“You look beautiful, Beatrice,” he said, kissing her cheek.
“Thanks, Dad,” she replied, giving him a warm hug. “I’m so glad you’re here with me.”
“Nowhere else I’d rather be.”
Dani joined her in the room while Harry went looking for Aidan. Before long, there was a knock at the door, and Aidan’s daughter, Grace, joined them. She’d cut her hair into a short bob, but was otherwise the same gangly teen girl who’d showed up unannounced the previous year and blown their lives apart. But Bea wouldn’t change a thing about what’d happened since in the end, it had only brought her and Aidan closer together, and now he had a wonderful daughter to add joy to his life.
She embraced Grace with a smile. “You’re here — now the party is complete. And you look lovely.”
“Thank you,” Grace said softly. “You do too.”
When the music began downstairs, Bea’s heart skittered in her chest. It was time to get started. She looped her arm through her father’s and followed Dani and Grace down the inn’s winding staircase. At the bottom of the stairs, she waited for the girls to walk the short pathway outside to the rose garden, then started off after them. The alcove was sheltered by an archway and fence covered with climbing roses. Beyond the fence were rows of white seats containing the few guests they’d invited to witness their nuptials.
Bea’s heart was in her throat. She choked back tears as she walked. The music was emotive, bringing to the surface all the things she felt — content, fulfilled, excited and more. Dad patted her arm and offered her a loving glance. A photographer snapped photos of them together. And then she was beneath the archway and walking up the aisle.
The look on Aidan’s face made her breath catch. He beamed at her, then took her hand in his and held it tenderly.
She didn’t recall the vows she made during her first wedding. She’d been so nervous, she could barely get the words out. But this time, she fixed her attention on everything that was said, every glance from her groom, every laugh or sigh from the guests. It was all so precious to her this time around, and she didn’t want to forget a single moment.
When the ceremony was over, she was giddy with happiness.
Aidan kissed her, then dipped her in front of the audience, to their great delight. She laughed as he righted her again and whispered in her ear, “I love you, Mrs Whitlock.”
“Back at you, Mr Whitlock,” she replied.
The reception was inside, so they all made their way gradually from the rose garden into the inn as the sun set beyond the trees behind the tiny hamlet. Aidan took Bea’s hand for their first dance, and she thought she might faint from the romance of the moment. It was everything she’d hoped for and more. She couldn’t imagine life could be happier than it was that day.
When the bride and groom had finished their first dance Penny danced with her new husband.
“It feels like this was us only yesterday,” she whispered in Rowan’s ear.
“I know what you mean.”
“Who would’ve thought all those years ago that you and I would be married and that Bea and Aidan would be too?”
“Not me,” Rowan admitted. “Although, I would’ve liked the idea.”
She laughed. “Life has taken some twists and turns, but I’m pretty happy with how things have ended up.”
“And this isn’t the end,” he said, one eyebrow arched as he spun her twirling across the dance floor.
She threw her head back to laugh at the ceiling just as she spied Taya in the corner. Taya waved, and she let go of Rowan’s hand to run over and greet her friend.
“You made it! I didn’t think you were coming.”
“I wasn’t,” Taya said. “But I couldn’t stand thinking of you all having fun without me.”
Penny gave Taya a big hug and took her hands. “I’m glad. We missed you. Come and see Evie. She’ll be so happy you’re here.”
Evie was seated beside Charmaine. The two of them were deep in conversation, huddled around a mobile phone.
“Look who’s here,” Penny said.
Evie squealed and threw her arms around Taya while jumping in place. “I knew it! I knew you wouldn’t miss the whole thing.”
When Taya had given the bride and groom a hug, she returned to their table. She smoothed her hair back into its usual perfect style. “What were you two so engrossed with when we walked over here before?’
Evie exchanged a glance with Charmaine. “It can wait. We’re here to enjoy a wedding, not to obsess over Buck and Betsy.”
