Destination Wedding ~ A Novel Read online

  Jim wondered if Claire still hated him for leaving her. She'd always been polite when they had to be together, although it was a stilted form of politeness. She'd never made a scene when Diane was around, either. Maybe, just maybe, he'd be able to return to her good graces during their vacation on the island. It would be nice to be, if nothing else, at least friends again.

  Jim's eyes suddenly popped open when he remembered about Steven, the man Claire had been dating for the past two years. Steven Sievers, real estate broker and owner of a branch of Century 21 Real Estate. Stiff, stuck-up, stick-up-his-ass Steven. Jim couldn't stand the guy, much less understand what Claire saw in him.

  As the plane finally took off for O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Jim pushed aside all thoughts of Diane, Steven, and even his boss and concentrated on looking forward to Monday and moonlit nights on sandy beaches with the peaceful sound of ocean waves breaking against the shore.

  ***

  Claire sat across from Steven in a cozy booth in the back corner of the eloquent steak and seafood restaurant. The lights in the room were muted and candles illuminated the tables. The setting felt intimate and private, like they were nestled in a cocoon away from the rest of the world.

  In the two years they'd been dating, Claire only remembered coming to this restaurant once before. It had been on their first date, and at the time, Claire had assumed Steven was trying to impress her with the fancy decor and high prices. Tonight, however, she was confused. It wasn't her birthday and it wasn't Valentine's Day, the only two instances she could think of when he would go out of his way to bring her here. She watched Steven intently as the waiter poured their wine, wondering what he was thinking and why they were at this particular restaurant tonight.

  Claire watched as Steven tasted the wine, nodded to the waiter, and then turned his smile toward her. Steven was a handsome man in his own way. He was tall, over six foot, and lean, although maybe a tad too thin by some standards. His dark blond hair was always kept short and neat, and while his hazel eyes rarely sparkled with delight, or for any other reason, they were kind. Steven didn't have the easy nature or cavalier grin that came so easily to her ex-husband, and that was fine. Claire didn't mind the fact that women didn't look twice at Steven. In fact, she was relieved they didn't. She'd already been married to a man who turned heads for years, probably still did, so it was actually a relief to not have to worry about that with Steven. While some might say that Steven was rather stiff and unemotional, she thought of him more as stable, hardworking, and dependable. Stable and dependable sounded good to Claire.

  "So, how was the dress fitting today?" Steven asked, bringing Claire out of her thoughts.

  Claire liked the fact that Steven listened to her and always asked about her day. Some would say it was the salesman in him that made him remember details, but Claire chose to believe he was a thoughtful person instead.

  "The fitting went beautifully. Mandy looked like a dream. It's going to be a fairytale wedding."

  "Of course, it will. Everything you touch is done to perfection."

  Claire smiled and took a sip of her wine. "Thank you. I only wish you were coming along. The island is so beautiful, and it would be a lovely romantic getaway."

  Steven nodded, and looked at Claire seriously. "It would be nice, but spring is such a busy time of the year for real estate sales. Plus," he paused. "This is more of a family event, and I think it will be better for you to be there with your family without me distracting you."

  Claire hesitated before she replied. She'd tried numerous times to argue the point with him that he was considered a part of the family since they'd been dating for so long. Mandy would have been happy for Steven to come along. But Steven didn't argue. He could calmly talk circles around you, but he'd never get into a heated or emotional discussion. He had his own ideas about certain things and he stuck to them.

  "Still, it would have been nice. You are considered family, too," Claire said quietly.

  Instead of brushing this off, Steven surprised her by taking her hand and looking deeply into her eyes. "I'm pleased you think of me that way because I'd like to become a part of your family very soon." He reached into his sports coat pocket and pulled out a small, red velvet box, opened it, and placed it on the table between them. "Claire. Will you marry me?"

  Claire's eyes grew wide and her hand rose up to her throat. She stared at the simple, one-caret solitaire diamond set in a white gold band which had tiny diamonds encased in it. She swallowed hard, blinked, then looked up at Steven to see if he was serious. He was.

  "Marry me, Claire," he said, smiling at her, seeming to enjoy her complete surprise.

  Claire grabbed her wrist where her charm bracelet usually hung, then remembered she'd taken it off tonight. She grasped her other wrist where her watch sat, and began twirling it around and around. Marriage? Was this for real? Was he serious?

  "I…I can't believe this," she said, finally finding her voice. "I'd have never suspected this in a million years."

  Steven reached over and took the ring out of the box. He reached for Claire's hand and slipped it onto her ring finger. It fit perfectly. "Please say you'll marry me, Claire. I know you have your reservations about marrying again, but I think we'd make a good couple. We are so much alike, and we both have no illusions about love and marriage. We can make each other happy as we grow old. Marry me, Claire."

  Claire stared down at the ring around her finger. She couldn't breathe. The intimate area around her lost its appeal and suddenly felt claustrophobic. Marriage, a second time around, scared the living bejeezus out of her, and she wasn’t sure if she could choke out an answer, be it yes or no.

  Steven sat back in his chair and stared at Claire. "You're scaring me, Claire. Just breathe. It's okay," he said calmly.

