Santorini Sunsets (31 page)

“You shouldn't take it too hard.” He rubbed his forehead. “Blake has been a bachelor for thirty-four years. I'm sure it has nothing to do with Olga, the Swedish model he was secretly engaged to five years ago.”

“What do you mean?” Brigit looked up.

“They never made it official.” He shrugged. “The article said they were engaged to be engaged. You are the only woman he ever agreed to meet at the altar.”

“Why are you here anyway?” Brigit asked suddenly. “Everyone was supposed to meet at the church.”

“There's something I wanted to show you, but you look a little peaked. I don't want to be responsible if you faint.” He walked to the kitchen. “Why don't I make a chicken sandwich and a pitcher of lemonade and we'll sit in the garden.” He paused. “We may as well enjoy the view if this is your last day in Santorini.”

“Alright.” Brigit nodded. “That sounds lovely.”

*   *   *

They sat on the stone steps and ate whole wheat bread and Santorini tomatoes and thick hunks of feta cheese. They talked about Daisy's job interview in London and Robbie's upcoming photography spread in
National Geographic.

Brigit felt the sun on her shoulders and sighed. The sky was pale blue and purple flowers cascaded down the cliff and she was sorry to leave.

“I wanted to give you this.” Nathaniel reached into his backpack and took out a thick stack of paper. “It's my new novel. I've been working on it for two years and for a while I thought it would stay in my desk drawer. But being around you gave me the confidence to finish it.” He paused. “You're all grown up and know right where you are going. I didn't want to be left behind.”

“I read some of it,” Brigit admitted. “It's fantastic.”

“When did you do that?” He frowned.

“I stopped by your hostel after the rehearsal dinner,” she said. “I was worried because you'd left in a hurry. I only meant to read a few pages, but I couldn't stop.”

“My publisher loved it.” Nathaniel wiped his mouth with a napkin. “They're releasing it next Christmas.”

“That's wonderful news.” She beamed. “I'm so happy for you.”

Nathaniel stood up and brushed the crumbs from his slacks. “I never told you why I walked out of the apartment. It wasn't because you looked over my shoulder or got angry when I put my socks in the wrong drawer.” He paused. “It's because I couldn't stand disappointing you. When I saw myself through your eyes, I couldn't bear it.”

“It's my fault.” Brigit shook her head. “You are a great writer, you just needed someone to believe in you.”

“That wasn't your job,” Nathaniel insisted. “I had to learn to trust myself.”

Brigit blotted her lips and looked at Nathaniel.

“I broke it off with Blake.”

“You did what?”

“I told Blake I couldn't marry him.”

“You called off the wedding to
People
magazine's Most Beautiful Person?” Nathaniel spluttered. “Are you sure you aren't being hasty? You get nervous when you have to do something new.

“Do you remember when we were nine and I wanted you to try my mother's cheesecake? You said cheese couldn't possibly taste good in a cake; cake was about sugar and flour and cinnamon. I finally pretended it was vanilla cake and cut you a slice. You said it was the best thing you'd ever tasted.”

“I'm quite sure,” Brigit said tightly.

“It's probably just pre-wedding jitters,” Nathaniel continued. “Blake will appear at the gate and you'll throw yourself into his arms and kiss him. Then you'll race to the church and all the guests will cheer.”

“He already left.” She flushed. “We made up a story that he got food poisoning and was airlifted to Athens.” She paused. “I'm terribly sorry, I hope you get paid for your article.”

“Winston will plaster Blake's face on the cover of
HELLO!
and sell a million copies. Hollywood's most eligible bachelor is back on the market.” He looked at Brigit. “Why did you break it off?”

“As much as I tried to ignore everything you said, you were right,” she explained. “I couldn't be with someone who lied. He had a good reason for everything he did, but there's never a reason not to tell the truth.” She twisted her hands. “I couldn't go through with it.”

“You did the right thing.” Nathaniel nodded. “It's much easier to undo the damage without a ring on your finger.”

“I have to go.” She stood up. “I still have to pack and we're taking the ferry to Athens in a few hours.”

