Chapter 30
The next morning, Liz started her day, once again, to the sound of Cam’s snoring. But there was something new this time: the wedding ring she was twisting around her finger. She was married.
“Wife” felt easy to say, like butter on her tongue, unlike “fiancée,” which had always seemed so clunky. Married, Liz said in her head.
She was married to Cam.
The night had been magic. Complete and utter magic.
From the moment Cam started outlining his suggestion on their walk with Mac to Maguire’s, Liz knew it was what they should do.
The new ring, the re-proposal plan, had been in the works since Liz lost Roseanne’s diamond back in July. Cam said a small part of him had instantly regretted giving Liz a ring that never felt very “Liz-like,” and this was a silver lining, the chance for a second try. An opportunity to make the process feel more like them.
The surprise wedding idea had come to him late Friday night, when the other friends were out barhopping and Cam was alone with his thoughts and fears, his anxieties about change and the future. He called Mac to talk it out, and the brothers thought of it together. Mac, who had gotten his officiant’s license years prior for his coworker, would perform the ceremony. They spent all Saturday in secret, writing everything out, fine-tuning the details, on the chance that Liz agreed.
They had really hoped she’d agree.
Luckily, Liz loved the idea from the second she heard it. She had been struggling through the wedding planning, unsure how to celebrate a day that her mom wouldn’t witness. She had known that Nancy couldn’t be there. That there were countless moments still that her mom would miss. Their first house, their first child. But they would cross those bridges when they got there. All Liz could do was take one decision at a time, and this was the easiest one she’d made in months.
An impromptu wedding in Ocean Beach, with all their friends and family already gathered.
There was no point in waiting.
She said yes. Then she said I do.
Once the shock had worn off of Roseanne’s face, once Cam pulled his mother aside to quickly explain their motivations, the crowd eased into celebration, too. Surely not for nothing, their happiness aided by the realization that no one had to save the date for yet another wedding weekend on their calendars next summer.
Nancy would’ve loved the spontaneity.
Now, the morning after, Liz listened to Cam snore for a few breath cycles longer before rolling over to check her phone. She pulled up the acceptance letter, words she hadn’t let herself embrace for fear of Cam’s disapproval. It read:
Dear Elizabeth Gray,
Congratulations! We are thrilled to offer you a spot in our inaugural Domus Fellowship program. Your classmates hail from over fifteen countries, forty cities, and we can’t wait for the worldly perspectives to blend in one inventive, inspiring student class all focused on how to change the fashion industry, and the planet, for the better. Over the next few weeks, we will send enrollment information, class selection guides, and travel details to prepare you for the October semester to begin. For now, congratulations. See you in Milan!
Liz soaked it in. She would accept her spot now that she had Cam’s blessing. They’d talked it over last night, when they’d gotten back home, feet sore from dancing, cheeks sore from smiling. As Liz’s voice picked up, explaining the courses and the potential, Cam immediately saw what she loved about it, why she’d applied in the first place. He knew it was something she needed to do.
Liz would quit her job. The program didn’t start until October, but she would spend the time preparing. Resetting her brain. Finding inspiration, so she could hit the ground running once she’d made it to Italy.
Cam offered to find a way to transfer his job to somewhere in Europe, to find a new job in Milan, too. Liz told him not to be silly. They’d been through worse than a year of long distance. Instead, they’d book his flight for Columbus Day weekend. They’d go to Florence for the holidays. They’d meet in Paris for spring break. They’d upgrade to an international phone plan so they could call each other as often as they wanted without any fear of hidden fees. They’d do whatever they could to make it work.
All of that could wait, though, Liz knew. She’d start making plans, tell the East Meadow friends later today. For now, she curled up against her husband (her husband!). She kissed his cheek as her foot found his. Cam’s eyes fluttered open.
“Morning, handsome.” She smiled.
“Good morning, beautiful wife,” Cam replied, yawning. “You know, you might look even more beautiful today than you did yesterday.”
