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“We need you out here,” Robin said, her gaze flicking over to Ben. “Both of you.”
“Coming.” Maddy took Ben’s hand in hers and led him into the hall. Only a few steps separated them from the beach through the glass doors in front of her, and Maddy knew once they stepped outside, the heat would assault them.
She’d chosen the lightest fabric she could that wasn’t see-through, and she didn’t even want to think about Ben in his suit and tie, the latter of which was done up all the way to his throat.
She went outside to find almost every chair filled. Her chest expanded with a breath, as Kyle’s best friends had made the trip here, and everyone who really mattered to Bea had too.
Maddy padded through the sand, nodding to her friends, as well as Bea’s mother. She sat beside her and reached over to hold the woman’s hand. “Is she ready?”
“She was when I left the room,” Susan said with a smile.
The pastor came down the aisle and took his place behind the altar, then Kyle exited the building and came toward her. Everyone rose to their feet, and Maddy clutched her hands together in front of her breastbone as her son approached.
He came to her and gripped her in a hug. “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you too,” she whispered, clutching his broad shoulders. “I’m sorry your father isn’t here.”
Kyle pulled away, a moment of hardness entering his eyes. “It’s fine, Mom.” He moved over to the altar and turned to face the way he’d come.
Maddy did too, her heart still worrying over what had happened between Chris and the kids. Chelsea exited the building, and she carried an enormous bouquet of flowers in front of her pale pink dress. She led Bea’s sisters and her best friend down the aisle, and then Bea appeared.
Her dress had come straight from a historical fairy tale, with layer upon layer of white fabric. Lace, ruffles, and fluff made her seem like a princess about to claim her prince.
She was almost due with their baby, but her dress flowed out so much in all directions, and she held her bouquet strategically to disguise a lot of her belly.
Behind her, Kyle sighed, and Maddy adored the sound of it. She wanted her son to be blissfully in love with his wife, and he sure seemed to love Bea.
Her father escorted her down the aisle, and they had to carry the bouquet together. When she reached the first row, she handed the flowers to her mother, who moved around the altar and arranged them there. They perfectly complimented the modern altar Robin had managed to procure for them.
Susan returned to her spot but didn’t sit until Bea had kissed her father and he’d moved to the first row too. Only then did everyone take their seats, and this time, Ben took her right hand while Susan took her left.
Maddy’s heart had never felt so full. She knew the food would be perfect after the ceremony, as she’d had a hand in almost all of it. Bea had selected the music, and they’d tested the speakers this morning. Everything was set.
All they had to do now was get through the vows and say I-do.
Maddy sighed and wiped her eyes through the things they said to one another, and she was sure she was the first to burst to her feet once Kyle dipped Bea and kissed her.
The crowd started to cheer, but Maddy’s voice was tied in a knot in the back of her throat. She applauded as hard as she could, and she stepped forward to hug Bea and Kyle simultaneously before anyone else could claim them.
“I love you two,” she said. “Thank you for letting me be part of this.”
“Are you kidding?” Bea asked. “Without you, this wouldn’t have happened at all.” She smiled at Maddy, and the feeling of forgiveness permeated the air.
Maddy was glad for such a thing in her life, because she’d been on the other side of the aisle, and it wasn’t a pleasant place to be. She felt so free, and she returned to Ben’s side while Bea’s mother and father went to hug the newly married couple.
They edged out of the way, and Maddy started thinking about dinner. Then she saw Robin, and she knew the woman would have everything perfectly ready at the precise time it needed to be ready.
“I don’t want something big for our wedding,” she said to him. “Very close friends. Family. Something simple.”
Ben grinned down at her, a flirtatious twinkle in his eyes. “Maddy, baby, you know I love you. But you don’t do anything simply.”
A few defenses flew into place. “Yes, I do.”
“You’ll cater with fancy food.”
“That’s simple,” she said. “I could make it all.”
“You’ll want a fancy dress.”
