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  “I’m ready,” I say as lean in and capture his lips with mine. Right now, it’s as if we are where we belong. That this was always the plan for us. Now, I get to plan another wedding, but with the hopes of forever in the end.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Justin

  It’s been four months since Leslie agreed to marry me. Two months of shuttling back and forth between California and Georgia. Oh, did I mention the bride-to-be has gone mad? Yes, it seems that this wedding has to be so different than the first that Leslie hasn’t just made herself mad, but Haddie too. I keep reminding her that as long as it’s her walking down the aisle toward me, I don’t care about anything else. I tried to talk her into just going to the courthouse and getting married, but she wouldn’t hear another word. Instead, tomorrow we are getting married in the courtyard of the Inn. Haddie has cleared the whole place out, and it’s ours for the weekend. I’ve booked all the rooms she has for our guests and have filled a few other smaller bed and breakfasts around the island. Over the years, I always knew something was missing. I just didn’t know what it was until I came back here all those months ago. I’m not sure if Christina knew or if fate just had a hand in the game, but coming back here to write my last book was the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.

  “Dude, you ready to get hitched?” Elliott says as he pats my shoulder.

  “More than you know. Thanks for helping with everything while I’ve been gone.”

  “Didn’t have a choice, not when it comes to Leslie. Would’ve done it either way.”

  “So when are you dropping to one knee with Haddie?” I ask.

  “Haven’t even whispered the L word yet, so I’m positive it’ll be awhile before that happens.”

  “You do know that she would say yes if you asked her, right?”

  “Maybe, but we just gave us a title so I think I’ll take it slow.”

  “Any slower you two will be eighty before you marry.”

  “That’s the same thing Leslie said to me yesterday.” Elliott laughs as he walks around the bar and grabs a piece of paper from next to the cash register.

  “Here are the things that need to be picked up from the hardware store and delivered to the Inn before four today,” he says as he slides it across the old beaten up bar top. My eyes travel down the list and can’t help but chuckle when I see the bottom.

  ‘Groom must arrive by three to claim the bride before she turns into a pumpkin’

  “Guess I better get going before I’m late to my own reception.”

  “See ya tonight,” Elliott says with a quick wave as he helps a customer.

  I stroll down the riverfront, making my way back toward the bookstore and taking in our surroundings. There’s a breeze in the air; it’s not cold but just enough to give you a little chill as the coolness meets your skin. Summer is coming to an end. The tourists have all left the island, and the place now belongs back to the locals. This is why we picked September to get married. It would be private, maybe a few stragglers along the way, but nothing like it would have been over the summer. Not to mention, all my book tours are now over, and I can focus on my new wife as we start our life together in California. Yes, I said California. Leslie and I have gone back and forth over this several times, and she won. There’s nothing in this world that I wouldn’t give her, and a fresh start is what she asked for. I wanted to move back here and build us a house overlooking the marsh, while she wanted to hire someone to live in her apartment above the bookstore and run it while we live across the country. With the help of Haddie and Elliott, Leslie found the perfect person to step into her shoes. Mary Anne, Haddie’s cousin, just got out of a bad relationship and needed a fresh start. She’s been training for the last month and moves in the day after tomorrow. I’m still a little nervous with this big of a change for Leslie as this is the only place she’s ever known. This has been her home since the day she was born. Me, well, I can settle anywhere as long as Leslie is next to me. She’s promised that this is what she wants, and for that, I have to trust her.

  Over the last few months, she’s come to stay a few days here and there with me in California, and I have to admit it suits her. The ease of the town, the people, the way she’s blended in, all except for her accent. That gives her away with every single word she utters. It’s cute to watch her blush when a local will ask her where she’s from.

  “Hello, future husband,” Leslie says as she rises from the porch swing to greet me.

  “Hello, future wife, what are you doing out here?”

  “Relaxing and enjoying my spot one last time,” she says as she takes a sip from her coffee cup.

  “If you want a swing on our front porch, I’ll get you one,” I say as I nuzzle my chin in the crook of her neck.

  “Nope, I like your view just as much as this one.”

  “Our view,” I correct her, because soon it will be ours. It’s no longer mine or hers, it’s ours.

  “I know. Where you going?” she asks, and I pull out the list that Elliott just gave me to show her before explaining. “Off to the hardware store for some last minute items. Need anything?”

  “Nope, just for tomorrow to get here.”

  I look down at my watch and back up to her. “In less than twenty-four hours you’ll be saying I do.”

  I watch as she takes a deep breath. “I know, does that scare you? Are you ready for this?”

  “Not scared and more ready than you’ll ever know.”

