Unplanned Love (Savage Love) (7 page)

     “Ok, just a thought,” laughed Alyssa.

     “Besides, I thought you two were getting along pretty good,” said Seanna.

     “He’s great, I just don’t think I’m ready to jump into anything yet,” Alyssa admitted.

     “You never know, sometimes love comes weather you planned on it or not. Look at Mom and Daffyd.”

Chapter 7

The Surprise

     The next morning Kevin apologized for his ‘rude and uncalled for’ behavior. He was so attentive and gentle with her at breakfast that she forgave him, besides she didn’t want to hamper any excitement of the day. Today was the big preparation day. The decorations and lanterns were going up and a couple of hours of pampering and beautifying were on the schedule for all the women
folk. Seanna promised herself that she would have to have a very serious talk with Kevin when they got back to Wisconsin.

     While all the ladies were getting manicures and pedicures the men were greeting the six remaining guests to the island. Bryce was a little surprised to find Kevin tagging along, but excused it as boredom. Seanna’s boyfriend didn’t seem to be
too thrilled to be there on the island. While they waited on the dock he seemed to be getting excited or nervous about something. It didn’t take long to figure it out when seven people got out of the two boats. While Daffyd was greeting the invited guests, Kevin went directly to the tall blonde that stepped out of the boat. Daffyd didn’t want to be rude to the Pastors or Kate and her husband so just before he walked them off of the dock he shot a look to Bryce that said ‘take care of it.’

     “What’s going on Kevin?” asked Bryce walking over. He noticed that Leal had stayed behind while Bryson had gone with the other group.

     “Bryce and Leal, this is my cousin Carrie,” Kevin replied nonchalantly.

     “Why is your cousin here?” he asked getting to the point.

     “It’s my surprise gift for the wedding. Seanna mentioned that they hadn’t hired a photographer and Carrie is in the photography program. So we invited her here to do the pictures tomorrow!” he said sounding excited.

     “So…Seanna knows about this?” asked Bryce skeptically.

     “Of course she does,” said Kevin pretending to be offended.

     “Did it occur to you that a photographer wasn’t lined up because maybe they didn’t want one?” asked Bryce.

     “Actually I just assumed that you couldn’t get one, or that something fell through. Who wouldn’t want pictures of their wedding?” laughed Kevin.

     “Look, I don’t want to cause any trouble. If you want me to leave I can take the boat right back to the mainland,” offered the girl with a hurt look on her face.

     “And where did you think she was going to stay?” asked Bryce.

     “With me, we are family after all,” Kevin replied.

     “Why don’t you just give me a minute to talk things over with Daffyd? Leal, ask them to hold the boat,” Bryce said as he turned and walked back up the dock.

     “It’s been a long morning. I’m going to take Carrie to get something to eat and you can find us when you decide whether or not you want my gift,” said Kevin as he led Carrie past Leal.

     Bryce was able to pull Daffyd aside for a minute and tell him what was going on. “He says that Seanna knew all about it, that it was a surprise present.”

     “Well…if Seanna can vouch for her then I guess it will be ok,” stated Daffyd.

     “Should I talk
to Seanna about it?” Bryce asked.

     “No, don’t do anything to upset the day,” Daffyd decided. “Ask them to put her in one of the empty cabanas, preferable one close by just to keep an eye on her.”

     “Kevin said she’ll room with him, being cousins and all,” Bryce said.

    
“Fine…whatever. This better not upset Samantha!” Daffyd said.

     “I think if you act ok with it all, she’ll be fine. It
would
be nice to have some pictures of the big day,” Bryce said slapping Daffyd on the back.

     Leal met Bryce coming back to the dock and told him that Kevin had taken his cousin to get a bite to eat. “What’s the verdict?”

     “Uncle Daffyd said he’ll let them stay. Seanna knows her…so I guess we have a photographer. Alyssa should be relieved. I’ll go and tell the boatmen that they don’t need to wait. You can have the honors of giving Kevin the good news,” said Bryce.

     “You don’t like the guy, do you?” asked Leal.

     “I’m trying to for Seanna’s sake, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out what she sees in him. His cousin seems more his type!” answered Bryce.

     “Why don’t you talk to her about it?” said Leal.

     “I told her just a little while ago that she should let me find my own girl, so I’m going to practice what I preach,” said Bryce.

     “When I get back, what do you say to some kayaking? The girls will be busy for a couple of hours yet,” offered Leal.

     “Sounds like a plan. Meet you at the kayaks in ten minutes!”

     Leal found Kevin and Carrie finishing up in the open dining hall. Kevin looked up expectantly when he saw Leal approaching their table.

     “Bryce is telling the boatmen that they don’t have to wait,” Leal relayed the message.

     “Oh, that’s great!” cooed Carrie.

     “I have a few questions for you,” said Leal as he sat down across from the two cousins.

     “Oh…ok,” said Carrie looking at Kevin.

     “What kind of camera will you be using? Digital or film?” he asked.

     “I can do either, which do you think they would prefer?” she asked relieved.

     “
I don’t think that matters, but here is the deal, if you use digital, we get the sim card, if you use film, the film stays with us,” he said looking her in the eye.

     “I usually include the touch ups and photo shopping in the package…”she started to explain.

     “Either that works for you, or you don’t take the pictures,” he said shrugging his shoulders.

