Page 40 of Our Little Wedding

Nikki nodded her head, and we began the walk toward my future. People turned their heads and watched as we made ourway through the resort. Carly walked beside me, holding the back of my dress up out of the sand.

“You ready?” she asked, leaning into me.

“Never been more ready for anything in my life,” I said, smiling at her.

“I’m thrilled for you,” she whispered.

“Thank you.”

Things between us grew quiet for a moment. Then she leaned in. “Can I tell you something?”

“Of course.”

“I wanted to apologize to you. I really was wrong about Spencer. He really is a good man. I am so happy that you found him.”

I laughed. “Found him? Well, in all fairness, I practically stalked the man.” I giggled, thinking back to when I’d set up that ridiculous profile through his website just to speak to the man I lived beside.

“I know. I just wanted you to know that I was wrong. I never really gave him a chance.”

“It’s okay,” I said, stopping and wrapping my arms around my best friend. “You’ve always been overprotective, and I know now that you were just looking out for me.”

“I was.”

We continued on our way toward the wedding gazebo we had chosen down at the end of the beach, finally coming to the end of the path. I glanced through the trees and caught sight of Spencer standing beside his brothers, talking. He looked so handsome in his dark suit. As I watched him, I noticed little things. He fiddled with his watch, then the button on his suit jacket. Then he laughed again at something Mike said before returning to the watch. Was he nervous?

I smiled, and then I heard Carly let out a little gasp as she, too, looked in the same direction. “Are you okay?” I whispered while the wedding coordinator spoke to Jane.

“Hmmm, yes,” Carly said, a light blush on her cheek.

I glanced through the trees and saw Max standing there looking toward us as he spoke to Spencer. Then I turned and looked at my best friend. She was watching his every move, her cheeks flushed.

I softly smiled to myself, then nudged Carly. “I know what, or should I say who, you are watching.” I giggled. “Perhaps a little crush going on here?”

“Maybe.” Carly giggled.

They’d hit it off last night and spent most of the evening sitting at the bar, talking. When Max offered to walk Carly back to her room, Spencer and I glanced at one another.

I was about to lean in and say something when I saw the men take their positions, and then the Bohemian music began playing, and Nikki headed toward the gazebo carrying the little pillow that contained our rings.

As the music played, I took my father’s elbow, and we stood together while Nikki and Carly started toward the gazebo. My father turned to me and smiled. “You look gorgeous, Ainsley. Just like your mother did the day we wed,” he whispered.

It was the first time I’d ever heard my father reference my mother as being beautiful, and a tear escaped my eyes. “Thanks, Daddy. I’m so glad you are here.”

“Me too,” he whispered, leaning in and kissing my cheek. “I feel like I lost a lot of time with you because it was so hard for me to come to grips to hand you over to this man, but I know in my heart this is the right thing for you. I’m sorry for all you’ve lost.”

A tear slipped down my cheek. My father wiped it away with his rough fingers. “I can’t walk you down the aisle in tears,” hesaid, leaning in and kissing me on the cheek. “It’s supposed to be the happiest day of your life.”

“It is, Dad. I am happy.” I sniffled.

When the wedding coordinator signaled to us, my father looked over at me as I let out a breath. “Ready?” he asked me quietly.

“Never been so ready in my life,” I whispered back.

Together we took the first few steps, and when I looked up, my eyes locked with Spencer’s. All the memories came flooding into my mind. The first time I saw him over the fence in his backyard, the first time he’d turned those blue eyes toward mine and allowed them to run the length of my body, the first time his hand brushed my cheek and his lips brushed mine.

A flood of emotion waved over me as his eyes trailed my body. When we approached, my father leaned in and whispered something to Spencer, and then placed my hand in his. I took a step closer to Spencer. He looked down into my face. “You look absolutely stunning,” he whispered to me as he leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek.

A gentle breeze blew as the wedding official began speaking. We stood listening to the words he spoke, each of us taking them in. Then he looked at us both. “It’s time for the vows.”

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