A Wedding on the Beach

by Holly Chamberlin

  Dean winked at Bess. “Congratulations,” he said.

  “Wow. When did this happen?” Allison asked.

  “Just a few days ago,” Nathan told them. “It was a bit of a trauma to spring on Bess so soon before the wedding but . . .”

  Bess laughed. “But that’s life, messy, too late, too early, never what or where you expect it to be.”

  “So,” Marta asked, “how will it all work? I mean, your company, Bess?”

  “I’m not sure yet,” Bess admitted. “Right now, I’m thinking I’ll keep the business up and running, with Kara the on-hand person and me doing the behind-the-scenes work. And I might start a blog about my adventures. And when we get back to the States,” Bess went on, “well, who knows what will happen then? Chances are I’ll have benefited from new experiences that will allow me to expand Joie de Vivre or even to forge a brand-new career if I want to. I did it once; I’m sure I can do it again!”

  Allison smiled. “I was afraid, but I did it anyway!”

  “Congratulations are due to Nathan,” Chuck said.

  “Thank you. I wasn’t really expecting this promotion, but I’d be lying if I said I’m not excited about it.”

  “There’s one more important thing that has to take place before this day can be truly deemed perfect,” Bess announced. “I have something for you all.” She reached into a large lavender-colored bag slouched at her side and took out a blue silk-covered box.

  “As long as it’s not more food!” Mike laid a hand gingerly on his stomach. “I had to loosen my belt to the last notch before giving up entirely and changing into my sweats.”

  “I’m going to join you on your morning constitutional,” Marta said. “I might not be up to running, but I’ll stagger along.”

  “I’ve been wondering what you had stashed in that sack,” Allison noted. “You look like a summer Santa.”

  Bess got up from her seat, opened the box, and began to move from one of her friends to the next, handing each a charm as she went. “I had these made for you,” she explained, “as a token of our friendship. The anchor is necessary for navigation over unknown waters. It provides hope when the sea is raging and the wind is bellowing and you think that’s it, this is the end. And then you remember that something is tethering you to the solid ground and you go on and face the next minute and the one after that with more courage than you thought possible in the first terrified moments when you forgot you were not alone. You guys keep me hopeful and facing forward. You always have and I believe you always will. Okay, things change, for better and for worse, as most of you are fond of pointing out to me! But I choose to believe that our friendship—my love for you and yours for me—is eternal. Everlasting. As secure as a ship firmly anchored to the bottom of the sea.”

  “Hear, hear!” The cry was unanimous as Bess sat back next to Nathan.

  Dean unabashedly wiped a tear from his eye. “I’m honored to be included in this tribute,” he said. “Thank you, Bess.”

  Chuck, clutching his charm, put his arm around Dean’s shoulder and planted a kiss on his cheek.

  “I figured out that when marriage is at its best,” Bess said, “the two people involved really do become united as one being in a very important sense. You’re a part of Chuck now, Dean,” Bess went on, “and he’s part of you. For better or worse.”

  “And worse would be those Necco wafers he’s so fond of. Ugh.” Dean turned to Nathan. “So, did you get a charm, too?”

  Nathan dug under his shirt and pulled out a chain on which hung his charm. “Of course!”

  “With the way I’ve been acting,” Marta said quietly, “I’m not sure I deserve this from you, Bess.”

  “Stop it,” Bess said. “These gifts have been given freely.”

  Marta smiled gratefully. “It seems we’ve all been on your wavelength, Bess, even if we didn’t know it at first. I used the image of the anchor in my speech today. Allison referred to you as our anchor days ago.”

  “I’ll add mine to my keychain,” Mike announced.

  Allison smiled. “I know the perfect antique silver chain for mine.”

  Chris shook his head. “I can’t believe you had one made for me,” he said softly, “not after what happened . . .”

