Beth had to admit that Gray looked the best she had ever seen him. Contentment seemed to radiate from him. It was obvious that he was very happy with Suzy. All was right in their world, and Beth couldn’t think of anyone who deserved it more than her sister.
Suddenly, Gray looked at his watch and cleared his throat. “Okay, everyone, why don’t we head outside. We decided to do something a little different this evening, so we set up everything on the beach in back of the house. It’s a mild evening, so we might as well enjoy it. Suzy will meet us there when she’s ready.”
Does anyone else think this is weird? If I didn’t know Gray better, I’d be in the kitchen checking the freezer for Suzy’s body. What could possibly be keeping her from being here with everyone? Was she even at home? Maybe she’d had a fight with Gray before the party. But if that were so, surely Gray wouldn’t look so happy.
Beth was glad to know that it wasn’t just her when Claire leaned over and asked, “Does this seem a little strange to you?”
“Yeah, it sure does. But you know Suzy. It could be anything. Maybe her leather pants had a run and she’s in the bathroom cussing up a blue streak.”
Claire chuckled as they walked onto the patio and started down the stairs. When they turned the corner, and the beach came into sight, everyone froze. Beth heard Nick mutter, “Either someone’s getting baptized or married.”
“Oh, my,” Claire breathed. “They’re getting married! I can’t believe it. Hey, she picked out a dress without us.”
Everyone slowly made their way forward. Beth could see tears rolling down Gray’s mother’s cheeks as she clasped her husband’s hand tightly.
Suzy stood next to a white arbor with white tulle woven through it. She was simply breathtaking. Her long red hair was loose and the wind made it look like a halo around her. She was wearing a white lace gown with spaghetti straps and a sweetheart neckline. A long train flowed behind the fitted dress and the detailed beadwork glistened in the early evening sunset. Beth smiled as she saw Suzy’s bare feet peeping from beneath the hem of the dress. She had never seen her beautiful sister more radiant.
A man whom Beth didn’t recognize stood beside Suzy, smiling as they all came forward.
“Since Suzy and I have never done anything in our relationship in the normal way, why start now?” Gray said, and laughed. “You are our dearest friends and family and we want to share this moment with you and no one else. Suzy’s parents had a previous engagement and we regret that they couldn’t be here to round out the circle.”
Nick choked. “I can’t believe he got that last part out with a straight face.”
Beth elbowed him in the ribs and continued to listen to Gray. “We apologize that we sprung this on you, but I think you know that Suzy loves surprises and, truthfully, I love her and this idea. I hope that the men in the group will be my unofficial groomsmen, and I know Suzy wants the women to be her bridesmaids.”
Beth ran forward and gave her sister a hug. “I’m going to kill you for not telling me.”
“Me, too,” Claire chimed in. “How could you deny us the torture . . . um, I mean pleasure of planning your wedding?”
Ella stepped forward and gave Suzy a tentative hug next. “You look so beautiful. Your dress is so—”
“Not me?” Suzy asked.
Ella stammered, “No, I mean, it’s just so . . . soft.”
Claire stepped in to bail out Ella. “I believe Ella means that the dress is different from your usual style, but I love it. You make a beautiful bride and I’m so happy for you.”
Suzy did a twirl in the dress, saying, “I don’t know why, but I loved this dress as soon as I saw it. I wanted to look different for my wedding day and this is drastic for me. Ella was right, the dress is soft and that’s why I liked it so much. Gray makes me a softer version of myself, so it’s fitting.”
Gray’s parents stepped forward to hug Suzy, and they all lined up for the informal ceremony.
Mr. Maxwell, the justice of the peace and the man Beth hadn’t recognized, had agreed to perform the private ceremony. He started with the standard wedding passages, and then said, “Grayson and Suzanna have written their own vows and will be exchanging them now.”