“Are you going to say that every day of our marriage?”
“I just might.”
Liz kissed his cheek again and then her lips found his mouth. She never minded Cam’s morning breath, even though she hated her own. From the feel of him under the covers, she could tell he didn’t care one ounce about the dryness of her mouth. Only that her lips stayed against his.
She curled up close to his chest, they breathed each other in like perfume. Morning sex was their favorite. Morning-after-the-wedding sex? Liz felt a wave of excitement between her legs. They pushed closer, as if there was any room to spare, desperate to close any distance between their limbs. Hands began wandering, reexploring familiar territory, the same bodies feeling somehow brand-new after the novel promises of last night.
Until they heard a creak on the staircase, and Georgie’s voice shouted out, “Mimosas are ready!”
Cam pulled away with a groan. In a rental house shared with their best friends from high school, it was unlikely that they’d get much further. “My first regret of marital life: not getting a hotel room for last night.”
Liz laughed, throwing her face under the covers. Their friends would likely cut them some slack, laugh it off if they heard a rocking bed, but it was probably safer to avoid the prospect entirely.
Not that considering the safety made it any easier.
“I want you,” Cam whispered in her ear. Liz let out a soft murmur.
“Then I guess it’s a good thing that you have me forever.”
“Can’t wait to get home,” he said as he wrapped her up in a hug, rested his chin against her forehead.
“One more day of Ocean Beach. I can’t quite believe it.”
“Then home? In bed?”
She kissed his nose. “Home. Bed. You. Me. Forever.”
“Forever,” he promised.
“I said—mimosas! Bloody Marys, too.” Georgie’s voice once again ricocheted down the hall. Liz could hear doors opening, bare feet creaking down the stairs.
The Serendipity House was awake.
“For now, our final day,” Liz said, pulling herself and then Cam up and out of bed. She threw him a T-shirt from the floor, then found a white bikini in her drawer. She knotted a white sarong at her hip. Bridal morning chic she’d packed coincidentally for the occasion.
The kitchen was soaked with morning light, a table decorated with bagels and spreads, pitchers of mimosas and Bloody Mary cocktails, even a plate of scrambled eggs. The friends gathered, toppling on chairs, perching on windowsills. The house full and alive in the very best way a rental could be.
“Friends, I have an announcement.” Georgie raised his glass to prepare for a toast. “First of all, congrats to Liz and Cam. Epic night. You’re married!”
“They’re married!” Brenna cheered.
“Congrats again, guys,” Maggie said as they all clinked their glasses.
“Okay, Georgie, the spotlight is yours. As requested.” Liz nudged him in the ribs.
“I, George ‘Georgie’ McHenry, have officially quit my job,” he announced. The room was stunned into silence. “I repeat. I have just quit. My. Job.” From a speaker carefully tucked by his feet, “Free Fallin’?” by Tom Petty started blasting through the kitchen. “And from here on out, I’d like to be called just George!”
“Let’s go!” PJ stood up and grabbed George in a bear hug.
“Just George!” Quinn teased.
“Proud of you, man,” Mac chimed in. “No more late-night door slams, thank God.”
“They didn’t deserve you, buddy. Here’s to the next thing,” Cam said.
“Any idea what you have in store next, Just George?” PJ asked.
“I think I want to get into the vacation rental game,” George said.
“Maybe you just need a real vacation,” Quinn said.
“To Georgie’s vacation!” “It’s just George!” “To Just George!” The group chimed as a collective chorus.
Liz fell heavy against Cam’s shoulder. She smiled across the room at Maggie. She took in the view. She loved being here more than anything.
The bagel tasted like cloudy heaven in her mouth. “This is the best bagel of my life.”
“This is the best weekend of my life,” Cam echoed.
“So, our favorite newlyweds,” Maggie said, falling into the spare chair next to Liz and preparing a bagel for herself. “What’s next? Honeymoon plans?”
