Page 82 of Prudence
“So sorry to interrupt, but, um, I just found your wedding planner in one of our storage rooms crying her eyes out. I’m not sure what’s wrong with her, but perhaps someone should make sure she’s okay?”
“All right, thank you for letting me know. I’ll take care of it.”
“Great.” With one final, almost disturbed glance at Tristan, the manager left, and I turned to grab my phone, scrolling to find my sister’s number. She was probably busy with all her maid of honour duties, but I couldn’t think of anyone else who was better at cheering people up when they were sad or depressed. If you could bottle a ray of sunshine, that was Nuala. Her response came moments later.
Nuala: I’m on it!
I made a mental note to buy her something nice when all this was over.
“Who wasthat?” Tristan asked, full of intrigue.
“I think she manages the place for Fred and his wife,” I answered, still inwardly fretting over the wedding planner.
“Does she have a name?” My brother pressed, and I shot him an irritated look.
“Hey, you can focus on hooking up with pretty women later. Right now, we have a wedding to get through.”
“Sorry, she just looks so familiar.” His brow furrowed, like he was trying to figure out where he knew her from.
“Maybe you met somewhere before,” I suggested. “It’s a small country.”
“Yeah, maybe,” he agreed, a faraway look on his face.
A little while later, another text arrived from my sister.
Nuala: All sorted. You should probably get downstairs. Milly will be going down soon. Also, she looks amazing. I can’t wait to see your face when you get a load of her dress!
I smiled at her text, already eager to see this dress, but even more eager for Milly to become my wife. “We should go downstairs,” I told my brother, and he stood, smoothing down his suit jacket before smiling wide.
“You ready to marry the love of your life?” he asked with his usual Tristan-like enthusiasm. If my sister was a ray of sunshine, then my brother was an excitable, lovable puppy who saw the world as an endless possibility.
“I’ve been ready for a long time,” I answered as we left the room and headed down.
Milly
The small function room at the Aster Cove Hotel where I’d spent many of my childhood holidays had been transformed into something truly beautiful. The flower arrangements, fairy lights and silk ribbons imbued the air with a feeling of romance and magic. Derek stood at the end of the makeshift aisle, tall and handsome in his suit, his eyes hot as coals when the music started and I approached him arm in arm with my father.
All our family and friends were present, as well as our kids. Well, all except for Aunt Nell, who I hadn’t heard from directly since our lunch back in London. She still communicated with my parents, so she knew I was marrying Derek, and I think thatwas the final nail in the coffin. She was so determined to stick to her guns that there was no way she’d ever accept my life with him. I felt her absence keenly, especially since she’d been such a big part of my life at one point, but I couldn’t keep twisting myself into knots to make her happy. If she wouldn’t accept my choice to be with Derek and become a part of his family, as well as him becoming a part of mine, then I was just going to have to continue on without her.
I’d chosen my favourite shade of deep blue for the bridesmaids’ dresses, and Deirdre, Gigi, Nuala and my sister, Jane, looked so pretty in them. I’d asked Donna, too, but my other sister had opted out, stating flatly that she’d once made the mistake of signing up to be her high-maintenance friend Madeleine’s bridesmaid and never regretted a decision more in her life.
My own dress was a floor-length, sleeveless ivory gown that dipped low at the back. Nuala and Charli helped me choose it, and I’d never felt more beautiful, especially when Derek dragged his eyes slowly up my body like he wanted to throw me over his shoulder and carry me to the honeymoon suite before the officiant could even begin the proceedings.
The ceremony itself was a bit of a blur. Before I knew it, we were both saying, “I do,” and then Derek was kissing me, his lips warm and achingly familiar as he finally broke away to murmur in my ear. “Are you trying to torture me with that dress?”
I grinned because yes, that had been the idea.
For the next few hours, we celebrated, danced and greeted our guests until later when everyone was drunk enough for me to pull Derek aside.
“Do you think anyone would miss us if we slipped out for a little while?”
“It’s our day. Who cares if they do?” he replied, seeing I was all peopled out and needed some quiet and fresh air. He slid hishand through mine and led me out of the function room and to the rear of the building that led to the beach. We walked in quiet for a time before we reached the small stretch of sand closest to the hotel. It was late evening and completely deserted, and after being the centre of attention all day, it was a relief to finally be alone with my husband.
I’d married Derek Balfe. It was surreal to think it, but something about this day had healed all the old wounds we’d nursed over the years. All the what ifs and lost possibilities faded into the horizon as we finally promised to have and to hold, to love and to cherish …
I slid off my shoes and lifted the hem of my dress so it was easier to walk in the sand. Seeing this, Derek took the shoes from me to carry in one hand and, with his free hand, took my hand in his.
“My feet are aching. I wish I could sit for a little while, but I’d ruin the dress.”
