Page 4 of Wisteria Winds (Wisteria Island #2)
She hugged him tightly, realizing that his vision for a simple island wedding, surrounded by their Wisteria family, was exactly what she wanted. Maybe not some of the décor he had in mind on the Pinterest board—but still, close enough.
She just needed to convince her mother of it.
* * *
B ennett found Danielle sitting on the deck of her cottage early in the evening, staring out at the ocean with a troubled expression on her face.
“Penny for your thoughts?” he asked as he sat beside her and took her hand, admiring the engagement ring he had put on her finger.
“Just trying to figure out how exactly I’m going to tell my mother that we’re not having a grand New York wedding without causing World War III.” She showed him a series of texts from her mother, each one even more elaborate than the last.
“Ah, the formidable Cecilia Wright,” he said. “You know, we could just elope.”
Danielle smiled. “Don’t tempt me. But no, I want our friends here to be part of that day.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. “I wish my mother understood how important this place is to us.”
Bennett was quiet for a moment, thinking. “Well, what if we invited her for a visit? We can let her see the island, meet all the people we care about, and understand why we love it here so much.”
She looked at him skeptically. “My mother on Wisteria Island? Oh my gosh, can you even imagine?”
“I can, actually. She might surprise you.”
“Or she might try to redecorate every single cottage and organize a black-tie gala at the community center.”
Bennett laughed. “Well, I’d pay good money to see that. This place could use some sprucing up. But really, Danielle, this is about more than just the wedding. You know she will be a part of our lives, and maybe it’s time we build some bridges - for our future children.”
She considered his words.
“Okay,” she finally said. “I’ll invite her to visit. But if she even starts measuring the community center for an art museum, I’m blaming you.”
He kissed her softly. “Deal.” He stood and pulled her to her feet.
“Come on. Clara is joining us for dinner over at the diner tonight. I told her about the island’s music group. I think she might be interested.”
“Oh, how wonderful. She needs something to spark her passion again.”
They walked hand in hand toward the diner, and Bennett felt a sense of peace.
Whatever challenges lay ahead for them - whether it was the wedding, planning with her mother, or helping Clara find her way through grief - they would face it all together, supported by the unlikely band of misfits they called family on Wisteria Island.
* * *
C ecilia Wright stepped off the boat onto Wisteria Island with the grace of someone accustomed to making an entrance.
She wore cream linen pants and a matching jacket that remained miraculously unwrinkled despite the journey across the water.
Her designer sunglasses glinted in the morning sun as she surveyed her surroundings with the critical eye that Danielle had come to know and dread.
“So this is the famous Wisteria Island,” she murmured, adjusting the silk scarf around her neck.
“Mom!” Danielle called, hurrying toward her on the dock. “You made it.”
Cecilia hugged her daughter, but it was obvious she was being careful not to smudge her perfectly applied lipstick.
Although she was a doctor, her mother would’ve made an even better socialite.
She loved fashion over stethoscopes, and her knowledge of the art scene in New York City couldn’t be rivaled.
“Darling, of course I made it, though I must say that boat ride was quite an experience. I don’t think I’ve been on anything smaller than a yacht since that disastrous fishing trip your father insisted we go on in ’95.”
Danielle laughed and linked her arm through her mother’s. “Well, welcome to island life. It’s a bit different from Manhattan.”
“Yes, I can see that,” Cecilia said, eyeing the golf cart festooned with a plastic flamingo that zipped past them. “It’s charming, I suppose, in its way.”
They made their way toward Danielle’s cottage, and Bennett appeared, walking toward them with a warm smile.
“Dr. Wright, it’s a pleasure finally meeting you in person. Welcome to Wisteria Island.”
Cecilia extended her well-manicured hand. “Mr. Alexander, I’ve heard so much about you, of course. Please, call me Cecilia.”
“Well, only if you call me Bennett.”
Cecilia studied him with the keen eye of a mother assessing her daughter’s choice of life partner.
Of course, Danielle knew exactly what she was thinking.
Did he have a firm handshake? Did he look her directly in the eye?
Was his smile genuine? Her expression softened slightly.
Her mother always assessed these things in everyone she met.
“Well, Bennett, I must say your island so far is very… unique.”
“That it is,” he agreed, laughing. “I hope by the end of your visit, you’ll see why we love it here so much.”
Her eyebrow arched elegantly. “I look forward to the grand tour, but I must admit, I am having trouble envisioning a wedding here that would do justice to my daughter’s standing.”
Danielle shot Bennett a look that clearly said, See what I mean?
“Mom, why don’t we get you settled in before discussing wedding stuff? Bennett had the guest cottage prepared especially for you.”
“Oh, I’m not staying with you?”
“Trust me, Mom, it’ll be much more comfortable in the guest cottage, and it’s near my cottage. It has a proper soaking tub and a queen-sized bed.”
What Danielle really meant was that she couldn’t take spending twenty-four hours a day with her often overly-critical mother. She needed evenings to recharge, so having her mother stay in the guest cottage was best for both of them.
As they continued toward the cottages, Cecilia took in every detail.
Danielle saw her looking at the vibrant wisteria blooming along the pathways and then raising her hand slightly to wave at residents who waved cheerfully as they passed.
She could see her mom’s mind working, cataloging everything for later analysis. That’s what Cecilia Wright did.
When they finally reached the guest cottage, Cecilia seemed pleasantly surprised by the tasteful decor and modern amenities.
“Oh, this is quite lovely,” she finally admitted. She ran her hand over the marble countertop in the kitchenette.
“Well, I’m glad you approve,” Bennett said. “I’ll leave you ladies to catch up. Danielle, I’ve made dinner reservations at seven. Cecilia, I hope you’ll join us.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Cecilia said, smiling at him.
After Bennett left, she turned to her daughter. “He seems very nice.”
Danielle laughed. “Well, that’s high praise indeed coming from you.”
It always surprised Danielle that her mother didn’t automatically approve of Bennett simply because he was so wealthy. That usually was one of Cecilia’s primary requirements for men that Danielle dated.
“I’m reserving final judgment,” Cecilia said as she started to unpack her meticulously folded clothes. “I will say he’s very handsome—nice hair, pretty eyes, and definitely smitten with you.”
“Well, I’m smitten with him, too, Mom. And he’s kind, generous, and treats me like an equal partner. That’s more important than any good looks, money, or status.”
Cecilia paused, a silk blouse in her hands. “Oh, is that a dig at me, Danielle? For wanting you to marry well?”
“Well, no, Mom, it’s just…” she sighed. “It’s just me trying to help you understand why I love him and why this place means so much to us.” She sat on the edge of the bed. “Look, I know you want some big society wedding for me, but that’s not who I am. It never has been.”
Cecilia sighed and sat beside her daughter. “I just want you to have everything I didn’t have, dear. Your father and I were married at the courthouse because we couldn’t afford anything. I always dreamed of giving you the wedding I never had.”
Danielle took her mother’s hand. “I know, Mom. But you have to understand - this is my dream. I want to marry the man I love, surrounded by people who genuinely care about us. Not a ballroom full of social connections that I couldn’t care less about.”
Cecilia patted her daughter’s hand. “Well, I’m here now. So show me this island of yours, and perhaps I’ll begin to understand what you see here.”