Gulf Coast Wedding by Maggie Miller

Chapter Twenty-eight

Lilly walked into the inn and stopped at the vision in white before her. She hadn’t expected to see a bride just yet. “Samantha Taylor, you look like a dream.”

Sam laughed, the sound thick with emotion. “Thank you. Thank you all. I feel like this wedding wouldn’t even be possible if you all hadn’t agreed to help. To be honest, I can’t believe I’m even wearing a wedding dress right now.”

As Lilly came to stand next to Mia, her niece got a curious smile on her face.

“You’re missing a piece, though,” Mia said.

Sam frowned. “I am?”

Mia looked at Georgia. “Mom?”

“Be right back.” Georgia disappeared, then returned with a small white box. “A little something to finish off the look.”

Lilly smiled. She had no idea what was in that box, but she loved surprises. Wedding surprises were some of the very best kind, too.

Sam opened it and let out a little gasp. “Is this a veil?”

Georgia nodded. “It’s just a simple thing. Tulle edged in the lace from the sleeves attached to a comb. Faith whipped it up. Isn’t she amazing?”

Sam seemed on the verge of a serious cry.

Lilly stepped in. “Here, let’s see how it looks.”

She lifted the veil from the box and gave it a gentle shake to unfurl it, then secured the comb into the back of Sam’s hair. “You’ll probably need to pull a little hair back to give the teeth something more secure to hang on to, but this will give you the idea.”

Sam gave a little nod. Lilly wasn’t sure she could do more. She seemed overcome, which Lilly could understand. This had all happened so fast, and there was so much history between the two of them. How could Sam not feel the full weight of everything that was about to take place tomorrow?

Lilly fluffed out the veil, smoothing it in a few places, then stepped back. “There. Have a look.”

They followed Sam as she walked into the living room to have a look in the big, framed mirror that hung over one of the sideboards. And immediately burst out crying. “It’s…s-so…b-beautiful.”

Mia grabbed the closest box of tissues and held them out. “It is, but you stop that or you’re going to have us all sobbing.”

“Too late,” Georgia said with a sniff.

Lilly, teary-eyed herself, laughed. “This doesn’t bode well for tomorrow. We’ll all going to be a mess.”

Georgia wiped at her eyes. “Maybe it’s good we’re getting it out now.”

Mia sniffed, wrinkling her nose. “Well, I’m fine.” She glanced at Sam, who was drying her eyes. “Do you want me to call Travis so he can see you?”

Sam quickly shook her head. “No. I don’t think I could take my dad’s reaction to seeing me like this. He’ll just have to wait until tomorrow like everyone else. But…maybe you could take a picture of me?”

“Sure.”

Sam looked toward the back of the house. “I left my phone in your room with my clothes.”

Mia pulled out her phone. “I’ll take it with mine and text it to you.”

“Okay.” Sam smiled as she turned toward Mia.

Georgia put her arm around Lilly’s waist. “Just think, we get to do this all over again when Mia gets married.”

“I’m not sure I’ll survive that.” Then Lilly snorted softly. “I never thought I’d get the chance to be here for that. Now I get to be here for all kinds of wonderful things. Always good to have a reminder of just how blessed one’s life truly is.”

Georgia smiled at her sister. “Yes, it is.”

Sam let out a deep, happy sigh. “I’d better go change and get back to the cottage. Our dinner should be arriving shortly.” She looked at Georgia. “Thank you so much for the veil, Georgia. It’s the perfect finishing piece.”

“You’re very welcome.”

As Sam went to change, Lilly was more determined than ever to turn the inn into a bridal wonderland along with Mia, Georgia, and Denise tomorrow. She knew they had limited resources, but those resources were still pretty decent. A few extra bits wouldn’t hurt, though. Like maybe some wide white ribbon to echo the details of Sam’s dress.

That got the wheels in her mind turning and she couldn’t get them to stop. There had to be fabric store or craft store somewhere nearby. She’d do some googling this evening, and tomorrow, she’d do some serious shopping.

Wasn’t like whatever she bought would go to waste. Any wedding decorations could probably be used again as part of the inn’s standard wedding package. But she’d wait until Sam had gone to talk to Mia and Georgia about it. Sam had enough to think about all ready, and a little extra surprise wouldn’t hurt anything.

