“I’ll hit a few more. It’s kind of addicting. I want another good shot.”
“All right, then. You can do it.”
And she did. Mia’s next three shots were her best yet. They hit for another twenty minutes and then they were both ready to go.
“Are you getting hungry?” Ben asked as they drove off. “We could grab some sandwiches from Claudette’s and bring them back to the inn. Have you ever had the meatloaf sandwich from there?”
Mia laughed. “I’ve never had a meatloaf sandwich period.”
“You haven’t lived then until you’ve had one—and Claudette’s is the best. You can get normal stuff, too, turkey or roast beef.”
“Well, now you have me curious. I’ll try a meatloaf sandwich.”
Ben drove to Claudette’s Sandwich Shop, ordered the sandwiches and when they were ready, Mia held the bag while they drove home.
When they reached the inn, they decided to eat outside, since it was still so nice out. Lisa had pointed out a common area in the back yard that was available for any of the guests to use. There were two outside wooden tables, chairs and a small grill. They brought their sandwiches to one of the tables. Once they were settled, Mia unwrapped her sandwich and took a bite. A cold meatloaf sandwich had sounded a little strange, but Ben was right. It was delicious.
“So, Mia, tell me more about yourself. What do you like to do for fun? Are you dating anyone?”
“There’s not a lot to tell. I mostly work and see friends. I’m not dating anyone. I’m not sure when I’ll be ready for that.”
Ben nodded. “It must be hard. How long has it been?”
“Just over a year.”
“It has been a year, though? So, you should be ready to date soon?”
Mia laughed. “It’s like something magical is supposed to happen at the one-year mark, like a switch is flipped and everything goes back to normal. I wish that was the case. I’m getting there. But I still can’t think of anyone but Mark. I’m sure that will change one day.”
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
“So, what about you? Are you dating anyone? You’re sure that girl I saw you with is just a friend?”
“Oh, I’m very sure. I date whenever the opportunity presents itself. There’s no one serious, though. I haven’t met that special someone yet. When I do, I might be ready to settle down.”
“Do you really think so?” Mia couldn’t picture it.
“Maybe. I’d like to think so. Meanwhile, life is pretty good.”
Mia smiled. Life was very good indeed for Ben Billings.
They finished eating and Mia surprised herself by eating every last crumb of her sandwich. She gathered up her trash and stood to go. “Thank you for the golf lesson and for lunch. I’m off to tackle that laundry. What are you up to for the rest of the day?”
Ben yawned. “I think a nap might be in order. Then I’m playing golf later this afternoon.”
They walked inside and went upstairs to their rooms. Ben paused as Mia unlocked her door. “Next step is to get you out on the golf course.”
Mia froze. She didn’t feel anywhere ready for that yet. “Shouldn’t I hit balls again first?”
“Sure, but next time we’ll hit balls then go play nine holes. Maybe one day next week your boss will let you duck out early and we can go?”
Mia grinned. “I’ll see if I can talk my boss into it.”
“Good. That was fun, Mia. You did great.” He turned to unlock his door, and she did the same. It had been a fun day. Maybe Mandy was right about Ben.
Chapter 13
“Do you really think he’ll like it? It’s hard to know what to get someone who has everything.” Kate held up the navy button-down dress shirt that she’d bought for Rhett for his birthday.
“I like it. So, he’ll probably like it. And if he doesn’t, he’ll say he does and love that you got him something.” Jack wrapped his arms around her and kissed her before saying, “So stop worrying.”
“Okay. Hand me the scissors, would you? They’re next to you, on the table.” Jack did as requested, and Kate quickly wrapped the gift. They were due at her mother’s by noon and, as usual, Kate was running late and rushing.
As soon as possible, they were on their way and were just two minutes late, which to Kate was as good as early. They were the last to arrive, though. The whole family was there, as well as her mother’s best friends, Sue and her husband Curt, and Paige and her boyfriend Peter. Angela and Philippe, Rhett’s daughter, Michelle, and Mia rounded out the guest list.
