Chapter Forty
ABBY
Abby descended the wooden staircase leading from the promenade to the beach below, the tiny bells tinkling at her ankles. As her bare foot left the last step and sunk into the silky sand, her heart stilled.
Her loved ones rose from their bamboo chairs and stood, facing her, but her gaze swept past them, immediately fixed on the man standing beneath the driftwood archway. The sun set behind him, painting the entire sky gold.
She tightened her grip on her bouquet. This is it.
Logan met her gaze, speaking the depth of his love in a single searing glance. A swell of affection rose in her chest, shortening her breath into tiny flutters. It took all her self-control not to sprint down the aisle and fling herself into his arms.
Slow, deliberate steps , she reminded herself as the Blessings Beats began their acoustic rendition of “All My Love” by the Four Tops. While the band harmonized about giving all their love for as long as they lived, Abby took her first step toward forever with the man who held her whole heart.
She locked eyes with Logan, not veering her sightline for a second, especially not to the empty spot beside him where Max should be standing.
Attuned to her emotions, Logan guided her with his loving gaze, so steady and sure. With each stride, the sea glass gently jostled, tapping in tune with her heartbeat.
Max will always be with you . She held to the truth so tightly, she conjured Max’s presence in her mind. She could hear his sweet, familiar voice shouting, “Abby! Wait for me!
“Wait! I’m here! I made it!” His shouts carried above the music, playing tricks on her.
She gave a short, sharp shake of her head, trying to dispel the distracting illusion, but at the look of shock and sheer joy on Logan’s face, her heart lurched.
Was it possible—?
Barely daring to breathe, she spun around.
The music halted.
Max scamped across the sand toward her, a vision of pure bliss in a mini suit matching Logan’s—the one she’d packed for him with hopeful optimism.
She flung her arms wide, laughing through her tears as Max nearly toppled her over with the force of his hug.
Beaming up at her, he said, “Dad said we could come. But then our car broke down and we had to take the bus. It stopped a bunch of times, but we made it. Isn’t that great?”
Carefully dabbing her eyes, she nodded. “Really great.” The words escaped in a breathy gasp, so small and inadequate, yet all she could manage amid her overwhelming emotions.
“I told Dad I’m the best man, so I gotta be there because I’m supposed to stand at the front next to Logan while you guys say your vows and stuff. And I have to hold on to the ring for him or he might lose it and then you guys can’t get married.”
Abby suppressed another mirthful laugh. Was that how Logan had explained his role?
Max stood tall, full of pride in his huge responsibility. She wasn’t about to burst his bubble. Smiling, she gestured toward Logan and said, “You’d better get over there and get the ring, then.”
Max skipped down the aisle toward Logan, who scooped him into a bear hug, his happiness splashed across his face.
Abby blinked back a fresh wave of tears. Just when she’d learned to let Max go, God answered her prayers. His timing couldn’t be more mysterious, yet also perfect.
She glanced over her shoulder.
Sam stood near the bottom of the steps, watching from a distance, his hands shoved into the pockets of a too-large tan suit.
Her heart softened. He didn’t have to be here. He didn’t have to bring Max all this way, on a crowded bus, no less. Yet, he did. And she couldn’t be more grateful.
“I’ll be right back,” she told the pastor and all the waiting wedding guests.
She met Logan’s gaze, and he nodded in understanding, encouraging her to go. After handing her bouquet to Piper in the back row, she crossed the sand toward Sam.
“Sorry we’re late,” he said the moment she’d reached him, the depth of contrition in his eyes communicating remorse for so much more than his tardiness.
“I’m just happy you’re here,” she said sincerely. “Thank you for bringing Max back.”
“I should have done it sooner,” Sam admitted, digging his toe in the sand.
She sensed he had more to say, so she waited for him to continue.
Finally, Sam spoke, staring at the sand. “Max asked me to pray with him before bed every night, just like you used to. And do you know what he prayed for, every time, without fail?” He lifted his gaze, his expression pained. “He prayed that we could all be together.”
Abby’s chest squeezed. Until recently, she’d beseeched the Lord with the same request. But Max, with his childlike faith, never gave up hope. Not on his father’s return. And now, not on them.
“The other night, I finally faced the ugly reality,” Sam confessed.
“The only thing standing in the way of Max’s prayer was me.
My fears. My insecurities.” His deep brown eyes glinted with raw humility.
“It’s hard to admit this as a grown man, but the truth is, I felt threatened by you and Logan.
I was scared to start over as a father. And when I looked at you two—at how much you loved Max, and how much he loved you—I was afraid I couldn’t compete. ”
A surge of empathy blazed through her, burning the back of her throat.
How many times had she felt the same way, desperate to be all Max needed, knowing she could never fill his father’s void?
She wished she’d known Sam’s concerns sooner, so she could’ve quickly dispelled them.
“Max loves you more than anything in the world. He never stopped believing you’d come back for him.
” Her voice trembled, but she pushed through, adding with earnest conviction, “We never replaced you in his heart. He simply made room for us, too.”
“I know that now.” He smiled, soft and sincere. “That’s why I’ve decided to move back to Blessings Bay.”
She inhaled a sharp, shuddering breath, certain she’d misheard. “Y-you’re coming back? To stay in the bungalow?”
“Actually, I called Iris. She’s agreed to rent me her cottage again. I still need to find work, but I trust God’ll sort that out, in His timing.”
Without thinking, Abby threw her arms around his thin shoulders. “Thank you, thank you! This is the most wonderful news.” She felt as if her heart might burst with happiness.
Sam stood stiffly for a moment, then relaxed, returning her hug.
When Abby finally stepped back, he flushed, smiling shyly. “I’m not very good with people, Mrs. Preston, er, Mathews,” he corrected, as if he just realized her last name was about to change. “But I’d like to get better.”
“How about calling me Abby, for starters?” She grinned.
“I think I can handle that. Abby,” he said a bit awkwardly.
“Come with me.” She grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the stalled ceremony.
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“Nonsense. You’re family now.” She situated Sam beside Piper before leaning over to retrieve her bouquet.
As she straightened, she noticed Sam’s gaze land on the sea glass dangling around her neck. His eyes sparked with recognition, and the corner of his mouth lifted.
They shared a knowing smile before she resumed her position at the end of the aisle.
By now, the sun had dipped below the horizon line, leaving the sky a dusky blue with streaks of pinks and purple. Candlelight flickered in the tall glass votives lining her pathway as she floated toward the altar where Logan and Max stood side by side, just as she’d hoped and prayed they would.
Above the music and rhythmic rumble of ocean waves, she heard the faint tinkling of the bells around her ankles—the melody of her own making—reminding her that through it all, joy and love could abound.
As long as she made room in her heart.