Page 77 of The Holiday Honeymoon Switch
They touch their glasses, toast to their futures. Then Holly looks down at her glass. “The last time I drank this kind of tequila with you, almost exactly one year ago, I thought my world was ending.”
“I know. And I never imagined any of this could happen.”
“Really, our worlds were about to change. Things fell apart, but only so we could rebuild them the way they needed to be.” She smiles. “You know, I think one of the best parts of this year was seeing your work in galleries again.”
Ivy smiles back at her. “I can’t believe how lucky I am. That I fought it for so long, yet it’s all working out.”
“The art you did here in Kauai last year was some of your best—and you just keep getting better.” Holly taps her glass against Ivy’s again. “Plus all those commissions for the restaurant chain meant you could quit your job. And travel with Oliver.”
“The only drawback is not being able to see you as much,” Ivy says, meeting Holly’s eyes in the mirror as she swipes gloss over her lips. She turns to Holly, her expression warm. “But we make it work, don’t we?”
“And we always will. We have our rule: once per season, bare minimum. Plus, I love spending every weekend in Krimbo with Aiden, but it’s nice that when the four of us go on vacations, it’s always somewhere exotic and fabulous with you two.”
“AndIlove that when we come to stay in Krimbo, we get to be at that magical Christmas tree farm Aiden bought, after George Plaskett decided he and Mrs. Claws needed to downsize to an apartment above…where is it?”
“Above Viola’s Dress Barn,” Holly says. “He’s very happy—and Mrs. Claws never gets outside by accident anymore.”
“So, how much vacation do you think your new firm is going to give you this year? Oliver and I were thinking late-winter vacation in Thailand, beach huts, weeks of relaxation?”
“Oh, that sounds heavenly. And they’re pretty easygoing—I really love working at a start-up environmental justice firm. We’re in.”
Ivy turns and takes a mermaid-style slip dress from a hanger on the back of the bathroom door, then says, “Help me so I don’t get makeup on it?” The dress is silk, its color subtle, just the barest hint of blue.
Holly helps her friend with the dress, zips it for her, then says, “You lookperfect. Just like I knew you would. Okay, now help me.”
Holly’s dress is the color of the Hawaiian sky at dusk, and shorter than Ivy’s, simpler in style. Once her dress is on, Holly sets a flower crown on her friend’s head and sighs happily as she looks at her. “The most beautiful bride in the world.”
“Will you be next, do you think?” Ivy says, adjusting the flowers, releasing their gentle frangipani scent into the room.
“Oh, sure,” Holly says. “I know I’ll always be with Aiden—we just work, you know?”
“Oh, I know. I’ve seen you two together,” Ivy says, her smile growing.
“But we’re in no rush. It’s nice to just…see where life takes us. Focus on this new job, on our time in the city and Krimbo, on how much I love Aiden and how glad I am he’s in my life. On planning our next epic vacation.”
“I love that Oliver and Aiden have become such good friends,” Ivy says.
Holly laughs. “Very convenient,” she says. “I’m not surewe could have had it any other way. Okay, I can hear the music starting. Are you ready?”
“Soready,” Ivy says.
They leave the villa and walk out to the deck, where they see a small group of friends and family gathered on the sand below. A musical trio plays a slow, romantic version of “Sea of Love” on lutes and ukulele. Aiden is waiting at the base of the stairs and takes Holly’s arm, but not before smiling down at her lovingly, whispering “You look gorgeous,” and giving her a kiss. The maid of honor and groomsman walk down an aisle in the sand strewn with hibiscus petals, followed by Larry—whom Oliver christened his “best mate” for the ceremony—and Shira. They all head toward the arc of flowers set up just out of reach of the ocean waves.
Ivy steps forward and walks barefoot toward Oliver, who is standing with Ivy’s father—who got himself ordained as an ecumenical minister so he could perform the wedding ceremony. Ivy’s mother sits in the front row beside Oliver’s sister. Ivy blows her mom a kiss, then turns her attention to Oliver, standing waiting for her by the sea. He mouthsWowas she walks toward him, surer this is what she wants than she has ever been of anything. When she reaches Oliver’s side, she turns to Holly, and the best friends hold each other’s gazes for a long, perfect moment.
Just as the sun begins to set over the Kauai beach and the shadows start to lengthen, the small holiday wedding partywitnesses a happy ending to a story about true love—not just between romantic partners but also between true friends forever.
“I do,” Ivy whispers.
“I do,” Oliver whispers back.
Then she turns and tosses her orchid bouquet in the air, and Holly catches it before tumbling backward into Aiden’s arms. He is only too happy to catchher.