Kate noticed that there were rows of seats in the backyard which she thought was a little strange for a birthday party. Her mother’s eyes lit up when she saw Kate and Jack.
“Rhett, Kate’s here. We can start now.”
Kate thought her mother was acting strangely. She didn’t usually fuss so much over birthdays. Rhett was by her side, beaming. Kate was surprised when he stepped forward and spoke.
“I’d like to thank you all for coming. Could you please go outside to where the chairs are set up? Your mother gave me the best birthday present ever by agreeing to marry me—today.” He paused to let that sink in.
“Mom, are you…” Kristen began.
“Yes, we are! So, head outside everyone. Chase, I could use your help, please.”
Kate and Jack followed the others outside and took a seat. Kate noticed a woman minister she’d never seen before standing next to Rhett and it suddenly seemed very real. Her mother was about to get married.
Rhett bent over and clicked something on a CD player, and suddenly the traditional wedding music began to play. All heads turned to watch Lisa, escorted by Chase, walk down the makeshift aisle to where Rhett and the minster were waiting. Chase took his seat and the minister began to speak.
“Lisa and Rhett would like to thank you all for joining them on this special day.” She began the simple wedding service and when she got to the vows, said, “Lisa and Rhett have written their own vows. Rhett, what would you like to say to Lisa?”
Rhett took Lisa’s hand and looked deep into her eyes as he spoke from his heart.
“Lisa, I came to the inn for a few weeks, but once I met you, got to know you and to love you, I knew I was home. I don’t ever want to leave you. I will love you always.”
“And Lisa, what would you like to say to Rhett?”
“Rhett, you were my first guest. Opening the inn allowed me to stay on Nantucket. I never expected to find love again. And then you walked in. I’m so grateful to have you in my life. I love you so much.”
They exchanged rings and then the minister announced, “Lisa, Rhett, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Rhett, you may kiss your bride!”
They all clapped and cheered as Rhett kissed Lisa, and then the two of them faced their guests. “And now it’s time to celebrate!” Rhett kissed Lisa again and everyone gathered around them, hugging and offering congratulations.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell us!” Kate said when she reached her mother.
Lisa smiled. “You have enough to worry about with planning your own wedding. We thought this would be easy and fun! And it was. None of you suspected a thing!” She looked very pleased with herself.
“Well, it would have been nice to get you a wedding gift. All I brought is a shirt for Rhett.”
Lisa laughed. “I’m sure he’ll love it. He could use a new shirt. Now let’s go inside and eat. It’s a lobster lover’s brunch.”
Kate’s mother loved lobster. “That sounds good. What are we having?”
“The lobster quiche, of course, lobster chowder, and my new favorite appetizer, bite-sized pieces of lobster tail served with hot butter to dip them in.”
“Yum!”
“How are you feeling about your wedding? Are you still stressed out?” Lisa asked.
“How did you know I was stressing about the wedding planning?” Kate thought she’d done a good job of not letting people know.
“I’m your mother. That’s ho
w I knew. Let Mia worry about everything. That’s what she’s there for, and she’s very good at what she does.”
“Thank you! And congratulations, Lisa!” Mia walked up in time to hear Lisa’s comments.
“I’m really not that stressed,” Kate told her.
Mia smiled. “It’s okay. We’re almost through the worst of it, and then you’ll be able to relax. Once you pick out your dress, it’s all downhill from there. And just let me know what’s good for you this week and we’ll zip into Boston for the day.”
“I did like a few of those links that you sent me. I’m sorry I haven’t gotten back to you. I’ve just been deep in my book.”
“I figured as much. I wasn’t going to bug you for a few more days,” Mia said.
“Okay, well I could do this Tuesday if that works for you?”
“It does.”
Lisa put a hand on each of their backs and led them into the house. “Now that we’ve got that sorted, let’s go eat.”
Kate went over to her mother’s best friends to say hello. Both Sue and Paige had suspiciously shiny eyes. “I’m just so happy for your mother,” Sue said.
