by S. J. McCoy
~ ~ ~
Missy went back through to the lounge where she found Emma, Holly, and April. “I was hoping to get Kenzie to tell me, but she’s not going to. I think she feels guilty about not telling Megan, though. We are doing the right thing, aren’t we?” She knew she was butting in where she shouldn’t, but she couldn’t just stand back. She knew in her heart that Kenzie would love to have the others there, if she could. Or at least she thought she knew, she wanted some reassurance from the others.
Emma nodded. “I think so. I think Kenzie would love to have everyone there. I don’t think it’s a case of they want to go off by themselves. It’s more like they’re just spontaneous people. Kenzie wouldn’t want to bother anyone. She doesn’t believe anyone would want to go out of their way for her. And Chase, well, he just goes with the flow. They both feel as though they’re a little bit different from the rest of us, as though they’re not quite part of the gang.”
“Exactly!” said Missy. “And what better way to prove to them that we see them as part of the family?”
Holly smiled. “I think it’s the right thing to do, too.”
Missy raised an eyebrow at her. “But what?”
Holly laughed. “But nothing. Not about them anyway. I was just wishing that Pete and I could have done something like that.”
Missy smiled. “You two will figure out what’s right for you now.” She turned to April. “See, your instincts were right. Thank you.”
April smiled. “Thank you! I hate to break a confidence, and I hope Kenzie doesn’t hate me for it. But I had to say something.”
Emma patted her arm. “Kenzie will love you for it.”
“I hope so.” She pulled her cell phone out of the pocket of her robe. “That’s her,” she said as she read a text. “I’m supposed to meet her at their room at one thirty.”
Missy looked out to where Kenzie was still leaning on the balcony. Renée was chatting with her. She turned back to April. “Well, you’ve got my number. Keep me updated. Let me know everything you can. Especially about times! It’s going to take some doing to get everyone to the chapel, but I’m going to try!”
Chapter Eighteen
Ben grinned at the sight of everyone congregated outside the main entrance. He was happy that they all wanted to be there for Kenzie and Chase. April and Eddie had been willing accomplices in leaking back the details as they learned them.
Ben had gone ahead and hired a shuttle bus. It was waiting outside, on standby to get everyone to the church on time. Wherever the church was—and whatever the time might be!
Missy looked up from her phone with a big smile on her face. “They got the license and Chase just called the chapel across the street from the Marriage Bureau. They can fit them in at three! We need to get moving, people!”
Everyone started making their way toward the shuttle bus. Ben stopped as he passed Missy. “Do you think you’ll make it back in time?” he asked.
She nodded. She knew what he meant. “These wedding chapels try to get people in and out as fast as they can. I doubt we’ll be there more than fifteen minutes. Dan got the caterers onto it and they’re putting on a reception in our function room when we get back here. I’ll just slip away and pick Charlotte up at the airport. She’s due in at four twenty.”
Ben nodded. Pete had told him what time she was landing. He just wished he could find some reason to be out of here by then.
Michael stuck his head back out of the shuttle bus. “Come on, you two! Get a move on!”
Ben followed Missy onto the bus. “You’ve done us proud, mate,” said Michael gesturing around the plush interior of the mini-coach.
Ben smiled. “We needed something that could get us all there in one group—and fast!”
Michael laughed and held on as the coach pulled out. “I see what you mean!”
Ben moved along and took an empty seat in front of Megan. He’d been a little concerned how she might feel about all of this. “Are you okay?” he asked.
She beamed at him. “I’m wonderful.” She held up a big bag. “I even brought my wedding dress, in case she wants to wear it.”
Ben grinned. Megan was an amazing little person.
She gave him an inquiring look. “I’m going to see if she wants to borrow it. I wondered if she might like to borrow the guy who’s supposed to walk me down the aisle, too.”
Ben hadn’t even thought about that.
