Page 97 of A Nantucket Wedding

“Because,” Scott said, looking pleased with himself, “I think it’s time we had some unprotected sex.”

Jane smiled. “But what about your arm?”

“I’ll manage. Don’t worry about that.”

“I’ll be quiet,” Jane promised. And she leaned forward to kiss him, taking care not to hit his cast, and she thought this was the best kiss she’d had since she’d first met him, and she couldn’t stop kissing him, and he couldn’t stop kissing her, and awkwardly, grinning at themselves, they slid down onto the sofa together, and while the television continued to drone on about politics, they still kissed, not like man and wife, but like lovers. They didn’t make it up to their room for an hour.

twenty-seven

It was the day before the wedding. After breakfast, Alison, Poppy, Felicity, and Jane gathered together in Alison’s bedroom, to see the girls in their wedding finery. The little girls had shut the door to dress, giggling in Alison’s walk-in closet. Then they threw open the door and filed out.

The matching flower girl dresses that Felicity and Poppy had agreed on for their daughters were simple and elegant. Both dresses had pink satin bodices with pale pink tulle tea-length skirts and a rose satin sash with a fat bow in back. Their shoes were pale pink ballet slippers.

Canny’s dress was also pale pink, but it was crusted with faux pearls and thick loops of embroidery. Sequins sparkled, metallic lace crinkled, miniature rubies and emeralds gleamed as Canny slowly twirled so everyone could admire her dress.

“Your dress has more sparkly bits than ours,” Alice remarked.

Canny said sweetly, “That’s because I’m the head flower girl.”

Daphne looked at her mother. “You and Alice’s mom have bling on your waist. Why can’t we have some sparkly stuff, even if we aren’t the head flower girl?”

Poppy, aggravated by her sister-in-law’s bold fashion statement, snapped, “Because for some reason Canny has more sparkles on her than the bride. And that many sparkles are not appropriate for—”

Abruptly, Alison stood up, clapping her hands. Esmeralda was still at the hotel with Ethan. Even though Canny was a confident child, she was still a child, needing an adult on her side.

“Daphne, you are absolutely right! You and Alice should have some bling, too. I’ve got a jewelry box just filled with rhinestones, which are like diamonds, that I’ve inherited from my mother and grandmother. I’ve been meaning to give them to you girls to let you play dress-up, but I’m going to get the box now. And you can choose what you’d like to wear in the wedding.”

“Yay!” Daphne and Alice jumped up and down as Alison left the room.

Alison quickly returned with a deep blue velvet box. She put it on the bed and opened it. The little girls gasped. They pulled out rhinestone necklaces, rhinestone hair clips, rhinestone rings and bracelets.

Poppy rose to supervise. “Two apiece, girls. Just two. More than that, and you’ll look tacky.”

Alison noted Canny’s frown.

“I think three apiece,” Alison said. “Each girl should wear a sparkle in her hair. You, too, Canny. Come, let’s find a sparkle for your hair.”

—

Later that day, when the girls were swimming and the men were on the beach, the sisters summoned their mother to her room. They shut the door so they wouldn’t be overheard.

“Mom,” Jane said. “About Canny’s dress…”

“What about it?” Alison asked sweetly.

“Oh, come on, Mom,” Felicity whispered angrily. “What are youdoing? This is your wedding, not a carnival!”

Alison faced both daughters and softly replied, “Yes. It is a wedding.Mywedding, and a celebration of my union with David. And he is accepting, with love and”—she glanced meaningfully at Felicity—“generosity, my family, my two daughters, their husbands and children. In return, I’m accepting with love and with generosity of spirit, David’s family. That includes Poppy, who is cranky and difficult, and is probably hoping I’ll drop dead before the wedding. And Ethan, who is, I’ve noticed, a, well, the best word I can think of isplayboy. He certainly seemed to be playing withyou, Jane. And he acted as if he was divorced, and he wasn’t. So frankly, Esmeralda, who is unusual and in your face and outrageously beautiful, is not that difficult to accept. And she has come here, and she’s brought Canny, who is David’s much-loved granddaughter, and who, I might add, has been accepted by your daughters with great pleasure. So if Canny wants to wear that sparkling dress, she should wear it. That’s definitely the most celebratory dress I’ve ever seen.”

“But, Mom,” Jane protested. “You’rethe bride. You should be the most sparkling!”

Alison laughed. “Darlings, when you get to be my age, you know how to let go of the unimportant things so you have more space in your heart for what matters. My wedding is going to be beautiful, because so many people that David and I love will be here, and really, who cares what they wear.”

“Jane’s right,” Felicity said. “It’s awedding,not just any day. It should be special.”

“Girls, it will be wonderful!” Alison promised. “Now go away. I need to take a nap. We’ve got the rehearsal dinner tonight.”

“Let’s take a walk on the beach,” Jane suggested.

---