He gives me a small smile. “Nope. Haven’t managed to grab a waiter yet,” he says, furtively looking around.
“Is everything okay?” I ask him. “You seem a little on edge.” He seems so subdued, nervous even as I notice him scanning the café.
“Sure, it is, sweetheart. I’m just a little tired is all,” he says, brushing off my concern. “Honestly, it’s nothing. So, tell me about your day. What else do you have planned, besides hair and make-up gig?”
“Well, Mom, Emily and Cindy want to come with me to get manicures and pedicures, and then we’re going for coffee. Oh, and one other not so minor detail, did you get the minister…” I stop, because even as I’m talking to him, it’s clear he’s not really listening to what I’m saying. He’s not even looking at me. Hell, he hasn’t even realized I’ve stopped speaking. He’s too focused on watching everyone else come into the café, and everyone who’s walking past. It’s like he’s looking for someone. Something’s going on, and I want to know what.
“Lennon?” I frown at him as he jolts his attention back to me, his face flushing red. “And nothing’s wrong, huh?” I say.
“Sorry, babe,” he mumbles, running his hand through his hair. Something I’ve noticed he always does when he’s stressed.
“Tell me, honey. What is it?” I demand.
He shakes his head, still looking at everyone else, except me. “It’s nothing. It’s been a long week, and I’ll be glad when we’re married, and it’s over.” He turns, reaches across the table and takes my hand, wrapping his fingers around mine. I melt at the feel of his touch. It’s amazing how one little gesture from him can make me feel better.
But it’s short-lived when he suddenly yanks his hand away from mine, grabs the menu and holds it up between us, hiding himself behind it. I don’t understand this strange behavior, and breathe a heavy sigh.
“Okay, I don’t know what’s going on with you this morning, but I’m late, and I’ve got to go, I say, somewhat annoyed at him.”
“I’m fine, babe, honestly,” he mumbles, peering over the top of the menu. He almost looks relieved, like he can’t wait for me to leave. I’m confused, hurt even, but I don’t have time for this crap. In the back of my mind, the niggling doubts are beginning to creep in. What if he’s having second thoughts? Should I be worried, or am I reading too much into it?
“Right. I guess I’ll see you later, then?” I say, not even sure that I will. This is probably the last moment I’ll spend with him before the wedding.
“Sure, see you later, have a good time,” he says in a whisper, barely looking up from the menu still held in front of him.
I stand, abruptly, pushing my chair back and walk away. I feel tears welling up, but I refuse to cry. I don’t know what’s going on in his head, but he needs to figure his shit out before I see him again. Nagging doubt creeps over me again, and I so hope he’s not having second thoughts. But if he is, I want to know before I say those two little words.
***
Back in my room, I slip on my wedding dress. I hope by looking in the mirror, all bridal, I’ll find answers to my concerns. I stand in front of the mirror and stare at my reflection, running my hand over the delicate soft lace material. I feel like a princess. Despite the hell of a morning I’ve had already, seeing myself in this dress, I can’t help feeling excited. But what if...
“Holy shit,” Cindy yells as she enters my room and comes up behind me. She touches my shoulder and smiles at my reflection in the mirror. “You look stunning, Darcy. I can’t believe it’s you, and I still can’t believe my best friend is getting freaking married,” she whispers. I laugh, wrapping my arms around her as she buries her face in my dress.
“Uh-uh-uh. If you get make-up on this, I will hunt you down and kill you,” I scold gently. “Why are you crying, anyway? I’m the one getting married. I should be the hot mess,” I tease.
“Because you look so unbelievably beautiful and grown up. Lennon’s not going to know what hit him when he sees you walking up the aisle,” she says, wiping the tears from her eyes.
“Yeah, right,” I say, sourly. “If that even happens.”
She looks up at me, shocked and confused. “What? Why do you say that? What’s going on?” she asks. “Have you guys had a big fight?”
“No. Yes. Oh, I don’t even know, to be honest.” I sigh and sit down on the stool in front of me, careful not to crush my dress. “Last night, he was amazing. Loving, caring, attentive, and this morning… well, we just met for breakfast and he seemed so cold to me, distant, like he didn’t want to be seen with me. Just a completely different person to the guy I thought I was marrying.”
