Santorini Sunsets
Page 24
“As much as I tried to ignore everything you said, you were right,” she explained. “I couldn’t be with someone who lied. He had a good reason for everything he did, but there’s never a reason not to tell the truth.” She twisted her hands. “I couldn’t go through with it.”
“You did the right thing.” Nathaniel nodded. “It’s much easier to undo the damage without a ring on your finger.”
“I have to go.” She stood up. “I still have to pack and we’re taking the ferry to Athens in a few hours.”
She took the plates into the kitchen and put the lemonade pitcher back in the fridge. She entered the living room and saw Nathaniel standing by the fireplace.
“Thank you for the sandwich and lemonade. I feel much better.” She smiled. “I don’t need any help, I can manage the rest myself.”
“I actually forgot one thing.” He reached into his backpack and pulled out a box wrapped in gold paper. “I didn’t give you your wedding present.”
“But you already gave us a wedding present.” Brigit pointed to the silver box on the piano.
“I forgot part of it.” He handed her the box. “Why don’t you open it?”
She tore open the gold tissue paper and discovered a yellow bucket and two plastic shovels. She opened the bucket and saw a sapphire ring surrounded by small diamonds. She glanced at Nathaniel and gasped.
“It’s my grandmother’s ring, you gave it back.” He stopped and looked at Brigit. “Unless you already have one.”
“I returned Blake’s ring,” Brigit murmured.
“I’ve been carrying it around all weekend,” he explained. “If I had seen you and Blake were perfectly happy I would have thrown confetti on the church steps and clapped when you left for your honeymoon. But if I suspected you had a shadow of a doubt, I wanted to see if I had a chance.” He looked at Brigit. “Do I?”
“So much has happened.” Brigit hesitated.
“Do you remember the morning of our rehearsal dinner, I came up to your bedroom,” he continued. “I convinced Daisy to go into Montauk and give us some time alone. I gave you a yellow bucket with a diamond-and-ruby pendant. I said I wanted to keep our marriage fun, but you were a beautiful woman and deserved the most exquisite jewels.
“I failed at all of it, but I think I’ve grown. I learned I’d rather be sitting in our living room on East Eighty-Second Street bickering over semantics in the New York Times than anyplace in the world.
“I may not be perfect, but I promise I will never walk out that door without a clear path home.” He got down on one knee and took Brigit’s hand. “Brigit Emily Palmer, will you marry me?”
Brigit gazed at the sapphire-and-diamond ring and took a deep breath. She pictured Nathaniel shooting an apple off her head with his plastic arrow when they were ten years old. She saw them building sand castles at the beach and eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in Summerhill’s vast kitchen. She remembered walking down the carpet of pink roses at their wedding and knowing she was right where she belonged.
“Yes,” she whispered.
Nathaniel pulled her up and kissed her softly on the lips. Brigit kissed him back and wrapped her arms around his back. She inhaled his familiar scent of citrus aftershave and shampoo and felt she would die of happiness.
“God, I missed that.” Nathaniel groaned. “We could run up to your bedroom.”
“Certainly not.” Brigit smoothed her hair. “We’re not doing anything until we’re married.”
“We could get married right now,” he exclaimed.
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“You have the church and flowers and cake.” He jumped up. “I met a lovely old priest at the Corner restaurant, I’m sure he’d perform the ceremony. Think how much time we’d save planning our honeymoon. We can charter a boat and sail around the Greek islands.”
“But all the guests left.” Brigit hesitated.
“Your parents and Daisy and Robbie are here,” he insisted. “We’ll have a big reception when we get home and I’ll promise my mother she can choose the menu.” He paused. “I’ve waited months for this, why should we wait any longer?”
“You have?” Brigit asked.
“I needed to grow up first,” Nathaniel said slowly. “I was determined this time you were going to marry a man; not some kid who pictured himself his generation’s Tom Wolfe.”
“Why not?” She felt suddenly lighter, like a balloon sailing up to the sky. “We’ll get married today.”
“Are you sure?” His face broke into a smile.
“I’ll tell my parents and you find Robbie.” She walked to the circular staircase. “I haven’t packed my wedding gown and I still have my bridal bouquet. I’ll get dressed and meet you at the church.”
“Brigit,” he called. “We can’t get married yet, we have to wait.”
“We do?” She felt a lump in her throat.
“I only brought a black dinner jacket.” He glanced at his watch. “I can’t wear black tie until six o’clock.”
