Eight months later
ELLIE SEEMED VERY CALM. Annoyingly so. She also looked immaculate, in the way that only Ellie could with the breeze tugging insistently at her riot of curls.
‘You’re sure you don’t want a sea sickness tablet? I’ve got some in my bag.’ Ellie brandished the small, embroidered drawstring bag that she had looped around her wrist.
‘No, I’ll be fine. I always feel sick on boats for the first five minutes, and then it wears off.’
‘You’re sure about that?’
No. Caro wasn’t sure abou
t anything at the moment. Whether Drew would really want to get married on a boat. Whether being pregnant would tip the balance and mean that she was going to be sick all over her wedding dress...
She looked out to sea, taking deep breaths. Thinking of Drew’s smile calmed her, because she knew that Drew would be waiting for her, and that he wanted today as much as she did. He wanted the rest of their lives as much as she did.
Gramps climbed aboard, looking dapper in his suit, and planted a kiss on Caro’s cheek. ‘You look beautiful, lass. Are you ready?’
‘I’m ready, Gramps.’
‘Then we’d better get going before the lad decides he’s not going to wait any longer.’
‘Gramps!’ Ellie protested. ‘Don’t say that!’
‘We’ll find out soon enough.’ Gramps waited for Peter and Diana to board, then started the engine, manoeuvring the boat away from the dock.
Drew would wait for her however long it took, Caro knew that without question. The sea was glittering in the sunshine, and the day was going to be perfect. As the boat sailed out of the tiny port of Dolphin Cove, she felt the queasiness in her stomach subside.
* * *
Drew had stayed the night with Ellie and Lucas in their apartment above the veterinary centre. Ellie had left at the crack of dawn to help Caro with her dress and the final arrangements for the wedding, both of which Caro had managed to keep secret from him.
He was already happier than he’d ever thought he could be. When they’d found out that Caro was pregnant, they’d decided to bring their wedding day closer, and Caro had told him that she wanted to surprise him and organise everything. She’d been making furtive phone calls for the last three weeks, and Ellie and Lucas’s flat had become a no-go area for him, their spare bedroom having been given over to mysterious things for the wedding.
At eleven o’clock Lucas had announced that it was time to go, and chivvied him and Mav down to the deserted beach.
‘Okay. So we’re here. Now what?’
‘Wait and see.’ Lucas was looking annoyingly smug.
‘Mav...?’
Mav shrugged. ‘I don’t know. No one told me.’
That was probably just as well. Mav wouldn’t have been able to keep the secret, so he and Drew had both been kept in the dark.
‘You’ve got the rings, though. Tell me you have the rings, Lucas.’
‘Yes, I’ve got the rings. Simmer down, mate.’
That was one thing sorted at least. Lucas would be giving Caro away, and Ellie had agreed to be Drew’s best man, on condition that this best man was going to be wearing a dress. Mav had been given the responsibility of carrying the rings, but not until they arrived at the unspecified venue, in case he lost them on the way.
Drew turned towards the sea, taking a deep breath. Caro would be coming for him. Carrying the small spark of life with her that would grow into their child. It was everything that he wanted, and he’d marry her anywhere that took her fancy.
Then he saw the boat. Bedecked with flowers, rounding the corner of the bay. And Caro. Standing at the prow, waving. Behind it was a small flotilla of boats, which were sounding their horns on the off chance that no one had noticed their presence. Drew started to run towards the dock, hearing Mav shouting with excitement behind him.
He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Her blonde hair shimmering in the breeze. Her white dress moulding the curve of her hips and floating out behind her. The bouquet of summer flowers, bright in her hand, as she waved it above her head. It was Caro through and through, different and delightful, and he couldn’t wait to be standing next to her.
Gramps steered the boat up to the dock and he jumped aboard before anyone had a chance to secure the mooring rope. Caro stepped carefully down from her perch, straight into his arms.