“He’s probably got a lot on his mind with the whole wedding thing, and all the trials you guys have had this week,” she replies. “His parents are here, right? From what you’ve told me, they would be enough to push him over the edge.”
“Could be, but they’ve been here a couple of days already. Now, I’m scared he’s having second thoughts about us,” I say, hanging my head. “Maybe his parents have said something nasty about me?”
“Are you kidding me?” Cindy says, shaking her head. “The guy is nuts about you. Nuts, with a capital ‘N’, I tell you. Trust me, he’s not having second thoughts, but if it makes you feel better, I’ll ask Rick if he knows what’s going on with him.”
I smile, and raise an eyebrow. “Right, and that’s got nothing to do with you using my pre-nuptial insecurities as an excuse to spend more time with Rick?”
Her face goes red. “Of course not,” she says. “This is about you, and me, and wanting to make sure my dear friend is okay.”
“Uh huh. Sure, it is,” I grin, reaching over to squeeze her hand. “Thanks, Cin. I mean it. I’m lucky to have a friend like you, but I really should put on my big girl panties and figure this one out myself.”
“Okay, I won’t interfere, but the offer stands, ok?” she says, reassuringly.
***
As I sit there and have my makeup done, my mind is in overdrive. Mom and the girls chatter non-stop next to me, but it’s all just background noise. I can’t stop thinking about Lennon, and how dismissive of me he seemed to have been earlier this morning. He acted so weird during breakfast, like he was worried about someone seeing us together. It was just like he’d been prior to discovering I was behind the whole Emily-gate affair, when he didn’t want to run into her again.
Finally, my hair and makeup are done, and I don’t even care much what it looks like. I’m just relieved I can now take a break from all the fuss. It’s gotten hot in here, and I breathe deeply, suddenly feeling a little claustrophobic. Cindy’s been watching me like a hawk. She comes over and takes my hand, leading me into a quiet corner away from my mom and the other girls.
“Darcy. I can tell you’re still stressed. Go talk to him,” she urges.
“And say what?” I ask. “I tried to get him to open up before I had to leave, but I can’t make him talk to me.”
“Yes, you can, for God’s sake. Just go see him. It’s too important not to. You’re supposed to be getting married tomorrow, and spending your life with him. This isn’t fair on you.”
“So, Rick was no help then?” I say, hoping she’d have some insight for me.
She shakes her head, looking apologetic for not being able to help me. “He agrees he’s acting weird today, though, but he’s pretty sure it’s just nerves.”
“Maybe it is. Maybe I’m just over-reacting,” I mutter.
“Is that what your gut tells you?” she asks.
“No, it doesn’t,” I confess.
***
I walk back up the beach toward the hotel with my sandals in my hand, gazing out over the water. I feel so pretty, with my hair perfectly styled and my makeup done. My thin cotton dress floats softly in the wind, and I shiver as the cool breeze rushes over my skin.
The night before my wedding, I should be feeling so many things, but I wasn’t expecting one of them to be uncertainty. There�
��s none of it on my part, because I want to be with him. I know that for sure, but I never thought I’d doubt his feelings for me. It seems even Cindy is avoiding me now, which has me worried. Did she find something out and she’s too afraid to face me, or is it just a coincidence? Maybe she’s too engrossed in her growing friendship with Rick to think about giving me an update. I know I’m overthinking everything, but I can’t help it as I sink down onto the sand.
“Fancy meeting you here.”
Lennon’s voice startles me, and I glance up and see him standing over me. My heart pounds, wondering what he’s going to say to me, because the idea of not having him in my life would be too hard to bear. I get to my feet, determined to make him tell me. He takes my hand and smiles as if nothing’s wrong. For a second, I wonder if my over-active imagination had got the better of me.
“What are you doing out here? You’ll catch a cold,” he says, running his warm hands down the length of my arms.
“I just needed time to think,” I reply.
“Must be contagious,” he murmurs, with a small smile.