  Claire closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She exhaled, letting out all the fear she'd let build up inside her. When she opened her eyes, she felt better, but the ring still felt heavy on her finger. Too heavy. Almost like a block of cement meant to drown her in a body of water.

  Finally, she found her senses and her voice. "It's very beautiful, Steven," Claire said, trying to smile up at him. "It's perfect, actually. And you certainly surprised me. I had no idea you were going to propose."

  Steven smiled proudly, sitting forward in his chair again.

  "But I never pictured myself getting married again. I can't even imagine it. I'm sorry."

  Steven's expression deflated a little, but he didn't give up. "I know we've talked about this before and you said you thought you'd never marry again. But our marriage would be different from your first. We're both older, we're both sensible, and I have no designs on leaving you for a younger woman. I think we'd make a good partnership. We each can fill in what the other person is lacking. We'd be the perfect match."

  Claire sat there, allowing Steven's words to wash over her. A good partnership. The perfect match. But what about love? What about passion? He'd managed to propose to her, and lay out his life plan with her without ever using the word love.

  "This is just all so sudden…"Claire began, not sure where she was headed. But Steven interrupted her.

  "I know. I realize that it is. And the timing isn't perfect, I understand. I know how preoccupied you are with the upcoming trip and wedding. I only wanted you to know my intentions before you left for the Bahamas. I wanted you to know how I feel, and that I want our relationship to continue to grow. I'm serious about us, Claire, and I need you to know that."

  Claire looked down at the ring still strangling her finger. She had the terrible urge to shake it off. But why? Steven was a good man. He was hardworking and stable. What was it about this ring that made her feel like she was wearing a noose?

  "I just need some time to think about it, Steven," she finally said. "You're right. I do have a lot on my mind with my daughter's wedding and the trip. And this was such a surprise. Would it hurt your feelings terribly if I think it over?"

  St
even smiled sweetly at her. "No, it won't hurt my feelings. I knew going into this that there was the possibility you might say no, so the fact that you want to think about it gives me hope. Take all the time you need. I know you'll make the right decision."

  Claire wondered if he thought the right decision meant the best decision for her, or for him?

  She started to slip the ring off her finger to hand it back to Steven, but he shook his head.

  "Wear it awhile. Get used to feeling it on your finger. Hopefully, the ring will help you make your decision." Steven picked up the velvet ring box from the table, closed it, and handed it to Claire. She wasn't sure what to do, so she left the ring on throughout dinner to make Steven happy, but all the while she wondered, did it make her happy, too?

  Much later, as Claire lay in her bed beside a soundly sleeping Steven, she picked up her left hand and looked at the ring glinting in the darkness. After bringing Claire home, Steven had asked to stay, and made love to her as a way to celebrate the marriage proposal that he was sure she was going to eventually accept. Their lovemaking was nice, always had been, but it lacked the spark, warmth, and passion that Claire would have liked to feel. Or maybe it lacked a deep love commitment. Did Claire actually love Steven? Did she love him enough to promise to spend the rest of her life with him? Or was love even necessary at their ages when stability and honesty were much more important? She didn't know.

  Love, passion, and a deep connection were all things that Claire had already experienced in her married life the first time around, and where did that get her? She'd ended up alone when that passion had faded and Jim had left her. Maybe love and butterflies in the stomach and passion was overrated. Maybe what she had with Steven was mature and realistic. Maybe, just maybe, when she returned from her daughter's wedding in the Bahamas, she'd be ready to say yes.

  Chapter Three

  Monday morning found Claire in a state of panic as she arrived at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport by cab. It was only six o'clock a.m. and the airport was fairly quiet, the first flights of the day just starting to take off. As Claire stepped out of the cab and retrieved her carry-on bag and suitcase from the driver, she prayed she'd packed everything she needed. If she hadn't, it was too late now.

  Claire stepped through the automatic doors and began looking around for the others in her group. When her eyes fell upon her soon-to-be son-in-law, Craig, one of the tallest in the group, she sighed with relief, and headed over their way.

  Soon, the entire group was gathered together and the checking of the bags commenced. Each person was bringing a carry-on with their wedding clothes in it so if their luggage was lost, at least the wedding would go off without a hitch. Somehow, Mandy had stuffed her beautiful wedding gown into her small carry-on, and Claire hoped and prayed it would make the flight with as few wrinkles as possible.

  It wasn't until after everyone had checked their larger bags that Claire had a chance to look around at their group and assess who was there. She knew Mandy and Craig were here, then there was Craig's parents, Janice and Carl, standing stiffly at the edge of the group. Kaylie and her boyfriend, Mark Carlson, and the best man Cameron Anderson and his wife Angela were all standing with Mandy and Craig. There were nine of them in all, counting Claire.

  Claire frowned. She had been dreading seeing Jim and his wife, but as she looked around, she noted that they were missing from the group. She hurried over to Mandy and pulled her aside.

  "Have you seen your father?" Claire asked. "He isn't here yet."

