Chapter Twenty-Seven

Ashton

Our Wedding Day

Anthony Blackie, the ordained minister waiting for us on the beach to officiate our ceremony, wore a long ponytail, Hawaiian shirt, and khaki shorts. He smelled faintly of weed and patchouli. I loved it. After our first official meeting with him, Quinn had whispered in my ear, “I’m not sure if we’ll be legally married after all is said and done, but this wedding will be off the hook.”

“If we’re going to do this before we move, then this is our best bet,” I argued. Putting together a wedding in less than sixty days had been harder than I’d ever imagined. The entire wedding party was getting ready at our cottage. We’d put our parents and siblings up at the main house. Our master bedroom had been transformed into a beauty parlor/dressing area. The room smelled faintly of nail polish, hair spray, and alcohol. We had a spread of Blood Mary’s, Peach Bellini’s, and Mimosas along with a cheese and fruit tray. Wouldn’t want anyone’s blood sugar to dive so they passed out in the hot, humid outdoor air.

Our wedding party was small because we didn’t need a huge spectacle to seal our love. My best friend, Courtney, served as maid of honor. And Griffin the best man. Courtney wore a minty green, sheer maxi dress. The colors of my wedding were mint and coral, very Florida fabulous.

Courtney, who normally dressed head to toe in black, floated over to me in her bridesmaid dress. The chiffon twirled around her curvy, long legs and the color made her features pop. Coupled with her beachy tan, she’d never looked better. “Court, that color is gorgeous with your skin. You should wear more green.”

She glanced up and down at the flowy dress and then peered at me with her intense green eyes. “I sorta do like the color. I feel girly for a change. Maybe I’ll add some new pieces to my wardrobe on your recommendation.”

I reveled in her response. “We can go shopping when Quinn and I return from our honeymoon.”

Courtney reached up and helped me remove the hot rollers from my hair. She’d insisted that the rollers would help keep my hair smoother despite the sweltering Florida heat and humidity. Since I’d moved down here my hair was a permanent blonde afro. Court doused my hair with some concoction she’d made up that she swore would tame my frizzy curls. As I glanced in the mirror, I had to agree with her. So far, so good. My hair had bouncy, swirly waves that were soft and smooth. The real test would be when we left the air-conditioned cottage and marched down the beach to the lattice archway by the water decorated in hordes of orchids.

“I took a sweet picture of your mom and dad with Quinn’s parents. It’s nice to see everyone happy and talking again,” Courtney said.

Since we’d announced our engagement, our parents had grown closer again, ready to release the chains of the past. Betsey and Quinn’s mom, Marcia, had gotten excited about planning a wedding for us and couldn’t wait to lend their helping hands and wallets. Even though I wanted to pay for most things myself, I’d allowed them to chip in for the smaller items.

I’d hated to burst their bubble and tell them that we just wanted something very simple at the beach. Betsey had pictured a basilica ceremony with a ball gown sporting a cathedral length veil and train. Not happening. Both moms thought they’d been robbed until they’d heard my idea of using Nanna’s house and nearby beach as part of our wedding plans.

Secretly, I think Betsey thought the reason for a quick wedding was because I was pregnant but both moms had too much southern charm to ask me a loud. We’d dropped hints that we wanted a family soon, but I had made it clear that we weren’t going to start trying until after the honeymoon.

Courtney unrolled the curlers and said, “Your guests are arriving at the main house. The dads are drinking beer and entertaining everyone while the moms are fixing more mimosas and directing the caterers to the pool deck for the reception. It all looks fabulous out there,” she said, assuring me.

I watched as Court gathered an armload of hot pink curlers and stepped in front of me. “It goes without saying that Quinn looks handsome with his tux on. He’s a hottie. No doubt.”

We’d decided the night before to make an agreement. No seeing each other the day of the wedding until it was time to walk down the aisle. This may be a laid back wedding compared to my brother’s all out affair, but I still wanted to honor some traditions.

“He also looks a little nervous which I think is really cute,” Courtney continued. “I have to say you made a great choice. Quinn is everything I would want for my best friend.” She leaned down and kissed me on the cheek.