“Lennon,” I say, my heart in my mouth. “What’s going on? And don’t tell me it’s nothing. Something’s bothering you, and it’s scaring the hell out of me. Are you having second thoughts about us?”
“Darcy?” he gasps, his mouth wide open, looking shocked. “Never. I’ve never had second thoughts about being with you. You’re the only thing in my life I’m sure about.”
“Then what is it?” I urge him. “No secrets, remember? I don’t want to start our married life with doubts in my mind.”
He looks down at the sand, and nods. “No secrets,” he mumbles. “Okay… there’s something you should know.”
“Darcy?”
I turn around, my eyes wide. I’d spent a year hearing that voice, day in day out. I’d know it anywhere. I’m in shock, and a quick glance back at Lennon tells me that this is what he was trying to tell me, and why he’d acted so strangely at breakfast. It all made sense, now.
“Mr. Wilson,” I gasp. I let go of Lennon’s hand and clasp my fingers together. “How… what… why are you here?”
“Never mind that. What’s going on? How come the two of you are here togeth…” His voice trails off as it all sinks in when he sees Lennon with his arm around my shoulder. “Right. Now I understand. Out here with a few friends, you said?” His eyes narrow as his cold stare focuses on Lennon. I glance up at him and it looks like he’s about to pass out.
“Mr. Anderson, a word with you,” he orders, his tone stern. “Alone.”
Lennon nods, and walks toward Mr. Wilson, but I’m not about to let him take the fall for this. I’m a grown woman. I’m not a child anymore, and I won’t be treated like one.
“No,” I say, defiantly, joining Lennon again. Mr. Wilson looks shocked, and so does Lennon. “Anything you have to say to Lennon, you can say to me too.”
He nods. “Very well, Miss Stanfield. Shall we sit down so you can both convince me why I shouldn’t be calling the school board to report Mr. Anderson here, for an inappropriate relationship with one of his students? Like, right now?”
“Because I love him,” I say, as if it’s the simplest thing in the world to understand. “Have you ever been in love, Mr. Wilson?” I ask. I see something spark in his eyes that spurs me on. “I don’t care that he’s older than me, and I don’t care that he was my teacher. He’s been nothing but a perfect gentleman, and nothing inappropriate has happened in the time we’ve known each other. I’m an adult, and I was an adult when we met.”
“As your teacher, he had a duty of care to you, Darcy,” Mr. Wilson says quietly, “and he knew that having any kind of relationship with one of his students was wrong, and to do so would likely cost him his registration.”
“I know that.” I pause, and try a more conciliatory approach. “Please, don’t say anything. Don’t ruin Lennon’s life for something he had no control over.” Mr. Wilson frowns at me, as if he’s struggling to comprehend what I’m saying. Finally, he nods.
“I’ll think about it,” he says. “But I’m not making any promises. Lennon, I’m disappointed is all I can say.”
He continues his walk down the beach, leaving us standing there, alone. Lennon wraps his arms around me and kisses my forehead.
“It’ll be okay,” he whispers. I nod and give him a smile, wishing I felt as confident as him.
We walk back to the resort, hand-in-hand, not saying anything. I’m trying not to think about all that’s gone wrong since we got here. Maybe it’s a sign? It just shouldn’t be this hard to be together. Everything could come crashing down if Mr. Wilson goes to the school board. A bad reference would be just the beginning. Lennon could lose his career over this.
God, what if they put him in jail for being with me? I blink back tears. This was supposed to be so magical. Now it’s all turned to crap. How can this be happening? I don’t understand. I thought when I graduated school, everything would be okay. It didn’t even occur to me it could come back to hurt us like this. Are we ever going to be able to move on, or are we always going to be looking over our shoulders, wondering who’s watching?
By ten that evening, we still haven’t heard from Mr. Wilson. I’m trying my best to remain positive, but it’s hard, because I don’t even know if there’s going to be a wedding tomorrow.
“What are we going to do?” I ask, tears stinging my eyes.
