Page 81 of Grand Escape

Putting her fork down, Rylan gave me a serious look. “This is going to be a stupid question, but is that really a thing? My not being Jewish?”

“It is a thing. Sadly. I think if Becca were still around, my mom would be less forgiving and push for her kids to marry within the faith. But we learned a very hard way how precious life is, and you can’t sweat the stuff that’s out of your control. At least, that’s what my therapist helped me to see. It’s not anything more than my mom wanting our culture to continue, but now she wants to see me happy, and you make me happy. Being here with you makes me happy.”

“I don’t even know what my job will look like if I take the promotion, so I’m not there yet. Ready for kids, I mean.”

“Hey, I’m only here for you. Anything else is icing on the cake.”

“But I don’t have a culture to pass on, so for the record, I’m fine with yours. God, Banks is going to hunt me down until I agree to take the job.”

Needing to be closer, I moved over to Rylan’s bench and kissed her. “You’re damn good at what you do, so you should say yes to Banks. Make it work for you, period. I can have Cal help with the contracts.”

“Oh my God, enough serious talk for a moment. You own a house here. You want me to live there and go with you back to the snowy states. Chewy knew this whole plan. And Sam. I’m going to kill him. And I’m rambling, so you should kiss me.”

I did as I was told, taking her cheek in my palm and holding her like a precious commodity. When my lips found hers, we tried to keep it PG, but I felt myself getting hard and heard Rylan’s breath quicken.

“Want to go back to the new house and maybe christen it?”

Her forehead met mine, and I felt her nod against me. “Yep.”

Rylan

Several months later

As I stood out on the patio with the waves crashing before me and the sun starting to sink on the horizon, it felt like home.

Of course, it was the best view of any accommodation at the Grand Escape. The Orchid Villa had three bedrooms, two bathrooms, its own plunge pool, and an enormous veranda—a far cry from my former staff villa.

A breeze stirred the beach-styled waves falling down my back, but I didn’t care. A beach wedding called for beach hair and an easygoing attitude. It was the way I’d decided to live my life years ago, and I was lucky enough to find someone who didn’t make me abandon that idea. Looked like my parents named me after an island meadow, not knowing I’d live up to the name.

I pulled my satin robe a little tighter as I looked toward the small area set up on the beach for my wedding.

Our wedding.

Tears pricked my eyes, threatening to destroy the makeup Brianna had carefully applied an hour ago. I pulled in a few calming breaths, steadying my emotions so I could keep my makeup intact. Brianna would have a tantrum of epic proportions if I messed up her hard work.

The fact that my heart was on the verge of rupturing was a whole different story. Happiness, nerves, jitters, and absolute fulfillment swirled through all four chambers, filling every bit of my overflowing heart.

Focusing out at the sand helped keep me calm.

The beach staff had cleared the area earlier, and now were busy moving a few lounge chairs that remained along the perimeter of the wedding area. I told them I’d help, but they refused.

It didn’t feel right having my fellow employees work so hard for my event, but there was no convincing them otherwise. They also knew Adam was a good tipper, and I was sure he’d spoken to them earlier in the week. He’d become fast friends with everyone at the resort, and seemingly, the whole island.

Since I’d finally given in and taken the job as an event planner for the hotel last fall, Adam and I had split our time between Grand Cayman and the States. Luckily, Mr. Banks allowed me a flexible schedule, so I worked virtually when I was in Michigan, but was on hand for most of the winter and spring weddings here. If they needed me in the summer, I flew down.

Now, it was late April. The spring breakers were done torturing us, and the summer swell hadn’t started yet. It was the quietest time on the island, and the most peaceful.

Well, other than Chewy and his crew taking over the pool every day leading up to the wedding. As soon as he arrived at the pool deck, with his entourage and big wallet, mayhem ensued.

“You look gorgeous.” Shell sneaked up behind me, interrupting my quiet thoughts. Wrapping one arm around me, she hugged me to her side as she said softly, “Dad’s almost ready.”

“Thank you for loaning him to me,” I said, sniffing back a tear.

Sam was the first person to break down all my emotional walls, and was more of a father than my actual one. It didn’t matter that we didn’t share any blood—he was family. When I’d asked him if he’d walk me down the aisle, I’d barely had the words out of my mouth when he practically leaped over his coffee counter, shouting, “Of course!”

Shell smiled. “He would have fought off everyone for the honor, including your own father.”

I nodded in agreement. “I’m not sure my father was in the running, not that he even would have wanted to be.”

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