A Pelican Beach Affair (Pelican Beach Book 3)

by Michele Gilcrest

  "I was wondering how long it would take for that fiery personality of yours to come back out. I was starting to think the baby was turning you into mush," he said.

  "Is being fiery a bad thing?"

  "Absolutely not. I mean it in the best way possible. I've always loved that about you. All that spice is what drew me in and caused me to fall in love with you all over again."

  I felt myself starting to tear up a bit, but I didn't let it show.

  "Good, because if you told me it was a bad thing, I would've knocked you into next week."

  Ethan knows I have just enough crazy in me to do it.

  "Well, if that's the case, I'll be sure to stay on your good side. Besides, I don't want to mess up an opportunity to come back here next year for baby number two."

  My eye rolling abilities were on full display at this point.

  "Baby number two? Our son hasn't been here twenty-four hours yet, and you're already talking about baby number two? Don't hold your breath on that one. As a matter of fact, if you need to sleep in the guest room, you let me know."

  "Only if you're sleeping in the guest room with me. Maybe we can try for twins the next time. We can have a whole girl scout troop or baseball team. Maybe even a little of both."

  Thankfully, I knew Ethan was egging me on. He always loved to get me all wound up.

  Nurse Jones interrupted our little charade.

  "Is everything okay in here? I could practically hear you two down the hall."

  "Everything's fine. It was just my husband in here acting like a clown."

  "Well, make sure you save all of that extra energy for when you go home tomorrow. In the meantime, I need to perform a routine check on Miss Rebecca."

  The thought of going home tomorrow was bittersweet. I wanted to get adjusted to our new life with John William, but I was also a little nervous.

  "Sir, if you don't mind, I'll have to ask you to get out of the bed. You'll have plenty of time to snuggle with your wife when she's ready to have baby number two."

  Ethan and I looked at each other. We all laughed so hard. Clearly, we were pretty loud if she could repeat that.

  "Just kidding. That's between you and the man upstairs," she said.

  The nurse began to pull the curtain closed. Ethan took his cue to leave and get something to eat. While she was poking and probing, I could hear my cell phone buzzing away.

  "I bet you have folks lined up and ready to meet that handsome boy of yours," she said.

  "Now that the word is out, I bet you're right. Thanks for the compliment, by the way."

  "You're welcome. Whatever you do, don't feel pressured to cater to everyone's schedule. There will be plenty of time for visitors."

  "I can't argue with you there. Can I ask you a question?" I said.

  "Ask as many questions as you want."

  "Is it normal for me to be feeling a little anxious about going home?"

  "It's very normal. A lot of first-time mothers put pressure on themselves to have it all together. Some feel defeated before they even leave the hospital. The key is to give yourself permission to make mistakes. No one expects you to be the perfect mother. Not even your baby boy.”

  "Yeah, maybe that's what it is. I think I'm starting to realize that I based all of my success on my career and climbing up the ladder. I'm good at being a lawyer. Darn good if I may say so myself. But motherhood is completely different. My sister Abby is a natural. I'm still learning how to be a wife, so you can only imagine how I feel."

  "Did you learn how to become a good lawyer overnight?"

  "No."

  "Well, then you understand exactly where I'm going with this."

  "Yes, ma'am. I sure do."

  "I'm not married, but I would imagine the same applies to learning how to become a good wife."

  When she was finished, she pulled the curtain back and revealed a beautiful view of downtown. I could see the shores of Pelican Beach in the distance, which made me long to close my eyes and lay beneath the sun.

  Payton

  Cole was conducting most of his work from home for the next six to eight weeks. Since he normally liked to get his hands dirty, Alice and I were praying he didn’t drive everyone crazy.

  “Payton, I’ve been thinking,” he said.

  “Uh oh. Should I be nervous?”

  “Nervous about what? This is a fun idea.”

  “Okay.”

  “Since you’re all going shopping for your wedding dress today, I thought I’d give you something to consider. Of course, the ultimate decision is still yours.”

  “Mmm hmm.”

  “Since we’re having such a hard time narrowing down a place for the ceremony, I was wondering if you’d like to revisit the idea of getting married right here on the beach?”

  You could barely hear a pin drop in the room. Even mom and Emmie stopped to give the topic their full attention.

  “Again. It’s no pressure. I just want whatever will make you happy.”

  “You know Payton, that might not be a bad idea. So far, it’s the least expensive, most romantic, and the most intimate option by far,” mom said.

  “I don’t doubt for one minute that it would be nice, but I really had my heart set on Marina Del Mar. Their event planner asked me to wait another day to see if she could make arrangements to squeeze us in for July. Wouldn’t you want to at least hear what she has to say?”

  “Sure. I want whatever you want. It was just an option,” Cole said.

  Emmie sketched in her notebook while Alice grabbed her keys off the table.

  “Why the long faces? It’s time to perk up and go shopping for a wedding dress!”

  “No long faces. We were just trying to tackle the never ending saga of where to have the wedding. It’s kind of strange that I’m going to pick out my dress and still don’t have the venue secured.”