“She’d love it, you know. You’re her boss, but you’re so much more than that. You’re the person who made it possible for her to stay at the lake. You’re more than a friend even, you’re more like a brother, to both of us. It means the world to me that you’re going to give me away. I think it would mean just as much to Kenzie.”
He nodded. He knew it would. For all her worldly ways and street smarts, Kenzie looked up to him, as Megan had said, more as a brother than as a boss. “I’d be honored to.”
~ ~ ~
Kenzie looked around the waiting area of the wedding chapel. She was excited. This felt right. Chase had managed to get them into a room called The Wedding Garden. From the pictures it looked like a Mediterranean courtyard, except it was inside. It looked lovely. It had white chairs for guests to sit, and a little aisle between them. It was perfect. Part of her wished that they’d have some guests, she shrugged. It wasn’t as though she’d ever even dreamed of a wedding growing up. She had what mattered—the man she loved, and who loved her. Having guests and someone to walk you down the aisle—that was for other girls. Girls who’d lived very different lives than she had. She was fortunate she even had friends now. She’d never had real friends before. Family had never been part of the picture for her. She’d been as good as dead to her parents since she was seventeen.
Chase put an arm around her shoulders and smiled down at her. “Are you happy with this?”
She reached up to plant a kiss on his lips. “I am. I’m happy with you and that’s what it’s all about. We’re not the kind to do anything traditional. This is right for us.”
“As long as you’re sure.”
“I am. I love you. I want to marry you. Right here, right now.” She turned to look at April and Eddie.
April was texting someone, no doubt checking up on Marcus. She looked guilty when she caught Kenzie watching her.
“Is everything okay?” asked Kenzie.
April nodded. “I hope so. I have a confession to make.”
Kenzie frowned. “And what’s that?”
April went to the door and looked out. She beckoned to someone, before turning back to Kenzie. “I told Megan.”
Kenzie’s eyes filled with tears when her sister came in through the door. She smiled and held up a large bag. “Sorry if you don’t want me, but I wondered if you want to borrow my dress?”
Kenzie swiped at the happy tears that were rolling down her face. “I do want you! This is amazing! I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” She looked at April. “And I’m glad you did! Thank you.”
April was visibly relieved as she smiled back.
Kenzie looked at Chase. He was beaming.
“Did you know?”
He shook his head. “I had no idea.” He grinned at Megan, but I’m so glad you’re here. Is Michael with you?”
Megan nodded as Ethan peeked his head around the door. “Is it safe yet?” he asked.
Kenzie laughed. “Come on in, monkey, and bring your dad.”
Ethan grinned. “What about the others?”
Kenzie stared at Megan. “What others?”
Megan grinned. “Um, all of them?”
“All of them?” Kenzie’s heart felt as though it might burst. She went to the door. She felt as though her knees might buckle under at the sight of all the smiling faces that greeted her. Ethan reached up for a hug. “I don’t know why you thought you could get married without me here, Auntie Kenzie.” He gave her a hurt look. “That was pretty dumb of you.”
She sniffed and smiled at him. “You know me. Sometimes I can be
a bit dumb.”
He patted her arm. “That’s okay.”
She laughed as she looked back up at the crowd waiting outside.
“So, are we invited?” asked Missy.
“Of course you are! Come on in! This is wonderful!” She couldn’t quite believe it as they all trooped in. Emma and Jack, Pete and Holly, Missy and Dan, Smoke and Laura, Michael came to join Megan, and Gabe and Renée. Even the oldies. Ben’s grandpa, Joe. Emma’s Gramps. Pete’s parents, who she always thought must be stuck up, but had found out this weekend were awesome. Jack and Dan’s mom, Laura’s mom. She tried to swallow back a fresh wave of happy tears as Doc Morgan came in and gave her a hug.
“Thanks for being here,” she mumbled.
He hugged her tight. “We wouldn’t miss it for the world. We consider you girls family.”
Kenzie wiped her sleeve over her eyes as Lizzie stepped up. “And that makes me mother of the bride,” she said. “So I’ll give you a minute with Ben, and then we need to get you ready.”
