Page 53 of Prudence (Balfe Family #1)

Derek

~Five months later~

“This is an amazing spot,” Tristan said as I stood in front of the mirror in the hotel room, trying to make sure my tie was even.

Unsatisfied, I undid it and started over.

Yes, I was nervous—not to walk down the aisle, but more for everything to run smoothly.

Milly and I had hired a wedding planner, and though she’d come highly recommended, her boyfriend of two years had broken up with her suddenly a few days ago, and she was struggling to keep her emotions in check.

Every little detail about the wedding seemed to upset her.

I felt for the woman, especially since she’d looked on the verge of tears while explaining to me that the photographer would be arriving at ten.

“It’s a great location,” I agreed.

Milly had chosen the small, boutique hotel as our wedding venue, and as soon as I stepped inside and saw the old timey charm of the place, I was convinced.

At first, I thought we’d use one of our own hotels for the big day, but then Milly told me about The Aster Cove in Bray.

It belonged to Fred Behan, an old pal of her dad’s, and she and her family used to come here on trips during the summer when she was a child.

Her father and the owner had lost touch over the years, but when she’d looked him up, she discovered that Fred and his wife still ran the place, despite being in their early seventies, and according to Milly, it had barely changed since she was a child.

The way her eyes had lit up when she’d spoken of going for swims on the beach with her sisters, building sandcastles and then ice cream afterwards on the pier, I couldn’t deny her.

“I mean, it could do with a few upgrades, but I think it has amazing potential,” Tristan went on, and I cast him a curious glance through the mirror.

“Where are you going with this?”

“Well, the location in Cork has been open for almost two years now, and it’s making record profits. I was thinking we could expand again but do it a little differently this time. You’ve been doing great running things, but you’ve said yourself that you’re itching for a new challenge.”

“I’m listening.”

“This location is second to none. I mean, the views are better than any of our other locations. It’s secluded but also close to lots of amenities with just a short drive.

Plus, the owners are getting on in years, and I asked around.

They don’t have any kids, so no one to pass the business on to.

It’s probably why they’ve kept going for so long.

But if we make them a generous offer, show them they could retire in style, I think maybe they’d be open to selling. ”

I considered the building. It was old, and although lovingly cared for, it would take a lot of money to bring it up to a standard to match our other hotels.

“It’s certainly something to consider,” I told my brother, and his eyes lit up.

“I envision a much more elite experience for this place, like an exclusive stay that captures everything we already do at our other locations but with added luxury, fewer guests, more privacy. We have tonnes of wealthy regulars who’d eat it right up.”

Just as he finished speaking, there was a knock on the door.

“Come in,” I called, and a woman poked her head in.

I recognised her as the manager who was always busily flitting about the place.

She was a pretty woman in her thirties with curly, light brown hair and amber eyes.

Tristan turned at the intrusion, going unusually still when he saw her.

Then a slow, charming smile crept over his features, a smile I recognised well. He found her attractive.

The woman glanced at me, then at Tristan, and oddly enough, she went still, too, but seemingly not for the same reason my brother had. Her feline eyes grew wide as she blinked, seeming flustered, then she frowned deeply as she tore her gaze from Tristan to address me.

“So sorry to interrupt, but, um, I just found your wedding planner in one of our storage rooms crying her eyes out. I’m not sure what’s wrong with her, but perhaps someone should make sure she’s okay?”

“All right, thank you for letting me know. I’ll take care of it.”

“Great.” With one final, almost disturbed glance at Tristan, the manager left, and I turned to grab my phone, scrolling to find my sister’s number.

She was probably busy with all her maid of honour duties, but I couldn’t think of anyone else who was better at cheering people up when they were sad or depressed.

If you could bottle a ray of sunshine, that was Nuala. Her response came moments later.

Nuala: I’m on it!

I made a mental note to buy her something nice when all this was over.

“Who was that ?” Tristan asked, full of intrigue.

“I think she manages the place for Fred and his wife,” I answered, still inwardly fretting over the wedding planner.

“Does she have a name?” My brother pressed, and I shot him an irritated look.

“Hey, you can focus on hooking up with pretty women later. Right now, we have a wedding to get through.”

“Sorry, she just looks so familiar.” His brow furrowed, like he was trying to figure out where he knew her from.

“Maybe you met somewhere before,” I suggested. “It’s a small country.”

“Yeah, maybe,” he agreed, a faraway look on his face.

A little while later, another text arrived from my sister.

Nuala: All sorted. You should probably get downstairs. Milly will be going down soon. Also, she looks amazing. I can’t wait to see your face when you get a load of her dress!

I smiled at her text, already eager to see this dress, but even more eager for Milly to become my wife. “We should go downstairs,” I told my brother, and he stood, smoothing down his suit jacket before smiling wide.