She took the plates into the kitchen and put the lemonade pitcher back in the fridge. She entered the living room and saw Nathaniel standing by the fireplace.

“Thank you for the sandwich and lemonade. I feel much better.” She smiled. “I don't need any help, I can manage the rest myself.”

“I actually forgot one thing.” He reached into his backpack and pulled out a box wrapped in gold paper. “I didn't give you your wedding present.”

“But you already gave us a wedding present.” Brigit pointed to the silver box on the piano.

“I forgot part of it.” He handed her the box. “Why don't you open it?”

She tore open the gold tissue paper and discovered a yellow bucket and two plastic shovels. She opened the bucket and saw a sapphire ring surrounded by small diamonds. She glanced at Nathaniel and gasped.

“It's my grandmother's ring, you gave it back.” He stopped and looked at Brigit. “Unless you already have one.”

“I returned Blake's ring,” Brigit murmured.

“I've been carrying it around all weekend,” he explained. “If I had seen you and Blake were perfectly happy I would have thrown confetti on the church steps and clapped when you left for your honeymoon. But if I suspected you had a shadow of a doubt, I wanted to see if I had a chance.” He looked at Brigit. “Do I?”

“So much has happened.” Brigit hesitated.

“Do you remember the morning of our rehearsal dinner, I came up to your bedroom,” he continued. “I convinced Daisy to go into Montauk and give us some time alone. I gave you a yellow bucket with a diamond-and-ruby pendant. I said I wanted to keep our marriage fun, but you were a beautiful woman and deserved the most exquisite jewels.

“I failed at all of it, but I think I've grown. I learned I'd rather be sitting in our living room on East Eighty-Second Street bickering over semantics in the
New York Times
than anyplace in the world.

“I may not be perfect, but I promise I will never walk out that door without a clear path home.” He got down on one knee and took Brigit's hand. “Brigit Emily Palmer, will you marry me?”

Brigit gazed at the sapphire-and-diamond ring and took a deep breath. She pictured Nathaniel shooting an apple off her head with his plastic arrow when they were ten years old. She saw them building sand castles at the beach and eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches in Summerhill's vast kitchen. She remembered walking down the carpet of pink roses at their wedding and knowing she was right where she belonged.

“Yes,” she whispered.

Nathaniel pulled her up and kissed her softly on the lips. Brigit kissed him back and wrapped her arms around his back. She inhaled his familiar scent of citrus aftershave and shampoo and felt she would die of happiness.

“God, I missed that.” Nathaniel groaned. “We could run up to your bedroom.”

“Certainly not.” Brigit smoothed her hair. “We're not doing anything until we're married.”

“We could get married right now,” he exclaimed.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“You have the church and flowers and cake.” He jumped up. “I met a lovely old priest at the Corner restaurant, I'm sure he'd perform the ceremony. Think how much time we'd save planning our honeymoon. We can charter a boat and sail around the Greek islands.”

“But all the guests left.” Brigit hesitated.

“Your parents and Daisy and Robbie are here,” he insisted. “We'll have a big reception when we get home and I'll promise my mother she can choose the menu.” He paused. “I've waited months for this, why should we wait any longer?”

“You have?” Brigit asked.

“I needed to grow up first,” Nathaniel said slowly. “I was determined this time you were going to marry a man; not some kid who pictured himself his generation's Tom Wolfe.”

“Why not?” She felt suddenly lighter, like a balloon sailing up to the sky. “We'll get married today.”

“Are you sure?” His face broke into a smile.

“I'll tell my parents and you find Robbie.” She walked to the circular staircase. “I haven't packed my wedding gown and I still have my bridal bouquet. I'll get dressed and meet you at the church.”

“Brigit,” he called. “We can't get married yet, we have to wait.”

“We do?” She felt a lump in her throat.

“I only brought a black dinner jacket.” He glanced at his watch. “I can't wear black tie until six o'clock.”

Brigit felt the air leave her lungs and her eyes sparkled.

“I think we can let it slide.”

“Brigit Palmer breaking the rules of etiquette?” He grinned.

