Page 85 of Saltwater Promises
Chapter 33
With only a month until the wedding, Margie felt strangely calm. Somehow, she’d managed to run out of things to plan and now there was nothing to do but wait.
Waiting was harder, of course, but she kept a countdown on the calendar and started sending messages to Tiffany and Jade every day.
“We are only thirty days away from the BIG day!” she’d written that morning.
Tiffany sent back a thumbs up, and Jade sent a picture of a cat that said, “You gotta be kitten me!”
Margie smiled. It was going to be a perfect day, she could just feel it. Both of their dresses were ready, all of the guests had RSVPed, and the weather forecast, which Margie checked religiously, still looked great.
Fortunately for her, that Sunday Margie had something to distract her. None of the kids could make it to Sunday dinner, but Mike said he would be there with his girlfriend Lynn.
It was exciting that he wasfinallybringing her around. Poor Claire hadn’t stood a chance. If only Mike had told her about Lynn! Margie felt embarrassed now, but Hank assured her that she didn’t need to worry too much about it.
Claire certainly wasn’t one to hold a grudge. Though she’d returned home, she was still deciding if she wanted to buy the hotel. She had spent days at the hotel talking to the owner, trying to build up her courage. It seemed like she was close to making a decision. Margie didn’t want to influence her, but naturally she was praying for her old friend to move to the islands.
Now Margie was actually getting a chance to get to know Lynn, too. Mike had kept her hidden away for most of the summer, traveling, going to art shows, and doing all sorts of cute new couple things.
Margie inserted herself as much as she could. She didn’t want to miss her chance to get to know her potential future sister-in-law. Lynn was so gracious, taking Margie to galleries and answering her endless questions about the art world.
She’d honestly never thought she’d see the day Mike settled down, but after getting to know a bit more of their story from Lynn, she understood why it had taken so long. Mike had been himself, of course, and dragged it out.
But he was openly enchanted by Lynn. Margie had never seen him this way, and it made her feel silly that she ever worried about what he’d do after retirement.
Mike and Lynn had already come up with a plan and bought themselves a boat. Their idea was to sail around the world together, casting off two days after the girls’ wedding.
When they arrived for dinner, Margie was full of questions.
“What will you do for food on the ship?”
Mike shrugged. “I guess I’ll jump into the ocean with my spear and stab something, then Lynn can fry it up for us.”
Margie gasped, but Lynn just laughed. “Don’t listen to him, Margie. We have a fridge on board, and a little stove. Whenever we get to a port, we can replenish our supplies. It’s going to take some planning, but I think it’ll work nicely.”
“Don’t let Mike cook for you,” Hank said. “That would probably be your biggest risk.”
“One time,” Mike protested. “Onetime I undercooked the burgers on the grill. Big deal.”
“It was the undercooked chicken that got me,” Hank said, his stare unbroken. “I thought I was going to die.”
They all laughed, and Margie watched as Lynn subtly squeezed Mike’s hand. She was such a sweetheart, and Mike was so different around her.
When Margie first heard about an artist being kidnapped from neighboring Bellingham, it was a frightening story, but she didn’t think twice about it. It wasn’t until weeks later that she found out that Lynn was the artist of interest, and Mike had been the one who rescued her!
If it weren’t for Lynn, Margie might not have heard anything about it. Mike also almost got into some trouble for stealing an airplane, apparently, but the governor provided him with a pardon.
“I hope Mike doesn’t get you into any trouble out there,” said Margie sternly.
Lynn laughed. “I’m looking forward to it. I’m confident I can keep him in line.”
“I’ll be good, I promise,” Mike said with a smile. “My troublemaking days are behind me.”
“And your adventure making days are ahead of you!”
Mike shook his head. “Do you have to make it sound so cheesy?”
“I can’t help it,” Margie said with a shrug. “You’re an old man sailing around in a boat. You should get used to comments.”