“You have to go to St. Lucia,” Brenna suggested.
“Or New Zealand!” Quinn said.
“Maybe we’ll take the ferry down to Kismet. Get another Fire Island rental for the week.” Liz smiled.
“Anywhere will be perfect if I get to go with you,” Cam said, which prompted PJ to throw his un-schmeared bagel in the newlyweds’ direction.
“Can we eat before you guys make out all over each other?” George said.
“Roseanne Peters has something better in mind, sadly,” Liz said. “We have to leave in ten or so, brunch with Cam and Mac’s parents.”
“Well, I’ll wait to start eating again until then, just to be safe,” PJ laughed.
Fifteen minutes later (a few of which Liz and Cam admittedly spent making out, upstairs in their room with the door securely closed), Liz, Mac, and Cam were walking once again toward the Ocean Beach town square. Five minutes after that, they were seated at the Landing, facing Mrs. Peters, Mr. Peters, and Grandma Peach, ordering their second meal of the morning.
But before sipping her mimosa, Roseanne cleared her throat. Liz felt like she was bracing for a schooling from a particularly stern teacher, ready to be chastised for tardiness or talking in class.
They were married now. Yes, it had been a big stunt. A huge secret they’d kept from her in-laws.
But could they really still get in trouble with their parents?
Liz was afraid to find out.
Roseanne spoke. “Last night was certainly unexpected. When Mac made his announcement, frankly, I was a bit hurt. Why didn’t they include me in this decision? After all the work I’d put into your plans already? Did they want to make me look a fool in front of our family and friends?”
“Mom, come on, it wasn’t like that,” Cam started, but Roseanne cut him off.
“I know, Cameron. I know that now. I didn’t in the moment, but when I saw your mother’s dress, Liz. And I heard your vows. And when I talked to your loving friends, too. I realized why.” Roseanne reached across the table and placed her palm on top of Liz’s hand. “Last night was beautiful. I am so sorry that your mother wasn’t with us in person, Liz, but when I saw you in her dress, I felt her spirit fly in through the windows, I swear. I miss her, too. These past few months have been, well, not my best behavior. It’s a strange feeling, watching your child make a family of his own, and wanting to help but not sure how best to do so from the sides. It’s new, but it’s for the most wonderful reason, and I’m so sorry for my missteps. But I love you, sweetheart. We all love you both.”
“Welcome to the family!” Grandma Peach added with a smile. “Officially!”
“Thank you.” Liz wiped her eyes, transmitting an apology back over the table to Roseanne. She was right, Liz knew, that it couldn’t be easy, raising someone only to watch them make a new home, having to let a new voice in after being the one calling the majority of the shots for so long. But Liz also knew it wasn’t that simple, it wasn’t black-and-white. It wouldn’t be some foolish winner-takes-all game for Cam’s heart.
Together, Liz, Cam, and the entire Peters family would find new footing. They’d get into a new groove. She was grateful, more than anything, to have them as her family. Cam squeezed Liz’s thigh underneath the table as their brunch plates arrived, but she was no longer hungry. At last, she felt full.
Mr. Peters broke that silence between bites. “But in all seriousness. Mac, if you get married without warning us, we will disown you.” He grinned, and the family laughed.
“You don’t have to worry about that. If and when I get married, I want the whole thing. Five-course dinner. Thirteen, no, fourteen-piece band. Three outfit changes. Mom, you can plan the whole thing.”
“We’ll see what his bride thinks about that,” Grandma Peach croaked out.
“I always thought you’d end up with that Maggie,” Roseanne said. “I can’t wait to see her footage from last night! She’s something special, that one. But we’ll obviously adore whoever you choose, MacIntosh.”
Liz found Mac’s eyes across the table. Even if Maggie wouldn’t be her sister-in-law, she couldn’t wait to meet Mac’s future bride. The more sisters, the better, in Liz’s mind.
She smiled, squeezing her husband’s hand. “Me, too.”