Moments later, there was more rustling at the door. “Enough already with the kissing. You have a lifetime of that ahead of you,” Vicki said. “Let us in!”
Isaiah leaned in for one more kiss before finally releasing her. Sandra yanked open the door. Janelle and Vicki, who apparently had their ears pressed against it, tumbled inside.
Once they righted themselves, Janelle immediately reached for her hand. “What a beautiful ring,” she exclaimed.
“It belonged to Isaiah’s great-grandmother,” Sandra said proudly.
“We heard.” Vicki smiled, and then pulled her into a hug. “Congratulations. I always knew he was your Prince Charming,” she whispered against her ear.
Janelle hugged her in turn and then Isaiah. “Congratulations to you both,” she said. “When can I start planning the wedding?”
Isaiah slipped an arm around Sandra and pulled her close. “Thanks, but there’s no time for a wedding. I’m making Sandra my wife tonight.”
She smiled up at him in agreement.
“B-but there has to be a wedding,” Vicki stammered.
“We don’t want to wait,” Sandra said. “We’ve already waited ten years.”
Janelle raised a brow. “You’re going to have to wait, because the earliest you two can get a marriage license is Monday, and then after that there’s a three-day waiting period in Massachusetts.”
“And don’t you two even think of hopping on a plane to Las Vegas,” Vicki warned.
Sandra sighed.
“Okay, we’ll get married on Thursday,” Isaiah said. “But we’re not waiting a second longer.”
“And it has to be on the beach.” Sandra looked up at him.
“The beach?” Janelle asked incredulously.
Vicki’s jaw dropped. “In late November. In Massachusetts?”
“Right here on our beach in Wintersage,” Isaiah confirmed.
“In November,” Sandra seconded.
“Well, I guess we’d better get busy planning a wedding,” Vicki said.
“Hold on a sec.” Sandra suddenly remembered she had a dress to prepare for the governor-elect’s wife. She quickly explained the situation to her friends. “So I don’t have time to plan a wedding.”
“Then Vegas it is,” Isaiah declared.
“Oh, no, you don’t,” Vicki said. “Janelle and I will handle the wedding.”
“But my dress?” Sandra had designed plenty of wedding gowns, but never once thought of what she’d want her own to look like.
“We’ll take care of your dress,” Vicki insisted. “We’ll take care of everything.”
Sandra looked from her to Janelle. “Do you really think you can pull it together by Thursday?”
Janelle placed her fist on her hip. “Alluring Affairs can pull off anything.”
Chapter 18
Sandra looked up at the cliffs and wiggled her toes inside sequined Ugg boots as delicate flakes of falling snow clung to her eyelashes.
Given the option of moving the wedding indoors, both she and Isaiah had declined. They’d wanted to add this momentous occasion to the already special memories they’d created on this beach.
Holding on to her father’s arm, Sandra took in the sight of Isaiah as she walked past her friends and their families to the arbor where he and a minister awaited.
As a teenager she’d believed she’d loved him with all her heart. Now she knew that was indeed just puppy love and nothing compared to the way she loved him now.
A gust of wind stirred up the light snow, but happiness was a buffer from the cold.
Also, Janelle and Vicki had outfitted her in the perfect wedding attire. Sandra was snuggled inside a short, faux-fur jacket she wore over a hand-crocheted column gown in a sumptuous yarn that felt both soft and luxurious against her skin.
She didn’t even want to think of taking the beautiful gown off—until tonight...
“Be good to my baby, Jacobs.” Stuart’s gruff voice belied the smile on his face as he kissed Sandra’s cheek and placed her hand in Isaiah’s.
“Will do, sir,” he assured him.
Isaiah turned to Sandra. She looked from the peach rose pinned on his cashmere overcoat, a perfect match to the ones she carried in her bouquet, to his smiling face.
Marry me, he silently mouthed.
Sandra nodded and they both faced the minister, who within several glorious minutes transformed high school sweethearts into husband and wife.
“You may now kiss your bride.”
“Good!” Mason shouted from her brother’s arms.
The small crowd erupted into laughter and applause as Isaiah captured her lips in a kiss and sealed the deal.
While the wedding ceremony had been small, most of Wintersage awaited them at the reception held at the town’s recreation center, where Sandra had fallen into Isaiah’s arms after being apart ten years. Janelle and Vicki had outdone themselves, Sandra thought, looking around. Orange linen cloths covered the tables, which were adorned with spectacular centerpieces fashioned from silk leaves in autumn colors reminiscent of Wintersage at peak season.
In lieu of a traditional wedding cake, her friends had had Carrie from the bakery fashion one made entirely of peach-frosted cupcakes.
Sandra stood beside Isaiah in the receiving line as well-wishers congratulated them.
“I wish you all the best, dear.” Octavia Hall embraced Sandra.
She thanked her and smiled when she saw a contrite-looking Mr. Hall standing next her.
Tony Green, who’d gone to school with them at Wintersage Academy, was the next to offer his congratulations, a handshake for Isaiah and a hug for Sandra.
“Looking forward to working with you,” she said.
“Me, too,” Tony declared. “I’m still reeling from the huge promotion you two gave me.”
Isaiah placed a hand on his shoulder. “Well deserved,” he said. “And my mother agrees we need fresh blood in the front offices at Martine’s, someone who also knows the company.”
As the line dwindled, Sandra scanned the room for her friends. She soon located Janelle in a corner, cozied up to her husband.
Finally, Sandra spotted Vicki, who she’d overlooked several times because she’d been searching for her old schoolmarm bun. Though it had been nearly a week, everyone was still adjusting to Vicki’s chic makeover.
Then Sandra caught sight of someone else’s eyes glued to her friend.
She nudged Isaiah with her elbow and inclined her head. “Do you see what I see?” she asked her new husband.
“I noticed it earlier,” he said. “You can’t miss it. Your brother’s practically drooling.”
“Well, well, well.” Sandra grinned.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, sweetheart,” Isaiah warned.
Too late, she thought, looking from her best friend to her brother.
Already, Sandra hoped for another wedding in Wintersage.
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460341988
Falling into Forever
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Falling into Forever (Wintersage Weddings Book 1) Page 18
