Page 18 of Wisteria Winds
“This is it,” Bennett said. “Perfect vantage point. Ocean views, elevated enough to not worry about any concerns with the tides.”
Eddie nodded, making notes and grunting. “We’ll need to pour concrete footings and ensure it’s stable. That means digging down pretty deep.”
“Whatever it takes,” Bennett said. “This needs to be built to last.”
“Like your relationship with Danielle,” Eddie grinned, his weathered face crinkling at the corners.
Bennett laughed. “Well, that was very poetic, Eddie, but exactly like that.”
He had called Eddie at dawn, eager to get the project moving along. The island’s maintenance supervisor had been with Bennett since the very beginning, helping to transform an overgrown patch of coastal land into a vibrant community.
“The builders can start Monday,” Eddie said, pacing off the dimensions. “I’ve already called Miguel’s team on the mainland. They said they’d clear their schedule because they owe you for getting Miguel’s mother into that specialist in Atlanta last year.”
“They don’t owe me anything,” Bennett said. “It was just the right thing to do, but I’m glad they can fit us in quickly.”
Eddie snorted. “Yeah, well, not everybody does the right thing these days. Anyhow, they’re excited to get started, so they’ll make it their best work yet.”
Bennett nodded. Miguel’s construction company had built several structures on the island and always had exceptional craftsmanship. They understood the coastal environment and how to create buildings that could take the salt air and occasional storms.
“I’ve got Cecilia’s drawings here,” Eddie said, pulling out several sheets of paper. “Woman knows what she wants, I’ll give her that. She was very specific about the column design.”
“She has excellent taste,” Bennett said, “and a keen eye for detail. I drew the first pictures, but she took them away from me and made something much better looking.”
“Like mother, like daughter with the keen eye for detail,” Eddie said. “Danielle nearly drove me crazy with her requests when we were rebuilding her cottage after the hurricane. ‘Two inches to the left, Eddie.’ ‘Can we raise this window six inches, Eddie?’ But, you know, she was right about it every time.”
Bennett laughed, remembering how particular Danielle had been about her new home. Her attention to detail and insistence on getting things right were among the many things he loved about her.
“Speaking of Danielle,” Eddie said, “does she know you’re out here at the crack of dawn getting this started?”
“Not exactly. I wanted to surprise her with how quickly we can make progress. So, the gazebo was decided yesterday. I’m hoping we can have it substantially complete within a couple of weeks.”
Eddie whistled. “Wow, that’s ambition. Ambitious even from Miguel’s team.”
“I know. But we’ve got resources, and I’m willing to pay whatever it takes to get this thing going.” He looked out over the water. “I want Danielle to be able to see it, to walk through it, and really visualize our wedding day, not just look at sketches.”
Eddie nodded. “You’re a good man, Bennett. Danielle’s lucky to have found you.”
“Oh, I’m the lucky one,” Bennett replied softly.
They spent the next hour taking measurements and discussing all the technical details—the depth of the foundation, the materials for the columns, the design of the roof. Bennett wanted everything to be perfect.
As they worked, several residents strolled by on their morning walks, curious about what was going on. News of the gazebo and its purpose as Danielle and Bennett’s wedding venue had spread quickly through the island’s very efficient grapevine.
“Morning, fellas,” Gladys called, approaching with her tiny dog trotting beside her. “Marking out for the wedding spot, are you?”
“That’s right,” Bennett said. “The gazebo will stand right here.”
Gladys smiled, her weathered face crinkling. “Well, how wonderful. You know, Harold proposed to me in a gazebo. We were in Savannah in 1962. He was so nervous that he dropped the ring. We had to get down on our hands and knees and find it in the cracks between the floorboards.”
Bennett smiled. “Well, we’ll make sure the floorboards are nice and tight.”
“See that you do,” she said with a wink. “Oh, and make sure it’s big enough for me to get up there and dance afterward. These old bones still remember how to cut a rug, you know.”
As Gladys continued on her way, Eddie laughed. “I think this whole island is invested in this wedding now.”
“Well, it’s their celebration too, in a way,” Bennett said. “These people are our family.”
By mid-morning, they had completed the preliminary measurements and marked the foundation outline with bright orange spray paint. Eddie headed off to call the contractors and left Bennett alone on the bluff.
