Page 6 of Wisteria Winds (Wisteria Island #2)

“Bennett! There you are. I’ve been looking for you. Oh my goodness, you must be Danielle’s mama.” He thrust out his hand enthusiastically. “I’m Morty, wedding planner extraordinaire, and the island’s resident fashion guru.”

Cecilia shook his hand, amused by his energy. “Cecilia Wright. Wedding planner, you say?”

“Well… self-appointed,” Bennett clarified. “Morty has taken it upon himself to ensure that our wedding is ‘the most spectacular event in Wisteria Island’s history.’”

“Which ain’t saying much, considering we’ve never had a wedding here before,” Morty added with a wink.

“But that means we’ve got to set the bar super high.

” He reached up as high as he could and barely reached the top of Bennett’s head.

“Dr. Wright, may I call you Cecilia? You simply must see my Pinterest boards. I’ve been gathering inspiration for weeks now. ”

“Weeks? They haven’t been engaged that long,” Cecilia said, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, I mean, we could all see where things were headed,” Morty said with a knowing smile.

“And now I understand you had some thoughts about a big New York shindig, but I assure you, what we’re planning here will be the most magical event you’ve ever attended.

Beach ceremony at sunset, fairy lights strung through the trees.

We might even put in a dance floor right on the sand. ”

Bennett watched as Cecilia listened to Morty’s enthusiastic description. Well, all of Morty’s descriptions were enthusiastic.

“It sounds a bit unconventional,” Cecilia finally said.

Morty waved his hand without missing a beat. “Well, the best things usually are. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting with Dorothy Monroe about floral arrangements. Former movie star, you know,” he added in a stage whisper. “Absolutely fabulous taste.”

Morty hurried off, and Cecilia turned to Bennett with a bemused expression.

“Is everyone on this island so colorful?”

Bennett said, “Yeah, pretty much. That’s what makes this place special.”

“And Dorothy Monroe, the movie star, lives here?”

“Yes, she does,” Bennett said, shrugging his shoulders.

“Wow. Interesting. I have to say, I enjoy watching some of her old movies.”

They continued their tour, passing a small beachfront area where Bennett said they hoped to hold the ceremony.

“I can see why Danielle loves it here,” Cecilia said after a moment. “It is beautiful in its own way.”

“She does love it, almost as much as I love her.”

She studied him. “You know, Bennett, I’ve researched you quite thoroughly.

You have very impressive business achievements, but what interests me the most is what you’ve done with your success.

I know many rich people, and most of them don’t do philanthropic things, at least not to this extent.

In this case, you truly put your money where your mouth was.

The island, your charitable foundation… You really seem to care about making a difference. ”

“I try,” he said simply. “My grandmother used to say that success is measured not by what you have but by what you give to others.”

“A very wise woman,” Cecilia nodded. “I still have my reservations about this island wedding idea, especially if that little fella is the one that’s handling everything, but I’m beginning to understand why my daughter chose you.”

As they headed back toward the cottages to prepare for going out to dinner, Bennett felt a small sense of victory.

Cecilia Wright was a formidable woman, no doubt about it, but she clearly wanted what was best for Danielle—and his job was to help her see that he and Wisteria Island were exactly that.

* * *

D anielle smoothed her white sundress nervously while she waited for Bennett to pick her up for dinner.

So far, her mother’s arrival had gone better than expected, but the evening ahead loomed with all sorts of potential pitfalls.

Cecilia, in a casual island restaurant, was like setting a couture-clad cat among proverbial pigeons.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.

“Ready for our big night?” Bennett asked when she opened it, looking as handsome as ever, wearing a navy blazer over a crisp white shirt.

“As I’ll ever be,” she said, accepting a kiss on her cheek. “How’d the tour go?”

“I think we made progress. Your mom seemed genuinely interested in the island, and of course, Morty ambushed us with wedding talk.”

Danielle groaned. “Oh no, what did he say?”

“Only that he’s planning the most spectacular event Wisteria Island has ever seen in its history, complete with fairy lights and a dance floor right by the ocean. Your mother was surprisingly receptive.”

“Really? That doesn’t sound at all like her.”

“Well, let’s just say not immediately dismissive might be more accurate. But let’s take that as a win.”

They walked to the guest cottage to pick up Cecilia, who walked out looking elegant in a simple black dress that somehow made Danielle feel underdressed despite being in one of her nicest outfits.

“You look nice, Mom,” she said.

Cecilia Wright remained strikingly beautiful at sixty-five, with her silver hair cut in a bob that framed her still-youthful face.

She wondered what her mom had done at that esthetician’s office, because she didn’t have a wrinkle anywhere.

Danielle was already starting to see the formation of crow’s feet around her own eyes, so she would have to ask her mom for all the secrets as she aged.

“Thank you, darling. This island air seems to agree with me.” She linked arms with her daughter as they walked toward Bennett’s waiting golf cart. “Now tell me a little about this restaurant we’re going to. Bennett said it’s the best on the island.”

“Well, it’s also the only one on the island,” Danielle admitted with a laugh. “Besides the cafeteria, which I didn’t think you’d want to go to. But Esther’s cooking is genuinely excellent. She was a chef in New Orleans before she retired here.”

The Wisteria Restaurant occupied a charming building overlooking the water, with its interior warm and inviting.

Wooden tables, soft lighting, and large windows captured the sunset views beautifully.

Several residents were already dining, and their heads turned as Danielle, Bennett, and Cecilia entered.