“They’re just so good together,” Paige added.
“They really are,” Kate agreed. She wondered if Paige might get engaged soon, too. She’d been dating Peter, the owner of Bradford’s Liquors, for a while now and they seemed very happy, too.
Kate and Jack got plates of food and sat outside with Kristen and Tyler.
“I can’t believe Mom pulled this off without anyone knowing what she was up to,” Kristen said.
“I know. She really didn’t want anything to do with a big wedding. This was exactly what she said she wanted, small and just close friends and family.”
“You could still do something small like this, too, if you’d rather,” Kristen said.
“It’s tempting, but I think what we’re planning will be fine. It won’t be too big. All of mom’s friends and Jack’s father’s friends and our families can all be there. And Mia really is a godsend. She’s doing most of the work.”
“Where is Mia?” Kristen asked.
Kate spotted her holding a plate of food and looking around for a place to sit. She waved her over to join them.
“I have to say, I’m impressed. Your mother did a great job setting this up. None of you had any idea?” Mia asked.
Kate laughed. “Not a clue.”
Lisa made the rounds, visiting with everyone, and told them about their honeymoon plans. They were leaving the next day, going to New York City for a few days, and were going to stop by Rhett’s other restaurants as Lisa had never seen them.
“We’ll be home on Friday in time for the craziness of Memorial Day weekend.”
“Oh, good, then you’re both coming to my cookout?” Kate said.
“Of course, honey. I wouldn’t miss it.”
Beth brought her plate over and joined them. Kate hadn’t talked to her soon-to-be sister-in-law since the appetizer party. “How’s the wedding planning coming for you?” Kate asked her. Beth and Chase worked together. Beth ran the office for Chase’s construction business. She didn’t have a lot of free time. Kate didn’t know how she did it.
“It’s going pretty well. All the major things have been decided and booked. Well, except the dress. I still need a dress. I’ve looked everywhere on the island, but nothing is right.”
“Mia and I are going to Boston on Tuesday to look at dresses. You’re welcome to join us.”
“Hm. That is tempting. Let me check and see if I can do it. I might be able to move some things around.”
“What have you decided on for a reception?”
“I think we’re going to have it at Mimi’s Place. I’ve been talking to Mandy there and they have some good packages.”
“Oh, nice. Angela is using them, too. They are going to cater a beach buffet for over six hundred people.”
Beth’s eyes grew wide. “I can’t even imagine. We’re at about a hundred and fifty and it feels like a lot.”
“That’s Philippe. He does everything big, right, Angela?” Angela had just joined them.
“I was just telling Beth the size of your wedding. She’s going to have Mimi’s Place do her food, too.”
“Oh, good! Yeah, I had to put my foot down when the number hit six hundred and fifty. Philippe was still adding people on a daily basis. We had to go back through the whole list and cross a few off so we’d have room for a few last-minute additions. Oh, by the way, the JCrew dress came, and it fits like a dream. Very happy to cross that off my list.”
That reminded Kate to mention that Beth might join them for dress shopping on Tuesday.
“I hope you don’t mind?”
Mia smiled. “No, the more the merrier. It will be a fun day.”
Chapter 14
A little after ten on Tuesday morning, Mia picked up Kate and then Beth and drove to the Nantucket airport for their flight to Boston. If they’d taken the ferry, it would have eaten up too much of the day, as it was an hour on the fast ferry, then they’d have to rent a car and drive an hour and a half to Boston and deal with parking. Or if they took Mia’s car, they’d have to take the slow boat which added another two hours of travel time to the day. So, they opted to fly instead and were in Boston less than an hour later. They took an Uber to Newbury Street, where they could walk to several bridal shops in the Back Bay area.