“You ready to marry the love of your life?” he asked with his usual Tristan-like enthusiasm. If my sister was a ray of sunshine, then my brother was an excitable, lovable puppy who saw the world as an endless possibility.

“I’ve been ready for a long time,” I answered as we left the room and headed down.

Milly

The small function room at the Aster Cove Hotel where I’d spent many of my childhood holidays had been transformed into something truly beautiful.

The flower arrangements, fairy lights and silk ribbons imbued the air with a feeling of romance and magic.

Derek stood at the end of the makeshift aisle, tall and handsome in his suit, his eyes hot as coals when the music started and I approached him arm in arm with my father.

All our family and friends were present, as well as our kids.

Well, all except for Aunt Nell, who I hadn’t heard from directly since our lunch back in London.

She still communicated with my parents, so she knew I was marrying Derek, and I think that was the final nail in the coffin.

She was so determined to stick to her guns that there was no way she’d ever accept my life with him.

I felt her absence keenly, especially since she’d been such a big part of my life at one point, but I couldn’t keep twisting myself into knots to make her happy.

If she wouldn’t accept my choice to be with Derek and become a part of his family, as well as him becoming a part of mine, then I was just going to have to continue on without her.

I’d chosen my favourite shade of deep blue for the bridesmaids’ dresses, and Deirdre, Gigi, Nuala and my sister, Jane, looked so pretty in them.

I’d asked Donna, too, but my other sister had opted out, stating flatly that she’d once made the mistake of signing up to be her high-maintenance friend Madeleine’s bridesmaid and never regretted a decision more in her life.

My own dress was a floor-length, sleeveless ivory gown that dipped low at the back.

Nuala and Charli helped me choose it, and I’d never felt more beautiful, especially when Derek dragged his eyes slowly up my body like he wanted to throw me over his shoulder and carry me to the honeymoon suite before the officiant could even begin the proceedings.

The ceremony itself was a bit of a blur. Before I knew it, we were both saying, “I do,” and then Derek was kissing me, his lips warm and achingly familiar as he finally broke away to murmur in my ear. “Are you trying to torture me with that dress?”

I grinned because yes, that had been the idea.

For the next few hours, we celebrated, danced and greeted our guests until later when everyone was drunk enough for me to pull Derek aside.

“Do you think anyone would miss us if we slipped out for a little while?”

“It’s our day. Who cares if they do?” he replied, seeing I was all peopled out and needed some quiet and fresh air.

He slid his hand through mine and led me out of the function room and to the rear of the building that led to the beach.

We walked in quiet for a time before we reached the small stretch of sand closest to the hotel.

It was late evening and completely deserted, and after being the centre of attention all day, it was a relief to finally be alone with my husband.

I’d married Derek Balfe. It was surreal to think it, but something about this day had healed all the old wounds we’d nursed over the years. All the what ifs and lost possibilities faded into the horizon as we finally promised to have and to hold, to love and to cherish …

I slid off my shoes and lifted the hem of my dress so it was easier to walk in the sand. Seeing this, Derek took the shoes from me to carry in one hand and, with his free hand, took my hand in his.

“My feet are aching. I wish I could sit for a little while, but I’d ruin the dress.”

Just like that, Derek whipped off his suit jacket and spread it out on the sand.

“Problem solved.” He motioned for me to sit down, and I lowered onto it, then felt his heat at my side as he wound his arm around my waist and pulled me close. I rested my head on his shoulder and exhaled a long, dreamy sigh as I gazed out at the waves gently crashing against the shore.

“Today was perfect,” I breathed. “Thank you for letting us get married here.”

“You know I fell in love with the place as soon as I saw it.” Derek traced his fingertips up and down my bare arm as his mouth lowered to my ear. “Just like I did with you.”

Pleasant shivers encapsulated me at his quietly uttered words. He’d told me a few times about how it was love at first sight, that he fell for me that day in the schoolyard when I’d whipped out my medical kit to tend his brother’s cut knee.

“You were too young to know what love was,” I told him indulgently.

“Infatuation, then?” Derek suggested as his arm tightened around me. “Whatever it was, I knew for certain that you were the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen, and to this day, you still are.”

“Hey, we just tied the knot. You don’t need to sweet talk me. I’m pretty much a sure thing,” I said on a laugh, and he chuckled deeply, the vibration seeping through me where I rested my head on his shoulder.

“Is that so?” he replied huskily. “In that case, might I suggest we retire to our suite? Because I have some very detailed wedding night plans, and it’s always a good idea to make an early start.”

I smacked his chest lightly, looking out at the waves once again. “One more dance and then we can make that early start,” I told him, and Derek’s handsome features broke into a smile as he stood from the sand, dusted himself off then helped me to my feet.

And when he stretched his hand out to mine to start the walk back, I slid my fingers through his, our palms connecting in a feeling of wholeness. The sun on the horizon began to set, it’s golden glow on our backs as we walked away, ending the first day of the rest of our lives.

END.