     Carrie looked at Kevin again and he gave a barely noticeable nod. “No problem. You’ll get all the undeveloped film and the sim card.”

     “Good, now you can let Seanna know how much time you will need to do the pictures and if you want to do any before the ceremony,” Leal said as he got up from the table.

     By the time the women were totally relaxed from their spa experience and their ladies lunch they were ready to begin the decorations. Samantha had already secured a few staff members to give them a hand. They were in the process of gathering everything together and the guys still had not arrived. Seanna volunteered to go and round them up knowing they’d need some taller people and some muscles. She was just about to the first cabana when she spotted what looked like a familiar tall blond snapping pictures on the beach.
I wonder if that is one of Kate’s granddaughters.
She didn’t have to wonder for long because she met Kevin heading her way.

     “Hey, you look like you had a relaxing day!” he said giving her a kiss on the cheek.

     “It was nice,” she smiled and took his hand. “Hey do you know who that girl is on the beach?”

     “That’s Carrie,” he said looking to where she was taking pictures of the water.

     “Carrie,” she said, her eyebrows pulling together. “You mean your cousin?”

     “Remember the surprise? Carrie is the surprise,” he replied calmly.

     “What are you talking about?” asked Seanna as she stopped walking.

     “Carrie is a photographer. You mentioned that there wasn’t going to be one, so I asked her to come and do the pictures. It will be my wedding present to your Mother.”

     “Oh my word! Does Daffyd know she is here?” Seanna said panicking.

     “Of course he does. What’s the matter…I thought you’d be happy,” he sounded hurt.

     “Daffyd hates to have his picture taken. That’s why they never booked a photographer and hates having strangers around…” she said shaking her head.

     “
She isn’t a stranger, Seanna, she’s my cousin.”

     “It was a big deal for me to even bring
you, they are just getting to know you. Are you sure Daffyd didn’t freak?” she asked.

     “Leal said that as long as Carrie gave him the film and the sim card it was all good. What
kind of people don’t want pictures of their wedding?” he asked shifting the conversation.

     “People who appreciate their privacy, why didn’t you talk to me about this first?” she demanded.

     “I honestly didn’t think it would be such a big deal,” he answered with his voice raised.

     “Who paid her way, and who’s paying for her room and board,” Seanna asked with her eyebrows raised.

     “We split the ticket, she’s rooming with me and what’s one more mouth to feed. Your Uncle seems pretty generous. He’s footing the bill for everything so far and even bought a camera for Alyssa.”

     “Carrie is staying in your Cabana?” she was shocked.

     “Oh, don’t be such a prude, Seanna, she’s my
cousin.
I’m sure you wouldn’t have a problem sharing a room with your
brother
,” he answered sarcastically.

     “The thought wouldn’t even cross our minds.”

     “Look, she’s here, Daffyd is fine. I’m sorry I didn’t run it by you, I was only trying to do something nice for you and your family.” He grabbed her hand and rubbed her upper arm. “Aren’t we supposed to be setting up for tomorrow?”

     “I forgot! That’s where I was headed, to go round everyone up,” she said pulling away.

     “I’ll go and get Carrie so she can take some before pictures and you go get everyone else. You’ll see…no one is upset by all of this except you…”

     The first person Seanna ran into was Bryce. “Hey, so we have a photographer,” he said when he saw her.

     “Yeah,” she said sheepishly. “Was Daffyd upset?”

     “No, he’s good. Don’t worry about it Lil’ Sis. So where are you headed to in such a hurry?”

     “It’s time to decorate, I’m in charge of rounding up a crew.”

     “I think most everyone is in the lounge finishing up some ice cold lemonade. I’ll go on ahead, why
don’t you see if you can get some of that down to the pier for us while we are slaving away. Maybe something to snack on too,” he suggested.

     “You’re missing Trisha’s snack layout I can tell,” she joked.

     “She does know how to compliment any type of gathering with some good food,” he grinned back.

     “I’ll see what I can do,” see you in a bit.

Chapter
8

True Love?

     Bryce stood next to his Uncle Daffyd under Japanese lanterns and ropes of tropical greens and flowers. They were wearing simple cream colored linen suits, white collarless shirts and flip flops. Daffyd looked the picture of health. His hair had grown in, and though it wasn’t the long rock star locks of his previous years, it was shoulder length and thick. He had tanned to a golden brown the past week and looked sharp in the pale suit. It was a miracle that Daffyd had even lived to get married, let alone meet someone as amazing as Samantha. He was musing over this all when the music started and Seanna and her Mother came walking up the pier towards them.

     Samantha was dressed in a simple flowing gauzy
white dress with a high waist and small feathery sleeves. Her hair had been put up off of her neck in a loose roman style with a few wavy tendrils artfully escaping around her face and neck. She was absolutely beaming. Next to her with their arms linked walked her daughter in a similar dress in the same creamy color as his suit. Bryce’s throat constricted when he saw how beautiful she looked. Her curly hair was hanging down her neck in the back and was swept up in the front. They were both carrying a single white lily and both girls had tears in their eyes and big smiles on their faces.

    As they got closer, everyone noticed that the bride and groom only had eyes for each other. The daughter handed her mother off to the dashing groom, who stooped to give Seanna a fatherly kiss on the cheek. Seanna took her place on her mother’s left and caught Bryce looking at her. She gave him a big grin and he couldn’t help grinning back like a ten year old school boy.
This was his family.
He thought proudly.