Brigit gazed out the french doors at the pale blue sky and glittering Aegean. She saw the blue domed roofs and whitewashed buildings.

She turned to Nathaniel and smiled. “If something is important, anything is possible.”

 

Chapter Twenty-four

S
YDNEY STOOD IN
FRONT
of the Church of Panagia Episkopi and thought Brigit had picked the most picturesque setting. The church had a blue domed roof and white plaster walls and stained-glass windows. Green trellises connected stone walkways and there was an altar with a gold cross.

She peered out the double brass doors and gazed at the sharp cliffs and the Kamari coastline far below. It was late afternoon and a soft breeze blew up from the Aegean. After everything that had happened, she couldn't quite believe that Brigit was in the anteroom, waiting to walk down the aisle.

*   *   *

When Brigit burst into their room and said she and Nathaniel were getting married, Sydney wondered if she regretted not being able to put on her satin wedding dress and gold sandals. But Brigit explained how Nathaniel had finished his novel, and that they both finally had grown up. She realized you didn't have be perfect, you just had to be in love.

*   *   *

Now the priest arrived in his embroidered gown and pointed hat and Sydney stifled a laugh. Trust Nathaniel to find a traditional Greek priest, an hour before the wedding. She thought about Nathaniel and her heart warmed. Ever since he snuck under the fence and sauntered into the kitchen when he was five years old, he belonged in the family.

Voices drifted up the path and she saw Francis talking to another couple. She looked closely and realized it was Harley Adams and his wife Margot.

“Look who I found in the square in Fira.” Francis climbed the stone steps. “I invited them to the wedding. I thought we should fill some pews.”

Sydney's cheeks turned pale and she wondered if Harley would mention the château in Gordes. Then she looked at Francis and her shoulders relaxed. It didn't matter if they talked about Gordes; she had nothing to hide.

“I'm thrilled you came.” She turned to Harley and Margot. “We need more people to drink all of this Veuve Clicquot and toast good health to the happy couple.”

“I told them we are going to Montreux after the wedding,” Francis said. “Harley suggested we visit the Grand Hotel du Lac in Vevey.”

“Margot and I stayed there last year.” Harley nodded. “It's on Lake Geneva and the restaurant has a Le Cordon Bleu chef. It was like a second honeymoon.”

“We'll have to try it.” Francis squeezed Sydney's hand. “Visiting these exotic destinations is exhilarating, I feel like I'm twenty-five again.”

“I completely agree,” Sydney said and a tingle ran down her spine. “I can't wait to go to Switzerland. The mountains and lake sound so romantic.”

*   *   *

Daisy smoothed her yellow chiffon dress and clutched her bouquet. Topaz earrings glittered in her ears and she wore silver sandals. She inhaled the scent of jasmine and roses and thought the floral decorations looked breathtaking.

She had been hesitant when Brigit appeared at the café in Fira and said she and Nathaniel were getting married. But Brigit was calm and confident, like an astronaut who had just returned to earth. She begged Daisy to be the maid of honor and asked Robbie to take photographs.

It wasn't just that Brigit looked so in love, it was more she looked like herself. She was right where she belonged and this time nothing would stop her and Nathaniel from being happy.

Daisy had sipped her lemonade and suddenly panicked. What had she been thinking, saying she would go to London with Robbie? She had to return to New York and take care of Edgar.

But the house sitter called and said she was delighted to stay in the apartment and watch Edgar until she returned. Daisy had her whole future ahead of her and nothing to worry about.

*   *   *

“Brigit picked a spectacular church.” Robbie appeared beside her. “It was built in 1767 in the foothills of the highest mountain in Santorini. Previously a Christian basilica stood on this land and some of the frescos date back to 1100.”

“I never thought I'd fall in love with a place as much as Santorini.” Daisy sighed. “Everywhere you turn there are gorgeous views and spectacular sunsets.”

“Most people don't think they should enjoy life, they just wait for the next thing.” Robbie touched her arm. “But there is nothing better than exploring interesting locations, and being with the person who makes you happy.”

“I saw Brigit in the anteroom.” Daisy blushed. “She's the most beautiful bride.”