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Rita laughed, accustomed to everyone’s obsession with her career as a private detective. “I was looking for someone’s ex-husband. He’d disappeared without a trace, or so his ex-wife had thought. Fortunately, it took just a brief scan through his phone records to realize he’d moved to Las Vegas to be with his mistress, where he’d already lost hundreds of thousands of dollars of his children’s college funds.”
“My gosh!” Kelli’s eyes widened.
Beside Rita, Steve smiled, impressed with his new friend. Steve had met Rita during a very strange spring, during which Rita had come to the island to investigate a missing young woman. And it just so happened that Steve and his daughter, Isabella, had helped Rita crack the case— and everyone was pretty sure Rita and Steve had found a little love along the way. But because Steve had only just lost his wife last autumn, Steve wanted to bide his time. Everyone understood that, too.
Isabella could be seen behind Steve, together with her new boyfriend, Rhett, who’d been released from the hospital looking handsome and healthy. Isabella tossed her head with laughter at something Rhett said, and Kelli’s heart ballooned with gladness.
“This is what I wanted the hotel to be,” Kelli heard herself say.
“What do you mean?” Steve asked.
Kelli chuckled, feeling embarrassed. “I wanted it to be a place of love, celebration, and joy.”
“I think you’ve achieved that to a T,” Steve said. “I haven’t seen a single person here not having an iconic time. You did that, Kell. Remember that.”
She eventually tore herself from her family to tend to other obligations. During that time, the guests sat for a five-course meal of honey-glazed leg of lamb with mustard and thyme, roasted potatoes, mini beef tourtieres, baked brie with figs, and a lemon dessert, all of which Kelli knew was to die for as she and Xander had sampled the menu a few days ago to prepare.
“There she is!” Xander’s voice came from deep down the hallway, and although she was speeding off to check on the kitchen staff, Kelli turned and allowed herself to collapse in his arms. Xander kissed her forehead and said, “How are you feeling, my love?”
“Like a wilted leaf.”
“But a happy wilted leaf?”
“The happiest.” Kelli raised her chin to smile at him, both overwhelmed and overjoyed.
“This was our dream, Kelli,” Xander reminded her, drawing her hand into his and placing his opposite hand on her lower back. Like a sailboat, he rocked her, there in the foyer, slowly dancing to the music that streamed in from the ballroom. “Promise me that you’ll take a moment to appreciate it every now and again.”
“I know. You’re right.” Kelli laughed at herself, at her fears and her worries. “Thank you for being a part of my dream.”
“Tonight, I’m going to massage your feet,” Xander teased her. “And make you a big cup of hot cocoa and let you watch whatever TV show you want.”
“Wow. You really are Mr. Romance, aren’t you?” Kelli laughed and kissed him again, listening as the crowd in the ballroom gossiped and sipped their glasses of champagne and celebrated the lemon cake, which was moist and delectable, an old family recipe that Chef Billiard had sworn he would never tell anyone, not on his life.
ChapterFour
It was just past midnight when the party began to die out. Amanda, who’d quit drinking hours ago in order to drive herself and Sam back home, retreated from the ballroom to the nearest bathroom to re-apply her lipstick. Once there, none other than Audrey bolted from the bathroom stall, smiling sleepily and happily.
“My gosh! Look at you! You’re one week away from marrying Sam!”
Amanda blushed and adjusted her dress, a navy-blue number that showed a little more skin than she was used to. “It’s weird,” Amanda confessed now. “I used to think twenty-five was so old. I figured I’d already be two years into marriage by now, with at least one baby.”
Audrey wrinkled her nose. “If twenty-five is old, what’s forty-five? And if you’re planning on telling Lola Sheridan she’s old, give me a heads-up so I can clear the area. Besides, I had my baby when I was nineteen! I wouldn’t wish that drama on anyone. You’ve been allowed to enjoy your twenties, make mistakes, and fall in love all over again with a really great guy. Who wouldn’t want that?”
Amanda and Audrey returned to the party, where Noah and Sam held glasses of whiskey and chatted near the fireplace, which now roared, given the lateness of the hour and the chill in the air. Since Audrey had met Noah in the NICU ward at the hospital after Max’s birth, the two had been inseparable, which had, in turn, led Sam and Noah to become very dear friends. Now that Noah and Audrey were also engaged, it seemed that they were headed for decades of Christmases, sailing adventures, and family picnics.
“There she is!” Sam turned to Amanda, tugged her closer to him, and kissed her on the cheek. “Would you like to step outside with me for a moment?”
Amanda was delirious when it came to Sam. She could do nothing but say yes to him. She linked her fingers with his and allowed him to guide her outside, where a smattering of stars blanketed the inky black sky above them. Below the cliffs, the Atlantic surged against the rocks. And because it was so dark, especially as they neared the cliffs’ edge, it was easy to pretend they were in the middle of nowhere, miles from civilization.
“It’s a dream out here,” Amanda breathed.
Sam kissed her, closing his eyes as he held her close. Amanda could feel the strength of his heartbeat behind his ribcage and the promise in his touch. All she wanted was this.
“Can you believe our lives, Amanda? I mean, can you believe how lucky we are?”
Amanda shook her head. “Sometimes I can’t.”
He laughed that open, genuine laugh of his, then said, “Me neither.”