Georgia looked at Lilly. “In all the excitement, I didn’t ask you what you came over for.”

Lilly had to think. “Oh. Griffin and I were going to order subs from Two Brother’s Sub Shop. Well, I’m getting a salad. But I was going to ask if you guys wanted to get something as well. Neither of us was in the mood to cook.”

“Thanks for thinking of us, but I’m just about done making a big salad for Mia and I. Do you guys want to come over here and eat? I can make more.”

“No, that’s okay. I have my heart set on that orange pecan chicken salad they make. And I know Griffin wants their Philly cheesesteak. Thanks, though.”

Sam came back out in her street clothes. “Mia, I hung the dress back up on your closet but if you want me to move it—”

“You’re going to get ready over here tomorrow night, aren’t you?”

“I hadn’t thought about it, but I guess I might as well. If you don’t mind. Trudy’s offered to do my hair before I leave work tomorrow, so I won’t have too much else to do.”

Mia shook her head. “I don’t mind at all. I think it’s perfect. The dress can stay exactly where it is. Just don’t forget to tell Trudy you have a veil.”

“Okay.” Sam smiled. “Thanks again. All of you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

They all smiled back and said good night as Sam left.

As soon as the front door closed behind her, Lilly told them about her idea. “I want to help out with the decorating beyond just the physical work of it. I was thinking I’d find a local craft shop and buy some rolls of wide white ribbon, white tulle if they have it, maybe some strands of silk ivy, things along those lines, then I could do the stair railing, maybe some big tulle bows around the plant pots. Fairy lights too, those could go around some of the bigger plants. I just adore Sam and I want to contribute in some bigger way.”

“Aunt Lill,” Mia started. “You have been contributing. Plus you’re going to help them with decorating suggestions for their new house, aren’t you?”

“I am, but I just want to do more. I was thinking whatever I get could go into the inn’s standard wedding package decorations, so it wouldn’t be used just once.”

“I think it’s sweet of you,” Georgia said. “And I know Sam will appreciate it. But you should let the inn pay you back.”

Lilly shook her head. “No need. Let this be a gift from me.” She laughed then. “I think I’ve just got the decorating bug since I’ve started working on my house and then Sheila Ludlow’s and while I love doing houses, there’s something that really sparks happiness for me in decorating for a party. And what better party is there than a wedding?”

“Hey,” Mia said. “Who are we to stand in the way of your happiness? Go for it.”

Georgia laughed softly, but her brows went up. “I hope you still feel that way when it’s time to decorate for the Christmas party. You haven’t forgotten about that, have you?”

“No, and I know I need to dig through all of those boxes of decorations upstairs. I promise that’s on my To Do list. Once I get moved into my place, the Christmas party is going to be my primary focus.”

She glanced toward the cottage she was currently living in. “I love the cottage, but it’ll be nice to be in my own place again. Although…”

Georgia frowned. “What?”

Lilly sighed. “I’m going to miss Griffin and Chloe. He’s been talking about getting his own place already. I’d sort of thought he’d move with me into the new house. I haven’t brought it up yet, though, because I think he’s maybe had enough of living with his aunt.”

Mia made a face. “Really? I haven’t heard him say anything about being tired of having you around. I think he appreciates your help and generosity tremendously.”

“Oh, I have no doubt he appreciates it. I’m just sure that living with a middle-aged relative wasn’t a big part of his life goals. Especially with him and Kelly seeing more of each other.”

Georgia snorted at Lilly’s response. “Maybe you’re reading more into the situation than is really there. You said you haven’t yet asked him if he wants to move to the new house with you?”

“No, because he’s been making those comments about getting his own place.”

Georgia glanced at Mia, then back at Lilly. “Are you sure he’s not just saying those things because he thinks you’re the one who’s tired of living with him? He might think having a baby around all the time has worn thin.”

“What? I love that peanut. Chloe is one of the best things that’s ever happen to me. I adore having her around.” Lilly sighed. “I think I need to go back to the cottage and have a talk with that boy.”

If she could keep Griffin and Chloe with her for a few more months, she’d be thrilled. Even better if they stayed longer. She wasn’t even remotely tired of having family around her. And helping take care of Chloe made her feel like she was making up for lost time.

But clearly, she hadn’t been great at communicating that. It was high time that changed.