“Danielle! Bennett!” Esther called from behind the counter, her ample frame draped in a colorful apron. “This must be the famous Dr. Wright. Well, welcome to my humble establishment.”

Cecilia smiled graciously. “Oh, do please call me Cecilia. And it’s hardly humble. What a charming space you’ve created here.”

Esther smiled at the compliment. “Your table is ready by the window, as requested, and I’ve prepared something special tonight. My signature seafood bouillabaisse.”

As they were seated, Danielle saw several residents watching them curiously. Of course, news traveled fast around the small island, and everybody knew just how significant Cecilia’s visit was.

“Your island certainly has character,” Cecilia said, looking around the restaurant.

“And characters,” she added, nodding toward a table where Morty was deep in an animated conversation with Dorothy, who looked glamorous as always, wearing a silk scarf and oversized sunglasses, as if she was being hunted by paparazzi.

“Well, that’s part of its charm,” Danielle said. “Everyone here has a story, a lifetime of experiences. It makes for an interesting community.”

The server brought a bottle of wine that Bennett had ordered in advance, a crisp Sancerre that Danielle knew was one of her mother’s favorites.

“To family,” he proposed once their glasses were filled, “and new beginnings.”

They clinked glasses, and Danielle felt a moment of genuine optimism. Maybe this evening would go smoothly after all. Maybe she was overthinking everything.

“So, Cecilia,” Bennett began, “Danielle tells me you’re working on a new book about pandemic preparedness.”

Cecilia’s eyes opened wide. “Well, yes, actually. After COVID, it became clear that despite all of our advances, we remain woefully underprepared as a country when it comes to a large-scale public health emergency. My research focuses on creating more robust early warning systems and response protocols.”

Cecilia launched into a passionate explanation of her work, and Danielle watched as Bennett engaged with what seemed to be genuine interest. He asked thoughtful questions and then talked about his own knowledge on the subject.

Her mother was clearly impressed with him, warming to him as they talked about global health security and the challenges of coordinating international responses.

While Danielle was interested in these topics typically, all she could think about was what her mother was cooking up in that little brain of hers.

The appetizers arrived - locally caught shrimp with spicy remoulade sauce - and they momentarily paused the conversation.

“Well, this is delicious,” Cecilia said. “Your chef is quite talented.”

“Oh, wait until you try her main courses,” Danielle said. “Esther could have had a Michelin star if she’d wanted one.”

The conversation flowed as they enjoyed their meal, talking about everything from Bennett’s technology ventures to Danielle’s medical experiences on the island.

When the coffee and dessert arrived - a delicate bread pudding with bourbon sauce - Cecilia steered the discussion toward wedding plans.

“While I’m beginning to see the island’s appeal,” she said, “I do wonder if a beach wedding is the best choice, dear. I mean, have you considered the practicalities of something like that? Weather is unpredictable, and many of your medical colleagues from New York would find attending something so far away difficult.”

Danielle took a deep breath. “Mom, I appreciate your concern, but my closest friends will make the effort if it’s important to me. As for my colleagues, well, my life is here now, and the people who matter most to me are currently sitting right here on this island.”

“But darling, don’t you want something more substantial? The Plaza has hosted the most elegant weddings in New York for generations. Your father and I always dreamed of seeing you walk down that grand staircase.”

Bennett reached under the table and squeezed Danielle’s hand.

“I know you did, Mom, and I’m appreciative that you want to give me everything.

But this is about what I want and what Bennett wants, which is a simple, meaningful ceremony surrounded by the people who know us best and care about us.

I don’t care a thing in the world about a society event where half the guests are just there for appearances. ”

Her mom looked momentarily hurt. “Well, I suppose I’ve been planning your wedding in my head since you were a little girl. Sometimes it’s hard to let go of those visions.”

“I understand that,” Danielle said gently. “And I want you to be involved. But it needs to be our wedding, not yours. You already had your chance.”

After a moment, Cecilia nodded. “Well, perhaps I should at least see what your friend Morty has in mind before I make any judgments. I mean, his enthusiasm is definitely infectious.”

Danielle exchanged a glance with Bennett. “So, really? You’d be open to his ideas?”

“Well, I didn’t say that . I said I’d look at them. There’s a difference.”

Bennett chuckled. “I think that’s fair. And I should say, for Morty’s ideas, we need to warn you that he’s now recruited Dorothy to help with the planning, which means everything is likely to be over the top. She’s quite a presence on the island, but she always keeps to herself.”

As they finished their dessert, Danielle felt a tiny sliver of optimism. Her mother hadn’t exactly embraced the idea of an island wedding, but she wasn’t actively fighting it anymore, either. It was progress, however small.

The evening concluded, and they walked back to the cottages under a canopy of stars. Danielle felt Bennett’s arm slip around her waist.

“That went pretty well,” he murmured.

“Better than I expected,” she said. “I’m not sure how I feel about my mother and Morty joining forces to plan my wedding.”

“It is a terrifying prospect,” Bennett said. “But at least they’ll be working toward the same goal—making our day special.”

At the guest cottage, Cecilia kissed her daughter’s cheek.

“Thank you for a lovely evening, dear. I’ll see you in the morning. Perhaps you could show me your clinic tomorrow. I’d like to see your setup here.”

“I’d like that,” Danielle said.

Cecilia disappeared into the cottage, and Bennett pulled Danielle close.

“See? Progress.”

“Baby steps,” Danielle said. “Tiny little baby steps.”