  “Oh, honey, stop being so hard on yourself. You had no way of knowing that most of your favorite venues in Pelican Beach wouldn’t be able to accommodate you because of a convention. Since when do we ever have conventions out here anyway?” Mom was just as frustrated as I was.

  “Payton, have you considered pushing the wedding to August or September? That might give you a little more flexibility.” Alice was right, but I didn’t want to belabor the wedding any longer.

  Cole shook his head in disagreement.

  “Even I don’t want to do that. I’m ready to have my wife come join me and Emmie here at the beach house for good. We’ve waited long enough. Right, Emms?”

  Emmie had plugged in her ear pods while drawing and didn’t hear a word of what he was saying.

  ”Cole’s right. We’ve done this the traditional way and waited to move in together. But, it’s time. And come hell or high water I have one goal to accomplish before the end of July, and that’s to become Mrs. Cole Miller.”

  Cole always thought it was attractive whenever I talked about becoming his Mrs.

  “Aren’t they cute together?” Mom looked at Alice who entered the room. The two mothers had formed a nice bond over time.

  “They sure are.”

  “When I grow up I want a relationship just like theirs.” Alice threw her purse over her shoulder.

  “Speaking of relationships, how’s things with the gentleman from your neighborhood?” I asked.

  Mom interrupted. “Well, wait a minute. I know it’s been a while since we’ve had a chance to catch up, but I didn’t realize you were in a relationship, Alice.”

  “Helen, it’s no big deal. Besides, today is all about Payton. Now everybody grab your things and let’s go.” She put on her wide framed sunglasses and started heading for the door.

  “Oh, no you don’t. I can detect avoidance coming a mile away.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about, Payton.”

  I knew better but I let it slide until we got to the car.

  “Cole, are you sure you’re going to be okay here all by yourself? Emmie can always stay if you nee
d company.”

  “I’ll be fine. I have the phone right beside me should anything come up.”

  “Okay. Come on, Emmie. We’re leaving.”

  Forgetting that she couldn’t hear us I waved my hands around to get her attention.

  In the car, we continued to probe Alice until she told us everything about her friend.

  “Alice, you know we’re not going to be able to carry on with the day until we hear about your guy friend, right?”

  “I don’t know that there’s much to tell. His name is Stanley. I met him at one of my neighborhood HOA meetings. He’s a little older than I am but keeps himself up very nice. He attributes his walking routine to his good health and he’s a self proclaimed paddle ball champion. I’ll have to take his word for it because I’ve never seen him play. Finally, he’s reliable.”

  “Uh oh.” Mom put on her shades and looked out the window.

  “What?” Alice said.

  “You used the word reliable to describe someone you’re seeing. That can’t be good.”

  I quickly glanced at Alice in the rear view mirror.

  “I’m going to have to agree with mom on this one. I mean, it’s nice that he’s reliable and all. But, he doesn’t sound like he’s the right fit if all you can come up with is ‘well put together and reliable.’”

  “What’s wrong with being reliable? My late husband, Bill was the most reliable man I knew outside of my father, God rest his soul.”

  “But I’m sure you didn’t fall in love with Bill because of his reliability,” mom said.

  Alice was quiet for a moment before breaking her silence.

  “I guess not.”

  “All that matters is that you’re happy, Alice.” I checked the rear view again but she seemed to have drifted off into her own thoughts.

  “Stanley has been a nice companion. I wouldn’t even say that we’re officially dating. At least, if he’s interested he’s never said anything. But, I can always count on him to bring my favorite Chamomile tea with a small slice of pound cake and to come around and keep me company. I really don’t have anything bad to say about him but…”

  I knew I could feel a ‘but’ coming on. Emmie was dozing in the back, and I turned down the radio so that I wouldn’t miss a word.

  “Even though he’s a nice man, someone else has my attention as a potential love interest.”

  By now I had pulled into a parking space and was able to turn around and listen.

  “I’ve met someone who makes me feel alive.”

  Mom slapped the dashboard.

  “That’s what I’m talking about. Now we’re cooking with gas!”

  We laughed so loud until Emmie woke up and I almost tinkled.

  “Seriously? Who says that?”

  “Well, it’s the truth. Who wants to spend the rest of their life with an old reliable prune? Again, not to say that reliable isn’t good. But if the other man knows how to light your fire, then what’s the problem?”

  “Who’s lighting a fire?” Emmie said in her sleepy voice.

  The laughter spiraled out of control all over again.

  “No one is lighting a fire, Emmie. We’re just being silly, that’s all.”

  “Mm hmm,” mom said.

  “Ladies, we’ll have to continue this conversation later. Right now, it’s time for my future daughter-in-law to find a wedding dress. Come on, Emmie. Let’s go!”

  Mom and I followed behind them.

  “I’m just so sorry your sisters couldn’t be here, Payton.”

  “I know but we all felt much better with Abby staying back to look after dad. And, Rebecca is house bound with the baby, so it only made sense.”

  “Well, the good news is you’ll have them by your side on your special day.”

  Seeing all the dresses on display took me back to the first time I was getting married. Back then I had to have the longest train imaginable and was obsessed with the royal look. This time I wanted something a lot more simple.

  “Welcome to Bridal Elegance. My name is Darla. How may I help you?”