  “Love you, see you in a few, okay,” Leslie says before turning out of my grip to go back inside. I yell out that I love her too before heading toward my car. Driving down the long stretch of road that takes me to the mainland, I can’t help but think back to that night of the storm when Leslie told me about the information she found on her parents. The closer I get to the bridge, the more I can’t seem to shake this feeling. I take a second to glance up into the rearview mirror and notice the black car speeding toward me. It’s not a car I recognize. I slow down a little, taking in my surroundings before the car flies past me at a high speed. My heart is pounding in my chest as my hands grip the steering wheel tighter. I have to admit that there was a brief moment when I thought this was how it ends. This is where my happy ever after stops. That I’ll never marry the girl that I love. That the curse of the island is real and I’m the next to disappear. Shaking the thought from my head, I loosen my fingers and flex them as I tell myself that I need to remember this is life and not one of my novels. But then, I did mix real and pretend together, forming a line that I might not know which is real. Reaching the bottom of the bridge, the mysterious black car is nowhere to be seen. The sign the Chesney’s Hardware comes in sight, and I pull in and park, ready to get my items and head back so I can get ready.

  With my arms full, I place the items in the trunk. Before I get in the car, I notice a folded piece of paper on my windshield. I look around the parking lot and notice there’s no one but me standing here. With hesitation, I slide the paper out from under the wiper and open it.

  Justin,

  First, we’d like to congratulate you on your wedding. We know this has been a long wait for you, but that’s now over for both you and Leslie.

  Second, we’d like to ask you to leave the island as soon as you are married and to never return. The bookstore will be looked after; her friends will be fine. She’s lived her life here, and we need for you to protect her from the island. Please don’t tell her about this letter as her father and I ask that you keep this between us. She needs to let her wings spread, and that can’t be done here. We’ve stayed away and watched in the shadows of life as our daughter grew up without us. There are reasons for this, and we can’t go into them at this time. Maybe in the future, we can share this with you and her, but for now, please protect our daughter and love her more than you love life. She deserves happiness, she deserves you.

  You have our blessing in the marriage to our little girl.

  Until we can all be together, take care and
don’t worry; as long as we are hidden you both will never be in danger.

  Is this some kind of joke? This can’t be from Leslie’s parents. Were they the ones who passed me on the highway? I look around one more time and notice a black car with dark windows pulling out of the parking lot across the street, headed in the opposite direction of the island. Folding the paper back up, I place it in my pocket and get inside the car, locking the doors. Today just took a turn, and I’m not sure if I should keep this from Leslie or share? There has to be a reason behind everything, a reason that if they are still out there alive that they’ve stayed away all these years. For now, this will stay buried until I need to share it. There’s no way I’m ruining her day; she deserves to have the best day I can give her.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Leslie

  Today’s the last morning that I’ll wake in my bed above the bookstore. This afternoon my name will change and forever be Leslie Albott. I’ll no longer be Leslie Owens-Powell the girl who lived above the bookstore on Kingston Island. I’ll now be the wife of the amazing mystery writer, Justin Albott, her childhood crush turned husband. It’s crazy how my life has changed over the years. How before Justin came back, I thought I’d die alone on this island. The generations after me would all have different versions of the old lady who lived above the bookstore. Now, there’s a new story. One where the lonely store owner wins the heart of her childhood crush and lives happily ever after in Malibu, California. This is a day that I thought would never happen. A day that I’m not only happy, but gloomy. When I married Jack, I knew it wouldn’t last deep down, but I was trying to hide behind him. Hide from life when I didn’t want to be front and center. Standing here, while my best friend does my hair, I’m ready to run down the aisle to the person I love. The one I don’t want to hide behind. I want to stand tall next to him. Carry his fears and joys on my shoulders just as he does mine. However, I wish Nan was here to witness this. She always knew that somehow Justin and I would find our way back to each other. I use to think she was crazy, but she knew all along that this was our destiny.

  “Take a look and let me know what you think,” Haddie says as she hands me the mirror to look at my hair. I take in the way it’s positioned in a low off to the side bun with wispy hairs framing my face. Last time, I did the big dress, the frills and lace. This time, I wanted simple. I wanted what fit Justin’s and my lives—simple and in love.

  We’re getting married in the courtyard behind the Inn where the flowers are still in bloom, and the ivy is still as green as it can be over the white trellises. My dress is pure white, but simple. It’s longer in the back, the front cascading down to right below my knees. The top has a thin layer of lace, covering my flesh as it plays peek-a-boo with the world. It’s romantic. Haddie’s placed specks of babies’ breath through the bun of my hair, giving a softer touch to the hairstyle. My makeup is simple with a light pink gloss over my lips. My bouquet is done with ivory and blush pink peony flowers, the stems wrapped in white silk with Nan’s Victorian cameo brooch. I didn’t use this when I married Jack, as I didn’t care about the traditions of something old, something borrowed, and something blue. Today, this is my old. My borrowed is resting in my ears as Haddie had a pair of her mother’s blush pink diamond earrings. They were perfect for today, and I’m thankful she was kind enough to let me borrow them. My blue, well, the only person who will see that is Justin when he takes my garter off at the reception. Instead of wearing heels that will kill my feet, I settled for bridal flats. The silk and lace match the style of my dress and can even be worn again in the future.

  “It’s perfect, Haddie,” I say as I’m still staring at my reflection in the mirror.

  “It is, isn’t it.”

  “Thank you,” I say to her as I turn in my chair and wrap my arms around her waist. Lingering a little longer than I should, I can hear the sniffles coming from her. I pull back and look up before asking, “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, I just realized that today is the last day I’ll see you, and I’m going to miss you.”

  “You’ll see me; I promise I’m not disappearing.”