“Thank you, Court. For everything.” I reached over to the vanity table and pulled open a drawer. I grasped a silver bag and handed it to Courtney. “This is a little something for my appreciation. Thank you for being my maid of honor and sticking by me through thick and thin. You’ve been a wonderful friend and I love you.”

She gasped as she opened the bag. Inside was a custom-made sterling silver cuff adorned with an African turquoise stone. Also matching earrings and a necklace. It matched her maxi dress perfectly. I watched as she put the jewelry on. “It’s perfect, Ashton. Thank you.”

A knock on the door and a rustling of feet greeted us in the bedroom. “Ashton, I brought you something.” Kylie, Quinn’s niece, had a flower wreath in her tiny hands. “Momma said you wear it on your head.”

“Thank you, darling,” I said taking the beautiful wreath from her. “Tell your mom I love it.”

“Okay,” Kylie said. She twirled around. “You like my dress?”

Kylie was going to be our flower girl today. She wore a matching mint dress adorned with applique daisies. “I love your dress, Ky. You look so pretty.”

“That’s what my momma said,” she stifled a giggled with her tiny fist.

“I have something for you, too, Kylie.” I reached back into the vanity drawer and pulled out another smaller silver bag. “This is a present for you. For helping me and Uncle Quinn today.”

“Ooh,” she said, pulling out the delicate sterling silver bracelet. It held a smaller African turquoise stone that dangled from the bracelet. “I like it so much. Like Princess Jasmine would wear.”

I reached down and gave Kylie a hug. “Thank you for being my flower girl today. It means so much to me and Uncle Quinn.”

“I’m going to show my momma.” Kylie hugged me back and ran out of the room, the clapping of her patent leather flats receding as she left.

Courtney fluffed my hair, then put a dab of her secret styling lotion on her palms and ran it through my hair.

“Looks great,” I said, admiring the simple hairstyle that fit the beach theme of our wedding perfectly.

“Piece de la resistance,” she said placing the flower wreath on the top of my head. She carefully secured it with bobby pins.

“You’ve been a great help with this wedding. Maybe you can move down to Destin with us and start your own company,” I suggested with a wink. “Or, come work for ours.”

“Oh, one wedding in my lifetime is enough. But thank you.”

“I hope to return the favor one day when you get married,” I said. “I’ll be there to support you to.”

“Deal,” she said, shaking my hand. “I think we’re ready to go.” Court looked out from the bedroom that faced the pool. “Your groom is waiting out there for us. He looks so damn happy.”

“I’m damn happy that he decided to ask me to marry him. After everything that I put him through.” I pointed to the pitcher of mimosas. “Before we go I need another sip of that.”

“You’re not getting cold feet are you?” she handed me the champagne glass with a slice of fresh orange. I sipped the refreshing drink and closed my eyes for a moment allowing it to chase away any remaining butterflies. I never wanted to forget this day. The truth was, I was excited about this wedding mostly because I never wanted to be away from Quinn again.

“No, not at all,” I said on a breathy sigh. Contented. “Just a little excited and ready for this chapter of our life together.”

During our honeymoon, I wanted to lounge in his arms and reminisce about this day. Laughing, crying, and talking about our friends and family in attendance. We planned on staying a couple nights down in the Keys and then flying to the Virgin Islands for ten days. One of Quinn’s clients had a private villa and had offered it to us for a wedding present. Apparently it came with a butler, a maid, and a private chef during our stay. And an infinity pool. I couldn’t wait.

“It’s okay to be nervous,” Courtney said as she patted my hand. “You look incredible. That dress is going to take everyone’s breath away. Especially Quinn’s.”

She handed me the box with a garter in it. “Don’t forget this. He’ll be disappointed if he can’t take it off later. With his teeth.”

It was the same garter that Quinn’s grandmother had worn when she’d married Papa. We’d found it when we were cleaning out the garage. Quinn’s mother told me that Nanna would’ve wanted for me to wear it. My hands shook as I took hold of the box. Tears pricked the back of my eyes and threatened to run down my face and ruin my makeup.