Ben brought up the rear. He smiled and held his arms open to her. She couldn’t stop the tears that were streaming down as he hugged her. He patted her back and stroked her hair. Eventually she sniffed and looked up at him. “Sorry, boss. I guess I’m a bit emotional.”
His smile was so kind. “Quit with the boss shit, would you? We’re family. Or at least I feel like we are. So, I was wondering…” It seemed as though he was pretty choked up himself.
“Wondering what?” she asked.
“If you’d like me to walk you down the aisle?”
Kenzie sobbed. She couldn’t keep it in! This was all too wonderful. It was so much more than she’d ever dreamed of, certainly much more than she felt she deserved.
Ben smiled. “Hey, no need to cry. If you hate the idea that much, just say no.”
She slapped his arm. “Asshole! I’d love it. I would absolutely love it. Thank you.”
He nodded. “It’ll be my honor.”
He gestured toward Lizzie and Megan who were waiting for her outside the little changing room. “Since we messed up your makeup with all those tears, you might want to go get ready.”
She nodded and went to join them, wondering if she might be dreaming.
~ ~ ~
Chase stood at the front of the chapel with Eddie by his side. He couldn’t quite believe how this had all worked out. He was thrilled. For himself as much as for Kenzie. He loved Summer Lake, he loved the life he and Kenzie had started there. He loved that they had such a great group of friends, though like her, he didn’t feel they were part of the group. He’d always felt just that little bit apart from them. They had so much history together. This though? Today? They were proving it, leaving no room for any doubt whatsoever that they saw him and Kenzie as two of their own. It meant the world to him. It meant so much more than he had words for.
“Are you all right?” asked Eddie.
He nodded. He didn’t want to risk words, the lump in his throat might not let them out.
He looked around the now crowded room. They were all smiling back at him. He could feel the love and support coming off them in waves. It was amazing. He caught Smoke’s eye. Smoke grinned and nodded at him. Dan smiled and gave him the thumbs up. Michael winked at him. Over on the other side, Emma gave him a little wave. He had to laugh as Jack scowled at her then gave Chase a mock stern look. It seemed a lifetime ago that he’d been new at the lake and had had his eye on Emma. Jack had soon set him straight about that. Emma was nice, but she was no Kenzie. She and Jack were perfect together. Just like him and Kenzie.
He turned to watch Kenzie as she came out and took her place at the other end of the short aisle, with Ben at her side. He had to swallow around that lump in his throat. He even wiped his fingers quickly over his eyes as the canned music began. He, and everyone else, burst out laughing when instead of the Wedding March, the theme tune from Jaws began to play. That was so Kenzie! He had no idea when she’d set that up, but he was glad she had.
After the first few bars, it changed to the Wedding March. He felt like he’d been sucker punched. All the air rushed out of his lungs as she held onto Ben’s arm and walked toward him. She was so goddamned beautiful! He knew it was Megan’s dress she was wearing, but it looked as though it had been made for her. It was much more modest than anything she would have chosen for herself, but it suited her perfectly. It matched her soft, sweet smile as she met his gaze. He felt like the luckiest man on earth. She was his. She loved him, and she was about to marry him.
When they reached the front, Ben smiled at him. He bent down to kiss Kenzie’s cheek and stepped to the side. Chase wanted to hug him. That guy had made everything possible for the two of them.
The minister stepped up. “Friends and family. We are gathered here today...”
Chase looked at Kenzie and they both smiled through the tears. They really were surrounded by friends and family, something neither of them had expected. Something neither of them would ever forget.
~ ~ ~
Jack smiled at Emma. In some ways it seemed like yesterday that they’d taken their own wedding vows. In other ways, it seemed like a lifetime ago. They’d come so far in their first year together, and now they were expecting their first child. She smiled back up at him, making his heart swell in his chest. Whenever she smiled at him, her eyes shone with love. It had taken him a long time to earn it, but they shone with trust, too. He vowed again to himself that he would never do anything to break that trust. He’d spend the rest of his life taking care of her and their baby. He looked across at Pete, wondering if the wedding ceremony might make his partner feel as sentimental as he did himself. It sure looked like it!
