Jean called, “Stacey, you’d better come. Daddy’s getting nervous, he said.”
“I was just waiting for you two to escort me.” Stacey went down the steps to meet her future with a bright smile on her face.
“You’re so pretty,” Lizzy breathed in awe.
“You two look beautiful.” The girls wore soft pink matching dresses that flowed in the slight breeze. Matching flowers circled their heads.
Fleur went down the steps carefully. At the bottom she spoke to Stacey. “Give me one minute to tell the guitar player to start playing and then you can come meet the groom.” She disappeared between the rocks.
Stacey stepped down the stairs. “Are we ready, girls?”
Jean and Lizzy’s faces turned serious as they started back toward the beach. Stacey followed close behind. Notes of the wedding march flowed on the ocean breeze as she stepped between the rocks to see Cody ahead, waiting for her at the end of the lines of chairs that formed an aisle. He had never looked more handsome than he did then, dressed in a light gray suit with a crisp white shirt open at the neck. Alex, his best man, would stand beside him until she joined Cody in front of the pastor then Alex would take a seat next to Fleur.
The girls paused in front of Cody and he kissed the tops of their heads before they went to sit beside his mother and father on the right side front row. Across from them was her mother. She was smiling but her eyes held a glossy look.
When Cody’s gaze found hers, Stacey’s middle fluttered. He took two steps forward and offered his hand. She grasped it and he brought her to him as they stared into each other’s eyes.
The pastor cleared his throat and they guiltily turned to him.
The rest of the ceremony was a blur for Stacey. Before she knew it Cody was kissing her and they were going back down the aisle to applause and smiles. They continued until they got to the house. At the bottom of the steps Cody picked her up and swung her around then let her slide to her feet. “I love you, Mrs. Brennan.”
She was now Mrs. Cody Brennan. Stacey Brennan. She liked the sound of all of it. “I love you, Dr. Brennan.” She reached up and kissed him.
They climbed the stairs to the porch, where they would greet their guests before they went inside for the reception. The first to join them were the girls. They came running. Close behind them were Cody’s parents.
“I’m hungry,” Lizzy said as she reached them.
She and Cody laughed.
“I’m glad you’re going to be our mother.” Jean hugged her.
Stacey returned it tightly. “I am too.”
“I’ll see about them,” his mother said. “This is your day.” She hurried the girls on.
“Congratulations, son,” his father said, with a handshake.
Just behind them was her mother. She hugged Stacey then Cody. “I wish you both the best.” She looked at Stacey and smiled.
Soon Rick and Fleur were coming up the stairs, along with Alex and Maggie. They were all smiles.
After all the congratulations had been offered, Maggie said to no one in particular, “I’m sorry Rafael and Summer had to miss this but I know they’re enjoying their honeymoon in Spain.”
“When they get home, maybe we can all get together and share wedding pictures,” Fleur suggested.
The men groaned.
Stacey’s heart expanded. She’d not only gained Cody and the girls but this clinic “family” as well. For someone who had so little family of her own, she now had a lot.
Other members of the Maple Island community stopped to speak on their way inside. Soon she and Cody joined the crowd enjoying food and drinks. The first people they met near the wedding cake were Salty and Philomena.
“Congratulations, Doc.” Salty offered his hand to Cody. “The steps were too much for us so we came round to the front door,” Salty said in his gravelly voice. Philomena stood beside him, leaning on a decorative silver cane. “I told you a good woman is hard to find.”
Philomena gave him a nudge. “Uh...and you found one, too.”
Stacey leaned against Cody and squeezed his arm. She enjoyed the look of embarrassment that washed over Salty’s face.
Philomena smiled at Stacey. “Beautiful bride and a beautiful wedding. I’m so happy for you both.”
“Thank you.” Stacey couldn’t stop smiling. She looked around at the crowded room. She couldn’t believe how much her life had changed in such a short time. For a person who’d had almost nobody in her life, she had now found a home and a community of what would become long-time friends.
Cody tugged her away so that it was only the two of them. He watched her closely. “What’re you thinking?”