Sunset on Moonlight Beach - Sheila Roberts Page 0,125
The bride wore her mother’s wedding gown, special both because Mel had worn it and because her friend Courtney had designed it. Celeste acted as Jenna’s matron of honor, and Sabrina as her bridesmaid. Seth’s sister, who Jenna finally got to meet, came up from California for the wedding, bringing his mother, who happily cried through the whole ceremony. Seth’s brother brought his family down, and he stood as Seth’s best man while Ellis West served as his other groomsman. Nemo the dog was a well-behaved ring bearer.
Tyrella and her new man sang at the wedding, and Jenna walked to her groom as they sang “Amazed” by Lonestar. After the I-do’s, they sang “When God Made You” by NewSong as Jenna and Seth poured white and blue sand, the colors of the Driftwood Inn, into a heart-shaped ceremony glass, and Jenna felt the tears slipping down her cheeks. Finally, after a long, hard year, tears of joy.
Once the ceremony was over the party began, with a hundred people finding seats at the tables that had been set up under a white wedding tent or helping themselves to Annie’s champagne punch, her gift to the bride and groom. Two long serving tables were loaded with all kinds of picnic food, including a batch of Aunt Edie’s famous baked beans, and a smaller table offered a cupcake bar with every imaginable flavor of cupcake, lovingly baked by her mother and sister and daughter.
Brody, true to his word, came to the wedding. “Just so I could kiss the bride,” he teased, making Seth frown. “If you ever get tired of him...” he began.
“She won’t,” Seth said, his frown turning into a smirk as he looked back at Jenna. Maybe those two could be friends at last.
Brody took Jenna’s hands in his and kissed her cheek. “I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you,” she murmured. “For everything.”
It was a bittersweet moment. She did love Brody and would always be grateful for his friendship and all he’d done to help her. But much as she loved him, she loved Seth more.
“Where will you two live?” Nora asked later as they visited with her.
Seth and Jenna exchanged smiles and Jenna replied, “In Aunt Edie’s house.” Seth already had his place set up as a beach rental and was more than happy to share the house where Jenna had made so many good memories. Together they would pack in more.
Sunset finished the day with a blaze of orange and red. Darkness slipped in, and as the moon made her appearance, Celeste lit the miniature starfish candles that had been set out on the tables, and Tyrella lit the tiki torches she’d supplied and put around the party spot. The scene turned magical. Soon everyone was dancing to the music of a local all-girls band called The Mermaids.
The bride and groom had opted out of dancing their first dance as husband and wife for all the world to watch, preferring to have their special moment among the sea of well-wishers.
“Happy?” Seth asked as he snugged her up against him.
“Beyond happy. And you?”
He smiled at her with that dark pirate smile that had attracted her the moment she met him. “Happy doesn’t even come close. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I can’t believe you chose me.”
“For life,” she warned him. “This is my happy-ever-after, so you can’t ruin it for me.”
“Trust me. I never will,” he promised, and she knew she could believe him.
Anxious to enjoy their own private party, the newlyweds didn’t linger long at the reception after the dancing had begun. Annie caught the bouquet, and Jenna hoped it was a sign that, somewhere down the road, she, too, would find love.
Jenna and Seth honeymooned at the Driftwood Inn, and as he carried her over the threshold into the same room he’d once rented, she felt sure that Aunt Edie was looking down on her and smiling.
* * *
Your Friends from
Moonlight Harbor
Are Sure You’ll Be Smiling
When You Try These Recipes
ANNIE’S PORTUGUESE DOUGHNUTS
Makes 3 dozen
Ingredients:
2 cups biscuit mix
1 cup milk
1 egg
½ tsp lemon or almond extract
1 Tbsp granulated sugar
4 slices of bread cut in 36 pieces
Oil for frying
Extra granulated sugar for coating
Directions:
Heat oil (2–3 inches) to 375 degrees in a deep fryer (or you can also use a tall pot). Stir together biscuit mix, milk, egg and extract and beat until smooth. Dip bread pieces into batter and fry until golden brown. Drain and roll in granulated sugar.