  "Oh, with all that was going on I forgot to tell you," Mandy said. "I got a call from Dad on Saturday. He was in Chicago for work and he had to change his flight. He's flying out of Chicago this morning and meeting us in Miami."

  "Oh. Diane, too?" Claire asked.

  Mandy nodded. "I'm guessing she's with him. He didn't say otherwise and he didn’t say we should expect her here."

  As the group headed over to go through security, Claire let out a sigh of relief. At least she wouldn't have to sit and watch Jim and Diane throughout the three-and-a-half hour flight to Miami being all lovey-dovey and cuddly. The thought of it made her stomach sick.

  Everything went smoothly and the group landed in Miami on time. Once there, though, they had to run, quite literally, to catch the small plane to Marsh Harbour on the Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas. There, they met up with Claire's brother and sister-in-law, Glen and Lisa Goodwin, who'd just flown to Miami from San Diego.

  "Uncle Glen! Aunt Lisa!" Mandy called with delight when she saw them at the gate. "I'm so happy you're coming along."

  Glen smiled as he hugged his niece. "I wouldn't miss my only niece's wedding. You know that." He winked over to Claire. "Especially when it's in the Bahamas."

  Hugs and introductions were dispersed all around and then they were hurried outside on the tarmac to board the tiny plane. Again, Claire hadn't seen Jim or Diane. Maybe his plane from Chicago was late. Maybe they'd have to come on a later flight to the Bahamas. Claire secretly hoped so.

  The group squeezed down the tiny aisle of the plane and found their seats. All the carry-ons were given to the attendant since there were no overhead compartments. Claire was the only person in the group who had to sit with a stranger since everyone else had come in pairs. Mandy and Craig sat in the seats in front of her, Glen and Lisa were behind her, and Kaylie and Mark where across the aisle from her. An elderly gentleman with a white beard and wearing tropical colored clothing sat in the window seat beside Claire. She smiled over at him when she sat down.

  Mandy was just taking her seat when Claire saw her smile and wave at someone at the back of the plane.

  "Dad made it," Mandy said to Claire. "He's in the back."

  Claire forced herself not to turn around and look.

  The flight took off and everyone settled in. The aisle was too narrow and the ceiling too short to get up and walk around comfortably, so everyone stayed seated for the hour-long flight.

  After a time, Claire's curiosity got the better of her and she turned slightly to catch a glimpse of Jim in the back of the plane. He sat on the aisle, like her, so she could see he was dressed casually in khaki pants and a green polo shirt. His hair was cut perfectly, long enough to show off the waves, but short enough not to look shaggy. And he was already tan. Claire wondered how a man who worked indoors and lived in Minnesota could be tan in the winter. Obviously, he went to a tanning salon. It was probably Diane's idea. Claire couldn't get a view of Diane in the window seat beside Jim. Claire was certain Diane would be dressed brightly in a tight outfit and have a golden tan of her own. After all, she was only thirty years old. Jim had married her when she was a mere twenty-six and he was forty-one. It was obscene.

  Jim raised his hand and waved at Claire, making her turn around hastily. Her face burned red. She hadn't realized she'd been staring at him for so long. Claire grabbed her charm bracelet and began twirling it around her wrist. She felt stupid for being so obsessed with her ex-husband. In truth, she shouldn't give a fig about him or that woman he married. But being around them still made her so nervous, she tended to act like an idiot.

  Four years ago when Jim left her for Diane, it had taken Claire by utter surprise. She'd literally been the wife who was the last to know her husband was having an affair. She'd thought their marriage was fine. They'd been together for twenty years, raised a daughter, and both had interesting careers that they enjoyed. At the time, Claire's boutique was still getting off the ground, but making a small profit and growing. Sure, Claire had spent many hours there, sometimes all day and into the evenings to save on employee expenses when she was first starting out. Often, Mandy worked there, too, after school and on weekends. But Jim had been working a lot of overtime, too, so Claire hadn't felt bad about it. They were building their lives like couples do, or so she thought. She had no idea that Jim had decided to build his life elsewhere, with someone else.

  For Claire, the day Jim told her he was leaving her seemed just
like yesterday. It was still fresh in her mind and her heart. How could someone who vowed to love you forever suddenly want to leave? Maybe that was why she was still nervous around him and Diane. And now, she'd be spending the next seven days on an island with the two people who she least wanted to spend time with.

  As the rest of the wedding party chatted around her, Claire closed her eyes and focused on staying calm. "I can do this, I can do this, I can do this," she chanted softly to herself.

  "Mom."

  Claire's eyes flew open. Mandy had turned in her seat and stared directly at her.

  "What are you doing?" Mandy asked, frowning. "Are you okay?"

  Claire stopped rocking in her seat and sat up straight. She hadn't even realized she'd been doing it. "I'm fine, dear. Sorry," she said, sheepishly.

  Mandy pursed her lips. "Mom, you have to get ahold of yourself. You're scaring that poor gentleman beside you." With that, Mandy turned around in her seat again.

  Claire grimaced. She looked over at her seatmate. "Sorry," she told him.

  The elderly man smiled. "No worries," he said. "Are you afraid of flying?"