The Hero (Thunder Point #3)(32)

On Friday the preparations began in earnest; the Cooper family helped by stringing lights around the beach, attached to poles that were stuck in the ground. Sophie brought out the lasagna and Rawley added a huge green salad and compared recipe details with Sophie. Rawley tried to excuse himself from the family dinner, but he was denied and told to go find Devon and Mercy and make sure they were part of what appeared to be the groom’s dinner. Anyone else who happened to be at the bar or on the beach was invited to partake. The McCain clan was there in force, and the place was jumping with kids and teens and adults everywhere.

“How many people will be coming to this wedding?” Cooper’s sister, Rochelle, asked.

“No one knows,” Sarah said. “We had a very loud disagreement about that. I wanted to write out some invitations and Cooper said no. He wanted to tell our friends—both from town and from the Coast Guard station—and anyone else who wandered by would be welcome. Poor Carrie, our caterer—she’s going to have to wing it. We obviously didn’t have any RSVPs.”

“It’s a beach wedding,” Cooper said. “If they come, they get a party.”

“I hope we don’t run out of food,” Sarah said.

“We won’t,” he said. “Carrie knows more about catering in this town than any other person. The only thing we have to worry about is rain.”

“It wouldn’t dare rain,” Sarah said.

It was quite early on Saturday morning when Sarah heard a vehicle on the beach and took her coffee outside to the deck. It was Carrie, delivering some items for the wedding and the party. As she surveyed the scene below she saw the bandstand that had been positioned at the base of the hill with reels of extension cords that would be run up to the bar to power the speakers and electric instruments. There were a couple of long tables for food and drink set up near the staircase to the beach. And finally, an arch covered with fresh flowers. Sarah put a hand to her chest and sighed deeply, feeling a rush of tears come to her eyes. It was beautiful.

She heard a sound and, thinking it must be Cooper, she turned. But it was Sophie, carrying a cup of coffee.

“Come and see,” she whispered.

Sophie joined her at the rail and saw the beautiful arch. “Oh, Sarah,” she said.

“Carrie said she’d think of something. She’s an amazing woman. I was all for just getting married privately, maybe up the coast. But Cooper said he wanted to be married on this beach and that he’d take care of things.” She shook her head. “He surprises me at every turn.”

Sophie slipped her arm around Sarah’s shoulders. “We haven’t seen enough of our son the past twenty years. He’s spent quite a few years traveling, no interest in claiming a permanent home. Now I see a changed man, Sarah. And he’s happier than I’ve ever seen him. I expect that’s because of you.”

“He’s made me happier than I’ve ever been,” she said. “I have no idea how all this happened. I came here to be alone, to lick my wounds after a failed marriage. Cooper’s not only gained a son in Austin, but he’s become a role model to my brother, Landon.”

“And I think that, finally, after all these years, I won’t worry about my son finding what he wants and needs to complete his life.” She kissed Sarah’s cheek. “Thank you. As the mother of a painfully independent son, thank you for coming into his life. I can see you’re a very good match.”

“I’m going to do everything I can to make him happy. He already makes me happier than I thought I could ever be.”

They were hugging and drying their tears when Cooper came outside with his cup of coffee. He looked at his mother and his bride and said, “Oh, brother.”

Eight

Devon couldn’t remember the last time she’d attended a wedding. It was probably back in her college days. And she’d certainly never gone to a wedding like this! Although children were welcome at the wedding, Scott convinced her they should leave them at home so they could be put to bed at a reasonable hour. “We’re going to drink and dance and have fun!” he insisted.

She drove Mercy to Scott’s house where she was spending the night with Jenny and Will, leaving Devon and her boss free to go to the wedding. When they arrived at the Grant home, complete with all Mercy’s overnight gear, she was actually happy to see that Gabriella’s boyfriend was also there. Devon was introduced to Charles, also a college student.

“You’re okay with Charles spending the evening with Gabriella and the kids, aren’t you?” Scott asked.

“I’m relieved, in fact,” she said. “She’s not just a nanny or au pair or babysitter, but a completely normal nineteen-year-old.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. Gabriella has a very active social life when she gets time to have one. Follow me in your truck. We’ll just park at Cliffhanger’s and walk across the beach, if you’re up to it.”

She stuck out a foot, showing off her new flip-flops. “I’m ready,” she said, smiling. “I even live close enough to the beach to walk home if it comes to that. You never know—I could have the time of my life tonight.”

He peered at her. “How long since you’ve been to a party or a wedding reception?”

“I can’t even remember. A very long time.”