Page 67 of The Beachgoers
twenty-four
— Now —
IT’S A NIGHT KYLE’S WAITED for all his life.
A night of perfect moments—doesn’t he know it—with his flawed, imperfect beach friends. Life surely doesn’t get better than this.
Just the dinner at this lantern-lit table would be enough. The hot-dog smorgasbord with all the trimmings keeps the mood light. Fun. There are traditional dogs and ten-inch dogs and veggie dogs. Grilled or deep-fried or steamed. In split rolls or poppy-seed buns. Slathered in caramelized onions, whiskey-relish, ketchup, mustard or ’kraut.
Oh yeah, just seeing every one of Elsa’s dining room chairs filled with friends and family would’ve sufficed in Kyle’s life. But there’s more coming from those chairs. There’s camaraderie, laughs, ribbing.
From Mitch:This is doggone amazing.
And Eva:Hot dogs? A delicacy? Only from you, Aunt Elsa.
From everyone:Ooh. Ahh. Mmm.
And Nick:Can’t get this to my face fast enough!
The hush puppies are purely another matter. Hands don’t stop reaching across the table for those deep-fried cornbread balls.
Hey, hey! You’re double-dipping. That’s disgusting.
Kyle, you dunked the whole ball into the sauce!
All of it around the dining room table, with the floor-to-ceiling windows open to the distant sea; with a hint of salty breeze brushing through the room; with thin, decorative starfish propped in the multipaned windows.
For Kyle Bradford, as he sits beside his bride, it is enough. He can rest his head on his pillow tonight and fall asleep a happy man.
* * *
But it’s actually only the beginning.
Didn’t Kyle know, too, that it would only get better once the party moved to the old Foley’s back room. As soon as Taylor heads out for a sleepover at her friend’s place, and after Evan and Hailey wave goodbye and leave with Lauren’s parents, everything cranks up a notch.
The best moment, though? Kyle thinks it has to be when Shane gives him a bro-hug Kyle’s missed for years—slapping his back in an embrace that ends in a faux headlock and more shoulder slaps.
Until that moment’s topped by Kyle and Lauren’s first dance on the creaking wood floor. Lights are dimmed; sliding windows, shoved open. Paper lanterns glimmer out on the deck. The gang sits in booths, and on the counter. Someone leans against the pinball machine in back. Quietly, they all watch the bride and groom take the floor when the illuminated jukebox plays the same song from their wedding ten years ago. Plays Elvis’Can’t Help Falling in Love.
Kyle can’t help it either, the way he falls in love a little more with Lauren and Stony Point and everyone gathered here tonight.
But best of all? His bride’s in his arms again, her body pressed close, her whispers soft. That crown of tiny satin flowers rests on her long blonde hair. Lauren’s midriff top skims the waist of her long, fitted lace skirt—its small train brushing the dance floor.
Yep, a favorite moment of the entire vow renewal event.
Until that first dance segues into the jam of the night. It’s to Springsteen’sGlory Days, of course, kicking in on the jukebox. Celia plays along on guitar, Shane joins in on harmonica, and Lauren—grabbing the old tambourine off a wall hook—gets down and jangles. Anyonenotplaying an instrument is dancing, swapping partners, or singing a line with the back-room band.
A pure good time.
Surpassed only by the slow dance that follows. Someone picked just the right selection on the jukebox, playing a song about summer ending, but love holding on. Kyle thinks maybe it was Elsa. Doesn’t matter, though. Couples all settle into each other’s arms now. Jason, in his faded jeans and tee, holds Maris close. Whispers in her ear, too. And from the looks of them, Kyle can only imagine that he’s asking Maris to spend the night with him. A thought confirmed by Maris giving a nod, a touch to Jason’s face, a kiss on his lips.
Magic indeed has drifted in on the salty breeze. The magic of memories, and summers past—swirling like stardust in the back room tonight. Jason sure knew what he was doing when he insisted to Elsa that this room not be changed in his reno. Rather, the original Foley’s room has been enshrined, bringing them all back to easier times.
* * *
The night rambles on as seamlessly as the jukebox songs.
There’s Carol Fenwick now, asking Shane for a dance. As he takes her in his arms, her long gypsy skirt swirls; she tosses her head back with an easy laugh. Shane’s hands drop to her waist while they move to the sultry song.
