Page 14 of Wisteria Winds
Bennett moved to the table and picked up a pencil, turning over one of the sketches to its blank side. “What if, instead of a temporary structure, we built something permanent? A gazebo overlooking the water that’s designed specifically for a wedding, but then will remain as an amenity for the island afterward.”
He started simple sketching as he spoke, showing an elegant structure with open sides that could be enclosed with panels if there was inclement weather.
“So we could incorporate the elements of both visions: that open, airy feeling as long as weather allows, with the security and elegance you’re concerned about.”
Dorothy leaned forward. “You know, with the right lighting, that could be quite dramatic. Maybe we could wrap the columns with wisteria and fairy lights.”
“Well, it would need a proper floor,” Cecilia added, “so no one has to navigate sand in formal shoes.”
“Of course,” Bennett agreed. “We could even position it so the ocean will form a natural backdrop for the ceremony.”
Clara, who had been mostly quiet until now, spoke up. “From a musical perspective, a structure would also provide better acoustics than an open beach. The sound won’t dissipate as quickly.”
Morty clapped his hands excitedly. “Oh my gosh, I love it! The best of both worlds. I love it when a plan comes together. And then we would have a lasting reminder of their special day!”
Bennett watched as Cecilia studied his rough sketch.
“You know… it has potential,” she finally admitted. “Though the devil is in the details, Bennett. Materials, design, timeline…”
“All things we can work out,” Bennett reassured her. “The important thing is that we find a solution that honors what Danielle wants, while also addressing your very practical concerns.”
“You’re quite the diplomat, aren’t you?”
“I try,” he said, “especially when it comes to matters close to my heart.”
The tension in the room had finally dissipated, and everyone started discussing possibilities for the gazebo. Bennett stepped back and allowed them to work, pleased that Cecilia was actively engaging with Morty and Dorothy rather than dismissing their ideas.
Clara moved to stand beside him.
“Very nicely handled,” she said quietly. “You found a way to make everybody feel heard.”
“It’s what I do,” Bennett said, shrugging his shoulders. “I try to build bridges, literal and figurative.”
“And Danielle is very lucky to have you,” Clara said softly. “Robert was like that too, always finding harmony in the discord.”
“Thank you. That means a lot,” Bennett said.
He watched as the planning session continued with renewed enthusiasm, and then slipped out to find Danielle. She should be the one making these decisions, after all. The wedding was mostly for her. He hoped the gazebo sounded like a good idea to her, too, since it had been a spontaneous suggestion. But the more he thought about it, the more it felt right to have the ocean as the backdrop to their special day.
Danielle hurried toward the community center with her medical bag slung over her shoulder. She had just received Bennett’s cryptic text that said, Come quick. Wedding summit in progress, while she finished Mamie’s blood pressure check.
I mean, what could possibly constitute a “wedding summit” that required her immediate attention? The thought of it filled her with equal parts dread and curiosity.
She approached the building and heard raised voices through the open windows. She could pick out her mother’s crisp, authoritative tone flying through the air, just like it was yesterday, and she was a young child listening to her mother harp on her about grades. It contrasted with Morty’s theatrical exclamations and the smoky drawl of Dorothy’s voice. She also heard Bennett occasionally try to cut through with the voice of reason, but he wasn’t getting a word in edgewise.
Pausing in the doorway, she took in the scene. Fabric swatches scattered across tables. Flower catalogs splayed open. Sketches pinned on a makeshift display board. Her mother, Morty, and Dorothy were clustered around Bennett, who was trying to draw something on a piece of paper, while Clara watched nearby. None of them had noticed her yet, which gave her a minute to observe what was going on.
“The columns need to be substantial,” her mother said, gesturing with her elegant, manicured hands. “We don’t want anything rustic or flimsy. We want timeless elegance, not some beach shack.”
“We don’t want it to look like a Greek temple either,” Morty said. “It needs to be whimsical, romantic.”
“What it needs,” Dorothy interjected, finally removing her sunglasses for emphasis, “is dramatic sightlines. Every good director knows that framing is everything. When Danielle makes her grand entrance, all eyes should be drawn to her.”
Bennett nodded. “Okay, well, what if we position it here, on the slight rise overlooking the cove? And then the ocean will form a natural backdrop—but we’re elevated enough to avoid any issues with the tides or wet sand.”
“Well, that’s actually quite perfect,” Cecilia said. “And the structure itself?”
“An octagonal gazebo,” Bennett said. “Classic design, but, you know, clean modern lines. Large enough to accommodate the wedding party itself, and intimate enough to feel connected to the guests sitting on the lawn.”
