank you for loving my children.
And for loving me. Whatever comes next in our love story, I know we can face it together. ”
“Grady asked Hunter to play Esme’s favorite song as a surprise,” Vance said.
Grady and Hunter had been quite busy behind the scenes.
Hunter strummed the opening notes of the Indigo Girls’ song, “Closer to Fine.” Hearing his beautiful voice singing the lyrics that had gotten me through so many hard days and nights brought tears to my eyes.
Glancing out at my friends, I noticed I wasn’t the only one.
Seraphina dabbed under her eyes. Gillian was silently sobbing.
Next, Grace came to stand near the arbor to recite the Mary Oliver poem, “Wild Geese,” in her clear, pretty voice. She looked so lovely in a pink dress that matched the hue of her cheeks. One of our kids doing what she did best. How blessed I was to be part of this village.
“Thank you, Grace,” Vance said. “Well done.”
Grace did a little curtsy and mouthed, “I love you,” to me.
I blew her a kiss and she blew one back.
“And now, we’ll exchange rings,” Vance said.
Robbie untied them from Trevor’s collar and brought them to us. With shaking hands, we slid the rings on each other’s fingers.
Vance smiled, his eyes soft. “Through no authority, other than the warmth of the friendship we all share, I pronounce you husband and wife.”
Trevor barked. Our friends cheered. Madison did a spontaneous pirouette. Robbie smiled, nodding his head. Hunter began playing and singing Jack Johnson’s “Better Together.”
Grady and I, hands clasped, lifted our arms in celebration, both of us crying and laughing at the same time we headed down the aisle.
Better together. How true it was.
We’d chosen a taco buffet for our wedding feast. As the sun lowered and the twinkly lights came on, our guests filled their plates. Vance, who had been in charge of choosing the wine, poured glasses for anyone who wanted one.
Once everyone was settled at tables, happily devouring tacos, Robbie got up and went to the microphone for his best man’s speech. Everyone quieted as he took hold of the mic.
“As the best man, I’ve been asked to give a toast.” Robbie pulled a card from his pocket.
“Speech giving is not my strongest skill but, as tradition requires it, I will do my best. I’ve researched conventions and determined that best man speeches typically include humor, sentimentality, and at least one embarrassing story about the groom.
I will attempt all three, though I make no promises about the humor. ”
A ripple of laughter.
“In my research on romantic relationships, I’ve encountered a statistic that I find relevant, and I hope you will too.
Studies show that marriages between people who were friends first are significantly more likely to endure.
Friendship serves as a foundation and a base of trust, shared experience, and mutual respect that romantic attraction alone cannot replicate.
“The statistical probability of finding a person who is compatible with not just you, but with your children, your friends, your community, and your dog, is extraordinarily low. I ran the numbers. Not a pretty picture, I can assure you. Yet, I admit that sometimes odds and statistics cannot predict the unexpected, irrational nature of love. Or that a man like Grady Nash existed. I did not expect him. I didn’t dare hope for my mother’s broken heart to mend.
Or that Madison and I could learn to trust that some men do what they say they’re going to do. Not until we met Grady.”