“What we came here to do,” Lennon says, stroking my hair. “I came here to marry the girl of my dreams, and nothing, and no one is going to stop me. Now, kiss me. We’re getting married. End of. Everything else can wait.”
Chapter Nine
Darcy
I stand outside on the beach, digging my toes into the soft sand. I’m in full panic mode as I pace back and forth, waiting for the signal that it’s time for me to walk down to the edge of the water, where Lennon waits for me. I think I’m going to faint. Well, why not? It’ll just be another thing to knock this wedding off track.
God, I’m so nervous.
I stare at my outstretched hands, and realize I’m shaking. I can’t believe I’m about to walk down there and marry Lennon. What if I’m making the biggest mistake of my life? I slap myself on the hand, refusing to let my nerves take over, because I know this is what I want.
“You can do this,” Cindy whispers, next to me.
I turn to her and nod. How did she go from being the annoying little daughter of my mother’s best friend, to my best friend, and one of the people I rely on the most? Now, I don’t know what I’d do without her in my life.
The music begins to play, and I take one last deep breath, and start walking. The small crowd turns to watch me as I move—graciously, I hope—down the makeshift aisle, lined with potted palm trees and conch shells, the hotel has laid out on the sand, and toward Lennon.
Holy crap, he looks so handsome.
He’s wearing a black tuxedo, complete with a silver vest and tie. His hair is perfectly styled, and his intense eyes stare at me. I can feel myself blushing, and my heart skips a beat as I smile at him. The expression on his face makes me giddy, but it’s his smile that gets me, stirring up a hurricane of emotions inside me. I can’t focus on anyone but him.
“Hello, beautiful,” Lennon says in a low voice when I reach the front of the rose-covered arch, and I’m so relieved to find a minister—any minister—there to marry us.
“Aloha, Darcy. I’m Hikialani, but you can call me Hiki,” he says with a smile, holding out his hand.
“Hi, Hiki,” I reply as I shake it, then Lennon pulls me against him, entwining his fingers in mine. “I told you I’d take care of things, didn’t I?”
“I knew you would,” I giggle.
The minister says loud enough for all to hear, “I’m sure you two can’t wait to get your hands on each other, so shall we begin?”
Laughter flitters through the small crowd. Lennon flushes, and as I glance around, all I can do is smile. I bite my lip to contain
my laughter, looking deep into the eyes of my husband-to-be, before turning my attention back to Hiki.
“Definitely. Marry us, please,” I say with a huge smile on my face.
“It will be my honor,” he replies before addressing the congregation. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…
***
The ceremony was beautiful, and Rick is the perfect best man—not acting the fool, for a change. When Lennon places that wedding band on my finger and kisses me, my heart melts. I feel I’m the luckiest girl alive that he chose me to be his wife.
Arm-in-arm, we walk back down the aisle, smiling at all the well-wishers, and I’m amazed to find Gary has managed to find a caterer at such short notice for a casual lunch reception on the beach.
“Wow,” I grin, smiling at Gary. “You’ve done an amazing job.”
“No big deal. Glad I could help out,” he says with a shrug. He throws his arms around me and kisses me on the cheek. “Now, go and have fun with your new husband, before Rick steals him away.”
I laugh, but I know there’s truth in what he’s saying when I spy Rick, waving madly, trying to get Lennon’s attention. I lean up and kiss my husband—God, it sounds so weird saying that—and turn him slightly so he can’t see Rick, but then feel bad. If it wasn’t for him, we probably wouldn’t even be married.
“Let’s go mingle,” I say to Lennon, taking his hand, and we work our way through the crowd, towards Rick. By the time we finally reach him, I’m exhausted from hugging friends and relatives, and my mouth is starting to ache from smiling so much.
Rick throws his arm around Lennon, and kisses him on the cheek. In his other hand, he holds a glass of champagne. I groan, because I think I know what’s coming, and someone’s going to be embarrassed. I just hope it’s not me.
“Can I have everybody’s attention, please,” Rick calls out. The crowd goes quiet and turns to look at him. Even people on the beach who aren’t in the wedding party stop and look at him with interest. “As the best man, and Lennon’s best friend—”
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