Finn awaited her beneath the spectacular gazebo he’d built especially for
their
day, wearing casual slacks and a breezy, white cotton shirt. Furrowed brow, hair unruly. He paced then glanced up as everyone around him gasped at her faux pas. Traveling the length of her with a lustful gaze, a grin spreading across his face. Her chest tightened, her heart pounding hard. Love. Such a powerful emotion. How would she get through the day without bursting into tears when thinking of her happy ending with Finn Kneale?
Finn was her man, and she’d happily spend the rest of her life with him. Pride emanated from her father who stood beside her straightening his bow tie. Miranda, her mother, winked from the front row. The whole town had shown up. They cheered as her father hooked his arm in hers and guided her down the token bridal walk between the parting of pretty white chairs all lined in a row, arrangements of blue carnations and silk bows swagged across them.
Finn took her hand and leaned forward, “See, I told you we were soul mates. I love you, Anne Ward.”
“Anne Kneale,” she corrected, “well, in a few minutes I will be, anyway.”
The ceremony went by in a blur, seen through a veil of happy tears and streaming mascara. Drinks flowed, people laughed, and couples danced all through the wee hours of the morning.
***
“Come on, we’ve got to be at the dock before the ferry leaves.”
“We’ve got plenty of time, yet, a few hours. Dance with me, Finn.” She wiggled her hips, swaying to the wedding band’s ’90s melody. “Please?”
“One dance then we’re leaving.” Taking her hand, he spun her into him and held her tight. Dance. Yeah, she’d have to take the lead. He couldn’t blame this one on years of flipping about in the sea on his short comings. Nope. He’d always had two left feet.
“What’s your hurry?” she cooed.
“I want to show you something, Scottish Anne.”
“I need the restroom to freshen up.” She pivoted to walk off.
“Not so fast.” He caught her arm and attempted to move her across the dance floor with some style. “Our bags are packed and waiting for us at the dock. I’m whisking you away.”
“You still haven’t told me where we’re going?”
“A month-long cruise.”
“Perfect!” Clapping her hands, she squealed. Guess he’d done right by her. Sweet. “When do we leave?”
“As soon as you want.”
“Now?”
He stuck out his arm out in a grand gesture. She slipped hers through. He did his damnedest to make their sunset exit the best any bride could hope for. On a golf cart. He zipped down the little single traffic back streets then down onto the promenade toward the dock.
He parked a little way out so they’d have a romantic beach walk.
“But I’m so not dressed for this, Finn.”
“I’ll carry your shoes for you. This will always be our special place, so it’s only right we visit it on our wedding day.”
She reached up and kissed him. “I love you, Finn Kneale.”
“And I love you, Scottish Anne Kneale.”
They strolled, dusk falling around them.
“I’m going to rebuild the lighthouse when we get back, Anne.”
“Oh, Finn. What a wonderful idea.”
“A B&B of sorts, for lovers. Let Madame Eve know. Maybe she could send her clients our way.”
“Madame Eve. I wished she’d been at the wedding. I’d have loved tae have thanked her in person for bringing us together.”
“I found this box from her in the stack of presents.” He pulled out a jewelry box from his pocket. “I wanted to wait until we were alone before opening it. I had a feeling she’d picked out some something special for us to share.”
She pried the box open. There, in deep blue velvet, sat a pair of earrings. Each a seal positioned so they were kissing each other. “I love it!”
He wrapped her in his arms and spun her, beaming. “I love you.”
A whimper and a cry for help echoed from beyond a pile of rocks.
“Did you hear that?” Anne glanced in the direction of the cry.
A naked woman crept from behind a boulder. She shivered, her hair sopping wet and teeth chattering.
Finn rushed over and threw his sweater over her shoulders.
Up close, he recognized her as the woman he’d swam after to save all those years ago. The woman he suddenly recognized from the photo. Anne’s mother.
“Sereanna?”
The naked woman nodded. Teeth chattering, she stared at her stunned daughter and said, “I need your help, Anne. Our lives depend on it.”
Born ’n bred Brit, Joanne Kenrick grew up in a wee seaside town in North Wales and has enjoyed a variety of vocations such as holistic healer, window dresser, and ghost tour guide. Having lived in Wales, England, and Scotland with her dear family, she finally escaped the dull British summers to reside in sunny Australia. After two years, they moved to the States where she endured three harsh winters in Minnesota. She now lives in North Carolina with her husband, two kids and two puddy cats. When they aren't demanding her attention, or jumping on her head, she strums away on the keys of her little laptop, creating worlds and adventures she could only ever dream of. Come across the pond and faraway....with JoAnne Kenrick! Find out more about JoAnne’s work by visiting
www.joannekenrick.com
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