~ ~ ~
Pete slid his arm around Holly’s shoulders as he listened to the minister’s words. “To have and to hold. To cherish and to protect…”
Her smile told him she remembered the way he’d proposed to her. He breathed a happy sigh. They’d put each other through some shit these last few months, but they were out the other side now. They could make it right. He knew it. He couldn’t help smiling to himself. He even had a plan!
~ ~ ~
Dan closed his hand around the back of Missy’s neck. She looked up into his eyes. Tomorrow this would be them. He couldn’t wait! He was even more excited now that her dad was going to be here. His mind was already racing on to how he was going to manage things so she wouldn’t find out.
“I think the risk paid off, don’t you?” she whispered. “This was a good surprise for them.”
He nodded, hoping that she’d like his surprise for her even more tomorrow.
~ ~ ~
Smoke squeezed Laura’s hand and smiled when she squeezed right back. Weddings normally bored him, but he was really touched by this. He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. Kenzie had come such a long way since she first came to the lake. He couldn’t help feeling a sense of pride that he and Laura had been the ones who had taken Chase to rescue her from what she’d been living in Nashville. He sure as hell wouldn’t call it a life. He was happy for the two of them. And for the first time, he felt impatient. He wanted to be the one standing up there with his lady. He wanted to stand before God and their friends and families and vow to Laura to love her and make her happy for the rest his life.
Her blue eyes shone as she smiled up at him. She looked around the room and raised an eyebrow. He followed her gaze, not understanding. Did she mean the people or the décor? He knew she loved everybody here. The room itself was a pleasant surprise to him, for a Vegas chapel. It was done up to feel like rustic courtyard in Tuscany. He raised an eyebrow back at her.
“Let’s get married in the Mediterranean somewhere,” she whispered.
~ ~ ~
Megan rested her head against Michael’s shoulder as Ethan squirmed in between them. He hoped she really was all right with this. It had to be weird for her, going to her sister’s surprise wedding the day after she’d canceled her own. Nah, postponed her own.
> She quelled all his fears when she turned to smile at him. “I’m so happy for them, Michael!” she murmured.
He grinned. “Me, too.” He really was.
“Me three!” Ethan piped up. They both shushed him as those around them chuckled.
~ ~ ~
Gabe watched Renée dab at her eyes. He’d always wondered why women cried at weddings. Today brought him much closer to understanding. He felt a little sentimental himself. Kenzie and Chase were both good people. They deserved happiness as much as, if not more than, anybody here. He knew Kenzie felt like an outsider, and when he first met her, he’d considered her to be one. He was glad to admit now that he’d been very wrong. She’d become one of them. One of the gang. One of the family. Chase had, too. If anything, they belonged more than he himself did. He got a free ticket because he was a born Summer Laker. Watching Kenzie and Chase have their first kiss, he determined that he would earn his place, just like they had.
Renée blew her nose and looked at him. He knew what she was thinking. “Not long now,” he said quietly.
She smiled and he smiled right back. He couldn’t help it when she looked at him like that.
~ ~ ~
Ben stared straight ahead. He started taking inventory in his head. He needed to go down in the cellar at the lodge when they got back and… And what? Even his usual fail safe mind tricks to help him not think about Charlotte couldn’t help him now. He was happy for Kenzie and Chase, was proud to have been a part of their special day. But now he just wanted to get out of here. Even though he put on a brave face, he hated weddings at the best of times. And this sure as hell wasn’t the best of times!
Chapter Nineteen
Missy stood with Emma outside the arrivals point at the airport. Charlotte’s plane was a little late, but at least she was on it. Emma was practically bouncing up and down with excitement.