She’d chosen Tonya, Nydia, and Jasmine as her attendants, while St. John had asked his father to be his best man, and his cousin Eustace and brother-in-law, Kenny, to be his groomsmen.
“Beautiful,” Nydia crooned. “St. John is a lucky man.”
Hannah rested her right hand over her throat, and the exquisite cushion-cut emerald set in platinum and surrounded by brilliant diamonds caught the overhead light. When they’d gone shopping for rings, she’d told St. John she didn’t want the traditional diamond. In the end they’d decided on an emerald because he said it reminded him of her green eyes.
During the rehearsal dinner she informed him that her cousins would have to live with them at his house while the mansion underwent the renovations to turn DuPont House in DuPont Inn. He said he didn’t mind because DuPonts were going to become a part of their extended family, and although he never envisioned himself becoming the spouse of an innkeeper, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Wyatt walked into the room, resplendent in his tuxedo. Her son had inherited his father’s dark hair and eye color, features, and complexion, which tanned easily. She’d noticed women staring at him because of his movie star appearance.
Wyatt offered her his arm. “Are you ready, Mom?”
She wanted to tell her son that she had been ready more than forty years ago, but didn’t want to shock him. “Yes.”
He escorted her down the staircase. Tonya, Lydia, and Jasmine followed in their flowing burnt-orange slip dresses. Several tents had been erected in the garden, and chairs covered in white organza and tied with orange ribbons were set up theater-style for their guests.
Suddenly everything became a blur as a string quartet played what she recognized as one of St. John’s favorite songs: Anita Baker’s “Just Because.” Recalling the words filled her eyes with tears, and she blinked wildly before they fell and ruined her makeup.
She and St. John had planned every phase of their wedding from music to the menu. They’d taken private tango lessons with Mrs. Duarte because their first dance as husband and wife would be a tango, and knowing this, she’d selected a gown with a flowing skirt. They would marry in the garden, then retreat to the rarely used ballroom in the house for the reception.
The minister stood under a pergola of climbing white roses waiting to begin the ceremony. The song ended and Wyatt led her down the rose-strewn flagstone path to where St. John stood with his best man, his father Daniel McNair, Eustace, and Kenny. The mustache and goatee were back. He looked delicious in his tuxedo with a satin vest, matching bowtie, and boutonniere. She smiled when he mouthed beautiful. Even if she wasn’t beautiful, she felt beautiful.
Time passed at warp speed when the minister asked who gives this woman, and Wyatt’s deep voice echoed clearly when he gave his consent. There was an exchange of vows, and the haze cleared when St. John slipped a diamond eternity band on her left hand. She repeated the action when Daniel gave her a plain platinum band which she slipped on St. John’s beautifully formed hand.
“You may kiss your wife.”
Hannah felt St. John’s heart beating against her breasts when he pulled her against his body and kissed her. His arms tightened around her waist, and he continued to kiss her as he lifted her off her feet to thunderous applause.
Her face was nearly the color of the orange blossoms when they traversed the path amid a shower of flower petals. It was a long time coming, but she’d finally found love with her best friend.
Her arms went around his waist inside his jacket as she leaned into him, her eyes shimmering with a joy that made her slightly light-headed. “I love you so much, Dr. McNair.”
“Not as much as I love you, Mrs. McNair.”
They stared into each other’s eyes. The photographer caught the tender moment on film. The photo would be on display for future generations whenever they walked into their private suite at the DuPont Inn.
There is more romance coming up in the next book
in The Innkeepers series:
The story of Tonya and Gage.
Don’t miss it!
Click here to get your copy.
The Inheritance Page 29