Brigit felt the air leave her lungs and her eyes sparkled.
“I think we can let it slide.”
“Brigit Palmer breaking the rules of etiquette?” He grinned.
Brigit gazed out the french doors at the pale blue sky and glittering Aegean. She saw the blue domed roofs and whitewashed buildings.
She turned to Nathaniel and smiled. “If something is important, anything is possible.”
Chapter Twenty-four
SYDNEY STOOD IN FRONT of the Church of Panagia Episkopi and thought Brigit had picked the most picturesque setting. The church had a blue domed roof and white plaster walls and stained-glass windows. Green trellises connected stone walkways and there was an altar with a gold cross.
She peered out the double brass doors and gazed at the sharp cliffs and the Kamari coastline far below. It was late afternoon and a soft breeze blew up from the Aegean. After everything that had happened, she couldn’t quite believe that Brigit was in the anteroom, waiting to walk down the aisle.
* * *
When Brigit burst into their room and said she and Nathaniel were getting married, Sydney wondered if she regretted not being able to put on her satin wedding dress and gold sandals. But Brigit explained how Nathaniel had finished his novel, and that they both finally had grown up. She realized you didn’t have be perfect, you just had to be in love.
* * *
Now the priest arrived in his embroidered gown and pointed hat and Sydney stifled a laugh. Trust Nathaniel to find a traditional Greek priest, an hour before the wedding. She thought about Nathaniel and her heart warmed. Ever since he snuck under the fence and sauntered into the kitchen when he was five years old, he belonged in the family.
Voices drifted up the path and she saw Francis talking to another couple. She looked closely and realized it was Harley Adams and his wife Margot.
“Look who I found in the square in Fira.” Francis climbed the stone steps. “I invited them to the wedding. I thought we should fill some pews.”
Sydney’s cheeks turned pale and she wondered if Harley would mention the château in Gordes. Then she looked at Francis and her shoulders relaxed. It didn’t matter if they talked about Gordes; she had nothing to hide.
“I’m thrilled you came.” She turned to Harley and Margot. “We need more people to drink all of this Veuve Clicquot and toast good health to the happy couple.”
“I told them we are going to Montreux after the wedding,” Francis said. “Harley suggested we visit the Grand Hotel du Lac in Vevey.”
“Margot and I stayed there last year.” Harley nodded. “It’s on Lake Geneva and the restaurant has a Le Cordon Bleu chef. It was like a second honeymoon.”
“We’ll have to try it.” Francis squeezed Sydney’s hand. “Visiting these exotic destinations is exhilarating, I feel like I’m twenty-five again.”
“I completely agree,” Sydney said and a tingle ran down her spine. “I can’t wait to go to Switzerland. The mount
ains and lake sound so romantic.”
* * *
Daisy smoothed her yellow chiffon dress and clutched her bouquet. Topaz earrings glittered in her ears and she wore silver sandals. She inhaled the scent of jasmine and roses and thought the floral decorations looked breathtaking.
She had been hesitant when Brigit appeared at the café in Fira and said she and Nathaniel were getting married. But Brigit was calm and confident, like an astronaut who had just returned to earth. She begged Daisy to be the maid of honor and asked Robbie to take photographs.
It wasn’t just that Brigit looked so in love, it was more she looked like herself. She was right where she belonged and this time nothing would stop her and Nathaniel from being happy.
Daisy had sipped her lemonade and suddenly panicked. What had she been thinking, saying she would go to London with Robbie? She had to return to New York and take care of Edgar.
But the house sitter called and said she was delighted to stay in the apartment and watch Edgar until she returned. Daisy had her whole future ahead of her and nothing to worry about.
* * *
“Brigit picked a spectacular church.” Robbie appeared beside her. “It was built in 1767 in the foothills of the highest mountain in Santorini. Previously a Christian basilica stood on this land and some of the frescos date back to 1100.”
“I never thought I’d fall in love with a place as much as Santorini.” Daisy sighed. “Everywhere you turn there are gorgeous views and spectacular sunsets.”
“Most people don’t think they should enjoy life, they just wait for the next thing.” Robbie touched her arm. “But there is nothing better than exploring interesting locations, and being with the person who makes you happy.”
“I saw Brigit in the anteroom.” Daisy blushed. “She’s the most beautiful bride.”
“I’m sure she’s lovely.” He kissed her softly. “But the most beautiful woman in Santorini is standing in front of me.”
