take breakfast trays up to them,” Ivy said. “Better prepare one for Topper’s parents, too.”
“I’ll give you a hand,” Bennett said, leaving Mitch and Shelly in the dining room.
Soon, news of the elopement ricocheted throughout the inn, with exclamations emitted from various rooms. The bridesmaids and groomsmen gathered in the dining room gossiping and comparing texts they’d received. Bennett heard snippets of conversations between calls to the office until Nan finally suggested he take the rest of the day off.
Topper must have contacted his parents because they were the first to pack and leave, announcing that they were happy for the young couple. Rachel’s friends avoided Eleanor but managed to enjoy the morning at the pool, especially when Topper’s buddies joined them. Soon they packed their bags and continued the party at the beach. Bennett was glad someone was enjoying the sunshine and having a good time.
Bennett was in the library when he heard Eleanor and Churchill checking out. He sauntered out to be near Ivy. Just in case.
“I wish we’d met under better circumstances,” Churchill said as he signed the final bill.
Eleanor was sitting nearby looking pale and deflated, her fiery anger doused with cold reality. Bennett felt sorry for her, even though she had brought most of this upon herself.
Ivy sat next to her and gave her a box of mementos. “I’m sorry the wedding didn’t turn out the way you’d hoped, but Rachel and Topper seem happy. Soon you’ll be welcoming a new baby into the family. That will be such a joy for you and Rachel.”
Dabbing her eyes, Eleanor turned to her. “I only wanted Rachel to have a day she could look back on to remember all of her life. Was that so terrible of me?”
Ivy rested her hand on the other woman’s. “I have two daughters about Rachel’s age. I have to remind myself to listen to what they’re trying to tell me.”
Eleanor looked surprised. “Churchill told me the same thing.” She thanked Ivy and apologized for how she’d acted.
Ivy glanced around. “Is there anything you want to take with you?”
Eleanor shook her head. “Can you dispose of everything? I don’t want the reminders. Maybe you can give the flowers away.”
“Of course,” Ivy said.
At that moment, Bennett joined them. Watching Ivy deal with Eleanor spoke volumes to him of her character and compassion. Every day he fell a little bit more in love with her.
After the Yorks and Eleanor’s sister Lillian had departed, Bennett followed Ivy to the sunroom where Shelly and Mitch were talking, surrounded by mounds of flowers.
“It’s over,” Ivy said, sinking into a chair. Bennett sat beside her, marveling at the work Shelly had put into the flowers.
“And all this?” Shelly asked, gesturing around the room.
“To do with as we like,” Ivy replied.
With a look that lit his face with joy, Mitch waggled his eyebrows. Bennett stared at him until it dawned on him what Mitch had in mind.
And he thought it was perfect.
Gingerly, Mitch eased himself to the floor on one knee and took Shelly’s hand. “Shelly Bay,” he began. “You’re the moon to my tides. I love you more than the infinite grains of sand. Will you marry me on the beach tonight, surrounded by all these sweet flowers and those we love?”
Shelly broke into a smile, and she cried out, “Oh, yes! Yes, I will.”
“Now you’re going to have to help me up,” Mitch said, gritting his teeth through his joyful smile. “I mean it. I banged up both knees in that accident, and I can’t move.”
Through tears of happiness, Shelly helped him up.
All at once, there were hugs all around. Ivy embraced her sister, Bennett hugged Mitch and Ivy, and Shelly threw her arms around everyone.
“Woo-hoo,” Shelly called out. “We’re going to have a wedding!”
Bennett had never seen Ivy so happy for Shelly. As they went out to phone Carlotta and Sterling, Bennett clasped Ivy’s hand. “I wish the same for us someday soon.”
“So do I,” Ivy said, drawing his hand to her heart. “We’ll need that marriage license first.” She sighed. “I have so much paperwork to straighten out that I hardly know where to start.”
Bennett chuckled. “It’s okay. Do what you have to do. I’m not going anywhere.” Whether they were married or not, his heart belonged to Ivy.
20
Ivy was thrilled that Shelly and Mitch were getting married today. She couldn’t think of a better ending to the disaster that Eleanor had perpetrated. In the flower-filled sunroom that overlooked the pool, Ivy sat at a