  “Hi. I’m Payton Matthews and this is my mother Helen, this is Alice, and this sweet young lady is Emmie. We’re all here for my 10:00 appointment to try on dresses.”

  “Perfect. I’ll be assisting you today.”

  Darla was petite with a welcoming smile. She led us back to an area where everyone could sit while I tried on dresses.

  “Ladies, you can make yourself comfortable. Before we get started with trying on dresses can I offer you something to drink?”

  “I’m good, thank you.” I checked with the others but they were fine as well.

  “Okay. Payton, I’ll need to get a feel for what you’re looking for before we get started.”

  “Sure.”

  “For starters, where are you having your wedding?”

  I felt embarrassed that I still didn’t know.

  “That’s still in the air. It could be at Marina Del Mar or …”

  I turned and looked at my support team sitting over on the couch.

  “It could be on the beach. I guess I need to look at dresses that could be fitting for both places.”

  “That’s not a problem at all. With today’s modern styles there should be plenty to choose from.”

  Then she leaned in closer.

  “You’re not the first bride to be undecided about your venue. Don’t worry. Everything will be just fine.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Okay, back on track. Do you have a particular style in mind? We have mermaid dresses, even though that might be a bit challenging on the beach. Then there’s the A-line, trumpet, sweetheart neckline, strapless?”

  “Maybe something with cap sleeves so I don’t have to constantly fidget with the dress. Also, I’d love to see some detail on the back. I don’t have a particular neckline in mind but I want an overall romantic look.”

  “Okay. I’m going to get started on pulling a few dresses for your fitting room. Oh, one more thing before I forget. What’s your budget?”

  I could hear Mom commenting in the background.

  “Spare no expenses. She deserves the best!”

  I wouldn’t dare expect my family to contribute to our wedding expenses. They already paid for one wedding, and I’m sure they’ve already spent more than their fair share to help prepare for John William.

  “Mom is sweet, but I actually do want to stick to a budget. My fiancé gave me a blank check and said I could make it out for this amount…”

  I showed her a note with a healthy sized figure on it.

  “However, I’d like to lean on the conservative side and spend half of that amount or even less if we can help it,” I said.

  “You have a very generous fiancé.”

  “I do. But I’d much rather see the funds go toward something for our future.”

  “I know exactly what you mean. So basically we need to find a gorgeous wedding dress that looks like it cost the entire budget but is a steal of a deal.”

  “Darla, I knew I liked you from the moment you greeted us at the front door.”

  She really was nice and made me feel at ease.

  “Likewise. Now let’s find your wedding dress.”

  About an hour into the appointment I had tried on several dresses but none of them seemed to do it for me. Even my cheering squad was starting to grow less enthusiastic.

  “Hang in there, Payton. I’m certain there’s a dress here with your name on it,” Alice said.

  Emmie was wandering around the store looking at dresses and entertaining herself. She pulled out one in particular that looked like it was fit for a princess.

  “Payton, I bet you’d look pretty in this one,” she said.

  Darla walked over and took the dress off the hook. It did look pretty from afar but so did the others until I tried them on.

  “What do you think, Payton? It’s priced right and it’s your size. Would you like to try this one on?”

  “Sure. Emmie, I ho
pe you picked a winner because this is the last one I’m trying on for today.”

  I retreated to the back and slipped into the last dress for the day. I watched in the mirror as Darla helped me put the dress on. The neckline had lace over organza to give an illusion of sheerness. The bottom was a soft cotton A-line.

  “Turn around so you can see the back,” Darla said.

  The details from the front carried over and framed an open keyhole. The dress was absolutely stunning.

  “You have a glow about you that’s undeniable. But what do you think about the dress?”

  I turned back to the mirror.

  “I love it!”

  “You do?”

  “Yes, it’s perfect in every way. It has an elegant Boho vibe that’s perfect for the beach!”

  I placed both hands over my mouth.

  “What about Marina Del Mar?” Darla asked.

  “Honestly, I think the moment I put this dress on it all became clear. Who needs Marina Del Mar when we can have a romantic wedding on the beach?”

  Of course, Cole knew this all along. But, sometimes I needed a personal experience before I could arrive at the same conclusion.

  “Wait. Before we get ahead ourselves let’s see what everyone else thinks,” I said.

  “Not before I give you this…”

  She placed a jeweled tiara with a veil on to add the finishing touch. I wanted to wait until I was outside but I could already feel my emotions getting the best of me.

  “Ohhh, Payton. This is the dress, isn’t it?”

  I could only nod my head as I tried to pat my eyes dry.

  “You see…”

  I continued to speak in between sniffles.

  “The thing is. After everything my ex-husband put me through I didn’t think I had it in me to love again. And now look at me, standing here in this dress. I’m so amazed. There are no words to describe how good it makes me feel. No words.”

  “Wow, keep it up and you’re going to make me cry. There’s just something about hearing a love story that gets me every time,” Darla said.

  “Oh, dear. You work here so I can only imagine how many tissues you go through every day!”

  Now that my face was all red I knew I had to pull myself together. Darla led me out to the showroom to show off my wedding dress to my family.