A Nantucket Wedding(89)

Since everyone was here, David suggested they discuss the rehearsal dinner and other details of the wedding. But they were all relaxed after the enormous meal and the conversation and laughter.

Alison made an effort. “All right, everyone. Let’s go over a few things. Heather and Cecil are giving us the rehearsal dinner at their house. Reverend Murray Kenny is flying down from Boston to officiate at the wedding. When everyone is seated, Reverend Kenny will accompany the groom—that’s David—from a side door to the right of the altar.”

    Poppy interrupted, “I think we know the drill.”

“Well, uh, good. Okay,” Alison continued, “the rehearsal dinner.”

“Mom,” Jane interrupted. “I heard a car in the driveway.”

“Yeah,” Felicity agreed. “I think someone’s knocking on the front door.”

“I’ll go,” Poppy said, rising awkwardly, and carrying her belly before her like a ship in full sail, she left the room.

Alison heard voices. A child’s voice. A woman’s voice. Then, light running footsteps, and a little girl with straight black hair and huge brown eyes flew into the room. “Granddad!” she cried, throwing herself on David.

A moment later, Sofia Vergara stood in the doorway. Wait, Alison thought, no, that wasn’t Sofia Vergara, this woman was younger than the actress. Her dress was light brown, almost exactly the color of her skin, which made her look nude, maybe the woman’s intention. Her black hair was swooped up into a formal chignon. Her eyes were as black as night, her face exquisite, her figure voluptuous, her earrings emerald.

She was a goddess.

“Esmeralda,” Ethan said, rising to his feet, his face pale with surprise. “What are you doing here?”

When Esmeralda spoke, her voice was deep and husky. “Darling, we flew in and I rented a car at the airport.”

Her rental is probably a chariot drawn by four white horses, Alison thought giddily.

“But why?” Ethan persisted.

“I’m here for the wedding, of course. David did invite me.”

“But I thought you weren’t coming!” Poppy said, scowling.

Jane and Felicity flashed each other an unspoken message: Looks like Poppy is not Esmeralda’s biggest fan.

Esmeralda smirked. “I wasn’t going to come, but Canny begged me. How could I resist?”

Felicity leaned over to Noah and whispered, “Close your mouth. You’re about to drool on your shirt.”

    Shocked, Ethan said, “But you told me you absolutely couldn’t come.”

Esmeralda smiled sweetly. “Canny’s longing to take part in the ceremony. She wants to be the flower girl. We’ve even brought her dress.”

From the floor, Daphne spoke up. “Alice and I are the flower girls. But I guess we can always have one more.”

Alison stood up. Jane glanced at Felicity, wondering if her sister noticed their mother’s bare feet and white shorts and the old white cotton shirt that had once belonged to David and now was silky soft from wearing. Alison wore no makeup; she seldom did when she was on the island, and the tan she’d acquired over the summer complemented her. Jane thought they were all aware of the contrast between Alison and the exotic Esmeralda. Esmeralda glittered. Alison glowed. Maybe that was what the passing years and all the challenges caused, a deepening of the light you could shine for others.

“Esmeralda, hello! I’m Alison, David’s fiancée. I’m so pleased to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you.” She held out her hand.

Esmeralda’s handshake was brief. “So you are Alison. How very interesting.” She didn’t smile. Her long thick eyelashes accentuated her gleaming black eyes.

“Well,” Alison sputtered, “I hope it’s interesting in a good way.”

David smoothly slid Canny into Ethan’s arms and joined Alison.

“Hello, Esmeralda. This is a surprise.”

“It was a spur of the moment decision.” Esmeralda leaned forward and air kissed both sides of David’s face. “I’m sure that if anyone can understand, you can, David. You and I, we are both extremely busy people.”

Alison rolled her eyes at her daughters and quietly retreated to her chair.

David put an arm around Esmeralda’s shoulders and introduced her to the group. Scott and Noah both stood, trying to hide schoolboy grins.

Jane stood too, and met Esmeralda’s eyes. You don’t scare me, lady, Jane messaged with her eyes. She shook Esmeralda’s cool, smooth hand.

    Both Luke and Alice had climbed into Felicity’s lap, acting as if some kind of ogre had entered the room, so Felicity only waved hello. “Hi, Esmeralda. So nice to meet you. These are our children, Alice and Luke.”

Alice piped up. “I’m going to be a flower girl!”

Esmeralda said, “Really.”

David pulled her attention away from the little girl. “Sit down, Esmeralda. Join us. Would you like a drink?”

Esmeralda slithered across the room and descended gracefully onto the sofa in the empty space between Noah and Scott. Again Felicity’s and Jane’s eyes met as they held back laughs at the sight of their husbands’ faces. The men looked thrilled, but also slightly terrified.

“I’d love a drink,” Esmeralda said.