  Bess smiled at her friend. “When I ordered the charms,” she said, “I had no idea what had gone on between you and Allison to cause the split. To be honest, when I learned the whole truth I hesitated to include you in my gift. I felt so angry with you for . . .” Bess felt herself blush as she recalled the terrible encounter she and Chris had shared. “But I’ve learned a lot about love these past two weeks,” she went on. “I’m not happy being a judgmental or a self-righteousness person. It makes me feel ugly.”

  “That’s our Bess,” Chuck said feelingly. “She loves one and all equally!”

  “With one exception,” Bess said, linking her arm through her husband’s. “I’m sorry, but I do love Nathan best!”

  Chapter 113

  Nathan realized that he had left a few cases of Prosecco at the foot of the back porch. “We don’t want any tipsy wildlife waking us up in the middle of the night,” he said, hurrying toward the door. Chuck, Dean, Mike, and Chris had gone along to help—and maybe to drink a bottle with Nathan. With the men temporarily out of the room, Marta knew what was coming. Her girlfriends would want to know the important details. That was okay.

  “We were wondering,” Bess said, “if you’re really happy with the pregnancy.”

  “It’s just that you’ve been in such a strange mood these past two weeks,” Allison added.

  Marta smiled ruefully. “You mean a mad, bad, and dangerous mood. The fact is, I wasn’t happy. It’s a long story, but like I said, the pregnancy came as a total surprise. I’d begun to imagine the next phase of my life and it included a career, anything but another baby.”

  “So, what changed your mind about the pregnancy?” Bess asked.

  “Aside from the fact that it’s your baby,” Allison guessed.

  “Yes, maternal instinct kicked in,” Marta admitted, “wide-eyed astonishment that somehow this body that I often take for granted is growing another life. That sense of awe is something I hadn’t yet felt with this baby, not until yesterday when suddenly it struck me that I was a walking miracle. But that’s not all. These two weeks here with you all has helped me come to grips with what I’d been battling in terms of not having pursued a career and now wanting to do just that.” Marta paused. “A fourth child adds another challenge but doesn’t render a career impossible. I have to believe that.”

  “Did Mike know about your fraught feelings?” Allison asked gently.

  Marta frowned. “That was part of the problem. I couldn’t seem to tell him. He was so totally into the idea of another child . . . I know it was wrong to keep my feelings from him. A few days ago, I finally broke down and admitted my unhappiness. It was an ugly scene followed by an ugly few days and I’m afraid it was all my doing. It seems you’re never too old to be stupid.”

  “Not stupid,” Allison corrected. “Human.”

  “Mike will forgive you,” Bess said quickly.

  “He already has. But I still feel bad about hurting him.”

  Allison nodded. “Marriage is a minefield, Bess. You never stop having to step carefully, not really.”

  “Gee, thanks. Now I feel so much more enthusiastic about my future!”

  “Hey,” Marta said, “no one ever said life was going to be a bed of roses.”

  “Don’t worry, Bess,” Allison said. “You and Nathan will be fine. The benefits of marriage outweigh the challenges. Don’t let anyone try to convince you otherwise.”

  “I won’t,” Bess assured her. “You know, I think we’ve all grown up—or at least, we’ve been bumped sideways!—these past two weeks. Summer vacation as boot camp for adulthood. Who would have thought?”

  “Now it’s your turn on the hot seat,” Marta said, turning to Allison. “I’m a bit surprised that you agreed to try an
d rebuild things with Chris. Pleasantly surprised—I believe Chris really and truly wants to be your husband—but also—”

  “Concerned,” Allison said with a nod.

  “Me too,” Bess said.

  “Honestly, I wasn’t sure until the moment the words were out of my mouth what I was going to say when he asked me to take him back. But suddenly, everything became clear. I never stopped loving him. And love goes a long way toward making peace in a relationship.”

  Marta nodded. “That it does.”

  “And in some ways, love is so much easier than liking. I don’t like some of the things Chris said or did, but I love him and I’m willing to give him another chance. And I’m willing to give myself another chance with him, to be stronger and more of my own person. To know the difference between service and servitude. If Chris really loves me for me, and not for the version he—we both—created all those years ago, we’ll be all right.”

