Page 37 of Wisteria Winds
Danielle entered, looking slightly frazzled but beautiful as always.
“Ah, there you are. I’ve been looking everywhere. Did you approve the final menu with Esther? She’s asking me something about seafood appetizers.”
“All approved,” Bennett said, crossing to meet her. “Everything is under control. Breathe.”
She laughed and allowed him to pull her into his arms. “I am breathing - mostly. Just enough not to die, I think. It’s just there’s so much to do, and my mom keeps adding her ‘small suggestions’ that somehow require major restructuring. Morty nearly had a stroke when the florist called to say that they might be delayed in some traffic on the mainland due to some parade that’s happening.”
He silenced her with a gentle kiss. When they broke apart, he kept his forehead pressed to hers.
“In three days, we’ll be married. All this other stuff is just details.”
She exhaled slowly, tension starting to leave her shoulders. “You’re right. I know you’re right. I just want everything to be perfect, and not even for me or you. I want it to be perfect for them because they’ve worked so hard.”
“It will be perfect because we’ll be together, and that’s all they really want. Surrounded by the people we love in a place that brought us together, nothing else really matters.”
She smiled up at him. “When did you get so wise?”
“I have my moments,” he said. “Now, I believe we have a rehearsal dinner seating chart to finalize before Morty and your mother come over here and start giving orders.”
“Mom thinks seating should reflect appropriate social hierarchy, whatever that means, and Morty is insisting on optimal conversational dynamics.”
“Well, let’s put them all at the same table and let them battle it out in person,” Bennett said, winking.
“Oh, don’t you tempt me.”
Danielle pulled away from him reluctantly. “I gotta get back to the clinic. Dr. Patel is doing final patient reviews before she takes over next week.”
“How’s that going?”
“Wonderfully, actually. She’s compassionate, competent, and the residents really seem to like her. I feel confident leaving the island in her hands while we’re away.”
She paused at the door. “Which reminds me, you still haven’t told me where we’re going on our honeymoon.”
Bennett smiled. “And I’m not going to. It’s a surprise.”
“You’re impossible,” she said, with her hands on her hips.
“And you love it.”
“I love you,” she corrected, blowing him a kiss before she departed.
Alone again, Bennett returned to the window, his heart full as he watched his island community come together to celebrate the biggest day of his life. In three days, Danielle would be his wife. After years of building Wisteria Island on faith and prayer and creating this home for others, he had finally found his own home in her.
CHAPTER 10
Cecilia surveyed the gazebo with a critical eye, as she did everything. She made some minor adjustments to the draped fabric that would frame the ceremony space. The white gauzy material caught the breeze and billowed gently before it settled again around the columns.
“A bit higher on the left,” she directed Janice, who stood on a stepladder making the adjustments. She had called for Eddie, but he was busy with something else, and she didn’t have time to wait. Janice claimed she had the best balance on the island - and she did square dance all the time - although Cecilia wasn’t sure that had anything at all to do with balance.
“We want it to appear effortless, like the breeze created the perfect folds.”
“Effortless,” Janice repeated. “Like everything else about this wedding.”
Cecilia smiled despite herself. She’d come to appreciate the dry humor and spirit of Wisteria’s residents over the past weeks. Their dedication to making Danielle and Bennett’s wedding special touched her deeply, even if their methods sometimes lacked the polished precision she was accustomed to in New York event planning.
“Perfect,” she said when Janice finished the adjustment. “Now, do you have the blue ribbon for tomorrow’s final decoration?”
“All ready,” Janice said, climbing down from the ladder. “Dorothy’s keeping it in her cottage to prevent any mishaps. You know how Morty gets when he’s excited. He’s like a tornado in human form.”