  “No, but who will I drink coffee with every morning and run across the street to?”

  “You’ll have Mary Anne here.”

  “Not the same, but I’ll survive I guess.”

  “Haddie, I’m only a plane ride or call away. Just because I’m moving, doesn’t mean I’ll forget about you. You’re like a sister to me, and that’s a bond nothing can break.”

  “I know; it’ll be an adjustment but I’ll be okay.”

  “Plus, you have Elliott, and that’s something you need to work on. You pushed me to Justin, now it’s my turn to push you to him,” I remind her as I stand and move across the room to where my dress is hanging from the hook on the closet door. Slipping my robe off, I hand the dress to Haddie as she helps me step in and zip up the back. Once the fabric is latched on the back, I turn toward the hanging mirror on the wall and take in the way my attire has just fallen into place. It’s not a million-dollar ensemble, but it’s me and I hope Justin loves the dress. I remember hearing someone in my past talk about how the groom should be shocked when he sees his bride for the very first time. That’s what I want today. Not that I need him to not recognize me, I’m just never in a dress as I prefer jeans and shorts.

  “I’m going to go find Elliott and let him know we’re almost ready,” Haddie says as she steps away, giving me a moment to put my feelings together.

  “Okay,” I say as I smooth down the front of the fabric. I turn to the side and back to the front, repeating this on each side and making sure that everything is tailored down.

  There’s a light knock on the door. “Come in,” I say, turning toward it to see who’s coming to visit me before the ceremony starts.

  “Wow, you look amazing,” Elliott says, stepping closer.

  “Thanks, and thanks for being the one to walk me down the aisle.”

  “Welcome. You about ready?”

  “More than you know,” I respond, giving him the full ear to ear smile.

  “Funny, that’s the same thing Justin just said.”

  I can’t help the laugh that escapes as I picture Justin saying the same thing to Elliott.

  Haddie is my maid of honor, and Elliott is not only walking me down the aisle but will stand next to Justin as his best man.

  “Let’s do this,” I say, gesturing out my hand for him to take.

  Elliott and I stand next to the glass doors that open up to the back courtyard. We watch as Haddie makes her entrance and disappears from our line of sight. On cue, the wedding march begins. Elliott pats my arm as we begin to walk toward the door. Just as I raise my head up to glance down at the altar, that’s when I see it. The look of admiration on Justin’s face. It’s the moment that I’ve been waiting for all these years. That first glance of your husband. The first glance of your wife. The moment when you both know this is it, that you’re about to profess all your love to each other before your closest friends and family. Maybe I had to make the mistakes in life to know the good. I’m not sure what led me on the path that I took, but it finally placed me right where I belong. I think Justin was right that night when he said we were too young to know how to love each other. That we needed to grow before we could become one.

  My eyes are locked with his. With each step, I don’t venture off to look at the crowd. It’s almost as if they aren’t here. That the only people in this wedding are us.

  Elliott places my hand into Justin’s and steps around him to his new role as best man. I’d asked the pastor to not ask who gives me away, and he agreed to follow our wishes. We make it to the vows that Justin wrote for us to promise each other. I mean why not, right?

  Justin grips my hands in his a little tighter, connecting our eyes together as if he’s engraving them with his words. “I promise to encourage your compassion, because that’s what makes you unique and wonderful. I promise to nurture your dreams, becau
se through them you shine. I promise to help shoulder our challenges, because there is nothing we cannot face if we’re standing together. I promise to be your partner in all things, not possessing you, but working with you as a part of the whole. Lastly, I promise to love and trust. This is my sacred vow to you. My love, my partner, my everything.”

  As a tiny stream of tears run down my face, Justin reaches up and wipes them away as I begin to say the same vows back to him. My voice cracks as I try to keep it together, waiting for the pastor to announce us as man and wife. Justin doesn’t wait until those words are completely said before he captures both sides of my face in his hands and pulls me toward his lips to seal our marriage.

  We turn toward the crowd and for the first time in a very long time, I let happiness and love shine brightly to all of our friends and family. Today is the day that I got my happy ever after. Today, we’ll follow the arrows in life as they’ll always lead us in the right direction.

  Justin

  As the music started and Haddie was standing up across from me, I raised my head at the perfect moment. I was afraid to breathe as if I might miss something, but in all honesty, Leslie took all the air in my lungs away. She’d told me she would be simple but romantic, and she was right. Actually, no, she was wrong. She’s anything but simple. She’s amazing, brilliant, romantic, and all mine. After taking her hand in mine, I noticed some movement off past the flower garden. Trying to keep my eyes on her, as I don’t want her to turn around, I quickly scan the area. That’s when I spot them—her parents behind the tree watching as we say our vows to each other. After I kiss her and the pastor announces us as man and wife, I look back to notice they’re gone but the black vehicle that I saw yesterday is driving slowly down the street toward the edge of the island. I’ve still not said a word to anyone about the encounter. They said they were protecting her. After all these years, I have to follow their lead now. If she needs protecting, that’s what I will die doing. No one from the past will be able to put a frown on her face. It’s my job now to watch after her, to give her the life that she’s always deserved, plus more.