  “You’re brave, Allison,” Bess said. “I really admire this decision.”

  Allison smiled. “You guys deserve admiration, too,” she said. “You helped bring me to this point. Being here these past two weeks was worth more in the end than the two years I’d been trying to get through on my own. Something very healing happened for me here in Maine and I’m grateful.”

  “And only days ago you were so sure that your life wasn’t going to turn out to be a happy one,” Bess said. “You were so sure that not everything can change for the better.”

  “I’m still a realist, Bess. As for my life turning out to be a happy one—we’ll see. But I feel a lot more optimistic now than I did when I got off the plane in Boston two weeks ago.” Allison smiled and nodded toward the feline, who was at this moment stalking toward the kitchen. “And now I’ve got Gray on my side! My familiar as Marta suggested a few days ago.”

  “I wouldn’t mess with that cat,” Marta remarked. “Chris had better watch his step.”

  Allison laughed. “He will,” she said. “I really believe he will.”

  So did Marta.

  Chapter 114

  The men had rejoined the women in the kitchen. Allison noted that one of the cases of Prosecco they piled up on the island counter was not quite full. Well, it was a celebration.

  She reached for Chris’s hand and he took it warmly. Nathan put his arm around Bess’s shoulder. Marta leaned into Mike. Chuck and Dean were holding hands, as well.

  “Look,” Bess said suddenly, “I promise I won’t be upset, but I need to know the truth. Were you guys lying about not being able to get your schedules in sync last year when I was trying to plan the reunion? If you were, I get it, but there’s no need to lie in the future. If you just need a break from the old gang, I’m fine with that. Really.”

  “Mike and I weren’t lying, Bess, honest,” Marta assured her.

  “Same here,” Dean said. “Chuck’s schedule was a nightmare and I was knee-deep in adoption paperwork.”

  “My schedule wasn’t much lighter,” Allison told her. “And Greg was taking a long overdue vacation, so I was on my own for almost a month.”

  “I’m afraid you know my excuse,” Chris said.

  Bess smiled. “All right then, where should the next reunion take place?”

  “As long as there’s a hospital nearby,” Marta said. “I’m not giving birth to my next child in a snowbank.”

  “Maybe we should wait until this baby is here safe and sound,” Mike suggested.

  Marta nodded. “Agreed.”

  “We could visit Bess and Nathan in Stockholm,” Chris suggested.

  “That would be fantastic,” Nathan said enthusiastically.

  “I’ve always wanted to go to Sweden,” Allison said happily. “My mom believed I have Swedish blood in me.”

  “How would everyone feel about the kids coming along, all four of them?” Mike asked with a smile.

  Dean nodded. “Thomas needs to meet his de facto cousins. I think it would be great.”

  “I agree,” Bess said, with a bit of an impish look. “I’m not as hopeless with children as I might have led you to believe.”

  Allison saw Dean give Bess a wink and wondered what secret they shared.

  “You know,” Chuck remarked, “Bess couldn’t have chosen a more appropriate wedding song. The world truly is a wonderful place as long as your friends are at your side.”

  “Bess?” Allison asked. Bess’s expression had gone dreamy. “Are you hearing any of this?”

  Bess startled. “What?” she said. “Yeah, I mean no. See, I was just thinking—what if when Thomas grows up he marries Marta’s next baby? Wouldn’t that be awesome? We’d all be officially family then. Well, not all of us but most of us and—”

  A collective groan rose from the others.

  “Bess,” Allison said, shaking her head, “you are absolutely the worst case of an incurable romantic I’ve ever encountered!”

  “Guilty as charged,” Bess said. “And proud of it.”

  “Is there any cake left?” Mike asked suddenly.

  Marta raised an eyebrow. Mike shrugged. “What can I say? It was really good cake, especially that chocolate-chocolate mint.”

  “My appetite’s come back, too,” Chris admitted.

  While Mike and Chris descended on the fridge, Chuck and Dean went in search of forks and plates. Nathan decided to pop open yet another bottle of Prosecco.