I sat on the edge of the bed while Courtney helped me slide the garter over my foot. I adjusted it high on my thigh and admired the handiwork. The antique garter had tiny blue flowers embroidered on the lace. I couldn’t believe that the garter was over fifty years old. It looked practically brand new.

“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue,” Court said admiring the garter. “I think you have the old, borrowed, and blue down with the garter. What about something new?”

I shrugged. “I guess my engagement ring?” I gazed at the two-carat pear shaped diamond that Quinn had given me.

“Or, it could be this,” Quinn’s mom said walking into the room. My mother followed close behind her.

“What are you guys up to?” I asked.

Marcia looked pretty dressed in a coral two piece silk suit. It complemented my mother’s dress that was a creamy off-white with a coral flower pattern. Quinn’s mom held out a white box and gave it to me. “Quinn’s dad and I wanted to give you something to welcome you to the family.”

I took the white box from her hand and opened it. Inside was a Rolex watch. Fourteen carat gold with a pearl inlay. “This is too much,” I said gasping at the expensive and sophisticated timepiece.

Quinn’s mom reached down and helped me clasp the watch onto my wrist. “Don’t be silly. We wanted to give you something that meant a lot. That you could keep with you forever and maybe hand down to your firstborn daughter. It’s a remembrance that time goes by fast. Every time you look at it, remember to slow down and enjoy life.”

I stood up and hugged my future mother in law.

“You look gorgeous,” my mother said with a tight squeeze to my bare shoulders.

Music floated from outside to where we stood, which was our cue to move toward the makeshift aisle. Our guests would take golf carts down to the beach. The carts had been decorated earlier today with flowers and colorful streamers by Kylie and her friends. Then, my parents and I would take the last cart down.

A knock at the door caused me to turn and see my father, Carl, sticking his head in. “We’re ready for the bride.”

“Come on in, dad,” I beckoned with a crook of my finger. “We’re all dressed.”

Marcia waved goodbye and turned. “We’ll see you down there.”

Courtney smiled. “Group hug everyone before we go. And no crying or smearing my handiwork,” she pointed at my makeup.

We all hugged and laughed.

My dad walked in the living area and gasped. “You look beautiful, princess.” He planted a soft kiss on my cheek.

“Thank you dad,” I said.

I took a deep breath as Courtney led the way. We grabbed our bouquets that were waiting for us on the entryway table, then I handed the basket of rose petals to Kylie. “Remember, Ky. One petal at a time.”

Kylie giggled. “I’m a big girl. I know how to do this.”

We all walked out through the pool area and down the path of tall boxwood shrubs where the golf carts waited. From here, I could hear the first strains of music.

My dad winked at me as he stepped on the gas pedal and we made our way down to the beach. I bit back tears as we got closer and I could see all the people I loved and cared about sitting on the whitewashed folding chairs draped in mint green crepe. They faced the Gulf of Mexico. I couldn’t have asked for a better day. The sun shone its golden rays, the skies didn’t contain one cloud to mar the perfection of the azure color, and the waves gently lapped the shore.

We parked the cart and waited as everyone else took their places. I could see Quinn waiting for me along with the officiant at the makeshift altar. We had hired a harpist and guitar player to play the Wedding March. As soon as the tune played, my dad placed a hand on my elbow. My fingers tightened around my bouquet.

“You look beautiful, honey. Are you ready?” my dad asked.

“I’ve never felt surer of anything in my entire life.”

We walked toward the beach. A few feet ahead of us, Kylie threw rose petals down on the sand as she skipped down the row. A wave of quiet laughter rolled through the wind from our guests as Kylie dumped the remaining rose petals at Quinn’s feet and then promptly turned and ran to her mother, Tawny.

My throat tightened and my heart pounded as I got my first up close glance at Quinn. He looked dashing in his tux as he smiled at me. If someone would’ve told me a few months ago that I would run into Quinn again and fall in love and get married within a few week’s time, I would’ve called them bat-shit crazy. But here I was. Happier than I’d ever fantasized that I could be. I’d be eternally grateful for second chances.

My dad and I stopped underneath a halo of lavender orchids. He leaned over and whispered in my ear before giving me a kiss. I stepped up next to Quinn and put my hand in his. Today was the first day of the rest of our lives together.