Page 74 of SEAL'S Baby Surprise
I am saved from having to further defend my decisions by Richard’s arrival with Andrea, his head secretary, and a bevy of other secretaries – male as well as female.
As they settle in to address the invitations and add postage to them, he comes over and drapes an arm around me.
I’m a little startled. Richard has never been one for demonstrations of affection. But I don’t shove him away. Family is important. And Rosalee was right about one thing: he had worried.
“Are you sure about this guy, Austin?” he says.
“Do you know something I don’t?” I ask. “Because as far as I can tell, he’s the best life event I’ve ever had.”
“You know what?” he says. “That’s almost exactly what he said about finding you on the beach. I’m glad for both of you. Since I’m the one walking you down the aisle, I want to make sure you are not making another mistake.”
“No,” I say, “I think I’m getting it right this time.”
Rosalee hadn’t needed to worry about the weather. Valentine’s Day dawns bright and beautiful. The cherry trees and peach trees are blooming out, and a soft breeze blows in from the west — not enough to make everyone miserable, just enough to bring the scent of the ocean.
Still, the pavilion looks beautiful in the meadow at the Vineyard, and the garden club and other people have done a beautiful job of decorating it.
I have my own little private tent in which to finish getting ready. I’m so excited! I can hardly wait.
Artie and Mrs. Hubbard are putting the last touches on a huge first aid kit that is their wedding gift to me. Rosalee and Kandis fuss over my dress.
It’s one of my designs, but there are no gems on this one. It is a watered-silk, in shades of blue, aquamarine, and pale green, with foamy splashes of white — just like the ocean.
I’m going to be Austin’s mermaid, just as he so often calls me.
My veil is a filmy aquamarine color that floats on the slightest breeze. With all that green color, pink, or red flowers are right out, so I’m carrying a bouquet of white carnations and baby’s breath.
And I have a wreath of them in my hair, which has grown out long enough to style. They smell so good! I feel like I’m walking springtime, or as if I’m crowned in sea foam, and carrying froth in my hands.
The dress is designed to look like the scales of a mermaid’s tail. It emphasizes my breasts and makes no pretense of hiding my advanced pregnancy.
The train floats along behind me, with a soft froth of white lace visible beneath the hem — just like the waves I once begged to carry me away.
Now, I’m being carried away by a different kind of wave. But this one is a wave of life, and love, and immeasurable happiness.
There’s no prenuptial agreement. Austin says that whatever is his, is also mine. And that whatever is mine, I can do whatever I please with it. I’m not sure that’s a fair arrangement, but Richie says not to worry about it.
Julia skips and dances along ahead of us, scattering the only pink in the whole wedding: a basket of pink rose petals. It almost seems a waste, but they mingle with the cherry blossoms that are also drifting down, carpeting the walks.
Our music isn’t the traditional processional. Instead, it’s an instrumental rendition of “Bicycle Built for Two.” Maybe if we’d had one, I wouldn’t have gotten banged up trying to learn to ride. Austin says that I can go back to learning after the baby gets big.
Richard says he’s tired of hearing me say, “Austin says.” But he doesn’t seem too unhappy about it.
It’s an easy stroll down the petal strewn path to where the Reverend is waiting for us. I don’t know what denomination he is, and I don’t really care.
What matters to me is that Austin and I and Julia and our new baby will all be a family. There won’t be any boarding schools for our kids.
There won’t be any separate vacations for Austin and me. We’ll live, love, and be happy together. And maybe have a spat or two, and then make up.
I smile to myself. I like the idea of making up. It’s the best part of quarreling, when you’ve gotten way past the tears and name calling, then the explaining and the apologizing. Mostly, we kind of skip that part, and go straight for the making up.
We stand together in front of the Reverend whoever. I gaze up into Austin’s eyes. He looks back at me, and I’ve never seen anyone else ever have such an expression of tenderness.
Somehow, I remember to say, “yes,” and “I do” in all the right places. No one leaps out of the audience to object, and before you know it, the reverend is introducing us as man and wife.
Then there’s accepting congratulations from a long line of people. Then cutting the cake, and then finally, we get to sit down and enjoy feeding each other. It’s like that line in the Woodstock movie, “Keep feeding each other. You’re beautiful.”
We feed Julia a few bites, but she gobbles down her slice and her ice cream, then goes racing through the crowd with Bobby, Betty, and some people who seem to be cousins.