Newbury Street was where most of the expensive shopping was, and two of the bridal shops they were going to were about a block apart. The first shop was lovely, and they spent about an hour there, but none of the dresses felt like ‘the one’ to either Kate or Beth. They did a little better at the next shop. Kate still didn’t have any luck, but Beth found her dream dress. It was the first one she tried on and it gave Mia goosebumps, it just looked so right on her. Kate felt it, too. Mia could tell by the look on her face when Beth walked out of the dressing room and swirled round in front of them.
“Do you like it? It feels nice on.”
“Have you looked in the mirror yet? Turn around,” Mia ordered.
Beth did and took a step back. “Wow.”
“It looks beautiful on you,” Mia said.
“I love it. I think I found my dress.”
“I think you did, too. Hopefully, I’ll have some luck, too,” Kate said.
But none of the dresses she tried on there quite worked, and Mia could tell that Kate was getting discouraged.
“Why don’t we have some lunch and relax a little before going to the third shop. I have a good feeling about that one. There were two dresses we really liked online.”
“That sounds good. I am ready for a break, and I’m starving,” Kate said.
They walked over to Boylston Street and to one of Mia’s favorite Boston restaurants, Abe and Louie’s. It was mostly a steakhouse, but they had wonderful salads, too, and good, crusty bread.
It was already almost one thirty, so the lunch rush was dying down and they were shown to a big booth with dark polished wood.
“Are you getting a drink? I think I might want something fun. They have some unusual cocktails here. There was one I really liked. Here it is, the gin and tonic with fresh strawberries and crushed black pepper. I want that.”
“I think I’ll have a mimosa,” Mia said.
“Make that two,” Beth told the waiter who appeared as they were discussing the drinks. When he returned, they all ordered the same thing—the signature salad with delicate Bibb lettuce, cinnamon dusted apple slices, pistachios, blue cheese and a Dijon vinaigrette. They added sliced filet mignon on top and finished the meal by splitting a crème brûlée.
They were all happily full and rested when they finished and headed to their last stop. Mia was feeling a little anxious, hoping that Kate would find something that worked here. There was another shop they could go to if they had to, in Beacon Hill, which wasn’t too far, but it would add another hour at least to their stay in the city.
Kate was optimist
ic when they entered the third shop. It was full of beautiful dresses and an assistant brought them three glasses of champagne to sip while Kate tried on dress after dress. The two she had seen online were nice and looked lovely, but Mia agreed neither was quite right. Nor were the dozen other dresses. Kate was trying to keep her spirits up, but Mia could tell she was getting discouraged.
“Don’t worry. I have a good feeling about the Beacon Hill shop. They are a little more expensive, but people rave about their dresses.”
It was a warm day, so they decided to walk to Beacon Hill as it was a pretty walk through the public gardens and then Boston Common to Beacon Hill. They walked down Charles Street, the main street of Beacon Hill, until they reached Ceremony, which was on the third floor in a gorgeous loft. The shop had a magical feel to it as it was an eclectic curated collection of couture and independent designers. Mia relaxed a little when she saw Kate’s face. She looked like a kid in a candy store.
“These are all so beautiful, and so me, I think.” She picked three dresses to start with and the first two were beautiful, but when she walked out in the third dress, Mia got goosebumps again. It was so Kate. It was sleek and simple and shimmery and lacy, sleeveless with a dip in the back and fitted down to her knees where it then flared out a bit. It had a 1920s flapper look, but in a modern, sophisticated way. And Kate loved it.
“Finally. This is the one, I think.”
“I think so, too,” Mia agreed.
“Kate, you look absolutely beautiful.”
Kate ordered the dress, and they told her it should arrive in about four months, which was perfect. She was thinking about the weekend of Christmas Stroll in December as a possible date. Beth was looking at Columbus Day Weekend in mid-October. Mia was glad that Angela had managed to find an off-the rack dress that fit, so there was no waiting time for it to be made to order. Her wedding was coming up quickly as they’d confirmed a date with Mandy for Mimi’s Place to cater, the third Saturday in August.
And Bethany’s wedding was the week before that. Mia was going to have a very busy August.
Nantucket Weddings Page 9