Daisy kissed him back and wondered if she would catch the bouquet. She grinned and thought she didn’t want to get ahead of herself. But there was nowhere she would rather be than sitting in the pew with Robbie, waiting for Brigit and Nathaniel to say “I do.”
* * *
Brigit rubbed her lips with red lipstick and brushed her cheeks with powder. She paced around the tiny room and felt like a ballerina waiting to go on stage.
Her mother and Daisy had helped her button her Oscar de la Renta gown but then she asked them to leave. She wanted a few minutes to savor the intricate mosaic ceiling and vases of hyacinths and the knowledge that in a few minutes she would be married.
She glanced at the clock and wondered where her father was. He was supposed to arrive fifteen minutes ago to walk her down the aisle. She heard footsteps and smoothed her skirt.
“God, you look more radiant than the first time we did this,” Nathaniel said. He wore a black tuxedo and yellow tie. His hair was slicked back and his cheeks glistened with aftershave.
“What are you doing here?” Brigit gasped. “You’re not supposed to see me until my father walks me down the aisle.”
“I told him I wanted to do it,” Nathaniel explained.
“You can’t walk me down the aisle.” She flushed. “You have to wait at the altar.”
“Technically your father already gave you away,” he said. “I thought this time we could do it together.”
“You want to walk down the aisle at the same time?” Brigit asked.
Nathaniel studied her high cheekbones and slender neck. She wore sapphire earrings and a pink coral necklace.
“We wasted two years, I don’t want to miss another minute.” He took her hand and opened the doors. “Everyone is waiting for us. Will you join me?”
Brigit saw the afternoon sun streaming through the stained-glass windows and thought everything looked so beautiful. She clasped his hand and smiled. “I wouldn’t miss it.”
Acknowledgments
I am so lucky to work with such gracious, talented people. First and always, thank you to my wonderful agent, Melissa Flashman, and my amazing editor, Lauren Jablonski. Thank you to my incredible team at St. Martin’s Press: my publicist, Staci Burt; Karen Masnica in marketing; and Elsie Lyons for her gorgeous covers. Thank you also to Laura Clark, Jennifer Weis, and always to Jennifer Enderlin.
And thank you to my family who love and support me: my husband, Thomas, and my children: Alex, Andrew, Heather, Madeleine, Thomas, and daughter-in-law, Lisa.
Discussion Questions
1. Brigit is in Santorini to celebrate her wedding to Blake and discovers her ex-husband, Nathaniel, hiding in the bushes. Have you ever attended an important event where an “ex” was present? How did it make you feel?
2. Blake has been less than honest with Brigit, though he has never done anything to hurt her. Do you think it is important to be completely honest in a relationship, or is it all right to tell a few little white lies?
3. How do you feel about Brigit’s sister, Daisy? Do you admire her for trying to find her passion or should she stick to one job?
4. Daisy often feels like she is trying to live up to Brigit. If you have a sibling, do you experience that dynamic in your relationship and how do you handle it?
5. Do you think Brigit should let Nathaniel back in her life? Why or why not?
6. Blake showers Brigit with presents, but do you believe he really loves her? Give examples to support your opinion.
7. Sydney is hiding something terrible that happened in her past. Given the circumstances, should Francis forgive her for what she did?
8. How do you feel about the ending and why?
9. Santorini is such a gorgeous and romantic setting. Do you think being in Santorini affects the characters’ actions and in what ways?
10. If you could plan a destination wedding or family reunion, what would be your dream location?
St. Martin’s Griffin
also by anita hughes
Island in the Sea: A Majorca Love Story
Rome in Love
French Coast
Lake Como
Market Street
Monarch Beach
About the Author
Anita Hughes is the author of Monarch Beach, Lake Como, French Coast, Rome in Love, Island in the Sea, and Santorini Sunsets. She attended the UC Berkeley’s Master’s in Creative Writing program and lives in Dana Point, California, where she is at work on her next novel. For more information about Anita and her books, visit anitahughesbooks.com, or sign up for email updates here.
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Acknowledgments
Discussion Questions
Also by Anita Hughes
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitious
ly.
SANTORINI SUNSETS. Copyright © 2016 by Anita Hughes. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.
www.stmartins.com
Cover design by Elsie Lyons
Cover photograph © Daniela Faccinelli/Imagebrief
The Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available upon request.
ISBN 978-1-250-09412-4 (trade paperback)
ISBN 978-1-250-09413-1 (e-book)
e-ISBN 9781250094131
Our e-books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by e-mail at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.
First Edition: August 2016