  Allison, after pouring a small bowl of half-and-half for Gray, watched the proceedings with a light heart. Marta, usually so cautious about her diet, eagerly accepted a piece of cake from her husband. Bess and Nathan shared a slice of the hazelnut. Chuck shoveled cake into his mouth in his usual manner, while Dean savored his more slowly.

  “For you,” Chris said, as he handed Allison a glass of Prosecco and raised his own. “To my wife.”

  Allison raised her glass in return. “To my husband,” she said. She was so very happy.

  Please turn the page

  for a very special Q&A

  with Holly Chamberlin!

  Q. So, did your wedding take place on the beach?

  A. No, my wedding, both the ceremony and the reception, was held at the InterContinental in my hometown of New York City. It was partly a practical decision as my husband’s family was coming from out of town; this way they wouldn’t have to be dealing with NYC traffic while trying to get from church to reception venue. The decision was also partly a nod to my parents’ wedding reception that took place at a gorgeous hotel on the West Side of Manhattan in 1961. I wore my mother’s dress, slightly altered to accommodate our different waistlines and the fact that the material in a few places hadn’t worn very well.

  Q. Have you ever attended a beachside wedding?

  A. No! I think it would be really lovely. In fact, all of the weddings I’ve attended or been part of have taken place indoors. Hmm. Maybe I could crash a wedding on the beach one day, like onlookers crashed Bess’s ceremony.

  Q. Speaking of those onlookers, you have Marta comment that people’s fascination with weddings says something good about human nature.

  A. Absolutely. Anytime I’ve seen a bride having her picture taken or emerging from a church hand in hand with her groom, or with her bride, as the case may be, I become a weepy mess. The fact that we keep trying to love and commit to each other is pretty amazing, especially when we witness so much strife on a daily basis. I have a few friends who haven’t tied the knot with their longtime loves and if they ever decide to marry I think I might pass out with happiness.

  Q. Do you have a favorite character, or put another way, is there a particular character with whom you closely identify?

  A. It’s odd, but in this story I pretty much like every one of the main characters equally. And I realized at one point that the unlikable things about each of them—and we’re all unlikable at some moments—are often drawn from what I perceive to be my own flaws and failures. I’m not sure how that happened, but it did. I won’t tell you what bits of me are to be found in Bess, Alli
son, and Marta, though! I will say that Chuck is the character who speaks most about certain issues that have been on my mind a lot in the past year, so in a way I feel closest to him.

  Q. What’s your next book going to be about?

  A. Well, all I can say at this point—and not because I’m being coy; because I’ve barely begun to think the story through!—is that it will feature two sisters in their sixties. They’ve been estranged for a number of years due to a number of circumstances, but something happens to force them to face each other and to lay to rest—if they can!—their demons. It should be exciting to write for a number of reasons, one of which is that with very few exceptions, I haven’t focused on characters this age. It won’t be too many years before I celebrate my sixtieth birthday so it’s about time I write about my peeps!

  A READING GROUP GUIDE

  A WEDDING ON THE BEACH

  Holly Chamberlin

  ABOUT THIS GUIDE

  The suggested questions are included

  to enhance your group’s reading of

  Holly Chamberlin’s A Wedding on the Beach !

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. Bess is the only one of the friends without real regrets in terms of her career or her love life. Then, on the eve of their wedding, Nathan announces he has received a promotion that will require a two-year stint in Stockholm. Bess is forced to make a decision that will affect the career she built with such passion and hard work. How do you feel about the decision she makes?

  2. Marta is currently doubting the wisdom of her decision to forgo a career outside of the home. She recalls that when she made the decision not to go on to law school, she felt too embarrassed to admit to anyone but Mike that what she wanted more than anything was to be a full-time, stay-at-home mother. Now, just as she had begun to consider how she might build a life for herself outside of the home, she is faced with another pregnancy. Why do you think she experiences such terrible dismay and self-doubt regarding her ability to handle the arrival of another child along with the challenges of a nascent career?